The Innocence of Teacups

After much logical wandering about The Juggler was insight. Unlike the inns at Kazara these ones left their front doors unlocked all hours. He was able to simply walk on into the empty parlour and go upstairs to the bedrooms. He paused outside Freyr’s room with fear welling up in his stomach. Explaining everything that had happened this evening was going to be a hurdle, especially seen as parchment and ink were no longer needed.

Knock knock.

Freyr gave a grumble. He knocked again. Louder.

“Who is it at such an unreasonable hour?”

He opened his mouth to speak, no words came out. As if Freyr would believe it was him if he spoke. Instead he went into his own room and made a show of closing the door. Moments later Freyr followed him.

“You best have good reason for waking me. I think we should have at least two hours before dawn until we need to pack.”

He rubbed his elbow while rolling his tongue round teeth. The courage to talk never came instead he dipped a hand into his satchel, taking out his ledger. I did something stupid. Please don’t be angry.

“What have you done?”

He held his black knife out to Freyr.

“How did you get your knife back?”

I’ve accidently let onto Sasha you’re the sorcerer he was after. He also knows I killed Lanzo.

“How?” snarled Freyr. “The only way you could let on anything is if you wrote out a confession. Fuck I knew encouraging you to write was a bad move. You cannot control that streak of sensitivity that zips round here.” Freyr jammed a finger against his temple making his head tweak. “Do you want to ruin me?” Next Freyr snatched away his ledger and flicked through the pages. “Tore your confession out, did you? You sneaky little coward.” Freyr clawed away at the ledger, ripping out pages in chunks. “I forbid you to write another word ever again.”

Quickly before Freyr could make off with his quill he scribbled a message on his arm. If I could talk would you tear out my tongue to stop me speaking? If so it would be in his best interests to keep quiet.

“Forbidden! You’ve no idea the mess you’ve made. Yesterday I stopped Lev from making a move on me now her knights know I’m the dark sorcerer she will pursue me to save her integrity. You idiot.”

He held his arm as close to Freyr as he dare. His message was read which was followed by a whack to the arm.

“My patience is tried, tested, and gone. I thought you were going to tell me something important about why you betrayed me not ask a meaningless question.”

Enough. He slid his tongue across his teeth, took in a breath and hoped he wouldn’t be rejected. “It wasn’t a meaningless question. I genuinely want to know if you plan on cutting out my tongue to re-silence me.”

Freyr’s eyes widened then hand went diving for his sword as he held up his knife. Clank they met blades.

“What have you done with my assistant?”

“Nothing. Lanzo was hiding my voice in his room in barracks.”

Freyr pushed against his blade so he pushed back. “Why would Lanzo be hiding my assistant’s voice in barracks, you imposter?”

“I wish I knew. And I’m not an imposter.”

“Prove it.”

What a look, one of fire and shock. Cooling Freyr’s anger was probably more lethal than Kalama’s. Shove he was thrown up against a wardrobe. A hand clawed round his neck. Freyr squeezed, so he could only get out a few sharp breaths. He gripped round his master’s pulsing hand, and managed to stare him out. Forced away the fear. After all he was only receiving half of what Lev had experienced, meaning Freyr would never go full whack and kill him.

“You’re not panicking yet. I would if I were you.” Freyr applied more pressure.

Hardly any breaths would come out. He didn’t try forcing any either just maintained eye contact. Extra pressure came. They came to the point of receiving what Lev had gotten. Breaths were fully cut off, trapped within his lungs, losing the battle of escape. Seconds later when he was wondering if his lips were turning blue Freyr’s hold relaxed. Trying to maintain some dignity he calmly sucked in air. “That’s proof enough.” Freyr fully drew away his hands, eyes straying away from him.

He massaged his neck then took a step away from the wardrobe. “I could have done with your help fetching my voice.”

“Then why didn’t you come for me?”

“Desire. I wanted my voice so badly as soon as I knew where it was I couldn’t stop myself getting it.”

On sweeping out the room Freyr trod on a pile of parchment, making him stop short for a brief moment. “That ledger was a waste of money,” Freyr harked, then began grumbling away to himself as he completely left the room. “Ungrateful urchin, having me spend coins on things he only needed for several days.”

He stood in the corridor with a hand over his mouth in embarrassment as Freyr thumped about in his room, making as much noise as possible while packing. Occupants of other rooms popped their heads round doors, groaning complaints and odd curses.

“What are they all looking at?” Freyr huffed when he emerged and handed him a pack. He swallowed down his reply and followed Freyr downstairs, across the parlour, and out the door.

They walked briskly through the Entertainment District, leaving behind the only place he’d ever really connected with. Sad yes, however staying would be problematic with the mayor and her Sapphire Knights wanting him dead.

“Couldn’t you carry your own pack?” He jogged to keep up. “It’s rather heavy with two, and I am sore from yesterday evening.”

“You should have thought about that before getting abducted.”

If Freyr refused to carry his own pack then in Zoticas it would stay. He marched right past Freyr, dumping the pack on the ground on his way by.

“What is this a tantrum?” tsked Freyr.

“No, this is me telling you to carry your own pack or leave it behind.”

A snicker left Freyr as he picked up the pack and went along with him. A hand patted his shoulder then the snicker turned into a slight laugh.

“Recently I don’t know whether to shake or praise you. In any case hearing you speak is sort of positive.”

“Why sort of?”

“You know I like silence now you’ll be chattering away, hurting my head. Plus you’re normal. Where’s the mystery or fun in normality? The dumb act is well and truly over.”

“Where’s the positive?” he sighed, figuring his master might ditch him.

“You will find keeping secrets from me much more difficult.”

“As long as you don’t abandon me I’ll keep up the dumb act, if it pleases you.”

A smile managed to stretch across Freyr’s face. “One thing I’ll never do is abandon you. You are too valuable, knowing all my tricks of the trade. Tell me who stole your voice? Perhaps we could pay them back.”

“Lanzo’s mother and she’s already dead that’s why Lanzo had my voice.”

“I see, yes, makes sense. Lev was close with her.”

“There is something which bothers me. I keep hearing about moons aligning from spirits, and the men who abducted me, then Kalama. Do you know anything about an alignment?”

Freyr kept his lips pursed as though having deep thoughts then shook his head. “Magic is full of moons and star patterns. Most of it is nonsense. These Zoticans are a suspicious people, and spirits enjoy worrying us.”

“Why do you choose to use magic?”

“I don’t choose magic, I need it.”

“You must have a strong reason. Have you bartered your soul to a phantom or something?”

Freyr closed his eyes as though a memory or pang of pain was crossing through his mind. “You could say that and I prefer not to burden you with my dark complications.”

“You can count on me to help you with your complications. I can see they’ve become a strain on you recently.”

“Confound these questions and observations. The best way you can help me is by being my assistant.”

“Maybe I could see some buyers now I can talk.”

“Extra responsibility. I suppose you could try bartering. It’s an art.”

“Smokes and mirrors. I can try. I doubt I’ll ever have as much confidence as you.”

He fell silent because no response was made. They walked all the way through Azure without stopping not even when the sun made an appearance. You would think travelling in the dark would be scarier, on the contrary when there was light people’s facial expressions could be seen.

Did passers-by know who they were and what they’d done to one of their knights? As always when away from work, Freyr was un-phased and went along as though no one else in the world existed, and would walk through people rather than round them, which forced them to clear ways in the path for him. And as usual he trailed after Freyr, looking apologetic when need be. He should speak out about his master’s discourteous behaviour but never did. Even with a voice nothing was changed between them.

Outside the city was better, with lots of road and only frequent cottages to pass by. Every so often he would snatch a glance behind his shoulder and see no one with a sapphire sheath which settled him for a few more minutes until he looked again. Freyr never looked; he kept his head held high with eyes focused in front of him. Yes, Freyr kept them in the right direction; he was the one who made sure they were safe.