by Aya Knight
Chapter 7: Bittersweet
“What in Pan’s name…?” Kale held the bracelet before his face to better examine the piece.
Thomas approached Kale, kneeling to inspect the object. A look of surprise crossed his face as he pulled back in astonishment. “Jumping balt toads, Kale—unless my eyes deceive me, I do believe that belongs to a witch who goes by the name of Zasha. Though she has always kept her distance from me, I have no doubt the bracelet you hold belongs to her. I recall on a previous sighting of her, that very object hung from her wrist. There was an oddly intriguing glow which emitted off the pendant.” Thomas narrowed his eyes. “What business do you have with her? I’ll warn you now to be cautious—she is quite the meddlesome one.”
Kale yawned, shaking in an animalistic manner to remove the debris from his body before dressing. “You’re going to think this sounds insane, but I met her—at least I think I met her, while I slept.”
“I don’t doubt you, Kale.” Thomas rubbed his beard. “What a clever woman. I’d like to know just what it is she’s up to.”
Neelan finger-combed her hair before tossing the brown hat up into the air and catching it, with ease, behind her back. She placed it snugly upon her head, ensuring her ears were concealed inside. “We’d better get moving if you two intend to reach Braxle by nightfall. It’s unsafe to spend too many nights within this forest.”
Kale and Thomas knew this all too well. It was surprising how different and intimidating the woods were as a human.
She began to make her way toward the traders’ path, through the thick vegetation. “I’ll be going my separate way once you’ve reached the town.” Her pace quickened. “I just don’t want you to get comfortable with the thought that I’ll be sticking around.”
“All right. Do whatever you desire, we will be just fine.” Kale followed close behind, unwilling to soften. There was no way he would reveal that he would actually miss her company.
Although Kale could not see, Neelan looked ahead with sorrow-filled eyes. Somewhere within her stubborn heart, she hoped for them to ask her to stay. Instead of allowing herself to feel sorry, she shook the emotion, putting up her inner shell which helped shield her from pain. “If we follow this trail, we should arrive by twilight.”
The sky was nearly cloudless and they could hear the sounds of birds chirping cheerfully in the distance. Kale inhaled, enjoying the warm atmosphere from an all new perspective.
“Thomas,” Kale broke the silence, “can you tell me more about this, Zasha? She seemed to know a great deal about us, although she only revealed a small amount of information. The woman knows we are heading to Braxle.”
“To be quite honest, I know very little about her, aside from a couple of previous encounters in which I’ve seen her. Even then, she stayed back, almost as if she were trying to hide from sight. For this reason, I assume she is meddlesome and cannot be trusted.” He leaned in toward Kale, whispering into his ear as they continued to walk, “I do, however, have a confession to make.” He sighed, knowing Kale was not going to fancy his next words. “It was Zasha who provided me with the spell to transform you. This is why I did not doubt your dream. She is planning something—what it is I am unsure of, but I do know we must take caution. We do not know who we can trust and who will be against us. However—I do owe her great thanks for saving your life; even if there is an ulterior motive that lies beyond the obvious.”
Kale abruptly stopped. “You’re telling me that you placed my life within the hands of some loony witch?!” he snapped quietly at Thomas, waving his hands angrily as he spoke. “You didn’t even know if the spell would truly work! You took a gamble at the cost of my well-being!” Kale grunted in frustration. He had always thought Thomas to be wise and rational. The entire situation was quite surprising. Luckily for the two, Neelan continued along in front, oblivious to their conversation.
“I had no other choice, you know. Had I waited even another minute, you’d be de—” Thomas glanced up, noticing Neelan had stopped, impatiently tapping her foot for them to quicken their pace. He knew he needed to come up with a believable cover, otherwise she would surely grow suspicious once again. “Had I waited another minute, you’d be dehydrated. That is why I conjured such a water spell.” Thomas sighed at his poor attempt to conceal the truth for what he so recklessly blurted out.
The old man is worse than me with his loose lips, Kale laughed to himself. Luckily, Neelan appeared to have bought the story as she continued on without saying a word.
The forest grew scarce and the trees were scattered about, leaving most of the area bare and sandy. The day’s final rays of sunlight poured over the horizon, creating a natural display of colors.
“We’re almost there!” Neelan called out to them as she pointed forward toward a large silhouette. Her stamina was exceptional and had allowed her to maintain a brisk pace throughout their entire journey.
Kale and Thomas finally reached her, panting loudly as they caught their breath. Kale’s human feet were still tender and hurt badly after walking for miles upon stones and debris.
They finally arrived at the tall wall, built of many vertical logs sharpened into a point at the top. Beyond the wall, Kale could see grey smoke drifting toward the sky from many of the homes.
“Here we are—Braxle.” Neelan tapped the tip of her green boot against the ground, pushing the powdery sand into a small mound. Her eyes wandered aimlessly, dodging Kale and Thomas.
“Well, I hope you have a safe journey to wherever it is you’re heading.” Kale gave a quick wave to Neelan, a human gesture he had seen Thomas do many times upon departure.
Neelan peered toward her boots, now hiding behind the curtain of hair that hung straight and sleek, despite the heavy humidity. “Sure…goodbye.”
Without hesitation, Kale turned and began anxiously walking toward the wooden wall. Both Neelan and Kale’s pride wouldn’t allow them to be the first to give in and confront the other. It was easier to shield themselves from being hurt, rather than to face it head on—easier to say goodbye before either grew attached to each other’s companionship.
Through their body language, Thomas easily picked up on the situation. “Are you certain you don’t want to join us?” He gave Neelan a final offer, despite already knowing what her answer would be. A soft spot within his heart felt sorry for her.
“I’m very sure of my decision. I have something very important I need to do…alone.” Though her time with Thomas and Kale had been short, she knew there would be no forgetting either man. They had welcomed her as a friend, and for that she was grateful.
“Well, my dear,” Thomas bowed, “it has been a pleasure to have met you.”
Neelan forced a smile, taking a final glance toward Kale, although unsure why. He remained with his back toward her, admiring the wooden wall—the simplest things were fascinating to him. It was his first time interacting where humans dwell. Neelan frowned, gripping the strap of her quiver as she turned to leave. She then walked away from the two men as something cool trickled down her left cheek, causing her to reach up and touch it with her index finger. As she felt the liquid, she realized that tears were streaming down her face. For the first time in decades—Neelan cried.
Chapter 8: A New Life
Kale and Thomas were alone once again and eager to enter the town. Although Kale still despised humans, he was very intrigued with the town and wanted to see more.
“Hey, Neelan, why don’t you at least join us for din—” Kale turned to face an empty trail. He had forced his focus from her so intently he hadn’t noticed she was already gone. He didn’t know whether to feel guilty or angry at himself. His eyes pinched shut as he shook his head. What am I doing? I can’t allow this to bother me. It’s not as though we were friends — she was another liability to get us caught. She’s irritating too. It’ll be nice to have some peace
once again. Kale couldn’t decide if this was truly how he felt, or if it was a stubborn desire to be alone. With the reliable old sorcerer as his only friend, Kale knew there was no risk of growing attached and being hurt. After all he had been through, he did not want to feel pain within his heart again. For a dragon of fire—he now had a heart of ice. Four fingertips slid over his shoulder, breaking his chain of thought.
“Maybe we shall see her again, someday.” Thomas spoke to comfort, as if he could read Kale’s thoughts.
“I could care less,” Kale abruptly replied as he crossed his arms.
Thomas shook his head. “Ah, to be young again.” He gave Kale a firm pat before turning to face the town of Braxle. “I think it is in our best interests to make way for the inn. If we don’t arrive soon, there won’t be much left for dinner.” He removed his pointed hat, tucking it securely into his robes to reduce attention being drawn toward them.
Although it was common within the town to see tradesmen come and go, a sorcerer clad in long robes and a tall pointed hat would be a sight to behold. Most individuals skilled with magic served a royal kingdom, or lived nearby to assist their higher authority in times of need. The other handful, which remained in smaller villages, were natives and chose to remain to aid their loved ones. While it wasn’t unheard of to see a traveling sorcerer, it was a rare sight, and some might take alarm, afraid the magic wielder might have foul intentions. Kale did not help the situation, and appeared quite shady with his ill-fitting clothing that hung sloppily from his body.
“Tighten your waist so your pants do not drape so loosely. We need to do all we can to appear as though we are simple travelers passing through.” Thomas shook his head, knowing they would soon have to take the main street toward the inn as no back alleys led to the building.
Once situated, they followed the wall until coming to an opening just wide enough to accommodate a small wheeled cart. As they took their first steps into the town, Kale was surprisingly enthusiastic at what he saw. From the outside, Braxle had appeared to be quite small, but once inside he could see many rows of homes and a variety of shops. Many of the buildings were constructed of wood with a thick straw roof, woven tightly together. Others were made with much higher quality materials such as stone walls and lumber roofing. They began their journey down a road made of firmly packed clay that stained the bottom of Kale’s soles a bright orange.
Townsfolk tending to their end-of-day routines paused to watch the two as they strolled by.
Thomas had visited Braxle in the past, however he had done so without notice, arriving at night and quickly slipping into the inn. As he sensed more stares upon them, he raised a wrinkled hand, motioning a friendly wave. “Greetings!” he cheerfully called out. Since they had already been noticed, Thomas wanted to ensure there were no suspicious or worrisome feelings toward their entrance.
Once they approached the inn, the mouth-watering scent of food drifted to their nostrils. Kale had never smelled such a variety of spices and soon, the corners of his mouth were wet with saliva. The big grey building was quite plain in appearance. The dimly lit interior and stone walls Kale saw through a pair of tall, rectangular windows reminded him of the comforts of his cozy lair. As they entered through a wooden door, Kale viewed a room full of square tables, each accompanied by two chairs.
“I hope you’re hungry, Kale. Prepare yourself for a delectable and most satisfying dish. The innkeeper, Mortimer, makes the best seasoned hen and roasted potatoes I’ve ever tasted.”
Within moments they were greeted by a short thin man whose white hair formed a horseshoe shape around his balding head. He wore thick glasses which caused his brown eyes to look amazingly large. Kale felt more at ease by the fact that the man’s clothes were not fancy, but quite the opposite—a plain, light brown shirt, simple black pants, and worn brown boots laced up to his shin.
“Well, if it isn’t my old friend, Thomas! It’s been ages, how have you been?” Before Thomas could reply, the little old man pressed his palms against their backs, shoving them in the direction of a nearby table. “Come—sit. You look exhausted. Who is your friend?” He eyed Kale, adjusting his round glasses upon his wide nose.
Thomas parted his lips to speak, “Th—”
“Oh my, you must be starving, let me make you both some supper.”
Kale caught on rather quickly that the old man’s attention span was rather—lacking.
“You two just wait right here. I’ll be back in a moment, then we can catch up on things.”
As the innkeeper hurried off to the kitchen, Kale glanced around the room. This was his first time inside a human building, which surprisingly was much more pleasant than he could have imagined. He slid his hand slowly across the table, grazing his fingertips against the smoothed grains of wood.
Thomas smiled, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Excuse me? No. I’m just exploring is all. Don’t look into things so much.”
Mortimer soon returned, carrying two plates piled high with meat, potatoes, and sliced radishes. “I do hope you’ve come hungry. I’ve made far too much and there is only one other occupant. It’s roasted hen and potatoes.”
Thomas chuckled. Some things never change. It was always hen and potatoes—with the occasional exception of vegetable stew or pulled pork.
“It sure is a nice night outside.” Mortimer leaned back against an adjacent table, shifting the direction of the conversation yet again. “Eat—eat!” He nudged the plate closer to Kale, who unaware of human customs had no idea how he was supposed to begin consuming the food.
“Thank you.” Kale’s hand mashed down into the pile of meat, curling his fingers much like a hawks talons gripping its prey. He then shoveled his mouth so full he could barely close it to chew. Kale finally managed to clamp down upon the succulent hen as he packed another handful filled with potatoes between his lips. The excessive amount dribbled down his chin and shirt.
“My, your friend here sure is hungry.” Mortimer sat wide-eyed as he watched Kale’s unusual behavior.
Thomas inhaled loudly, embarrassed by his friend’s actions. He now regretted not teaching mannerisms along their short journey. The old sorcerer quietly ate, hopeful Kale would soon finish, and thankful there were no others present to view them.
Once they finished their delicious meal, Kale leaned back in his chair. His belly had never felt so satisfied. He sipped down a small goblet of water, burping loudly.
Thomas closed his eyes and sighed.
“I presume you both will be staying the night?” By this time Mortimer seemed un-phased by Kale’s crude behavior.
“Yes, my friend, I was hoping we could stay here—for awhile. Weeks…possibly months, if this is all right with you.”
Mortimer leaned forward. “Over my many years running this place, I’ve learned not to ask too many questions, so I don’t need to know why you’re here. I do however ask that you don’t bring any trouble my way. If you can promise me this, then you’re welcome to stay as long as you desire.”
“Thank you Morty.” Thomas cleared his throat, as he reached into a pocket of his robe. “There is a minor complication…” His green eyes met with Mortimer’s. “I was hoping my young companion and I could work for you in order to pay for our food and board. We would be glad to take on any tasks needed. I humbly apologize for not realizing much sooner we did not carry coins with us—I believe I let my hunger get the best of me.”
Mortimer scratched his scruffy cheek, “Business has been slow as of late, so at this time I haven’t any available work. I did, however, overhear Phyllis saying she was in need of an apprentice to work with her at the tailors’. I’m fairly certain Galin needs help, as well, over at the blacksmiths’.” Mortimer’s eyes suddenly seemed to lose focus on Thomas as if to cue his mind it was time again to ran
domly change topics. “Need more to drink? I’ve brewed a lovely concoction of juices that I must say is quite delicious!”
“I appreciate the offer.” He glanced up toward Kale, who shook his head, “but I think we’re both fine. Thank you kindly for the delicious meal.” Thomas paused, pondering their situation. He was unsure about their sleeping arrangements considering they had no funds to pay for a night at the inn.
As if Mortimer could read Thomas’ expression, he offered them a room. He assured the two it was all right and to not worry about reimbursement. He knew when Thomas and Kale woke they would seek work and begin paying for their stay.
“I do not wish to further burden you, but would it be possible to borrow some clothing as well? I believe in our current attire, we will draw much unnecessary attention to ourselves.” Thomas was aware of the storage area where Mortimer kept an abundance of clothing mistakenly left behind by travelers who never returned to claim their belongings. He was certain there would be something for them both.
“But, of course. I have no need for them. I’m glad they’ve finally found a use.”
Kale could see that while Mortimer was slightly disoriented at times, inside he was a good and honest man.
“I am in your debt, my friend.” Thomas stood, reaching out to pick up his empty plate.
Mortimer’s hand shot out at a surprisingly quick speed for his age. “I’ll have none of that. No guest at my inn is going to clean up after themselves. Now, shoo—go relax in a warm bath, then get some rest. Your room is the one with the red door. It looks as though you both could use it! I’ll have the clothing delivered shortly, after I fetch more hot water for the tub.”