by B. W. Catt
Shalerie walked over to the dress she made a moment earlier, throwing it into the air she clapped her hands together. The dress quickly became one with the armor causing the armor to disappear. Sebial jumped up in amazement.
“How!? How did you do that?! Where did the armor go?” Sebial walked over to the dress. She ran her hands along the dress before squeezing it. “The dress seems so soft, is the armor really one with it now or is it gone forever?”
Shalerie smiled. “Of course, it feels soft, Princess Sebial. I only use the finest cloth! The armor is indeed still there, it is magic armor blessed by elves.” She pulled her hair back to show Sebial her left ear.
“When you get your bracelet back you will have the strength to use the armor. You just need to place your hand on the bracelet and concentrate on wearing the armor you just saw. The dress will change into it. Until that day though, this dress will prove useful to you, so never take it off. This dress is blessed with the gift of life. It will absorb very small amounts of magic from the air and give it to you, that way you will not perish as quickly. After you have your bracelet back this dress will continue to store magic so you will be able to do more longer.”
“Thank you so much Shalerie! I cannot wait to show it to Master Woldiniar!”
“Oh, that’s right, you did mention his name earlier. I cannot believe that ugly warlock is still alive and with you of all people!”
Sebial tilted her head and laughed at Shalerie’s comment. “He is a little odd but he saved me that night.” Sebial’s mind wandered to her last night in Pasuria. “He rushed me out of the kingdom disguised as a beggar. The guards didn’t even bat an eye. Since then, he has been teaching me how to use my magic, and how to reclaim my throne once the time is right.”
Shalerie let out a sigh. “I guess I owe him that much then. He always did have a weak spot for silver haired girls.” Shalerie giggled. “Moving on. Let me throw a few dresses together for the girls you speak of. I presume they are not magic wielders, so I will make them basic dresses. Otherwise, they will die. I assume you are aware normal humans become poisoned from magic?”
Sebial nodded.
Shalerie quickly called three pieces of fabric and fashioned together three simple dresses. Lace lined the neck of the larger two dresses. The smaller dress was adorned with flowers and as a finishing touch, a ribbon around the waist. Shalerie folded them neatly together and placed them in a satchel.
“Here you are Princess; may your new friends enjoy this. Please tell Woldiniar to hurry up and die for me.” Shalerie tilted her head and smiled. She walked to the door and opened it for Sebial.
“Thank you so much Shalerie!”
“It’s my pleasure. I look forward to the day when you write me a royal letter asking me to return to the palace.”
“I promise! So be ready for when it comes, I will keep you busy!” Sebial winked and then turned to walk to the inn.
Seven
Woldiniar headed in the path the guards told him to walk to get to the pub in the town. He could hear men yelling from up ahead.
I must be headed in the right direction! I guess those guards could do something right after all.
Overly dressed women were standing near a worn-down building. They began to call out to him as he walked past.
“Would you like us to massage your sore body traveler? We could make your aches disappear for a small price if you would like.” They smiled at him and walked in his direction.
“Dear ladies, my aches cannot be healed by trivial love affairs involving distasteful creatures such as yourselves, I require the healing from a goddess, not dirty rats.”
They gasped at his words. One with blonde matted hair began to scream and point at him. “You are nothing but trash! How dare you call us such lowly things! We have warmed the beds of the highest of lords, you are just too senile to see what beauty we truly are!”
Woldiniar stopped. He walked towards them. Forcefully he wrapped his arms around the one who yelled at him. She was covered in makeup hiding marks of beatings, the clothing patched by an obvious novice, the smell of her recent victim still lingered beneath the mass amounts of woodsy and floral perfume. He leaned in close so he could whisper in her ear.
“How dare I? Should I tell you what I can sense from your soul covered in despair? Or maybe I should use my magic to show all what you truly look like on the inside? You are nothing more than a rat my dear.”
She tried to get him to release his grip on her. Woldiniar grabbed tighter. The other lady waved her hand in the air and left them alone. She approached other men walking in their direction.
“Oh, I know, let me show you all what you used to be! Consider it my gift. If you use my gift on another man then you will return to what I see before me, consider me a generous traveler just trying to help a lowly rat.”
Woldiniar whistled into her ear before releasing her.
She quickly transformed. Her hair glowed a beautiful blonde. Her makeup disappeared; showing her beautiful complexion. Her cheeks a pleasant rosy red, her brown eyes now clear from the redness. She stood taller with the bruises under her garments gone. The once disgusting smell now replaced with a sweet aroma.
“Look into the glass of the window.”
She did as Woldiniar told her to and began to cry from the sight. She rubbed her hands along her face.
“The marks, the marks are gone! My body no longer aches! What did you do? Why did you? I am sorry for what I said before! Thank you! Please let me repay you!”
She grabbed onto him lustfully. Woldiniar pushed her back.
“Did you not hear what I told you? You cannot do the deeds you once did. I am giving you a second chance at life. You will undo this magic if you return to the ways of your old life!”
She looked down embarrassed. “I am sorry. My name is Farrah. If I cannot do what I once did, then let me accompany you for now. Please.”
Woldiniar thought about her words. “Only for a little while Farrah. I am going somewhere unbefitting of a lady of your new stature, but if you could accompany me there and behave then I might have a job for you.”
Farrah smiled and grabbed onto Woldiniar’s arm. “Shall we go, my hero?”
“Yes, let us walk. By the way Farrah, my name is Woldiniar.”
They continued up the road and stopped in front of a pub. Farrah grabbed tighter onto his arm.
“Why do you want to go there?”
“I need to find out who harmed my student and where to go to get my revenge. Please, play along with my antics.”
Farrah eagerly nodded. Woldiniar reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark vile. He popped the top and quickly drank the contents.
“Do not worry, this is just an extra helping hand in times like these.” Woldiniar said to Farrah while smiling. He tossed the vile on the ground.
Eight
On Sebial’s way to the inn, people kept stopping to stare and point at her hair.
Why must my hair be so different! I just want to look like the others for once.
She looked ahead, noticing a stall covered in hats.
Those are beautiful. Maybe a hat will help me stay out of the light some.
Sebial smiled at the old lady on the other side of the hats stall.
“How are you today, young one?” The lady's voice sounded soft but hoarse.
“I am doing well. You have such lovely hats. Do you think you have one that would look well with this dress but also one that can hide my hair?”
The lady glanced up and down the hats of her stall. Looking at each one very carefully. She looked back to Sebial.
“I have many hats that would match your dress wonderfully, but none could hide hair such as yours. Your hair is long, and these hats are meant to show your features not hide them like a cape.”
Sebial sighed. “I see.”
She turned to walk away from the stall.
“Wait my dear. Please do not be discouraged. Your hair is lovely and your face is
pure. Why would you want to hide?”
She turned around and looked at the lady.
“I do not wish to hear people talk about me. So I want to hide what they talk about so maybe they will in turn talk to me.”
“I see. Maybe you should stand taller then. The people who talk are just envious that they all look the same. So here, wear this hat and stand proud of being yourself.”
The lady grabbed down a large floppy light blue sunhat. It had two dark blue ribbons, one along the crown and the other around the brim.
“Try this one on my dear. It matches your dress. Here this will make it even better!”
The lady rushed around her stall. She reached underneath it. She held out her hand, sitting on it was a flower sculpted out of silver and red and purple jewels. She carefully pinned the brooch onto the side of the crown along the ribbon.
“The small jewels glisten like morning dew on a flower. It is absolutely beautiful.”
“Good, that is what I was hoping you would say. Your hair has the same effect on me young lady. Your hair looks like the night clouds during a full moon.”
Sebial blushed and ran her fingers along her hair.
“Thank you. How much do I owe you?”
The lady stared between Sebial and the hat for a while.
“I am not used to such sweet customers. I will charge you fifteen bronze. That is half a silver coin. Does that sound fair to you?”
“I only have silver. Do you have change?”
The lady nodded. She looked at the coins the lady gave her in shock of how worn they were compared to the silver she has been using.
I guess many do not use silver around here.
The lady could see how off put Sebial was by the worn coins. “You must be from a city young lady. We are just a small town with not much need of silver.”
She looked at the old lady and smiled.
“I will cherish these coins. I can see how much value they hold to the town. You are right though. We mainly use silver in the large city. Thank you for helping me pick out a hat. Farewell.”
Sebial smiled cordially at the lady before walking into the bustling crowd.
This small town sure gets busy at sundown.
Stall owners began yelling into the crowds trying to sell goods before they had to close.
“You there miss, wouldn’t you love some large jewelry to go with your outfit?!” a man shouted to Sebial from his stall.
Sebial jumped and looked at him “Um no thank you, I do not need such things.”
She continued walking in-between the people; doing her best to not run into anyone. She was quickly brought to a halt when a large group of men blocked her path.
“Excuse me. EXCUSE ME!” Sebial yelled out to them.
One of the men turned around and glared at her.
“I’m sorry but could I pass through? I am staying in that direction and must get back.”
“Go another way stupid girl!”
“I’m sorry but I don’t know another way so if you,” Sebial tried to go between them.
“would just let me, squeeze through, I would be grateful.”
“That will not work!” The man shoved her back from the group.
Sebial began to fall back but was caught before she could hit the ground. She looked up at who caught her. It was a man with green eyes and white hair. She jumped at the sight of his pale skin. His cape covered most but a little bit of his face. Sebial stepped away from the man. He gave her a smile and a slight bow before stepping between her and the men.
He quickly lunged at the man and knocked him down using a sheathed sword. He swung the sheath down onto the other men, hitting them in the necks before they could react. They fell quickly.
The passing crowd took no notice to the sudden fall of the men. Their minds in the mix of shopping before the market closed.
The caped figure turned around to Sebial, he reached out his gloved hand. Sebial glared at him.
“Come now, I will escort you to your proper street. You spoke of the inn but you are far from it. It’s another four streets away, not straight this way.”
“Who are you?”
‘AH! I am used to not speaking for speaking causes undo annoyances. But I must speak for you to trust and trust seems good now does it not Sebial?” he stepped back and bowed. “I am Kalon, an elf who knows an elf that made such a dress befit of a lady from Pasuria.”
Kalon winked at Sebial. He reached his hand out again. Sebial accepted.
“I see, so Shalerie sent you and that is how you know my name.”
They walked hand in hand down the street.
“No, nothing like that, I overheard you both talking, talking about things of curious desires and I needed to see, see for myself if this is true to be. So here I am, strolling with indeed a princess, a princess thought prince who is indeed not that. My curious listens have been confirmed.”
Sebial released his hand. “I see you were curious about me but why talk in such unique tongue.”
“Oh that you see is a spell cast by thee, that failed by thee since it doesn’t cause rhymes no rhymes just other speech impeding finds. It will be gone in time, no time at all, come sundown, the time will be, yes it will be to end this for me.”
“That sounds miserable. Well, I will be leaving tonight, so it was nice meeting yet another elf. I always knew there were many in the lands, I was just never able to leave much thanks to Woldiniar being overprotective.” Sebial crossed her arms.
“I just don’t understand him! If he wants to protect me he could do so by taking me out. But he is always too busy to leave the house unless it is something dire like food!”
“He is smart, indeed he is wise for shadows follow silver like yours, it is a pretty silver, like coins in the light. Your hair attracts danger, danger isn’t just what comes, more to come in time, you must hide at all times, indeed the time of hiding is strong. Do not travel alone, alone you will die if you indeed travel by yourself.”
“I see, well thank you Kalon. I can walk from here.”
Sebial curtsies and leaves Kalon behind.
I wonder how he talks without the ruined spell.
“Farewell dear, do tell not of what happenings happened here for the likes of Woldiniar will not be kind.”
Sebial turned back to nod at his words but Kalon disappeared.
Nine
The pub was filled with smoke. Men were shouting at one another. Women drunkenly hung onto the men; kissing, giggling, and feeding them.
“So this is what you did?” Woldiniar amusingly whispered into Farrah’s ear as they glanced at the prostitutes.
Her cheeks went red. Farrah looked at the ground and nodded.
Woldiniar continued. “Who would be the best for me to go to for information involving human and good trade?”
Farrah glanced around the room, her eyes stopped at a man sitting alone at the bar. “There.”
Woldiniar placed his hand over Farrah’s. They walked over the bar and sat a few seats away. Woldiniar yelled out to the bartender.
“Give me two large pints and whatever this honey with me wants!” he yanked her close.
“I will take a small glass of fairy tears please.”
The bartender nodded at their requests.
“Bartender, give my second pint to that man right there! His drink looks a little empty!”
The man looked over at Woldiniar, his eyes a dark green, his hair an unkempt dirty blonde.
“I do not want any of your offerings, traveler.”
The man looked back down to his drink and took a slow sip.
“Fine then, I will just plan on drinking for the both of us then!” Woldiniar picked up his glass and chugged it before picking up the other one and chugging it too.
“Two more bartender! I am now drinking for the both of us!”
He glanced over at the man. “I just wanted to have a drinking contest with someone since this little scamp couldn’t possibly keep up with me. I
f you change your mind then please tell me. My name is Wold-“
The man cut him off. “I do not care of your name or your reasoning behind being here. Let me enjoy my peace, you stupid fool.”
“Humph, I guess you have no manners. You could have at least let me finish my sentence!” Woldiniar looked at Farrah. Her face filled with anger.
She leaned close to him and whispered. “How dare you call me a scamp! You said I was renewed!”
Woldiniar laughed hysterically. He took a swig of his drink. “Of course ye are! But alas, you don’t see the point of my words do ye my dear!?”
She looked away from him and grumbled to herself.
Woldiniar stood up and raised both glasses in the air.
“Who wishes to have a little drink with a traveler!?! I wish to have some fun tonight before departing!”
The men in the pub looked at him. They went back to their own things, acting as if Woldiniar was nothing more than a fly on the wall.
“Stupid fool.”
“Who called me that?”
“I did.” The man who turned down Woldiniar was now staring at him. “These men want nothing to do with a stranger unless it's to loot them.”
“Well then, why not join me then? Or should I cause more of a ruckus?” Woldiniar gave him a mischievous smile.
“If it will get you to shut up then so be it. Hand me a glass Wold.”
“Wold? Oh that’s right, you didn’t let me finish my introduction!”
“And I don’t care to either. You can go by Wold. There is no need to know your real name. I don’t plan on talking to you again after tonight.”
“Well then, can I at least get your name seeing that I don’t want to call you the man at the pub.”