Kait at the Wishing Well

They knocked on her door.

Kait was up out of her bed, blade in hand. She didn’t know who it was, or what they wanted. Didn’t know anything that early in the morning.

“Demonborn?” a voice called out through the door.

Kait bristled, and looked around. She was in the hotel, right above the saloon. In a medium-sized city, Angel’s Noose or something like that. That seemed normal enough.

But she had come into town late at night. Smuggled Jude in, let Clari-Ann have free range of the stables, and paid the bartender. It was more than enough for the three of them to have a place to sleep, some meals, and more importantly, peace and quiet. They had barely had a chance to stable Clari-Ann before they collapsed on their beds. Clothes and all, which explained the ripe smell from Jude.

This was supposed to be a guarantee. No names, no muss, no fuss. Guess coins only went so far.

The person knocked on the door again.

Kait stole over to the second bed. She shook Jude awake, and kept her hand over his mouth. She put a finger to her lips, and motioned him under the bed.

“We know you’re here, Demon bitch!” Another voice called out. “Come out with your hands – ow!”

“…sorry. He’s new.”

Kait tossed the blade back onto the bed. She remained tense and wary, but didn’t want to show it as much anymore. They were making the effort. Besides, assassins wouldn’t have knocked.

She opened the door, and cursed. The sheriff and two deputies stood in the hall. One of the deputies was short, squat, and a tan woman. The other was black, tall, lanky, and crouched over, wheezing. Apparently the one who had spoken.

The sheriff was of Asian descent. Muscular, built like an ox, he almost filled the room. He sported a mustache that by now Kait considered a part of the uniform. But what was more unusual was the apologetic smile on his face.

“Sorry again, Kait. Deputy Craughton hasn’t exactly learned how to keep his trap shut when he’s still learning.”

He extended a hand forward. “Sheriff Li, at your service.”

“Kait…Demonborn.” Kait took the offered hand and shook it, still confused. “Though you already knew that.”

“Not a lot escapes the sheriff’s office here in Angel’s Noose,” Li said. He looked around, and nodded towards the bed Jude was under.

“Especially not three characters of your…reputation.” He flashed a smile. “So I thought I would drop on by, ask you a few questions.”

Kait nodded, and whistled. Jude stuck his head out. Craughton reeled back, reaching for his club.

“Tell Craughton that the kid could kill him before he drew that,” Kait said. “And that’s only if I didn’t get there first.”

“Letoia,” Li said with a sigh. “How about you and Craughton take a little patrol around the block? Straighten some things out?”

“How long will this take, sir?” Letoia asked.

“About one breakfast,” Li said. “On taxpayer dime, of course.”

The woman rolled her eyes, and half-led, half-dragged a protesting deputy down the stairs. Li nodded, and leaned back, allowing Kait out of the room.

She walked back to the bed, strapped the knife to her pants leg. Kait led Jude out, keeping herself between the sheriff and the boy at all times.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Kait whistled. A hoarse whinny flickered to her ears, and a kick at the walls. Kait nodded, content. So Clari-Ann was safe too.

The saloon’s theme was underwater. Deep blues and greens, seashells scattered around the tables. It made her want to fall back asleep. But the bar was well lit, and there was a pot of coffee on the counter with mugs that actually looked clean.

More worrying was the fact that it was quiet, and almost empty. Kait looked up at the clock, and sighed. Just after six. At least that meant everybody was asleep…like she should be.

Jude walked over to the bar, and grabbed a menu off the counter. He frowned, and looked up at Kait. The girl shrugged. “Sheriff’s paying for it, go ahead.”

Jude smiled, and pointed to the stuffed pancakes. The bartender recoiled, and readied himself. He had not been there last night, and was not ready for the appearance of a demon and…whatever Jude was. He looked like he wanted to call the guards. But what could he do when the sheriff was standing there right behind the fiend?

Li started to sit down at the counter. “Billy, are you going to ask the kid what he wants to drink?”

“The kid wants juice,” Kait said. “Juice, and a large cup of milk.”

Jude’s flinty eyes said he most definitely did not want juice. He wanted a soda, or even an egg cream. Something fizzy and not good for him. But he had already learned when Kait was not in the mood.

“Those, two cups of coffee, and what will the pretty lady be having?” Li asked.

“The pretty lady is down the block in the red light district, just ending her shift,” Kait muttered. “I want coffee, black. Steak tips, burnt, with home fries. Then I’ll see if we can get down to a real breakfast.”

Billy looked at Li. The sheriff smiled. “And I’ll have a coffee. Cream and two sugars. Afraid the missus already filled me up today, though you let Francois know I miss coming here.”

Kait grabbed her cup of coffee and moved towards a table at the back. Li sighed, and took the seat with his back to the wall.

Kait tensed, and reached for the blade. She did not like this area, at all. The fact that the sheriff was here, acting all nice and cheery, only made her suspicious. She would much prefer to have an awareness of what was going on as she ate.

“Lady, if you think about reaching for that again, Letoia is going to put an arrow in that pretty little back of yours.” He sipped from his own coffee, and sighed. “Damn, do they make a good cup.”

Kait’s eyes steeled. She downed the coffee, ignoring the scalding liquid as it burned down her throat. Slammed the cup down on the table. “Come on, Jude, we’re going.”

“MMPFFH!” Jude protested. They had just ordered, and already he could smell the pancakes cooking.

“Now.”

“You don’t even want to listen to what I have to say?” The sheriff asked.

Kait held up three fingers, and counted them off. “Let’s see if I get these right. Ahem. ‘Thou art an abomination. If you do not leave this place, we shall cleanse the stain of your existence from the world.’

“Or perhaps you’re going to go with ‘I’m really sorry, but people are really nervous around…well, people of your persuasion. The meal is on us, but we would appreciate it if you kept moving along.’” Kait looked him up and down. “That seems more your style. You’re so…affable.”

She shook her head. “Last but not least. ‘We don’t care what others say. You are a living being, and you deserve life, liberty, and the opportunity to do this small job for us that you probably aren’t going to survive but hey, you’re expendable.’”

The door banged open, and Billy showed up with the pancakes.

“We’ll eat them upstairs.” Kait said. “And don’t worry, we’ll pack quickly and be out of your hair.”

Li kept a bored expression on his face. Kait wasn’t fooled, she could sense the roil of emotions bubbling just beneath the surface. “You have a problem with trust, Rider.”

“I’m a Rider,” Kait said. “It’s how I survive.”

“Especially after Whitebrush?”

Kait paused. She took a deep breath, and led Jude over to the bartender. Sat the boy down on the floor behind the counter. Glared at Billy, challenged him to say anything about it. Then, and only when she heard the happy smack of lips as the kid dug into his breakfast, did she turn back to Li.

“I have no clue what you are talking about.”

Li leaned back, and took a long sip of coffee. “No reason you should. Tiny little town, just on the outskirts of Angel’s Waste. Frontier place, miners and woodsmen for folk. Shouldn't be anything to write home about.

“Except that a couple months ago, the town up and gets cursed!” he slapped his hand over his mouth, feigning shock. “No clue as to what happened, and no way to solve it. The curse had dug roots into the land, and already monsters start showing up. Disease, bad luck, everything that a true curse comes with.”

Billy nudged his way past Kait, and set her meal down next to the sheriff. Li pulled out a pipe, snapped his fingers, and a burst of flame lit the tobacco. He took a puff, and motioned towards the breakfast.

Kait wanted to say no, but her stomach made enough protests to outweigh her pride. She shoveled some food in her mouth, careful to remain standing.

“Now, most of the folk were smart enough to just clear on out of town. A curse ain’t something you leave up to chance. But there’s rumor of a Rider coming up to fix it all. Someone who can make it all better. And with Harsk’s reputation, what can anyone do but stay, or at least linger?”

Li shook his head. “Which is what makes it so disconcerting when a couple scouts find a few bodies, torn to shreds in town. Only a few, maybe five folks. And the rest of the town, a town of over two hundred, disappeared. No sign of them for well over a hundred miles, and no simple spell able to track them down. Only one fact, that the only Demonborn Rider went in to Whitebrush, and came Riding into town with nary a scratch on her.”

Li set down his pipe. “Now what should a Rider do when she gets such info like that?”

“You asking an honest opinion?” Kait asked.

“Honest?” Li’s face broke into a grin. “Sure.”

“Rider wouldn’t trust anything. Rider would have had the suspect taken before she woke up. Broke open the door, crash through the window as she reached for her knife, and before she could have blinked she would be gagged and restrained. The girl in question would then be bound, interrogated, and tested for demonic influence.”

Kait downed another cup of coffee. “Course, when the person in question is already half-demon, it makes real tests difficult. But the Riders don’t suffer demons to live, ‘cept this one stubborn girl.”

“Strange, that,” Li said.

“But that’s what Riders would do with the unknown.” Kait whistled, and Jude popped his head up from behind the counter. “Fools would wake her up, think they could lull her into a false sense of security while they discretely restrained her horse. Management would provide a few crossbowmen, and then the sheriff would present his options.”

Jude threw the bartender over the bar. His foot clipped the counter, and Billy slammed his head into the floor before resting at Kait’s feet. She stepped on him for good manner.

Li stood up, reaching for his knife. There was a loud whinny, and Craughton was punted into the inn through the front door. Clari-Ann barreled past him (with a kick in the stomach for good measure) before running over Letoia.

Kait drew her knife, threw it, and watched it thud, wiggling just in the handhold of Li’s coffee cup.

“Because that might just let her get ready to hear them.” Kait said.

Letoia struggled to rise. The gob-horse snorted, and swatted the officer with her tail. Craughton was sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Clari-Ann had heard his words too, and unlike her Rider she did not have a cheery disposition.

Sheriff Li stared at the knife currently sitting in his coffee cup. He almost tried to will it to no longer be, wishing that his lot was much more improved than what had just happened.

But the Rider remained standing in front of him. Still existing, still Demonborn and blessed with a stubborn pride from Harsk. He knew that if he tried anything else, Kait would start cleansing the place of evil. And in this town, she might be busy for a few months. And he’d be out of work, and most likely out of a body.

The sheriff pulled the knife out of the mug, tossed it aside, and nodded to the remaining steak tips still on the table.

“You hungry enough to listen? I’ve got a job, and it could pay far more than the money you’re guaranteed.”

Kait’s mouth twitched. “Clari, clear out the rest of the guards. Gently. We are guests.”

Clari-Ann rolled her eyes, but obliged. She only slightly stepped on Craughton’s stomach before letting Letoia drag him out.

Jude helped Billy up, and handed the bartender the empty plate. The boy smiled, trying to be friendly. “Shoree. Wass elishus.”

Billy took the plate back into the kitchen. He did not come back out.

Kait sighed, and sat down across from the sheriff. She was joined by Jude, and after much protests, Clari-Ann.

“Sorry we had to be so rough,” Kait said.

Li frowned. “You wouldn’t think vigilantes would apologize.”

“Most lawmen aren’t willing to talk with us,” Kait said. “Outside of Texas, of course.”

Li nodded. “Well, this job is, how did you put it? A little impossible. But we are getting desperate.”

Kait rolled her eyes.

“It’s a rogue wishing well.”

Jude looked up, confused. A wishing well? Those little fountain things that children threw coins in? They were harmless, powerless. A fun game, no magic involved whatsoever. What could a wishing well be doing with them?

“Some spirit or greater power is having their five minutes of fun,” Li said. “Took up residence in the well, and started twisting any wish for a coin. Suddenly everyone’s wishes started to come true.”

Kait winced. Li nodded, and continued. “So you know what problems can arise from free wishes. We've had a score of deaths attributed to the well, both directly and indirectly. New lovers in unhappy marriages, fools and zealots blessed with god-like powers, and if I have to put down one more talking teddy bear I may scream.”

The sheriff laid his badge down in front of Kait. “That badge will get you ten thousand gold pieces from the main bank, and safe passage out of town if you show it to the guards on the eastern gate. Kill, exorcise, plead, I don’t care. That spirit is gotten rid of, and it’s yours. Simple enough?”

Kait nodded, half listening. This was the second time in a few weeks that she was coming across a wish granter. And both of them with the attached strings showing. Was something going on that she should know about?

“You take care of that, we’re square.” Li stood up, and his face finally contorted in fury. “If I see you in this town after sunset, it won’t be Craughton and Letoia dropping by for a chat. I promise a lynch mob will only be boosted by city council magic. Let’s see you and that fancy horse intimidate your way out of that.”

Kait laughed. Short, hollow, but it chilled the sheriff to the bone.

“One lynch mob?” she asked. “Is that all you got?”

There should be a description of how she packed and moved away from the inn. The many provisions, the dirty sets of clothes set aside. Cleaning of weapons, filling a canteen while reminiscing of the more peaceful times had with Harsk. Perhaps Kait looked wistfully at Jude, wishing that he had someone more suited for a normal childhood than herself, before they set off down a deadend road for a job that most likely would end with their passing.

But Kait never tried to be so morose. It happened to her, not a doubt. Being hated by most civilized beings made one morose. But she tried to blot it out from her memory time and time again. The only thing she remembered packing was the prophet, strapped to the saddle on Clari-Ann's back. The only weapon cleaned was the knife, already used. And the wistful thoughts she and Jude had were that they hadn’t asked for second breakfasts.

Instead, they were stuck at this wishing well.

The spirit had picked an inconvenient spot. Right in the middle of the market district, a great fountain overlooked the square in gratitude and glory.

The stone statuary was of a woman in a wheelchair, pointing a battle staff towards the east. Legend had it that this was the bas-relief of the Wheelchair Sage, a legendary Texan who had even less fear than most of her statesmen. Master evoker, friend of dragons, and the only reason she didn’t conquer the world was that such work held no interest for her. Instead, she conquered adventure, returning to Texas only in its time of need.

Kait settled Clari a ways away from the fountain, and rooted Jude next to the gob-horse with a hard glare. And she stood next to the statue, looking up to the Wheelchair Sage in awe.

This woman. Even Harsk had spoken of her in awe. Crippled at an early age thanks to her own curiosity, it had never slowed her an inch. Kait had grown up on her exploits, going to bed with stories about the legendary firecracker. The Riders loved talking of her fighting off an elemental, or the Iron Dwarf, or the rumored power of the dragons that was blessed to her.

Kait didn’t care for those. She wanted the battles. The ones that were detailed, in great fields and on the sides of mountains. Where the Wheelchair would get caught on a root or rocky crag, and she had to adjust. Where she was at a disadvantage and had to adjust her very way of thinking. Because this was where Kait truly thought of her as a Sage, a brilliant tactician. The Wheelchair Sage didn’t care about her situation, what “normal” folk would call a disability. She lived her life the way she wanted it, helping people because it was her choice.

If Kait could find a way to do that, maybe she too could find some measure of peace in her own adventures. Maybe. Just maybe.

Kait reached into her pouch, and pulled out a copper coin. She flipped it in the waters, keeping her mind blank and focused on the Sage.

The waters beneath the sage bubbled and frothed. A mouth opened out of the fountain, snickering.

“What do we have here? Some ugly little fiend? Come to risk the waters of the wishing well for a less despicable mug?”

Kait knelt down over the lip of the waters, and peered in. “Have a closer look, spirit. Do I look like someone you want to mess with?”

The water hissed, and raised up. “Carzic’s spawn! The forsaken one! No, get away! I don’t want to get involved in YOUR destiny!”

Kait thrust her hands deep into the waters, searching. “Too late, spirit. You came a bit too close, and have to pay the piper.”

“Get away, GET AWAY!” It was no use. To grant wishes, some part of the spirit had to land in the physical. It had thought itself safe, hiding in the water, preying on the mortals. But it had never thought that a Demonborn would walk across its path, and take an interest in mortals’ healths.

Kait found the essence, and held on. It thrashed about, thorned quicksilver, trying to escape. Kait’s hands were torn apart, flayed to the bone. But still she held firm, ignoring the pain and tattered skin scattering away in the frothy waves.

After an eternity, the spirit ceased, and sulked, simmering in the water. “Let me go, mortal. This is one spirit you do not want to mess with.”

Kait laughed. “This is one Rider you shouldn’t have messed with. Now be a good spirit, and start bargaining. Or I start invoking my father.”

The water hissed. There were rumors that the Demonborn was not on speaking terms with Carzic. But who would risk their existence on a mere rumor?

“What would you have of me, Carzicsdotter?”

“First, repair what you did,” Kait said.

“In entirety?” The spirit asked.

“Just to me,” Kait muttered. Messing with life and death would be messy, and possibly involve the rewriting of time. Besides, no one made the other well-wishers toss in coins. They could live with their own mistakes.

The water frothed, and burned. Kait grit her teeth, watching her hands knit themselves back together. Bones healed and set, her flesh once again reappeared. She felt better, better than before.

“And now, I depart, never to disturb you again.” The spirit made as if to go. Kait’s grip tightened, holding fast.

“You deny the bargain struck?”

“One, the healing of hands was to repair damage you inflicted,” Kait said. “Common hospitality to fix what you broke. But further, the word first implies further bargaining. Not my fault you thought your work done.”

The spirit tried to find a way out of that logic, but could find none.

“What would you have of me?”

“Three questions,” Kait said. “Questions, not wishes. I won’t risk you twisting those.”

The bubbles burst into laughter. “Information? That which I may twist to my own advantage? Oh, you place your own reasoning far above your station, Demonborn.”

“It is my bargain, and I'll have none other,” Kait said. “After three questions are answered, you are obliged to depart this fountain, and this town, never to return. Acceptable?”

The waters splashed over the side, but it knew it was caught. “Agreed. Ask your questions.”

Kait had thought long and hard about these questions beforehand. She snuck a glance at Jude, and nodded.

“What is Jude?”

“He is The Human.” The spirit responded.

“What...” Kait paused, cursing herself. Of course it would be vague. Any chance to find a way to slip out of a real answer. But ‘The,’ that was something. This she could work with.

“What...do I need to do to release Lila the prophet from her crystal?”

“Fulfill your destiny.” Another vague answer, damn it. She was running out of chances to help that vain girl from the south. And only one question left.

Kait stepped away. She scrunched her face, trying to find a real answer. This spirit reveled in chaos and misdirection. Nothing she asked would be as simple as she hoped. What could she ask?

Kait smiled, and looked at the fountain.

“Where will I find the next Demon Lord that I can defeat on my own?”

The fountain spurt up in protest. A simple question, and an easy answer. No way for the spirit to evade or misdirect with truth.

“Gah! To the east, seek the Lost City of Sin.”

There was a last spurt. “Though it will cost you your soul.”

Kait nodded, and raised her hands. “The bargain is made, and the compact fulfilled. Go in peace.”

“Peace?” The spirit bubbled in laughter. “I leave knowing that you Ride towards your doom, Demonborn. I know your future. The pain, the loss that is coming towards you. I can See the deaths that trail in your wake!”

Kait watched it fly up as vapor out of the fountain. It sneered, twirling around the Rider. But it got too close to the Sage, chortling at the destiny it could see before it. A gust of wind tore forward, bursting it apart. It flew away in pain, scattered to the winds.

Kait was quiet. And not the angry quiet that Jude was used to. She was pensive, curious. Even as they moved out of the square, and towards the central bank, she didn’t say anything.

Clari-Ann had nudged her a few times. Usually when Kait was this angry, it was because if she spoke she would scream. But that wasn’t it today. She walked beside the horse, looking down at her hands. Seeming to think that something should be in them that wasn’t.

Jude looked back, confused. What did the fountain mean? What did it mean, that he was human? That he was born human, that he was still? If that was the case, what was happening to him? If only Kait had asked more about that.

But Jude knew the truth. He had seen Kait look at that girl in the statue often enough. Not with love, but with regret. It was something she considered a failure, and every day she didn’t fix it was another day she failed. To be told that she needed to fulfil her destiny couldn’t have helped at all.

If only he could speak. He hated sounding like a dummy. But what could he do?

Kait stopped, and smiled. “Hey, Jude.”

Jude looked up.

“Do you see those two deputies there, trying to be inconspicuous as they check out the bank?”

Jude squinted, and smiled. There they were, right on the roof of the building just across the street. Crouched up against the lip of the building. Craughton lay motionless, his eyes glued to the front door. Letoia sat behind him, making sure he didn’t do anything too rash.

Jude nodded. Kait cursed, and turned around. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Jude frowned. He struggled, and finally managed to form the words. “Why?”

“Why are we not going up there?” Kait asked. “Or why are those two there?”

Nod.

Kait considered her words. The day lengthened on to midafternoon. Shadows started to stretch. People stared at the three of them more brazenly. More than a few disappeared from view, probably looking for someone to call the guards. Soon Letoia, Craughton and Li would know they were not going to the bank.

Kait sighed, and turned down a side street. It could be that Li was sincere. That this badge in her hand would give her enough gold to handle provisions for weeks on end. Then she could find her way out with her head held high. She had done good. She had followed the ways that Harsk had always demanded.

But what was most likely going to happen if she walked into that bank would be Craughton and Letoia jumping after her, screaming about a stolen badge. Or some other trumped-up charge. Ridiculous, of course, but they would let her off with a warning. Just as long as she got out of town. And the guards would have looked strong and imposing, taking down the demon that wouldn’t fight back.

Kait’s face clenched. Was that really so hard to believe of that sheriff? Someone who threw his weight around, tried to intimidate her? Reveled in her failures? Threatened her horse.

“I say, you look imposing!”

Kait’s hand snapped the badge. She looked at the shattered star, curious. That rage was not healthy. Sloppy. Damn it.

Now what was the cause of it?

“Over here, fair maiden!”

Everyone turned at that. A gnome sat atop a carriage, waving at them. Dressed as a fop, he wore a smile as threadbare as his coat. His clothes were once finest silk, but hard travel and harder times had worn them down to a nub. Still, he was happy, and apparently happy to see them.

“Hello, hello, hello!” He said. “You must be the frightful demoness they are all scheming about.”

“Scheming?” Kait asked.

“Scheming, many different schemes,” The gnome muttered. “Whether to throw you out, or run you out, or give up the pretense of civility and hang you on the spot. Ghastly business.”

Kait’s hand travelled towards her dagger.

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” The gnome said. “They’re just looking for an excuse.”

“Do I look like I care what they want to do?” Kait growled. Let them come. She could take one, five, a hundred men if they dared. Clari-Ann would handle the rest.

The gnome’s eyes twinkled. “No, you don’t. Do you?”

Kait spat.

“Be that as it may, you will still need to find a way out of this little derelict they call a city. And with haste.”

Clari-Ann snorted. Kait agreed. “What do you want?”

“A guard!” The gnome said. “I’m heading northeast out of this hole, but it is just me in this humble little piece of paradise. Company, especially such lovely a companion as you, would be well worth the price.”

Price. Kait perked up at that.

“Thought that would get your attention. Besides room and board for you and your friends, how about five bronze pieces a day?” The gnome asked.

“Five silver,” Kait countered before even considering.

“Ten bronze,” The gnome said. “Though I would happily pay fifty gold for a night in your effervescent company.”

Kait stood up on the carriage, and shoved the gnome aside. She tossed the badge into a sewer, and whistled to Jude.

“Ten bronze it is. Name's Kait, and I drive.” She snapped the reins before he could change his mind, and then they were off.

Screw this town.

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Thank you for reading. I hope that this sparked a piece of magic for you this week.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Jack Holder

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