by Aya Knight
Thomas insisted they help, but Mortimer would not hear of it. After Mortimer’s wife passed away four winters ago, he made it a point to remain occupied. It was his way of coping with a broken heart.
Once they finished bathing and had chosen appropriate clothing from a large basket Mortimer left in their room, Thomas ensured that Kale learn basic manners before heading to bed. He couldn’t bear to send him out in search of work while behaving as he did at dinner. He informed Kale that each night they would take the time to educate him on proper human customs and etiquette.
Kale rolled his eyes as Thomas spoke. “This is all so ridiculous—every last bit of it. You are the one who brought this fate upon me, and now you act as though you’re upset my personality didn’t transform along with it. I don’t want to behave as a human does. I’m happy being myself.”
“My dear boy, I’ve known you long enough to understand the way your mind works. You won’t ever truly be happy until you seek vengeance upon General Jedah. To do this, however, does mean you will need to mislead those you meet into believing you truly are one of them.”
Kale thought for a moment. He knew Thomas spoke the truth. “Fine.”
Thomas smiled, satisfied with the progress he had made.
As the two men lay in bed, Kale rolled to face Thomas. “I hope that was all part of our cover—when you said we would be finding jobs tomorrow.”
“Quite the contrary, we are indeed going to find work tomorrow—and yes, Kale, by we, I do mean you and I. We will be staying here until we’re able to figure out our next course of action. There is much that needs to be done in order to prevail over Jedah. In fact, at the current time, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I assure you though, Kale—we will figure it all out, just give it time.” He smiled, closing his eyes.
That night, Kale’s comfortable rest was interrupted by a steady humming sound within their room. He squinted through the darkness to see Thomas had also awoken. The old sorcerer leapt out of bed in surprise as he swung his arm out defensively. Thomas mumbled softly and Kale watched as a radiant swirl weaved around the sorcerer’s fingers.
“Kale, get off of the bed—now! It’s coming from beneath you!”
Kale immediately scurried near where Thomas stood, knowing that without a weapon or knowledge of magic, he was relatively helpless.
“Raynok tondelda.”
A green sphere of light blasted from Thomas’ palm, projecting forward with astounding speed toward the bed. Upon impact, they heard a loud zap. Both men watched in disbelief as the sphere disappeared as though sucked into an invisible black hole.
“Jumping balt toads, it’s as if someone knew I was going to do that and countered it before the event even occurred. Stay behind me Kale—things might get turbulent very quickly.”
Before Thomas could launch another attack, the humming ceased and all was quiet. Nothing moved. The only sound was their rapid breathing as they panted in the darkness.
“Do not move, Kale.” Thomas slowly made his way toward the bed. “Viscolan illumin.” A small, vibrant orb appeared by his side, floating along with his every step. He cautiously knelt down, prepared to attack should any intruders be hiding below. He peered under the bed, motioning his fingers forward. On command, the small orb zipped below, illuminating the entire floor.
“Interesting… Very interesting.” Thomas grew silent, thoughtfully reaching his hand beneath the bed, withdrawing a thick sheet of ivory parchment. “As I thought,” he placed his spectacles upon the bump of his nose, “nothing—no words, which means…this was intended for your eyes only, Kale.” He hovered his hand above the parchment, as if to ensure there were no harmful spells placed upon it, before handing it over to Kale.
Just as Thomas had assumed, the moment Kale’s fingers gripped
the item, many words began to appear. Someone intended this delivery to be just for Kale—someone knew who and where they were.
Chapter 9: A Mysterious Message
As the final sentence emerged into view, Kale began to read the message aloud. Unlike most dragons, Kale had learned to read thanks to exceptional lessons from Thomas. Kale could clearly remember that it was through such teachings he and Thomas had become good friends.
Dearest Firehart,
As you continue to grow within your new environment, you must never lose sight of your ultimate goal—revenge upon the one called General Jedah. Ridding him from Ravondore will open a new door which I cannot explain at this time. One year from this day, you must seek the tree which rains gold. Do not forget this, for a victorious fate depends upon it.
Within the Forest of Forgotten Whispers, you will find someone who will forever change your life. Your path to glory will become a reality. Do not give up, young one.
As he finished reading the mysterious letter it began to crumble away between his fingers, turning to ash as pieces fluttered to the wooden floor. Before Kale or Thomas could respond to the situation, Kale felt a warm sensation against his right thigh. He glanced down to view the dim glow shining through his pants pocket.
“It’s the bracelet!” Kale reached a hand in to retrieve it. The two men looked directly at one another as the small golden chain dangled upon Kale’s fingertip.
“Zasha!” Both men exclaimed simultaneously.
“Kale, it may be in your best interest to ignore the directions of this letter. You don’t know this woman—quite honestly she seems a bit deranged. We don’t know what sort of plans she has upon your arrival to this tree. It could very well be a trap. The Forest of Forgotten Whispers is rumored to be incredibly dangerous and filled with unimaginable beings.”
“She already knows who I truly am, Thomas. If it were a trap, I think that by now I’d be dead, or captured at the least.”
Though Kale’s response proved to be a solid defense, Thomas was still apprehensive about the situation. “Well then, when the time comes, take heed and think before you take action.”
Kale nodded in agreement, though he knew his mind was set. It was Thomas after all who taught him there are times in life when one must think with their heart. He needed to know what waited for him within the forest.
“It is time to sleep now, Kale. I can sense there is no longer a magical presence within the room. It’s safe for us to get some much needed rest.” Thomas caught the glowing orb within his index finger and thumb, pinching down firmly as it exploded into hundreds of tiny sparkling pieces that faded into darkness.
The next morning came quickly and both men awoke to the sun beaming upon their faces through the tall rectangular window. They were unsatisfied with the amount of sleep they had gotten due to the mysterious occurrence in the middle of the night.
Kale stood, thankful to be in clothes that fit him snuggly, although he truly did not realize what a difference it would make. The only thing he could not find in his size was a pair of shoes which he hoped would not hinder his chances of obtaining work.
Thomas sighed in discomfort as he pulled up a pair of red stockings beneath a long matching tunic. He longed for the day when he could once again wear his robe.
As the sun continued to rise, they could hear the townsfolk beginning their day; this urged them to make haste.
“So, how do you intend to find us human work?”
“For starters, Kale, do not refer to everything as human activities if you care to maintain your hidden identity. Second, we shall begin by finding the sources Mortimer spoke of. He mentioned last night—if you were paying any attention—there were two individuals in need of help.”
They made their way down a narrow flight of squeaking stairs to the dining room where Mortimer pleasantly greeted them with breakfast. “G’morning! Did you sleep well?” Before they could speak, Mortimer continued, “I think there may have been—” he glanced around to ensure no one walked in unnoticed
, “rats in the building. I heard noises last night.”
Thomas and Kale said nothing, knowing the truth behind the mysterious night sounds. Thomas gulped, feeling slightly guilty that he had assured Mortimer they would bring no trouble to the inn. Luckily, Mortimer’s lack of attention saved them from the awkward moment. “I’ve got to go clean the cobwebs from the attic today. Good luck finding work!”
As they quickly ate their delicious bowls of warm porridge, Thomas informed Kale they would be taking separate paths. Kale was to seek the blacksmith, Galin, on the east side of the town square, while he would find Phyllis at the tailors’ on the west.
Although Kale despised the thought of doing human tasks, he knew it was necessary for them to live within the town. He needed to do his best until a year passed and he would be able to see what the destiny of the mysterious letter held for him. Kale knew that in his current state, he would stand no chance against the general in battle. He had never trained, nor even held an actual weapon within his grasp before. Kale placed a hand over the pocket where he kept his bracelet, feeling the rush of being one step closer to achieving revenge upon Jedah. He had to remain positive that whatever waited for him at the mysterious tree would aid him in victory. Until the time arrived, he wanted to learn as much as he could about the new body in which he was forced to remain.
As Kale approached the building Thomas directed him toward, he could hear the steady sound of pounding. He walked past a front booth where many weapons were on display. He then headed back into a darkened room. He saw a large man hunched over and working so intently he hadn’t noticed Kale’s arrival. The man’s beige tunic was dingy and covered in soot.
Kale cleared his throat, “That’s a very nice sword you’re working on.”
The man immediately paused, pulling out a piece of cloth to wipe the sweat from his ebony forehead. His stubbly facial hair was filthy and smeared with remnants of black coal. “This must be important for you to interrupt my work. Who are you and what do ya’ want?” He rubbed his muscular forearm across his wide nose, sniffing loudly. “Irritating ashes…” the man mumbled.
“My name is Kale and I’m new here in Braxle; I was hoping you are still in need of help.”
The man seemed to ignore Kale and returned his focus to precisely striking the blade of a sword.
What is his problem? Kale already grew annoyed with the man who he had only met moments ago.
“Kale, you say?” The man finally spoke. “The name’s Galin, and I guess I could use an extra hand; but only under the condition that you do as I tell ya’ and keep outta’ my way when I’m workin’.” He placed his hammer onto a nearby table, turning to face Kale. “You have any blacksmithin’ experience?”
Kale dodged his dark eyes, “Well…a little.”
“I’m warnin’ you kid, don’t lie to me.” He swung his index finger toward Kale’s face. “Let’s get this straight right now, as long as you work for me, everything that spats outta’ your mouth better be the truth.”
Kale bit his tongue, struggling to obey Galin who had already gotten under his skin. It oddly reminded him of the irritating small pebbles that would sneak between the layers of his scales. None the less, Kale knew he needed the job, so arguing was not an option. “Yes, sir,” he replied.
His first day of work was spent scrubbing the floors, wiping tools, polishing, and bending to Galin’s every demand. By evening, Kale was soaked in sweat and his palms bore multiple blisters. He was amazingly grateful when Galin informed him the day’s work was complete and he was free to leave.
“Here’s your pay, kid.” Galin flipped a single copper coin toward Kale who shot his arm out, catching it with ease. “I expect you’ll have shoes upon your feet by tomorrow. I’ve never seen such a fool who walks into a blacksmith forge with his bare feet out. A hot piece of fallen metal could melt right through your skin.”
On Kale’s stroll back to the inn he could hear the faint rapping of Galin’s hammer pounding down upon steel. By this time, most townsfolk had gone home to eat supper with their families and the streets were relatively clear of activity. Kale began to wonder if Galin had a family within the town. He wondered why Galin continued to work, despite the approaching nightfall. As the sun set behind the thatched roofs, Kale opened the wooden door to the inn. He was pleasantly surprised to see Thomas seated at a nearby table awaiting his arrival.
“How was your day?” Thomas glowed with anticipation—eager to hear the details.
“Well, the blacksmith is really callous. I think he hates me.” Kale placed the coin onto the table, “But I did get this.” He smiled proudly.
Thomas looked down at the copper piece in confusion; he had anticipated Kale would have earned a greater amount for an entire day of work. A single copper coin was the lowest payment one could receive—next to nothing. “I’m proud of you Kale—I really am.” Thomas didn’t want to discourage Kale.
“How did you fare today?” Kale took note of Thomas’ prior expression and grew curious to see if his pay had been worth pressing his body so hard to fulfill the menial tasks Galin required.
“It was pleasant; Phyllis is a very kind woman.” Thomas knew where Kale was going with the conversation and chose to play ignorant, changing the direction of the subject. “She hired me without question and even taught me how to sew.” He smiled.
“Good, then you can make me a pair of shoes. The ill-tempered curmudgeon I work for said I must have them if I care to continue with him.”
Thomas nodded, assuring Kale he would ask Phyllis about the issue the following day.
At the end of their night, Kale lay in bed, sore and exhausted from the long day. His mind began to drift as he thought about the town of Braxle. Aside from his experience with Galin, the small town was full of humans who were quite pleasant. Living at the inn was turning out to be better than he had anticipated; the beds were comfortable, the baths were warm, and the food was amazing. Mortimer took great care to ensure they were satisfied and Kale enjoyed not having to hunt for his food each night. Everyone so far had been welcoming toward him, despite that he was a stranger. Even Galin, with his rough exterior had still given Kale a job. Until now he had thought of all humans, with the exception of Thomas, to be cruel and uncaring. This experience was already altering his opinion and he began to perceive that humans were not as horrible as he once assumed.
The next few days went smoothly and, aside from Galin’s routine bickering, Kale began to enjoy working at the blacksmithing shop. He had even managed to get a high quality pair of shoes thanks to a friend Phyllis knew who was a leatherworker. As each day would pass, he grew accustomed to a routine in which he would rise at dawn to join Galin. Eventually, a mutual confidence was established and Kale was taught how to forge the perfect blade.
Weeks turned into months and soon Kale became a well-skilled blacksmith. He was able to handle orders and craft weaponry without supervision. With his newfound experience came higher pay, and soon Kale was able to afford his entire half of room and board while still having a few copper pieces to spare.
On a beautiful day when business was running slow, and they had nearly caught up with their restock, Kale took a bold chance and requested to be excused for an hour to visit Thomas and explore the town. Until this point, Kale had yet to explore any areas aside from the town square and was excited to view more of what Braxle had to offer.
“Sure, kid, but don’t take too long if you wanna’ have a job when you return.”
Kale thanked Galin. He had grown accustomed to the blacksmith’s moody behavior and even adjusted to being called a kid—despite the irony of being nearly three times Galin’s age.
“Good afternoon, Thomas.” Kale smiled at him from across a long table covered with rolls of cloth. He choked back a laugh as Thomas finished the final stitches on a pink ruffled dress. “That will look gre
at on you.” He couldn’t help himself.
“Jumping balt toads—hello, Kale. I hadn’t expected to see you here. Shouldn’t you be working?”
As Kale finished explaining the reason for his visit, an older woman approached the sewing table, wearing a white apron and plain brown dress. Her graying brown hair was held back with a small silver pin that gave a clear view of her almond eyes.
“So you are the Kale I’ve heard so much about.” She smiled warmly. “You would think that Thomas here was your father by the way he praises all you’ve accomplished since your arrival in Braxle. He’s very proud of you.”
Kale began to formally introduce himself, as Thomas had taught him, when a young woman approached wearing very scanty clothing that revealed a fair amount of cleavage.
“Mother, I’m going to need a new dress. I ripped my skirt while out last night.” She flipped her dark ponytail over a shoulder. “Men can be such animals.”
“Theresa, I’m going to mend your tear; you don’t need an entirely new dress. I’ve already made you three this year.” Phyllis sighed. “I did not raise you this way. It also would not hurt you to come here and help me from time to time. You can’t always expect your natural beauty to get you by in life. Trust me, the day will come when you’re old and withered like your mother.”
Theresa huffed, appearing about to throw a childish tantrum. Then, as if she had been in her own secluded realm, she took notice to Kale’s presence. Her mood immediately shifted as she straightened her posture and quickly approached him.