Read Drakonika (Book 1) for Free Online Page A

watching the strong man lock up the door with several heavy bars and padlocks. Magnus was about to ask him what everyone was so afraid of, but the words all died out in his throat before he could even speak them aloud. After all, anyone would be able to tell that he was a stranger then !
    The inn keeper rounded on Magnus with a broad smile which could hardly be seen through his shaggy moustache. “We wouldn't want any of them ter get in here, now would we?”
    Magnus shook his head jerkily. He tried to look as knowledgeable as he could, although his big eyes were too wide for that.
    In the next moment, the inn keeper lead him to an empty table right in front of the fire place. Magnus was still shaking with cold. He dropped his backpack under the table clumsily. Like a bag of boulders, he fell into the chair and couldn't make another move. The bartender was still leaning over him, waiting to hear a word from him but after a moment of silence he had to remind Magnus of his presence. “So? Yeh havin' anythin', boy?” the bartender said, rubbing his hands as he expected a promising order.
    Although it was difficult to not hear the bartender's strong voice, Magnus hardly took notice of him . His attention was completely drawn to the fireplace emitting heat that was pleasantly warming his wet back. He only noticed the presence of the tall, strong man when he leaned closer to him and waved his hand in front of Magnus' eyes.
    Magnus gasped as he jerked back into reality. He finally noticed the drops of water falling off his clothes onto the wooden floor. But what was even worse for him were the cold water drops falling off his hat right onto his chest.
    The bartender had never seen anyone in his life taking off their hat faster than this young boy just did. “I think yeh've already had a pint or two,” he remarked suspiciously.
    Magnus didn't react to these words at all. His gaze was distant and his senses felt frozen as though he just came inside from a huge snow storm. “Could you p-please bring me something?” he spit out finally, with his voice still shaking.
    “Certainly, but if yeh mean alcohol, I'll have to say no . I think yeh've already had enough,” said the inn keeper and glanced at Magnus closely. “And why are you still shaking like that? It's not freezing outside!” he said pointedly. He couldn't have overlooked that Magnus was trembling all over since he had entered the inn.
    “ Please,” Magnus repeated, “could you bring me a large beef steak? And a warm tea. And candles, many candles. So many that I can fill the whole table with them. And a room with a fireplace so huge it will reach the ceiling,” he said blankly.
    Throughout the years of working in this tavern, the bartender had heard lots of strange requests from his guests. Never had anyone asked him for a table full of candles though! He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Very well then,” he said airily, straightening up. “I am sorry if I sound rude, but do yeh have money for all that?”
    Money? This question struck Magnus like a shot in the head. How could he have any money? He groped all over his clothes in haste. Then he remembered Valezar's words: “you could use that pouch of yours”. Of course, the pouch! He completely forgot he had it on his belt. That was probably because he had forgotten everything else too.
    He dragged two coins from his pouch and holding them in his shaking hand, he pored over them in confusion. He had no idea where he had come by that money or what value it had. As he was gazing at them, feeling utterly dazed, the gold coins slipped from his numb fingers and with a heavy rumbling sound they fell onto the wooden table.
    The b artender's eyes sparkled with delight. What he saw on Magnus' table was his yearly earning! “I guess that will do!” he said and grinned widely, pocketing the gold coins. The tavern's kitchen was instantly turned into a working hive.
    When Magnus finally got the chance to look around, he