Winter Wind
It was hiding far to the top. Letting flaps of it's leathery skin flip around in the breeze to mimic the winter leaves still clinging there.
It was brown with green eyes. I'm sure it didn't see that I saw it because it didn't attack. Instead it gazed around waiting for the fall of night so it could move freely unseen. And it was but a moment that I happened to glance up when most humans glance down.
It got me to thinking that there must be terrible things coming to pass very soon if dragons would dare being seen by so many during full daylight. The laws clearly state that mythical folk are not to be seen. And if I was a braver man I'd have marched right up to that dragon and told him as much.
But I'm not a braver man. I'm a man who had the good fortune, or ill will, of seeing a dragon resting high atop a tree in broad daylight. And having long ago left the world of magic I have no crystal ball to peer into to divine the portents of my vision. Instead I am stuck knowing it bodes no good for the world without knowing exactly what.
But it makes me worry some. If this is a problem dire enough that dragons are being allowed to travel during the day things must be bad even in the lands of magic. Which could mean someone will be out looking for me. Sure without my trinkets and powders I'm as normal as the next human. But with them I was always one to contend with. A true alchemist. Blood wizards despise me. They who have the gift eternal passed down internal snub those of us who can make magic that doesn't come from within. But I;ve always said the magic does come from within. The knowledge of what to make and when to make it combined with how you combine them. It takes strategy and cunning. You use your mind for more than channeling the eternal power of stale ancestors.
But it does cause some worry. Those old wizards all smug in their high towers do tend to turn to we humble alchemist when things start going really wrong. And just as soon as we again save the day they'll turn their noses up and snub as as not really having the power. Not really having a gift. May they all boil in their own juices. But it does make one wonder what exactly is afoot. I mean a dragon in broad daylight. If I could have seen it anyone could have. Something really is going on and I think it's high time I found out. Perhaps now that it's getting dark I'll sneak over to where the dragon was and ask it before it flys away.
Or perhaps I'll sit and drink a few more beers. I have noticed through trial and error that if I drink enough of these I sometimes see things. But more often than not all I see is the fine weave and pitch of my carpet. So perhaps I'll wait until the morning to decide if I should stick my nose in magic affairs. Or better yet I could pick up a few cases of beer and go ask the troll.
But if I had to visit the troll I knew there'd be much yelling and screaming and gnashing of teeth before I could get any truth out of him. How he married an elf I'll never know. His disposition is for shit even after you've filled his belly and poured enough beer down him to sink a ship, let alone catching him so soon off of work. I quickly calculated how long it would take to stock the car full of beer and pizzas before arriving at his house. It would still me too early so a shower was in order. After drinking with the troll there would be no telling how long before I'd get another one.
Finsishing my shower and dressing in plain rags I went about feeding my assorted pets so they could joyously go on about their jobs of crapping on every square inch of carpet in my house. Long ago I had given up the thought of clean floors and now settled for pile free. I knew when I returned my little dream would be crushed and actually went to the trouble of putting down paper. Not a one of the pets had ever hit the paper so I now put in places I didn't want them to go. But they'd always move it if they really wanted. With a few well placed curses I let them all know I cared and slammed the door.
As I loaded into the car and drove away I reminded myself I could have waited a bit and let them all out but knew they'd just sit there watching me until I took them in. For the life of me I couldn't remember why I kept the food mooching flock until I remembered the warm tounges and purrs and barks and whines that made them comforting. And chuckled when I realized alot of those sounds coming from a woman made them comforting as well. But I put those thoughts from my mind quickly. A jealous troll isn't good company. And a hot looking elf that flirts evertime his back is turned can be a real problem. But I really wanted to know why the dragons were out.
Pulling into the liquor store I ran in and grabbed a cart. Heading straight back to the beer I proceeded to fill it to the top and stacked a few case under. Then heading towards the front I grabbed a big bottle of Jim Beam in case his tongue was harder than useual to get going. The clerk gave me the drunken frat boy look even though I was obviously way past frat age. I could have thanked him if I didn't think it'd blow my cover. Fished out the money he asked for and declined assistance loading my hooch into the car. I was on a mission and puny store help was not to stand in my way.
Loading the car down as if I planned on opening a bar I pushed the trash and litter from a work week onto the floorboard. There it met it's other family who had already started to crest the seat. Soon I'd have to clean that I reminded myself for the hundreth time. But I knew the closest I came to cleaning was opening the door and letting some of it fall out. The beer caused more than usual and for this I was rewarded another stupid frat guy look. I could reall kiss that clerk. Maybe I would come back and do just that if I could walk after leaving the trolls house.
I started the car on the third try as was the norm and headed out into traffic to the pizza shop. It wasn't any pizza shop I aimed for. Long ago I learned trolls have a weakness for good food. Sure they could eat anything, and I do mean anything. But they really really really like really good food. Really. Many is the time I've escaped wood trolls by hiding a twinkie in a pocket. They go bananas over the cream filling and light tasty spounge cake. But that's another story. I aimed the car towards HoneyCrust pizza. The bastards had a limited delivery area. Very limited. So I always had to go get it. But it was worth it. Crunchy crust outside just greasy enough that was kind of bread like closer to the topings which were set deepdish style and piled high with a most excellent sauce and three cheeses. They made good pizza. I ordered three pizzas. One small mushroom and sausage for myself. A vegetarian special for the elf. And an extra large with everything for the troll. It alone weighed a good ten pounds once completed and again I was asked if I needed assistance getting to the car. Knowing I'd kill myself if it hit the ground I gladly accepted and headed out the door.
Beating a path across the parking lot I gave little thought to the employee carrying my pizza behind me. I dug for my keys while balancing the two small pizzas and asked myself if I was forgetting anything. Reaching out to open the door while bending over to try and stop the avalanche of falling I precariously balanced the pies while ending up standing on one foot. I'd have fallen righ then and there if a small hand hadn't shot out and steady my balance. I turned expecting to see someone who looked a bit stronger, and was suprised when a young girl as brown as a pixie and small as a wisp stood smiling and holding my pizza. I blushed and she chuckled. Oaf that I was I shoved the two pizzas onto the front seat on top of some beer and found room in the back for the big one.
"Thanks for helping." I said.
"No problem." Was her reply.
I felt a bit uncomfortable and was more than happy to escape into my car. She leaned still smiling and said, "You drive careful okay?".
Like the quick tongued devil that I am a stammered, "I will.", before starting the car on the third try.
She took a glance around at the inside of the car. At the beer and pizzas and huge mess flowing over the seats. Chuckling again she walked off with a wave. "You catch me at closing time one night I might like hanging with you. You look like you come equipped."
Blushing to the roots once again I headed out into the road. It wasn't like she could see me blushing but I knew that she knew I knew she knew I ws blushing. I hated that. Women had always been able to read me like a book. And not a very good one either. Something to thumb through while waiting in the doctor's office kind of book. Damn women. Damn trolls. Damn dragons. Damn open book.
