Blissfully Free and Hopelessly Lost [Open}
Posted: March 6th, 2020, 11:03 pm
Kit tied the donkey, giving her a pat on the neck as he pulled the bags free and rubbed his eyes. He was tired. He was always tired.
Jess huffed at him, and he scratched her forehead. “I know, girl.”
With a sigh, he moved off.
The market was especially busy today, and Kit looked around curiously. He had the list from his master in his pocket and knew he ought to just get what was on there and return at once. His master did not like Kit being in the village too long, he seemed to think he would be ‘sullied’ by the “simpletons and unwashed idiots” that resided there.
Personally, Kit liked most of them. Most of them seemed to like him. Most of them.
“Mistress Marii,” Kit said, approaching the stall of a stout woman who sold vegetables. “Good morning to you.”
Marii looked up with a warm smile. “Oh, hello Kit! Same as usual? Thought so! And yes, I know better than to try and convince you to try something else. That man you work for has a very boring sense of food.”
Kit smiled and nodded. “If it were up to me, I’d try everything I could.” He looked over to a small group of people gathered round a cart. “Who is that?” He asked, curiously. The cart was quite large, and the man seemed to be selling from it. It wasn’t often a travelling merchant would visit a little village such as this.
“Oh, some peddler of oddments and useless items, I bet.” Mistress Marii did not seem to be too enthused. “Folks’ll barter good useful tools and stock for a shiny bauble that’ll do them no good. Here.”
Kit looked back and took the bag, wincing a little as the blistered skin on his back pulled. He gave her a smile at her concerned look, and handed over the coppers. “Thank you, Mistress Marii.” He glanced back at the cart. “I might just take a look.”
As he moved off, she called after him. “Don’t be taken in by him, I can smell a scoundrel a mile off, and that one stinks!”
The man had a hatch on the side of his cart, which he had opened, and on display were many things. Cheap jewellery, some very tattered books, incense, and a few shiny stones which Kit immediately could tell were simply just various kinds of quartz. In his studies and practice, Kit used stones that could buy this entire village! But the folks gathered round looked at them as if they were diamonds.
For a while, he listened to the man spinning tales about this item or that, about dangerous delves he had found them in, or from ancient elven gardens where he had once travelled. Kit couldn’t help but grin at the enthusiasm he told these obvious lies, and at the sounds of wonder from the small crowd.
“But my time here has to be ended, my friends!” The merchant called. “I must away, so last chance to take home something splendid to enrich your very souls! For now I travel to Fellsguard, where I shall dine with the Lords and Ladies, and tell them of this wonderful and generous place.”
For a moment Kit stared at the man. Fellsguard. He turned away, and found himself a little breathless, dizzy almost.
Through his mind flashed an image, an image of himself, topless and on his knees with his hands behind his head. His master was standing just to the side of him, raising the thin switch and then letting it fall onto the young man’s scarred back.
Kit put a hand to his head, shaking it as if he could shake the image from his mind. But he could not, for the switch was as much a part of his life as eating or sleeping. It was daily. When he failed at any minor thing, the switch was there. It could be one or twenty lashes, that never mattered anymore, not after all these years.
He snapped out of his reverie, and looked up to see the crowd slowly dispersing. A small few were comparing their purchases and the man was packing away.
Kit’s heart began to beat hard in his chest as something seemed to take over him. He must have been sweating as he stepped forward to the man. The merchant’s back was to him and Kit took small shallow breaths of nervousness, fear, and excitement. From the back of his belt, hidden by a modest cloak, Kit took out what looked to be a slender stick. It had been shaved and polished, and was decorated with strange intricate patterns. He glanced around him, and when he found a moment where no one was looking, he pointed the wand, for that was exactly what it was, at the man’s back, and muttered something.
The man stood straight immediately.
Kit shoved the wand quickly back into his belt and donned a polite smile. “Good day to you, sir. I am Kit Heron.”
The man looked a little confused for a moment, his brow furrowed. Then he blinked and looked up at the young mage. “Sorry, lad. I was leagues away for a moment then! I’m afraid. How can I help? I’m afraid I’m just packing up for the day and-”
“Oh no, I don’t want to buy anything.” Kit said, quickly. “You’re going to Fellsguard and,” he hesitated feeling a knot in his stomach, “you were going to take me with you, remember?”
As the merchant stared at him, Kit felt himself holding his breath. The man looked confused again, and then he gave a short laugh. “Well, I’ll be buggered if I know what’s gotten into me today! Sorry lad!”
Kit’s heart sank.
“But I had completely forgot about that!”
Kit’s head snapped up.
“We’ll be off in a few minutes so better grab your bag! Spent a bit longer than I had intended to here.”
At first, Kit just stared. He knew the spell inside and out, theoretically. But he had never used it on someone before. And it had worked! “Yes, yes!” He said, grinning like a fool. “I’ll be just a moment. Just one short moment.”
He turned took off running, nearly falling into Marii’s stall.
“Mind how you go, young Kit!” Marii said, startled!
Kit’s heart and mind were going faster than a racing horse. “Jess … the donkey. She’s yours.”
Marii put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “What you talking about?”
“She’s tied up by the trough. Have her. I’m leaving.” He wasn’t really sure what he was saying. “If my master comes looking for me, don’t try and tell him you didn’t see me or anything. Don’t lie to him.”
Marii looked completely confused.
“Just … I have to go.” He took her warm hand, and then gave her a quick hug. She had always been kind to him. Her face was a picture of incredulity. “Thank you for everything.”
Then he turned and ran back to the merchant.
The miles went by at a sedate pace. The back of the cart was horribly uncomfortable, and the roads round here were hardly smooth. But still. Kit was leaving. He would be free.
[text-align]⁂[/text-align]
When he was first taken from his home, his new master had put him through many ‘tests’.
“These will see what kind of wizard you shall be, boy.” He had said.
It hadn’t taken long.
“Mental. Interesting. Not ideal, but it has potential and could prove useful. A more practical kind of magic. Low magic, in my opinion. But with study, the right equipment and tools, you could become very useful to me. You will be able to control the minds of others. You will be able to move things with your mind. Well, you know you can do that after you threw your father through a wall. It’s a base magic, in my opinion, but it is magic nonetheless, which makes you better than most of the grubby little nobodies in this region. First we shall get you a conduit. A staff? No! A wand, for you I think. A staff reserved for those of more noble disciplines. There is a book on the shelf that will guide you in the making of such. You begin today. Fail, and you will be punished. Succeed, and you will be permitted to succeed again. Well? What are you waiting for?! Move, boy!”
⁂
The young mage had had to use the spell at least another five or six times as they travelled. The merchant would sometimes wake up and demand to know who he was and what he was doing in his cart!
Kit would produce the wand, speak the spell and their journey continued.
It was an arduous process, but it was much better than the alternative. Three days of travel. Three days were now the longest he had ever gone since his master had bought him from his mother at the age of 14, so he could never complain at the lack of sleep or the bruised bottom from the bumpy cart.
When they reached sight of Fellsguard, Kit was in awe, staring as the city came into view. He never knew buildings could be so high! He found himself laughing excitedly, gaining him a puzzled look from the merchant. But Kit didn’t care. Fellsguard meant freedom.
⁂
Stepping down out of the carriage, Kit was taken aback at the sheer number of people there were! Everyone rushing too and fro, as if they were on a mission for their lives! And the noise! People shouting, the odd voice raised in anger, sellers calling out, people chatting as they went about their day.
“Well, good luck lad.”
Kit turned to face the merchant. He felt so guilty at what he had done to this unsuspecting man, and he tried to think of a way to repay the debt and soothe his own conscience. He fumbled at his belt. “I have some coin-”
The merchant reached out and put a hand on Kit’s shoulder. “Keep it. You need coin here. It’s been good travelling with you, and nice to have a bit of company on the road. Good luck with, what did you say you were coming here for again?”
Kit bit his lip, trying to remember what he said. “Relatives!” He blurted out. Then cleared his throat. “My aunt.”
The merchant nodded. “That’s right. I hope she gets better. Mayhaps our paths will cross again. Idols be with you, ah, I-”
“Kit.” The mage shook the man’s hand. “And they be with you, also.”
And then, after watching them vanish into the bustle of the city, Kit Heron turned to look around him. He had no idea where he was, what he should do, or where he should go.
But at least he was free.
“‘Scuse me.” A young woman knocked into him. The pretty young woman was dressed in ragged clothing, and her face was dirty.
“Sorry!” Kit said, automatically.
She shrugged. “No harm done.” And she vanished into the crowd.
⁂
A few hours of wandering later, he realised his coin-purse was gone.
Kit’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, Veditova. What do I do now?"
Jess huffed at him, and he scratched her forehead. “I know, girl.”
With a sigh, he moved off.
The market was especially busy today, and Kit looked around curiously. He had the list from his master in his pocket and knew he ought to just get what was on there and return at once. His master did not like Kit being in the village too long, he seemed to think he would be ‘sullied’ by the “simpletons and unwashed idiots” that resided there.
Personally, Kit liked most of them. Most of them seemed to like him. Most of them.
“Mistress Marii,” Kit said, approaching the stall of a stout woman who sold vegetables. “Good morning to you.”
Marii looked up with a warm smile. “Oh, hello Kit! Same as usual? Thought so! And yes, I know better than to try and convince you to try something else. That man you work for has a very boring sense of food.”
Kit smiled and nodded. “If it were up to me, I’d try everything I could.” He looked over to a small group of people gathered round a cart. “Who is that?” He asked, curiously. The cart was quite large, and the man seemed to be selling from it. It wasn’t often a travelling merchant would visit a little village such as this.
“Oh, some peddler of oddments and useless items, I bet.” Mistress Marii did not seem to be too enthused. “Folks’ll barter good useful tools and stock for a shiny bauble that’ll do them no good. Here.”
Kit looked back and took the bag, wincing a little as the blistered skin on his back pulled. He gave her a smile at her concerned look, and handed over the coppers. “Thank you, Mistress Marii.” He glanced back at the cart. “I might just take a look.”
As he moved off, she called after him. “Don’t be taken in by him, I can smell a scoundrel a mile off, and that one stinks!”
The man had a hatch on the side of his cart, which he had opened, and on display were many things. Cheap jewellery, some very tattered books, incense, and a few shiny stones which Kit immediately could tell were simply just various kinds of quartz. In his studies and practice, Kit used stones that could buy this entire village! But the folks gathered round looked at them as if they were diamonds.
For a while, he listened to the man spinning tales about this item or that, about dangerous delves he had found them in, or from ancient elven gardens where he had once travelled. Kit couldn’t help but grin at the enthusiasm he told these obvious lies, and at the sounds of wonder from the small crowd.
“But my time here has to be ended, my friends!” The merchant called. “I must away, so last chance to take home something splendid to enrich your very souls! For now I travel to Fellsguard, where I shall dine with the Lords and Ladies, and tell them of this wonderful and generous place.”
For a moment Kit stared at the man. Fellsguard. He turned away, and found himself a little breathless, dizzy almost.
Through his mind flashed an image, an image of himself, topless and on his knees with his hands behind his head. His master was standing just to the side of him, raising the thin switch and then letting it fall onto the young man’s scarred back.
Kit put a hand to his head, shaking it as if he could shake the image from his mind. But he could not, for the switch was as much a part of his life as eating or sleeping. It was daily. When he failed at any minor thing, the switch was there. It could be one or twenty lashes, that never mattered anymore, not after all these years.
He snapped out of his reverie, and looked up to see the crowd slowly dispersing. A small few were comparing their purchases and the man was packing away.
Kit’s heart began to beat hard in his chest as something seemed to take over him. He must have been sweating as he stepped forward to the man. The merchant’s back was to him and Kit took small shallow breaths of nervousness, fear, and excitement. From the back of his belt, hidden by a modest cloak, Kit took out what looked to be a slender stick. It had been shaved and polished, and was decorated with strange intricate patterns. He glanced around him, and when he found a moment where no one was looking, he pointed the wand, for that was exactly what it was, at the man’s back, and muttered something.
The man stood straight immediately.
Kit shoved the wand quickly back into his belt and donned a polite smile. “Good day to you, sir. I am Kit Heron.”
The man looked a little confused for a moment, his brow furrowed. Then he blinked and looked up at the young mage. “Sorry, lad. I was leagues away for a moment then! I’m afraid. How can I help? I’m afraid I’m just packing up for the day and-”
“Oh no, I don’t want to buy anything.” Kit said, quickly. “You’re going to Fellsguard and,” he hesitated feeling a knot in his stomach, “you were going to take me with you, remember?”
As the merchant stared at him, Kit felt himself holding his breath. The man looked confused again, and then he gave a short laugh. “Well, I’ll be buggered if I know what’s gotten into me today! Sorry lad!”
Kit’s heart sank.
“But I had completely forgot about that!”
Kit’s head snapped up.
“We’ll be off in a few minutes so better grab your bag! Spent a bit longer than I had intended to here.”
At first, Kit just stared. He knew the spell inside and out, theoretically. But he had never used it on someone before. And it had worked! “Yes, yes!” He said, grinning like a fool. “I’ll be just a moment. Just one short moment.”
He turned took off running, nearly falling into Marii’s stall.
“Mind how you go, young Kit!” Marii said, startled!
Kit’s heart and mind were going faster than a racing horse. “Jess … the donkey. She’s yours.”
Marii put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “What you talking about?”
“She’s tied up by the trough. Have her. I’m leaving.” He wasn’t really sure what he was saying. “If my master comes looking for me, don’t try and tell him you didn’t see me or anything. Don’t lie to him.”
Marii looked completely confused.
“Just … I have to go.” He took her warm hand, and then gave her a quick hug. She had always been kind to him. Her face was a picture of incredulity. “Thank you for everything.”
Then he turned and ran back to the merchant.
The miles went by at a sedate pace. The back of the cart was horribly uncomfortable, and the roads round here were hardly smooth. But still. Kit was leaving. He would be free.
[text-align]⁂[/text-align]
When he was first taken from his home, his new master had put him through many ‘tests’.
“These will see what kind of wizard you shall be, boy.” He had said.
It hadn’t taken long.
“Mental. Interesting. Not ideal, but it has potential and could prove useful. A more practical kind of magic. Low magic, in my opinion. But with study, the right equipment and tools, you could become very useful to me. You will be able to control the minds of others. You will be able to move things with your mind. Well, you know you can do that after you threw your father through a wall. It’s a base magic, in my opinion, but it is magic nonetheless, which makes you better than most of the grubby little nobodies in this region. First we shall get you a conduit. A staff? No! A wand, for you I think. A staff reserved for those of more noble disciplines. There is a book on the shelf that will guide you in the making of such. You begin today. Fail, and you will be punished. Succeed, and you will be permitted to succeed again. Well? What are you waiting for?! Move, boy!”
⁂
The young mage had had to use the spell at least another five or six times as they travelled. The merchant would sometimes wake up and demand to know who he was and what he was doing in his cart!
Kit would produce the wand, speak the spell and their journey continued.
It was an arduous process, but it was much better than the alternative. Three days of travel. Three days were now the longest he had ever gone since his master had bought him from his mother at the age of 14, so he could never complain at the lack of sleep or the bruised bottom from the bumpy cart.
When they reached sight of Fellsguard, Kit was in awe, staring as the city came into view. He never knew buildings could be so high! He found himself laughing excitedly, gaining him a puzzled look from the merchant. But Kit didn’t care. Fellsguard meant freedom.
⁂
Stepping down out of the carriage, Kit was taken aback at the sheer number of people there were! Everyone rushing too and fro, as if they were on a mission for their lives! And the noise! People shouting, the odd voice raised in anger, sellers calling out, people chatting as they went about their day.
“Well, good luck lad.”
Kit turned to face the merchant. He felt so guilty at what he had done to this unsuspecting man, and he tried to think of a way to repay the debt and soothe his own conscience. He fumbled at his belt. “I have some coin-”
The merchant reached out and put a hand on Kit’s shoulder. “Keep it. You need coin here. It’s been good travelling with you, and nice to have a bit of company on the road. Good luck with, what did you say you were coming here for again?”
Kit bit his lip, trying to remember what he said. “Relatives!” He blurted out. Then cleared his throat. “My aunt.”
The merchant nodded. “That’s right. I hope she gets better. Mayhaps our paths will cross again. Idols be with you, ah, I-”
“Kit.” The mage shook the man’s hand. “And they be with you, also.”
And then, after watching them vanish into the bustle of the city, Kit Heron turned to look around him. He had no idea where he was, what he should do, or where he should go.
But at least he was free.
“‘Scuse me.” A young woman knocked into him. The pretty young woman was dressed in ragged clothing, and her face was dirty.
“Sorry!” Kit said, automatically.
She shrugged. “No harm done.” And she vanished into the crowd.
⁂
A few hours of wandering later, he realised his coin-purse was gone.
Kit’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, Veditova. What do I do now?"