A Touch of Magic by Gregory Mahan Read Free Book Online Page A

found an unoccupied table, and steered Randall toward it. They weren’t seated long before Melinda came over, looking harried. Randall tensed, waiting for the teasing he was sure to receive after his terrible performance on the practice mound today. He would have slid down and hidden under the table if he thought he could have gotten away with it. But surprisingly, Melinda completely ignored him. “What can I get for you, sir?” she asked Earl.
    “Give me a stout ale, wench. And a short beer for the lad. And bring us both somethin’ to eat,” Earl ordered.
    Melinda nodded. “As you wish, sir,” she said, and turned back toward the bar. Earl gave her a swat on the rump as she left, but she didn’t even flinch. Randall’s eyes were wide with shock.
    “What?” Earl asked, his innocent look breaking into a wide, mischievous grin. “That’s how those macho sword-types act, or hadn’t you noticed?”
    Randall had noticed. Melinda got catcalls and comments from quite a few men as she walked to the bar. Some of them even reached out to pat her rear or pinch her on various parts of her body. She ignored them all. No wonder she hated soldiers so much! Randall spent several long moments looking around the room after Melinda disappeared into the kitchen. It was the first time he had ever seen men out and carousing away from their families. It was an eye-opening experience. He had never seen such raucous chaos, and he had a hard time imagining Pa joining in such festivities the few times a year he traveled to Paranol on business.
    “Well, lad, here she comes with our drinks. Probably best if you play the part, and give her a squeeze yourself.”
    Randall didn’t think his eyes could go any wider, but he was sure they did. His heart started hammering in his chest, and he could feel his ears burning. As Melinda sat their drinks on the table, Earl gave him a wink, and mouthed “Go on!” making a face to egg him on. Randall was frozen. He thought his chest was going to burst, his heart was beating so loudly. Earl made a great show of fishing in his pouch for coin, causing Melinda to turn toward him. Earl glanced up at Randall once, and it was clear to Randall from the lopsided grin on Earl’s face that he would fish for coins all night until Randall did as he was told. Blushing furiously, he reached his hand up under her skirt and timidly gave her butt a pinch. Not as soft as I’d imagined , he noted abstractly.
    “Randall Miller !” her voice came out as a high pitched squeal as she came up on her toes out of reflex. The tables around them went deathly quiet and she spun to face him, her face a mask of fury. “How dare you,” she shrieked, her hand rising for a slap.
    Randall cowered down, trying to protect his face with his arms, but the blow never came.
    “Melinda!” a voice roared from the bar, staying her hand. It was her father. “You’ve got customers here that need serving. Quit dallying and get to it.”
    “Yes Daddy,” she answered, gruffly before grabbing her serving tray and storming away.
    Earl was nearly falling out of his chair with laughter. “Ho ho! You’ve got a little spunk after all, boy,” he choked out between spasms of laughter. “I’ll bet that’s the first time anyone’s ever pinched her under her skirt, boy!”
    Oh no! Randall thought, hiding his face in his hands and blushing to his ears. One of the militiamen passing by slapped Randall on the back and said “Good show! You shoulda seen her eyes, they got wide as saucers!” The smell of beer on his breath was staggering. His eyes took a long moment to focus as he peered down at Randall. “Heeey! Hey, ain’t you the kid that took that wallop to the noggin this mornin’?” Randall thought he was going to die of embarrassment.
    “Hey, what he lacks in brains, he makes up for in balls!” Earl said, in high spirits. “You can train any monkey to hold a sword, but you gotta be born with balls.”
    “Gods’ own truth,