by J.B. Hickock
Cover by Jennsuteki of https://jennsuteki.deviantart.com
Story Copyright 2012 Jochannon
Published by Fanatical Publishing
Blitz of Spira #2
Child of Wizardry
Tales of the Last Valais, Part 1
by J.B. Hickock
In a place beyond space and time stands the Tree of Eternity, with thousands of worlds tangled in its branches.
This is a story of family and its lack, of ignorance and knowledge, of adventure and its costs.
Prologue
The village of Garoo was no different from any other village of Men: a small, poor place inhabited by poor superstitious people, suspicious of outsiders; a place where few ever came to and even fewer ever came from.
Still, in the heart of a blinding blizzard there came to Garoo a traveler, swathed in a dark cloak with a deep hood so none could see anything of the traveler’s features. In the traveler’s hand was a long stick he used to keep his balance in the deep snow and driving wind while his other arm was wrapped about something in his cloak.
He stumbled to the village’s lone tavern and pounded on the door with the end of his staff.
There was no answer, so he pounded again.
The door was opened and the Mr. Gadsby, the tavern owner, peered out. “What do you want?” he demanded suspiciously. Gadsby was like the other people of Garoo - short and dark, with thick eyebrows that almost hid his suspicious gray eyes.
“To come in from the cold,” the traveler replied.
Unnerved by the long sword the traveler wore at his hip, Gadsby stood aside and the traveler stepped in. He had to duck his head to fit through the low door and raised it to see a long low shabby common room decorated in both the latest and oldest in grime and filth.
Ignoring the tavernkeep and his wife, the traveler walked over to the fire and stood before it for a moment, enjoying the warmth.
Urged on by his wife, who brooked no argument form him, Gadsby walked up to the traveler. “Do you want a room for the night?” he asked.
The traveler turned to face Gadsby and the folds of his cloak swung back to reveal a babe in his arm, swaddled in cloth and sleeping deeply. “No.”
Gadsby hesitated. “Then- what is it you want?”
The traveler held out the baby. “I want you to take her.”
Gadsby jumped back as if stung. “Take- I don’t know who-”
The traveler didn’t make a move or a sound, but something changed in his dark eyes that made the words die in Gadsby’s throat.
The Mrs. Gadsby stormed toward the stranger. “If you think we’ll take some-”
He turned his cold gaze on her and the Mrs. Gadsby was silenced, for perhaps the first time in memory.
The traveler took a small leather bag from his pocket and threw it onto a table. It landed with a golden clatter. “Her name is Amaldea,” he said, then pressed her into the Mrs. Gadsby’s arms.
Galncing once at the gold, she took the baby.
That done, the stranger held up a finger warningly. “What is hers is hers,” he said. “Do not take it from her.” He turned and strode back out into the snow and was never heard from again in the village of Garoo.
Later, the Gadsbys found the babe had a gold and emerald amulet fastened about her neck: ordinarily, the Mr. Gadsby would have melted it down or traded it off at the first opportunity regardless of the stranger’s words. But there was something about this trinket that made him fear to take it and whatever remonstrance his wife threw at him, she dared not either. So the girl grew to womanhood with her inheritance intact.
Chapter 1
On the day of her sixteenth birthday(though she did not know that) Amaldea was in the kitchen, cleaning the breakfast dishes.
To her, this seemed just another day in Garoo: dull, monotonous and hard, especially for a young woman all whispered to be fay.
She looked nothing like the people of the village, for she had grown to be tall, fair-skinned and fair-haired. Somewhat plain of face, she possessed quick wits and a disposition to wonder, neither of which were smiled upon Garoo, so she tried to keep them to herself.
Having long ago used up all the things she could think of today, she was thinking of her future as she washed. her future was grim; she had no property, no dowry, no family, no real hope of marrying.
So lost was she in thought that she almost didn’t notice when the mongoose sprang in through the open window and landed upon the counter beside the sink.
However, she did notice when the Mongoose sprang erect on his hind legs and began to speak. “I am here!” he shouted triumphantly in a shrill voice. “I have labored across the driest deserts, hiked through the deepest jungles, clambered over the highest mountains, yet here I am!”
“Well. . .” she said slowly, staring wide-eyed at him. “That's. . . good. I'm glad to know that. Who are you?”
“Why, I am Howard!” he declared, theatrically spreading his arms wide.
She stared at him blankly.
“Howard, the Mongoose?” he said helpfully.
Amaldea shrugged.
The Mongoose stared at her quizzically. “You don't know who I am, do you?”
She silently shook her head.
The Mongoose sighed. “Kids nowadays,” he muttered, “no respect for tradition.” He turned back to her. “Well, since your education has obviously been sorely neglected, I shall begin with my story.” The Mongoose sat back on his haunches, cleared his throat, and began. “More years ago than you could count, I was but an ordinary Mongoose about my ordinary business.
“Unfortunately, one winter my business included starving to death: the land was in the grips of a terrible famine, and there was nothing to be had. Strive as I could, through the swamps and streambeds and fields, I could find no toads or snakes or fish to slake my hunger.
“In desperation, I snuck into one of the great houses of men to forage. But woe to me I had, in my ignorance, entered the home of a family of powerful sorcerers. I was caught, and sentenced to die for trespassing, but your ancestor, the head of the family, saw in me great promise and spared my life. He offered me a choice; I could go free, to starve, or he would bind me, to serve your family as long as it existed. Rather than starve, I submitted to his demand,” the Mongoose paused, and a note of sadness entered his shrill voice as he continued. “Ever since, I have loyally served the family down to this day. Now, where are your teachers, little mage? I should speak to them sharply for the disgraceful way they have brought you up!”
She blinked at him, rather perturbed. “I. . . have no teachers.”
He blinked owlishly at her. “No teachers? Then-”
“I’m an orphan,” Amaldea explained. “I have no family.”
The Mongoose stared at her for a moment, then stood on his back feet and did a little dance. “At last!” he shrilled. “I am free, free at last! They are all dead!” he stopped abruptly, and stared at her with a worrying light in his eye. “All but for you,” he said, and bared his teeth in a feral grin, “I'll have to do something about you.”
Bong! She hit him over the head with a pot. “Now look!” she snapped while he cowered. “I don't know who or what you are, but I'm not about to let you 'do something' about me!”
“I wasn't gonna hurt you!” he whined, rubbing his head. “I was just having a little fun, is all!”
Bong! “I'm not someone you can have fun with!”
He focused on her blearily. “I'm starting to get that,” he croaked.
Bong! She hit him one more time.
“What was that for?” he cried.
“That was so you won't forget!” Amaldea sn
apped.
“Amaldea!” the Mrs Gadsby shouted. “What’s going on!”
Bong! Amaldea dropped the pot over Howard just as the Mrs. Gadsby stormed into the kitchen.
“Who were you talking to?” she demanded. The Mrs. Gadsby was a tall pale woman, absolutely convinced that Amaldea was a troublemaker bent on ruining the tavern.
She raised her bony hand threateningly. “If you’ve been having boys back here. . .”
“No!” Amaldea cried desperately. “I was just talking to myself!”
“About what?”
“Nothing!” Amaldea said. “About nothing at all!”
The Mrs. Gadsby grunted, unconvinced of her innocense, but dropped her hand and turned away. “Get back to work!” she snapped, storming out again.
Amaldea heaved a sigh of relief and pulled the pot off of Howard. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Oh, yes!” he chirped cheerfully. “Now, let me start on your education, young girls. Say, when did you become twins?” he wobbled, then cocked his head to the side. “Triplets?” He burbled, then fell down.
Chapter 2