Part 14 In which Jack always gets his way

Players:

Marlot
A witch with a good heart

Jinx
A lazy cat

Jack
A golem unlike any other


Marlot was finally able to use the window seat and look out at the garden, thanks to Jack and his amazing organizing skills. The seat had been covered in books, quills, and random potion ingredients almost as soon as she had moved in, this window was one of the reasons she had bought the cabin and she wondered why she had wasted it all of these years. Jinx was sleeping upside down next to her and she absently scratched the soft black fur of his chest and chin.

“What are you looking at Marlot?”

“Fall.”

“What!” Jack all but pushed Marlot off of the seat as he forced himself in front of the window, “What is falling? Why?” Jinx jumped off the seat with a hiss and ran out of the room.

Marlot laughed and rolled the rest of the way to the floor, “Well me now you silly golem, but I didn’t mean anything was falling, I meant that I was looking at fall, the season, autumn. It is when all the trees turn pretty colors and then the leaves fall off, you see how big the pumpkins are getting,” she snuggled up next to Jack and pointed out the window at the pile of bright orange pumpkins, “and that is why we have been eating so many apples. Which reminds me, I really need to do something with that bushel of apples you picked yesterday before they go bad.”

“Fall, interesting, is it the only season?”

“There are four, in the fall the leaves die and fall off the trees, then in winder snow falls and the whole world is covered in a blanket of white. Then all of that melts, the temperature starts to rise, the trees are covered in bright green buds and beautiful flowers grow throughout the forest. And then the heat of summer comes with fresh vegetables and long sunny days.”

“It sounds wonderful.”

“I’ve really never thought about it, but it really does. You make me see things in a different way Jack.”

“You seem happy.”

“I am, thank you.”

“So about the apples, what are you going to do with them?”

“Probably send them home with Lilly next time she stops by, she can probably find a use for them, or sell them in town.”

Jack grabbed Marlot’s shoulders and started bouncing in the seat. “Can we go to town and sell them, please Marlot.”

“Jack, they hate me there.”

“What is hate, I thought everyone liked you, I like you.” He grinned his lopsided smile, his hands still on her shoulders.”

“They believe the stories, the bad ones, about witches and how they eat children, or cast evil spells on unsuspecting villagers.”

“I haven’t read those stories.” He looked confused, his head tilted to one side.

“That is because I didn’t want you to think of me like that, I like how you are so innocent, and happy, and act like I am the most wonderful person you have ever met.”

“Then let me meet more,” his hands had moved from her shoulders to her own and held them tightly, “I will prove that you are the most wonderful person I have ever met. I didn’t tell you but I have been reading about golems too, about how they are often used as slaves, or for those nasty tasks humans don’t want to do. That we are replaceable and don’t matter. But you have never treated me like that, the book says that a golem’s personality is formed by what the witch wants, feels, and has planned for their golem. That they are usually rather dull, obedient, and uninteresting.”

“And you are clever, curious, and amazing.”

“I love you Marlot.”

“Aw Jack, I love you too. You’re the best friend I have ever had. But where did you learn about love?”

He leaned in close, a mischievous gleam in his mud brown eyes, “fairy tales.”

Marlot laughed, “of course, I knew those books would be trouble.”

“So can we go to the village?”

“Jack…”

“Please Marlot, I want them to know you aren’t all bad, and I want to meet more people.”

“I can’t say no to you Jack, fine.” She tapped the end of his nose with one of her fingers. “But you have to promise to be good.”