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Wraithling Born
“May I help you, Scholar?”
I forced my head away from the canvas and looked at the source of the voice. It could only be the artist, covered as he was in paint and chalk residue.
I gestured at the painting.
“That one. Tell me about it. Where did you… get the inspiration?”
“Ah, yes. That one was special. It took… quite some time.”
My gaze returned to the painting. Tall mountains loomed in the background, lava flowing down the sides of some. In the center, a cluster of gray smoke writhed. It was full of glowing eyes.
The same image from my dream, and this artist had seen it, or knew someone who had.
“I’ll take it.”
The young man looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“You know what is it, don’t you?”
I turned to look at him.
“Do you?”
His eyes darkened.
“I’ve been there, yes. Those islands. That clearing.”
“Where shall I send the bill for payment, Scholar?”
“Can you take me there?”
The artist straightened up, a line forming on his brow, his face suddenly looking years older.
“It’s not an easy trip to take, nor a decision to make lightly.”
I waved my hand at him in a gesture of dismissal.
“I grew up traveling with my merchant family. That is of no consequence. But if you can take me there, I can pay you.”
He looked at me, his gaze haunted.
“No.”
“I will pay you any price. However much it is you want.”
A gleam lit the dark depths of his eyes.
“Be careful. Any price can mean a lot of things.”
I had him.
“Does that mean you will be my guide?”
He looked at the paintings around him before returning his gaze to me.
“I’m willing to… to discuss it further.”
I nodded impatiently.
“Come to the palace tomorrow. We will discuss your price then. Bring the painting.”
I forced my head away from the canvas and looked at the source of the voice. It could only be the artist, covered as he was in paint and chalk residue.
I gestured at the painting.
“That one. Tell me about it. Where did you… get the inspiration?”
“Ah, yes. That one was special. It took… quite some time.”
My gaze returned to the painting. Tall mountains loomed in the background, lava flowing down the sides of some. In the center, a cluster of gray smoke writhed. It was full of glowing eyes.
The same image from my dream, and this artist had seen it, or knew someone who had.
“I’ll take it.”
The young man looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“You know what is it, don’t you?”
I turned to look at him.
“Do you?”
His eyes darkened.
“I’ve been there, yes. Those islands. That clearing.”
“Where shall I send the bill for payment, Scholar?”
“Can you take me there?”
The artist straightened up, a line forming on his brow, his face suddenly looking years older.
“It’s not an easy trip to take, nor a decision to make lightly.”
I waved my hand at him in a gesture of dismissal.
“I grew up traveling with my merchant family. That is of no consequence. But if you can take me there, I can pay you.”
He looked at me, his gaze haunted.
“No.”
“I will pay you any price. However much it is you want.”
A gleam lit the dark depths of his eyes.
“Be careful. Any price can mean a lot of things.”
I had him.
“Does that mean you will be my guide?”
He looked at the paintings around him before returning his gaze to me.
“I’m willing to… to discuss it further.”
I nodded impatiently.
“Come to the palace tomorrow. We will discuss your price then. Bring the painting.”
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2013
3 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Bratton
33 books5 followersC. M. Bratton writes novels, novellas, short stories, and scripts for film and stage. These stories represent a mix of fantasy, science-fiction, suspense, magic realism, and yes - comedy! A self-confessed and extremely proud nerd with style, C.M. is a working artist who enjoys meeting new people from all walks of life. In between performing and writing, C.M. is a voracious reader and beach lover - but somehow manages to still get in eight or nine hours of sleep a night. As an avid dragon watcher, C.M. looks forward to writing more worlds and sharing them with you.
Keep updated at www.cmbratton.com with links to upcoming books, blogs, projects, and a Fan page. C.M. loves all feedback and/or story suggestions!
Keep updated at www.cmbratton.com with links to upcoming books, blogs, projects, and a Fan page. C.M. loves all feedback and/or story suggestions!
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