The Innocence of Teacups

The Oval happened to be a two hour walk away from The Juggler and wasn’t a conventional theatre. This theatre was outside. The stage a large oval of fire. Guests came armed with cushions and lanterns. They settled themselves round the fire oval to watch whatever play was being put on. A few glass trees were dotted about and the odd gazebo. There was also a moderate white tent. Was this where the troupe stayed before a show? Seemed plausible seen as there was a horse and cart outside it.

He approached the tent wondering what the conventions were for calling on someone in a tent. You couldn’t exactly knock and calling out to strangers seemed impolite. He lingered outside wondering wherever it would be unacceptable to simply walk on in. Freyr would waltz in no questions asked.

“Let’s all be spectacular tonight,” an excited voice said from within the tent. “We’ll knock them off their cushions. We’ve five minutes till curtain.”

“There is no curtain,” chimed in two voices; they sounded like twins.

“You know what I mean.”

Right, there was no point in standing here best to go in there and enquire about Sasha. These people were obviously a troupe of actors. He edged right over to the tent flap. “Excuse me.” No one heard him so he poked his head through the flap. “Sorry to disturb you but...”

“Out out,” said the man with the excited voice. He was wearing a vibrant purple cloak with red jewels sewn all over it. “No sneak previews.”

“I’m not here about your show.”

“No autographs either. At least not till curtain closes and I don’t just give my autographs away for free. Out out out.”

Goodness actors had high opinions of themselves. “I don’t want your autograph. I’m looking for-”

“-out out.”

Before he could get moved away a line of barefooted actors in skimpy forest green costumes ran past him all set to perform their play. When they dispersed, he saw Sasha get up from a chest he had been sat on and came to join them.

“Calm down this is my good friend Alexander. He’s not here to spy on your actors.”

Wow that must be the director. How glitzy.

“He’s not?”

“No he’s a merchant. You don’t sell actors do you?”

He laughed. “I don’t think that’s legal.”

“Off you go Anton or you’ll miss your opening act. Don’t worry your treasure chest is safe with me.” Sasha nudged Anton to get him moving then pulled him fully into the tent. “You’ve arrived in Azure earlier than I expected.”

“I got bored in Kazara and did everything which needed doing.”

“You’ve built up some revenue. Great.”

As well as stolen a chunk of Freyr’s customers while making sure the sleaze kept on the same route, which he had done mostly. Best to keep that venture quiet. Somehow he didn’t think Sasha would approve of him going out of his way to try destroying Freyr.

Sasha retook his seat on top of the chest with a sword rested on his knee. “I think Anton is being paranoid about anyone making off with whatever’s in here.”

“Don’t you think it’s costumes?”

“Too heavy for costumes.”

“Haven’t you had a peek inside?”

“No that would be disloyal.”

“I’d have looked. What if you’re guarding something dangerous?”

“I doubt a director would be lugging around dangerous artefacts. Enough about this boring chest. How have you been?”

“Fine thank you.”

“No trouble getting into Zoticas? I was worried you wouldn’t get through all the knights they’ve posted out on the border.”

“I got in easy enough. Kalama escorted me across the border.”

Sasha’s face lit up at the mention of Kalama. “You saw her? I’m surprised she helped you get in.”

“She didn’t know it was me at first. Alaric taught me how to disguise myself.”

“How?”

“Just a mask,” he said quickly then tried to change the subject. “You really like Kalama, don’t you?”

“In a brotherly sort of way.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Kalama loved Lanzo.”

If Kalama loved Lanzo so much why was she so protective of Sasha? Never mind. Best to veer his curiosities away from that friendship triangle.

“No one’s given you any trouble have they? Because I’ve heard there have been sightings of spirits in Kazara.”

“I’ve been fine.” There was no point in getting Sasha worked up about him, especially when the guy was on a job. “Although there’s tension in the air isn’t there? I’ve seen people fleeing Zoticas, and Alaric reckons spirits are restless.”

“If we keep our heads down we should be alright. The Sapphire Knights will protect us. They always do,”

He tapped at a knife. “Do you truly believe that? Their intentions maybe good but what of their attitudes? Kalama looked as though she wanted to send her sword through Pavel.”

“He’s only one knight.”

“And one of the wealthiest. Less privileged people like you eventually get pushed out.” Reducing poor Sasha to guarding chests as a mercenary that was completely unethical. “They rant about freedom but don’t demonstrate it. No one gave you the freedom to speak out about me without being turned on. They’re a flawed organisation that the majority of Zoticas adore and Lev knows it. She’s a dangerous mayor.”

“She has the peoples’ best interests at heart.”

“She’s a sugar coater. We should be ready for when spirits hit. He flashed his knives. “Will you spar me? I could do with some proper practise.” That and he wanted to see how skilled with a sword Sasha was.

They started by circling each other, sizing each other up. Who would make the first move? Sasha’s muscles were bigger than his, anyone could see that. Speed and caution would be needed. Not too much caution though. He stepped back as Sasha thrust forward. His back step changed to a viper forward step, trying to catch Sasha off guard. He missed his target then arms vibrated.

Retreat, dodge, dodge, feint a little. Look blank. No smiles or smirks. Never grimace or frown unless in deep trouble then demonstrate the death smirk. Damn Freyr’s voice in his head still instructing, lecturing.

He swiped managing to catch Sasha’s arm. A line of blood trickled. In response Sasha charged right at him, relentless, a wild glint tinged his eyes. He ended up tripping. Forced to yield.

“Kill him!” bellowed Lanzo as he merged out of thin air, now a solid shape. The phantom looked exactly like living human Lanzo had done save for his skin was tinted with blue.

Sasha span from him and waved his sword at Lanzo. “Would you quit popping up like that?”

Lanzo laughed. “Like what Sash? A phantom?”

“Yes, exactly like a phantom.”

“Tough. I am what I am. Phantoms pop up.”

“They’re only supposed to appear in our world when summoned,” he said, and rubbed at his elbow.

On thin air Lanzo walked round him. “I may go where I please as long as I do not physically meddle, unless summoned. Want to summon me murderer?”

Instead of answering he smirked and asked. “Is it true Sasha was a better fighter than you but he pretended you were the best to save your reputation?”

“Yes. We had our reasons.”

“Yeah demons forbid,” he made himself shudder using that phrase, took a breath, then carried on, “a slum boy besting a light sorcerer’s son would have caused uproar for you knights.”

“He would never have gotten in without me. We had a deal.”

“We did,” agreed Sasha. “A deal between friends.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” he said.

“What do you know of right and wrong?” said Lanzo.

“I’ve lived through a lot of wrong all my life so can figure out the difference.”

“Are you going to let that talk to me in such a disrespectful manner?”

“You two both need to calm down. I’m sure we can find a way to get along.”

The tent flap whipped up as Kalama sort of staggered through it, with her hand pressed against a bleeding shoulder. “Not you three with your love triangle again. We have a more urgent issue to deal with.”

Sasha spurted over to assist Kalama and she pushed him away. “We’ve got to go now. A spirit called Skulbon is tearing up Scally Alley with a whole squadron. I think he’s looking for something.”

“You’re hurt. Calm yourself. Lev will sort it with the knights.”

“That’s just it they won’t. I tried to get them to ride over there with me but they refused. They’re under the impression losing Scally Alley will be no great loss. No one will listen to me.”

“How many spirits?” asked Sasha.

“About fifty,” he said.

Kalama swerved on him. “How would you know?”

“Lieutenant Skulbon he’s well yeah he’s been hunting me all winter.”

“You, he’s looking for you,” shouted Kalama. “Everywhere you go you cause nothing but disaster. You’re a walking curse.”

“I’ll hand myself over to Skulbon then he’ll leave Zoticas alone.” He looked at Sasha not knowing how else to put things right.

“Just stay here. You’ll only make everything worse.” Sasha turned from him and headed out the tent. “Did you bring me a horse?”

“Yes. We will think of something to help,” said Kalama and followed after Sasha.

“Walking curse,” snickered Lanzo as he strode in midair after his friends.

Walking curse.

He bumped down atop the chest and stared at his palms. It was true everywhere he went a dilemma occurred. What could Sasha and Kalama possibly do against fifty spirits? Wrong and right; he made one hand glow gold.

Walking curse.

People got called worse. Alaric was forever being called a night waster. Did that stop him protecting night creatures? No. On thinking this he heard a fluttering of wings then saw a tall shadow slink into the tent.

“Alaric?”

“Yes me. I thought they would never leave. I need your help if you have the time.” Alaric stepped over to him. “The big shake has happened. If Skulbon takes Scally Alley spirits from Spirit Land will join him in taking Azure followed by the rest of Zoticas. This must not come to pass or the order of human and night creatures will be deeply disturbed.” Alaric sat cross legged levitating on a dark cloud in the middle of the tent. “Problem being how to reason with spirits.”

“By giving me to them.”

“Not good enough. Queen Kella is using you as an excuse to attack. I was hoping those Sapphire Knights would drive Skulbon out of Scally Alley to buy some time. What I need is a squadron of my own. You wouldn’t happen to have any contacts would you?”

“Afraid I’m not very popular round here.”

“Eight thousand years ago us Vulfgangs used to be respected by spirits. Father used to put the scarers on them. Well Eagle my friend time is short; best I have a word with Skulbon. Be diplomatic.”

“Wait. Trainees.” Those trainee knights liked Sasha so they might care about his home turf. Alaric looked at him ready to hear his idea. “Knights in training might help us. They’re not proper knights yet but better than nothing.”

“What a splendid idea! Fresh blood. Do they reside near Lev’s house?”

“Yes at the bottom of the hill there’s a trainee barracks.”

Alaric grabbed hold of his arm and rushed out of the tent. They ran ever so fast and in a few short seconds he found his feet to have left firm ground. How he wished Alaric would give fair warning before taking off with him into the clouds.

Minutes later Alaric was no longer holding onto him and he landed with a crash on his back. A bat flittered about above him as he sat up. What a way to travel. They were at the bottom of Lady Lev’s hill. When he got to his feet, bat Alaric stood on his arm like a hunter’s falcon.

Please let the trainees take him seriously and want to help. He went over to their barracks. The doors were wide open and he went through them trying to appear confident. Flurries of trainees in blue tabards walked the corridors chatting, laughing and drinking. Not wanting to waste any time he caught the attention of the nearest group of trainees.

“Excuse me do you know where I can find Zora?”

Phew they weren’t being secretive. “Dorm twelve. Cool bat. Where’d you get it?”

“Thanks,” he called on hurrying through corridors looking at numbers painted on doors. Six, seven, eight, nine. Turn a corner. Ten eleven and twelve.

A lot of giggling was on the other side of door twelve. He straightened out his shirt. A girls’ dormitory there must be worse places to venture. Should he be taking a vampyre into a girls’ dormitory? He supposed there would be no harm done if Alaric remained a bat. He knocked on the door. The giggling stopped.

“Come in.”

And in he went. Two girls, the ones he remembered as Zora’s friends, were sat on a bed rummaging through a jewellery box. Zora was sat at a desk, writing what looked to be a letter.

“Ooo Zora you have a visitor,” said Nina as she tried on a ring.

Dessa giggled. “Claude will be jealous.”

Zora finished the sentence she was writing before turning round to see who her visitor was. “Eagle what are you doing here? If Lady Lev finds you she will string you up. Go away.”

Not the warmest of welcomes. He clasped his hands together. Best to simply tell her what he wanted to say straight out.

Nina snapped the jewellery box closed. “That is no way to speak to a guest.”

“Who are you, my mother? Besides I never invited him. What are you waiting for Eagle? Get out or someone will report you.”

“Are you scared Claude will see him in our dorm and go after him?” teased Dessa.

Was Zora dating Claude? Not that it mattered. Who Zora spent her time with was none of his business. Alaric squeaked probably to remind him of why they were here. “There are spirits in Azure. They’re in Scally Alley destroying it but Lev won’t send any knights in there to drive them out.” That piece of information made the dormitory go silent, he took advantage of this. “I need help; I mean Sasha and Kalama need help to take them down.”

“There’s always fighting in the slums. When Lev last sent Sapphire Knights to patrol there they got attacked by a gang. Scally Alley doesn’t deserve our help,” said Nina.

“Then you forget Sasha is from the slums,” said Zora. “People don’t enjoy living in poverty you know.”

“There’s no time to debate,” he said as Alaric squeaked again. “What Lev doesn’t realise is if these spirits are successful in destroying Scally Alley more spirits have agreed to join and march on the rest of Azure.”

“Then Lev will stop them,” said Nina.

“No, she won’t. You’ll be outnumbered.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do. Zora will you help me?”

“We’re trainees. What can we possibly do?” said Nina. “Three spirits wasn’t over risky but a whole squadron we’d be toast.”

Nina was right. Asking for their help was a waste of time. Skulbon would pull them apart. “You’re right. Sorry I came.” He turned to leave and Zora caught hold of his arm.

“I’ll help you.”

“No don’t bother.”

“I said I’m helping.” Zora made for the wardrobe and took out a sword. “Could you two get everyone together in the refectory?”

“For what purpose?” asked Nina.

“Tell them what Lev is allowing to happen to the slums. Stage a protest round her house then take it onto the streets. Cause an uproar. Plead Sasha’s case. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.”

Dessa jumped to her feet. “I’ll fetch those placards we made!” She grabbed Nina’s wrist and dragged her out the dormitory then started calling for a trainee meeting for important revolutionary business. After a moments hesitance Nina joined in, getting caught up in the hype.

“While they’re off protesting what are we going to do?” asked Zora.

Good question. Alaric best not be too dispirited having not gotten an army of trainees. “I don’t know,” he said as Alaric flew off his arm and away into deep darkness.

“Your bat flew off.”

“Yeah he’s not mine.”

“What was it doing on your arm then?”

He shrugged then bit his lip as the trainee knight thrust herself forwards, stopped still, holding her sword in a defensive stance at the looming figure in front of them. A figure which hissed through his teeth. He motioned at Zora to lower her sword.

“Eagle, who is that?” whispered Zora.

“A friend. He wants to send those spirits back to their own world. I’m helping him.”

Zora lowered her sword. “Urm hello there.”

“Good evening young lady.”

“He has a strange accent,” mustered Zora.

“Yeah, he’s not from around here or anywhere near here.”

“Do not worry I rarely bite. A pleasure to meet you.” Alaric dropped into step beside him. “You never told me you had a mate.”

Bloody heck. He put a hand over his face and groaned.

“Two bodyguards. You can both look fierce at my back while I speak with Skulbon.”

“And what if he refuses to be reasonable?” he asked.

“I will have to be extremely persuasive.”

“Wait a sec. Is your friend a warrior or solider or something? I thought you said we were helping my cousin and Sasha.”

“We are helping then indirectly.” Before he could explain who Alaric was in loose terms, the vampyre himself burst out with his own explanation.

“I’m a prince from a distant land. Spirits know all about me.”

“A prince of what?”

“No time my dear. If we survive tonight I may tell you something more of myself. Now we must plunge ourselves into tragic circumstances.”

At that Alaric charged along at full speed and they had a hard job keeping up with his long stride. So much so they were left behind. He suspected the vampyre had transformed himself into a bat to scout on ahead.