The Merchant Adventurer Read Online Free PDF Page B

reward.”
    “Ah, yes, well, you’d have to talk to my uncle about that.”
    “But not on a hunting trip?”
    “Oh, ho ho, quite so. Quite so.”
    “The point is, I keep getting interrupted in my work by these blasted Adventurers. I can’t get anything done. And it’s your fault.”
    “My fault?”
    “Yes, the endless stream of mendicants, Adventurers, and ne’er do wells who seek to kill me and deprive me of property. It’s Brigandry!Utter lawlessness, that you, as the local authority should but down. They want to become rich Heroes by defeating the Evil Wizard. And by defeat I mean murder and rob. Rapine and pillage writ simple.” Here Dimsbury had a thought, “Wait, I’m not
Evil
, am I, Weeveston? I try not to be, but some days, Gods, I just don’t know.”
    “No, of course you are not Evil. I’ve known you since grammar school. A touch mischievous, perhaps. But Evil? No.”
    “Oh, thank you for saying so. I do appreciate your honesty,” said Dimsbury. “At first, I thought the Adventurers would stop coming. You know, after most of the first few waves of looters fell into my traps or afoul of my pets. But their failure dissuaded no one. They doubled their efforts. And then redoubled them after that!
    “Most died on the upper levels, but the few that have managed to penetrate deeper into my stronghold, they’ve caused real damage. So I have been forced to turn away from my important work to employ spies and turncoats, fashion ever more diabolical traps, and oversee the painful logistics of force management and deployment. I don’t want any of this. It’s a constant strain and a distraction from my work. I tell you Weeveston, I am close to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the forces that shape our world than any man has ever had before.”
    The Duke fixed the Wizard with a look and said, “I know what force shapes our world, and sadly, it is heredity.”
    But the Wizard was on a roll. “And the power! The limitless power. Only
I
should make this connection with the source, lest this power fall into the hands of some
truly
Evil Wizard. So I’m afraid you simply must go. I see no other way.”
    The Duke smiled with regret, “I would like nothing better than to comply with your wishes, old friend. But my uncle would have me killed. Even if I did leave, it would do you no good. He would come in force and just take the Kingdom back. And it’s not like it would solve your problem. I mean, I can’t very well take the sheep with me. Or stop members of the herd from seeking you out and troubling you in your research.”
    “Yes, Weeveston, I suppose you’re right. I just–you know, the long hours of study, the feeling of limitless power at one’s fingertips. I just thought there must be some way to solve this problem.”
    “Of course, old boy. Perfectly understandable. Perhaps I could lend you some of my guards, to help ease the burden. But heaven knows my uncle leaves me precious little enough to staff an army. Really more of a garrison. A bunch of drunks in helmets, honestly.”
    “Yes, I know, we all have our problems. I’m sorry, Weeveston. I’ve been an ass. I’ve barged in unannounced. I’ve hit your man with Tilhphad’s Spell of Transformation. Threatened you with ultimatums. I swear Weeveston, on my mother’s grave–the soil of which is indispensable for the making of certain potions–I never wanted to be an
Evil
Wizard. A screeching, fire-throwing caricature of myself. But the world… the world will simply drive a man to it.”
    “Ah, hmm, yes,” said the Duke. “You should meet my Aunt Etheline.”
    “Torvalds’ wife?”
    “Oh no, he had her killed long ago. Needlepoint ‘accident.’ He has something of a penchant for killing relatives. No Etheline is his sister. And compared to him
she
is the
ruthless
one.”
    “Well, that makes me feel better.”
    “Better?”
    “Yes, I would never do such a thing to my own family.”
    “Your extended family doesn’t own and