Wizard Rising by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing
Published: 2011-12-15T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Early that afternoon, the storm began. Snow fell lightly at first, big, beautiful flakes that seemed to dance on the air. As he finished off Ellie’s delicious apple tart, the snowfall increased. The air seemed to fill with millions of white snowflakes until everything seemed to be white, or at least a shade of white. Zollin quickly made his way back to the village, following the trail in the snow the horses had made earlier that morning.

When he stepped out of the stable after rubbing down his horse and noticing that Brianna had tended to Lilly, he couldn’t see the inn. He knew it was only thirty or so feet from the stable, but all he could see was snow. It was everywhere. He had seen snowstorms like this a few times in his life, had heard stories of people being lost out in the open, unable to make their way back to their village and freezing to death. He was confident that wouldn’t happen, but he wasn’t sure he could make his way to the other side of the inn without staggering around like a blind man. He walked as straight as possible until he was only a few feet away from the inn, and suddenly the low-roofed structure loomed up out of the whiteness ahead of him. He could vaguely make out a door. He didn’t knock but pulled open the door and stumbled in.

The room he was in was full of wine barrels and kegs of ale. There was a commotion, and the innkeeper hurried in looking worried.

“Oh, it’s you,” he said. “I warned you about the weather.”

“Yes, and I’m glad you did. I got back just in time. Thank you.”

“Ah,” the innkeeper’s smile returned. “It’s my pleasure. Right this way, and I’ll show you to the common room.”

Zollin followed the plump man through the maze of rooms, some used as pantries, others as kitchens and laundry rooms. He had never thought of the amount of work it took to keep up an inn. It made him feel bad for Ellie. They bumped into her as she hurried around the corner carrying empty ale mugs.

“Oh, Zollin, when did you get back?” she said, looking a little embarrassed.

“Just now, and just in time, I’d say,” said her father. “The white-out is coming on strong—we’ll be busy. Make sure there’s extra food being prepared, hurry along.”

She nodded and hurried off.

“She’s a hard worker, that one. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. Be looking to find her a good match soon,” he said.

Zollin didn’t miss the hint in the innkeeper’s voice. He wondered why a man with an inn would be so quick to want to marry his daughter to a stranger. He didn’t have much time to ponder the thought. When he stepped into the common room, he found it half full of townsfolk already.

“What about the weather?” he asked the innkeeper. “How will these people find their way home?”

“They won’t; they’ll stay here.”

“Oh,” Zollin said. It made sense; there was plenty of food and space for everyone.

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