Tower Blues

The morning began much like any other. Faerynne sat cross-legged on the floor of the inn, attending to her lyre. Watery sunlight streamed in through the windows; illuminating her loose flaxen hair. A bowl of uneaten gruel was positioned rather precariously by her feet, and the elf was humming to herself quietly as she worked.

The constable walked in. He was an older elf, with flowing dark hair, neatly tied back into a long ponytail. His smart uniform was turquoise in colour, with pale golden accents.

Faerynne eyed him cautiously as he approached. Surely he's not here for me? Oh. Oh shit. Doffing his hat, the man smiled at her. A smile, that's promising she thought. But something about that smile made her feel somewhat uneasy.

"Ah, Sorceress Faerynne. Welcome to Felicitas-In-Gloam, or FIG, as we Gloamians like to call it! Now, you'll want escorting to your tower, hmm?"

Faerynne's expression immediately dropped. Staring at the constable, she puffed out her chest and drew her shoulders back, trying to exude as much confidence as possible.

"T-that won't be necessary. I have decided to take residence in the village residential district, with my fellow elves."

His eyes narrowed, and a perplexed expression crossed his face.

"In the residential district? But you're a sorceress? Sorcerers reside in towers. Where did you say you were from again?"

Now it was her turn for her eyes to narrow. Pouting slightly, she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Gleaming Spires" she said, rather haughtily. "I'm not an idiot, I know that sorcerers typically reside in towers. I'm just, erm, afraid of heights."

At this, the constable looked utterly confused, and a hint of annoyance was starting to show in his countenance.

"We have witnesses stating they saw a maiden matching your exact description floating in mid-air above the sea yesterday afternoon. Cut the bullshit, time to go."

Faerynne's eyes darted around the room. Okay, she thought. Windows are sealed shut, door is behind him. Come on, an opening, any opening...

Her gaze came to rest on the small gap in the roof, designed to let smoke from the firepit escape into the sky beyond. Ah. Gotcha. Smirking, she lazily stood up from the floor, taking time to theatrically stretch her long limbs. Then, after dipping into a polite curtsey, she leapt into the air and soared out of the gap in the roof.

Aghast, the constable rushed to the spot where she'd been standing moments before, trying to grab at her.

"You little shit!"

The only other patron in the inn, an elderly man with a gap-toothed smile, erupted into laughter. So much so, that he almost choked on his gruel. This served to infuriate the constable further and, cursing, he stormed out of the inn to assess the situation.

Alighting, Faerynne perched on the eaves of the roof. Her long hair was ruffled by the calm breeze. Had I know I'd be flying today, I'd have tied it back.

The vista before her was beautiful. Beyond the main square lay the docks, salt-crusted and gleaming in the light. Beyond that, the Cadenza ocean, with silver waves cresting above deep waters of blue and green. The towers loomed just east of the docks. She shuddered as she looked at them, and memories flashed across her vision.

A little girl with flaxen hair clutching a tiny candle in front of a tall, dark tower on a stormy night. Solitary hours spent honing her magick, reading, sleeping, boring herself to tears. And finally, snapping and flying out of the tower window.

Not a chance of getting me back in one of those.

Her eyes twitched as she was snapped out of her reverie by shouting. Looking down, she saw the incredibly incensed constable all but stamping his feet in anger.

"What's all this racket?"

Faerynne looked towards the source of the unfamiliar voice. A girl, who couldn't be much older than her, now stood squarely in front of the turquoise-clad constable. Looking abashed, he muttered a few words to her which were imperceptible to Faerynne.

"Well well. Is there anything in the laws of the village that says she has to go to a tower? she said coolly, looking up at the elf perched on the roof.

"No, but- tradition states- and for safety purposes-"

"Ah ah." The girl said, wagging her finger. "This is FIG, my dear constable. We do things differently here, from the mainland. And, maybe, that includes having a sorceress reside inside the village itself. You, you can control your powers well, can you not?"

The girl was now looking directly at Faerynne. She was relatively short for an elf, with wide aquamarine eyes framed with sooty lashes. Her porcelain skin was accentuated by waves of chocolate-brown hair which framed her face. She's beautiful. And I look like an idiot up here.

Mouth dry, Faerynne simply nodded.

"Well then, I see no danger. Regardless, we need her magicks. You wouldn't want the higher-ups on the mainland to know you chased one of our only sorceresses out of town, would you now?"

Grumbling to himself, the constable simply sighed and walked away. The brown-haired maiden smiled brightly at this, winked at Faerynne, and then swiftly departed.

Faerynne watched her leave silently. The weather had turned from a middlingly grey morning, into a pleasant afternoon, with azure sky with yellow sun beaming down onto the tiny village. Women were emerging from their homes with baskets of clean washing, ready to hang to dry in the soft wind. Brightly clothed children were beginning to play in the streets.

With a casual flip, Faerynne leapt off the roof, making sure to steady her descent. Once grounded, she exhaled quietly. That was lucky.

Walking back into the inn, she approached the counter, where the barkeep was busy counting coins.

"Who do I speak to about buying a house in the village?" she said.