Wizard's Alley

by James Haddock

  Chapter 2

  It was midmorning when I woke, which was strange. I was usually up and about well before then. I must have been more tired than I had realized. I'd have to be careful of using too much magic at one time. That thought brought me up short.

  “Using magic.” That was in fact what I had been doing. I needed to be careful. If I used too much, it made me tired, which made me weak and vulnerable. Weakness means you are prey. I never wanted to be prey again. I had a lot to learn, and the faster I learned the better off I would be.

  I stopped at an inn on the edge of the next district. I went to the back door and bought a chunk of bread and a piece of cheese. I ate it quickly, watching those around me. They were doing the same; we were like a pack of dogs eating before anyone could take our food.

  “Anyone know of a tailor's shop near here?” I asked.

  “Looking for a new suit, are ya?” Everyone chuckled.

  “I want to look my best for dinner with you lot.”

  He smiled, “Aye lad, five blocks south of here. Stay on the main street, and you'll see his sign.” I nodded and was on my way. I kept my eyes open. One of those I ate with might get nosey.

  I didn't see anyone following me. They knew the area better than I, so if someone followed, they could go a back way. No helping it now; I'd deal with it if it happened. No use borrowing trouble.

  I found the shop just where he said it would be. I walked around the corner and stepped into the wall. I waited a few moments, watching the side street to see if anyone followed me. No one did. I looked in the tailor's shop. This one was nicer than the one I visited yesterday. It had decent used clothes, and they also made clothes to order. I walked around inside the walls, looking at what they had. I watched how they treated their customers and what they said when their customers left. But what did I know of business? They seemed ok.

  In my world, you got nothing without paying a price. Reaching a decision, I went to the back door. Looking out, I saw no one around. I stepped out of the wall and knocked on the back door. One apprentice answered. He looked me up and down, “Yes?” he asked. People see what they want to see.

  “My master has sent me to speak to your master,” I said.

  He nodded. “Wait here.”

  I nodded; he closed the door, and I waited. Shortly, it opened again.

  “Yes, what's the message?” the Master Tailor asked.

  This was the tricky part. I held up a copper, and he took it, frowning. “I must apologize, Master. I did not come to you on behalf of another. I came on behalf of myself.” I kept talking before he could interrupt.

  “I am a street rat, as you can see. But I don't want to remain a street rat. I have noticed that people judge you by how you dress. So what I wish to know is: what would some decent clothes cost me—clothes that will wear well, but not call attention to me?”

  He held the coin in his fingers, studying me. He handed the copper back to me. “I admire that you want to do well. You are correct; people will judge you by the clothes you wear, sometimes to their detriment. To answer your question: I could sell you a pair of pants and a shirt, in good repair, for three coppers.”

  I nodded. The cost was not as much as I had feared, but more than I had hoped. “Sir, what would it cost for a complete set of clothes—pants, shirt, vest, stockings, shoes, and a cloak perhaps?”

  His eyebrows went up. “A silver. Perhaps a little less.”

  A silver. Until recently, I had only seen a silver coin from a distance. I was afraid to use the few I now had, thinking I may never get another.

  “That is a great deal of money,” I said.

  “It is. Do you have such a sum?”

  I thought a moment. I needed to look the part, so I reached into my purse and took out a silver. “I have, sir.”

  “And will you use your fortune to invest in your future?”

  I nodded. “I will, sir. If you would guide me in my purchases, as I do not know about clothes. Well, good clothes that is.”

  “I will. And I think you are making a wise decision by investing in your future. Most would have already eaten and drank that silver away. Now, before we begin, strip those rags off and toss them over in that pile.” He pointed and called over his shoulder. “William, bring a bucket of water, soap, and a scrub brush.”

  “Yes, Master,” came the answer from just inside the door.

  “You will wash yourself before we begin.”

  I nodded, stripping out of the rags I wore. “Yes, Master.”

  This was going to hurt. I had hoped for a hot bath, but I was not about to waste this opportunity. When the bucket of water arrived, I started scrubbing. I'm not sure if the apprentice was trying to be helpful, or if he just enjoyed throwing buckets of cold water on me in the middle of winter. After the third bucket, the master allowed me into his shop. I felt like I was turning blue from the cold.

  The master handed me small clothes as I entered the back room and stood me beside the fireplace to thaw out. The apprentice took my measurements and left to retrieve the sizes that would fit me.

  “We will not waste your money on the best clothes. You are still growing, so if we are not careful, you will outgrow these clothes before they wear out.”

  I nodded. That seemed reasonable to me. The apprentice returned with some clothes for me to try on. He fitted me with charcoal pants and stockings, a white shirt, black belt, and a grey vest. Everything fit well enough.

  “I've fitted you a little loose, so you won't outgrow them too fast. I'm sorry I have no shoes or boots to fit you. You must go to the cobbler just down the street. Tell him I sent you.” I nodded.

  The last thing the apprentice brought in was a hooded wool cloak. It was dark blue with hints of green. It went well with the clothes he had chosen for me. They draped it around my shoulders. I had worn nothing so nice. I was speechless.

  “The wool will keep the rain off of you and keep you warm.”

  “Master, this is too grand. I can't afford this.”

  “Ordinarily, you are right. All this would be more than I told you. But this time it will cost you only one silver, one copper, and your return business. I'm investing in you for your future business.”

  “It would be my honor, sir. I shall not forget your kindness and counsel.”

  It seemed he had a tear in his eye. “Enough of this. I have other customers to attend to. Be on your way to the cobbler’s.” He turned and left the room.

  The apprentice showed me out and pointed me toward the cobbler’s. I left with my stockings in my cloak pocket and headed to buy my first pair of shoes.

  I entered the cobbler's shop and was surprised when the master met me. “How may I serve you, young master?”

  People did judge others by their appearance.

  “Master Tailor sent me here. He said you could help me with a pair of shoes.”

  “Aye, I can do that; come sit you here.” I sat in the offered seat, and he took my measurement. “Do you want new shoes?”

  “No, Master Cobbler. A repaired one will do fine.”

  He nodded. I took my stockings out and put them on. This was a new experience for me, and I was excited at the prospect of having shoes.

  He was looking through the shoes he had in my size and returned with two pair. Both were black. One was a shoe with a tin buckle, the other a short boot. They both fit, and I liked the one with the tin buckle. However, I thought it might be too showy. It said, “Look at me; I have coin.”

  I put the low boots on and walked around in them. “They'll be a little tight to start with, but the more you wear them, the better they'll feel.”

  I nodded. “How much?”

  “One silver.”

  I laughed. “I'm young, not stupid. Father would beat me like a rented mule if I came home having paid a full silver for a pair of used low boots.” I had seen merchant haggle at the market. They all seemed to do it. “They might be worth a copper and a half.”

  “No, young master,
not stupid. You just don't realize the time it takes to repair boots to that quality. Five and a half coppers.”

  “You would have me the laughingstock of my father's house? Every time I passed, they would say, ‘There goes the fool who paid the price of a horse for a pair of boots.’ Two coppers, and I'll bring our shoe repair business to your fine shop.”

  “I could not fix your shoes. I'd be out of business selling at those prices!” We stared at each other; he broke out laughing first. “Okay, young master, three coppers.”

  “Done,” I said. I paid him and left his shop. As I came out, I looked around, put my hood up, and started back to my district.

  ***

  I now had new things to worry about. I knew my good clothes, size, and age would draw attention. I felt my best course of action would be to act like I didn't have a care in the world. I didn't walk along the side of the street; I walked as if I owned the street.

  I was getting hungry and wanted to eat before I crossed back into my home district. I wouldn’t stop at the same place I ate this morning, on the off chance that someone might recognize my face. As small as that chance was, I didn't want to risk it. I stopped at a small inn and went inside. I felt the eyes upon me as I walked to a table in the far corner. I kept my hood up and my face in its shadow.

  A serving girl came to take my order. “What'll you have?” she asked.

  “What are you serving?”

  “Meat stew and bread. We also have a bit of cheese left.”

  “I'll take the stew, bread, and watered wine.” She nodded and walked away. I glanced around the room. No one was looking directly at me, but I knew they were sizing me up.

  The serving girl brought my meal and drink. “Two coppers,” she said as she sat my food down. I took two coppers from my purse and gave them to her.

  The stew was hot and filling, but that was the best I could say about the meal. I was sopping my bowl with my bread when a skinny man approached my table.

  “Perhaps you could buy a poor man a bit of wine,” he said. I kept eating, ignoring him. “You think you are too good to speak to me in your fine clothes your Da bought ya?”

  I didn't even have to look; I knew I was cornered. I felt one of the Red Wizard's memories stirring. I couldn't run, so I would have to either fight or go into the wall. I really didn't want to go into the wall with all these people watching me. I felt my magic stirring, coming to the surface.

  I lifted my face, looking at him through purple eyes. I spread my hand open and a ball of lightning formed in my palm, crackling discharge across my fingers. The men at the tables near me jumped up and moved away from us. The man put his hands up, “I'm sorry, Sir Wizard, I didn't know. I meant no disrespect.”

  “Innkeeper,” I called.

  The innkeeper had been watching. “Yes, Sir Wizard?”

  “This man would like to buy everyone another round for interrupting our meal. Isn't that right?” I said looking at Skinny.

  Skinny swallowed. “Yes, that's right,” he said, reaching into his purse and paying the innkeeper.

  I closed my fist and the ball of lightning disappeared. I went back to my meal, and Skinny left. I felt the Red Wizard part of me chuckle. The innkeeper refilled everyone's cups, and they were all happy. The men returned to their tables near me but avoided eye contact.

  The innkeeper returned to my table. “Would you like anything else, Sir Wizard?”

  “No, thank you.”

  He nodded, placing two coppers on the table. “No charge for your meal, and thank you for showing restraint.”

  I nodded, and he went about his business. I collected my coppers and left the inn. Once outside, I went around the corner and into the wall of the inn. The place was quiet; everyone was watching the door I had left through.

  “I thought Led would pee himself,” someone said. A few chuckled.

  “I thought I would pee myself,” added a man who had been sitting near me. Everyone in the place busted out laughing. I smiled.

  Looking back out into the alley, I made sure I was alone, stepped out of the wall, and headed toward my alley.

  ***

  I had a peaceful night's sleep wrapped in my new wool cloak. I woke feeling rested, and my mind was sharp. Pulling my cloak around me, I sat meditating. This seemed to be a practice of both the Red and Blue Wizards.

  I looked through the wall at the temple grounds; the priests were exercising. They were doing some kind of strange dancing motions—slowly, stretching and fIexing their muscles.

  Some danced and moved with staffs, others with swords. I realized these were fighting moves and practices, but it looked a lot like dancing. I smiled.

  As I continued to watch, I noticed there were apple trees near them. Out of reflex, I reached out with my mind: “Apple.” An apple appeared in my hand.

  I looked at it and was amazed at what I had just done. I shrugged and ate the apple, seeds, core, and all. After watching the priests train for a while, I meditated and considered my next move. While thinking through my options, I must have dozed off.

  I woke and looked toward the entrance of the alley. Six older boys appeared; it was the same group that was always chasing me.

  "He hides here, and sometimes he has food," the biggest said, looking around.

  I was small for my age, so I usually just ran away when they came looking for me, but I was tired of running. I tilted my head, looking at them, “Fear,” I said to myself.

  They all stopped, looked around, and started backing out of my alley.

  "There's something in here. Let's go," the leader said. They all turned and ran. I nodded and went back to watching the priests dance.

  Further into the temple yard, I could see a priest sitting by himself, meditating with a ball in his hand. As I watched, the ball rose and floated in the air. After all I had seen in the last few days, that didn’t seem strange to me. But as I continued to watch, another ball rose, then another, and another. Soon he had six balls floating in the air. Now that was interesting.

  As I watched, the balls started following each other behind the priest's back and then around in front of him. The patterns the balls floated in became more intricate as he meditated.

  I reached out: “Apple.” I looked at the apple in my hand and visualized it floating. It lifted up and stayed in the air in front of me.

  "Not so hard.” It dropped into my lap. I stared at it. Okay, maybe it was harder than I thought. So as I continued to watch the priests dance, I practiced keeping the apple in the air.

  It was late afternoon, and all I had eaten was a few apples. Now that I didn't have to worry so much about getting caught in the open, I wanted to go to an inn and eat. I smiled again. Smiling wasn’t something I was used to doing.

  There was an inn on the other side of our district that I knew of, but I had never been there. It cost money to eat in those places, and I rarely had any. Until now. I stayed in the wall, going to the other side of the temple. I stepped out of the wall on the far side and headed for the inn. With my hood up, I walked the street as I had done yesterday—as if I owned it. I kept my head tilted down, my eyes in the shadow of my hood. My eyes were always moving, taking in all that I could without seeming to.

  Halfway to the inn, I noticed I was being followed. A gang was tracking me in two groups. There was one on each side of the street. I needed to do something before I got to where the rest of their crew was. Once there, they would spring their trap and take me. There was a clear place up ahead with no traffic. When I reached it, I stopped. They did as well.

  I didn't need to, but I wanted them to know they were dealing with a wizard. I held my hands out: “Stone dogs.” Two large stone dogs, emerged from the ground and growled.

  I looked toward the group that held the leader. “Bring me that one,” I said, pointing.

  The leader took off running, and the rest of his group scattered. But he didn't make it far. My dogs caught up with him before he had even taken ten steps. He grabbed a s
hovel from a man and hit one of my dogs in the head. The dog shattered and went back to ground. While he was still striking the first dog, the other one grabbed his leg and pulled him down.

  He was kicking and screaming as I walked toward him. I looked down at him, and the dog stopped shaking him.

  “Not the easy mark you assumed,” I said.

  “You attacked me; I'll have the watch on you.”

  “By all means, let's call them. I'd bet there is a warrant out on you, and I may even get a reward.” From the look on his face, he hadn't expected that.

  I knew he had a few coins in a hidden purse. “Coins,” I thought to myself, and just like that, I took the coins like I had done the apple. I put them in my purse.

  “The next time you test me you'll become their meal.” I turned and walked away, the dog following.

  Once I was well away, I let the dog sink back into the earth. I’d have to get better at conjuring stone. That dog broke too easily.

  When I arrived at the inn, it looked better than the one I had visited last night. I went inside and took a table away from the door, but I sat facing it. I ordered my meal and paid for it once it arrived. No one bothered me, so I ate in peace.

  I could hear people talking through the wall. They were having their meal in a small room on the other side. I let my hand rest against the wall, and their voices became clear as I listened.

  “If you want to move up, you have to earn more. Which makes the money you kick up the chain more. The higher-ups want people who earn more for them,” a deep voice said.

  “So, what, I have to raise my takes? I push them hard already,” said the other.

  “No, you have to increase your territory. More people and businesses mean more money. Just be careful where you expand. If you go into someone else's territory, there will be a fight. Make sure you can win. Because once you start doing that, you'll be rewarded by being set over a larger territory.”

  I shook my head. Low-level bosses were meeting like they run a business. I guess in their minds they did. I viewed inside their purses.

  “Half the coins.” At once, half of the coins they had in their purses came to mine. If they were shearing sheep, I guess I could do some shearing of my own.