Arthur Daigle's Blog - Posts Tagged "ghouls"
500 Words
“Verge, this is amazing!” Madam Ulest held up the necklace for the other guests to see. Braided gold chain wrapped around bloodstones, it was the most exquisite piece of jewelry she’d seen, even more beautiful that the many statues and paintings in Baron Verge’s grand ballroom. “How much did this cost you?”
Verge tipped his top hat to her. “Dear cousin, a gentleman never discusses price. Seeing you happy makes any cost pale in comparison.”
“I expected something when you promised a surprise for my birthday, but this is incredible.” Ulest put the necklace on and spun around.
“That’s your birthday present. The surprise is coming.” Verge clapped his hands, and servants brought in a magic mirror. He saw her joy diminish at the sight of the mirror, and he quickly went to her side. “I know you don’t care for Standish, but his assistance is essential. Please, gather around.”
Relatives, friends and neighbors pulled up their chairs around the mirror while Verge brought Ulest a seat. He tapped the mirror and smiled. “When I offered to host this celebration, I knew it had to be special. Now I’m sure you’re all familiar with Chast Firefeather.”
Ulest put a hand to her mouth. “That darling man! Handsome, strong, brave, clever, why, God was generous with him.”
A guest said, “A world class hunter of dark and fetid creatures. There’s someone you can count on to clean up the neighborhood.”
“You couldn’t say a word against him,” added another.
“Do you remember that ghoul outbreak four years ago?” Ulest asked in a hushed tone. “Firefeather dealt with them in two days.”
“He is exceptional at eliminating riffraff,” Verge said. There was a twinkle in his eyes when he continued. “What you may not know is that I hired him.”
“How did you manage that?” Ulest asked.
“I use trusted intermediaries.” Verge tapped the mirror again. “Firefeather excels at removing zombies, ghouls, walking skeletons, unintelligent pests that risk drawing attention our way. The truth is he’s been working for me, unofficially, for years.”
A guest shook Verge’s hand. “He’s on your payroll? Well done, old boy!”
“Well played!” said another guest.
Verge bent down next to Ulest. “And tonight he’s doing a special job for the lady of honor.”
Ulest gasped. “Wait, you mean…”
Verge caressed her face. “I hired a man who hired Firefeather to kill the barrow wights near your estate. He’s on the job as we speak, and Standish is going to show the hunt start to finish.”
“It will be a pleasure, sir,” the magic mirror said.
Ulest took Verge’s hand in hers. “Firefeather doesn’t work cheap.”
“Nothing is too good for your three hundredth birthday.”
The mirror was blank for a moment, its reflection showing the gorgeously decorated room. It didn’t show the guests with their pale skin and sharp teeth.
“Mirrors are cruel things,” Ulest said sadly.
Verge sat next to her as the mirror showed a man marching through an ancient graveyard. “Shh, it’s starting.
Verge tipped his top hat to her. “Dear cousin, a gentleman never discusses price. Seeing you happy makes any cost pale in comparison.”
“I expected something when you promised a surprise for my birthday, but this is incredible.” Ulest put the necklace on and spun around.
“That’s your birthday present. The surprise is coming.” Verge clapped his hands, and servants brought in a magic mirror. He saw her joy diminish at the sight of the mirror, and he quickly went to her side. “I know you don’t care for Standish, but his assistance is essential. Please, gather around.”
Relatives, friends and neighbors pulled up their chairs around the mirror while Verge brought Ulest a seat. He tapped the mirror and smiled. “When I offered to host this celebration, I knew it had to be special. Now I’m sure you’re all familiar with Chast Firefeather.”
Ulest put a hand to her mouth. “That darling man! Handsome, strong, brave, clever, why, God was generous with him.”
A guest said, “A world class hunter of dark and fetid creatures. There’s someone you can count on to clean up the neighborhood.”
“You couldn’t say a word against him,” added another.
“Do you remember that ghoul outbreak four years ago?” Ulest asked in a hushed tone. “Firefeather dealt with them in two days.”
“He is exceptional at eliminating riffraff,” Verge said. There was a twinkle in his eyes when he continued. “What you may not know is that I hired him.”
“How did you manage that?” Ulest asked.
“I use trusted intermediaries.” Verge tapped the mirror again. “Firefeather excels at removing zombies, ghouls, walking skeletons, unintelligent pests that risk drawing attention our way. The truth is he’s been working for me, unofficially, for years.”
A guest shook Verge’s hand. “He’s on your payroll? Well done, old boy!”
“Well played!” said another guest.
Verge bent down next to Ulest. “And tonight he’s doing a special job for the lady of honor.”
Ulest gasped. “Wait, you mean…”
Verge caressed her face. “I hired a man who hired Firefeather to kill the barrow wights near your estate. He’s on the job as we speak, and Standish is going to show the hunt start to finish.”
“It will be a pleasure, sir,” the magic mirror said.
Ulest took Verge’s hand in hers. “Firefeather doesn’t work cheap.”
“Nothing is too good for your three hundredth birthday.”
The mirror was blank for a moment, its reflection showing the gorgeously decorated room. It didn’t show the guests with their pale skin and sharp teeth.
“Mirrors are cruel things,” Ulest said sadly.
Verge sat next to her as the mirror showed a man marching through an ancient graveyard. “Shh, it’s starting.
