Marlot and Jack were lead to separate rooms for their baths, she had never been so happy to be clean, the towels and robes were far nicer than she had expected. On her way back to their room she almost ran into Jack, he was standing in the middle of the hall, the robe wrapped tightly around him but for some reason he was still dripping wet.
“Oh Jack, you look like you did when you came out of the cauldron.” Marlot pulled the towel off her head, allowing her damp black curly hair to fall down her back as she set to work drying off her golem’s face and hair. “Did you enjoy your bath?”
“It was like being in the cauldron again, very wet, but it was much more comfortable.”
They were laughing when one of the maids found them, “miss, there is someone here to see you, she is waiting for you in your room.”
Marlot adjusted the towel so it covered his hair and forehead and smiled at her giggling golem, “are we ready to face someone else today?” His brown eyes were shinning with delight.
“Miss, the girl says that she knows you.”
“Could it be Lilly, I told her we were coming here today?”
“She said she doesn’t like town, they aren’t very nice to her either,” Jack said grinning at the witch.
“Thank you,” Marlot said to the maid, who curtsied then hurried off down the hall.
“I wonder who that man was Lilly wanted the love potion for?” Marlot pushed open the door to their room to see not to see her friend but the girl from the tailor shop sitting on the bed looking very nervous, next to her was a pile of clothes.
“Miss Marlot, Master Jack, I b-brought you something.” She held up the stake of clothing, “it’s to say s-sorry for the way my brother acted, I wish he hadn’t b-been so cruel.”
Marlot stared in wonder at the clothes which included two full outfits for Jack. “These are beautiful, thank you so much. Oh Jack you will look so handsome in these.” the witch handed him an orange tunic and brown breaches, the linen undershirt was extremely well made and Marlot was sure it would withstand any kind of torture Jack could possibly put it through.
While the golem changed behind a screen in the room the girl scuffed her boot on the floor. “I brought s-something for you too Miss Marlot, I made them myself b-but I’m afraid they aren’t as nice as your robes.” Folded neatly on the bed were a white linen shift, a full black skirt, and a dark violet bodice. “I b-believe that the bodice will match your eyes, I th-thought your eyes were black at first but I n-noticed just a touch of violet while we were picking out Master Jack’s clothes and I instantly thought of th-this.”
“It’s beautiful,” Marlot whispered, her fingers tracing the simple embroidery on the hems, “I can’t accept this.”
“P-please Miss Marlot, we aren’t all li-like my brother, we lived in a different v-village when we were very young and his f-friend was kidnapped by their local witch, that is why he acted the way he did, it-it’s nothing against you personally.”
Marlot put her hands on the stuttering girl’s shoulders, “I’m sorry, that isn’t what I meant. These fabrics, and the clothing is just so beautiful, please let me pay you for them, I don’t blame you for anything that happened today and I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“I want you to have them, and Master Jack too.” She beamed at the compliment, and her voice had a bit more confidence in it. Just then Jack walked out from behind the screen.
“I can’t figure out these laces Marlot.” His long fingers were tangled in the thick cord strung through the bottom holes of the tunic, and the V of the shirt’s neckline exposed part of his thin tanned chest.
“Well Jack, I know now that black is not your color dear, it just made you looked washed out. You are a handsome golem I must give you that.” The girl on the bed was blushing as Jack flashed his lopsided smile at her. He fidgeted the whole time while Marlot laced up the tunic which was just a little big on him. “There you go my little scarecrow, all set.”
“Thank you Marlot,” Jack strutted around the room, the robes had made him look pale but they had also hidden the fact that he was so thin, something not so easily disguised while wearing breaches and a tunic.
“Remind me to feed you more darling, you’re as thing as a twig.”
Jack giggled then sat on the bed next to their benefactor. Marlot heard him as he whisper a little to loudly in the girl’s ear “she forgets that I am a twig.” His new friend blushed even more if that was possible and giggled.
“Are you really?” the girl asked. Marlot was watching them in the full length mirror on the wall, the girls eyes were huge as she looked at Jack in surprise.
“Yep, and clay.” He grinned at her.
Marlot rolled her eyes then took her own new clothes behind the screen. The shift and skirt were easy enough to manage but the bodice tied on the sides and the back with a thick black ribbon. “L-let me help you with that.” The girl took the ribbons from Marlot and tightly laced her in. “There a perfect fit.” It was Marlot’s turn to blush now. It had been years since she had worn anything other than her robes and fashions had changed a lot in a hundred years. The girl fussed with the shift and skirt for a moment trying to get them to lie properly. Finally she was satisfied and admired her handy work with a grin. Marlot nervously stepped out from behind the screen.
“What do you think Jack.” She blushed, fidgeting in the well fitted clothing.
Jack’s lopsided smile was all for her now. “Marlot?!”
“Don’t sound so surprised, I can look nice too occasionally.”
“I think you should more often.”
Looking in the mirror she noticed that the rest of her face had turned as red as her broken nose while she attempted to do something with her curling black hair. She used a spell to dry it faster as she ran her fingers through it and another to hold the curls in place, it worked far better than pins that would pull and poke her all night but it wouldn’t last for nearly as long. “Will you join us for dinner miss…?”
“Rosalie. Thank you but no, I need to get home. I hope you like your new things and that you come back.” She smiled and curtsied, then shut the door behind her before Marlot or Jack could say thank you, or good bye.
“What a strange girl, but nice. I like her.”
“Me too Marlot, I feel so fancy.”
“You are fancy Jack.” She reached up, trying to do something with the green hair that fell into her golem’s beautiful brown eyes. “Shall we go then?”
Arm in arm the pair made their way down the stairs to the dining room where they were met by a rather unwelcome sight.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Part 18 In which Jack cares for Marlot
Marlot was drifting in and out of consciousness now that all of the fun was over. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been in so much pain, she didn’t even remember being placed in a bed.
“How long has she been out?” The voice sounded far away.
“For a few minutes, I think the shock got to her.” Is that the shop keeper, she thought.
“Or the pain from this nose.”
“Is Marlot going to be alright?” she wanted to tell Jack that she was fine, but he sounded so very far away.
“I think so, but I hope she really is unconscious because this is going to hurt.”
The witch tried to bite back the scream as her nose was set into place, the sound was almost as nasty as when it had broken. When she opened her eyes it was to look over a handkerchief that Jack was holding very gently to her bleeding face.
“Thank you Jack.” She whispered, she had to admit the pain had decreased slightly now that all parts were back where they belonged.
“The healer fixed it.” The golem nodded to a middle aged man standing to the right of the bed, the kind shop keeper who had rescued them was there too smiling down at her reassuringly.
Marlot heard a knock on the door, “Is she awake, father? I will have the maids draw up a couple of baths now if she can be moved.” There was a stern looking woman in the doorway. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to Miss Marlot, Master Jack.” The little witch was surprised by the warm smile the woman directed at her and she instantly liked the shop keeper’s daughter.
“Thank you, but I believe we should be going home now.” Marlot tried to sit up but Jack was still leaning over her.
“You aren’t going anywhere until you get something to eat miss witch. You lost a lot of blood out there and I doubt you can walk all the way home in your current state.” The healer pushed Jack’s hand out of the way in order to take a closer look at Marlot’s nose. “The bleeding is slowing down; you should be able to get up soon.”
“Thank you Master Healer. But why are you all being so kind? And why do we need baths?”
Samuel the shop keeper knelt beside the bed taking Marlot’s hand. “The bath answer is easy my dear.” He pulled out a new handkerchief and placed it below her nose, they both noticed Jack glaring at him and with a chuckle the man relinquished the cloth to the golem. “You are both covered in dirt and you have quite a bit of blood on you too, so the least we can do is clean you up a bit. As for why we are helping you, well call me an old fool, but I see a lot of good in you miss Marlot and I would rather find myself on a kind witch’s good side than a scared and obviously powerful” he glanced at the golem “witch’s bad side.”
“I’m not sure how powerful I am.”
“Well I’m sure that not just anyone can create a golem on a whim and be successful.”
“How do you know that?”
“I talk to miss Lilly often, she has told me quite a bit about you two. He is quite extraordinary, moving, talking, and playing the hero.” He winked at Jack.
“He’s right Jack.” Marlot smiled up at her creation, “You’re my hero.”
“But Mr. Samuel stopped them from hurting us anymore. I’m not a hero.”
“Your right, he is a hero,” Marlot reached up and brushed a strand of green hair out of the golem’s brown eyes. “But they weren’t going to hurt him, you on the other hand were in great danger. Why didn’t you run Jack?” she blinked back tears, the palm of her hand on his dirty cheek, she had come so close to losing her beloved golem.
“I couldn’t leave you Marlot, you’re my whole world.”
“Because she created you and gave you life?” They all turned to stare at the healer who had moved a bit away while Marlot and Samuel spoke. He sounded so arrogant and looked at Jack with disgust.
“No,” Jack said simply, “because Marlot is my friend and I love her.”
“Nonsense, there must be some spell or enchantment tying you to her, there is no way you can have true feelings.”
Marlot interrupted, “It is entirely possible that there is some spell tying him to me, but I am unaware of its existence and would not have put it in place had I known about it. As for his emotions, it may seem strange but according to the books golems will develop a sense of self, complete with personality and feelings all their own.”
“And how do they develop this sense of self?”
“By observation, he learns extremely quickly.”
Samuel spoke up then, apparently trying to lower the tension in the room, “you have been nothing but kind to him, that must be where he learned that particular trait.”
The healer snorted, “Then where did the hero streak come from?”
“Fairy tales.” Marlot said with a smile.
“How long has she been out?” The voice sounded far away.
“For a few minutes, I think the shock got to her.” Is that the shop keeper, she thought.
“Or the pain from this nose.”
“Is Marlot going to be alright?” she wanted to tell Jack that she was fine, but he sounded so very far away.
“I think so, but I hope she really is unconscious because this is going to hurt.”
The witch tried to bite back the scream as her nose was set into place, the sound was almost as nasty as when it had broken. When she opened her eyes it was to look over a handkerchief that Jack was holding very gently to her bleeding face.
“Thank you Jack.” She whispered, she had to admit the pain had decreased slightly now that all parts were back where they belonged.
“The healer fixed it.” The golem nodded to a middle aged man standing to the right of the bed, the kind shop keeper who had rescued them was there too smiling down at her reassuringly.
Marlot heard a knock on the door, “Is she awake, father? I will have the maids draw up a couple of baths now if she can be moved.” There was a stern looking woman in the doorway. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to Miss Marlot, Master Jack.” The little witch was surprised by the warm smile the woman directed at her and she instantly liked the shop keeper’s daughter.
“Thank you, but I believe we should be going home now.” Marlot tried to sit up but Jack was still leaning over her.
“You aren’t going anywhere until you get something to eat miss witch. You lost a lot of blood out there and I doubt you can walk all the way home in your current state.” The healer pushed Jack’s hand out of the way in order to take a closer look at Marlot’s nose. “The bleeding is slowing down; you should be able to get up soon.”
“Thank you Master Healer. But why are you all being so kind? And why do we need baths?”
Samuel the shop keeper knelt beside the bed taking Marlot’s hand. “The bath answer is easy my dear.” He pulled out a new handkerchief and placed it below her nose, they both noticed Jack glaring at him and with a chuckle the man relinquished the cloth to the golem. “You are both covered in dirt and you have quite a bit of blood on you too, so the least we can do is clean you up a bit. As for why we are helping you, well call me an old fool, but I see a lot of good in you miss Marlot and I would rather find myself on a kind witch’s good side than a scared and obviously powerful” he glanced at the golem “witch’s bad side.”
“I’m not sure how powerful I am.”
“Well I’m sure that not just anyone can create a golem on a whim and be successful.”
“How do you know that?”
“I talk to miss Lilly often, she has told me quite a bit about you two. He is quite extraordinary, moving, talking, and playing the hero.” He winked at Jack.
“He’s right Jack.” Marlot smiled up at her creation, “You’re my hero.”
“But Mr. Samuel stopped them from hurting us anymore. I’m not a hero.”
“Your right, he is a hero,” Marlot reached up and brushed a strand of green hair out of the golem’s brown eyes. “But they weren’t going to hurt him, you on the other hand were in great danger. Why didn’t you run Jack?” she blinked back tears, the palm of her hand on his dirty cheek, she had come so close to losing her beloved golem.
“I couldn’t leave you Marlot, you’re my whole world.”
“Because she created you and gave you life?” They all turned to stare at the healer who had moved a bit away while Marlot and Samuel spoke. He sounded so arrogant and looked at Jack with disgust.
“No,” Jack said simply, “because Marlot is my friend and I love her.”
“Nonsense, there must be some spell or enchantment tying you to her, there is no way you can have true feelings.”
Marlot interrupted, “It is entirely possible that there is some spell tying him to me, but I am unaware of its existence and would not have put it in place had I known about it. As for his emotions, it may seem strange but according to the books golems will develop a sense of self, complete with personality and feelings all their own.”
“And how do they develop this sense of self?”
“By observation, he learns extremely quickly.”
Samuel spoke up then, apparently trying to lower the tension in the room, “you have been nothing but kind to him, that must be where he learned that particular trait.”
The healer snorted, “Then where did the hero streak come from?”
“Fairy tales.” Marlot said with a smile.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Part 17 In which making friends can be a good thing, as long as you don’t actually ‘make’ them
“Please let him go.” Marlot sobbed “Jack hasn’t done anything wrong and simply existing can’t possibly be a crime. Do what you want with me, but please let Jack go.”
“Marlot NO!” the golem shoved off his captors with this impressive strength and ran to her, his arms warping tightly around her, his forehead against hers. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
“Jack, please get away from here.” She didn’t have much conviction behind it, she felt safe in his arms, even when her own were still tied. It felt like an eternity that they were allowed to stand there like that, their tears mixing on their faces. Marlot’s head eventually dropped to her beloved golem’s shoulder and he held her tighter, trying to comfort her in some small way.
“Get back you disgusting creature. How many people had to die for you to be born?” Jack was pried away from her and thrown down into the dirt.
“No one died; even most of the animals used to make him were going to die anyway for one reason or another. The only life I took was the snails.” She cried out when one of the men kicked Jack where he lay as the golem whimpered in fear.
“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!” A man, important by the sound of it, yelled from across the square.
“We are punishing a witch Samuel, even you can’t argue with that.”
“What witch? And what is the crime?”
“This one sir,” Marlot was thrown at the general store owner’s feet, her hands were still tied and so, without the means to break her fall, Marlot landed on her face and felt her nose break. She felt dizzy for a moment as the world turned red and then an intense pain.
“Marlot!” Jack yelled for her from a few feet away and she heard his cries muffled by the ground as well.
“You do not have the authority to treat people like this Eric.”
“She isn’t a person, she is a witch.” He sounded so matter of fact and through her pain Marlot felt no more than an inch tall and she cried harder more because of how much people hated her than for how much pain she was in.
“Being a witch isn’t enough of a reason to be thus treated. I require more of a reason before I pass judgment.”
“This creature, the green haired one you old fool. He isn’t human either. She made him, with bits of animals and what I image the souls of children she has stolen from us.”
“I told you.” Marlot said, turning so that her face was in a puddle of her blood but at least she could breath, “I never killed anyone. Or took any children for that matter.”
“Then what happened to my brother witch.”
“There haven’t been children near the cottage in years and I promise you, if a little boy had shown up I would have brought him straight back here.” It hurt so much to talk, and her broken nose made it difficult even for her to understand what she saying.
“Liar!”
“Marlot never lies.” She saw everyone turn to look at Jack again, even though she could no longer see him herself.
“From what I can tell the only crime this witch is guilty of is going a bit too far with her experiments and creating a sentient life. A crime, I believe, her own kind will be more than willing to punish her for next time they see her. And your brother, Eric, disappeared years ago. In the mean time, I shall assign someone from this village to keep an eye on this witch and her creation until such time as she is faced with a jury of her peers. I believe young Lilly spends a great deal of her time in the forest anyway, I believe she would be the perfect candidate for such a position.”
The men around Marlot and Jack growled their disapproval but none of them actually said anything against the old man, and slowly the crowd broke up. The witch heard her golem jump to his feet and land on top of her. “Jack get off, it hurts.”
“I’m so sorry Marlot,” he was crying again, this time into her hair.
“Where is my hat?”
“Right here miss witch,” Samuel lowered her pointed witches’ hat into her field of vision. “Let’s get you somewhere to clean up shall we. My daughter owns the inn. Jack my boy, if you want your mistress to be healthy again I beg that you get off of her and let her stand.”
Jack continued to cry and saying over and over again, “I’m sorry Marlot.”
“For what dear?”
“For making you come to town, I understand now why you didn’t want to, I don’t ever want to again.”
Marlot saw the old man help Jack to his feet. “I would be very sorry never to see you again Jack. I would offer you my handkerchief but I believe Miss Marlot will require it more.” He then bent down and untied Marlot’s wrists and helped her to her feet. She was woozy from the pain and swayed on the spot. “Can you carry her lad?” She saw Jack nod and then felt his arms around her waist and under her knees as he lifted her off the ground, her arms found their way around his neck and her head his shoulder.
“Marlot NO!” the golem shoved off his captors with this impressive strength and ran to her, his arms warping tightly around her, his forehead against hers. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
“Jack, please get away from here.” She didn’t have much conviction behind it, she felt safe in his arms, even when her own were still tied. It felt like an eternity that they were allowed to stand there like that, their tears mixing on their faces. Marlot’s head eventually dropped to her beloved golem’s shoulder and he held her tighter, trying to comfort her in some small way.
“Get back you disgusting creature. How many people had to die for you to be born?” Jack was pried away from her and thrown down into the dirt.
“No one died; even most of the animals used to make him were going to die anyway for one reason or another. The only life I took was the snails.” She cried out when one of the men kicked Jack where he lay as the golem whimpered in fear.
“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!” A man, important by the sound of it, yelled from across the square.
“We are punishing a witch Samuel, even you can’t argue with that.”
“What witch? And what is the crime?”
“This one sir,” Marlot was thrown at the general store owner’s feet, her hands were still tied and so, without the means to break her fall, Marlot landed on her face and felt her nose break. She felt dizzy for a moment as the world turned red and then an intense pain.
“Marlot!” Jack yelled for her from a few feet away and she heard his cries muffled by the ground as well.
“You do not have the authority to treat people like this Eric.”
“She isn’t a person, she is a witch.” He sounded so matter of fact and through her pain Marlot felt no more than an inch tall and she cried harder more because of how much people hated her than for how much pain she was in.
“Being a witch isn’t enough of a reason to be thus treated. I require more of a reason before I pass judgment.”
“This creature, the green haired one you old fool. He isn’t human either. She made him, with bits of animals and what I image the souls of children she has stolen from us.”
“I told you.” Marlot said, turning so that her face was in a puddle of her blood but at least she could breath, “I never killed anyone. Or took any children for that matter.”
“Then what happened to my brother witch.”
“There haven’t been children near the cottage in years and I promise you, if a little boy had shown up I would have brought him straight back here.” It hurt so much to talk, and her broken nose made it difficult even for her to understand what she saying.
“Liar!”
“Marlot never lies.” She saw everyone turn to look at Jack again, even though she could no longer see him herself.
“From what I can tell the only crime this witch is guilty of is going a bit too far with her experiments and creating a sentient life. A crime, I believe, her own kind will be more than willing to punish her for next time they see her. And your brother, Eric, disappeared years ago. In the mean time, I shall assign someone from this village to keep an eye on this witch and her creation until such time as she is faced with a jury of her peers. I believe young Lilly spends a great deal of her time in the forest anyway, I believe she would be the perfect candidate for such a position.”
The men around Marlot and Jack growled their disapproval but none of them actually said anything against the old man, and slowly the crowd broke up. The witch heard her golem jump to his feet and land on top of her. “Jack get off, it hurts.”
“I’m so sorry Marlot,” he was crying again, this time into her hair.
“Where is my hat?”
“Right here miss witch,” Samuel lowered her pointed witches’ hat into her field of vision. “Let’s get you somewhere to clean up shall we. My daughter owns the inn. Jack my boy, if you want your mistress to be healthy again I beg that you get off of her and let her stand.”
Jack continued to cry and saying over and over again, “I’m sorry Marlot.”
“For what dear?”
“For making you come to town, I understand now why you didn’t want to, I don’t ever want to again.”
Marlot saw the old man help Jack to his feet. “I would be very sorry never to see you again Jack. I would offer you my handkerchief but I believe Miss Marlot will require it more.” He then bent down and untied Marlot’s wrists and helped her to her feet. She was woozy from the pain and swayed on the spot. “Can you carry her lad?” She saw Jack nod and then felt his arms around her waist and under her knees as he lifted her off the ground, her arms found their way around his neck and her head his shoulder.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Part 16 In which being a witch can be dangerous
Jack carried the empty baskets, “Where are we going next Marlot?”
“I think the tailor would be best, that way we can get your clothes, then maybe some more books before we go home.”
“More fairy tales? Oh thank you Marlot!” He hugged her, with baskets and all right in the middle of the street, almost tripping them both.
“You’re welcome Jack, now let go.”
The laughed their way into the tailor’s shop, Jack struggling to get the baskets through the door to the small over packed shop and eventually Marlot suggested that he leave them outside.
“Can I help you?” A girl asked timidly from behind the counter.
Marlot laid the bag of silver coins on the counter, “I would like to buy some clothes for him, my…apprentice needs something to wear other than those robes,” she leaned forward as though telling the girl a secret, “he is kind of clumsy.” Marlot smiled at the girl, who seemed to lighten up a little and returned Marlot’s smile with a little one of her own.
“I’m sure we can find something. What exactly did you have in mind?”
The girl took Jack’s measurements and then led Marlot over to a table that held shirts, tunics, and breaches that might fit him.
“Marlot, Marlot, Marlot! Look at this!” the witch turned around to see Jack wearing a bonnet and she bent over with laughter.
“Jack, that is for girls, you can’t wear it.”
“But why not, it’s pretty.”
“Yes it is very pretty, but,” she pulled it off of his head “It covers up your equally pretty green hair.”
“I thought you didn’t like my hair.”
“Dear, there is precious little not to like about you, now come here, I want you to try something on.” She took his hand and started to lead him back over to the timid girl but her arm jerked when he didn’t move. “Jack, why aren’t you coming?” she had meant it when she had told him that he wasn’t her servant but he had never actually defied her before. Marlot turned around to see a very large man grasping Jack’s upper arm rather tightly and she heard her golem whimper slightly. “What is the meaning of this?” she glared at the man who was studying Jack very closely.
“I know you aren’t human witch, but what is this creature?”
“He is my apprentice sir, and I ask that you release him.”
“Green hair isn’t natural in these parts hag, what is he really.”
“Don’t talk to Marlot like that; she is too young to be a hag.”
“Thank you Jack, but stay out of this. Sir, all you need to know is that he is under my care and that I ask that you release him at once.”
“You made him didn’t you? Isn’t that illegal to create life?”
“Women have children every day sir; I don’t see anyone trying to take their children away.”
“So you admit, you created this creature. I have been watching both of you since you arrived. You on one hand have been acting as an unwanted witch should, but your pet here, he has been acting like he has never seen a village before, or a little girl’s bonnet.” The man held the offending garment in his other hand and looked at it in disgust.
“He didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and led a very sheltered life.”
“For what, the past few weeks. I know everyone who comes and goes through this general area, and I’m sure I would have heard of a green haired man.”
“What do you want with us?”
“I want you to be punished for your crimes.” Marlot was grabbed from behind by two men who must have been standing just outside the door. She knew better than to expose her back to danger, something every witch must learn, but Jack had made her feel so comfortable and safe, that even when faced with such a situation she hadn’t been as careful as she usually would.
“Let go of me!” Marlot and Jack were dragged out of the shop, her short legs barely touching the ground as the large men practically carried her outside. “Jack! Jack, get away from them, run!”
“Not now missy, be quite.” One of the men shook her roughly.
“Marlot, what is going on?” the golem asked from somewhere behind her.
“Jack, please,” Marlot felt the tears running down her checks before she even realized she was crying, “Run, get away from them and RUN!” Marlot was lifted off of her feet by the man from the tailor shop, his face inches from her own. She turned her head away to see Jack held from behind by a different man and one behind her was tying her hands together.
“You won’t get away this time little witch.”
“Please just let him go, he hasn’t done anything wrong!” Marlot struggled in the man’s arms but it did little good, she was like a twig in his giant hands. She heard Jack sobbing behind her.
Once her hands were tied she was sat back on her feet, she could just see Jack through her tears and they stared at each other like they would never see the other one again.
“I think the tailor would be best, that way we can get your clothes, then maybe some more books before we go home.”
“More fairy tales? Oh thank you Marlot!” He hugged her, with baskets and all right in the middle of the street, almost tripping them both.
“You’re welcome Jack, now let go.”
The laughed their way into the tailor’s shop, Jack struggling to get the baskets through the door to the small over packed shop and eventually Marlot suggested that he leave them outside.
“Can I help you?” A girl asked timidly from behind the counter.
Marlot laid the bag of silver coins on the counter, “I would like to buy some clothes for him, my…apprentice needs something to wear other than those robes,” she leaned forward as though telling the girl a secret, “he is kind of clumsy.” Marlot smiled at the girl, who seemed to lighten up a little and returned Marlot’s smile with a little one of her own.
“I’m sure we can find something. What exactly did you have in mind?”
The girl took Jack’s measurements and then led Marlot over to a table that held shirts, tunics, and breaches that might fit him.
“Marlot, Marlot, Marlot! Look at this!” the witch turned around to see Jack wearing a bonnet and she bent over with laughter.
“Jack, that is for girls, you can’t wear it.”
“But why not, it’s pretty.”
“Yes it is very pretty, but,” she pulled it off of his head “It covers up your equally pretty green hair.”
“I thought you didn’t like my hair.”
“Dear, there is precious little not to like about you, now come here, I want you to try something on.” She took his hand and started to lead him back over to the timid girl but her arm jerked when he didn’t move. “Jack, why aren’t you coming?” she had meant it when she had told him that he wasn’t her servant but he had never actually defied her before. Marlot turned around to see a very large man grasping Jack’s upper arm rather tightly and she heard her golem whimper slightly. “What is the meaning of this?” she glared at the man who was studying Jack very closely.
“I know you aren’t human witch, but what is this creature?”
“He is my apprentice sir, and I ask that you release him.”
“Green hair isn’t natural in these parts hag, what is he really.”
“Don’t talk to Marlot like that; she is too young to be a hag.”
“Thank you Jack, but stay out of this. Sir, all you need to know is that he is under my care and that I ask that you release him at once.”
“You made him didn’t you? Isn’t that illegal to create life?”
“Women have children every day sir; I don’t see anyone trying to take their children away.”
“So you admit, you created this creature. I have been watching both of you since you arrived. You on one hand have been acting as an unwanted witch should, but your pet here, he has been acting like he has never seen a village before, or a little girl’s bonnet.” The man held the offending garment in his other hand and looked at it in disgust.
“He didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and led a very sheltered life.”
“For what, the past few weeks. I know everyone who comes and goes through this general area, and I’m sure I would have heard of a green haired man.”
“What do you want with us?”
“I want you to be punished for your crimes.” Marlot was grabbed from behind by two men who must have been standing just outside the door. She knew better than to expose her back to danger, something every witch must learn, but Jack had made her feel so comfortable and safe, that even when faced with such a situation she hadn’t been as careful as she usually would.
“Let go of me!” Marlot and Jack were dragged out of the shop, her short legs barely touching the ground as the large men practically carried her outside. “Jack! Jack, get away from them, run!”
“Not now missy, be quite.” One of the men shook her roughly.
“Marlot, what is going on?” the golem asked from somewhere behind her.
“Jack, please,” Marlot felt the tears running down her checks before she even realized she was crying, “Run, get away from them and RUN!” Marlot was lifted off of her feet by the man from the tailor shop, his face inches from her own. She turned her head away to see Jack held from behind by a different man and one behind her was tying her hands together.
“You won’t get away this time little witch.”
“Please just let him go, he hasn’t done anything wrong!” Marlot struggled in the man’s arms but it did little good, she was like a twig in his giant hands. She heard Jack sobbing behind her.
Once her hands were tied she was sat back on her feet, she could just see Jack through her tears and they stared at each other like they would never see the other one again.
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