Todd and the Fae, Chapter 1, Scene 4 –
Written by K. and E. Southworth
Street Festival in the Square
I wander towards the trolley stop. Pausing at a merchant who is setting out potions, the little jars clinking as he arranges them on the wooden stands on his table. Next to them, a farmer is setting out jars of fruit jams from their harvest last year. It’s early spring, there’s not much fresh available yet, just root vegetables this time of year. I listen to the sounds of the morning. Crates being dropped on tables and the ground with thumps. Horses stomping their hooves, eager to move on. Wagon wheels grinding as merchants pull up to their spots to unload. “Morning James, any kolache ready?” as I pass the local bakery stall. The smell of cinnamon, wafting from the brazier. James has engineered an interesting stove out of his two coal braziers, one for warming and one for baking fresh pastries. “Almost” he calls out “Come back by in about 10”. I nod and continue exploring.
Further down the street, “Hey Mark, need help setting up?” Mark shakes his head. “Not today, Todd, but thanks for asking! The Wizard Council changed the laws last week. Then showed up at my shop and confiscated half my stock out of nowhere. I don’t even know what the new laws are yet. I didn’t have time to prepare new scrolls to fill in the space. This is all I’ve got this month, but I can take orders if folks are local and deliver them next week. ” He says as he pulls out his wooden display stands and starts filling them with neatly rolled scrolls, with different colored ribbons wrapped around them, and fancy tags. His table is very bare this month.
I move on and at the next tent wave. “Hi Mary, how’s the dress market going? Need any help?”
Mary looks up and smiles. “Hi Todd, I’d love some help! , Could you pull some of those dresses out of that chest and hang them on the rack for me? “
I nod, “Happy to help!” I lean over and carefully pick up the first dress unwrapping the protective paper, shaking it out gently, insert the hanger, and hang the dress on the rack, smoothing out any wrinkles carefully. As I run my hands down the dress I can feel magic embedded in the fabric. “Hey Mary, did you weave magic into the fabric?”
Mary grins, “I did, Todd. It’s my new line of women’s protective wear. Between handsy males, and now the fae shadows acting up every couple of days, I thought I’d add a little defensive spells into some of my dresses. Mostly variations on shield spells, and I added a little extra magic along the bottom trim, to help keep the bottoms cleaner. All the muddy snow every winter ruins the dresses. “I laugh, “Yes, it does get muddy, doesn’t it. And protection against the fae and unwanted advances. I like that. I’ll make sure to mention it to some of my friends and students. Do you have a few extra cards? If not, I can swing by your shop next week and pick some up?”
Mary smiles, “Sure, come by next week I’ll have some extras made up for you.” I nod, “Thanks, Mary. There all done,” I say as I hang the last dress. Then, carefully fold the packing materials back up and place them back in the chest. “Do you want this chest move under the back table?” Mary nods “Yes, Please!” I nod and pick up the chest and slide it under the back table out of the way. “All set Mary, good luck with sales this weekend! “ Mary looks up from where she’s setting up a display “Thanks for your help Todd, see you next week!”
As I travel further down the street and around the square, I see another merchant setting up their tent, struggling with center pole, they look like they’re new to the area. I wander over. “Hi I’m Todd, need a hand?” The couple look up and nod. “Aye, a little help would be appreciated I’m Jacob and this my wife Susan. We usually setup at country fairs, where we can dig down and sink the center post, but here the cobblestone is in the way. It’ll stand, but if someone bumps it, the whole tent is likely to come down.”
I nod, “Yes, that’s a possibility, I think Melvin the blacksmith is usually setup on the other side of the square. He usually has some stands he sells specifically for stabilizing the center posts. How about I use a little magic to stabilize it for you, and that will give you time to get what you need, while your partner can keep setting up the tables without fear of it collapsing on her? “
Jacob smiles. “That would be good. Thank you, Todd.”
I nod and focus on the center pole. I watch the magic glow as I wrap it in a binding spell to strengthen it. Then it changes color, as I add an anchor charm. I push magic into it and tendrils spiral out rooting into the street stabilizing the post. I nod, happy with the results. “Ok Jacob, all set, that will probably last a couple hours, so you have time to get setup. “
Jacob offers a handshake “Thank you, Todd. I’ll get these crates moved to where Susan needs them, and then head out to find that blacksmith.” I help Jacob move the crates from the wagon into the tent, and help setup a couple of tables. Susan works quickly, filling the tables with the contents from the crates. She’s arranging a wide variety of fabric, both mundane and magical on the main table. Then on the side table are some very detailed trims with magical thread glowing, where it is woven into the delicate designs. “Susan, that’s amazing, are you a weaver?” As I examine the trims and fabric, being careful not to disturb her organization. “Aye. Most of my family are weavers, but we use traditional hand looms for our work. We weave strength and protection spells into the trim to help them last longer, some of the more delicate ones would fall apart after only a few wears and washes. It’s important to keep the designs strong and stable. They are simple spells and charms, but useful. “ She smiles, proud of her work. I nod acknowledging her craftsmanship, “You and your family are very talented A few stalls back the way I came is Mary, she’s a dressmaker. You should swing by and introduce yourself when you get a chance. I think she’d love to see your fabrics and trims.“ Susan smiles, interested. “A dressmaker nearby? I will check out her stall first chance I get. Thank you!”
I wave, and head on down the street and around the square. I wave hello to Richard “Hi Richard, how’s the botanical garden doing?“ The plant seller looks up. “Hi Todd. We are doing really well this winter for a change. I hired a new apprentice last fall, and she’s doing a fantastic job helping manage the temperamental magical plants that we added in the new section the University built last summer. I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to manage that large of an expansion, but Ivy’s been amazing.” He continues to setup the front table with starter trays of kitchen herbs. I breathe deeply, all the basics rosemary, sage, mint, and thyme. Then I glance at the other tables, and he has a table in the back with trays of magical starts. Trays of little seedlings of different magical plants. While he continues to setup, I examine the magical starts. I have a small window garden box, but until I finish my P.H.D. and purchase my farmland, I can’t grow much. I notice a council wizard in official robes enter the tent, and start talking to Richard. The wizard moves over next to me, and is inspecting the magical plants. I listen in.
Wizard “As you should have received notice last week, new laws were implemented banning certain plants from Cleveland. We’ve found that certain plants are attracting the shadow fae and drawing them into the city. We are working to eradicate the plants to reduce the incursion or infestation of shadow fae.” Richard shakes his head, “The university has received no paperwork about the laws changing or restrictions on magical plants. We are happy to comply with the council, but I will need the formal paperwork delivered to the University, and the attorneys to verify the ruling before I can comply. “
Wizard “Well, we will have to remove these plants today, you can’t sell them here. “Richard “I’m quite certain you understand the law. Without proper notification of legal changes, I can not allow you to simply remove my stock. This stock is the property of the University. You will need to follow the proper legal channels today if you would like me to remove any of our plants. Please contact your attorney’s and have them immediately contact the University with the proper documentation. Have a good day. “ Richard ushers the wizard out of the tent.
I watch puzzled after the wizard moves on, I approach Richard. “Other merchants have had issues with the council. Apparently, the law changed sometime last week. No one knows what the changes are yet, but wizards like that one have been confiscating items since. Most of the merchants aren’t getting any notice, don’t know what the law changes are, and don’t have anyone to contact about the cost of losing those items. The wizards aren’t even handing out receipts for the items they are taking, which I believe they are required to do. I certainly don’t see a decrease in the shadow fae activity, if anything, it seems to be worse today. “
Richards nods his head gravely. “Yeah traveling from the University to the square this morning was rather harrowing, though once I made it to the Euclid, the trolley cleared a path to the festival. The shadow fae aren’t any more concentrated around the botanical gardens or my booth, so that’s a load of bumpkis. I don’t know what’s drawing the shadow fae in but it’s not any one thing. I seriously doubt it’s my plants. They’ve been happily growing for months thanks to Ivy, it doesn’t make sense for them to suddenly start surging in numbers this time of year. Most of the magical plants won’t hit their peak until July and August. “
I nod “Are you still offering introductory lessons in exchange for volunteer time helping with the plants? “ Richard grins, “I am, and I could use the help. Has Professor Richards allowed you some free time yet? “ I shake my head “No, but my dissertation goes in for it’s first review this week, and it’s the last day of classes today. So, I should have a week or two free. I can swing by and help out next week. “ Richard nods, “Good, good. I’ll see you Monday then, bright and early. “
I wave as I leave the tent, and head back the way I came. Following the trail of cinnamon to the baker. He fills my mug with hot coffee, and I purchase a couple of cinnamon babka, and wander over to the trolley stop. I sit on a bench and watch as the sun rises, the shadows retreat, and the merchants settle into their routines of setting up their stalls and tents. They are looking over their shoulder less and focusing more. I look around for the stray cats and dogs that usually wander the festival looking for handouts and affection from the merchants and customers. They are strangely absent, I’ll have to look into that later. As I finish my coffee and pastries. I hear the trolley bell tolling in the distance.