Beneath the moonlit shadow of an old clock tower, a young man sat on the damp cobble, leaning against the outside of the local pub. It was nearing midnight, but he got out there early so he wouldn't miss his meeting. It was an easy enough thing for him to do, considering he worked and lived from the pub he used as a backrest. All he'd do inside is drink, so the cool air and clear head was an obvious choice. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little impatient. They'd agreed to meet at the twenty-second bell, and the twenty-third had chimed nearly a half hour ago.

Coil wasn't the best at being punctual, but this meeting had become tradition, and Dondan was eager to get started.

It had been a good many years since Murphy had left Malnir. This was the week the estranged Warlock would be celebrating his birth, so they agreed to get together to pay respect to their friend's memory. It was something they'd done since he left the town, so at this point it almost felt wrong to miss it.

In order to properly remember their friend, they would take to the midnight streets and sew a little harmless chaos. Dondan had a few ideas on what they could do this time, but the hunters and guards were on high alert, so they'd have to be careful. Thanks to their tradition, the superstitious people of Malnir believed they were being punished by the Warlock. The two perpetrators figured that fact would make Murphy proud.

He sighed, and looked up to the stars. He wondered idly as he often did, which of the lights Murphy might have found his way to by now. He couldn't help but feel a modicum of jealousy towards his old friend. Murphy got out, and the rest of them were stuck in their mundane lives.

"Staring at them won't bring you any closer, you know," a voice spoke into the alley, startling him to a jump.

"You scared the life out of me, you ginger bastard," Dondan said, sighing in relief. "You’re later than usual, I thought you might have lost your peg," he said, gesturing at the wooden peg replacing Coil's left leg below the knee.

"No chance," Coil laughed. "I have a few backups for just that reason."

The men hugged. They didn't get to spend as much time together nowadays, since work and life had caught up to them in the same way they once thought it never could. It had been nearly a month since they last sat for a drink together.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Dodo," Coil said, pulling back. "This babe has Annabell more wound up than the first two could ever manage."

He reached into the bag slung over his shoulder, and pulled out two small paper rockets. "I thought we might be able to give old Sam another fright. That was pretty fun last year."

Dondan smiled and nodded. "There's also the lambs that Thead's new young wife bought. They're still in the pen at the market. Rumour is they're a little hexed, so it might be fun to set them out and see how true that is."

"That's devious," Coil said with a twisted smile. "More ideas like that and they'll be making a festival to try and ward off the Warlock every year," he laughed.

"I reckon they'd have done that if he stayed. It only makes sense."

Dondan pulled out two black cloaks from a sack next to them, and gave one to Coil. "We've gotta look the part if we want that though."

Coil smiled wide, and slipped into the cloak.

"I think you should do the lambs. I don't think I'd go too well running off if someone sees," he said, gesturing at his peg leg. "Besides, Sam's boy has been saying all manner of nasty things to little Murph. I'd like to see the little gonban cry a minute."

"Good thinking," Dondan agreed. "You couldn't run before you lost it. At least that tree gave you an excuse for your poor athletics."

"Come off it," the noble man scoffed. "You’re happy that tree fell on me. It's the only thing that let you get any attention from Lionel. He only had eyes for me when I was still a full man."

"You said it. You're only part a man now. You had Annabell anyway. You weren't going to stay in my way."

"And neither was Freya," Coil replied snidely.

"Too soon Coil," Dondan immediately reprimanded.

"It was three years ago Dodo. They're married now. I'm sure there's another strapping farmer just waiting for his dolty pub boy to sweep him up," Coil said, shaking his head. "You’re always so stuck in the past Dodo. There's big things ahead you know."

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Dondan sighed, and shook his head back. "I know. When you're chief I'll own half the pubs in Malnir. You've said it all before, but that's not right now, is it?" He huffed.

Coil put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "You’re right, it's not right now. Right now is Warlock night."

"Nice deflection," Dondan scoffed. "But you're right I suppose."

"I usually am," Coil laughed. "You have plenty of time to mope later. I believe right now there's some magical lambs that need your attention."

~~

The lambs stood huddled together in the corner of the pen. It was dark in the market square, and the livestock area was sheltered by a large foot bridge. That made the animals harder to see, but he figured the darkness would cover him just as well. He watched the wooly mass for a little while to be sure they were unattended. The longer he watched, the more curious he grew about the rumours. Rather than just letting them out, he decided to jump the fence and get a closer look. He felt a pang of pain where his eye used to be as he quietly approached the flock. That was a curiosity he'd been stuck with since his accident as a boy. Every time he was around magic, his missing eye would sting. He thought it must have something to do with Murphy, and always considered it more of a gift than a curse.

Crouching next to a tired lamb, he reached out to pat it, feeling another shot of pain in his skull.

"Would you look at that," he whispered softly to the animal. "What kind of magic might you lot be then?"

The lamb didn't respond, choosing to void its fickle bowel instead.

He suppressed a chuckle with his cloak. No matter how old he got, receiving a poo as a response would always be funny. He pat the little creature behind the ear, and stood to skulk towards the gate. When he turned, he was struck still with fear.

Standing in the dimly lit dirt behind him, was a young woman in a sundress. She was tall, with curled hair stopping at her shoulders. Even in the dark of the night, he could make out her wide and bright eyes. At that moment, he thought he may be able to see their pale blue colour glowing in the darkness. He gulped, knowing exactly who it was.

"Alright there Micha," he said, standing straight as if he was up to nothing. "Bit late to be stopping off in the market, don't you think?"

She stepped forward, letting him see her face more clearly. She was smiling in the same way she always did. The kind of smile that left most men disarmed the moment they spotted it. Micha had come to Malnir on a caravan some months earlier. She stayed after the ships and carts left, and found herself married to a farmer soon after. The whole town thought the situation was positively scandalous. Not one citizen was too shy to share the gossip. Some say that Thead had gotten the young lady pregnant, and the wedding was an attempt to hide the shame. Others were claiming the young Micha was a Warlock or some other dark soul, insisting she had the farmer bewitched by her unnatural beauty. Dondan didn't care much about the reason she was there. He was more concerned about what she might be up to. No matter what rumour you wanted to believe, there was no denying Micha Bella had a touch of madness to her.

"Lovely night for a fire, isn't it?" She asked him, looking him up and down curiously.

"Certainly a bite to the air, that's for true," he responded awkwardly.

She stayed silent, and just stared into his eyes.

After half a minute, he got too uncomfortable to cope.

"Well, you have a good night then would you," he said, starting to walk past her.

He would have to think of a different plan for Warlock night, less the unpredictable Micha has something to say about seeing him.

"They’re not ready yet, you know," she said, grabbing his arm.

A cold sweat ran over him, and he fought to keep his breathing calm.

"Ready for what?" He asked cautiously.

"You need them to be more for your night to count, don't you?" She asked, looking into his eyes again.

"I don't know what you mean," he said with an unsure tone.

She frowned, and turned to face him.

"I wasn't ready either you know," she said, sounding sad all of a sudden. "I wasn't ready but I still went. I don't regret it none either."

Dondan stayed silent. He wanted to ask her what she was on about, but her vice grip on his arm had him doubting her humanity. He was a big man, and she held him firm and still without noticeable resistance.

"Pardon?" He asked eventually.

She smiled again, this time seeming predatory.

"Are you ready Dodo?" She asked.

"Ready for what?" He asked again.

She grabbed his hand, and thrust something into his palm. "Be ready Dodo. It won't matter when you're not, so it's better that you just are."

He pulled his arm free and took a step back.

"Damn the moons Micha Bella. Have you been drinking or something? You're making even less sense than usual."

She chuckled, and pointed at his hand.

"It's your turn now Dodo. Be ready to be ready."

She bowed to him in an exaggerated flurrish, then winked, and skipped away.

"Micha!" He called back to her in a whisper, but she ignored him completely.

He watched her leave in utter confusion. The lambs rushed past him and out the gate as he looked into his hand.

Sitting in his palm was a rounded black crystal. It was cold against his skin, and his missing eye stung greatly.