Orphans Part 1

Ten mages led by Belzinth gathered around a meticulously crafted magic circle in the center of a massive, domed room shrouded in darkness. Each of them held their staffs in the air.

“We are faced with great enemies and seek strength from beyond.” Belzinth began to chant.

“We are faced with great enemies and seek strength from beyond.” The others followed suit.

Color flowed from each mage’s staff, lighting up the room. A polychromatic sphere began to form over the magic circle.

“We desire a powerful, virtuous warrior to fight against the horrors of the world.” Belzinth continued the chant, raising his staff higher into the air.

“We desire a powerful, virtuous warrior to fight against the horrors of the world.” The others raised their staffs as well.

“We desire someone of strong will who will not back down in the face of our world’s many adversities.”

The sphere was now complete. Its texture was similar to that of a glob of leftover paint.

“Please grant us salvation from the wicked’s grasp and breathe your fresh light into our imperiled world.” He struck his staff into a notch at the magic circle’s edge.

“Please grant us salvation from the wicked’s grasp and breathe your fresh light into our imperiled world.” The other mages slammed their staffs into their respective notches on the ground.

The sphere burst into streams of light which struck each of their staffs, filling the magic circle with a bright, effervescent light.

Light shot from the circle’s center and coalesced into the shape of a person. Color poured from the mages into the magic circle. The light dispersed outward. A thud echoed throughout the room. The mages removed their staffs and headed towards the summoned person.

“Where am I?”

“You are in the summoning hall of The Consulate of Mages. We brought you here to defeat a great evil plaguing our lands.”

“Am I really that special?”

“You are, and we are in desperate need of your help. Have you ever fought before?”

“No, I only ever worked in the mines. I was on my way home for the day when…” He looked at his hands “Right.”

“No matter, training you shouldn’t be much of an issue if you’ve got a miner’s strength.” Belzinth looked at his clothing. It was covered in dirt and soot, as was his face. “We will need to get you some armor and a weapon… after a bath.”

“Are you sure you’ve got the right guy?” He looked around. “I’m not some special guy and I’m not a fighter. I’m just some teenager who's been working in the mines their whole life. There’s a lotta people like me, lotta good people.” He looked off into the distance.

“If you aren’t the right guy, we will turn you into him.” He held out a hand. “My name is Belzinth.”

“My name’s Dustin, but all my friends call me dusty.” He wiped his hand on his already dirty jeans then shook Belzinth’s while standing up. He stood a good foot above him, if not more.

“I will show you to your quarters so you can clean yourself up while we prepare your armor, weapons, and welcoming banquet. Belzinth opened up the room's only door, revealing a well-lit underground corridor. “If you will follow me.”

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A tarp covered cart rattled down a dirt path. Its owner sat up front holding the horse’s reins. His clothes were plain and he had a look of disinterest about him despite the four dirt covered children attached to his cart with a sturdy, hempen rope who walked behind him.

A man adjusted his crimson suit and top hat as he walked out of the forest towards the cart.

The owner stopped. “What do you want, I don’t have time for any games?”

“I was simply wondering if I could trade with you. You see my travelling companions and I wandered ever so slightly further and further off course and are now severely lacking in the goods required to make it to our destination. I am not asking for much, just enough to get us to the next town should suffice.”

“Unless you’ve got something to trade, I’m not interested. I won’t be able to adequately evaluate currency until I get to town.”

“Well, the name’s Cassius, and do I have just the perfect product for you.” He tipped his hat and removed a small box containing vials of a clear liquid from his pocket. “These wonderful items here are special potions capable of curing any disease or ailment.”

An overwhelming surge of magenta covered the land then disappeared just as quickly as it arrived.

The merchant grew suspicious. “What are you trying to pull here?”

“The only thing I’m trying to pull is your leg by not telling you just how phenomenal this product is; not only can it cure ailments, but it will also provide permanent relief from any injury and, to sweeten the deal, I will provide you with this entire box of twelve vials for the low, low price of enough food to reach the next town over.”

“You’ll be able to reach the next town by nightfall if you keep following this road.” He looked back at his wares. The children were missing. He looked back towards Cassius with twitchy eyes. “You’ve got quite the nerve robbing me unarmed like that.” He reached for a sword.

“And you have quite the nerve treating children like that.” A soft voice spoke from behind him, the cold steel of a dagger, flush with his neck.

“So that’s what you were after. Nobodies cared about orphans before so I guess I never saw it coming. You can have ‘em in exchange for those vials; I doubt I would’ve gotten much for them anyway. Consulate never pays well for them but it’s reliable and still turns a profit.”

“We will give you the vials once we get more information. Where did you steal these children from?”

“They weren't stolen, the orphanage in the town up ahead trades them. Can’t miss it, one of the richest looking places there.” The blade left his throat.

“We thank you for your cooperation and your generous patronage.” Cassius handed over the vials and tipped his hat before walking back into the forest.

The merchant looked behind him; no one was there. He inspected the vials. “I doubt this is anything special, but I’m sure I could get something out of it. That’s gotta be the luckiest bandit encounter in history.” He shook the reins and continued down the road.

———————————————————————————————————————

Vivian saw Cassius and Mary return with four, raggedy dirt covered children covered in tow. “Oh gods you brought four of them. It’s bad enough having to travel with this one.”

“I’ll have you know, I’m a useful member of this party as well miss Vivian.” Fiivon brought a backup canteen and some trail mix over to the children.

“Thank you Fiivon.” Mary glared at Vivian. “Do not touch them.”

“Why would I do that? Just look at them; they’re all gross.” She cringed at the thought of one of them trying to shake her hand or give her something.

“You will get used to them and understand them better if you are around them more.” She untied the kids from their rope.

“Thank you miss.” One of them said.

“What are you going to do with us?” Another asked.
Vivian cancelled the magic hiding her wings and raised her arms, her hands facing downward. “She’s going to feed all of you to me. Rargh.” Vivian tried her best to scare them into running off.

“Wow a fairy, so pretty.”

“We always heard about people like you in stories, but I never thought I’d get to see a real one.”

“Can I touch your wings?”

The kids all walked over to her.

“H-hey. wait. No. S-stop coming closer.” She reached for her staff and looked over at Mary only to be met with a threatening glare.

“If a single one of those kids even so much as sheds a single tear, you will regret ever being born.” Vivian could almost hear her say as she imagined Mary with horns and breathing icy flames.

Vivian put her staff back and kept stepping backwards until she backed into a tree. She looked towards Mary, who appeared to be distracted, but her gaze managed to pierce through Vivian regardless. “You monster. Why would you do this to me?”

“You did this to yourself.” Mary fired back.

“Please play with us miss fairy.”

“Where did you come from?”

“Can you really fly with those wings?”
The children marched forward with their relentless questions.
“Should I go help her miss Mary?” Fiivon asked.

“You will need to make that decision for yourself.”

“She would want someone to.” Cassius glanced at Mary.

Fiivon watched as Vivian struggled to deal with the children. “I don’t think she’d like being saved by me though.”

Mary went to pat him on the head, then stopped when she remembered he didn’t like it.