I put the sword back down and picked up the old looking long bow, knife and armor and glanced up to see the innkeeper looking really disappointed. "I'll trade the magic paper for these and food and ale and a night's lodging - in a room by myself, of course!"
He agreed, looking nervously at the sword I'd put back down and rubbed his obviously sweaty palms on his pants, [color:"#ffa0d0"]If yer other magic item is good, I'll let ye have the sword for it."[/color] He swallowed loudly and rushed into speech, [color:"#ffa0d0"] "It don't like me none, see? Ever'time I try to pick it up it kinda freezes me where I am for a few arns[/color] (hours). [color:"#ffa0d0"] It seems ta like you." [/color]
"Are you telling me it's cursed and you want me to trade my magic item for it?" I asked incredulously.
[color:"#ffa0d0"] "No, no no, It's not cursed fer the right person! Ye saw it never hurt you, now did it?"[/color]
I pulled out the pen and asked, "This is the magic spell writer, as long as you only write blessings with it - you will be blessed. But," I held up my finger, "if you ever write anything nasty about anyone with it, you will lose everything - family, friends, your business... I'll take the sword and an additional [color:"orange"]20 gold [/color] for it."
He licked his lips, and I could see he really wanted the pen (and this was without ever seeing it work). [color:"#ffa0d0"]"I dunno [/color][color:"orange"]20 gold [/color][color:"#ffa0d0"] is an awful lot!"[/color]
"Hold out your hand," I ordered him. He did, but his hand was trembling so bad, I had to grasp it firmly. "What's your name?"
[color:"#ffa0d0"]"Ian Alemeister." [/color]
I quickly wrote his name on his arm, and put magical symbols around it.[color:"#a0d0ff"] %Ian Alemeister%[/color]. "Write all your blessings this way and good things will come."
[color:"#ffa0d0"]"All right, all right, ye have a deal. Take it.[/color] He pointed wildly at the sword and then he counted out my [color:"orange"]20 gold [/color].
Then I saw it's sheath hidden far back in a dusty corner. "I'll make one last deal with you Master Ian."
He looked at me with his eyebrow raised, "Did you know you've acquired quite a few magical items in here?"
He hastily shook his head and glanced around as if something might creep out of a corner and attack him.
"I tell you what, I'll identify one of them for you if you'll give me the sheath back there in the corner." I pointed back where it was lying half under a box.
[color:"#ffa0d0"]"Please ... please do!"[/color] He stuttered hastily.
"Good or Evil?" I asked.
[color:"#ffa0d0"]"Wot do you mean, Good or Evil?"[/color] He looked at me as if I were crazy.
"Good magic item or evil magic item?" Gee, just like a man ... you have to explain everything.
[color:"#ffa0d0"]"Evil, I want to get rid of all evil"[/color] His words came out in a rush, and he still looked extremely spooked.
I looked around and pointed at a melevolent looking belt. "Be very careful who you sell that one to. It will sap their strength and eventually they will die."
I grabbed the sheath and walked back out to the tavern to get the promised food and drink. He followed me after locking the door to his storeroom. He served me himself, a steaming plate of stew and warm bread slathered with butter.
Last edited by DQueene; 01/06/03 04:24 AM.
