Free Fall - Into Other Worlds

Chapter 20 - To the Mage's Manor (Part 1)

The long missed cool breeze and the endless open sky above didn't help lift the sombre mood hanging over Kara and Mage Wix as they walked across the rolling meadows. They both felt the absence of the companion they'd heavily relied on for the past two weeks, and it didn't feel good. After hours of walking they finally saw the small huddled buildings of a village in the distance. So far they hadn't seen a single soul since leaving the Living Forest, which Mage Wix thought was odd. He'd been expecting bounty hunters to be waiting to attack them once they'd left the safety of the forest. As they got near the village he stopped and had Kara squat down on the grass with him.

"Here, take this talisman and be sure it stays on you," Wix ordered Kara while handing her a slip of paper he'd scribbled on. "It'll make you invisible, and only I will be able to see you" he told her. "Be careful not to bump into anyone or touch anything that'll draw attention to you."

"Why do I need to be invisible?" Kara asked with a frown. "I'm dressed in clothes from this world now, so it wouldn't be obvious where I'm from."

"If there are bounty hunters waiting within the village, they'd have a basic description of you, and would know you'd be travelling with a man," he explained. "So all young women travelling with an unrelated man would attract their attention. It's not as though many people would pass through this village in the middle of nowhere to begin with."

Kara nodded slightly, as she understood his point. The sun was low in the sky and they needed to hurry and secure a place to stay for the night. After Mage Wix activated his talisman, Kara rose to her feet and followed a few steps behind him as they walked towards the village. The houses were made from a mix of clay brick and stone with thatched roofs. The local villagers that were out in the street all stopped and stared with bewilderment at the arrival of a very pretty faced stranger. Kara understood their reaction, for she had stared at that beautiful face the same way when she'd first met Wix. Unfortunately his narcissistic tendencies and perverted nature had soon dulled his attractiveness in her eyes.   

After asking one of the friendlier looking villagers, they found their way to the local tavern. The noisy beer hall fell silent upon Mage Wix's entrance, and many eyes followed him as he approached the bar. Kara waited outside nervously, for it would be bad if she accidentally bumped into anyone inside.

"Hello my good sir," greeted Wix as he smiled at the gruff man behind the bar. "Do you have a room available for this weary traveller?"

The tavern owner had never seen a man with such a feminine face before, and being shown a sweet smile and fluttering lashes gave him chills. Looking away he began pouring ale into a cup. "There happens to be one room left, but it's small. This group of men here are filling up all me other rooms."

Mage Wix took a quick glance around at the men eyeing him up. "A small room is fine. I only need a roof over my head and a bed for the night. How much is it?" 

"Twelve coppers," replied the tavern owner. "Sixteen if you want a meal as well."

Mage Wix pulled out his purse and fished out twenty copper pieces. "I'll pay twenty and for breakfast tomorrow as well as a meal tonight."

The tavern owner nodded and took the money. "Lil' Jen!" he shouted, and a small framed girl came scurrying out from the back. "Show this man to the empty room on the far right."

The young girl nodded. "Follow me sir," she told Mage Wix. 

"Would it be possible for my meal to be brought to the room?" Wix asked the tavern owner. "I'm exhausted from walking all day."

"Not a problem," the man replied.

Mage Wix ignored the many suspicious eyes following him, and walked after the little girl. Leaving the beer and food hall, they walked along a narrow corridor that then split to the left and the right. Doors were spread down either side of the corridor, and Wix was led to the door at the very end of the right pathway.