WEBVTT 00:00:04.470 --> 00:00:17.910 One more short story. Hello and welcome to episode 00:00:17.910 --> 00:00:22.030 6 of One More Short Story with me, Chris Fullwell, 00:00:22.149 --> 00:00:25.190 where we celebrate a variety of stories from 00:00:25.190 --> 00:00:28.170 the world of writing battle. Looking forward 00:00:28.170 --> 00:00:32.170 to sharing these stories with you today. we are 00:00:32.170 --> 00:00:35.850 going to start having episodes themed by class 00:00:35.850 --> 00:00:40.689 now i'm not talking about you know titanic first 00:00:40.689 --> 00:00:44.729 class steerage women and children no not that 00:00:44.729 --> 00:00:46.750 not that sort of class get that thought out of 00:00:46.750 --> 00:00:50.670 your head no if you are involved in the current 00:00:50.670 --> 00:00:53.090 shenanigans on writing battle you'll know that 00:00:53.090 --> 00:00:55.509 people get to choose a class before they start 00:00:55.509 --> 00:00:58.310 any given contest and they're all sort of dungeons 00:00:58.310 --> 00:01:02.719 and dragons based so You might be a warlock if 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:04.620 you're into horror or other grisly stuff. Or 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:09.040 you might be a bard if you prefer more humorous 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:13.019 stuff. Or you might, like me, just choose the 00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:15.400 fighter class because anything goes and you want 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.120 to see what comes your way. Now the reason I'm 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:21.000 saying this is because this is the first of the 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:25.280 episodes with one of those class names attached 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.829 to them. This is going to be the wizard. episode 00:01:29.829 --> 00:01:35.670 and that is the world of fantasy uh no that's 00:01:35.670 --> 00:01:38.010 not the kind of fantasy where you end up in a 00:01:38.010 --> 00:01:42.450 bath covered in baked beans listening to classical 00:01:42.450 --> 00:01:45.530 music or you know any other fantasy somebody 00:01:45.530 --> 00:01:49.310 might have in theory uh no two wonderful fantasy 00:01:49.310 --> 00:01:53.310 stories kicking things off with ever bright ever 00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:58.310 faithful by grace kwan and her prompts were fantasy 00:01:59.230 --> 00:02:03.069 Mercenary and Helmet. Now, all I'm going to tell 00:02:03.069 --> 00:02:06.250 you about this one is it's written from the perspective 00:02:06.250 --> 00:02:10.930 of the helmet itself. And well, I don't want 00:02:10.930 --> 00:02:13.009 to say any more. I really, really enjoy this 00:02:13.009 --> 00:02:15.469 one. And I know you will as well. It is read 00:02:15.469 --> 00:02:18.969 by the inimitable Sam James. His accent suits 00:02:18.969 --> 00:02:22.509 this story perfectly. And here we go. This is 00:02:22.509 --> 00:02:25.990 Ever Bright, Ever Faithful by Grace Kwan, narrated 00:02:25.990 --> 00:02:30.449 by Sam James. With the last of his strength, 00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:33.770 the dwarven smith Andrathath laid the helmet 00:02:33.770 --> 00:02:38.990 in front of the elven queen. The silver dragon 00:02:38.990 --> 00:02:43.289 on the crest, wings spread, glimmered in the 00:02:43.289 --> 00:02:48.469 torchlight. Its name is Everprate, a faithful 00:02:48.469 --> 00:02:52.889 companion to the Deledra family forevermore, 00:02:53.150 --> 00:02:58.439 he whispered. Its wearer. shall have the strength 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:03.240 of mountains the speed of lightning and the counsel 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:09.960 of a true friend oh i was full of piss and vinegar 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:14.020 right out of the forge hadn't the greatest weaponsmith 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:17.139 of the ages sacrificed himself in my creation 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:20.659 and the ceremony where the queen presented me 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:24.370 to her son in front of our troops Well, that 00:03:24.370 --> 00:03:29.030 was stir -the -blood -and -soul stuff. The banners 00:03:29.030 --> 00:03:31.750 of the houses snapping in the wind, the armour 00:03:31.750 --> 00:03:35.129 so bright you couldn't look at us without squinting. 00:03:35.830 --> 00:03:39.090 It didn't matter if you were the lad whose spear 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:42.610 looked like a hastily repurposed hoe, or the 00:03:42.610 --> 00:03:45.669 one -eyed sergeant who looked like he'd had a 00:03:45.669 --> 00:03:49.389 few too many pints at breakfast. By the time 00:03:49.389 --> 00:03:53.199 the trumpets sounded to send us on our way, Every 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:58.080 soldier standing could imagine being the hero 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:02.520 who would single -handedly take Oxeno's head 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:08.280 off his shoulders. The Dark Lord threw his minions 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:12.419 and creatures at us as we marched, but he might 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:15.159 as well have tossed pebbles in the water to halt 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:20.019 the tide. The young prince was unstoppable in 00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:23.519 combat with me on his head. And our troops fought 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:27.839 all the harder for it. He was everywhere on the 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:31.939 battlefield. Neither armour nor dragon hide could 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:36.000 withstand his sword. And I watched over him, 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:40.759 whispering counsel and warnings in his ear. Soon 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:44.779 enough, we massed outside Oxerno's black walls. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:49.420 Before our final assault, the young prince tucked 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:52.779 me. under his arm and galloped his stallion back 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:56.839 and forth in front of the lines. His long blonde 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:00.680 hair streamed behind him as he saluted the troops. 00:05:01.420 --> 00:05:05.759 He was bloody magnificent, the only child of 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:12.160 the queen, the star of the Taledra dynasty. Although 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:16.519 he was getting too close to the ramparts, Highness, 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:20.920 your... Then I remembered my maker's words. The 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:25.379 magic in me was for my wearer, not my carrier. 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:31.019 I couldn't warn the prince. I couldn't speed 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:34.339 him away. I couldn't even stand between his skull 00:05:34.339 --> 00:05:38.139 and the arrow fired by a sharp -eyed archer on 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:43.519 the wall. Two armies watched in stunned silence 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:48.149 as the prince crumpled. When his body hit the 00:05:48.149 --> 00:05:51.009 ground, jeers exploded from the battlements. 00:05:52.069 --> 00:05:54.930 But at least his general had the presence of 00:05:54.930 --> 00:05:59.829 mind to race out for me. When he jammed me on 00:05:59.829 --> 00:06:02.990 his head, I swore we would make them all pay. 00:06:04.829 --> 00:06:10.470 Except nothing happened. There was no connection 00:06:10.470 --> 00:06:14.670 between us. When Andrathath said I would be a 00:06:14.670 --> 00:06:17.550 companion to the royal family, apparently he 00:06:17.550 --> 00:06:23.170 meant only the royal family. He'd woven a ward 00:06:23.170 --> 00:06:27.670 through me to ensure that. Maybe he was a pessimist 00:06:27.670 --> 00:06:32.050 who meant it as a safeguard. Maybe he was just 00:06:32.050 --> 00:06:36.709 a literal -minded bastard. Either way, everything 00:06:36.709 --> 00:06:42.050 went to shit after that. Once Oxiano's army had 00:06:42.050 --> 00:06:44.949 finished wiping the battlefield with us, I became 00:06:44.949 --> 00:06:49.129 a prized piece of plunder. I was too small for 00:06:49.129 --> 00:06:52.350 an ork head, but the abominations thought it 00:06:52.350 --> 00:06:57.829 a great laugh to use me as a bowl. At first, 00:06:57.889 --> 00:07:02.009 I bristled at the indignity, plotted and schemed 00:07:02.009 --> 00:07:06.069 at revenge. But without a royal elf head under 00:07:06.069 --> 00:07:11.860 me... I couldn't even be heard. I was no better 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:16.439 than the lowliest grunt's helmet. When I heard 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:20.079 of the queen's death, what was left of my pride 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:25.819 fled like the coward that it was. The only mercy 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:29.240 was that as my luster dulled and dents accumulated, 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.439 the orcs lost interest, and I became just another 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:39.209 bowl amongst others. in the baggage wagons. An 00:07:39.209 --> 00:07:42.930 eternity of silence and meaninglessness stretched 00:07:42.930 --> 00:07:48.769 out ahead of me. All I could hope was that someday 00:07:48.769 --> 00:07:55.050 someone might melt and unmake me. In the meantime, 00:07:55.350 --> 00:07:58.310 being forgotten was the best I could ask for. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:03.360 Just my bloody luck, then, that an enterprising 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.519 goblin sellsword spotted me at supper one night 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:08.879 and snagged me to replace his leather helmet. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:13.319 When he plunked me down on his greasy hair, I 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.660 developed a sudden gratitude for Andrathath's 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:20.079 ward. Although the stench of unwashed goblin 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:24.180 would have turned my stomach if I had one. I 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:27.500 should have known, no matter how bad things were. 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.720 Life could always laugh and lovingly give you 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:36.639 another punch in the face. Instead of only hearing 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.879 about Auxerre's triumphs, I was now forced to 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:45.279 participate in them. The Goblin's Company hunted 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:49.100 the last remnants of opposition and terrorised 00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:51.919 the villages that harboured rebels or failed 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:56.360 to pay their ever -increasing taxes. And I watched 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:00.490 them do it. Protected his loathsome head while 00:09:00.490 --> 00:09:04.110 he murdered and tortured his way through our 00:09:04.110 --> 00:09:09.710 once free lands. But the arsehole's success turned 00:09:09.710 --> 00:09:14.110 into my eventual deliverance. He grew rich enough 00:09:14.110 --> 00:09:18.289 to retire. Although instead of stowing me in 00:09:18.289 --> 00:09:22.429 a storage chest like I hoped, he put me on display 00:09:22.429 --> 00:09:28.360 in his great hall. God's dammit. It was even 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:33.759 more humiliating than being an orc bull. When 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.179 his old lieutenant dropped by on his way through 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:40.159 to his next slaughter, they stood in front of 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:44.500 me reminiscing. Got me through the walls indeed. 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:51.480 The goblin patted me. I... His eyes widened and 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:54.500 his jaw dropped. because of the throwing axe 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:57.379 that was now embedded in his forehead, or the 00:09:57.379 --> 00:10:01.919 arrow in his friend's throat, I assumed. He should 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.519 have learnt from the prince. When push comes 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:08.299 to shove, a helmet on the head is worth two hundred 00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:13.620 in the bush. One of the intruders, a dwarf, picked 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:19.080 me up. Bit old, but well crafted, he said to 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:22.840 their leader. Good. We need all the arms we can 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:27.200 get. She took off her own helmet, and recognition 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:32.360 flared through me. The young prince's and the 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.980 queen's features were redrawn on the woman's 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:40.120 face. On second glance, however, the resemblance 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:43.840 wasn't as strong, and it didn't take long to 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:51.100 realise why. She was half human. For a moment 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:54.779 I wondered how this could be, but then I remembered 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:59.740 what was most important. A twig of the Taledra 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:04.779 family tree had survived. A faint hope sparked 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:09.480 in me almost too painful to acknowledge. But 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:12.600 she had already turned away to consult with the 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:15.220 archer, who was extricating his arrow from the 00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:19.019 lieutenant. I searched for something, anything. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:22.320 that could bring her attention back. I could 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:26.500 not fail my kingdom again. I screamed a silent 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:31.360 scream unheard by all. Why the hell had my maker 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.340 bound me to the royal family? A thought struck. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:41.279 Andrathath, you glorious bastard. I found the 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.679 link he'd forged between me and the Teledras, 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:49.120 and, whispering a prayer to all the gods, I pulled. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:53.440 The woman paused, confusion crossing her face. 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:58.779 Did you say something? she asked the dwarf. Not 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:02.159 me, he grunted. He was ransacking the goblin's 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:06.179 desk, tossing things onto the floor. She spun 00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:10.399 in a slow half -circle, looking round. Then her 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:16.500 gaze fell on me, and her forehead creased. It 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:20.490 had worked. If I had legs, I could have danced 00:12:20.490 --> 00:12:24.490 a jig on the spot. Of course, if I had legs, 00:12:24.570 --> 00:12:27.350 I could have done a lot of other things differently 00:12:27.350 --> 00:12:32.289 over the years. She picked me up and rubbed the 00:12:32.289 --> 00:12:38.309 stump where the dragon once stood. It seems familiar. 00:12:39.190 --> 00:12:44.049 This was it. I poured everything I had left into 00:12:44.049 --> 00:12:47.230 that fragile connection, willing her to put me 00:12:47.230 --> 00:12:53.190 on. Please. As if in a trance, she lifted me 00:12:53.190 --> 00:12:57.269 onto her head and we were joined. Her shock vibrated 00:12:57.269 --> 00:13:01.269 in me. Everbright, we thought you were lost to 00:13:01.269 --> 00:13:05.590 us. I thought the same, but we found each other. 00:13:06.629 --> 00:13:10.870 Gods, was I getting sentimental? Although, you 00:13:10.870 --> 00:13:14.730 could have been quicker about it. She choked 00:13:14.730 --> 00:13:17.110 out a laugh, as if she'd forgotten how to do 00:13:17.110 --> 00:13:21.279 it. My apologies, but I hope you'll forgive me. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:26.700 I need all the help I can get. I felt remade. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:34.139 Reforged. Aye, let's show Oxirno what a half 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:45.399 -teledra and an orc bowl can do. Lovely fantasy 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:48.179 story there from Grace. Thank you so much, Sam, 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.179 for your narration and your editing and everything 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:54.840 else on that. Some lovely work. Not just a writer, 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:59.840 a man of many talents. Now, the nature of writing 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.279 battle, of course, being a competition, means 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:05.000 that some stories don't progress as far as we'd 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:07.080 like. In fact, I'd say most people's stories 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:10.399 don't progress as far as we'd like them to. This 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.960 is how it goes in a competition. Now Grace's 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:18.580 story in the Wonder Battle didn't make it out 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.840 of the house stage. It got a few votes, it did 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.779 well, but it didn't quite get that magic number 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:26.960 it needed to escape the house stage. But there 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.360 are two very important things to note here. First 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:35.360 of all, Grace was awarded a rare trophy during 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.679 the judging of that. Those of you taking part 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.759 in the professional battles will know about these 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.919 trophies. trophies as they've been sometimes 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:47.200 coined on the forum with only given out to five 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:51.799 stories per judge in the entire round so that's 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:55.379 that's dozens and dozens of stories and yeah 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:57.620 one of those judges selected grace is to receive 00:14:57.620 --> 00:15:01.740 this trophy so the number of points you get in 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:05.700 a battle is not the be all and end all and then 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:10.419 crucially grace has got herself published This 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:13.360 story has been published in the very first edition 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.740 of Goblins and Galaxies. And its name ended up 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:19.340 on the front cover. So well done Goblins and 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:23.620 Galaxies for picking this up. I approve of your 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:27.080 choices. But I suppose the reason I'm labouring 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:29.720 this point is not... I'm not trying to make Grace 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:31.340 feel better. I don't need to do that. She's an 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.649 amazing writer. What I'm trying to say is that 00:15:33.649 --> 00:15:36.490 those of us who take part in writing battle or 00:15:36.490 --> 00:15:39.250 other competitions or other writers in general, 00:15:39.370 --> 00:15:42.710 if a story doesn't succeed in the way you want 00:15:42.710 --> 00:15:45.970 it to first time, there's going to be a life 00:15:45.970 --> 00:15:47.629 for it elsewhere. There are going to be other 00:15:47.629 --> 00:15:49.610 people who can read it. There are other places 00:15:49.610 --> 00:15:53.610 that will publish it. So we shouldn't give up. 00:15:54.909 --> 00:16:00.029 Yeah. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. Seriously 00:16:00.029 --> 00:16:01.649 though, Grace did a really good job and well 00:16:01.649 --> 00:16:03.590 done for sticking to your guns and getting it 00:16:03.590 --> 00:16:08.370 out into the world where it deserves to be. Next 00:16:08.370 --> 00:16:11.710 up in our fantasy theme, we've got Of Ferrets 00:16:11.710 --> 00:16:16.789 and Foxes by Regan Westergaard. Now, Regan in 00:16:16.789 --> 00:16:20.470 real life has a passion for ferrets. I promise 00:16:20.470 --> 00:16:23.269 I'm not making that up. And that comes through 00:16:23.269 --> 00:16:25.870 in so much of this story. Now, I'm going to break 00:16:25.870 --> 00:16:27.690 with my tradition here and then tell you about 00:16:27.690 --> 00:16:30.820 the... the details and the results before and 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:34.059 there's good reason for that this was from last 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:37.960 year's autumn short story competition it was 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:43.240 in the cozy fantasy genre and her other prompts 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:49.399 were church and survivor now i won't spoil the 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:51.419 story for you because it is genuinely wonderful 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:54.980 and i don't want to give it away but i will tell 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:57.159 you that the reagan got runner up for this one 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:59.759 Yeah, she got one of those fancy gold trophies 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:02.019 in a running shoe, and deservedly so. She came 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:04.500 so close, so, so close to winning the whole thing, 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:08.859 and she's narrated it for us as well. So here 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:12.279 we go, of Ferrets and Foxes, written and narrated 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:17.339 by Regan Westergaard. A ferret makes a terrible 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:21.019 errand boy. Sable held the ridiculous creature 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:24.000 at eye level, his long body dangling happily 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.730 from her hand. She scowled at him, noting irritably 00:17:27.730 --> 00:17:31.109 that his adorable tongue was poking out. Egg, 00:17:31.289 --> 00:17:35.849 she said. His mauve nose twitched. Sable sighed 00:17:35.849 --> 00:17:37.690 deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose with 00:17:37.690 --> 00:17:42.029 her ferret -free hand. I told you to go find 00:17:42.029 --> 00:17:46.029 me three bulbs of wild garlic. The ferret gave 00:17:46.029 --> 00:17:49.569 a little squeaky grunt of confirmation. And you 00:17:49.569 --> 00:17:52.829 brought me, she said, looking at the small pile 00:17:52.829 --> 00:17:56.450 on her apothecary countertop. One white cap mushroom, 00:17:56.849 --> 00:18:02.269 grunt. Two orange leaves, grunt. And somebody's 00:18:02.269 --> 00:18:06.009 gold tooth. Egg wriggled in her grasp, squeaking 00:18:06.009 --> 00:18:09.130 with delight. Sable dropped him three inches 00:18:09.130 --> 00:18:11.369 back to the countertop and let her forehead fall 00:18:11.369 --> 00:18:14.789 into her hands. Egg nosed his way between her 00:18:14.789 --> 00:18:17.769 elbows, propped up on the counter. His stubby 00:18:17.769 --> 00:18:19.910 black legs all seemed to move at separate times, 00:18:20.089 --> 00:18:22.250 indifferent to the bendy slope of his golden 00:18:22.250 --> 00:18:25.029 brown body. Don't try to be cute. I'm annoyed 00:18:25.029 --> 00:18:29.589 with you. Egg yawned widely, little pink tongue 00:18:29.589 --> 00:18:32.589 curling amidst a tiny maw of lethally sharp teeth. 00:18:33.289 --> 00:18:36.089 Other witches got useful familiars, but Sable 00:18:36.089 --> 00:18:38.450 had been stuck with this chaotic neutral sausage 00:18:38.450 --> 00:18:43.150 link for years. As Egg slid gracelessly from 00:18:43.150 --> 00:18:45.230 the counter and ambled off to find a suitable 00:18:45.230 --> 00:18:48.109 napping corner, Sable cast her gaze toward the 00:18:48.109 --> 00:18:51.349 vaulted stone ceiling. Her apothecary had once 00:18:51.349 --> 00:18:54.079 been some kind of church. dedicated to a forgotten 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.940 god. The narrow, stained glass windows were perfect 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.940 for keeping the sunlight off her potions and 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:03.359 ingredients. Sable was staring at the gold tooth 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.480 in front of her, trying to figure out where in 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:08.039 the pits of hell Egg had found it when the front 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:12.059 door creaked open. Welcome to Edelroon Apothecary, 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.819 she said absently, gaze lingering now on the 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:18.119 teak marks in the mushroom's cap. How can I help? 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:21.019 But her voice died in her throat when she looked 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:24.380 up. The woman standing in her entryway was not 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:27.700 a resident of the nearby village. She had sleek 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:30.799 black hair and coppery skin. Her narrow eyes 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.599 curved strikingly across the wide plain of her 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:38.700 face. Oh, hi, Sable stuttered, flushing a very 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:42.519 flattering shade of crimson. You're... I mean, 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:46.200 you seem... I am new in town, yes, the woman 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:48.839 said, her smooth voice slicing through Sable's 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:51.670 bumbling. She took a step toward the counter. 00:19:52.289 --> 00:19:55.029 I hear you are the person to see about potions. 00:19:56.029 --> 00:19:58.309 Sable opened her mouth and waited for something 00:19:58.309 --> 00:20:02.170 even remotely intelligent to come out. That depends, 00:20:02.609 --> 00:20:05.950 she said finally. What do you need? A normal 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:10.130 human sentence, well done. The woman padded to 00:20:10.130 --> 00:20:12.369 the counter, eyes darting across the wall of 00:20:12.369 --> 00:20:15.549 jars behind Sable. Her beautiful lips tightened 00:20:15.549 --> 00:20:20.640 ever so slightly. I need a love potion, she murmured. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:25.079 Sable's heart stumbled to a stop. A wave of irrational 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:28.420 disappointment swept over her. Of course a woman 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.519 who looked like this wouldn't have moved here 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:34.700 alone. I sell them, Sable said, working to keep 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:38.079 her voice professional. But they can only bring 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.680 existing feelings to the surface. They cannot 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:44.599 create love. The woman frowned, thin brows coming 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:48.390 together. It will have to do, she sighed. pulling 00:20:48.390 --> 00:20:52.190 an embroidered coin purse from her belt. As Sable 00:20:52.190 --> 00:20:54.210 scrawled out a payment slip, she stole another 00:20:54.210 --> 00:20:57.250 glance up at the woman. Her high cheekbones and 00:20:57.250 --> 00:21:00.609 strong jaw set Sable's heart thundering. Her 00:21:00.609 --> 00:21:02.670 cheeks burned and she fixed her gaze back on 00:21:02.670 --> 00:21:06.509 the slip of parchment. Can I have your name, 00:21:06.569 --> 00:21:09.809 please? The request came out in an abnormally 00:21:09.809 --> 00:21:14.589 high pitch. The woman paused for a few moments 00:21:14.589 --> 00:21:19.279 before responding, Leon. Sable's quill hovered 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:24.779 over the paper. R -Rian? Her mouth felt clumsy 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:27.619 around the foreign syllables. Egg scrambled up 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.900 the counter and across the slip, leaving an inky 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:34.460 paw print on the edge of the parchment. Rian, 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:38.380 the woman repeated, slowly this time, her eyes 00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:40.819 following Egg's progress into a bundle of fresh 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:44.720 sage. The bundle sneezed. Sable shook her head. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:49.329 Sorry, could you spell that? Rian laughed. It 00:21:49.329 --> 00:21:51.609 was an unexpected sound, like the bark of a fox. 00:21:52.390 --> 00:21:55.130 When Rian had finally left, Sable felt almost 00:21:55.130 --> 00:21:58.329 drunk. She had just sold the most beautiful woman 00:21:58.329 --> 00:22:05.630 she had ever seen a love potion. Rian returned 00:22:05.630 --> 00:22:08.170 to the apothecary every week, purchasing the 00:22:08.170 --> 00:22:11.670 same concoction each time. Sable dutifully avoided 00:22:11.670 --> 00:22:13.869 asking questions about whom the love potions 00:22:13.869 --> 00:22:16.450 were going to, and Rian didn't offer any insights. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.500 It wasn't until her third visit that Sable even 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:22.339 learned the name of her homeland. It is an empire 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:25.660 called Kore, far across the Western Sea, Rian 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:28.200 said, her long, slender fingers brushing along 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:32.759 Egg's lengthy back. The useless weasel had just 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.960 returned from a long journey, during which he'd 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.279 collected a purple egg of unknown origin rather 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:39.480 than the bunch of clover Sable had asked for. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:43.240 Now he was sprawled flat on his belly, legs obscured 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:46.849 beneath him. Sable narrowed her eyes at the ferret. 00:22:47.109 --> 00:22:49.250 She never thought she'd be jealous of an animal 00:22:49.250 --> 00:22:52.390 with the IQ of a watermelon. She chanced another 00:22:52.390 --> 00:22:55.650 look at Yun's face. Her beautiful eyes were so 00:22:55.650 --> 00:22:58.309 dark, nearly black, and pulled Sable into their 00:22:58.309 --> 00:23:03.309 depths. Yun gazed back at her. I should probably... 00:23:03.309 --> 00:23:05.109 Do you want to have a cup of tea with me? Sable 00:23:05.109 --> 00:23:08.089 blurted out. Her face instantly began to burn, 00:23:08.150 --> 00:23:10.029 and she wondered if she had temporarily become 00:23:10.029 --> 00:23:12.289 possessed by the ghost of someone with self -confidence. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:15.900 Gen looked startled for a moment, her petal -like 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:18.700 lips parting. Even Egg deigned to sit up and 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:23.680 stare at her. I... Gen began, copper skin darkening. 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:27.220 I'm sorry, that was... It's a little chilly in 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:30.299 here. Sable wished she could remember that spell 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:33.420 for sinking into the floor. Come on back to my 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:35.500 private room because it's chilly, not because 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:39.740 I'm trying to bed you gods. Smite me now. She 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:42.119 was shocked to see a shy smile curling the corners 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:44.789 of Gen's mouth. Actually, I would love that. 00:23:45.849 --> 00:23:48.890 Sable's jaw dropped. Egg scrambled to his feet 00:23:48.890 --> 00:23:50.849 and started bouncing around the counter, back 00:23:50.849 --> 00:23:53.470 -arched in a weasel war dance, and squeak -grunting 00:23:53.470 --> 00:23:55.609 until he lost his balance and fell to the floor. 00:23:56.410 --> 00:23:58.470 Though I think it will have to be another day, 00:23:58.670 --> 00:24:01.089 she continued, expression shifting to one of 00:24:01.089 --> 00:24:04.730 apology. Sable's heart deflated as quickly as 00:24:04.730 --> 00:24:07.549 it had swelled. Right, yes, I'm sure you're... 00:24:07.549 --> 00:24:10.930 busy, she mumbled, eyeing the potion bottle in 00:24:10.930 --> 00:24:13.970 the other woman's hands. Yan smiled gently and 00:24:13.970 --> 00:24:16.930 reached down to pat Egg goodbye. He jumped at 00:24:16.930 --> 00:24:19.190 her leg, claws snagging the fabric of her dress. 00:24:19.849 --> 00:24:23.130 Egg, Sable hissed, seizing the ferret and hoisting 00:24:23.130 --> 00:24:26.450 him into her arms. Yan chuckled as she stepped 00:24:26.450 --> 00:24:29.809 back out into the brisk autumn afternoon. Sable 00:24:29.809 --> 00:24:31.670 stared at the closed door for a few moments, 00:24:31.890 --> 00:24:34.589 hand absently stroking along Egg's silky coat. 00:24:35.410 --> 00:24:37.970 Suddenly she froze, a thrill shuddering through 00:24:37.970 --> 00:24:42.480 her. She had a somewhat unhinged idea. She held 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.779 the drowsy ferret up. His little arms stuck straight 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:48.160 out over her grip, and he blinked at her through 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:51.480 half -lidded eyes. Egg, I have a task for you. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.480 He brightened, whiskers flaring toward her. I 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:58.299 want you to follow Ryung. She definitely should 00:24:58.299 --> 00:25:01.619 not be doing this. Don't let her catch you, just 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:06.420 see where she goes. Grunt. She gave the thick 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:09.079 fur on his head a pat before releasing him onto 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:12.809 the stone floor. He scampered off, body arched 00:25:12.809 --> 00:25:15.049 up like a spring before throwing himself through 00:25:15.049 --> 00:25:22.049 a hidden ferret -sized flap in the door. Sable 00:25:22.049 --> 00:25:24.450 was startled awake by a violent digging sensation, 00:25:24.730 --> 00:25:27.650 as if an overeager mole was attempting to burrow 00:25:27.650 --> 00:25:30.509 through her ribcage. She yelped, shoving the 00:25:30.509 --> 00:25:32.410 furry thing off her before realizing what it 00:25:32.410 --> 00:25:36.369 was. Egg bounced wildly across her bed, squeaking 00:25:36.369 --> 00:25:39.039 for all he was worth. Once she had blinked asleep 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:41.119 from her eyes, Egg launched himself from the 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:43.299 bed, tripping over his own shadow black paws. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.259 Egg, what? The ferret leapt and wriggled across 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:49.559 the enormous woven rug that covered most of the 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:54.079 floor. I have to follow you, don't I? The weasel 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:57.799 dance increased in intensity. Sable heaved a 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.880 sigh, squinting up at the moonlight streaming 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:02.559 through the stained glass windows. She hauled 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.859 herself upright, jamming her feet into her shoes. 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:07.319 and swaddling herself in a thick cloak before 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:09.740 following the overexcited ferret into the night. 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:13.900 Egg bounded into the trees just outside the border 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:16.539 of the apothecary's herb garden, twisting over 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:18.460 his shoulder to ensure she was still following. 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.640 He led her deep into the forest, deeper than 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:23.440 she would usually travel in search of herbs. 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:26.119 She was about to ask the ferret if he actually 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:28.079 knew where he was going when he stopped dead. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:31.319 His body fell flat to the pine needles blanketing 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:34.279 the ground. His neck held his white face straight 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:38.109 in the air. a remnant of his polecat blood. Sable 00:26:38.109 --> 00:26:40.349 followed his unwavering gaze and felt her breath 00:26:40.349 --> 00:26:43.549 catch. It was a fox, pacing in the moonlight. 00:26:44.569 --> 00:26:46.730 The sight alone wouldn't have usually held her 00:26:46.730 --> 00:26:51.849 interest, except this fox had nine tails. Sable 00:26:51.849 --> 00:26:54.069 gaped at the magnificent creature, watching its 00:26:54.069 --> 00:26:57.710 unsettled steps. It paused, pointed face swiveling 00:26:57.710 --> 00:26:59.950 to stare directly into the trees where she and 00:26:59.950 --> 00:27:02.890 Egg were hidden in the shadows. Sable's heart 00:27:02.890 --> 00:27:05.519 stopped. She would know those eyes anywhere. 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:11.420 It had been three days since Sable had witnessed 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:14.559 the fox in the woods. She'd sent Egg out to collect 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.900 a bestiary she knew the village elder kept in 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:19.880 her personal library. He'd come back with a turnip, 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:22.339 a live snake, and a freshly baked pie before 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:25.599 she finally got her hands on the tome. She'd 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.700 found a page in the back of the book, a brief 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:30.920 account of the Gumyo, a nine -tailed fox of Kaurian 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.690 lore. taking the shape of a beautiful woman to 00:27:33.690 --> 00:27:36.970 lure and devour men. They were reviled in Kore, 00:27:37.150 --> 00:27:41.250 deeply mistrusted, and even murdered. Sable now 00:27:41.250 --> 00:27:44.450 understood why Ran had fled. The Kumio would 00:27:44.450 --> 00:27:46.829 be needing her weekly dose of love potion, and 00:27:46.829 --> 00:27:49.150 Sable was stealing herself to do something stupid. 00:27:50.369 --> 00:27:52.990 Egg had woken her at the asscrack of dawn, attempting 00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:55.750 to yank an entire hibiscus bush through the ferret 00:27:55.750 --> 00:27:59.099 flap in the door. Stems now covered her entire 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:01.460 work table, clipped leaves peppering the flagstones 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:04.539 at her feet. She'd spent all morning wrangling 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.539 the shrub's blooms into something presentable. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:09.940 A loud creak sent Sable's heart into her throat. 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.920 Nian stepped through the door, her footfalls 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:16.440 uncharacteristically wary. Sable hastily brushed 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:18.220 the clipped stems to the floor and shoved the 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:20.920 bouquet under the counter. Before she could think 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:24.059 of something to say, Nian spoke. You saw me. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:30.700 Sable's breathing quickened. Yes. Gan's mouth 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:34.220 twisted into something like fear or regret. I 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:38.220 was so tired of being hated. Sable closed her 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:42.299 eyes before responding, I know. She reached below 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:44.400 the counter before her nerve escaped her and 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:46.480 held the bouquet out to the beautiful woman before 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:50.519 her. These are for you, so that... so that you 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:54.000 know you won't be hated here. Yan took the flowers, 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:56.480 so slowly she seemed to fear they would disappear. 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:59.980 As Sable watched, Yan's eyes seemed to gleam 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:03.160 with recognition. These do not only speak of 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:06.680 friendship, she whispered. This flower is a symbol 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:10.619 of love in my homeland. Sable shot a shock glance 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:13.180 at Egg, who stared back with abnormal steadiness. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:16.900 I'm sorry, she said, feeling her stomach twisting. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:20.380 I know you have someone, the person you buy potions 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:25.250 for. I didn't mean... Sable trailed off. Rian's 00:29:25.250 --> 00:29:29.210 gaze met hers. There is no one. The love potions 00:29:29.210 --> 00:29:33.930 are for me. Sable gaped at her. You're drinking 00:29:33.930 --> 00:29:38.549 the potions? Rian gave a slight nod. When everyone 00:29:38.549 --> 00:29:40.950 in your homeland despises you, it is difficult 00:29:40.950 --> 00:29:45.150 not to despise yourself. Her words were a knife 00:29:45.150 --> 00:29:47.710 to Sable's throat. Without thinking and without 00:29:47.710 --> 00:29:49.549 a word, she stepped out from behind the counter 00:29:49.549 --> 00:29:52.799 and slipped her arms around Rian's waist. She 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.880 searched Jan's eyes for any sign that this was 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:58.660 okay. Sable got her answer when Jan's lips met 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:22.400 hers. She tasted of love potion. a natural mixture 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:27.759 of silly comedy with Egg the ferret, whom I think 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:32.240 would be a wonderful pet, perhaps. Egg sounds 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:36.859 hilarious. And mixing in that really human relationship 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.380 that's blossoming there with all the awkwardness 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:41.779 and the confusion and the what -ifs, and then 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:45.900 ending it so, so beautifully with the embrace 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:49.359 and the kiss. It's not like any story I've ever 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:52.480 read before. Maybe I need to get out there and 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:55.880 read more Ferret Suffolk romance stories. I don't 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:59.079 know. Maybe it's me, but it's awesome. Well done, 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:04.420 Reagan. So, two excellent stories from the fantasy 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:07.940 and cosy fantasy genres. Thank you for joining 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:11.240 us on one more short story with me, Chris Fulwell. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.640 We'll see you next time.