Kaijin’s eyes glittered at the mention of a new assignment. This one was, perhaps the greatest privilege of all. “Yes, of course, Master.” He rose out of his chair.
Jarial ushered him downstairs and to the front door. He handed Kaijin a small pouch containing five gold pieces. “Use this money to buy the parchment. Don’t lose it. You have twenty minutes to complete this task and not a minute more.” He opened the door. “Run along.”
For the first time since the day he and his brother began their new life, Kaijin was out on the streets of Easthaven. Early evening swept across the city, and the crowds began scattering to the pubs and other nightly establishments. Kaijin hustled, making his way down the cobbled streets to the shop. His mind never stopped racing.
I wonder if I’ll see Mama and Papa
. Kaijin smiled.
As Kaijin walked, he heard faint, high-pitched sounds from above. The noise sounded distant and almost fell outside his range of hearing. Kaijin continued his steady pace. The looming buildings cast eerie shadows along the narrow streets, creating veils of blackness in the alleys. This area of Easthaven was unlike any place he’d ever seen. The people seemed to be in high spirits as they walked alone and sometimes in twos, talking amongst themselves or drinking. Kaijin’s feet tripped over some uneven cobblestone, startling him from his thoughts. With quick reflexes, Kaijin was able to maintain his footing. He stopped briefly, peered behind him, and saw the roundness of the shadow-covered stone sticking out more prominently than the others. Someone pushed past him, making him jerk backward. He gasped, spun around, and spotted a portly man, huddling and rubbing his hands together as he walked toward a pub.
Kaijin eyed the establishment, to which people were flocking.
The Ruddy Flask. I must be close.
Another person brushed past Kaijin from behind, walking in the same direction. Unlike the last, this one stopped and acknowledged him curiously. He was a richly-dressed man, perhaps a merchant. Kaijin offered a polite smile and a nod in greeting. The man sneered, clutched a small pouch hanging at his side, and muttered, “Begone, street rat.”
Kaijin’s smile faded. He watched the man quickly disappear into the pub before continuing on his way. Passing the Ruddy Flask, Kaijin was able to get a brief glimpse inside. The lively place was packed with people, and he could smell wine and roast pork wafting from the open door. His mouth watered. He missed his mother’s meals. His thoughts wandered as he was momentarily enticed by the mix of commoners and nobles inside. The colorful serving wenches trotted about with trays of drinks and food, smiling gleefully.
Kaijin couldn’t help smiling, too.
It looks like they’re having so much fun in there.
Since coming to live with Jarial, fun and games were very few and far between. With their studies taking up the majority of the day, there was little time—and Jarial had little patience—for much else.
“Now aren’t you cute. Lost?”
Kaijin snapped from his thoughts and saw a woman standing before him. She smelled pleasantly of perfume.
Her eyes looked heavy, and she smiled at him crookedly. She was big in the hips and even bigger in the chest. Curly locks of brown, unkempt hair fell over her rosy face. The dress she wore was fitted around her voluptuous shape and the top two buttons were undone. Slowly, she knelt down, her body shaking and swaying as she braced herself to keep her balance.
Kaijin swallowed. She was pretty, but something about her bothered him. He clutched his money pouch tighter. “Um ... No, ma’am. I’m not lost.”
The woman sighed. “So polite. Why can’t more men be like you?”
A wave of laughter erupted from inside the pub, startling Kaijin. He caught a flash through one of the windows at a group of people dancing crazily.
“Ah, the Ruddy Flask. Where the beer’s watered down, but the men are plentiful.” The woman chortled.
Kaijin shifted his attention back to her. “Um. I have to go now.”
“Yes, so do I.” She stood up slowly.
A nobleman came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “There you are. Ready to go?”
The woman pouted and acknowledged the man. “Don’t rush me. I was just having a conversation with this nice little boy here.”
The man snorted at Kaijin. “It’s not often we find little boys wandering around near a pub at this hour. I think he’s really a brownie, Elise. They’re sneaky little things disguising themselves as innocent children only to pick your pockets.” His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here with my woman?”
Kaijin gulped, staring at the man. “N–nothing, sir! I was just leaving, now.” He slowly walked around the two of them, without turning his back.
The woman punched the man in the arm. “He’s not a brownie, Alex. He doesn’t have pointy ears. He’s just a lost little boy—and he’s got cleaner manners than you!”
“We’ll see about that,” the man said, not taking his eyes off Kaijin.
When Kaijin was a good distance from them, he spun on his heels and hustled toward the shop, not looking back. Arriving at the door, he discovered it locked. Panicking, Kaijin tugged at the wooden door, hoping it would budge.
No! I’m too late! Master Jarial will have my head for this!
He knocked furiously on the door and then ran to a window. Peering through a small break in the closed curtain, Kaijin saw flickers of candlelight and shadows moving about. He knocked carefully on the glass, hoping someone—anyone—was still inside.
To his relief, Kaijin heard the front door creak open and saw a red-haired woman poke her head out. She glanced left and right until finally resting her eyes on him.
“What is all that racket you’re making, boy?” She scowled.
Kaijin approached her and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I need parchment.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I just closed up shop. Come back tomorrow.”
“Please! It’s important! Master Jarial will be upset if I don’t come back with some parchment!”
Her other eyebrow rose. “Jarial? Jarial Glace?” She smirked. “He never told me he had a student. What kind of master is he to send a small boy out alone this late?”
“You know my master?” Kaijin blinked.
“Know him? He’s a regular customer. If it’s not parchment or ink he’s buying, then it’s mundane spell components.”
He showed her the money pouch. “Master Jarial gave me this for the parchment. May I please buy some?”
The woman stared at the pouch. She sighed, disappeared in her shop, and returned with a secured sheaf of about 40 sheets. “Tell him to send you out earlier next time.” She took the money and handed it to him.
Kaijin grinned. He clutched the sheaf close to him and regarded the woman graciously. “Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!”
The woman winked. “Jarial’s rather moody. I can only imagine what kind of teacher he is.” She flicked her hand at him. “Off with you, now.”
Kaijin sped past the Ruddy Flask, avoiding people. The alleys seemed less daunting the more people he passed, and he considered taking an alternate route home.
Maybe I will get back faster this way,
he thought.
I’m running out of time.
He stopped in front of an alley and peered into its shadowy curtain. He listened for sounds, but none came. His heart pounded. It wasn’t the dark he was afraid of—it was the fear of getting lost. He had hoped there was more than one way back to the cottage, and he had hoped this route was faster. He took a deep breath and walked through the unknown. The air here was foul, reeking of urine and garbage. Covering his nose, Kaijin kept his eyes ahead. He couldn’t see the end of the alley and wondered just how far it went. He stopped and stared up at the narrow strip of starry night sky. A shiver ran down his spine. He had a feeling he wasn’t alone.
The strange noise he’d heard earlier returned. Kaijin listened to what sounded like flapping wings. He felt a small lump in his throat. “Birds, just birds,” he muttered. “Nothing scary about birds.” He regained his composure and resumed his fast walk.
Something suddenly flew past his face emitting small, eerie shrieks.
Kaijin gasped and jumped. He gazed frantically into the darkness but saw nothing, not even his own hand.
This is getting too scary.
He changed direction and headed back where he came.
The shrieking sounds returned from above, and Kaijin ran faster, his feet splashing in unseen puddles.
Kaijin flew out of the alley and was back on the main street. He sprinted as fast as he could away from the concealed threat. His heart pounded so furiously, he thought it was going to rip out of his chest. Another screech resounded, and an unknown creature swooped past his ear. Kaijin yelped, dropping the parchment bundle. He shivered as he felt something furry brush his cheek. He dropped to the ground and huddled into a ball.
“Go away! Go away!” Kaijin shut his eyes and cupped his hands over his ears. He waited a few moments before opening his eyes and uncovering his ears. His eyes darted about the dark, empty streets, and he heard only the silence of night.
“Oy! Little brat!” a man’s voice bellowed nearby. “Be quiet! Ya wanna get eaten, too?”
Kaijin’s gaze shot sidelong to the source of the voice. An old, drunken man in rusted, bloody chainmail covered by a torn tunic sat on the filthy ground in front of a closed tailor shop. His eyes stared up at the sky while one of his labor-worn hands clutched a sheepskin flask. Kaijin studied the symbol embroidered on the man’s tunic. The image of an eye, Kaijin recalled from one of his books, was a brand associated with the god Malik.
A small sigh of relief escaped Kaijin’s lips. He slowly rose, dusted himself off, and gathered the parchment. He regarded the man warily as he reached for a stray parchment that sat beside him. “I’m—I’m sorry, sir, but I must go.”
The man snorted and took a long sip from his flask before exhaling, his breath reeking strongly of ale. He wiped his lips with the back of his sleeve. “Damn right, we all gotta go. It’s war, I tell ya! They’re coming t’eat us all! T’feed on our souls like hungry wolves!” He rumbled in laughter.
Kaijin made a face and covered his nose to suppress the sickening smell. He tried making sense of the man’s ramblings. “Who’s coming?”
The man scratched the salt-and-pepper stubble of his beard. His hazel eyes gleamed at the boy. “Monsters! Undead! Things that go bump in the night, y’know? Spooky critters that hide under th’ bed while ya sleep! I saw a man walk with th’ dead before, I did!” He paused, thumped his chest with his fist, and belched.
The man’s warning left Kaijin shaking. “M–monsters?” He stared at the man, wide-eyed before averting his eyes to the night sky. “No. You’re only joking. There are no monsters ... right?”
“Seen ’em with my own eyes, I did.” He ran his hand over a rusted mace at his side. “Don’t waste ya time praying t’ no damn god. They won’t help ya. No one will. There’s too many of ’em. Th’ end is comin’ sooner than ya think! Th’gods failed me—they failed us all! From that wench, Celestra, to that flaming nuisance, Ignis, to that damnable bastard, Malik!” He paused and clutched at the symbol emblazoned on his tunic as he spoke the latter name. “To hells with them! To hells with every single damned Exodean god in existence! They allowed this to happen!” Growling, he reached inside the front of his tunic and pulled out a golden priestly charm that hung around his neck. It shone weakly in the moonlight. He tore off the necklace and tossed it to the ground. “S’only a matter of time before this place is overrun. Run while ya can, boy, ’cause when ya can’t run no more, death’s gonna come!”
Kaijin’s eyes scrutinized the discarded necklace in the dirt at his feet. The charm was the symbol of a burning flame. He blinked at the drunkard. “That—that’s the symbol of the Firelord!”
The man grunted and kicked at him. “It’s junk. I don’t serve none but myself. Th’ worthless gods ain’t protectin’ us. They never gave a damn about us. We’re all doomed.” He paused to drink the last bit of ale from his flask.
Kaijin reached down, snatched up the golden holy symbol, and stuffed it into his belt pouch while the man was occupied with his flask. Kaijin proceeded to leave the drunkard to his thoughts but was stopped by a shrouded figure looming behind him.
“Stealing from a holy man?”
Kaijin gulped, startled by the closeness of the sickly voice. He whirled around and stared up at the deep shadow of the stranger’s face. Kaijin’s heart pounded, and he stepped back. “Ahh ...”
“I asked you a question, boy.” The stranger stepped forward into a small patch of moonlight. The dim glow revealed the thin, bony face of a diseased-looking man. He stood hunched over in tattered cloth robes, his dark eyes scrutinizing the boy. His brown hair was long, scraggly, and matted with dirt.
Kaijin inched backward. His shaky hands clutched the bundle of parchment while his eyes scanned the area, trying to find a suitable escape route.
The stranger closed the short distance between them. He eyed the parchment in Kaijin’s hands. “You look familiar. Where are you going at this hour?”
Kaijin gulped. “I–I’m g–going back to—to my master, sir.”
The stranger glowered. “Who is your master?”
Kaijin felt sweat forming on the palms of his hands. The world around spun. He had to escape. He shut his eyes and barreled past the stranger, almost knocking him down in the process.
Kaijin ran, neither looking back, nor stopping. He reached the front door of the cottage and took a moment to catch his breath. Kaijin fought to mask his terrified expression. The last thing he wanted was his master’s suspicion. Who knew when he would get this opportunity again? As Kaijin reached for the handle, the door swung open, and Jarial stood with his arms crossed.
“You’re late.” The mage’s voice was icy.
Kaijin lowered his head in defeat.
“Well?” Jarial tapped his foot.
Kaijin heaved a heavy sigh and told the story of his night.
“Who was this man asking you about your master?” Jarial raised a curious brow. “What did he look like?”
Kaijin thought hard. “Um ... He was ... He was kind of tall ... with scraggly hair and a scary face—like a skeleton. I’m certain he was a skeleton in disguise.”