Todd and the Fae, Chapter 1, Scene 2 – Street Market
As I walk down Euclid, I search for Marcus the bookseller. He’s usually close to the park. The roads around the square are bustling with merchants setting up tents, and tables for the weekend. Once a month the city opens the square and the area around it to host a festival. All the small businesses, startups, handmade, and farmers from all over the city setup in the square to sell their wares.
I slowly grin as I spot the red wagon on the corner, and as I weave between another set of tents I spot the horses in the grass near the wagon. I walk faster dodging ropes and swinging hammers. I mummer. “There he is! How does he do it? Always has the best spot for the wagon, the horses, and foot traffic.”
Then, I yell “Marcus!” as I wave to catch his eye. When I am a few feet away he greets me. “Todd Albescu,” he says with a grin. “How are you doing this fine and beautiful day?”
I’m suddenly overwhelmed with a yawn, and I cover my mouth and then stretch a little. “Quite well. “ I grin. “Just woke up, a touch too early, and I tried your self-perpetuating charm today!”
Marcus “Oh? Why today?” he asks, narrowing his eyes and standing tall, shoulder back.
I roll my shoulders stretching as I answer “I’m not sure what’s going on yet but the shadows are more active today than usual. I used the shield charm with the self-perpetuating charm to protect the trolley stops and the trolley from harm. Things are active enough that the humans were nervous and twitchy this morning. “
Marcus closes his eyes and I can feel his magic reaching out and feeling the web of the new spell. Marcus nods “Nicely done, tight knots, clean lines, excellent work. The shadows. Let’s take a closer look. Yes, definitely dark Fae. Only low level shadows nearby. The wizard police are out rounding them up. Nothing to worry about. Excellent protection spell, and just what the city needed this weekend. “ He nods again, opening his eyes. “Your spell will last for at least 3 days, possibly 4. “
My back straightens, shoulders pulling back, eyes wide. “4 days? I thought it would only last for today?”
Marcus “Ah well on a stationary object with no energy input, a few hours at most. But when you cast this type of spell you need to account for the object’s motion, and any additional energy. Since you’ve tied it to the gas lamps, a simple fuel plus light and heat, and a moving electric trolley, which is electric and kinetic energy, you added quite a bit of additional energy into the spell, albeit mundane sources so it’s less effective, but it does add energy to your spell over time. “
Marcus nods “Very well done. Now how can this humble bookseller assist you today?” Marcus waves his hands towards the wagon and the shutters on the wagon’s side swing open, revealing bookshelves, filled with books, ancient manuscripts, and rolled scrolls in leather tubes.
I hold my hands palms up, with a shrug. “Professor Richards is seeking a few books for a new museum collection for Halloween. I know it’s only April, but I don’t want to wait till the last minute, and some items may take longer to source. She’s looking for spell books or grimoires of notorious witches or wizards throughout the ages.” I pause with a deep breath, “They need to be items that I can verify; their path through history needs to be traceable.”
I grin with a shrug “Odd topic I know.” sighing gently and then continuing, “Even though it’s themed to get students to come to the museum it needs to be properly documented and verified. Each item, book, scroll, or artifact needs to have a proper paper trail. Do you have any recommendations?”
I pull out my pocket notebook and begin taking notes. “Do you mind if I take notes?” I ask. Glancing over at the wagon I watch with fascination as the books on the shelves begin shuffling around. Marcus and the wagon working in tandem to search the vast library of books to find what I have asked for. It’s always fascinating to watch them work.
Marcus nods thoughtfully “Well there’s the journal of Bridget Bishop, a suspected witch. They tried her in the Salem witch trials, convicted her, and hanged her. It was 1692. The cooler heads of modern times believe most of the testimony against her to be false or forced. It might be an exciting read and bring peace to her soul to have her story told. “
I nod. “Yes, I’ve heard of her, and I think the Professor has friends at the University of Massachusetts that might help. Thank you.”
Marcus nods, “Good, good. Another is Lilas Adie, Scottish, 1704, I believe. Her descendants have begun the political fight to have her exonerated posthumously, and get permission to excavate her grave and have her moved to a proper location. Though that will take years if it ever happens. As it is, I have a journal that was supposedly hers, I thumbed through it briefly. The parchment, binding, and inks are congruent with the period and location, and the topics discussed appear to match up with what we know of her life. It requires further research to confirm. “
I bounce on the balls of my feet excitedly and exclaim “Excellent” as I quickly take notes. “I can confirm that; I can request local birth and death records and maps. It should be fairly easy to confirm its authenticity to the time and perhaps even who the author is. I’ll check with the descendants to see if they have any verifiable writing samples available. ”
Marcus taps his chin thinking, then says ”There’s Herman the Recluse: 13th century, and his spell books. Not much is known about him other than myths and rumors. He supposedly authored several magical manuscripts, one was even created while living as a Benedictine monk. I believe it was called the Codex Gigas known as the ‘devils’ book. The Church of Rome banished the Codex Gigas in its early decades. It’s supposed to be a book about demons and has detailed information on spells, rituals, and potions. I believe the church holds the original, but they did create and release a few copies to other monasteries for safekeeping and study. A copy of one of those has made it into my collection. Of course, authenticating that one will be difficult. But it is an exciting read. Perhaps a good prop for display as an unverified replica.“
Marcus tugs on his gray beard and hums quietly before nodding “Yes, I believe that’s all that comes to mind, at the moment. I’ll think about it. “
Marcus stares into the distance for a moment, then narrows his eyes. His gaze drifts along the length of the wagon to the table. Puzzled, I glance over and examine the wagon. It appears to be ok, though it is still shuffling books searching for what I need. Other than the magical library, the wagon is like any other, made of wood, with a rounded top, and brightly painted, even with some gold gilding. It’s tall enough for a man to stand inside, and there’s a stove pipe sticking out the top about midway for the wood stove.
Marcus shakes his head. “It can’t be helped, you’ll have to take care of it for me. I likely have a few items that will get you started, but I shall need a favor for them.”
I tilt my head, curious “A favor?”
Marcus nods solemnly and points at the rear of the wagon. There is a door with a step at the rear and an awning that extends out the back of the wagon. Under the awning are two chairs and a small table. On the table is a breakfast spread, a plate of fruits and cheese, and a simple tea set with two place settings.
Marcus nods “Aye, I need you to deal with a pest. It’s moved in with me, eating my food, scaring the horses, and insists on moving things around. He’s disturbing the organization of my books.“
I look around warily, searching for signs of a potential animal problem, and ask “A pest?”
Marcus nods again, and says “Look closer at the table, and come sit.”
I step closer to the table and look down, stuttering to a stunned pause, then close my mouth because it was hanging open. There on the table is a small creature wrestling a slice of apple off the plate, and grumbling “Inconsiderate host!” It grunts, continuing to flip and roll the apple slice over to its little place setting. “Never, cuts things down to size.” he gasps, breathing heavily.
I look at Marcus, then with a shaking hand point at the table asking “You have a Fae living with you?”
Want to read the serial?
You can pre-order the final eBook and get access to the serial version we are publishing on this blog, and the YouTube audio series for $3.99.
The first chapter is free — start reading today!
💜 Read Chapter 1