Nalcara's Shackles Ch. 08

Then

The Innkeeper saw her as he was returning from the stable. She was impossible to miss, really. She was beautiful, tall and slim, with a cascade of black hair tumbling down her back. Her clothes were fine and well kept; not fit for traveling. She stood in the drive, gazing up at the old inn as if expecting something to happen.

"Can I help you, Mi'lady?"He called out as he approached.

Though she seemed oblivious to her surrounding, the greeting did not startle her. Instead, she turned to him and smiled warmly. "Yes, good sir." She replied in a clear, quite lovely voice. "Can you tell me if you've had any wizards pass through here recently?"

"Yeah, a couple." Said the Innkeeper. "Had one come through with a party just last week. Lookin' to hire? We got a job board inside..."

"I'm looking for one in particular, actually." The woman said. "A young woman? Short of stature, I'm told?" Seeing the blank expression on the man's face, she went on. "She was perhaps traveling with a tiny green woman?"

"Oh! Yes!" The man's face lit up. "I remember them! They were here last winter during that blizzard! The mage kept the walks clean! And her fairy! Well she wasn't a fairy. She was... uh... Well, she wasn't a pixie, I remember that."

"That sounds like them exactly!" The woman exclaimed, her grin widening. "Do you have any idea where they are now?"

"Uh, sort of." The Innkeeper rubbed the back of his neck. "When they left, they went that way down the road." He gestures to the south. "I remember because she was flying a foot or so over the snow."

"Ah." The woman seemed to deflate a little. "South. And... flying. Several months ago." She turned to gaze down the indicated road.

"Jal!" Came a shout from inside the inn. "What's takin' so long?"

"Just someone askin' directions." The Innkeeper, Jal apparently, turned and shouted back.

His wife stuck her head out the door and looked around. "What are you talkin' about, idiot? There's no one here."

"But..." Jal turned and leapt back in shock. The woman was, indeed gone, with no trace she'd ever been there at all, not even footprints in the dirt.

Now

The lump of metal on the counter wiggled for a moment, then it liquified, lengthening into a dark grey blade. Sarah arched her fingers, tightening the edge, and raising a semi-lewd sculpture of an angel near the tang before everything fell still. "Just needs a handle and it's ready to go." Said the mage.

The blacksmith glanced at her before picking up the blade. He turned it over in his hands, took a chunk out of his counter with the edge, and gave a low whistle. "That's fine work, girl. And adamantine too. Now why are you showing me this? You lookin' for a job?"

"No." replied Sarah. "I own a shop near by. And, while I can make weapons and armor, I'd rather focus on enchanting and refer any such requests to a reputable smith, and in return, perhaps that smith could send some enchanting referrals my way." She gestured to the dagger. "I would also be available for rush work, difficult materials, and fine details."

The smith thought for a moment, continuing to flip the dagger in his fingers. "I've always sent my magic work to that old elf on the edge of town." He lifted his eyes to Sarah with a half-grin. "But he's an arsehole. And the dagger?"

"It's your metal." Said Sarah. "It's just dagger-shaped now."

The smith smiled and stuck out his hand. "All right girl. Let's give this a try."

- - -

Sarah kept a slow, steady pace walking home, using the breathing exercises Narani had shown her. That had gone well. Perhaps the dagger did not 'seal the deal' as Terra had suggested, but it certainly hadn't hurt.

Things in general were going well. The shop was making money, and not just from Lara's dungeon. The business had been named 'Leather Bound', with one side of their shingle displaying a presumably magical book, and the other showing a green fey girl wearing suggestive leather clothing; a double entendre that was the talk of Moonday for several weeks.

Sarah had yet to actually take part in a Moonday gathering. Several people had imprisoned Terra, though Captain Tarnhoff seemed to have taken a particular liking toward her. Even Jix had spent an evening fastened to a ring by her magic shackles. But while Sarah was getting to know some of the others; even, dare she say it, making a few friends, she wasn't that comfortable. Not yet.

"Excuse me. Are you the wizard known as Sarah Wright?"

Panic flooded through Sarah for the briefest moment before she locked it down. She was safe. She could see guards from here. She took a steadying. breath and turned to see a tall, elegant woman with dark hair and a fine looking sort of gown. "I am." She replied.

The woman smiled. "And have you knowledge of a fey named Jixia Bramblehome?"

Anxiety wormed it's way through Sarah's thoughts. "Yes. She is a friend and companion. Who might you be?"

"I have a message from her mother." Came the simple reply.

Sarah's hand moved to the wand tucked in her belt though she didn't draw it. "Her mother is dead." The threat was implied but obvious. She was still afraid but now she was angry too.

The woman stopped smiling and raised her hands in placation. "No, she is not. Please. I would very much like to speak with Jix."

Sarah didn't like this; not at all. This could be a trick. This woman could be dangerous. However, the mage was also painfully aware that she was a poor judge of such things, the line between real and perceived danger being so blurry for her. Ultimately, whether or not Jix spoke to this woman was not her decision to make. "Very well. Come with me. I'll take you to her."

- - -

"I should have gone with her." Jix said as she nervously circled the shop floor again. "What's taking so long?"

"You're such a mother hen, Jix." Grinned Terra fro behind the counter. "It hasn't been that long, and she wanted to do it herself. She's a big girl who can shoot magic and summon monsters. She's fine."

Jix snorted and took another lap. In truth, she was quite proud of her companion for facing the outside world alone, but the fey had also felt how difficult it had been for Sarah in the past. She couldn't help but worry.

"So," Terra went on in a somewhat obvious attempt to change the subject. "That collar thing she made... She's doing some thing magic with it. What's it going to do?"

"She won't tell me." Huffed Jix. "She says I can be surprised like everybody else."

"Me too." Terra rolled her eyes. "It better be good after all this build up."

At that moment, the door to the shop opened and Sarah appeared, looking serious. She scanned the room, her eyes coming to rest on the hovering Jix.

"There you are! What took so long?" Jix darted toward the mage, flying two dizzying circles around her. "How did it go? Did he talk nice to you?"

"It went well." Replied Sarah. "I don't know if the dagger sold it, " she nodded to Terra, "but it helped, I'm sure. Jix, there's someone here to see you."

The dark haired woman had followed Sarah in and swung the door shut behind her. She looked around the room. When her eyes fell on Jix, her shoulders sagged; in relief judging by the expression on her face. "Jix." She sighed. "It's so good to see you. Quite a merry chase you've led me on."

Jix drifted over to hover near Sarah. "Uh, do I know you lady?"

The woman blinked. "You don't recognize..." she blinked again. "Oh, Eldest! Of course you don't! I only take this shape in the human world!" She extended her arm and snapped her fingers.

Sarah tensed, dropping her hand to her wand. Jix, taking her cue, had her sword in hand in a flash. But the woman did nothing more than vanish, dismissing the spell holding her shape. In her place, at roughly her center mass, a tiny green woman tumbled gracelessly though the air until she caught herself with her dragonfly like wings and brought herself to a smooth hover.

Silence reigned for a moment as the other fey and her human friends looked on in shock. Then Jix let out a shriek and darted toward the other atomie, colliding with her before her discarded sword hit the ground. They tumbled through the air in an awkward embrace.

"Nal!" Jix squealed. "You're alive! How are you still alive?!" She released the hug, instead latching on to an arm and dragged the other atomie toward the mage. "Sarah! This is Aunt Nalcara! She's alive! Terra! This..."

"Calm down, Jix." Sarah couldn't help but grin at the burst of enthusiasm. "You're going to dislocate her arm."

"Quite all right." Said Nalcara. "The feeling is mutual." She retrieved her arm, smoothing her jostled dress and running her fingers through her simmering, shoulder length green hair.

"But how are you still alive?" Cried Jix. "Home was... gone! I couldn't even go there!"

"I was... away when the attack came." Nalcara sighed. "Visiting a colleague. When I returned, I teleported into a field of ash. The taint of the place nearly killed me, but my magic protected me long enough to escape. I should have been there. To protect my home. My friends. But by all accounts, I would have made little difference."

"Who's accounts?" Asked Sarah, though she now realized she knew. "When we returned, we saw no sign of survivors."

"There were some." Replied Nalcara. "That's why I'm here, Jix. Your mother asked me to find you."

"Wh-what? N-no!" Stammered Jix. "Ma's alive?! But she would never... She would fight... She was s-so good with her s-sword! She wouldn't flee! None of the would flee!"

"I'm sorry to say that most of your family died, bravely fighting the invaders." Said Nalcara. "But you father bid your mother to take the little ones to the palace, with Uni and Brax as escort. When all was lost, the Queen opened a portal to First World and ordered everyone through. Althea was furious and ashamed at being forced to leave, but she could not disobey the queen. I knew of the palace's portal, so I knew where to look, and found her."

Jix's wings began to fail, so Sarah extended a hand to catch her. The tiny girl didn't even try to stand, curling up in Sarah's palm.

"I took Brax and Uni back to the forest." Nalcara went on. "I used magic to find and retrieve all your family's swords. Except yours of course." Nalcara swooped down to pick up the weapon. "A little divination pointed me in the right direction and a nice young priest told me your story. Then I followed you across the continent until someone pointed Ms. Wright out to me today."

Silence fell in the shop again. Sarah glanced a Terra, who simply shrugged. Nalcara hovered by the door, keeping a close eye on Jix. The younger fey had wrapped her arms around Sarah's thumb. Finally she looked up at her Mage.

"They're not dead." Jix whispered

- - -

When Jix got herself together, she grabbed Nalcara and took her on a whirlwind tour of her new home. Starting with the basement cell, they swept through the human size areas first, before retreating to her manor between floors. She could be heard extolling Sarah's virtues as she did so. The humans went back to their business, with Sarah shutting herself in her workroom without a further word, and Terra manning the shop. The day passed quietly. The only customer was an excited young man who wanted the exquisite adamantine dagger he'd just purchased enchanted.

"Look at this craftsmanship!" He gushed. "The angel sculpture is amazing! The smith must be a genius! Anyway, the guy I bought it from told me this was the place to go for enchanting."

"We can certainly take care of you." Replied Terra, struggling to keep a straight face.

The atomies emerged for dinner, thus luring Sarah out of her work room. The meal was brief and quiet, with the fey and the mage returning to their respective sanctums, and Terra departing for sword practice with the local guard.

It was reasonably late, when Terra crept back in from her sparring session (with a few new bruises). Sarah decided the distraction was a sign to go to bed. Making her way upstairs to her room, and changed into her woolen sleep shirt. She cast 'light' on the bedside table, intending to study her spellbook for a time. It wasn't long, however, before the door to Jix lair opened and closed.

Jix's wings hummed as she flew in an arc to Sarah's night stand. Landing, she began shedding her clothes. A wing assisted leap later, and the now naked fey was standing on Sarah's chest. "Haven't seen this in a while." She said, placing her hand on the fabric of the shirt.

"We have a guest tonight." Replied Sarah. "I thought clothing appropriate."

Jix shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." She then lifted Sarah's collar and slid inside the shirt against the Mage's skin. She settled in and made herself comfortable as if she belonged there. Which as far as both were concerned, she absolutely did.

Sarah placed her spellbook over the lit spot on her bedside table, casting the room into darkness. The she adjusted from her semi-sitting position to flat on her back. She lay there, feeling the negligible weight on her chest, listening to Jix breath.

"I have to go." The fey finally said. "Some of my family is still alive and I need to see them. And... an-and you can't come w-with. You have things to do here. The shop. And stuff." Jix's voice was uncharacteristically shaky. "And Nal says First World would be dangerous for a human. S-so..." She trailed off.

Sarah took a deep breath and released it, raising and lowering her companion's entire body. This had been her concern since Nalcara had revealed herself this morning. "I understand, Jix. It's your family. Do what you have to do. I'll be all right. Terra is here. And... the Moonday group. I won't be alone. I'll be..."

"I'm coming back!" Jix interrupted rather forcefully. "They're my family, but you're my family now too! And this is my home! I'm coming back!"

Sarah took another deep breath. Planar travel was no small thing. It could be difficult and dangerous. Even so... "I'm happy to hear that Jix. I will miss you, but it will be a little easier knowing you're coming back." She sighed. "When are you leaving?"

"T-tomorrow." Jix's voice was unsteady again. "I'm going to miss you too."

Sarah covered Jix with her hand as the pair lapsed into silence and fell to sleep. As she drifted off, the mage wondered how she was going to sleep when the fey was gone, because no meditation or breathing exercise could take the place of the tiny warmth on her chest.

- - -

"Stop it!" Admonished Jix. "I said I'll be back!"

"I know. I'm sorry." Terra sniffed. "I can't help it."

"Pfft." Jix rolled her eyes, then sighed. "You're going to watch Sarah while I'm gone, right? Don't let her just hide in her workroom all the time."

"Oh, sure..." Terra managed a half-smirk. "Leave me with the hard work. I'll take care of her. Mother hen."

Sarah, meanwhile, was conversing with Nalcara. "How will you be traveling?" She asked.

The diminutive mage hovered at Sarah's eye level, to roughly an arms length away. "I know of a portal. Relatively near by." She replied. "I will 'teleport' us there. After that, things will get tricky. First World is... unpredictable. Where we're going might not be where it was." She paused, glancing over at Jix. "Thank you for taking Jix from the forest. She'd have fought until she died. A noble death, but a death all the same. I, and I'm sure her mother, are grateful."

"It was my pleasure." Replied the human.

The tiny green woman's eyes met Sarah's. "Jix spoke highly of you. I don't know how I expected to find her, but this is better than I could have hoped. Planar travel is... arduous at best, but when she wishes to return, I will escort her."

"I appreciate that." Said Sarah.

The pair lapsed into an uncomfortable silence until Jix joined them. She glanced back and forth between them, looking a little uncomfortable herself. "I thought you two would have lots to talk about. With you both being magikers and all."

"Perhaps under different circumstances, Jix." Said Nalcara.

"Oh." Jix hovered in, fidgeting until her eyes met Sarah's. " I will come back." She said firmly.

"I know." Said Sarah. "I trust you. Otherwise, I would have chained you to my bed when you fell asleep."

Jix snorted out a laugh. "That might have been fun."

"No doubt." Sarah held out her hand. "Until next time, Jix."

The fey zipped down and wrapped her arms around the mage's upraised thumb. "Until next time then." She held on tightly for a few moments before letting go and flying back to Nalcara. "Let's go now please." She said in a hoarse whisper.

Nalcara, with a final look to Sarah, began casting. There was a flash, a slight pop of rushing air, and the two atomie were gone.

- - -

"How's she doing." Whispered Narani as she watched Sarah from across the dining hall. She was speaking with Jossi and looked no worse the usual; which was to say mildly uncomfortable.

"Better than I thought she would." Terra replied in an equally low tone. "She eats when I remind her to. I mean she works until she can't keep her eyes open, but she does go to bed and sleep. And she came tonight with no argument at all."

"Well, not terrible, but not great either." Sigh Narani. "Have you tried to initiate any physical intimacy?"

"I took her dinner wearing just my chains the other day." Terra blushed slightly. "If she noticed, she didn't react. She also had Kori locked up for 'product testing'. She left her for me, but otherwise was pretty clinical."

Narani opened her mouth to reply, but saw Sarah returning with Jossi, and being led by Korina and Larenia. She raised her eyebrows as they approached.

"Ladies!" Larenia announced. "Ms Wright has made some new magical toys for us to play with and has offered to give us a demonstration. If we could please make our way to the dungeon.

As the gathering began to move, Narani glanced toward Sarah and noticed she was slightly greener that usual. She made her way quickly to the mage's side. "Are you sure you're up to this?"

Sarah shrugged. "It's part of the service. Besides, Jix would be disappointed with me if I backed out."

"I doubt it." Said Narani. "But she'll be proud when you get through it."

- - -

Sarah took a deep breath. She was surrounded by people, all staring at her, waiting. She exhaled. She had friends here. She could do this. "Lady Silver commissioned me to make magical toys for the dungeon." She began. "She didn't give me any parameters, so I experimented, and came up with three devices that should fit well in this environment." The mage reached into the bag slung around her shoulder and withdrew her first creation.

"Oh." Groaned Korina. "Those..."

Sarah withdrew two ornate wrist cuffs from her bag. The were several inch's wide with a woven vine pattern and large ring dangling from each. "First we have these. For starters, they have a lock of my own design." She held up a white stone with a bit of metal protruding from one end and a leather loop from the other. Touching it to one of the cuffs, she slid the metal prong into a nearly invisible keyhole. It popped open with a click. "The lock is spring loaded, so they don't need a key to be secured." Sarah snapped the restraint closed. "Additionally, Jossi designed removable and adjustable plates so we can size them for most anyone."

"They're self-locking?" Said Narani. "No padlocks or anything? Ingenious!"

"Oh, just wait." Said Korina with a roll of her eyes. "It gets better."

"Indeed." Agreed Sarah. "Captain Tarnhoff assisted me with testing the enchantment. As she was kind enough to wear them then, I will ask for another volunteer to demonstrate here."

"And I appreciate that." Put in Korina.

"So do I have a volunteer?" Sarah's voice was steady.

There was silence for a moment, before Malun sighed. "Very well. I will volunteer. My curiosity is piqued."