Once upon a time, as good stories usually are, there was a little tailor shop in the city of Realmhaven. In this tailor shop was a man, the tailor mister Thompkiss. Also in this tailor shop was his friend, a small rat which had no name. He had sleek brown fur and little black eyes which glimmered like nuggets of onyx, so we shall call him... Nugget, because Onyx is a silly name for a rat.
Mister Thompkiss was good to his friend Nugget. He would share his lunch with him every day, telling him tales of the Mages, the wizards who held control over the Realm and all its magic many many years ago. Nugget, who understood every word he said (obviously; he was a rat, not an idiot) sat and listened intently, a small lump of bread or cheese grasped in his little paws, sometimes a candied nut. Then, after they had eaten, mister Thompkiss would stroke Nugget on his little furry head and smile pleasantly saying "...but that'll be for another time", as he always left his stories in the middle of something exciting so that he would have something exciting to come back to when they next sat down.
One day, as mister Thompkiss finished telling his story for the day, he gave Nugget a knowing smile. "You see, I've been doing a little thinking, and I wanted to make something for you, for all the times you've sat here listening to me going on and on about wizards and things." He reached into his lunch bag and brought out a small piece of black cloth. "Very special, you see. A few years ago, before you were born probably, the Ravenlord himself visited this very shop." The Ravenlord was master of the Realm, the keeper of the magic since the Wizard Wars had nearly destroyed everything. "He asked me to make for him a robe for him to wear at his new-born baby son's first public appearance. And he had brought with him a swatch of cloth, very special cloth for me to make his robe. Well I did, you see, and it was a most magnificent robe, black as the blackest night but soft as the softest silk. When I had finished, and the Ravenlord had worn his robe, I found I had some of that special cloth left over. I've kept it all these years, and last night I made this for you. Your very own wizard's robe."
Nugget was surprised, flattered and honoured that his friend mister Thompkiss would do such a thing for him. As mister Thompkiss held out the robe for him, Nugget took it in his paws and slipped it over his head. It fit perfectly, as Nugget knew it would, the sleeves not too long and the cowl not too loose. He sat back on his haunches, admiring his reflection in the small hand mirror mister Thompkiss held out for him.
"My my," said mister Thompkiss, "you look every bit the wise and powerful wizard."
Nugget had to agree; the robe was magnificent, with fine silver stitches round the cuffs and hood and a delicate motif in the shape of a raven emblazoned in gold across the back. He hopped, looking over his shoulder so he could see it properly. Filled with thoughts of mighty wizards and powerful magic, Nugget started throwing his paws round, pretending he was casting spells in some tremendous battle of wits between Mages.
Mister Thompkiss clapped his hands in glee, watching his little friend play-act. Then, the shop bell rang as the door slowly swung open. "Oh, I have customers. I shall have to tend to them, my little friend." With that, he turned and made his way into the front.
Standing in the middle of the shop was a tall man dressed all in black leather, a large sword sheathed by his hip. He had long black hair and his face was a crisscross mess of scars, curling the edge of his lip upward in a fierce snarl. Mister Thompkiss bowed slightly when he saw the man, trying to show his politest face even though Nugget (who watched from the doorway into the back) could tell he was terrified.
"Mister Drake, you've come for your travelling cloak. I have it right here." he rummaged around in an assortment of boxes, flipping open lids until he found the right one. With a triumphant "Aha!" he whipped out a long black cloak with gold and scarlet hems, holding it up so that the tall man could see it.
"Excellent." The man said, taking the cloak up in his hands and examining it closely. Indeed it was a fine cloak, heavy and warm. "And you used the exact material I requested?"
"Oh, it took me a while to locate Metallisian Thoth-velvet, especially in the colours you wanted, but it is precisely as you ordered sir." Mister Thompkiss bowed again, nervously. The man nodded his head in approval and swooshed the cloak around his shoulders, fixing it with a small gold clasp-and-chain.
"It is good. As strong as a set of full-plate armour. Perfect." His lip twitched in a grotesque parody of a smile.
"...now there is just the matter of payment. As it was such a task to acquire the materials, I'm afraid I will have to." Mister Thompkiss had his notebook in his hand and was scribbling in it with a small stub of pencil.
The man took half a step forward. "I believe there will be no charge for this."
Mister Thompkiss trembled. "I'm dreadfully sorry sir, but I have my overheads to consider. I can't just..." His words were interrupted by the jingling of the shop bell, and Nugget instinctively dived behind the curtain, watching with his heart pounding in his little ears.
"My companion will be able to discuss terms more fully..." As the tall man turned from Mister Thompkiss, he stepped aside to reveal his companion - a massive black dog-like creature with fierce glowing red eyes.
"...but sir," Mister Thompkiss pleaded.
But the man was gone, the only sounds the jingling of the shop bell and the beast's hoarse raspy breathing...
(To Be Continued...)
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