{"id":5889,"date":"2018-02-27T06:51:46","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T11:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=5889"},"modified":"2017-12-19T09:53:34","modified_gmt":"2017-12-19T14:53:34","slug":"golem-maker-tower-part-three","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/golem-maker-tower-part-three\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golem Maker of the Tower, Part Three"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\u201cMr. Bestle! Mr. Bestle!\u201d called Laika as she ran up to the Vestigo Mage Guild. Arendal\u2019s test was in just a few hours, but she\u2019d finally finished putting all her plans together and was ready to advise him just as Mr. Renzeya had predicted. Of course, she had to get inside first. \u201cPlease let me in!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bestle chuckled as Laika reached him. \u201cHmm,\u201d he said as he looked down at the girl. \u201cThat depends. What are you here for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here for Arendal!\u201d Laika said. \u201cHe\u2019s got a super-big test today, and he needs my help!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d Bestle hesitated. \u201cUnfortunately, we do not let guests visit our apprentices on days when they are taking tests performed before senior mages, as Arendal is today. Previous visitors distracted the mages who were proctoring the test and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t distract anyone! I promise!\u201d Laika pressed her hands together. \u201cDuring the test, I\u2019ll be real quiet and sit up straight and won\u2019t fidget or anything!\u201d She didn\u2019t know why adults didn\u2019t like fidgeting, but guessed maybe mages were scared of it because if you were casting a big spell and moved your hands wrong you might do something silly like turn yourself purple instead of whatever you were trying to do. But whatever their reason, Laika knew she could make herself sit still if the adults insisted. \u201cPlease let me in!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bestle looked reluctant. \u201cWe really don\u2019t allow\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika waved a golem follower forward and took a box from its hands. Lily Naphkator, a capable warrior who hung out at the guild a lot, had taught her what she said was a very useful technique for when authority figures tried to get in the way of an important quest. Laika had never tried it before, but it seemed like the perfect strategy to get her past Bestle so she could find Arendal and stop him from being sent back to his boring old farm. \u201cWhat if I bribe you?\u201d Laika asked, giving Bestle the box. \u201cThen will you let me in?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bestle\u2019s beard quivered, and then he let out a deep belly laugh. \u201cTypically you should not tell someone you\u2019re trying to bribe them, Laika. Bribery is supposed to be more subtle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that Laika thought about it, she remembered Naphkator mentioning that. \u201cAww,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I messed that up. But, um, I can try again! I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not worry,\u201d said Bestle. He opened the box and blinked, then took out a very small golem. It was waving its arms and jumping around like a mighty brawler, even though it was only three inches tall. \u201cIs this gold?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh,\u201d said Laika. \u201cI made it out of my earrings and jewelry and stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bestle inclined his head. \u201cYou must really want to see your friend if you\u2019re willing to give up all your jewelry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything!\u201d Laika pressed. \u201cIt\u2019s really, really important!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Bestle was silent for a moment. \u201cIn that case\u2026of course you can see him. And you can keep this.\u201d He pressed the golem back into Laika\u2019s hand. \u201cArendal should be in his room\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThird floor, I know! Thanks, Mr. Bestle!\u201d Laika chirped as she raced past him and into the tower.<\/p>\n

When Laika reached Arendal\u2019s room and pushed through the unlocked door, she saw a scene of total chaos. Arendal was lying in the floor surrounded by planks of wood dyed several colors, boxes of nails, hammers, and other tools, and even a big tool chest in one corner. Half-completed crates and piles of rubble were scattered throughout the tiny room, including two on the desk and one at the foot of the bed. Arendal himself had raised his hands to the back of his head like he was afraid his hair would run away. \u201cI can\u2019t do this!\u201d Arendal was groaning. \u201cIt\u2019s impossible!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cArendal?\u201d Laika ventured. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal rolled over, knocking into another half-completed crate, wincing as he did so. When he saw Laika, a frown crossed his face. \u201cThanks a lot, Laika!\u201d he snapped. \u201cYou got Master Cenard to think I can build these stupid magic boxes, and now I have to build a huge one tonight, and I can\u2019t do it! All the older mages will think I\u2019m bad at magic, and when they\u2019re done laughing at me, they\u2019ll throw me out! I\u2019ll have to go back to the farm and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNuh-uh!\u201d Laika held up a hand. \u201cI have an idea!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLaika, you can\u2019t have your golems build the box for me when the mages are watching. They know I can\u2019t make golems; they\u2019ll never believe it\u2019s me doing it!\u201d He shuddered. \u201cA couple weeks ago I asked Master Cenard if anyone ever failed the test real bad. I was thinking of things like, I don\u2019t know, using the wrong spell and turning the crate into a hungry tiger or something, but he told me about one time when the mages caught a student cheating. Apparently this kid had really rich merchant parents, and so she bought a magical crate like the one the mages wanted and tried to sneak it into the exam room with an invisibility spell she got from somewhere. The mages caught her and cast a spell to take her magic away! But they didn\u2019t let her leave since her apprenticeship wasn\u2019t done, and since she couldn\u2019t do magic, the only way she could be \u2018useful\u2019 was by scrubbing floors and stuff. They kept her here until her parents gave the mages one of their summer mansions just so they could take her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika shuddered as memories of her time slaving away for Mayor Maltra came back to her. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to have my golems do it for you,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m real sorry about doing it for you the first time. I got you in trouble, and I feel real bad. I hope you\u2019re not really mad at me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal said nothing for a few seconds before sighing. \u201cOf course I\u2019m not really mad,\u201d he said. \u201cI should have stopped you anyways, or at least told Master Cenard what happened. This is my fault too. And I know you were trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika sat next to Arendal as her golems moved up behind her. \u201cI still want to help you,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause you\u2019re a really good friend. And I know I can\u2019t do it for you, but if I give you some advice, then you can do it yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdvice?\u201d Arendal smiled slightly. \u201cLaika, you\u2019re great with golems, but what do you know about wands or wards or other types of magic? This isn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot help like that,\u201d said Laika. \u201cI don\u2019t know any spells for building boxes. But I know how to build stuff in general. Like these!\u201d She waved her golems forward, and they obediently trotted up to her. \u201cSee? Before I put magic in them, I have to put them together! And if I do it wrong, they fall apart. So I got really good at learning how to design and build things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal frowned. \u201cBut I can\u2019t change the design of the box. I have to build it to look exactly like the mages want it to look.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t change the final design, but you can change the middle design!\u201d Laika scooted over to one of her golems. \u201cWhen I had to build golems for Mayor Maltra, sometimes the people who bought them had real specific ideas of how they should look, but I couldn\u2019t build them to look like that right away. Like, sometimes people wanted the wrists to be real long and thin like this so they\u2019d look pretty.\u201d She had her golem hold out its left arm; it had a very large hand, but its wrist was tiny and looked fragile. \u201cBut when I tried to build things like that right away, they always broke before I could finish magicking them to make them more solid! So guess what I did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026\u201d Arendal hesitated. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI put other parts around the wrist first to brace it.\u201d Laika traced the area around the golem\u2019s wrist. \u201cSo the golems had thin wrists but also other pieces supporting them. Then I used magic to make the wrist real strong and tough, and when that was done, I could take out all the bracing stuff!\u201d She reached out a hand, and the golem hauled her up just like she\u2019d trained it. \u201cAnd I bet you can do the same thing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal tilted his head. \u201cI don\u2019t get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll show you!\u201d She grabbed Arendal\u2019s hand and tugged him over to one of the half-built crates. \u201cOkay, you need to put the red pieces at the top, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but like I said, I can\u2019t hold the wood and the hammer and nails at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo don\u2019t!\u201d Laika pointed at a spot in the exact center of the bottom layer of the crate. \u201cTake a plank of wood and balance it on its end there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal looked skeptical, but he picked up his wand and waved it. One of the pieces of wood shuddered and then floated over to the center of the crate before flipping about itself and balancing on its end. \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake one of the top pieces and balance it on top of that one!\u201d said Laika triumphantly.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026oh!\u201d Arendal\u2019s eyes brightened. He floated a red plank on top of the new beam in the center of the crate, then gently set it down and let it rest. \u201cI get it! I don\u2019t need to hold this one anymore because it\u2019s balancing! I can pick up the hammer and nails by themselves to fix it in place!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly!\u201d cheered Laika as Arendal got to work. \u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The nails soared into the air and positioned themselves over the plank as Arendal lined up the hammer. Then he swung it in a couple short, sudden thwacks to drive the nails through the top plank and into the planks that made up the walls. A few moments later, it was done, and he waved his wand one more time, removing the now-useless center post. \u201cI got it!\u201d he said, seemingly stunned. \u201cI got one of the top ones done!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYay!\u201d yelled Laika, grinning from ear to ear. \u201cSee? You can totally do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

But Arendal\u2019s smile faded almost as soon as it appeared on his face. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat don\u2019t you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, I can do one or two or a few\u2026but the crate they want me to build is really huge, Laika.\u201d Arendal gestured at the piles of wood all around them. \u201cIt\u2019s got one hundred planks in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cOne hundred? That\u2019s a lot!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. And even if I can get some of the top ones up, I don\u2019t know if I can do a hundred in a row.\u201d Arendal sighed. \u201cThis is still better, though. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d Laika shook her head quickly. \u201cYou can\u2019t give up now; I\u2019m not done giving you advice yet!\u201d She trotted over to the crate. \u201cI think there\u2019s a way to make the planks real light and easy to move. You\u2019re good at wards, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal shook his head. \u201cI already thought of that. Sure, I know wards to make things lighter, so if I could write wards on the planks I could set up some to make the planks less heavy. But I already tried touching the planks with my quill, and my whole arm went numb. And then I thought maybe I could write out the wards on parchment and glue the parchment to the planks, but Master Cenard said I\u2019m not allowed to use anything except what they give me, and parchment isn\u2019t included. So what can I do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be more resourceful!\u201d Laika decided she really liked that word. Maybe, she thought, when she grew up and became a world-famous golem expert and people were coming from all the neighboring countries to see her golems, she\u2019d give herself the title of \u201cLaika the Super-Talented and Resourceful.\u201d It had a nice ring to it. \u201cUse your magic to pick up that nail there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal did so. \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCarve the wards into this plank of wood with the nail!\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal was silent for several seconds before a gigantic grin spread over his face. Moments later, he had lifted the nail with his wand and was busy carving a weird-looking sigil into one of the planks. When he was done, he let the nail drop as he swept his wand at the plank\u2014and it rocketed to the ceiling, smashing into it with an audible crunch and sending splinters everywhere. \u201cWow!\u201d said Arendal, marveling at the broken wood. \u201cThat\u2019s easy!\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Laika could say anything, Arendal swept her into a big hug. \u201cThanks, Laika!\u201d said Arendal. \u201cYou give great advice!\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika giggled as a warm, happy sensation flooded through her. She\u2019d made up for her earlier mistake and given her friend real help. That felt great, even better than the feeling of biting into a freshly baked honey roll. \u201cI know!\u201d<\/p>\n

Arendal eventually released her and began moving around the planks with his wand. They flew through the air in complicated paths, making Laika\u2019s mouth drop, and slowly but surely, the crate assembled. After about fifteen minutes, both Laika and Arendal were looking at a freshly-built crate that matched what Arendal said the mages were looking for. \u201cPerfect,\u201d said Arendal. \u201cI know for sure I\u2019ll pass now. Thanks again, Laika.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem!\u201d said Laika. \u201cWhen\u2019s your test?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be in half an hour or so. But I wish it was now; I want to get it over with!\u201d Arendal beamed. \u201cWhat are we going to do for half an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n

Laika thought for a moment. \u201cWell, I have some honey rolls,\u201d she said. \u201cWe could eat them and then play catch with my golems until your test! And I\u2019ll be in the audience, of course. I\u2019ll cheer for you when you pass!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds awesome!\u201d Arendal moved towards the door. \u201cYou\u2019re a great friend, Laika. Let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n

He hurried out of the room. Laika allowed herself time to grin wildly, profoundly happy at everything she had accomplished. Then she waved for her golems to follow her and hurried outside to join her friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Golem Maker of the Tower A Story by Aaron Canton -Part Three- \u201cMr. Bestle! Mr. Bestle!\u201d called Laika as she ran up to the Vestigo Mage Guild. Arendal\u2019s test was in just a few hours, but she\u2019d finally finished putting all her plans together and was ready to advise him just as Mr. Renzeya […]<\/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-1wZ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889"}],"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=5889"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5890,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889\/revisions\/5890"}],"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=5889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}