Post by Yva on Jul 31, 2006 11:53:46 GMT -5
Azka balanced her great granddaughter on her knee, wrapping her spotted hands around the little girl’s waist.
“An’ then, your Gumpy went into a place called Scholomance an’ he got some big hefty guys to get a jar.”
“Scholomance?” The girl said through a mouthful of lollipop.
“Uh huh. S’a place up in the ol’ Plaguelands. School with . . . buncha angry folk in it. Tore it down some time ago, but it used to be a little piece of hell, I’ll tell ya.”
“An’ Gumpy went there?”
“Course he did! Me an’ all the Riders did. Lotsa times. We weren’t always old ya know!” Azka laughed, hugging the child to her chest. She kissed the girl’s red head, a bit wistful for the days when her own hair shined a deep bronze. Now, it was as gray as the sands of Darnassus, but there was no shame in that. “So Gumpy went into Scholo an he got this HUUUGE jar. S’bigger an’ taller than even your Da. He brought it back ta the Pig. He put the official in it, an’ sent his dog ta take the official’s place so no one would know the difference. Ain’t it brilliant!”
Paige’s eyes widened. “A dog?”
“Uh huh! Flaffy wasn’t a normal dog ya know. He changed shape. Magic dog.”
“You’re lyin!”
Azka gasped, putting a liver spotted hand to her forehead. “S’not true! I wouldn’t lie to my Paige! Flaffy was a magic dog!”
They shared a laugh before the child climbed from Azka’s lap, darting off to seek her brothers outside. Azka watched her go, a smile softening her mouth. Kids screeched from the yard, playing tag and mock fighting. It was a merry chaos, as it had been for over fifty years. Azka’s own surviving children were there, speaking to their offspring - and in some cases - their offspring’s offspring. The in-laws and cousins and friends had gathered to celebrate a fine summer day, with a roasted boar, sweetpies, fresh fruits and salads.
It was, all in all, perfect.
She stood from her rocking chair, peering out the window at the gathering below. Thantrus sat among his brood, napping in a lawn chair. His hat flopped over his face, and his ears poked out from the sides, twitching at the summer breeze rustling his hair. Azka’s nose crinkled as she smiled, and then she felt the sneeze coming. She grabbed her handkerchief and tossed a ward up, ready for the blast.
ACHOOOO!
She blinked her eyes, complete shock on her face. There’d been no flame. No . . . nothing. For the first time in her seventy-seven years, her house had been safe from her sneeze.
“Well I’ll be,” she murmured, opening her palm to stare at the blackened sigil. It had faded over the years, now more of a dull gray than the brilliant ebony of decades before. “S’a matter with you?” She opened herself to her magic, waiting for the flow of power as she turned towards the hearth. She waved her fingers, ordering fire to lick at the kindling, but . . .
There was nothing. The fire did not answer.
Her brow furrowed. She tottered towards the desk in the corner, rubbing her aching back all the while. She wouldn’t wake Thantrus mid-nap, but she wanted to tell him something was wrong, and gods knew her memory wasn’t what it used to be. She had notes pinned to everything stationary in the house so she wouldn’t become addled.
Babe –
Strangest thing happened today. The fire didn’t come when I wanted it to. Seems the flame has left. Not sure what it means, but you’ll figure it through.
All my love,
A
She folded it once, putting it beside the door so he wouldn’t miss it. Her shoulders drooped as she stifled a yawn against her shoulder. Maybe Thantrus had the right of it, taking his nap. Keeping up with the army of young people was exhausting on a time worn body.
Her fingers toyed with the bell around her neck as she slipped back into her rocking chair, dragging a blanket across her lap. She closed her brilliant blue eyes, letting the children’s laughter lull her into a deep sleep.
*****
It was Paige who found her hours later. Azka’s head was tilted to the side, her mouth curled in a smile. The child was too young to understand why her great grandmother wouldn’t wake up, but she knew it couldn’t be good for the fire to blaze quite that strongly in the hearth.
“An’ then, your Gumpy went into a place called Scholomance an’ he got some big hefty guys to get a jar.”
“Scholomance?” The girl said through a mouthful of lollipop.
“Uh huh. S’a place up in the ol’ Plaguelands. School with . . . buncha angry folk in it. Tore it down some time ago, but it used to be a little piece of hell, I’ll tell ya.”
“An’ Gumpy went there?”
“Course he did! Me an’ all the Riders did. Lotsa times. We weren’t always old ya know!” Azka laughed, hugging the child to her chest. She kissed the girl’s red head, a bit wistful for the days when her own hair shined a deep bronze. Now, it was as gray as the sands of Darnassus, but there was no shame in that. “So Gumpy went into Scholo an he got this HUUUGE jar. S’bigger an’ taller than even your Da. He brought it back ta the Pig. He put the official in it, an’ sent his dog ta take the official’s place so no one would know the difference. Ain’t it brilliant!”
Paige’s eyes widened. “A dog?”
“Uh huh! Flaffy wasn’t a normal dog ya know. He changed shape. Magic dog.”
“You’re lyin!”
Azka gasped, putting a liver spotted hand to her forehead. “S’not true! I wouldn’t lie to my Paige! Flaffy was a magic dog!”
They shared a laugh before the child climbed from Azka’s lap, darting off to seek her brothers outside. Azka watched her go, a smile softening her mouth. Kids screeched from the yard, playing tag and mock fighting. It was a merry chaos, as it had been for over fifty years. Azka’s own surviving children were there, speaking to their offspring - and in some cases - their offspring’s offspring. The in-laws and cousins and friends had gathered to celebrate a fine summer day, with a roasted boar, sweetpies, fresh fruits and salads.
It was, all in all, perfect.
She stood from her rocking chair, peering out the window at the gathering below. Thantrus sat among his brood, napping in a lawn chair. His hat flopped over his face, and his ears poked out from the sides, twitching at the summer breeze rustling his hair. Azka’s nose crinkled as she smiled, and then she felt the sneeze coming. She grabbed her handkerchief and tossed a ward up, ready for the blast.
ACHOOOO!
She blinked her eyes, complete shock on her face. There’d been no flame. No . . . nothing. For the first time in her seventy-seven years, her house had been safe from her sneeze.
“Well I’ll be,” she murmured, opening her palm to stare at the blackened sigil. It had faded over the years, now more of a dull gray than the brilliant ebony of decades before. “S’a matter with you?” She opened herself to her magic, waiting for the flow of power as she turned towards the hearth. She waved her fingers, ordering fire to lick at the kindling, but . . .
There was nothing. The fire did not answer.
Her brow furrowed. She tottered towards the desk in the corner, rubbing her aching back all the while. She wouldn’t wake Thantrus mid-nap, but she wanted to tell him something was wrong, and gods knew her memory wasn’t what it used to be. She had notes pinned to everything stationary in the house so she wouldn’t become addled.
Babe –
Strangest thing happened today. The fire didn’t come when I wanted it to. Seems the flame has left. Not sure what it means, but you’ll figure it through.
All my love,
A
She folded it once, putting it beside the door so he wouldn’t miss it. Her shoulders drooped as she stifled a yawn against her shoulder. Maybe Thantrus had the right of it, taking his nap. Keeping up with the army of young people was exhausting on a time worn body.
Her fingers toyed with the bell around her neck as she slipped back into her rocking chair, dragging a blanket across her lap. She closed her brilliant blue eyes, letting the children’s laughter lull her into a deep sleep.
*****
It was Paige who found her hours later. Azka’s head was tilted to the side, her mouth curled in a smile. The child was too young to understand why her great grandmother wouldn’t wake up, but she knew it couldn’t be good for the fire to blaze quite that strongly in the hearth.
Dammit Yva.. you wrote this just to spite me, I know it!))