Story (c) Fey Starsong 2004
Curse of Cookie
By: Fey Starsong
The hall was vast and dark, the lightless torches resting cold and dead in their sconces. Only the faintest trickles of light were able to creep in from the hall’s many tall windows, offering only hints of the room’s details. The hall was shaped like two mammoth, joined rings; towering bookshelves filled with tomes of every size and color rising up until they disappeared into the shadows of the ceiling. Suddenly, the silence was broken. A soft clicking sound came from behind the massive double doors which led into the vast hall as something worked at the bronze lock that sealed them. Suddenly there was a jarring impact which shook the doors’ ancient timbers. Two suits of plate armor were mounted to either side of these great doors, posed as if standing watch, but if they took notice of the struggle outside their doors, they showed no sign. One of the massive doors shuddered again. This time, it continued to move, slowly opening, its old hinges growing in protest with every inch. When the door had opened barely more than a foot, two intruders slipped through the gap. Gasping slightly from fatigue the two dark figures took a moment to regain their breath and shine small flashlights about the room, the small lances of light cutting though the shadows which only closed once the light had left like a healing wound.
"I thought you said this would be easy?" One of the figures growled as his light scanned the room searching for something. The other glared though his mask for a moment then joined his accomplice in the search of the massive room their steps slow and silent against the polished wooden floor which shimmered like a mirror in the pale moon light.
"That was before you went around setting off the traps," he hissed closing the door behind him to insure nothing followed them though. They had done enough running for one night and neither wanted to find another nasty surprise that decided to join them especially the kind that ran around this place. "Do you honestly think if it was so easy to rob from a sorceress that we would still have a job? Next time I tell you to leave something alone, keep your paws off!"
"Just shut up and find the book, the less time we’re here the better," his companion mumbled as the two stepped deeper into the room. The moonlight from one of the windows played off their features hinting at the identity hidden beneath their dark clothing designed to merge with the night. One was clearly a fox, a vulpine muzzle jutted out from the mouth of dark mask he wore and the trademark tail swayed cautiously behind him. The other was much taller and had an agile build, his features better hidden then his friend but clearly feline, all the disguises in the world couldn’t hide his fluid grace and balance, though what member of the cat family he was remained cloaked in mystery. Suddenly a flashlight fell on a large book resting on top a pillar in the middle of the room.
"Score," the fox mumbled the tone in his voice hinting at a smile. The two rogues quietly moved over to the book, bodies relaxed but senses alert. It was about the size of a phonebook and wrapped in aged red leather, the faded white title read simply: "Victuals". Just like their employer had said, this was working out perfectly, now all that was left to do was grab the book, get back to their boat and get back to the mainland where 5,000 gold was waiting to stuff their pockets. Neither of them had been thrilled with the idea of breaking into the keep of a sorceress, cops and guard dogs where a real pain but they didn’t hold a candle up to the wrath of an angry mage. But so far things had been relatively easy, except for a spell trap they had set off that awoke a spectral hound. They had thought a dog was bad but that was before they had to run from the sprit of one. Luckily they had managed to outrun it for the duration of the spell and it faded back into the ether before it could get them, it had been a close call to say the least. Still this was almost too easy, and that made them want to get out of here all the more. Any rogue worth his weight in gold could sense a trap and their instincts where practically screaming this was one. But they had come too far and greed held far more sway over fear in their minds at the moment.
"Ok, all we gotta do is…." He stopped short, seeing the look on his friend’s face as he gasped for air trying to force out a warning his body trembled from wild surges of fear, the color draining from his face like a dam had burst. The thief felt his heart race madly as the hairs begin to stand up on the back of his neck and cold realization that they were not alone washed over him in an icy wave. "There’s something bad behind me, isn’t there?"
Fey smiled as she sipped a cup of warm tea and rested her back against a pillow. The book she was reading was getting quite good and there were few things nicer then unwinding in a comfy bed with a good book and a cup of homemade mint tea. She was just about to reach the part when Beowulf faced the evil dragon when she heard a distant and terrified scream coming from the far end of her keep, one that was quickly followed by another scream and a loud crash and the sound of metal striking against metal. She sighed softly shaking her head and turned the page without even a spark of fear or concern at the sounds in fact she seemed slightly annoyed.
"All this trouble over a recipe book?" The young phoenix rolled her eyes in frustration knowing she would have to get up and go check on them. They, whoever they are, were very fortunate those armor golems wouldn’t hurt them…much. You would think being chased by ghostly illusions and walking suits of armor would scare some sense into the local thieves but it never seemed to sink into their thick skulls. Honestly, were her cookies that good?