Capes and Quills- a collection of tales

  Arriving in a town along the mountain path, Sarafelle decided to go searching for a tavern for them to buy food and water, leaving the Traveler for just a moment all alone. Leaning on a barrel, the girl observed her surroundings, before the nearby pine leaves began to rustle in the wind as snow fell from atop them. Landing on the young girl’s hood, she pushed the flakes off, turning to stare into the dark forest. A rustle suddenly startled her, someone clearly in the trees. Completely turning to face the trees, she felt herself tense. She couldn’t risk being caught whilst Sara was busy, so she kept a close eye. She wouldn’t be caught unaware again. Heart pounding, she waited for another rustle, but nothing moved. Perhaps it was just a stray cat or rabbit rustling around? Maybe an owl, or a mouse climbing up the trees? She breathed slowly, calming down. There was nothing there…for now. Nothing was hidden there in the darkness, nobody was watching her. Regaining control of her brea...

  As the Traveler and Sarafelle walked through one of the mountain paths, they took a rest stop, sitting on the rocks and gazing at the view. The landscape was covered in snowy hills and pine trees, small villages and towns scattered around in between. Atop the mountain the air was crisp and clear, the Traveler breathing in before the two stared up at the sky as small snowflakes began to flutter down toward them. Catching one on her palm, the Traveler suddenly recalled something from long ago. Sitting back down on the rock, she turned to Sarafelle, explaining she remembered a tale her mother had told her when she was a little girl, deciding to name it ‘the Cracked Globe’. Closing her eyes, she returned to that day. She was around five or six years old, running through the rooms of their small house to try and find her mother. She wanted to show her the strange flowers that had started blooming all over their garden, purple flowers with vibrant yellow centres which looked as if they...

  The Traveler walked through the forest, before hearing footsteps and turning. From behind, somebody grabbed her shoulders, the girl’s entire body tensing up in fear. He’d found her, surely. Shaking, she closed her eyes in fear, before someone laughed. Sarafelle, giggling, put her arms around the Traveler’s waist from behind, glad to see she was okay. “You ran off so suddenly, I’ve been searching for you for ages!” Sara spoke, the Traveler sighing. The feeling of Sarafelle’s hands on her body was uncomfortably familiar, but she knew the girl held no ill intent, so she allowed the contact to continue, albeit reluctantly. Sarafelle likely didn’t even know the reason for her tension, so there was no harm in allowing herself to be held, even just a little. The two sat down in a clearing, lying on the grass and staring up at the sky, Sara turning to stare at the Traveler, a shine in her eyes. “I heard this brilliant story the other night from one of the other maids. Want to hear it?” s...

  The Traveler walked through the streets of a town, eventually arriving at a school and taking a break from walking, sitting down on a bench nearby and opening her book. Staring down at the drawings and fixing the odd calligraphy mistake, she suddenly felt her wrist begin throbbing anew, and tears filled her eyes. The bruising was still there, but she tried to forget about how painful it made writing. It made her wonder if he knew what he was doing. Likely, since he always seemed a hundred steps ahead. Shaking away the thoughts, she was suddenly startled by someone approaching, a teacher from the school having noticed her. The man looked down at her bruising, then at how pale she was, and immediately brought her indoors, finding her some food and water and then running a cold cloth, placing it over the bruises gently. He didn’t ask questions about who she was or why she was there, just deduced she was young and possibly in need of aid. Suddenly ravenous, the Traveler ate the food ...

  The Traveler approached the entrance to a new town, where an old woman was selling various pieces of jewellery which sparkled in the light. Knowing she couldn’t afford any, the Traveler nearly walked past, before noticing something strange. One of the necklaces, a gold chain, had a charm attached, a small birdcage. Moving closer, the old lady noticed her watching and smiled, beginning to speak to her. “Are you curious about this one?” she asked, pointing at the necklace, and the Traveler shyly nodded, wordless as per usual. The old lady took it into her hands and gently opened and closed a tiny door on the charm, before musing to herself. “This necklace had a story, once. My son acquired it and gave it to me…apparently it belonged to his best friend…” she thought aloud, the Traveler looking at her in curiosity. The woman noticed her expression and gave a small, resigned smile. “You want to hear it?” she asked, the Traveler eagerly nodding. “Very well then. He called it the tale o...