Book of Kings

Chapter 13

It didn't take me long to find the smith again, I slammed open the door. I saw that the smith jumped up because of the violent way it swung open and as he saw me his face grew into a ratty one, "what's the big idea, can't you open the door like a normal person."
I said nothing.
I put the pouch on the counter and out flew the coins, "I'm here to buy back the dagger."
He picked up a coin and bite on it hard and as he lay it back on the table I saw a very slight bite mark on it.
"Sure, but the market has changed and you know how it is," he said while pulling up the dagger from behind the counter then laying it down too.
"How much."
"Fifty," he said coldly.
I was outraged, "you bought it for twenty-five and you want to sell it for fifty?"
"You got a problem with that?"
I wanted to protest, but it would be of no use, "no."
He took it over the counter and moved it to another table out of my reach. I took the pouch again and looked at the dagger longingly, then I came up with an idea. I know now that I can do magic but can I do this? I concentrated on it and definitely knew.

I waited just a bit and when the smith got closer to the furnace I let a spark fly out and the smith's apron started burning. Almost immediately he tried patting out the fire but to no avail. The flames got bigger and he threw it off. He tried stamping out the fire and during his stampede, I focused on the dagger and tried pulling it as hard as I could with my mind, maybe too hard because it flung itself to me fast. Almost not catching it, I put it under my clothes.
"Told you to control your flames," I said in a smug tone.
He was screaming around, "how does this happen, the apron shouldn't even be flammable."
I casually strolled outside and when I was far enough from the shop I pulled out the dagger. The smith must have cleaned it. It was shiny and I looked at my reflection in the blade. I smiled, looking at the dagger I thought about my family, Mom, and Dad. I was filled with an immense sense of joy. Not just because I got the dagger back but because I did it all on my own and as a bonus, I don't think I had to give the money back.

I went back to the inn and when I saw Magister Eeming sitting on a table casually talking with a group of people, did he know them?
I shouted out and waved to him, "Magister Eeming, I'll just have to go and take something from my room then we can go."
He raised a mug and nodded.
I saw him here this morning with a drink in hand and now too, was he a heavy drinker?

Taking the bag I still had in the room I headed downstairs again and before going to Eeming again I went to the Innkeeper.
"Here is the key to the room. I won't be needing it anymore."
Taking it she told me in a flat voice, "you have already stayed a day, I hope you're not expecting a full refund."
"And how much will I actually be getting back?" I had to fight for one. I almost spent half of what I had to rent a room for a week and was only one day here. I had to at least get half of the money back.
"The Sir will only get fifteen back," she said lifting her head, trying to make herself bigger.
That turned out better than I had excepted, "fine."

I turned around and approached the Magister. He stopped talking to the group of people and looked up from the table, "you ready?"
"Yes," I said confidently.
"It was nice talking to you, gentlemen, but that's my cue," while standing up he gestured me to follow him.

"You may be wondering what we are going to do now." He raised one finger, "first, we'll go to where I'm staying. I still have some errands to run, can you believe that? And they could take a while." He raised another one, "secondly, you freshen up. New clothes are going to be arranged for you. Shoes, shirts, pants, everything. The ones you are wearing now are quite terrible." Another one, "thirdly, I'm going to hire a carriage. This all can't take more than an hour or two.

We arrived at a building that looked like a small castle. Of course, someone with his status lives here.
"Ah, there we are."

"Come on in," he said enthusiastically.
Entering there was a man in a brown uniform already ready to greet us both, was he a servant?
"Welcome back and you have brought a guest?"
"Kind of. We're only here on short notice so can you go and buy him some clothes after you show him where he can wash up."
"But of course," he bowed and looked at me. Eeming then left me with his attendant, "follow me, please."

Walking up long stairs, through the halls of the Magister's home I saw giant paintings of people and landscapes. I didn't know the places or people they depicted, they could have been real or not but they were beautiful, nonetheless.
"Are you perhaps an admirer of art?" His tone was that of extreme politeness.
"I wouldn't say so. Are these real places and people?"
"Some are. This one as an example is real," he gestured at a gigantic painting of a tiny house that was on an enormous mountain during sunset.
"That house is located on Yando, one of the smaller mountains in Adwukin."

Looking at some more paintings, I pointed out one that struck quite a resemblance to the Magister, "is this one of Eeming when he was younger?"
"No," his tone shifted, "this one is of the Master's son," he cleared his throat, "it was commissioned almost a decade ago."
He stopped, "here we are. Before you go in let me take your measures."
He produced a tape out of the folds in his clothing, "I am sorry but on such short notice I cannot order custom made clothes. The ones I get will only fit somewhat. Hopefully, they'll have your size."
After finishing taking my measures he added, "after you cleaned yourself and thoroughly wrapped a towel around yourself, do not step out. I will be here with the clothes in half an hour, at most. You can give me your luggage too, be assured I will treat it with extreme care."
He bowed again then left.

The room was like the bathhouse I visited not too long ago. All this for one person? I didn't know if he had a wife and after seeing the portrait of his son he could have more children. I was still curious how much the Magister had to earn to afford all this. I should ask him next time I get a chance. The tub was already filled with tepid water. I neatly folded my clothes and placed them on a cabinet and jumped into the water and started scrubbing. I put great care in being as clean as I could and after washing up I dried myself off with one towel and covered myself with another. There was a big mirror in the room, I wiped away the fog and slicked my hair back too, like how Eeeming had his. We did share some resemblances. In the test room, I clearly saw that he had blue eyes. And his hair was light too. Well, it was light because they had lost their color and turned gray. Surprisingly he had not lost his full hair to baldness in old age.

I waited for a bit then heard a knock at the door.
"I'm finished you can come in," I said.
It was the butler with the clothes.
He apologized, "forgive me for taking so long. I found an excellent coat but it would have been too long for you so I ordered them to make it shorter."
I didn't know what he apologized for, I hadn't yet been half an hour.

"The Master has stepped out and will be here soon. When you have finished dressing yourself, please come to the main hall. As for your 'other' clothing," he looked at them and then at me, "you don't have a problem with them being thrown out, do you?"
I shook my head. I didn't have any attachment to them. They were just clothes. I double-checked them just to make sure I didn't forget anything in the pockets.
"Good," he took them with as he left.
I put on the clothing. They were simple but of very good quality. Linen underwear, a blueish tunic, brown vest, gray pants, and even red knitted socks. The coat he ordered to make shorter was a shade of green. When I put everything on I looked like a mishmash of a rainbow. It would have been great to get something as elegant as Eeming was wearing but he was already too charitable to give me brand-new clothes so I didn't have anything to complain about.