On the Road

[Sundae]

One half of a dialogue.

Hullo hullo, well met in these treacherous times!
Can I sit by your fire a bit, shake the dust from my cloak?

Ah yes, you’re obviously a well travelled man - I am indeed a ‘Caster.
Probably the very cloak gave it away.

Oh yes, well spotted again. He is an Unnatural Cat.

Not all that good company as it happens.
Too pickity with what he eats and lets me know all about it.
Of course he doesn’t have to eat - it’s me that suffers on the road, living off what the hedgerows offer and having his voice going off in my head all day about meat and meat and meat, and him all elegant planes and angles by choice and me tugging up my trowsis after another night of nuts and berries and cold comfort.
And look at me rambling on! I’m sure you have your own troubles…

Bandits on the road ahead of us is it? Shocking, shocking.

Oh sir, thank you! Yes of course I’ll lay a protection on you for a bite of sup!

No ‘Casting til morning though, heh heh, not til morning.
No offence meant but these are treacherous times and many a ‘Caster’s not woken up after offering his skills too early in the evening if you get my drift.
I’ll get the SpellCaster ™ out after supper and you can run through the index see what you fancy.
No bandits where we come from though.

Lots of spells, oh yes indeed.
I’ve only been on the road this last moon, so no need to restock yet.
It takes a rare old time to reload though, that’s what the average farmer in his den doesn’t realise.
It’s got no power of its own - that all comes from me.

And the Cat.

It’s just a way of storing the preparation, see. Then all it takes is a trigger and the ‘Cast is made.

I see the vegetable stew is done, and what a lovely meal we shall have together.
We are well served by your company my good man.

Of course, I’m happy to tell you all about the road behind me if that’s your wish, sir.
You go where we’ve come from, no reason not to.

No charge for that, oh no! No reason not to warn a fellow traveller.
Not in these treacherous times.

You’ve heard the saying, “Three times the charm” haven’t you sir?
No? I take it by your silence and glazed expression that you have not.
More’s the pity, eh? You might listen more closely when you sit down with a ‘Caster next time.
He might ramble on in his talk, but you gotta watch for those triggers.
Excepting there won’t be a next time for you of course. Heh heh heh.
Come ‘ere Cat. Told you we’d dine well tonight didn’t I?
Oi! Get off his fingers, he’s not even cold yet!

Ah sir, times is hard.

[HungLikeJesus]

I don't know how I missed this. It's quite good, and not too long.

(The Cellar, I've found, is not always the best place to post literary works. The light is poor and things sometimes get overlooked.)

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't think I'll go to bed just yet.