Zenon leaned against a tree, arms crossed, while Alazne ate some fruit she found on a vine. Not sure eating some strange fruit on a strange world was a good idea, he declined.
The squirrel happily chattered away as it ate pine nuts that Alazne kept handing over. It winked at him and he blinked.
“You really should eat something, stubborn man,” the squirrel said.
Stars, could this quest get any weirder? Zenon finally found a healer, or at least someone who knew one, had to chase her down while being chased, convince her he wasn’t trying to kill her or kidnap her or whatever her fear was, only to find he was harboring a talking squirrel that had some affinity for the witch. And, apparently, was also concerned about his eating habits.
To make things even weirder, Alazne kept going on about summoning powers, more of that magic craziness she kept spouting about.
Oh, and the voice he heard earlier. Of course, he couldn’t forget about that voice.
Alazne drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I can feel the power of life on this planet.” Looking up at him, chewing slowly on the fruit, she said, “Can you?”
“I can,” the squirrel said cheerily.
And that. All that was weirder than he could believe. He refused to call any of this magic. There was no explaining the squirrel, but it wasn’t magic.
No, the squirrel could be explained. Watching the creature’s movements, he narrowed his eyes. It was some sort of tech, a robot someone built. A robot that was finely tuned to the physiologies of the warm-blooded bipeds around it, but a robot all the same. Some kid on the barn world was probably looking for it.
Pushing off the tree, he reached down to grab the squirrel. He would love to examine the tech further.
The robot squeaked, avoiding his hand, taking cover near Alazne’s knee.
“Oh, come on wizard, humor me,” Alazne said.
Humor her? Oh, yes, she wanted to know if he could feel some sort of power. Stars, why did this woman insist he was a wizard?
Tensing his lips, he decided to just go with it. Nothing wrong with listening to the birds, he shrugged. They did sound nice, the birds; melodious in their existence, flitting across the vines as they pursued their daily activities.
A small tingle of energy coursed through his fingertips. Mouth agape, he slapped them over his thighs to make the tingling stop. That was farking weird—
“Nothing,” he said too quickly. “I feel absolutely nothing at all.”
There was a rustling in the trees and he paused, a slight jolt in his heart, the thought that some wild animal was about to eat them before he could get anywhere near a healer for his mother.
Then a stick not unlike Alazne’s popped out of the branches, flying straight at him. Oh no, he was going to be impaled!
“Ha,” Alazne cried, robot leaping to her shoulder as she sprung to her feet. “I knew it!”
“Knew what?” Zenon sidestepped away from the stick just before it hit him in the chest.
Matching his movement, it stopped mere inches away, hovering in a pattern of waves. Feeling slight relief it didn’t impale him, he didn’t know what to make of a thin piece of wood hanging in the air.
“You do believe in magic,” Alazne said.
“Stars woman, how many times do I have to say it? There is no such thing. And what the hell kind of tech is this?” He slapped at the stick, which tried to adhere itself to his palm. Jumping away, he shook his hand at the air as if something unsavory clung to it.
“Goddess,” Alazne sounded breathless. “You are a wizard. You just don’t know it yet.”
Chapter 5
As the wand continued to hover and Zenon continued to swat at it like a bug, Alazne couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
This man was an idiot in so many ways, yet there was something great about him. For a wand to seek him out after merely acknowledging the surrounding life had some power—
She was witnessing the birth of a very powerful wizard. No wonder he kept denying it; he simply didn’t know he was one. Now if she could get him to believe magic was real, Goddess Universe would smile on her for waking him up.
“I knew he had it in him,” the squirrel said from its perch on her shoulder.
Alazne couldn’t put a finger on what that meant. Did the squirrel know him somehow? He swore it came from the barn—
Don’t think too hard on it, the squirrel’s tiny voice sounded in her mind.
Whoah, she knew familiars could speak in the minds of their witches, but she was amazed and delighted by how clear the voice was. It was more than that; this animal spirit could read her mind. Would she be able to read the familiar’s mind one day? Right now, she couldn’t read anything.
She concentrated on the squirrel’s presence on her shoulder, focusing on what it could be thinking—
Nope, nothing. If anything, it felt like the squirrel was closing itself off.
What is your name? Alazne asked in her thoughts, hoping the familiar would hear.
My name is Ariad, the squirrel said. Alazne felt giddy from head to toe. Ariad heard her. Wonderful!
“Get away.” Zenon’s voice interrupted her concentration.
Slapping at the wand that kept trying to attach itself to his hand, he walked quickly towards the forest, then doubled back sharply. The wand followed, unhindered.
Unable to help herself, she laughed. She never knew of a wizard running from his wand.
“It’s not funny,” he said, voice tight as he doubled around again, all but yelling out in fear of the wand touching him.
“It wants to go with you,” she said. “Just grab it.”
“It wants?” Zenon zigzagged. “It’s just a stick. A possessed one!”
Running sideways, head turned to see behind him, the wand followed in midair.
She laughed so hard her stomach hurt. Trying to catch her breath, “You don’t believe in magic, but you believe in possession?”
“Are you rejuvenated yet? Open a portal and let’s get off this stars-forsaken world.” He continued the dance, the wand matching his every move.
“Okay, but it will keep following you.”
The self-proclaimed witch wasn’t kidding. Zenon thought he could run from the damnable stick if they went through a dimensional doorway, that it would be stopped like those police quadruped beings. It simply followed him through.
Tall buildings lined a long road, crisscrossed with side streets. Giant potted trees lined concrete sidewalks bustling with pedestrians, pots big enough to hold at least five bi-peds.
People whispered as they passed by, some staring, mouths agape.
Zenon turned slightly to look behind him. The stick stopped moving, floating as if it was the most natural thing in the world for a stick to do. He started walking again and it followed along, moving in pace with him.
Well, if he saw a man walking down the street with a stick following him, his mouth would fall open too.
The squirrel chittered, giggling to itself as if on some inside joke. Zenon wasn’t amused about any of it. A talking squirrel, a witch purporting magic was real, and now a hovering stick with a mind of its own. What could possibly happen next?
Giving the squirrel a sideways glance, he looked for any sign of mechanics. There had to be a seam or a bolt, something. Whoever made it did an amazing job; it was damn fine tech.
Turning his attention back to the street and the whispering onlookers, he asked, “What is this place?”
He hadn’t traveled much outside of the Far Expanse.
“This place, my strange handsome friend, is the urban planet of Quan.” Alazne swept her arm out to take in the entire street.
His lip quirked upwards. “You think I’m handsome?”
She turned towards him, hands on her hips. “I think you’re strange.”
He laughed. “The feeling’s mutual, I think.”
The soft smile she gave in return warmed his heart. Then he remembered he couldn’t act on any feelings he migh
t be having for her, effectively pouring cold water over the warmth.
They stopped in front of a complex of tall brick townhomes. It looked like a nice place to live, but why would they be stopping here?
As if the witch was reading his mind, she announced, “I said I would take you to a healer and here we are; my friend Jessa’s house.”
“I like Jessa’s house,” the squirrel said from Alazne’s shoulder.
Ignoring the robot, Zenon felt such gratitude in that moment. Alazne didn’t waste any more time in getting him what he needed. A part of him was sad that they might be about to part ways.
He glared at the floating stick, which was now hovering beside him, as if it was waiting to find the healer too. Whatever was going on with this strange ‘magic,’ he’d figure it out later. His mother came first.
Alazne watched Zenon flick at his wand. She was certain the whispering onlookers were talking about her, especially after the incident. But, the hovering wand was likely a curiosity too. And his clothing probably wasn’t helping—
Shaking her head, she focused her attention on Jessa’s house and frowned. Despite the blazing sun, it was darker than usual. There were no lights running on the inside or outside. Ariad crawled to her back, peeking over her shoulder.
Zenon must have picked up on her alarm, because he said, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Something isn’t right.”
Alazne knocked on the door. Nothing. There was a buzzer, so she tried that. She could hear the chime of bells sounding inside.
After waiting a few more seconds, she tried turning the doorknob. It was locked. Still, no one came to the door.
Zenon peeked through the window. “Could she be on a house call?”
“No. She told me she’d be here,” Alazne said.
“She did?” He gave her a surprised look.
“Don’t ask stupid questions,” Ariad said and Zenon’s gaze turned into a glare.
Alazne was too worried for jokes, though she wasn’t sure if anyone was joking. “She already knew I was coming. I was on my way to see her when you found me. I’m only a day late.”
And Jessa had told her she had a few days off work. Of course, there could have been an emergency, but why were there no lights on anywhere? That was highly unusual of Jessa. She always kept every single light on that could be turned on. It was just her quirky way.
Stomach knotting, Alazne turned to walk to the end of the complex.
“Where are you going?” Zenon said.
“The back. I know a way in.”
They rounded to the back of the residential complex and Zenon stopped at the gate to a small back yard. Alazne continued to Jessa’s back patio. Rummaging through the potted plants, she found what she was looking for; a small brass key.
Turning to see if Zenon was coming, she paused.
“Breaking and entering?” he said. “Maybe we should just wait out here. Surely she’s just on an emergency call.”
“I’m not breaking anything,” Alazne retorted. But she was definitely entering. “You stay out here and continue to feed the town gossip.”
He snorted. If she wasn’t so worried about her friend, she’d have fawned over how cute it was.
Letting herself in and closing the door behind her, she braced herself. But there wasn’t anything out of place. No sign of a struggle.
Oh, whoops, maybe she should have knocked a little harder. Perhaps Jessa was just asleep. The lights being off still bothered her, though. Jessa kept the lights on all the time, even when sleeping.
Someone large approached from behind, Ariad scampering into her jacket pocket. She pulled her blaster, turning to face the being—
Zenon jumped back, hands in the air. “Woman, you are going to kill me yet.”
“Goddess, Zenon, don’t sneak up on a witch, especially dressed like that.” She lowered the weapon.
Ariad’s head popped up from her pocket. “How could you be so stupid?”
“Unless she’s asleep, I don’t think your friend is home,” he said, looking towards the stairwell, clearly ignoring the squirrel.
“I thought you weren’t coming in,” Alazne said, feeling the smirk on her face.
“Decided not to feed the town gossip.” The grin he returned made her want to fan herself.
Goddess, Alazne, get it together. Giving herself a firm shake, she headed up the stairs and into a scene that made her hair stand on end. Ariad disappeared into her jacket pocket again.
“Zenon,” she called, not wanting to face whatever this was alone.
Drawers were scattered about, their contents strewn throughout the hallway that led to Jessa’s room. Small tables were overturned and she stepped over them as Zenon arrived at the top of the stairs. Afraid to enter the bedroom, she walked slowly, blaster drawn, towards the closed door.
Zenon pulled his own blaster, brushing past, holding out his hand to stop her. His wand vibrated with energy, buzzing around him, all but speaking its demand to be yielded. He didn’t slap it away or do anything, clearly choosing to ignore it.
“Let me,” he said, moving forward towards the bedroom, buzzing wand following. He looked at it. “Quiet, stick.”
The wand fell silent.
Alazne held her breath as he approached the bedroom door. Reaching out, he grasped the knob and turned—
The door swung open, hitting the side wall with a bang. Leveling his blaster, he rushed in. Alazne heard another door open with a resounding bang, likely the bathroom door.
Soon, he appeared back at the entrance. “No one is here, but the place is wrecked.”
Alazne moved into the room and gasped. The bed was completely turned over, mattress torn, stuffing strewn. No piece of furniture was left standing. What in the universe happened?
Zenon didn’t know what to say as Alazne stood in silence, hand over her mouth. His first thought was to ask if she knew another healer, but he held his tongue. That would be a pretty insensitive question at the moment.
He looked around the room.
Putting his arm around her shoulders, he said, “C’mon, we need to go.”
Go where? He had no idea. Just out of that domicile.
Alazne let him lead her out, the damnable stick still following like a lost puppy. He didn’t think to go out the same way they came in until they were on the front stoop, an old passerby stopping to watch them.
“You are looking for the healer?” the old man said. Without waiting for an answer, he added, “They took her.”
Alazne seemed to perk up, standing straighter as the squirrel poked its head out. “Who took her?”
“Ask him.” The old man pointed at Zenon. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here in full sight of everyone, Witch Hunter. The only reason no one has attacked you is because your wand is following you.”
Zenon did a double take between the old man and the hovering stick. Being called a ‘Witch Hunter’ made sense based off his clothing and Alazne’s accounting of hunters. But, his wand? As in a witch’s wand?
“You’ve caused quite the gossip. Folks are trying to figure out why you’re so familiar too—”
Oh, fark skin. He raised his hand to rub at the ridge of his nose, hoping the gesture would hide his face from the old man’s keen eyes.
“We need to find you something else to wear,” Alazne said and he nearly sighed in relief when she didn’t question why anyone would think him familiar. The last thing he needed right now was a media storm.
“When was she taken?” Alazne asked the old man.
“Day before yester,” he said. “Strange thing they come to this world and not take anyone else.”
Zenon nodded, realizing it was a strange thing indeed, especially since this was a world full of witches. Why only target one?
“Do you know where they went?” he said next.
The old man looked down one side of the street and then the other. “They went that way.” He pointed west.
Zenon felt his
head turn sideways. Hoping for the name of a planet, a town, something, that’s not exactly what he meant.
“Thank you,” he said all the same, pulling Alazne along as he headed west. At least, he thought it was west.
“Hunters captured her,” Alazne said, voice tight. “I don’t understand. What could they be using her for?”
“I don’t know,” Zenon said, holding his hand over his face as they walked past a middle-aged couple.
“They were trying to capture me too, us. I wondered why they weren’t shooting to kill. Until now, all they did was kill witches.”
“Hunters kill witches?” the squirrel said, voice pitched in squeaky alarm.
“See?” Zenon couldn’t help himself. “Not everyone knows what Hunters are for.”
“Hunters aren’t supposed to kill witches,” the tiny voice continued. “They’re supposed to be looking for healers.”
Zenon’s eyes narrowed on the squirrel. He thought it sounded like his mother when it asked how he could be so stupid, but now it really sounded like her. Did she program a robot to follow him, make sure he found a healer for her?
Bending down to get a better look, still looking for that telltale sign of something mechanical, it disappeared into Alazne’s pocket.
Suddenly, he got the strange feeling they were being watched. The possessed stick, he refused to call it a wand, started buzzing again, circling around him like a force field.
“Someone’s following us,” he said.
Chapter 6
Alazne froze, turning that skeptical look Zenon kept giving her on him. “Are you sure? How do you know?”
“Call it intuition,” he said, looking down the street.
Yea, right. A wizard having ‘intuition’ wasn’t a coincidence at all, though she didn’t sense any immediate danger.
Queens of Wings & Storms Page 30