The Wizard of Elsewhere

1.7 - Stir The Cauldron

Lets stir this cauldron!

— Barnibus's Hat...And other malcontent wizards

* * *

"... Entertainment!"

There was a pregnant pause where even the breeze stilled and Barnibus watched with frozen breath as the lips of reddest red blood worked.

"I beg thy pardon?"

"Promised thee my services three! One, to dine.  Two to warm..." And because Barnibus could not think of any phrase with entertainment that rhymed with three that would make sense in this context, he stopped it right there and just said, "and - and to provide entertainment!" He ended lamely.

"Entertain — ment?". The Forerunner repeated as if she did not understand the concept.

Barnibus nodded, doubling down.  "Quite right.  If you leave now, Forerunner, you will be causing me to default upon that which I promised.  And that would be most unsporting."

"Accuseth me of rudeness now, mortal?"  She chuckled merrily.  "By mine own estimation, a fine guest I hath played."

"Careful, Barnibus."  His hat breathed in his ear. "She's been rather pol —"

"But if you leave now, I shall not have the opportunity to deliver what I promised." Barnibus pointed out quickly.

"This concern seemeth to me to be of a personal nature," The Forerunner replied.  Her eyes danced with mirth.

"But you promised me your good grace!" Barnibus yelped in desperation. He was committed now.  He was —

The Forerunner's eyes flickered fractionally and she was standing over him suddenly and for the life of him — which suddenly seemed was going to be uncharacteristically short — It looked to Barnibus that she had forgotten to cross the distance from where she had stood.

The icy wind returned, harder than ever.  A gale, and it howled through the trees, banking the fire low again, and throwing tendrils of frost back over tree bark and the soil where it had begun to thaw.

"Seekith thee to bind through trickery of words, mortal kine?" She hissed an inch from his face.

"N-n-no! No-not at all!" Barnibus gabbled as his hat wailed in his ears.  "I-I-I just —"

"Well met, I spake.  Well met an' well left. Thy mean to hold me a against mine own desire? Speak quickly Wizard of mine ire.  Thy make an' meddle.  An' thee knowest not what fate thy peddle. Speak once and done.  But speak truly, Wizard One.  Knowest mine humor.  Knowest mine good grace an' mine laughter.  But thou knowest not what cometh after."

Barnibus had no idea what he was about to say when he opened his mouth, only that he had to say something and split-beard-ends was it difficult think of anything with The Forerunner's glacial eyes so close to his own, but Hat said suddenly — "Say this" and out of his mouth came

"I seek not to burden I seek not to bind!

Only a compromise do I seek now to find.

Thy promised me grace, the goodness of thine will,

and tradith I thee entertainment to fulfill.

If leavith thou now, I default unto yee,

or, heavens forbid, the fault is with thee.

I seek but accord twixt mine self and thine,

grantith me but the opportune time,

to deliver unto thee enjoyment and glee,