The Pen Thief and the Division of Destiny by Tasha Madison

Author:Tasha Madison [Madison, Tasha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Hero Academy, LLC
Published: 2020-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

chapter 6

Seeing Red

The second royal rider placed the secret commodity entrusted to him from King Osric in his supply bag. He darted from the stables, riding south at top speed. The courier alternated between the jostle of a gallop and a less-intense canter. After traveling a great distance, he pushed his horse to keep riding. The royal stallion grew tired and became uncoordinated in his movements, his hind legs stepping on his front while the rider tried to navigate through muddy terrain.

The rider’s conceited determination caused the horse to throw a shoe. He hopped off and examined his steed. The hoof wall remained intact, but he saw a few nails still embedded there. So, he pulled out his metal pinchers from his supply bag and removed them.

Aggravated by the delay, he searched for a forge. He would need a fresh horseshoe. However, the blacksmith couldn’t assist him until later in the day due to other more important—and profitable—projects.

The messenger paid to have his horse stabled, watered, and fed. He grabbed his supply bag and walked to the tavern to pass the time. After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, boredom seeped in. When a couple of travelers invited him to a game of dice, he readily agreed. The three men decided to amuse themselves with several rounds of passage, a game of chance using three die, requiring each player to pass the sum of ten.

“Your names, gentlemen?” the royal rider asked.

“I’m Captain George Lockett, and this, here, be James Jellyfish Johnson.”

“You can call me Jellyfish or J.J. for short,” the other man said.

“Jellyfish?” the royal rider asked. “Why do they call you that?”

“I’m the quartermaster.” The messenger raised an eyebrow. “Punishment stings,” he said with a wink.

The envoy’s gaze wandered around the room. He stared at several men with short, billowing trousers with leather pockets stitched onto them. “Uh, okay … Where are you from?”

“The seas,” J.J. said flatly.

“Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?” Captain Lockett said. He opened a small chest and slammed it into view. The rider jolted backward as the metal clanged against the tavern’s wooden table. The captain laughed.

J.J.’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Men, ready your dice.”

The messenger pulled out three clay cubes from his supply bag. The two other seafarers yanked out their own sets from their dark leather boots. The men placed an ante of one coin into the metal chest and took turns rolling. The captain cast his wooden die first. He rolled a twelve. The royal rider held his breath. When he got a fifteen, he whooped victoriously. J.J. rolled a six. He slapped his hand against the wooden tabletop.

“Wow. Bad luck already? That’s unfortunate, especially so early in the game,” the royal rider said.

J.J. narrowed his eyes. His palm tightened into a fist. Captain Lockett tilted his head, and J.J. angrily jettisoned from the match. He retreated to another table to watch from a distance. The two remaining men took turns casting. As the messenger’s confidence skyrocketed, he suggested they increase their bets.

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