Elemental Summoner 1 by D. Levesque (best beach reads of all time TXT) 📕

Bryan behind me, I move up in the line as folks are let in. Once it’s our turn, I notice that there are guards all over the place at the gate. I count twelve so far, but I am sure there are more inside. I walk to the large gate entrance, and there is a man in a red colored robe sitting at a small desk with a chair, in the middle of the dirt road. There is a stack of papers in front of him, and a quill and a bottle of ink beside them.

Without looking up, he asks, “Business?” in a bored tone.

“Hmm. I am here for lodging and to buy supplies,” I tell him, thankful that Bryan had instructed me on what to say.

He puts a mark on the paper, looks up, and then looks behind me. Seeing who I am with, he sits up attentively. “That will be two gold,” he says with a smile.

Bryan had mentioned this too, “Really now? Two gold? Should I go see the city magistrate and tell him that one of his servants is seeking to rob me?” I ask softly.

“Oh, did I say two gold?” he says, licking his lips. “I meant to say, two coppers. I am sorry, a slip of the tongue there.”

Bryan said that since he is with me, they will assume I am rich and have deep pockets. And most likely, this person will have been here every day and having never have seen me before, would try to fleece me on the price. Taking out two coppers, I drop them on the table and head towards the gate’s entrance. Then I hear the guard speak behind me.

“That will be one silver for you, you filthy Elf bitch,” the man in red says.

I turn around to see who he is talking to. He is looking at Leeha. “I am sorry,” I tell him with a snap in my voice. “I was not aware that my slave was required to pay to get in?” The anger in my voice is very real because of the way he just spoke to Leeha.

He looks back at me in shock and blurts out, “I am sorry, my Lord. I was not aware she was with you. I only assumed the Knight was, for your protection.”

“Leeha, show me where the inn is before I get upset with this idiot and douse his fire,” I tell her, snapping my fingers at her. We had agreed beforehand that if I needed to use my magic, I would use Water. So this let the man know I was a Water mage.

At that comment, the man bows and says apologetically, “I am sorry. I did not know you were a mage.”

“And how does that matter when swindling people?” Shaking my head, still playing my part, I say to Bryan, “Shall we?”

“Yes, my Lord,” Bryan says respectfully.

I turn around and head inside the city. My first city on this new world. Wonder what I can expect here? I doubt it will be like a city in Boston. I had always wanted to visit a town in Ireland or Scotland. The older ones, I mean. Not the new ones full of skyscrapers and stuff. And here I am, about to walk into a city that is so medieval it’s on another planet! Doubt I will find a Starbucks here! Shit, do they have coffee here?

Chapter Thirteen

“This one?” I ask Leeha, pointing to the sign of a white sheep jumping over a bed.

“Yes, sir. That is the White Sheep Inn,” Leeha says demurely, with her head down. I know she is playing a part so that she doesn’t stand out, but I loathe it. I want her to be herself, but I know she can’t until we’re behind closed doors. And even then, she said she needs to be careful.

What fucking kind of world did God put me in? I am not sure I like this place anymore, even with its magic.

Nodding, I head inside, followed by Bryan and Leeha. The place is as I expected. The whole fucking city was. Walking through it was like walking backwards through time and being planted into a medieval movie! Just with a smattering of Elves, Rabinis, and Felinis added in. Everywhere I looked I saw dirt roads, horses, and hawkers selling their wares. Even beggars, though I noticed they were all human.

I enter through the open double doors and wait for my eyes to adjust. It’s dark inside, with only candles lighting the room. There’s a large candle chandelier hanging from the ceiling on a large rope, and there are tables with people seated at them, eating meals and drinking mugs of what I assume is the local version of booze. Beer maybe?

I see a bar against one wall, and a large man is standing behind it, drying a cup with a cloth. If he isn’t the owner, I will eat my shirt. In stories, movies, and games, that was always a sign of the owner. Drying a mug with a cloth.

I walk up to him and nod once I get close, and he nods back. “Be you looking for rooms, my Lord,” he says, looking behind me and seeing Bryan before adding ‘my lord.’

Nodding to him, I confirm, “Yes please, for the night. I need two rooms. One for my guard, preferably next to me or in front of me in case I am in need of his services. And one for myself.”

“Stay is five silver per room, but it includes a late supper meal of mutton stew with bread and with one pint of ale each. Meal for your slave is one copper and includes a day-old chunk of bread and a mug of water,” he says, noticing Leeha behind me.

“Very well, but how much more for a second meal for myself with an extra pint of ale? I have been on the road all day, and honestly, I am a big eater,” I tell him, holding