{"id":25114,"date":"2021-07-16T04:40:25","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T08:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=25114"},"modified":"2021-08-24T08:05:42","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T12:05:42","slug":"dapriles-fools-third-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/dapriles-fools-third-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"D’Aprile’s Fools – Third Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

D\u2019Aprile\u2019s Fools<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Tale by Michael DeAngelo<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter Three: The Mad Wizard<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The pair of men arrived at the outskirts of town just as the last sliver of daylight could be seen above the tall trees of the Grand Falmere.\u00a0 His legs sore from being left unused for so long, Frederic leaned upon his knees to get the blood flowing.\u00a0 As tired as his limbs were, he was certain that the horse\u2019s body was spent.\u00a0 He thought he detected a bit of urgency in the merchant\u2019s pace, but he hadn\u2019t expected that they would arrive in Galden before nightfall.<\/p>\n

Frederic realized that Olafur caught him looking his way, as though he was trying to size up why he had hurried them along.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there were members of the Ebon Hammer behind us, I\u2019d sooner see old Buster a little tired than see us beset upon,\u201d the merchant offered up.<\/p>\n

Shrugging, Frederic nodded in understanding, but he held out his hands a moment later to placate the driver.\u00a0 \u201cIf they didn\u2019t find me at Ellingsor, I suspect they swung around east to look for me closer to the coast.\u00a0 Even if they truly suspected I was here, I don\u2019t think they would risk the ire of the elves of the Grand Falmere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might be right,\u201d Olafur said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd they\u2019d be right to be cautious.\u00a0 The great forest has become a bit of a sanctuary to those elves who still live in Blacklehn.\u00a0 Fowler and his ilk believe they\u2019ve chased all the elves out of the country, but they\u2019ve just sent them all to one place.\u00a0 He might have caused himself even greater trouble going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic tapped his knees and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI can only hope that the elves understand that not all of us feel the same way our mad king does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems we\u2019ve had our fair share of those over the last century, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d the merchant said, thinking of the history of their country, and the dangers they endured because of it.<\/p>\n

Before long, the wagon rolled a bit further up the hill and around a copse of trees, and the travelers spotted the tall tower that marked the border of the town.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d Olafur announced.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic stared at the spire for some time and realized that it wasn\u2019t quite what he thought at first.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s not a wizard tower,\u201d he surmised, with almost a childlike innocence.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a mundane watchtower,\u201d the merchant confirmed.\u00a0 \u201cThey store some winter grains in there from what I understand, though they once used it to protect them from invading barbarians when the town was first established long ago.\u00a0 Being able to see all the way down the hill was a great way to get word to their hunters to return to the town and prepare for an attack.\u00a0 They say that Galden has never been sieged.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they no longer use the tower for guarding the town?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olafur shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cMore often than not, these days they rely on the elves for their support.\u00a0 Several of their allies can commune with animals, and they fly their birds into the sky.\u00a0 There\u2019s no better vantage than hundreds of feet up in the air, wouldn\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might be so,\u201d Frederic agreed.\u00a0 \u201cBut the Ebon Hammer are no mere barbarians or bandits.\u00a0 If they were coming for Galden, I fear they would arrive here undetected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps one or two would be able to sneak in under the cover of darkness, or in the surrounding forest, but they would be taking on a great risk of their own.\u00a0 Others have said that there are elves among the Grand Falmere who can speak to the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard the same of all of them,\u201d Frederic said.\u00a0 He paused but finally nodded in agreement.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps if Galden is under the protection of the elves, they would be alright after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf only all of us could have such a safeguard,\u201d Olafur mused.<\/p>\n

The two of them crested the hill and passed by the old watchtower.\u00a0 As Frederic looked up to its pinnacle, he saw torchlight fill the windows.\u00a0 Whether it was to warn others of the town of the arrival of new visitors, or a planned point at night to have it serve as some sort of beacon, the warrior below could not be sure.\u00a0 Regardless, there were people in the tower, and they kept up with some sort of patrol, it seemed.\u00a0 Even without the assistance of the forest elves, the townsfolk could react to danger on their own.<\/p>\n

As the visitors rolled on, they came to the border of the town, which had been marked by a long stretch of a post and rail fence.\u00a0 It seemed to go on in either direction\u2014north or south\u2014and curled around to the west.\u00a0 There were no gates fashioned at the road, and Frederic hummed to himself as the wagon rolled toward the two fence end points.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look as though you\u2019re casting judgment upon this quaint little town,\u201d Olafur teased.<\/p>\n

Frederic lifted his hands as if to admit to such an assessment.\u00a0 \u201cDark days have made a cynic of me.\u00a0 I tend to look at everything with an eye on practicality, and not necessarily in the way that other people have considered them.\u00a0 With the world the way it is, I would have long ago turned these fences into a sturdy palisade, with a gate sealing off the road.\u00a0 Maybe a perch above the gates on the other side for a few archers to stand watch.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed up above the empty space on the road, as though he were visualizing the completed project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like a way to make a humble town feel like a prison,\u201d Olafur said.\u00a0 Gone was his optimistic tone, as though a hint of the mirth that he\u2019d shared with his companion had been infected by Frederic\u2019s darker experiences.<\/p>\n

The warrior shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 I have my own way of doing things, and they shouldn\u2019t be considered as anyone else\u2019s standards.\u00a0 Sometimes doing things to add security ends up making people feel a bit less safe.\u00a0 Besides, a palisade is only strong against a foolish or incompetent foe.\u00a0 A well-placed fire could bring the whole thing down, and if an enemy had siege weapons, it would fall before long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olafur chortled.\u00a0 \u201cMy friend, if that is what passes as optimism for you, I fear you may be too far gone to rehabilitate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although he knew the statement was made in jest, Frederic couldn\u2019t help but feel that a spark of truth was there as well.\u00a0 After everything he\u2019d endured over the past several years, he felt as though the parts of him that saw the good in people had diminished.\u00a0 Where he had once seen Blacklehn as a colorful, vibrant place, he now only saw things in shades of grey.\u00a0 Perhaps it was just the gloom of winter, he reflected.\u00a0 If he was able to make amends for what the Ebon Hammer had done, there was a chance that he would see those faded colors begin to return.<\/p>\n

Lost in his thoughts as he was, he didn\u2019t realize how quickly they had arrived at the town proper.\u00a0 While most of the houses were constructed closer to the forest\u2019s edge, the common buildings were the ones that a visitor to Galden would happen upon first.\u00a0 A pair of them had their backs to the recent arrivals, but several more awaited on the opposite side of those first buildings.\u00a0 A ring of trodden dirt surrounded a circle of yellowed grass in the center of the town, and as Olafur urged Buster around it, he pointed toward the buildings and explained what they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got a few of the trade buildings around here, just to ensure any visitors that do come through are wanting to spend their coin early on in their stay.\u00a0 Blacksmith, leatherworker, carpenter, tailor.\u00a0 This big building over here to our right is the town hall.\u201d\u00a0 He drew the wagon to a stop, on the other side of the ringed pathway, letting the horse take a much-deserved rest.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got the stables over this way,\u201d he pointed toward the south, \u201cbut if you head north along the other road, you\u2019ll reach the inn.\u00a0 I suppose they thought better than to let ale and politics mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic realized that the merchant was tossing him from the cart, and he quickly gathered up his sword, and climbed down from the seat.\u00a0 He realized just how tired his legs were when he nearly wobbled from his feet, and he leaned upon the wagon for a few moments.\u00a0 Frederic was afforded a few more when Olafur stood and turned about, rummaging through his goods.<\/p>\n

The merchant found what he was looking for and presented it as though he\u2019d found some great treasure then.\u00a0 It was just an oblong carrot though, and Frederic surmised it was not a special treat for the trader, but his tired beast of burden.<\/p>\n

Olafur confirmed his suspicion then, when he climbed off the wagon\u2014struggling a little bit more than Frederic had, it seemed\u2014and hobbled toward the horse.\u00a0 \u201cHere you go, Buster,\u201d he said, offering up the carrot.<\/p>\n

The horse was hungry indeed and gobbled up the carrot in only a few bites.\u00a0 It nudged the merchant then, almost as though it was offering forgiveness for a hard ride to the town.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get to the inn, make sure to order me an ale too.\u00a0 I have been talking on the road a fair deal longer than usual.\u00a0 I could certainly use a drink to wet my whistle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do that for you,\u201d Frederic replied.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you there shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the warrior walked away, passing between the buildings on the northern side of town, he listened to the merchant as he talked to the horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a good old lad.\u00a0 What do you think?\u00a0 Are you ready to turn in for the night?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic didn\u2019t look back over his shoulder until he rounded the road as it curled west.\u00a0 He imagined that Buster was glad to be relieved of the burden of the cart, even though the bit and bridle kept him somewhat restricted.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t seem to impair his eating though, and when he was done devouring the carrot, Olafur hurried along, hopping back into the driver\u2019s seat with some effort.<\/p>\n

The warrior found that when he\u2019d lost sight of his unexpected companion, he felt a sting of loneliness that he was not anticipating.\u00a0 The town was cold and dark, though Olafur had insisted the people were not.\u00a0 But with winter upon Blacklehn, nobody wished to spend their time out in the cold.<\/p>\n

Luckily, it seemed their mirth carried out into the streets anyway, for the closer Frederic drew to the tavern, the more boisterous it seemed the residents of the town became.<\/p>\n

Before long, he stood at the entrance to the inn, watching as a quiet breeze sent the sign outside the building swaying back and forth.\u00a0 Illuminated by a nearby oil lamp post, the building\u2019s name and its emblem were on full display.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hardy Oak,\u201d Frederic muttered.\u00a0 He nodded, as though he\u2019d deemed the name worthy, and then he pushed the door open and hurried inside.<\/p>\n

Though the music and lively energy inside never faltered, it was immediately apparent that a stranger to the town had arrived.\u00a0 Perhaps it was the sword at his hip, or perhaps it was the layer of grime that still stained his skin and his armor from where he had slathered mud upon his face and body, but he swore he heard whispers about his sudden presence.<\/p>\n

Frederic cared not for the whispers, but he knew that he must have been a strange sight indeed, and that showing up in the winter, no less, was stranger yet.\u00a0 He waved to the onlookers, hoping that they would find him a little less threatening or dodgy if they knew he could be kind despite his weathered appearance.<\/p>\n

He took up a spot at the bar a few moments later that were clear of the other patrons.\u00a0 He knew that he would have another guest beside him soon, but he also didn\u2019t want to leave anyone feeling any more uncomfortable than necessary.<\/p>\n

Frederic waited to see if he could gather the innkeeper\u2019s attention.\u00a0 He was a sturdy fellow who shaved his head bald, but he had a thick mustache that had a few strands of grey among the darker chestnut hairs.\u00a0 The Hardy Oak was likely his establishment, and it was possible that the name of the place was shared with its owner.\u00a0 When the innkeeper looked toward the road-weary warrior, Frederic lifted two fingers to indicate he wanted a pair of drinks.\u00a0 The owner of the establishment arched his eyebrow, likely wondering if he was good for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust to be clear,\u201d the warrior said, \u201cI have a friend who is joining me here who will pay for these.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old barkeep folded his arms across his chest, and leaned back, as though he was seeing how much the stranger could test his patience.\u00a0 \u201cIs that so?\u00a0 And who is your friend?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI traveled here with the merchant, Olafur,\u201d Frederic explained.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s just taking his horse to the stables and he\u2019ll be meeting me here afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOllie is here?\u201d the innkeeper asked, his demeanor changed at once.\u00a0 \u201cI thought we had seen the last of him before the winter.\u201d\u00a0 He chuckled to himself and bent low to fetch two pewter tankards from under the counter.\u00a0 \u201cYou come bearing good news, so I\u2019ll take that as a sign.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took the two tankards in one hand, and approached the rear of the inn then, where a trio of barrels sat on their sides on a stand.\u00a0 They looked no worse for wear, and Frederic was forced to reconsider his stance on the naming of the building.\u00a0 Perhaps the tavern built those tremendous barrels out of the trunk of a mighty tree, he mused.<\/p>\n

A few moments later, the innkeeper arrived back at the bar, sliding the two filled tankards in front of the new arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take it you\u2019re not going to be leaving as soon as you\u2019ve arrived here,\u201d the bartender said.\u00a0 \u201cAre you looking to rent a room?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat depends on whether or not you have a room to spare,\u201d Frederic said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd it depends on what you\u2019re willing to accept as fair barter; I have no money.\u201d<\/p>\n

The innkeeper flashed a crooked grin.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean Ollie isn\u2019t paying well for your protection?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think it was more an act of charity that he picked me up on the way here.\u00a0 I was at a farmhouse just west of Tiltham Forest and he spotted me walking.\u00a0 Something makes me think he knew he didn\u2019t need a guard for his trip.\u201d\u00a0 Frederic took a sip of his ale then, and looked down upon it, appreciative of the unfamiliar flavor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if you\u2019re planning on staying for a while, there\u2019s certain to be a few tasks that you could help out with.\u00a0 Walther, our blacksmith, might need help with some of his tools, or even gathering wood.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a couple of farmers, Jacob and Cornelius, who might need help with their livestock.\u00a0 Or if you\u2019re any good with a bow, I\u2019m sure Sigor, our tanner would pay well for any wild game you could find in the woods.\u00a0 But, uh, you\u2019ll probably want to talk to our headman, Merewin, before you do any of that.\u00a0 We\u2019re friendly with the elves of the Grand Falmere, but it still might not be a great idea to hunt on lands that might be sacred to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a good deal of work to be found here,\u201d Frederic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye,\u201d the innkeeper said.\u00a0 \u201cIf you know where to look and you can be friendly with the folk.\u00a0 Probably wouldn\u2019t hurt to clean yourself up before you go about introducing yourself, since you look like the wrong end of a happy pig,\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell with honeyed words like that to convince me, how could I refuse?\u201d<\/p>\n

The innkeeper couldn\u2019t keep himself from laughing at that, and he leaned under the counter once more, that time producing an iron key.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll say the first night is on the house.\u00a0 I can have a water basin brought to your room, but your armor looks like it\u2019s seen better days, and there might be a better way to tidy that up.\u201d\u00a0 He paused to look at the patrons of the tavern, searching for one that he\u2019d served one earlier that could have offered some help.\u00a0 When he found the one that he was looking for, he pointed her out.\u00a0 \u201cVaeri is a river elf from the forest who comes in here from time to time.\u00a0 Her people have an affinity with water\u2014not just in the rivers and streams, but in the very air.\u00a0 I\u2019d wager she could wash your armor in a few moments where a scrub would take an hour.\u00a0 You can tell her I\u2019ll pay her, and all you\u2019ve got to do is help me swap out the next barrel that is going to empty with a full one from the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s a suitable bargain,\u201d Frederic said.\u00a0 \u201cBefore I meet her over there, I wanted to see if I could ask you something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can ask me whatever you want.\u00a0 That\u2019s half the reason we get strangers that come into this town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic took another gulp of his drink then, and looked about, as though he was trying to identify one of the other patrons who was in the Hardy Oak that night.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve heard tell of someone who either lives in Galden, or close by.\u00a0 I thought maybe that tower was his when we were rolling into town.\u00a0 He\u2019s eccentric, and has some acuity with magic, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you mean the mad wizard?\u201d the bartender asked.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, we know him.\u00a0 He\u2019s a bit of an odd duck, for certain. \u00a0But he\u2019s good to us so we try to treat him in kind.\u00a0 He has a room here that I keep available to him whenever he needs it, though he does happen to wander off for what seems like days before he comes back.\u00a0 I could ask one of our other regulars to see if they could check to see if he\u2019s in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be any more bother than I already have been,\u201d the warrior stated.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve already been too kind to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense,\u201d the innkeeper said, waving off the other man\u2019s humility.\u00a0 \u201cBesides, it looks like you\u2019ll have your opportunity to talk about getting your armor cleaned up sooner than we thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother drink!\u201d the elven maiden cried as she approached the bar again.\u00a0 \u201cHow much do I owe you, Roald?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

As she drew closer, Frederic looked her over.\u00a0 From the other side of the room, she looked like any other elven female he had come across, though admittedly there weren\u2019t many.\u00a0 She had raven-black hair, angular features and a petite frame.\u00a0 But she also had a certain weariness in her eyes, even though it was hidden under a veneer of almost manic excitement.\u00a0 She wore a wild smile, as though nothing could take away a lasting exuberance.\u00a0 When she spoke, it was with a bristly voice unlike any Frederic had heard, least of all from an elf.<\/p>\n

\u201cVaeri, we have a new visitor to the town.\u00a0 This is\u2026\u201d the bartender paused, realizing that he\u2019d never handled any of the pleasantries.\u00a0 \u201cMy apologies.\u00a0 You\u2019ve already got my name from this lovely lass.\u00a0 I\u2019m Roald.\u00a0 But I never asked you for yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrederic,\u201d the warrior said, raising his ale tankard to salute his new companions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure,\u201d the barkeep said.\u00a0 \u201cVaeri, he\u2019s going to be staying in town for a while, and I thought we could make sure he and his armor were cleaned up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned forward and hunched over, allowing the stranger to see a little further down her tunic.\u00a0 \u201cAnd what\u2019s in it for me?\u201d she teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell for one,\u201d Roald said, \u201cyour drink.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t cause any trouble for him.\u00a0 He just got here; do you understand?\u201d\u00a0 He looked to Frederic and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI may have got you more than you bargained for.\u00a0 Vaeri can come on a little strong, but she\u2019s harmless.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go find out about your mad wizard.\u201d\u00a0 He tapped his knuckles on the table to punctuate his promise to start the search.<\/p>\n

As the bartender moved along, Vaeri inched closer to Frederic along her side of the bar.\u00a0 \u201cSo, are you looking to have your armor cleaned up while you\u2019re still in it, or can we get it off of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic excelled at many things but understanding an elf maiden\u2019s advances were not one of them.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not wearing any other clothes but these.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure which answer I just received,\u201d she teased.<\/p>\n

That extra little tantalization was just enough for the warrior to realize the maiden was flirting with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2026 That is, I\u2019m married,\u201d he said, showing the ring on his finger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see a wife anywhere nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Frederic could offer up a firmer protest, someone else\u2019s voice rang out.\u00a0 \u201cVaeri?\u201d the man spoke.<\/p>\n

The maiden turned around, seeing the newly arrived merchant a dozen feet away, amongst all the boisterous folk in the tavern.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlafur?\u201d she said, excitement abound in her voice.<\/p>\n

He hobbled toward her then, and as he drew near, she spread her arms out wide.\u00a0 She wrapped them around his shoulders while he enclosed her in an embrace that started around her waist.\u00a0 As they came together, Olafur\u2019s lips brushed against hers, and she closed her stormy eyes for what seemed like the first time since Frederic had seen her.\u00a0 Vaeri seemed to float there for a second, and when they parted, it seemed as though the merchant had tamed her somewhat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think you were coming back before the winter ended,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t planning on it myself,\u201d Olafur said.\u00a0 \u201cBut I thought to myself, \u2018Galden is a fine enough place to wait out the cold of the rest of the year\u2019.\u201d\u00a0 He leaned to the side, seeing the warrior, who arched his eyebrow in curiosity.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t interrupting anything now, was I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic held up his hand for a moment, trying to ensure that nothing inappropriate was happening.\u00a0 He reached forth and grabbed the second tankard then, holding it out to Olafur, who gleefully accepted it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just seeing if Vaeri could help me clean up my armor since I\u2019ve got it all caked in mud and grime from the road.\u201d\u00a0 Still feeling tinges of the awkward discomfort in the air, he took a long sip of his drink.<\/p>\n

The elf maiden danced her finger down Olafur\u2019s chest then.\u00a0 \u201cWe were trying to come to an arrangement about whether or not I could get him out of those clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic nearly choked on his ale then, and he sat forward to make sure it wouldn\u2019t stain his armor further, or spill upon the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you now?\u201d Olafur wondered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, now that I know you\u2019re in town\u2026\u201d she dallied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to see if Roald has an extra room available,\u201d the merchant insisted.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know if my leg will carry me into the grove on so cold a night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could keep you warm,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m certain you could,\u201d he teased right back.\u00a0 \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind, love, I\u2019d have a talk with Frederic.\u00a0 He\u2019s new here, after all, and he might need to hear a few more details of the town that would help him while he\u2019s visiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded, understanding that she was being dismissed.\u00a0 \u201cCome find me when you\u2019re done,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

He indicated his understanding of that notion with another kiss before she walked away.\u00a0 He flashed his eyebrows at his newest companion once the two of them remained at that side of the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you met Vaeri,\u201d Olafur said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear, I didn\u2019t mean to do anything out of sorts,\u201d Frederic assured.<\/p>\n

The merchant chortled and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou may not have, but I would have been surprised if she was on her best behavior.\u201d\u00a0 He turned his head, seeing that the maiden had gone back to her spot in the tavern, flirting with other townsfolk then instead.\u00a0 \u201cVaeri is a nice enough lass\u2014well, lass sounds a bit belittling.\u00a0 She\u2019s seen much of this world, I\u2019m certain.\u00a0 She\u2019s older than anyone in this tavern, and she\u2019s learned to live life to its fullest, we\u2019ll say.\u00a0 Most days its hard to keep her satisfied with the typical ins and outs.\u00a0 Life moves a little too slow in the forest, so she comes here to quicken the pace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds a little unusual for an elf,\u201d the warrior replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Olafur mused.\u00a0 \u201cBut your unexpected predicament leads us to a new dilemma for you.\u00a0 If Vaeri is<\/em> meant to help you with your armor, we\u2019ll have to find you a spare set of clothes.\u00a0 Galden\u2019s tailor, Osti, might even have something in your size.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but as I\u2019m having a hard time explaining to people this day, I don\u2019t have any money,\u201d Frederic maintained.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that,\u201d Olafur said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll find that the people of this town are reasonable when it comes to barter.\u00a0 In fact, I was hoping you might be able to help me with a few things in the morning.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if you noticed it, but I shuffle more than walk, and doing that with a crate full of goods makes unloading my cart even more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Frederic agreed.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the least I could do for your help getting here.\u00a0 We were never going to experience any banditry on our way to Galden, so moving a few crates is fair trade.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I meant that I\u2019d like to handle getting you some new clothes while you\u2019re here in the town,\u201d Olafur clarified.\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t wear your armor until it falls apart on you, and if it\u2019s like any other room in this place, the one Roald gave you has a chest in it that matches your door\u2019s key.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s strange seeing a place with such hospitality,\u201d Frederic said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve seen Blacklehn\u2019s darkest parts, and before today, you would have convinced me that they were all snuffing out the light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olafur clapped him on the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t be caught off guard when the fa\u00e7ade wears off.\u00a0 Every place has its shadows.\u00a0 Everyone has their demons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere he is!\u201d they heard then, as the innkeeper returned to the counter.\u00a0 \u201cHow have you been Olafur?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think we\u2019d be seeing you before the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The merchant extended his arm and shook his friend\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a last-minute decision.\u00a0 To be honest, with the cold rolling in, all I could think of were the hot springs at the western rise.\u00a0 The chill has been taking a toll on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFunny you should mention it,\u201d Roald said.\u00a0 \u201cI was just looking for the mad wizard for this one you found.\u00a0 Walther said the last time he saw him, he was heading to the springs himself.\u00a0 But that was a day ago, it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s always wandering off on his little escapades,\u201d Olafur said.\u00a0 \u201cYou might not see him for another day or so,\u201d he added, looking to the new arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he always do this?\u201d Frederic wondered.\u00a0 \u201cEven though Galden seems a fine place, the rest of Blacklehn still surrounds it, and there\u2019s all sorts of manner to run into trouble there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bartender and the merchant shared a laugh then.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing the man you\u2019re looking for doesn\u2019t care about, it\u2019s trouble,\u201d Olafur insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a good chance he\u2019s not the one finding it,\u201d Roald added.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s making it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederic blew out an anxious sigh as he considered his reasons for racing to Galden.\u00a0 \u201cI know he\u2019s a wizard, but it\u2019s still possible something could go wrong out there.\u00a0 Olafur, he\u2019s the only one I\u2019ve heard about who can give me the answers that I need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that all about?\u201d Roald asked.<\/p>\n

The merchant looked at his new companion and bobbed his head.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s some personal issues that we\u2019re trying to work out.\u00a0 But the good news is that you don\u2019t have to worry about anything, Frederic.\u00a0 If there\u2019s one person who you\u2019ll never have to worry about, it\u2019s Bixby Alladocious.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter One<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Chapter Two<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Chapter Four<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

D\u2019Aprile\u2019s Fools A Tale by Michael DeAngelo \u00a0 Chapter Three: The Mad Wizard   The pair of men arrived at the outskirts of town just as the last sliver of daylight could be seen above the tall trees of the Grand Falmere.\u00a0 His legs sore from being left unused for so long, Frederic leaned upon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[2438,2468,222],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-6x4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25114"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25114"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25458,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25114\/revisions\/25458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}