The Autumn Mage

Updated Chapter One

AKI MADE SURE to keep his eyes averted from the small group of local teens who were snickering and punching each other's shoulders. He had run in to them the last time he was here; usually they just sneer at him and yell mocking idle threats before running away to throw rocks at stray cats. Today, however, they were riled up. They were celebrating something, some minor score and they were acting rowdier than usual.

     Aki pulled the hood of his faded black cloak tighter down over his head, hoping to further obscure his face. Heading north usually wasn't that much of a hassle, but the sinking feeling in his gut was telling him otherwise. Aki had made it three-fourths of the past the group when he caught a dirt clod to the side of his head. He dug the butt of his staff into the dirt road and ground his teeth.

     "Just where the Hel do you think you're going?" sneered a lanky teenage boy, whose hair was every bit as bright and tangled as the red leaves rustling above them. "You thought you would, what, walk right on past the most feared gang in town, the Red Herrings, without so much as a 'hullo'?" he said dramatically, arms outstretched as he spoke with each step he took towards Aki's back.

     The other four boys chuckled behind him as they formed a line shoulder to shoulder, snickering and cracking their knuckles.

     Their leader's sparkling green eyes narrowed as they tried to cut through the shadows blocking Aki's face. His face screwed as he tried recalling who he was harassing, but ultimately gripped the back of the hood, forcing it off of his face. He let out a low chuckle as he looked down at Aki. Although the boy was several years younger than him, Aki was shorter and not as broad shouldered as the gang leader. Aki blinked as his dark jade eyes adjusted to the sunlight.

     "Back off, Francis," Aki muttered as he gripped his wooden staff tighter. It was a pale, barely noticeable, green color with a cobra carved into the top which had to small red stones for eyes. Its face was scorched but besides that looked to be in top shape.

     Francis crossed his arms as he shivered; the cool breeze was causing his skin to prick and he regretted not covering his pale, freckled body with a shirt. He uncrossed his arms quickly and drove his hands into the pockets of his rust-colored corduroy overalls and hunched forward slightly. He forced a grin, which was missing several teeth, and bore his eyes into Aki's.

     "I just wanted you to be a little more neighborly, that's all," he said softly, feigning a hurt tone. His breath reeked of onions and sardines and Aki fought a gag.

     "Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry," Aki retorted, trying to keep his voice steady despite his beating heart.

     "Aw, come now," Francis cooed. "Is that any way to treat your ol' pal? Hm?"

     "You aren't my pal, Francis," Aki said louder, losing his patience.

     The remaining gang members made mocking noises of false surprise, egging their leader on. Francis glanced to the side, slowly removing his hands from his pockets.

     "Now you're just being rude," he said coldly, bringing his attention back. "I think you owe me an apology."

     Aki lost the fight to a grin. "I'm sorry, Francis,"he said, watching his expression change to confusion and then half-acceptance. "I'm sorry your mother couldn't find a better-looking lay and had your ugly ass."

     There was a moment of silence as the Red Herrings stood shocked. The silence was broken, however, when Francis threw a left hook faster than Aki had anticipated. He managed to throw his weight down, gripping his staff with both hands to keep him from falling over. He blinked through the small field of stars encircling his vision which stopped once he saw the small amount of smeared blood on the back of his hand.