The Mage's Familiar

02. Ending an Engagement

In the following weeks they lived simply together. Nas discovered his master was named Olwen and that she had inherited her silver hair and gray eyes from her mother, who occasionally visited her along with her younger brother, Whittaker. She was a quiet and reserved young woman in public, only showing her quick wit to her family. The cottage was quiet and unassuming, but Olwen sold a variety of magical items that she created within its walls. Her healing magic was modest but effective and was the source of Nas's effortless recuperation. The charms and potions she made were sold to the local villages, allowing her to earn enough money to live independently. She did not seem to have many friends but kept herself busy around the cottage, developing new products and healing those who came to see her. Occasionally Nas would catch glimpses of her low moods. She was forlorn and detached when no one was around. The small cat could not help but wonder why she was sometimes so far away, in a dark place where even he could not reach her. Some evenings she would stare out the large windows of her sitting room and look far into the distance, towards something unknown. It was strange, as if she was two different people. One was warm and kind, open and thoughtful, but the other was grieving. Nas could not help but be curious. What was troubling her?

It was a deep purple twilight when he witnessed for himself what was consuming her thoughts in those quiet moments. Olwen was seated in her favorite chair in front of the small fire in her sitting room, holding a book in her lap as Nas nestled himself into her arms. But she was clearly distracted. Her eyes darted to the windows and the door, and every so often she would sigh. Nas attempted to capture her attention but uncharacteristically she ignored him. When he persisted, placing a small paw against her face, she only noticed him for a brief moment before scooping him up and placing him gently on the floor. He gazed curiously up at her, trying to discern what had caused her change in mood. But it was soon very obvious.

A heavy knock on the front door rattled the cottage and startled both Olwen and Nas, who scurried towards it, placing himself between the door and his master. But she stepped carefully around him, standing tall and struggling to appear confident, as she reached for the handle and allowed the door to swing open. Standing on the threshold was a man, fairly nondescript but with an expression of extreme distaste. He pointed an accusatory finger at her chest as he barged into the small dwelling, forcing her backwards towards the center of the room.

"Olwen!" he shouted, his face reddening. "Why have you called off our engagement? I was humiliated in front of the entire village. When did this happen?"

His voice was rough and unpleasant and he stank of liquor. But Olwen remained surprisingly calm. She took a small step forward, lifting her face towards the man with her brow furrowed.

"Colden, you know very well why I refuse you. I saw you with Wren, as did half of the village. We are not yet married and already your affections are elsewhere. We have no future, as I will not be overshadowed by a mistress. I came here to escape you and the embarrassment you caused. Please leave."

It was clear that her former fiance was surprised by this revelation. He stumbled back before crying out, his face contorted and ugly. She stood firm, but Nas could see the fear in her eyes. He bristled but made no sound, observing icily from his spot beside her.

"You lie!" Colden growled. "You could not have seen us!"

Olwen smiled. It was an accidental confession from a disloyal man. She had only heard rumors, but now knew what her mother had told her was true. It was her mother who had insisted on ending their engagement. But apparently Colden was ignorant to this fact.

"But I did," she replied calmly. "Please leave."

Nas watched warily as Colden glowered at her, a strange blend of shock, confusion, and drunkenness on his face. He was not a handsome man, stocky but weak, with a heavy brow and unruly hair badly slicked back away from his face. His eyes were small and dark, perpetually shifty and suspicious. As he grabbed wildly for Olwen, Nas couldn't help but feel disgust course through his body. How could this terrible creature covet his beautiful master? Olwen stepped back, trying to avoid Colden's rough hands. But he caught her skirts and pulled her to the ground, clumsily crawling on top of her with his eyes wide and greedy. What he did not expect was Nas. The cat launched himself at the man, his claws sharp as they dug into Colden's fleshy face. He shouted and thrashed, crushing Olwen beneath him as he flung the cat away violently. She screamed, struggling in vain to rescue her companion. But despite her kicking and biting, Colden was able to easily overpower her. He outweighed her and his heavy body was able to hold her still. He smiled down on her menacingly, blood dripping from the fresh cuts across his face.

"You cannot escape me, Olwen," he spat at her. "You are mine."

He began to laugh, but as Olwen glared up at him, long white fingers wrapped around his throat from behind, choking him into silence. Colden was lifted into the air by his neck and tossed aside where he lay gurgling and coughing. Olwen stifled a cry and covered her eyes with her hands, fearing that whoever had so easily subdued Colden might be coming for her as well. She felt some relief flow through her. Any captor would be better than Colden. His stench still clung to her dress. Her breathing quickened as soft footsteps came towards her. Fear still consumed her. She had been waiting for the day when Colden would come for her. But what would happen now? All she could hear now was the pathetic whining of Colden, still collapsed in the corner of the room where he had been thrown. Was her savior gone? She mustered the courage to lower her hands and looked upward to see that her rescuer stood before her.

It was a man, naked except for a sheet from her bed which he held against his body to shield it from her. He was beautiful, his long white hair flowing freely over his back and shoulders. His slanted eyes were large and the color of the sky. His body was not bulky but lithe and slender. She could not doubt his strength. But what surprised her the most was his expression. He looked...concerned. She looked away quickly, avoiding his eyes and shrinking back against the wall. He might be beautiful, but his sudden appearance and nakedness brought nearly as much anxiety as Colden's sudden arrival. As she shied away she felt him step back also, allowing her the space to calm herself. When she looked up again he was sitting away from her near the door, his body completely covered in her sheet. He almost looked like a child who was being scolded. It was a strange sight. Why was he so submissive? But before she could consider this deeply, she remembered her beloved cat. She jumped to her feet despite her fear, her eyes searching for the small white cat she had become so attached to. What if Colden had killed him? The cat was nowhere to be seen and her desperation grew as Colden began to stir in earnest, trying to get to his knees. She could only hope that the cat had escaped. She hurried to leave, prepared to flee, her eyes still searching for her companion.

"Nas," she whispered fearfully. To her amazement, a voice responded.

"Master."

She turned her head to find the white-haired stranger gazing earnestly at her, his hand once again at Colden's throat, holding him hostage.

"Nas?" she asked again, her voice even quieter than before. The stranger looked into her eyes, guilt flashing across his face.

"Master," he whispered.

Olwen froze. How did this stranger know the name of her cat? Why was he calling her Master? She took another look at him. Snow white hair and blue eyes. The color of the sky. A frightening realization began to wash over her. Was this man Nas? Her mind swam and her vision began to blur. The stress of her ordeal with Colden and the sudden shock of the stranger in her home had weakened her. She felt drained and sluggish. She turned to the door in one last attempt to leave. But she couldn't make it. Unable to reconcile her racing thoughts and with her anxiety building, Olwen collapsed to the floor. Everything began to darken and the sounds of Colden became distant. She pleaded quietly for the darkness to take her and let her rest at last. The strange man threw Colden aside once more and rushed to her side, but before he could take her in his arms, Colden felt the blackness overwhelm her and she fell into blissful unconsciousness.