the wizard

         he did not know how to receive her question. it almost sounded like the wizard was looking down on him for being much younger, something which he could not help. his parents– never quite referred to with such casual ease as yaphier just did–  were the king and queen of ironhaust, and he could not simply do as he liked without permission; also something he could not help. elas considered that perhaps yaphier was just amiable and nonchalant by nature, so he kept his response evenly structured to both cases.     “ it was a prolonged conversation and they especially weren’t keen on the fact that it was you who came recruiting. ”     he told with a small smile.

“Me?!” she asked incredulously. “They never liked me, were always suspicious I think.” Elas would know more than her, as the king and queen probably confided in their own son from time to time. Well, except for when he had fraternized with the wizard. “Well, its an adventure of a lifetime...” Finally, she sensed the anxiety in her horse and halted, looking around them. She could see no signs of a fight lurking ahead, but the hair on her arms prickled which was never a good sign. All of a sudden the wargs were upon them, gnashing teeth going for the horses’ jugulars. The fighters were keen and quick to react, but one was heading straight for Elas. She jumped off her horse and, with a quick spell uttered under her breath, sliced the warg in half. It was a hefty spell that she could probably not reproduce, but the hot blood steamed from the torn body.

Wulf listened to every word Yaphier said with absolute attentiveness, doing his best to remember every answer she gave. Though he doubted he’d ever understand magic – he was sure true understanding would only come with doing, and he’d never manage that – it might be of use in the journey to come if he knew how it worked, and the analogy Yaphier used made a lot of sense.

Also, it was just fascinating.

I think if any of this group are used to sleeping in beds, they might welcome the aid of a spell to sleep when they’re trying to adjust to camping and sleeping on the ground! He beamed, because yes, Yaphier had been joking, but think of the useful applications of such a spell! What kind of injuries can you heal? Can you also heal diseases?

He’d gotten her joke! “Yes! I can help anyone if they suffer from insomnia, so if your back ever hurts from a cold hard ground, let me know and I can ease the pain and symptoms. Only thing I can’t do is mind-stuff, so if you’re awake because of worry or mind going a mile a minute, that’s not my turf. Maybe Faunalyn has some elixirs for those.” She put her hand on her chin, thinking in what was obviously (except to her) a tangent. “Diseases?” she asked when Wulf showed her the rest of his journal. “Some, not all. I use my own life force if it is heavy-duty, so you can only imagine what something life-threatening would do to myself. Thankfully I haven’t needed to use those spells often. But let me tell ya, it’s not fun!” She shook her head. “No siree.”

Kieran made a small noise in the back of his throat, barely stopping himself from stumbling into Yaphier’s back. “S-sorry,” he stammered. He felt a blush rise to his cheeks and he ducked his head, rubbing at the back of his neck. 

Once Yaphier spoke and he realized she wasn’t angry at him, Kieran glanced back up hesitantly. “I…I think it’ll be like no other journey I’ve been on before,” he hedged. “You?”

“I agree,” she began, making rather intense eye contact with the younger. “I’ve never been in such a large party with curious beings. I’m excited to learn everyone’s backstories, hometowns, personalities. Its about time we had an adventure, don’t you think?”

It was the first time that Wulf had seen magic – and though it might have been something as simple as twisting a hat around, Wulf still stared like he’d seen the oceans part. His quill hovered over his journal, frozen, as he watched the merchant grumble and go back to his duties, unaware of what he’d just experienced.

As Yaphier joked, Wulf stared down at his journal, lost for words. Finally, he wrote:

THAT WAS AMAZING! ! ! ! !

The book was shaking in his trembling hands as he showed it to her – not out of fear, but out of awe, the excited quiver of a child the eve before solstice gift-giving. All thoughts of answering the question about his own tinkering vanished.

How did you do that?? You moved your hand and his hat moved! Did you manipulate the wind? Or the hat itself? Did you have to utter some sort of phrase to activate the magic, or is magic not that rigidly defined? How big of a thing could you move??

She chuckled at his exclamations and peered over his shoulder as he wrote his abundance of questions, gaining life off his excitement, his trembling hands. It reminded her of childlike innocence when she visited small enough towns and was granted to show the children her tricks. When Wulf showed her the journal she shook her head. “Its easy, and no I don’t always need to speak, but for larger spells it helps. Kind of like how if I tried to push you,” she placed both hands on his shoulder, “it would be harder if you planted your feet correctly. Using my voice gives me that foundation.” She shrugged, maybe it was an eccentric analogy but she understood what she meant. “I mean I can move the carriage but I wouldn’t want to frighten the horses. Its not just what I can move though, but I can heal and pull things apart and attack. Its a nice trick, and your audience is fun. Maybe tonight I’ll make a fire without any tools! Or use a sleeping spell for the group, they wouldn’t know what hit them!” She laughed, but was aware she was joking. He might not have known.

“In all my years traveling this great land I have never be able to grow accustomed to the wonder of a sun rising over a golden field. Growing up in the pocket of a canyon I marvel as the sheer length which  the hues endure. It is so open and wide out here, which is nice in it;s own way. But I feel terribly exposed without forests or rivers to protect me,” she admitted. Yaphier was an endlessly amusing spirit, but something about her seemed out of touch with reality. It was as if she walked with on foot in another world. Allyria would have enjoyed it more if she did not have cause to worry on the long journey, “Perhaps we should hold back for now. Plan for a picnic on a later date.”

“How poetic,” she hummed while rummaging in a bag for a pan to cook with, extra careful to be quiet that she would no doubt forget about in a few minutes time. “Canyons are beautiful too. I’ve been to your neck of the woods and the trees are gorgeous, but to see miles in front of you? The world seems endless.” She perked up at Ally’s words, although she knew it wouldn’t be happening right away. “Oh a picnic, what a lovely idea Ally. Maybe one day... I hope,” she shook her head, excited. “Will you bring me the oats? I’ve got the water right here.” She took a sip of it before eyeballing it into the iron pan. “You’re not already homesick, are you young’un? We’ve barely just begun!”

The mere notion of sharing a metaphorical stage with Yaphier made Wulf startle – and that came after the even bigger startle at the notion of blowing up the Prince of Ironhaust. The dawning horror in his expression faded abruptly, though, into a silent laugh as she reassured him she was joking.

He hadn’t thought wizards had a sense of humor! But then, he was beginning to realize that everything he knew about wizards was from the stories, so. Perhaps he should put aside his expectations.

I should think, he wrote, that my card tricks pale in comparison to your magic, but I’d be honored to entertain with you! I used to put on puppet shows – someone else did the sound effects and the music, obviously. Wulf hesitated, charcoal lingering over the page, looking torn between amusement and embarrassement. I actually already have a puppet of Elas. Since he’s the Prince. Stories about the royal family were very popular. Maybe you can explode that!

“Great! We’ll become good friends then?” she pondered excitedly. All she wanted from the group was to be cordial, and some were gruffer than others. Sure she knew everyone, but not everyone was as reciprocal as she’d initially hoped, some secretive or shy. Hell, she might even use the word bashful for Wulf here, but also sweet and easygoing. She wouldn’t say the group was cliqueish, she just wanted everyone to warm to each other quicker than was humanly possible. But she wasn’t exactly human, was she? “What else do you tinker with? I’m sure we can come up with some exciting enthrallments for the group! I mean put us together and you have an extra-spectacular show, don’t you think?” Yaphier knew nothing of modesty.

She nodded to a merchant a few paces away and with the flick of her wrist, his hat suddenly turned backwards. He staggered and made an exclamation before fixing it, looking up and around, as if he could spot the intruder, and going back to his duties. It wasn’t anything of great importance, but she snickered silently all the same. “I don’t think Brego would let me do that with his weapons, but nothing beats a free show, eh?” Sure they were on a dangerous mission, but maybe the group should lighten up a tad. What did Yaphier know of responsibility anyways, she’d made it unscathed for so long with good luck, charm, and knowledge.

allyria’s concern immediately faded into a pleased smile, “ that sounds lovely. i have not yet been able to see dawn since we left which is quite a shame.” she got to her feet and flattened out the rumbles in her dress, “i think they would appreciate that. there is nothing better than waking up to a hot meal.”

“Not yet-- Oh dear oh dear!” She exclaimed, excited for the young one to experience the beauty of the land. “Its rather magnificent, like much of the land. Oh it’ll be great to share it with someone so dear to me!” She clapped her hands twice before realizing others were sleeping soundly. One of the men--Brego, she assumed-- stirred a little, but most people slept through her excitement. “How do oats and some dry ham sound? Do we have any fruit, or am I indulging too much? Oh but the morning is already so cool and beautiful, just a little won’t hurt?” Yaphier wasn’t good at pacing herself when it came to much, not even rations. She’d always had enough coin to buy more, or known all the spots to hunt or shop, but with such a large group they couldn’t make as many pit stops as she had in her time. So others had to keep her in line.