Bosgar sat in his study reading works by an innovated mage who was more interested in mechanical workings, so created wondrous devices of beauty. They were identified only as Tzar. He suspected it held some connection with the Zerua Empire. Although, the author said little of themselves in the prefaces, they were clear of being part of Martya continent where their Grand Demon Overlord had originated. To be reading a work that had been written in an exotic part of the world, where not even his imagination could fathom.
“Ingenious.”
It was one of the many perks of being in the antiquity commodities business. Exotic treasures were always waiting to be found, seized, traded and played with. Like the game board he had been gifted by his fourth brother. It was still sitting on his bookshelf untouched in its box. Those type of games bored him.
His eyes lifted from his book when he saw a tiny gold-metal and sapphire butterfly enter his room and fly to him. He caught the fake insect with one hand and drew it close to his ear. A slither of gold magic flowed into his ear hole, which had him nodding and sighing wistfully.
“Why do you persist? What to do, hmm.” He whispered a new spell to the fake butterfly and let it go. It flew out of the window, gradually turning itself invisible to disappear.
The butterfly sailed over the forests and hills, brushing past Crossroad Village and its Market District: where its course veered toward the dense and wild forest before Border City. Its plight lowered as it began to scope the area with its inbuilt terrain scan: a mechanical-magical wonder.
The reading detected the outline of an abandoned hunter’s lodge, which was decrepit and almost falling down. Inside the lodge were the outlines of two human bodies: one small and another tall. No doubt an adult and child. It flew to one of the lodge’s wonky, rotting, window ledges and landed on a discreet corner to watch the humans and take note.
“Papa. Won’t you get in trouble for taking me out of Mara’s?” Miki looked up at her father with a mixture of relief, confusion and worry.
It was only a couple of days ago that she had been doing her duty of feeding and tending to the Sherlock-lambs in the orphanage’s animal pen, when she had spotted for father standing in the shadows behind some bushes. He had her climb the fence and follow him at a dead gallop on their family harse. They didn’t pause for breath until they entered into the dark and dense woods. He had decided for them to rest at the hunter’s lodge, which was almost buried between wild growing tree vines and branches.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Alder had spent some time cutting back foliage from the entrances and area then had set up a camp inside the lodge. He fussed over the sacks he had brought in from the harse’s saddlebags: started up a fire in the lodge’s old fireplace then slumped down next to his daughter.
He looked like a tired old man with graying brown hair, sunken checks, heavy rings around narrow dark eyes and almost the weight of a corpse. Indeed, he had found himself controlled like one by some dark magic mind control. But Fairy Blossom must have died, for he was able to reclaim his will and mind. Fortunately, his contact had found him first and gave him plans to cross the border with Miki.
Alder knew he had made some naive, stupid and terrible mistakes with the wrong people But he could never allow that man to take Miki away again. His debts and mistrust in the wrong people had placed her in danger. This time, he had to ensure she could get away from all the corruption surrounding him.
Sure, the only woman he dared to trust, Fairy Blossom, turned out to be the one woman who had tricked him the most. That vile slut. He believed in her reasons, persistence and confidence of being able to mediate a debt he had with Tristian Miller because they had been closely intimate. But during their pillow talk, Tristan had asked for Miki instead, so she agreed without telling him, the parent! And she had kept the money he had entrusted to her for the payoff. The day Fairy Blossom took Miki and handed her over to Tristian was the day he took action. She deserved her death.
Alder had called upon anyone and everything who could help him. It was his cousin who had connected him with the mysterious man who acted on his promises to help him get even. Especially, when he also discovered that Tristan had traded Miki to his brother Simon for a trinket. His outrage was amplified. The man had also agreed to chase Simon down and eliminate him. He was glad that Tristan was dead. Although, the use of Corpse Puppet magic scared him, especially when he was ambushed by Fairy Blossom and temporarily under her control via that magic. To this day, he couldn’t imagine how it was possible.
For now, that sick bastard Simon Miller was on the run from the Royal Guard. So if he could keep Miki safe as they crossed the border into Holy Order country, everything will be fine. He used the reminder of his credits with his contact to set things up. And he had to take action soon when the Royal Guard was distracted by Simon and other things.
“Tomorrow we’ll reach the borderline point where he told us to go. Cross the border and everything will be fine from then.”
“It’ll be okay Miki. Get some rest,” Alder said to her slumbering form. He pulled out a blanked from the sack and covered her small body to keep her warm.
He rose to check the perimeter for danger and sighed with relief when nothing seemed to be stirring. When he felt confident they were safe for the night, he sat down next to his daughter and closed his eyes.
The fake butterfly pulled itself up from its perch when it was confident the man and child were fast asleep. It fluttered out of the window and headed back to its master’s mansion.