Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

He would enjoy getting to know her better.

Thomas entered the great hall shaking his head and laughing. He joined Magnus at the table, helping himself to Reena’s plate of food. “Horace is sticking close to Reena, especially since she is sharing her food with him.”

Magnus cringed. “Now he will not only be a coward, he will be a spoiled coward.”

“She is fast and accurate in her mapping skills. I watched her and was surprised by the details she included. I never noticed that cleric David stacks his wood in a particular order, but Reena did and drew it exactly how he stacked it. She also made certain to include where all weapons and tools were located.”

“What you are saying is that her skills could prove useful to us?”

Thomas refilled his plate. “Aye, very useful, since most maps are crudely drawn and lack detail, but Reena includes things one would not expect on a map. It is as though her eye must record whatever she sees. And your plans were to go to Culberry regardless of the plight of Reena’s village.”

“It would not be wise for her to be aware of my plans.”

“Or the truth behind them?”

“That is for me alone.”

Thomas shrugged and reached for a thick slice of bread. “Stubborn as usual.”

His remark did not bother Magnus. “My stubbornness is my shield.”

“Your stubbornness is your prison. Reena seems a good lass and her talents could prove useful. Why not just tell her you go her way, offer the assistance you know you will not deny her and give her a position as your official mapmaker—that would settle everything.”

“I could do that, but I think what brought Reena to me was more than just help for her village.”

“What else does she seek?”

“Life.”

“Then your plans do include her? For you can teach her much of life.”

Magnus smiled. “Aye, my plans include her.”

“I like her.”

“Do you, now?” Magnus said.

Thomas blushed a bright red. “Not that way. She is a nice woman and has courage.”

Magnus leaned his arms on the edge of the table. “What you mean is that she was not intimidated by the sight of you.”

Thomas shrugged, as if a woman’s reaction to him mattered not. “She faced me with courage and spoke her mind—and shortly after, she talked with me as though we were friends.”

Magnus felt for his friend. While Thomas had known women, he had never known love. Deserted at the young age of five, he had been raised by the brutal innkeeper at the inn where he had been abandoned. The man had physically abused Thomas, breaking his nose several times. It was by chance—though Magnus often thought it was fate that he had stopped at the dismal inn—that Thomas had come to a much welcome rescue when a band of thieves had attempted to rob Magnus. Afterward they had shared several ales and talked well into the night; by morning Thomas had left with Magnus. That had been eight years ago, when Thomas had barely been twenty and Magnus twenty and three. They had been together ever since, their friendship growing stronger with the passing years.

While Magnus never lacked for female companionship, coins were the only way Thomas could find a companion. Magnus hoped that one day his friend would find a woman who would accept him for who he was.

“Reena is much like me,” Thomas said.

Magnus found his remark curious. “How so?”

“Many misjudge her. They think her weak because she is small and thin, like many think me stupid because I am large and ugly.”

“Looks deceive,” Magnus said. He had been surprised to learn that Thomas was more intelligent than anyone could imagine and could even read and write. A man who had traveled extensively with a troupe of performers had stopped at the inn and taken a room. He had been penniless, and with no coin to pay the innkeeper, he had been put to work at the inn, and he and Thomas had formed a friendship. The man had taught him to read and write before sneaking off one night with a troupe of performers passing by.

“Your looks deceive also.”

“Aye, they do,” Magnus admitted. “My fine features make many think me a fine man.”

“Until they see you dressed for battle,” Thomas said and shivered. “You put the fear of the devil in the devil himself. Your eyes turn cold and empty, your features grow taut and the air around you grows heavy with fear.”

“It is who I am—the Legend.”

“It is not who you are.” Thomas said no more. There was no need; both men knew and understood each other well. Their bond of friendship was strong, their insight into each other that of loving brothers.

“It is who I am out of necessity.”

“Aye, life does that to us all—teaches us to deal out of necessity.”

Magnus turned silent and looked deep in thought.