Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town Read Online Free PDF Page B

away.
                 “Rooms ten through twelve, top story, them stairs over there. Yea gets a hot bath
with it and free meals — for people , though,” he stared at Bernard, who forked over a
gold coin for scraps for his six dogs.
                 “Didn’t get your surname, Zoran. Where yea be from?” the barkeeper chatted
away, though Zoran knew that the man was intensely curious of strangers. All
barkeepers were, at least all those that he had seen.
                 “Just Zoran, sir. Only Zoran. I come from a town far to the east, been traveling a
long time. Heard this Archmage Oldrich is tops. Figured why not learn from the best?
Don’t you think?” He cleverly avoided the question and sent the conversation in another
direction, which the barkeeper was only too pleased to explain just how great Brn’s
benefactor was.
                 A bit later, the three headed up the steps to find their rooms. Inside, he deposited
his pack and studied the room. First rule of survival drilled into his head was to know
your surroundings well. The only entrance was the door. The long hall could be a death
trap as there was no other way to the stairs. Looking out his window, he spied what he
was looking for — an alternative exit. He could use the drain pipe to shimmy down to the
alley behind the inn, if necessary. Satisfied, he rang for a maid and a hot bath in the
barrel. His room, while far from the comforts of Castle Dorumova, were acceptable,
though not what any Duska would choose.
                 Lunchtime. The three refreshed new friends headed down to sample the food.
Several dozen others had stopped by to dine as well. Some, Zoran noted, looked to be
wealthier types. He minded his courtly manners and helped Zdenka to sit, which
surprised her. She eyed him more closely after that gesture. Sitting opposite of each
other, they could now study each other.
                 Zdenka must be about nineteen perhaps, he surmised. She was well built, with
strong arms and legs, probably by virtue of having become an archer. About his height,
she had undone her long hair, and Zoran found himself even more attracted to this
woman. She now wore a thin cotton blouse instead of her travel leather top.
                 Bernard, he judged to be twenty-one, with bowl-cut, short black hair and eyes to
match. His face appeared bored more often than not, though he was observant. His eyes
animated the instant one mentioned dogs.
                 Zdenka observed this stranger. He was young, perhaps eighteen, certainly not in
his twenties. He still had that teenage youthful look about him. About her height, he had
long brown hair that just touched his shoulders. Remarkable blue eyes seemed to
penetrate her, she noted. She’d never seen such eyes before. His face was handsome,
that she knew. Tall and well-muscled as any fighter ought to be, she concluded. Yet,
there was something different about this youth, something that intrigued her. She
continued to stare at him, when he wasn’t looking at her. Presence, that was it, she
realized in a flash of intuition. He had more presence than anyone she’d ever met! Who
was this Zoran? Where did he come from? Why was he really here? She had more
questions than answers at the moment.
                 “So tell me, Zdenka, how did a pretty woman like you become an archer? I’ve
rarely seen such a terrific shot as you are,” Zoran broke in on her reverie. Either she
answered or Bernard would — she knew that for a fact. What the heck, she thought to
herself, someone’s got to go first.
                 “Dad and I live in a cottage deep in the Dark Forest, some fifty miles from here.
He wanted a son and got me instead,” she jested, but Zoran detected there was a deep
truth in those words. Mom died when I was young; dad blamed himself. A bear got her
while he was out hunting. He insisted that I learn to