Out of Darkness. Again. I dropped the lid back on the small jar, and slammed it down on the table, upsetting several un-lit candles that shredded the cobwebs draped all over. Dust raised his head at the ruckus, shook it, and scattered himself all over me. After some repeated sneezing, I lifted the jar again, turned and trudged from the dim room. I entered my cheery workshop, with the laughingly flickering candles bringing a happy light all over the mess, that I was to clean, someday. I continued onward and upward, climbing the stone spiral staircase, sighing again at the clutter heaped in various spots along the route.
Not for the first time, I wonder what happened to Shrew, and where he had gotten himself to for all these years. He was certainly the best housekeeper I ever had. Only one too, that I can remember. That’s what I get, I suppose, sending him down under the castle for some ingredients needed, and he was still gone on that errand. Perhaps one day I’ll look for him again…
Reaching the top, I shivered, and shoved open Door, who resented my intrusion with a heavy groan. I left the shutters open again I see, as a fresh rain had smeared many of the runes on the floor and wall. Carefully crossing among the intact symbols, I shut the wooden shutters, only to realize I couldn’t see. The brazier was out, again. Sighing, I placed the small jar next to the brazier, I think, and began my journey back down into the bowels of home.
Upon entering my workshop, I noticed a bowl boiling over, spilling precious contents over the flame below it, creating a beautifully iridescent smoke hanging low all over the room. I let the flame light a taper first, fetched from a cranny by the table. A useful spot that, mainly because the table, made of old gnarled ironwood, was too heavy to moved by myself, or ten of me, even. Sighing again, I dumped the contents of the bowl over into the flame, dousing it. Too late anyway, I thought, being out of Darkness and all.
The smoke intensified, and I stumbled over to the wall and opened the shutters, letting in the chill Autumn breeze along with some anxious rain drops, and out the smoke, that even with it’s wonderful colors, was causing me to cough and hack for a time at the window. Turning to my hard won prize of a lit taper, I moved back out of the shop, and commenced the journey back up the stairs, weaving my path around the clutter, as some of it seemed to run from me. Into the darkened room again I shuffled, catching an edge of cloak on Door’s latch.
Satisfied, he let me continue my duties, which was to get that blasted brazier lit. Remembering back to my youth as I held the taper down into the gray coals, I could almost feel the power jump from my mind, commanding the fire to leap forth, and consume it’s sacrifice, given by me to brighten my work place. Sighing, I wished again I could remember the Words of Power that allowed such easy workings. Age robs one of more than physical vitality, and I am certainly his victim.
Gods, I’m tired. I’ll work on this tomorrow. Closing Door behind me, I limped with sore feet back down, turning down a side hall that led off the my chambers. Once inside, I clapped my hands, and the fire in the sprawling hearth sprang forth in a whoosh, and I smiled slightly at a good spell that has lasted many years. I removed my damp cloak, hanging it on the bedpost hook, and sighed myself down onto the settee amidst the faded cloth and tapestries, reclining my head against the post. Need to get my night dress on, but I’ll rest here a moment, and then settle in for a night’s rest. Closing my eyes, I let the Darkness surround me, and as I drifted off, I realized that I had plenty of Darkness right here all along….
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