Chapter 9Mage Edarin was the first to arrive the following morning, soon after sunrise. He wore a simple short tunic over matching dark breeches and tall boots, with a large haversack over his shoulders. To look at him, anyone would have thought he was yet another commoner and nothing more. Roland immediately took him into the workroom, closing the door behind them. That left Lochlan to admit the rest of the expected men.
Walcher and Piers showed up soon after, this time looking exactly like what they were, mercenaries or sell-swords who hired out to protect travelers from danger on the roads of the kingdom. They had thick leather tunics over rough-spun shirts and breeches, woolen cloaks, and tall boots. Each of them carried a bastard sword in a sheath across their back, plus a short swor
