The Vagaries of Magic, Chapter Two: A Pale White Companion
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Many pleasant miles on the verdant path had passed beneath Copia's feet and dusk was not far off. He was sure he was still being followed, but he had yet to see exactly who - or what - it was. He almost wished the ghouls were back so they could scout the area, but he could not retrieve them from their realm for a while yet.
It was odd. Sometimes his follower made a ridiculous racket as it crashed through the undergrowth by the side of the path, like a wounded animal. Other times, there was an otherworldly hum as the leaves were kicked up in the wake of something unseen racing toward him, but it never seemed to reach him. After a while, he had almost longed to hear that hum. It sounded as beautiful to him as it was terrible.
Dark clouds had started to gather earlier and now they were making their way across the sky. It promised to be a turbulent night and he hoped to find shelter before the storm arrived. As he walked on, he mentally added "A soaked and miserable Copia in an inadequate tent" to "Those absolutely vile travel rations" on the list of reasons to go a killing spree.
A mile or so down the path, he found an abandoned barn, but it didn't appear to have been so for very long. It was reasonably clean, either someone had let the animals out or had never brought them back in one night. There was plenty of straw laid by, ready to be spread into the adjoining stalls. By the smell of it, there was a loft full of hay as well. The sweet smell of the hay sparked memories of his home back in Norcia as took off his cassock and set about making camp. It reminded him of the chamomile his Nona grew. For some reason, he also remembered the time his sister had her eye on a boy and he chuckled. Copia had spiked his drink with a strong tincture of cascara sagada. The poor boy cramped so badly he thought he was dying. I wonder if she ever forgave me? He grinned wider. Knowing her, he thought, she probably still names the rooster after me knowing one day it will face a hatchet.
He was almost finished with camp when he thought he heard a light knock followed by some scratching on the door. Off in the distance, the hum had also returned.
Pulling his black handled dagger from his pack, he quietly walked toward the door. He pushed back the latch and the door started to open under its own weight. Suddenly, Copia didn't have time to react as something made its way in and he was attacked by what seemed at first to be a very big, screaming demon.
He had enough time to flail his arms in an attempt to protect his face, but almost as soon as it started, the battle was over. The dust and debris began to settle as he shut the door.
He tried to knock the worst of the dust and dirt off his clothes while he got his first good look at his attacker. He raised an eyebrow as he watched his now not so large assailant wandering over and inspecting where Copia had set up for the night. Apparently, he did a decent job because she found herself a spot in the straw and made herself comfortable. It was obvious that he was not going have any say in the matter.
Giving in to the inevitable, he followed her example and settled into the straw with a sigh. He put the black dagger on the straw by his side before pulling one of the apples and his white handled knife out of his pack. As he peeled the fruit, he tossed the broken pieces to his new companion, who seemed to be delighted with her good luck.
He chuckled as she daintily picked at her food. Suddenly, he was glad the ghouls weren't here after all. "I can imagine the stories the ghouls would tell if they found out about you, yes? 'Ut oh! Here comes Copia, the dread Red Angel of Death and His pale white...chicken. Look out! He may be out of a job soon. She looks like she's going to lay an Egg of Pestilence!"
The hen simply replied with a quiet and contented "brwaaaaaaaaaaaa."
He snickered as he sliced the apple. They ate in companionable silence as the rain started to fall, pattering gently on the roof. He removed the seeds from the apple core and tossed it to the hen before rummaging in his pack for something more filling.
Suddenly the otherworldly hum came closer to the barn. Copia forgot all about his pack because there seemed to be something hidden within the hum, but he couldn't quite make it out. He was listening to it intently when something crashed heavily into the door.
