15 February 2010

*Free Time

Intro: Where do the mentor figures go when they leave the hero?

The wizard Penderton slapped his forehead, reapplying the red mark often found there. His crystal ball showed the new polished armor of Prince Wilbur gleaming in the sunlight as the young man turned the map upside down in confusion.

“Drat that boy. Can't he do anything on his own?”

Penderton stared longingly at his stack of manuscripts and the plush armchair. He grumbled roughly, “If he doesn't get moving the next group is going to catch up,” as he snapped his fingers and the homey library melted into a grassy field.

Snatching up the nearest stick, Penderton walked briskly until Wilbur came into view. He switched from the practical pace to his perfected hobble as he approached the prince. Still engrossed in the wrong portion of the map, Penderton's raspy cough caught Wilbur's attention.

“Wizard? Where did you come from? Glad you're here old man.” Wilbur looked at Penderton confused, “What is that red mark on your forehead?”

Penderton cut him off with a wave and pointed shakily with his stick in the right direction. Wilbur nodded and asked the familiar question, “Can't you come?”

Penderton shook his head as he thought longingly of his chair and manuscripts back in the warm sanitary tower. He waited until Wilbur was out of sight before dropping the dirty stick and rubbing his hands on his robes trying to clean them. He gave happy chuckle as he snapped himself back to his tower knowing he had some more free time.

Penderton watched the prince in the crystal ball for only a moment before picking up the latest manuscript and settling into the chair.

Several hours later, an alarm sounded and Penderton ignored it just long enough to finish the page he was on. As he hauled himself out of the chair, he mentally cursed how well his business was doing and how it was cutting into his reading. He moved back to the crystal ball and slapped his forehead in agitation.

Wilbur was dancing around the dragon waving his sword wildly. Penderton pursed his lips surprised the prince didn't injure himself and watched the short battle. After the dragon's tail disappeared into the cave, Penderton moved to the table to write the letter that would be sent to Wilbur's parents.

He dipped his quill into the ink and completed the form quickly.

Congratulations/Condolences (circle one)
Your son/daughter _____________ has won/died.
We apologize for any concern you might have.
Thank you for your business.
(No refunds available.)
Wizard Penderton's School for Heroes.
New applicants welcomed.

Penderton stuffed it in an envelope, sealed it with wax, and put it in the mailbox so it could be delivered the next morning. Penderton was grateful he wouldn't have to divert the stable boy coming behind Wilbur to another monster. He checked on the other adventurers to make sure they weren't dead or lost. Penderton turned his warning siren to silence and decided to take the rest of the evening off.

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