The Sorcerer's Legacy by Brock Deskins Page A

be your room for as long as you stay here, Grick. My room is through the other door you saw on this level. My apprentice has a room on the floor above this one. My head cook has a room just off the kitchen. We are the only three that actually live in the keep now. My apprentice is a young girl named Ellyssa. You will see her around from time to time. I only require that you treat everyone with respect and courtesy and I expect them to do the same for you. If you are mistreated by anyone, you are to tell me right away.”
    “This is Grick’s room?” the goblin asked as he looked around the small room in awe.
    “Yes. I know it is not very large but it is the only other one that is finished, and since you don’t take up much space yourself I thought it would suffice,” Azerick replied with a smile.
    Grick had never lived in a room so magnificent. An actual bed—with real blankets and not some burlap bag he found in the trash! The other wizard made him sleep on the floor in the corner of his laboratory—when he was allowed to sleep at all.
    “How long does Grick stay here?” he asked nervously, wondering when the dream would end.
    Azerick shrugged his shoulders. “Until you decide to leave. If you decide that you do not like it here or find your job unsuitable, your are free to leave whenever you like,” Azerick informed him. “You are not a slave or a prisoner here, Grick. You may come and go as you please, but if you decide to leave, just let me know first.”
    “Master Azerick is too kind to Grick. Grick never want to leave beautiful room and gracious master,” the goblin proclaimed with a sense of purpose and acceptance welling up inside him that he had never felt before.
    “Good,” Azerick said warmly,” because I have a real rat problem and I am glad to have someone to take care of it for me. Feel free to get yourself settled in. I am sure you are tired after a big lunch, not to mention being teleported.”
    Grick nodded and walked further into the room, inspecting the furniture and looking out the shuttered glass window. He had an actual glass window! Grick was living like a noble! The goblin turned around to look at Azerick and express his appreciation once more but the sorcerer had left him alone in the room. Grick faced the window once more, turned the brass handle and swung it open. Breathing in the fresh air, he let out a sigh of utter contentment, crawled onto his bed, and fell blissfully asleep.

CHAPTER 4
     
     
    The page ran down the hall, his soft leather shoes slapping a rapid cadence that echoed down the silent corridor. He came to a stop just outside the room of the man he was sent to fetch and adjusted his doublet before knocking sharply on the door.
    “What is it?” Lord Alton demanded sharply.
    “Milord, his grace requires your presence in the study immediately,” the page called through the door, relaying the duke’s orders.
    The page leapt away as the elderly lord swung the door open with enough force to send it crashing against the wall and shoved past the startled underling. This was the first time that the duke had spoken to anyone since General Baneford’s betrayal. Alton hesitated outside the study for a moment before taking a deep breath and pushing his way inside.
    Duke Ulric was standing in front of the fireplace drinking a glass of chardonnay. Lord Alton had overseen the repair of library after the duke’s outburst but evidence of the destruction was still evident. Several of the bookshelves showed deep gouges and many of the shelves remained empty as a team of scribes continued to work diligently to repair the destroyed books. The walls were bare where tapestries once hung, pedestals that once displayed rare and expensive vases now stood empty, and the chairs had been replaced.
    “Your Grace, you sent for me?” the chamberlain asked with trepidation.
    “Yes, Alton, I have a mission for you. I need you to contact the Hell’s Legion mercenary company. Pay whatever