{"id":5887,"date":"2018-02-20T06:49:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-20T11:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=5887"},"modified":"2017-12-19T09:51:30","modified_gmt":"2017-12-19T14:51:30","slug":"golem-maker-tower-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/golem-maker-tower-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golem Maker of the Tower, Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Golem Maker of the Tower<\/strong>
\nA Story by Aaron Canton<\/strong>
\n-Part Two-<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJust move up there\u2026and slide over there\u2026and\u2014wait, no! Stop! Ahh!\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika yelped and darted away as the tall structure in front of her trembled, then abruptly fell apart and tumbled to the ground. A few pieces fell in her direction, but Laika dove behind a large tree before the debris hit the ground. The collapsing structure slammed into the grass with a series of loud thumps, and a heavy silence fell over the yard. When Laika summoned the courage to peek from behind the tree and saw the crumbled remains of the structure\u2014a large box\u2014she let out a groan in frustration.<\/p>\n

The backyard of Viscosa\u2019s Adventurers Guild was reasonably large, including a grassy picnic area, a copse of trees, and even a little stream running through the center, and the rubble from Laika\u2019s latest experiment didn\u2019t cover all that much of it. Still, there was enough debris that Laika knew it would take her golems a short while to clean everything and get the rubble sorted into nice neat piles. The only saving grace was the yard\u2019s high fence prevented anyone from seeing her repeated failures, but of course people would see her failure when Arendal took his test if she didn\u2019t come up with some way to help him. And that test was in just a couple days, so she was running out of time.<\/p>\n

Her golems sorted the parts a short while later. Laika took a few sips of water, rewarded herself for her perseverance with a bite of a sweet honey roll she\u2019d picked up at the market, and raised her hands again. The wood shuddered and began to move\u2014<\/p>\n

A door slammed shut in the guild, breaking Laika\u2019s concentration and causing all the pieces to collapse to the ground at once. She let out a louder groan and fell back on the grass so she was staring at the sky and all the pretty clouds. That sight, though, failed to calm her like it usually would. \u201cAgh!\u201d she managed, \u201cStupid box! Mages probably don\u2019t even make boxes! Why can\u2019t Arendal\u2019s test be on something mages really need to know? Like\u2026like making pretty fireworks! That\u2019d be a good test, not box-making!\u201d<\/p>\n

Footsteps approached from behind her, and when she rolled over, she saw the amused face of Cedric Renzeya. He was the man who owned and ran the Adventurers Guild, and he had adopted her after she had been rescued from a small mountain village. \u201cMages don\u2019t actually make pretty fireworks all that often,\u201d he said in a kind voice, sitting down beside her on the grass. \u201cBut they have been known to make magical boxes. Why, in one of my adventures, I needed to recover all the artifacts in a very large temple, but the temple was so remote I couldn\u2019t get a wagon or a cart there. So I had a mage friend make me a special magic box that looked like it was as big as a regular pack, but that had enough space inside to fit forty packs worth of things into!\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika\u2019s mouth dropped. She sat up abruptly and maneuvered herself into the cross-legged position she liked when hearing stories about Renzeya\u2019s days as an active adventurer. \u201cReally?\u201d she gasped. \u201cForty? And he just made it for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no. We traded: I helped him deal with another mage who was scrying on him and stealing all his best spells\u2014that battle took four days, and one of his spells accidentally teleported us into the river\u2014and when I was done, he made me the box in half an hour.\u201d Renzeya chuckled. \u201cIt didn\u2019t seem like a fair trade at the time, but believe me, the box turned out to be very useful in the temple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d asked Laika when Renzeya didn\u2019t immediately continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was this one statue in particular at the very top of the temple as tall as two of you lying head to foot.\u201d He paused while Laika quickly lay back on the grass, marked the point where her feet were, and spun around in a half-circle so she could mark where her feet were there too. Then she got up and boggled at the distance she\u2019d marked off on the ground as Renzeya continued. \u201cCouldn\u2019t have gotten it out without the box. Although it was still a little tricky\u2014see, I knew the box\u2019s inside could fit the statue, but the box\u2019s opening was still only as big as a normal pack. So I had to shift and slide the statue in, and wriggle it to get all the little bumps past the opening. I must have spent two hours just putting that statue in the box\u2014and I forgot the most important thing too!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d pressed the enraptured Laika.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting it out when I was done!\u201d Renzeya grinned as Laika burst into giggles. \u201cWhen I got back to my client, I opened the box, turned it over, and realized I\u2019d have to wriggle it out again! I had to buy my client a big dinner and several drinks just to get him to wait around for me to finish removing it!\u201d He paused. \u201cBut on the bright side, after all those drinks, he got sleepy and didn\u2019t object when I added ten percent to my bill for not warning me the statue would be that large.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika and Renzeya shared a long laugh before Renzeya nodded at the box. \u201cAnyway. I hope you don\u2019t mind me asking\u2014if you don\u2019t like making boxes, why are you building this one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not building a box,\u201d said Laika. \u201cI\u2019m trying to make a box golem, you know, a box that can build itself. But it\u2019s really hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she spoke, she lifted a hand and focused on her golem magic. Again she felt it flowing through her, and again the box began to self-assemble, its pieces bending slightly to lift each other into the air. But then, at about the halfway point, the structure suddenly shook and violently disintegrated once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d said Renzeya. \u201cI was wondering where all my new lumber went.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika blushed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya gave her a warm smile. \u201cI know it is\u2014but still, you should ask before you borrow things.\u201d Laika nodded, abashed, and Renzeya went on. \u201cSo why are you making a box golem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo help Arendal!\u201d said Laika at once. \u201cHe needs to build a really big box with magic to pass his next test, but he can\u2019t even build a little box, and so I\u2019m trying to help him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya was quiet for a moment. He cleared his throat then. \u201cThe mages are usually pretty good about not giving students tests unless the student has a decent chance of passing. Especially Cenard; he hates it when one of his students fails\u2014he always says that\u2019s the mark of a bad mentor, since a good one would have known the student was having trouble and would have trained him more. It\u2019s odd for them to give Arendal a test he has no chance of passing. I wonder why they think he can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika blushed and looked down.<\/p>\n

Renzeya gently put his hand under her chin and lifted it so he could meet her eyes. \u201cLaika\u2026\u201d he began. \u201cDid you do something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026I might have had my golems help him build a little box for one of his tests. And Mister Cenard might have thought Arendal did it on his own.\u201d Laika looked away. \u201cBut Arendal was really worried he\u2019d get kicked out and sent back to his village if he didn\u2019t finish it! And he was trying real hard, and I wanted to help, but now he\u2019s stuck! He can\u2019t build the next box, and he can\u2019t ask Mister Cenard for help without telling them he didn\u2019t do the last one and getting in even worse trouble. So I have to build the box for him again and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She heard Renzeya inhale and trailed off, then cautiously looked at him. But to her relief, though his gaze looked a little disappointed, he didn\u2019t seem angry.<\/p>\n

Her foster father, Mayor Maltra, would grow very upset whenever she\u2019d failed at creating a golem. Sometimes she\u2019d had to go to bed with just a couple crusts of bread for dinner.<\/p>\n

Renzeya wasn\u2019t like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems,\u201d he said in a slow, measured voice, \u201cthat your building the first box for your friend put him in a tough spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I was just trying to help him!\u201d Laika insisted. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to hurt him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonetheless, you still did,\u201d said Renzeya. \u201cOf course I understand you did not mean to\u2014and I am sure he did as well. But you made it seem as if he was more competent than he is, and now he is expected to do more than he can handle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d Laika sighed. \u201cI know. But I don\u2019t know what to do besides helping him with this test too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya was quiet for a moment. \u201cWouldn\u2019t building this second box for him make things even worse, though?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if I don\u2019t do it, he\u2019ll fail the test!\u201d insisted Laika. \u201cI don\u2019t want him to fail!\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya held up a finger. \u201cBut if you do build him the box\u2014and get away with it\u2014the mages will think he\u2019s even better at magic than they already think he is. Their next test will be even harder, and once again he won\u2019t be able to complete it or ask for help.\u201d His mouth curled upward in a slight smile. \u201cUnless\u2026 Do you plan to follow him around for the rest of his life doing all his tests for him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika had an image of herself old and grey, like some of the really ancient adventurers that stopped by the guild now and then to sip tea and talk about how they\u2019d delved in this or that legendary ruin, running after Arendal and casting magic for him. \u201cUh-uh,\u201d she said quickly. \u201cNo way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen at some point he\u2019ll have to learn to do magic on his own,\u201d said Renzeya. \u201cPreferably now, when the task before him\u2014though difficult\u2014is not necessarily out of his reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika trailed off, but Renzeya didn\u2019t say anything, and Laika felt herself grasping for words. \u201cI want to help him!\u201d she said at last. \u201cBecause he\u2019s a really good friend! And I want to be a good friend too and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya took her hand. \u201cLaika,\u201d he told her. \u201cYou are an excellent friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Laika looked at Renzeya. \u201cBut you said I hurt\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFriends sometimes hurt each other by mistake. Certainly I\u2019ve done or said things I shouldn\u2019t have to my friends, and they to me. But the important thing is you apologize and try to fix it. If you do that, Laika, nobody could possibly call you a bad friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika felt a little better at that, but after a few seconds, she shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to fix it, though!\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya thought for a moment and then clapped his hands together. \u201cAh. Remember when those mage bullies were bothering you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d asked Laika, puzzled. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, as I recall, they gave you some trouble, and you came back here.\u201d Renzeya nodded at the guild hall. \u201cDid the guild help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika nodded. \u201cUh-huh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey gave me advice and tips\u2014oh!\u201d Laika jumped to her feet. \u201cYou\u2019re saying even if I can\u2019t do Arendal\u2019s project for him, I can give him advice! I get it! But I\u2019m not good at his kind of magic. It\u2019s all wands and wards and chants that make my tongue hurt.\u201d She stuck out her tongue, grimacing as she remembered the attempts she\u2019d made to sound out his spells. \u201cI don\u2019t understand that magic, and he doesn\u2019t understand how to do golem magic so I can\u2019t teach him that either. What advice could I give him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya\u2019s eyes sparkled. \u201cWell, what else are you good at? For instance: when you\u2019re building golems, you\u2019re not just casting spells, are you? Aren\u2019t you doing other things?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I\u2019m picking materials and putting the golem together and\u2026\u201d Laika trailed off, and then a big smile split her face. \u201cHey, yeah! I\u2019m good at building things, even without magic! I could give him tips!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent idea,\u201d said Renzeya. \u201cBetween you and me\u2014and don\u2019t tell Cenard I told you this\u2014a lot of mages get too used to using magic for everything. They forget how to do practical things, like putting things together. So Arendal might not understand that very well, but if you do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do!\u201d Laika thought back to when Arendal had been trying to build the box. He\u2019d been trying to put each piece into its final position right away, but was that the best idea? Would some kind of middle position be more stable? It was worth thinking about. \u201cUm, am I good at knowing about anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya laughed at that. \u201cYou\u2019re \u2018good at knowing about\u2019 a great many things, Laika. But for example\u2014when you were dealing with those mages, you were really good at figuring out how to use your skills to counter theirs, even though they had more magic. That makes you resourceful. I\u2019m sure a few lessons about being resourceful could be useful to Arendal. After all, he must be good at some magic, or Vestigo wouldn\u2019t have let him join the guild at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cResourceful?\u201d Laika sounded the word out a few times in her head and found she liked it. \u201cYeah, I can do that! I mean, he\u2019s good at wards\u2014I\u2019ll bet I can think of some way that could help him!\u201d She got to her feet. \u201cThanks, Mr. Renzeya!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime. Oh, and Laika?\u201d The girl turned back just as she was about to run into the guild hall and up to her room. \u201cYou won\u2019t do anyone else\u2019s projects for them again, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope. I learned my lesson.\u201d Laika gave Renzeya a warm smile. \u201cBut I\u2019ll give Arendal lots and lots of friendly advice!\u201d<\/p>\n

Renzeya climbed to his feet. \u201cThat\u2019s the spirit,\u201d he said in a warm, pleased tone. \u201cGood luck, Laika. I have complete confidence in you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika flashed Renzeya one more grin, then rushed off to get to work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Golem Maker of the Tower A Story by Aaron Canton -Part Two- \u201cJust move up there\u2026and slide over there\u2026and\u2014wait, no! Stop! Ahh!\u201d Laika yelped and darted away as the tall structure in front of her trembled, then abruptly fell apart and tumbled to the ground. A few pieces fell in her direction, but Laika […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[145,146],"tags":[273,1454,149,1601],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Short-Story-Panel.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-1wX","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887"}],"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=5887"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5888,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions\/5888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}