Chapter 75. Skies-Falling.

  “I need help.” Korrmic went for the door.

  “You owe me what was agreed.” Maggnus called to the young man for he was the only one of the group left alive. Except for infected Zeke, however, Korrmic was already pulling the door open and making his way out.

  “Bring him back Maggnus I can get you what you’re owed.”

  Maggnus didn’t hesitate to think about it. Quickly getting to his feet he rushed for the door.

  Lief could hear the scuttle in the hallway and the two shouting at one another. It wasn’t long before Maggnus returned with Korrmic.

  Korrmic walked oddly. He was being lead by the tip of a blade—or well pushed by one. Blade and an arm bent behind his back—Maggnus wasn’t playing around.

  “My things.” Maggnus demand kicking Korrmic to his knees. Falling him right there at Becks feet.

  Korrmic could hear Beck gripping the handle of his hammer tighter. Leather gloves groaned while his palms rolled over the handle. It made Korrmic shake even more. Oh he should have just stayed home and ate mama’s stew.

  “What is it exactly you are wanting Maggnus.” Lief asked.

  “A fistful of polished magenta stones, three lunar-gourd, and eggs six of them. I want the warm eggs from the orange chickens.” He snapped, kicking the butt of Korrmic who was trying to stand up. He really didn’t want to be in the swinging reaches of the Dwarf.

  “Maggnus.” Lief said with cool persuasion. This got Maggnus’s attention, and he knew a pitch was coming. “What’s your opinion on traders who keep a tab.” Lief smiled, grabbing the Quill from his pocket.

  “I’m open to them..” He answered, stepping on Korrmic’s fingers while he was trying to crawl between the three. “As long as I get my end of the trade in a timely manner.”

  “But of course Maggnus that’s how trades should be when set out for long-term negotiations. Unfortunately though, I have none of the things you ask for. I do apologize for everything these no-mind fools promised you. But if there is anything your eye catches its yours.”

  Maggnus scratched his chin, and looked around. He was mixed with irritation and interest. He was open to starting a tab, if Lief had any good shit. And honestly too, Beck was kind of intimidating. Look at him just standing there bleak and emotionless. Unseen eyes overflowing with black. The leather rolling under his tight grip over his hammer. Ember from the pipe glow casting menacing shadow over his face, while smoke curls around his nostrils.

  “Do you smoke?” Lief asked. “I have plenty of tobacco ready. Loose leaf and cut ribbon that’s been jarred.”

  “No.” Maggnus answered looking down at the pillow. “I like your sitting pillows.” He picked one up better inspecting it. Fluffing it. It was soft. Good amount of feather stuffed within. He liked the triangle patterns on them too.

  “They’re yours, what else interest you, I have teas from those rafters, and mints from those.” Lief pointed at the hanging pots, following Maggnus around the room describing the tea and when it was best to drink.

  Beck stay stationary. Looking at nothing in particular, just an empty stare. He was listening. Feeling the vibration of the room. Korrmic was to scared to leave his presence. And he stay cowering at the Dwarf’s feet.

  “Nah I don’t drink that mud water.” A small blue umbrella drifted by in the wind. Catching his eye. “What are them flowers.” Maggnus asked pointing with pinky and index to the small window. The window with the single pot. The one growing the sky blue dandelions.

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  “Skies Falling. A crossbreed my mother created. She wanted to cover her mountainside with them. Thinking that during the windy days it might be fun for the towns folks to think it, if it looked like the sky was falling.” Lief looked at the dandelion and blew against one. “She never got the chance though.. these are the only ones left.”

  Maggnus looked at the flower once more, mouth half prepped with a question.

  Lief though fired off a defensive answer. “Absolutely not.” He knew what the man was going to ask, and no they were not for trade. Never.

  Maggnus nodded, he didn’t know Lief. In fact this was his first time at Stallitusk Sanctuary. He had only met up with Monte and his crew just a day earlier crossing the ranges of the opposing Marrow Mountains. Offering him trade for the speed and agility of his nightmares and wagon. All while getting him dragged into this mayhem. The shittiest part of it all. Now he was short a nightmare. This wasn’t his first time being ripped off, but he didn’t appreciate how he lost his mare.

  “Are any of those empty.” Index and pinky directed at the bookshelf of volumes.

  “You read and write?” Lief asked excitedly, a spark of life shifted in those dull eyes.

  “I can’t read a lot, I only know a few letters.” Maggnus answered. “But I like to sketch my travels, keep track of my memories so I can share them if any are interested. Some even fetch good trade.” He looked at the kid with a believe it or not kind of look and shrugged. “People are weird, they like shit like that in their homes.”

  Lief smiled. He liked this answer. Sure it wasn’t writing, but the fact that the man appreciates the quill. Dedicating the time to something other than carnage. It was a different aspect of honor, and Lief could get behind it. These kinds of talents could be useful in law. “I have tomes and scrolls, long ones too.”

  Lief reached for a tome fanning the pages ensuring it was empty. He also grabbed two tight rolls of parchment. Then reached for another nicer looking scroll. “This one here is longer then the bookshelf.” He pulled the attractive red handles for rolling the paper when reading ensuring it was all clean and unused. “Three quills, does that sound fair for now? Here take your pick.” Lief held out a small box full of quills.

  Maggnus lingered through the box until he found the few he liked. Three lovely quills. One of a reflective green feather with a bright yellow tip and black collar. Another a deep blue with frosty white edges and a black tip. The third of a soft brown with red edges and a white tip. Maggnus grabbed them and nodded. Handing the box back.

  “Ink?” He asked. “Cant do much with these without ink.”

  Lief smiled. He loved being able to accommodate such requests. And right now he was about to be 3/3 with Maggnus. Lief grabbed the two ink slates from the bottom shelf. Turning he held them out. Both looking blacker than night. “I have to prepare it. This one is blue, what color do you prefer.”

  “Purple.”

  “Blue it is.” Lief put the darker of the two slabs back in the bookshelf.

  “You’re a botanist?” Maggnus asked looking in the trough of aerating soils.

  “My mother was.” He answered, grabbing a small jar of water. “She told me the stars of Green-Thumb shine bright for me. Insisting I practice that ability, and perfect the skill. She says those who can grow will always have trade, and a sustainable life.”

  “Your mother sounds wise..” Maggnus looked the room over, seeing no indication of a woman’s touch. “Where is she?”

  “She died 4 cycles ago.” He looked out the window before setting the slate and water down. “She’s somewhere along these mountain ranges.” He pointed. “I like to think she’s just beyond Stallitusk Peak. Being protected by the majestic creature.” Lief sighed and thought of the day Beck found him.

  He then took a spot over a pillow, grabbed an empty square ink jar, with a stout cork. Placing it on one side of the ink slate. And placed the jar of water on the other side.

  Dripped a bit of water on his slab and began slowly mixing it. Gentle strokes back and forth until a deep pigmentation lifted and stained that droplet of water. Lief pour the tiny bit into the jar, and repeated this process.

  Glancing over at Beck, who had no expression. Only black streaking tears that flow from under those thick bushy brows. Something in the pit of Lief’s guts ached for what he done to Beck. What he had tried to do to Scarlett. He had to get her back. She was the oldest person he knew. She would obviously know what to do. It was only going to be for this one and only single conquest he reminded himself again.

  “Beck.”

  Beck turned his bleak, stained face towards the boy.

  “Fetch for me.” As Lief asked this, Beck straightened his stance. “Bring back Scarlet Thimbaylis. Do not harm her, just return her to Stallitusk.. understand?” He asked, pushing another teeny bit of blue ink into the jar.

  “Hmph.” Beck grunted with a single head nod. He swung his hammer over a shoulder and marched from the room.