Elswyth
" Bellroc , what happened to the cookies?"
They shrugged, face buried in their two - hundred - year - old grimoire.
" Bellroc."
" Goblins."
He gazed down at the plate . Some of the cookies HAD bites taken out of them by pointed teeth,but the rest had been burned black .
" Bellroc,I think we have a rat problem."
"Mmhm. Hm."
" I think Nari has a suitor. And they're going to elope. And did you notice the earth is flat?"
" How lovely. "
He sighed sharply, exasperated, and gave up. They were oblivious to all things save for that moth - eaten personal collection of elementary spells.
Nari was currently licking herself in her room,and , atypically, not producing any plants or flowers.
She might be flea - ridden, since she kept scratching her head ( which she never used to do with her foot ).
' Where may the vermin be hiding? ' Skrael wondered, setting the plate down on a small table .
Bellroc reached out a hand automatically, and the cookie hissed and blackened upon being touched.
Liar !
He turned away and teleported to his room.
An unpleasant feeling was gnawing at him , he didn't wish to define it .
He sat down on the bed.
Small feet pattered past his door.
Too large for the gobins, and not the right gait for Nari.
Skrael sprang gracefully to his feet and lost himself in his pocket of winter.
He rematerialized on the other side.
Heading for the goblins ' level of the fortress, a young girl.
Long hazelnut - brown hair flew behind it. Its feet were bare ,its blue dress had large holes .
Skrael rose into the air and pursued.
He flew until he could see the bruises that littered the girl 's arms and face.
Something tugged at his frozen heart.
He hesitated .
She spun round in fright, turning even paler at the sight of him. She clutched an apple in her right hand.
Her body was too thin. Her owlish eyes held the shadows of whatever nameless ghosts haunted her .
Her irises were the blue of emeralds.
" How long have you been here?" he asked calmly, standing on the floor .
" I dunno. Twenny... more than twenny days. L - long time."
" Your stay here is over. Feel free to leave immediately."
" But your house is in the sky!"
" That fact notwithstanding, it's time for you to get out. "
******
" You're a meanie."
" Don't care ."
" I'll FALL! And when I hit the ground,I'll go SPLAT! You can't just drop me!"
" I most certainly can. Allow me to demonstrate..."
He grinned mirthfully.
She was dangling by her neck from his hand, glaring reproachfully at him.
He was levitating just beyond the stationary castle . Cotton - wad clouds formed an insubstantial blanket over the sky below .
" Goodbye, little girl ," he snickered.
But,the instant his grip slackened , the brat twisted and grabbed his tunic , digging her fingers and toes in.
He let go entirely; she clung like a baby ape to its mother, peering down in horror.
" Let go of me,you little rat!"
" No...MEANIE!"
He could simply disappear into thin, arctic air ,and let her fall.
Yet ,he couldn't help but feel somewhat impressed. By her tenacity,her stubborn refusal to die,her pluckiness and resourcefulness.
Her face reminded him of Nari's.
" If you stay,you will be a thrall. You will work for me,and ONLY ME. "
" Whatever! Put me back ! I don' wanna die !!"
"Nobody does, MORTAL."
" My name is ELSWYTH."
He growled.She was unfazed , staring unnervingly at his very soul.
Skrael flew back inside the castle, cradling the too - lightweight , tired , abused girl in his arms.
*****
" You can sleep here ."
He pointed at the floor .
Elswyth immediately jumped on his bed, rolling over and sighing.
" Soft ."
" Get off!"
" No. I want the bed. YOU take the floor. We can take turns."
" You ungrateful imp! I let you live !"
" So what ?"
He inhaled deeply,shut his eyes and wondered why he hadn't just let her
" go splat ".
A soft ,thickish thing smacked against his face ,and his eyes flew open .
" Did you just throw a pillow-"
Another pillow hit his face .
He glared. She simply giggled .
A lump of frozen water crystals formed in his right hand,and he tossed it . It hit her square in the face, knocking her down . She sat up and squealed," Snow! How did you make SNOW?"
Skrael smirked. " The real question is: Can you dodge it ?"
He flung four more snowballs in rapid succession. Elswyth kept ducking , evading his projectiles.
She picked up her apple and tossed it; he ducked , straightened,and laughed.
" Try again, mort- OW!"
Elswyth jumped at him and sent him falling on his back.
He stared up at her dirty face,her Nari - smile.
" I win!"
" That's CHEATING...and I must say,I'm impressed ."
She giggled . " Can you do more snow magic? Please?"
" CRYOMANCY. "
" Whatever. More winter stuff, please."
He didn't have that unpleasant feeling anymore. He realized he was smiling , smiling from unadulterated happiness.
Elswyth was light as a feather,but her presence had brought the sunshine into his depressing, dusty, crowded room.
Skrael shoved her off, ignoring her indignant "Heyy" and reached for his staff. He generated a small cloud of snowflakes. Elswyth grinned joyfully and reached up to touch them, watching in wonder as they fell.
He was about to offer food,when he heard knocking.
" / Skrael,what are those noises?/"
Oh gods, Bellroc was there.
" Scary,angry one," Elswyth whispered.
" Nothing, Bellroc. I was merely doing some magic .For my own amusement."
Bellroc huffed, and their footsteps faded into silence.
He looked at Elswyth.
" Cookies?"
