The Adventures of the Bluejay: Episode 1
Bluejay's New (Stubborn) Apprentice
Those who read this should have read Inkspell or it will be a bit of a spoiler for you.
This is mostly an introduction to Bluejay and Fleetfoot's characters and an idea of what's been going on in the Inkspell where the Bluejay is real , Mo, Meggie, Farid, and Resa don't exist , and Dustfinger never disappeared into our world.
Parentheses are me, the author,talking to you!
The Bluejay was thinking. Though he couldn't keep his in the right place for Fleetfoot was fidgeting. He was good at that. Fleetfoot was the boy who he'd found trying to steal some rich man's gold. Inexperienced as he was, Fleetfoot was about to get caught. Luckily, Bluejay had spotted him and drew him back. There was some kicking and shouting about starving but finally Fleetfoot was convinced of Bluejay's sincerity. Bluejay regretted decision to take the impatient boy under his wing. (Excuse the pun.)
"Goodness!" Bluejay finally exclaimed. "They should be calling you Fidgetface, not Fleetfoot!
"
"Just because of your infamous rep, it doesn't mean you can mock me!" the boy spat back with narrowed eyes.
"Even if I was the scum of the earth, I would still think you were impatient…" Bluejay muttered.
"Scum doesn't feel," he said as if he knew everything. "What takes you so long to think about anyway?
Bluejay sighed. "I suppose I should tell-- seeing as you're my new apprentice." The boy scowled with distaste.
"I believe we will both regret out decisions, but I need to learn to steal and you have way too much pity than you need."
"No, I've just always wanted an apprentice," he said with a sniff. He was fluffing. He'd never like people getting in his way. Although some still saw him as a fictional superhero who needed a sidekick. Thanks to that wreck Fenoglio, Bluejay was a story mothers would tell their children to rock them to sleep. "Anyway, I believe that since Fenoglio exposed me with his foolish songs -- that are very amusing I must say --", he almost laughed. Unfortunately, he had not laughed as much as he had in the past when he stole from the Adderhead just for the fun of it. He hadn't since that first look-alike had lost his life to the Adderhead's gallows-- "but those songs have caused a half a dozen poor men's death due to the fear of that coward Adderhead. Plus the number of Strolling Players hanged since last year when this nonsense began has doubled maybe tripled! I've got to do something about it… I must speak with the Black Prince or possibly that fire-eater. Fleetfoot, we're going on a trip to the Strolling Player Camp."
"Oh, WOW!" Fleetfoot's eyes were shining. He could really be a bit of a kid sometimes. That comforted Bluejay.
While packing, Fleetfoot showed just how big his change of heart was. Every second a new question popped out of him, like a serious case of hiccups. Bluejay could barely open his mouth to answer without being interrupted. And apparently all Fleetfoot knew was what he heard in the copper piece stories he'd pay the minstrels to sing for him.
"The Adderhead's the evil king of Argenta right?"
"Yeah…"
"With the snake!"
"Uh huh…"
"And the gallows!"
"Nothing to be excited ab--"
"Sorry, but you'll have to tell me all the stories… you know them, right?"
"Goodness! Questions later when we are in the Wayless Wood."
"Will we see fairies? And Night-Mares?"
"I depends on where Strolling Players are…"
Fleetfoot proved to be true to his name. He went bounding down the steps, quick, as a water nymph will swim away, without even a stumble. Bluejay followed with his own swift movement. He was like water. He spoke like a brook laughing, he walked like rain that was fast but smooth, and his eyes were a blue the color of the sea.
Fleetfoot on the other hand was too spunky to ever follow in Bluejay's footsteps. His hair was sandy and stuck up in all directions. Being 15, he had obviously hit a growth spurt. He was almost as tall as the Bluejay himself. That was something to say.
As they strode through the town, toward the gates, a minstrel was singing a song-- a song about Bluejay. It was telling of his moleskin hair and tall figure and the scar on his upper arm. Fleetfoot glanced at him.
"Aren't you scared you'll get caught walking around without a mask in broad daylight? Has anyone stopped you?"
Bluejay smiled. "I would most likely be caught if I wore the mask, don't you think? And this is Lombrica. The Laughing Prince doesn't care that I'm making problems for the Adderhead. He'd probably would just make me a knight if we crossed paths."
Once in the wood, Fleetfoot asked again about Adderhead. So Bluejay gave in and told him all about it.
"As you know there are two realms: Lombrica, of the laughing Prince and Argenta, of the Adderhead. The Adderhead is always searching for a way to become ruler of both realms. The Black Prince and I are doing all that we can to prevent this. Every plan he devises, it is our job to stop. We've had no information of a new plan but alas, I am restless. I cannot sit back while I cause death."
"But it's not your fault."
"Yes, partly. Because of my new found infamous knack to steal as the troublemaker who helps the Black Prince, the Adderhead is furious and has sent his new fire-raising friends to kill any man who looks like me and every strolling player who unluckily crosses their path. He won't stop until his hands are strangling my neck."
"New fire-raisers?"
"Yeah. Since that scoundrel Capricorn was proclaimed dead, his old potion maker and all his little minions have gone to the Adderhead who has promised them who knows how much gold for me in chains. Or even the Black Prince."
"Who's this fire-eater?"
"Well, really I don't know. I've only known the Black Prince for a while but he is supposedly the Black Prince's best friend from when they were orphans. He's a good man, I presume. I've seen him fire-eat. He's amazing. Could we finish with these questions?"
Fleetfoot went back to being annoyed.
For the rest of the day and the next they walked through the wood looking for the camp. Finally, at sunset they found it. They were instantly surrounded bye laughter and voices and the smell of decent food. A storyteller sat in front of wide-eyed children and all around tents were lit by the cackling of fire. Bluejay strode to the nearest one and peeked in. Two young girls were rocking a baby to sleep. The eldest one immediately looked suspicious.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"Would you know where the Black Prince is? My little friend and I need to speak with him."
Fleetfoot made a "pfft" sound behind him. "As if I am little," he muttered.
"And who are you?"
"The Bluejay."
The eyes of the younger girl widened.
"Fine then", the elder said curtly and bustled out. Bluejay and Fleetfoot followed.
The girl pointed her finger at a large tent and turned quick on her heel. Fleetfoot stuck out his tongue at her back. Bluejay smirked as if he were a boy again. These days he had the urge to act like himself. He hadn't been as carefree as he usually was. He opened the flap of the tent and walked in. The Black Prince slouched next to the fire. Obviously, he had been talking with the man next to him. The man was smiling but it didn't suit him. His face had 3 scars, long and white. This was presumably the fire-eater; he had blackened fingers and smelled of soot.
"Bluejay! What a good surprise! What bring you here? You have to meet my best mate, Dustfinger."
"I'd love to hear of your stories, stranger," Bluejay first said to Dustfinger, "but I'm finished with watching men hang. I think I should… turn myself in to the Adderhead. Even if I'm the next one on the gallows."