Veassen's Wonders

The cold winter wind blew through the trees, blowing snow into my face and all over my thin and ruined clothes. Though the afternoon was still young, it was getting dark, which made me want to be in that strange wood even less.
But I had nowhere else to go, not to a home, not to a loving family. I had nothing, only the clothes I wore and the silver necklace my mother had given me when I was still small and oblivious to the dangers and harshness of the world.
I held the necklace in my fist hoping it would bring me some luck and with my other hand, wrapped my rags around me so tight I could hardly breath, not that it made me feel much warmer.

As I marched on, my already wet and worn shoes started to freeze up a little, it felt like it anyway, I sighed and tried to keep out thoughts of frostbite.
I had a long way to go, well at least I thought I did. I didn't really know where I was going, anywhere to get away, to get away from the past. If it was even possible.
I was hoping to find an empty cave I could rest in until morn, but the best I had found was a small sheltered ditch, that at least protected me from the wind and the snow.
I fell to sleep, hungry and sad.
I dreamt of my childhood, though it was more of a nightmare than a dream.

Shouting voices, broken chairs and tables, the smell of beer and whiskey filled the air with the stench of alcohol, shadows fighting on the wall, the small boy in the corner who no one noticed and who dare not look upon the faces of his elders or punishment was certain.
The small boy who didn't laugh, only cried. He didn't play, only worked. He never had a hug or a kiss, only a slap or a beating. The little boy was all alone. Not a friend to call his own. No one cared for the boy. He didn't even care for himself.

I woke up cold and feeling horrible, but at least I was less tired. I stood up and brushed myself down, happy that it wasn't snowing. The wind had gone and the morning was bright and warm.
Snow melted off branches and bushes, dripping down and splashing my face, running down my neck.
I wished I had a knife or bow to hunt with, it had been many days since I had last eaten but I was used to hunger so I pushed myself on, whistling to raise my spirits and trying to ignore my stomach's own singing.
I was beginning to worry I would have to spend another night in the woods when the path suddenly came out of the trees and went through fields, which meant there would be a farm or a village nearby, my heart leaped. There was always someone who would let me sleep in a barn if I did a bit of work in return, maybe I would even be able to get some food.
I sped up and raced onwards, listening to the sound of my footsteps sink through mud and splash through puddles of melted snow.
The path turned and twisted, going this way and that until finally I saw a farmhouse. It was large, built in stone, slate and wood, with small doors and windows, to keep the cold out. Smoke was billowing from the chimney and I heard the sound of cattle in one of the two big wooden barns.
All I needed now was a bit of luck and some friendly farmers, I kissed my mother's necklace, the silver dragon shone happily as if it knew how I was feeling at that moment.

I slowly approached the house and knocked three times on the door, then stepped back and waited.
At first I feared no one would answer, that they hadn't heard me or that they had seen me from the window and decided I looked too dodgy. So many different scenarios went through my head as I stood there awkwardly.
Until the door opened to reveal a small old lady with the warmest smile “Hello young man, how can I help you? Would you like to come in from the cold?”
I looked at her, astonished. I had never had anyone invite me in so readily nor look at me so kindly, I nodded clumsily and she stepped back, allowing me to step into the warm and nice smelling house.
She lead me into the kitchen and sat me down at a large oak table. The kitchen was small but nicely set out, with pots and jars covering every shelf and a large iron pot hanging above an open fire, giving the room the mouth watering smell of stew. Finally I noticed an old man looking at me from the opposite side of the table, he frowned and looked at the friendly woman “Lydia dear, did you let another weird young man into the house, what did I tell you! The house is already full enough and who knows who this boy is!”
Lydia smiled warmly at him “You are right, but look at the lad, he is all skin and bones, his clothes aren't even fit for summer! If you really feel against it, make him work in the morning to pay for it.”
The man grumbled for a minute and then turned to me “So boy! You can eat and sleep here but when morn comes you shall work until lunch and then be on your way, understood?”
I nodded, overjoyed.
“You better do more than nod boy.” The old man said “What's your name?”
“Kyrithiar, Sir” I muttered, worried that this good fortune would end.
The man chuckled “That's an unusual name you have there, but it's good. My name is Juan, this is my wife Lydia, this is our family farm, you'll meet the others at dinner. How old are you boy?”
“I am fourteen summers old, thank you so much for your kindness.” I said, looking from Juan to Lydia.
Lydia just smiled, making her face even more wrinkled yet still beautiful. Juan huffed “Well Lydia always had a soft heart and I always need help in the mornings, even with such a large family.”

As if they had been summoned, people of all ages and sizes started coming into the kitchen, there must have been about ten of them. Juan and Lydia's two daughters and son, their spouses and their children, all tired from their busy day.
So we ate. The food was warm, filling and tasty and after chatting, laughter and a hard time learning everyone's names, Lydia took me into a warm little room with a bedroll laid out by the fire, much better than I had expected, she smiled and offered me some hot water to wash in, that I excepted graciously then went to bed, feeling the happiest I had felt in a very long time.

In the morn I woke early and helped Juan's son Ilrid and daughter Berveen herd cattle, harvest winter crops and scrape ice from the paths. The morning went by, work was good and the company was better so I was dismayed when lunch was ready and I ate silently, worrying about what the future might bring.
Juan watched me closely, so I tried my best to not show my anxiousness. Just as we had finished eating, he spoke“Boy, you're a nice lad. You work well and you try your best. Sadly we can't let you stay here, we have too many people here already! But there's an old friend of mine in town who is looking for someone to work for him. He's a nice chap, though a little... Odd... so no one wants the job. He will pay well, feed you and give you a place to stay.”
I stayed silent, though it sounded wonderful, so what if the man was strange? At least I'd get to eat and not have to sleep outside.
Juan continued, pushing his long white hair away from his face “I don't know if you have a family or if you are just passing through, it was just a thought. If you want I can give you directions to where he lives...”
I smiled and nodded gratefully “That would be wonderful, thank you so much or your kindness.”
The old man just nodded, he eyes twinkling and his mouth curved into a smile.

I said farewell to that gracious and lovely family and went on towards the village, with a flame of hope and excitement in my heart.
I looked down at the small piece of parchment with the directions on it. I couldn't read but I would show it to someone in the village and they would be able to help, hopefully.
As I walked I held my mothers necklace, as if she was sending her blessing to me from her place with the gods, where she ate feasts, danced and laughed and would do so until the end of time.
I smiled and started running towards the distant town, it was actually pretty big, bigger than any town I had ever been to. I hoped I could find this man easily, Juan had said his name was Eldillor Veassen. I wondered what sort of man Eldillor was and why he was known for being odd.

I finally got to the town, it was large and nice looking, everyone smiled and the sound of laughter echoed the streets. The houses where tall and painted bright colours and even on this cold winter day market stalls were everywhere.
I just had to find someone who could read or who knew Eldillor. It didn't take long, I found a middle aged woman who could read and knew Eldillor. She had a stall selling fancy looking scrolls and interesting stones, that fascinated me.
She smiled and explained that he didn't live far from here, she read out the directions a few times until I was sure I knew them and then I was off, dodging people and squeezing between stalls and carts.
Until finally I got to a quiet, winding street. This was the one. I slowed, suddenly nervous and started to walk down the street, until finally I saw the shop I had been looking for, Veassen's Wonders. The shop looked very unusual, it was small and dark, unlike the other shops. Its display window was small and had small bottles and jars, with all different sorts of liquids on display, above them hung a strange looking lullaby, made of what looked like silver, from it hung symbols that looked strange and mysterious but still were a wonder to see, I suppose the shop name was beginning to make sense, I said to myself and opened the small wooden door.

Inside the shop was actually pretty big, shelves lined the walls and tables covered in all sorts of different things. Stones, symbols, bottles,statuettes, dried flowers, boxes, pouches, powders and more. I wanted to look at it all, touch it all and know what each and everything did, then I noticed the small counter in the corner and behind it sat a small man, with sharp features and wavy grey hair. The tip of his ears were almost pointed and one of them was covered in earrings. The man was dressed well and smiled at me “Hello, how can I help you on this fine day, young man?”
I smiled nervously “Well, a farmer outside of town said you were looking for someone to work for you and I would like to take the job.” I shuffled closer to the counter and waited for his reply, my heart beating fast.
The man rubbed his short beard in thought “Was this man Juan?”
I nodded and the man chuckled “Thought so, it's not often such a scruffy boy comes from the country to ask to work at my shop. What are you good at?”
I was silent, I wasn't sure anything I could do would be any use here.
The man sighed “Do you have any arcane skills?”
“No, Sir” I said.
“Do you know what arcane skills are?”
“No, Sir”
“It's the use of spells, potions and other such things. Can you read?” The man was grinning for some strange reason. Could this be Eldillor? It must be...
“No, Sir” I said, turning red with embarrassment, it sounded as if this job would not be mine, I couldn't do anything he had listed.
The man I supposed was Eldillor looked at me up and down and then looked straight into my eyes“You're hired!” he winked at me.
I was astounded “But, I don't know anything about this sort of stuff, I can't even read!”
“But by the looks of it you have no where else to go, you seem like a good lad and I see potential in you.” He was still grinning like a madman, it lit up his whole face “You can learn how to read as you can learn everything else you need to know. One day you'll know what everything in this room is and what it can do, you'll know what is harmless and what, if misused, would kill you in an instant!” He laughed “Anyway, I'm Eldillor! What are you called?”
I just stood there and took another look round the room, then returned my gaze to Eldillor “I am Kyrithiar.”
Eldillor's face clouded a little “I'm not good at remembering names, so I'll shorten yours to Kye, okay?” he said.
I nodded and smiled, I was beginning to like this man already.
“Now come!” Eldillor sang in a jolly voice“Let me show you to your room and feed you, you're too skinny! Also you'll need some smarter clothes or people will start spreading bad rumours about the shop and of course... we wouldn't want you to catch cold and die” Eldillor laughed a booming laugh and then took me to my little room above Veassen's Wonders.