The Innocence of Teacups

A bland chest of drawers, table and four chairs sat beside a horse and cart in a courtyard. A curvy line stretched across the top drawer of the chest. Elegant leaves followed then a bud appeared and sprouted petals. Some fancy swirls curled onto the backs of chairs. A sea serpent coiled its way round table legs.

Perhaps a serpent was going too far for the people of Kazara. Never mind. He was just imagining the finishing touches to the scales when Sasha came over to him with a pack hanging off his shoulder.

“Your customers would hang you high if they knew how those designs ended up on their furniture.”

“You must admit I’m getting talented at magicking pictures into wood.”

“I won’t argue there.” Sasha was giving him a sad type of smile.

“You’re leaving today, aren’t you?”

“I need to cross the mountains before winter arrives. It’s time for me to set up my own career.”

He scrambled onto the back of his cart and took out his pack; went rummaging inside it until he found a bulky coin pouch. “As a mercenary, Sash.”

“How many times I’m going to be a bodyguard?” Sasha tapped his sheath. “Using a sword is all I know. There’re plenty of mayors and merchants always in need of professional protection.”

“A mercenary,” he teased then tossed the coin pouch to Sasha. “Your investment paid back in full with plenty of interest.”

“Jeez thanks Eagle. Have you got enough to live on and keep you afloat?”

“I’ve got enough.”

“Are you sure? You’re not just saying so to please me?”

“Positive. Stop flapping and get gone. Kalama will be thinking I’ve slipped a knife through your ribs.”

Sasha half turned to leave then stopped. “I’m going to miss you kid.”

Sasha had been putting off returning to Zoticas for far too long. Summer was gone and autumn would be over in nine days. “You’ll see me again. In the spring I expect.”

“Yes spring. I’ll leave you letters of my whereabouts at The Juggler. If you ever need me before then...”

“I won’t. Scat merc.”

With a hand to his heart Sasha bowed. “Until spring.”

He bowed back then off went Sasha. “Say goodbye to Lanzo for me!” he called after him.

How strange life was going to be without Sasha around. He gave his muscular brown horse, Coco, a pat on the neck. “We’ll be alright, won’t we?”

Sure they would. He knew Freyr’s routes by heart, and would keep on schedule like his old master had done. Quite odd that Freyr hadn’t been seen at any of the places he usually frequented. Would he still be in his stable savagely butchering through books? Guilt tickled him then he reminded himself of why the sleaze was in distress if he remained in that state. More than likely he’d moved onto a new obsession by now.

“Our next stop is Windmill Coast,” he told his horse. “We’ll sell these pieces then cross over to Vulcaan. I think you’ll enjoy the voyage.”

Now all he needed to do was get the furniture onto the back of the cart. The chest of drawers was going to be a challenge. If only dark magic could levitate things.

Shudder shudder shudder.

As he sat cross legged at the side of the road leading to Windmill Coast he swept a blanket over his head to block out the largest moon which was full this evening. Every time a moon was full, and he was exposed to its light, he shuddered. Alaric diagnosed his shuddering to be a side effect from forcing himself to change back to his true form. When a full moon was totally clear, void of cloud, his stomach lurched too. The shuddering ebbed away now he was within his blanket.

After a few cool dark silent minutes in his makeshift tent there was a tap tap tapping on his right shoulder. He crawled his fingers onto a knife. The tapping was firm but small like the head of a pin being pushed against his shoulder. Perhaps a butch spider was dancing on him. He turned his head sharply, raising his knife at the same time.

“Did you kill Lil?” Lignum withdrew his arm and watched him with a guarded gaze.

“No, I killed some spirits but not Lil. The Sapphire Knight sword trainer killed her.”

Lignum chattered his head as though satisfied then walked round him. “You are Eagle right?”

“Yes.” This was so bizarre to have a pixie from Nocta Umbra circling him in his own world.

“This is what you really look like. Sophos nearly choked himself when he heard you’d changed back.”

“How exactly did you hear about me changing back?”

“Why you’re a notorious criminal in Spira. Some spirits came back from this world and reported to Queen Kella they’d seen Sasha’s new ally Eagle, that’s you, take down four of them at once. Kella went ballistic at one human being able to ravage four of her people without even getting a chill. She wants your head. When we heard human, we knew you must have changed back. How? It’s unheard of.”

“Will power I guess. What are you here for?”

Lignum kicked at the ground then hopped around in excitement looking as though he was working himself into a heart attack. “If you killed Lil I was betraying you.”

“Betraying me to who?” He glanced round his blanket as though a mad axe man was breathing down the back of his neck.

“Trouble trouble trouble,” tsked Lignum. “If you’d killed my friend I’d have lured you into the woods. Seen as you didn’t I’m warning you there’s a squadron of spirits lurking in the shadows, ready with ropes to tie you up, and drag you to Azure, to torture you in a most horrific way, making an example of you to their mayor and her Sapphire Knights.”

“Those woods right behind me?”

“Yes yes.”

Bloody heck. He threw off his blanket and hurried over to Coco and harnessed him as quick as he could to the cart. So much for a quiet night. The shudders came on so he put up his hood to see if that would help keep them from getting too noticeable. As he seated himself on the cart Lignum jumped onto his shoulder.

“What’s that?” asked Lignum on extending a limb towards Coco.

“My horse.” He shook the reins to make Coco walk on. Somehow he figured Coco would have to move faster than a walk. Those spirits would come thick and fast when they realised he’d moved. “Hold tight.” Lignum held onto the folds in his cloak. He thrashed the reins sending Coco into a trot, another thrash had him bolting fast.

Cart wheels bumped on the road, jolting him and the furniture. His hair swept in the breeze. His passenger kept chattering his head while watching the dark. The first sign of spirits he sensed were their claws clicking on the ground. Lots and lots of claws.

“They’re closing in,” said Lignum.

Already? Okay falling into a panic wouldn’t save him from being caught and tortured. Surely a horse could outrun some spirits even if it was pulling a cart. Out the corner of his eye he saw a streak of bone white ambling alongside his cart. Windmill Coast was a half hours ride away. If only he’d rode straight there instead of deciding to spend the night at the side of the road. Spirits wouldn’t have ventured into a Kazaran town would they? Questions weren’t any use. Time for action.

Lignum was small but his arms were packed with muscle. “Follow the road,” he said on holding the reins out to the pixie. When they were taken he climbed onto the back of the cart and unsheathead both his knives, keeping his eyes fixated on the spirit running alongside the cart. There were more behind. He heard many claws clicking on the road. Ignore those behind what mattered was the one springing onto the cart.

It landed with a crash against the chest of drawers, then rose up to stand on two legs. So tall. As he made his knives flash in the moonlight the cart jolted over a pot hole. The spirit fell forwards, he fell backwards. Stumbled into a chair. The spirit landed sprawled over the chest of drawers. He thrust himself at the spirit, knives first. The spirit had the same idea. His knives clanged against claws as strong as steel.

As another spirit jumped onto the cart they swerved off the road onto a field, full of dips, fox holes and little stones. Madness. All those spirits would leap onto the cart as soon as they got stuck in a fox hole or swayed over a dip. Blood pumping he swerved his knives away from locking with claws. One knife went high, its twin low. High missed its target but low squelched into muscle. He jammed his arm, forcing the knife through muscle to whatever lay behind. He wouldn’t know what, he was no healer or torturer of spirits. The spirit screeched and failed its arms, legs, whatever they were. Cart wheels left the ground as Coco galloped over a dip. The spirit fell off the cart. The cart touched down, sending him falling back over a chair as the second spirit came at him.

“Lignum get back on the road,” he gasped.

The cart swayed round and whoa Lignum stirred Coco straight towards the squadron of spirits chasing them. Only Coco didn’t bowl through them as Lignum expected. Instead the terrified horse whinnied and rose up, thrashing his front hooves.

The spirit on the cart came right at him while he was still trying to untangle himself from the chair. Curse these shudders they slowed him down. What to do? He looked round for a way out. Saw bright moonlight, stars, field, and a vented up spirit coming down on him. Moonlight. Light.

Light.

Shadow.

Glancing at the nearest shadow to hand he invited it inside his body. Its darkness wrapped round his bones making him heavy. A safe feeling.

“Fire red fire red fire red,” he murmured to himself, willing the shadow to make him glow.

Bright gold, beamed through his fingertips. He reached up to show the spirit. It hissed, backing away as quick as it had been coming. His palms burst to gold, the colour spread along his skin, seeping into his clothes. Not quite fire red but at least he was bright.

He jumped down from his cart and approached the spirits gathered round Coco. They immediately backed away from him, covering their eyes.

“A wicked warlock!” screeched spirits.

“Harm me and I’ll turn you all a dazzling gold.” A lie but they brought it. “Tell Kella I am indeed a wicked warlock who shall come to light up Spira if she tries to have me abducted a second time.”

They scarpered. Phew. He rested a hand against the cart as he almost swayed over. Focusing on the heavy feeling inside he willed himself to stop glowing. The problem being there was no heaviness which must mean he’d used up all the invited shadow. Idiot. He’d used way too much. Would he ever stop glowing? Best do because his head was light and yeah ought to sit down.

“This is dark magic,” said Lignum with an arm covering his eyes to shield the glow. “You haven’t learnt your lesson.”

“What lesson would that be?”

“Never trust magic of any kind. Knowing what Freyr did should have taught you this lesson. Magic is forbidden in most places which should set off warning drums. Bang. Bang. Bang. Yet here you are delving into shadows. Bang. Bang. Bang.”

He massaged his temples with golden fingers. At least his shuddering had stopped. Oh the full moon was shrouded by thick clouds. “Dark magic saved us from being massacred.”

“It also turned you demon.”

“Other peoples’ magic turned me demon not mine.”

Lignum hopped down from the cart and sat next to him with his eyes closed. “Once you start you cannot give it up, just like some people cannot give up ale and indulge too much.”

“Exactly, like some people. You get handfuls of drinkers who know their limits and stop drinking before they exceed them. I’m still learning my magical limitations when I know them I’ll study hard so I’ll be able to control my intake.”

Lignum chuckled. “You’d make a fine scholar. Are there any universities in your country?”

“There’s only one in Kazara. There are more in our neighbouring country Zoticas. Sasha says the rich use them as party palaces.”

“Ours are much stricter. No parties.” Lignum reached out with an arm to tap him on the knee. “When in your company we’re always running into or out of trouble. You really are a fascinating creature.”

That sounded like a compliment. He sank back to rest on his elbows and admired the sky, watching clouds shift around moons and stars, forever creating new pictures. Fingers crossed his glowing would wear off come morning to stop him looking so fascinating.

Wind whooshed in all directions turning the sails of many windmills that stood proud all over and around Windmill Coast. He licked his lips tasting salt on them already. Lignum sat inside his hood, hiding from the sunlight. Seen as there was no traffic behind him he pulled Coco’s reins, stopping him walking on. A sheen of gold remained flickering on his skin, and in his clothes. He took deep breaths, closed his eyes and cleared his mind; something Alaric told him to do if magic ever drained him. Not that he was ever supposed to drain himself. He wondered if Alaric would scald him for attempting a piece of unknown magic without practising with him first... Nope he couldn’t imagine Alaric ever telling anyone off.

The gold sheen settled so it was barely recognisable. Satisfied no one would notice he continued into town to find Fredrick, a man who dealt in selling furniture.

Carts piled high with fish hurried through dull grey streets. A year ago he would have come to Windmill Coast and found all the hustle and bustle interesting. Having been to Azure their day to day tasks seemed tedious. Where were the theatres? Why was there a lack of colour? It was a dull town really seen as come nightfall activity stunted to sleeping. Spring would not come quick enough. Yes spring and summer would be spent living it up in Zoticas while in autumn and winter he concentrated on stealing Freyr’s customers, starting with Fredrick.

On a stone bench outside his shop Fredrick sat watching the world go by. On occasion he would run a hand through his stubbly grey hair.

He gave Frederick his most friendly smile on pulling his cart up beside him. “I hear you are an expert furniture seller.”

“Ay,” agreed Fredrick. “Who’s asking?”

“Alexander,” he said on getting down from the cart and bowing, “a merchant from Zoticas. I specialise in good strong Kazaran wood which I carve my own designs onto.”

“I don’t like Zotican designs.”

“Oh but they’re not Zotican designs at all. They’re Alexander designs and that means however subtle or intricate you desire.” He picked up a chair, setting it beside Fredrick. “Here are my samples. I can carve to order.”

Slowly with creaking knees Fredrick got up from his bench and ran a finger along the curve in the chair. “They are handsome but I already have a man who supplies me with decorative designs.”

“Freyr right?” He smiled. “I have done my homework and know I can offer you a better deal than him.”

Frederick looked over at the chest of drawers. “Are you a reliable young man?”

“Yes although you won’t know unless you take a chance by letting me supply for you.”

“Out of curiosity what is your price for these pieces?”

“Four gold.”

“That’s cheaper than Freyr would have gotten it down for me.”

“Carving is a hobby of mine you see so I don’t charge for doing something I take great pleasure in doing. You’re paying for the furniture not my labour.”

All intrigued Fredrick went to have a look at the table. “These sea serpents are rather elaborate.”

“Yeah my artistic flare whooshed out of control without some direction. However those serpents show what I’m capable of.”

“Freyr wouldn’t be happy if I hired you,” muttered Fredrick.

“I’m sure he’s fought off friendly competition long before me. Come on four gold and when I get back from Vulcaan you can tell me what you’d like me to forage for you and I’ll design whatever you want onto it.”

“I do like these flowers.”

“Not too bold are they? You could have a whole flower range in a corner of your shop.”

There was a moment of silence as Fredrick thought things through while inspecting the quality of wood on the chest of drawers; searching for splinters in the carving. “Four gold for these. If I can sell this chest of drawers by the time you get back from Vulcaan I’ll give you a trial period. Deal?”

“Sounds fair. A deal we have.”

They shook on this deal then he unloaded the furniture into the shop with help from Fredrick’s apprentice. Four gold coins passed into his hands and he was stirred onto the road of stealing away Freyr’s customers. The furniture seller was only the top of a long list.