#5 – Diverted Attention

Bottles chimed together as an inebriated young man struggled to stand. Vas looked up at his guest with mild interest.

“Leaving so soon Callum?”

Callum shrugged, retrieving the whiskey he had been working through from the smooth stone shelf. The collection of substances on the mausoleum base was extensive, all provided by Vas without any requested compensation. Just having company seemed to be enough for The Gravekeeper. Callum wondered just how much money he had consumed tonight. He had fewer concerns this visit, seeing his friend’s generosity was just as bottomless tonight as Callum’s previous visit. There was more than he could possibly go through. Perhaps he needed to bring a couple of others next time. He could gain some needed credit among his co-workers for knowing of such a good place to blow off steam after another awful day unloading cargo from yet another stuck-up elf merchant’s ship.

“Nah, just ‘avin a stretch. I get all cramped if I stay slumped after a relaxing smoke. Get stuck stiff if the buzz wears off.”

Vas gave an agreeing smile and held out a rolled joint. The short blunt blazed suddenly as it lit without source.

“Always more than one solution to that,” said The Gravekeeper, baring his teeth in a showman’s grin.

Callum chuckled at the display, impressed at how Vas had managed such a controlled little trick. He accepted the smoke looking for some clue on its paper. He cautiously inhaled, only to taste quality leaf. He looked back at his host skeptically. He blew out slowly then puffed to make a smoke ring as his own display.

“You some roadside magician now?” Callum asked as the last vapors expelled with his breath scattered the ring.

Vas shook his head, “Nothing so dependent.”

The Gravekeeper seemed to be withholding an opinion of being called a mage, but Callum decided it better to just move on. He didn’t want to pester the one offering up goods. He faced Vas to ask his next question.

“Oh, I was thinking next time I’ll bring some fr…”

“I’m not interrupting am I?” came a sultry voice behind Callum.

Vas glared past Callum as Callum turned to see a beautiful woman crossing the grounds towards them. She wore a dress that was a perfect balance of covered curves and smooth skin. At once he dismissed his question, jealousy not wanting to share time with this girl between anyone else.

“Yes,” came Vas’ reply, sounding rather annoyed. The Gravekeeper muttered further under his breath.

Callum took a step back so he could easily look between them both, his mouth open as he fumbled over words in her defense.

“Oh no, there’s ‘nuff for another right? Can’t she stay?”

To Callum’s dismay, she had stopped walking closer once Vas had spoken, and looked as if she might turn and go. Her head was inclined and her eyes, bright silver eyes, diverted to study the grass, a vulnerable submission that made Callum yearn to defend her. He looked back to beg Vas to compromise and let her stay and nearly fell over as he found the tall gravekeeper already standing close beside him, stepping to block the girl from sight. Callum struggled to try and keep the girl in view, but Vas wrapped an arm around him to prevent him from twisting without being obvious in his intention to see her. He looked at The Gravekeeper, who now in such close proximity and seeming much less hospitable, was notably intimidating. Something about his change in demeanor made Callum’s instincts tell him he needed to run away. Like a rabbit from a fox. Before he had time to put questions and answers together Vas shoved him, and Callum found he was standing on the road even though he didn’t understand how they had crossed to the gate. He looked up at Vas who stood looking much more inviting and calm again.

“I’m afraid I have some work to do, so I’ll see you next time. Perhaps you can bring some other guests eh?” Vas said with a flash of a smile and tossed something at Callum. The young man struggled to catch the object, fumbling it gently down to the dwarven gravel which covered the road. It was the remainder of his whiskey. He looked up and Vas was gone. Callum was saddened that he didn’t get the girl’s name, but he dared not go back in against Vas’ dismissal. He turned and slowly sauntered back to town wondering if he walked slowly enough, he might see her again should she be going the same way.

~~~~~~

Vas appeared next to the young woman. She hadn’t moved from where he had left her. He spoke her name quietly, releasing her. She drew in a deep shuddering breath.

“Sorry master, I didn’t realize he was another wanderer.”

Vas walked past her, waving a hand to dismiss the clutter of bottles and pouches back to storage. Without turning back he spoke loud enough for her to hear. 

“My other little apprentice hadn’t brought me back anything for some time, so I had to expand my options. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten our agreement.”

He heard her shift and could tell she was hiding her thoughts from him.

“Yes, I’ve been busy preparing several for you,” she finally said in a business-like tone.

Vas appeared face to face with her. He stared into her eyes. She showed more annoyance at the gesture than fright. Perhaps he had tried that tactic too often with her.

“Then you had best get back to it.” He said gesturing towards the gate.

She nodded and walked away from his looming frame. He watched her go studying her form. His face twisted around in a warped smile as he critiqued her.

“Tilt!” he called after her.

Tilt abruptly halted, cautiously looking back over her shoulder.

“Dark colors don’t suit you if you’re emphasizing such hips. Neither truly suits you.”

She nodded and her whole body shimmered as the illusion altered, lightening her dress to a marbled grey and silver, as well as slimming her magically imaged body. Without awaiting for his approval at the changes she quietly walked out the gate.

Vas considered making her turn back.