Disclaimer: Howl's Moving Castle belongs to Dianna Wynne Jones (book) and Hayao Miyazaki (movie). I only own the original characters that will appear in future chapters, and I do not make profit from writing this fanfic.
A/N: This will most likely be the only short chapter in this story. All following chapters will be quite long. Reviews are highly welcomed and much appreciated! Enjoy!
Dearest brother,
How do you do? It has become unbearably warm in our realm. We commend you for setting off on a trip to Ingary by foot. Chances of seeing one of our kind getting to his destination with his own two legs are seldom, especially in this sweltering heat. It certainly makes you miss the long winters, does it not? You never cease to astound us with your acts of courage, and we are immensely proud to have you as our eldest brother.
That aside, you must be worried. For us to have sent this letter via winged hound, the situation can only be dire-you are correct in what we believe is your most probable assumption. Father has found out that we lied. His advisor overheard the servants conversing about your plans in the kitchen. We will try to delay Father from using the winged hounds to follow your tracks.
We pray that you find what you are looking for soon. Hearing of your voyage upon your return is worth being thoroughly reprimanded by Father. Come home safely!
Much love,
Ashen and Xenon
With a smile gracing his lips, he folded the parchment and tucked it into one of his pockets. He withdrew his hand from beneath his cloak immediately and straightened out his cloak once more before gazing upward. There he stood, revelling in the sight of the famed black-bricked fortress. He accomplished his mission; he found no point in writing back to his brothers. Taking one last glance at the castle, he whirled around and began his homeward journey. There was a voice, however, yelling out to him, "Hey, who are you?" His steps came to a gradual halt before he turned toward the castle again.
The sight of a lean man, blond and dressed in the finest of clothes, was enough to surprise him. After having strolled through town and hearing rumors of the castle's resident being a heart-eater, he had developed a quite contrasting image of the man. "I am a merchant from the Far East. I heard of your castle and wished to get a glimpse of its beauty," he replied, composed. He felt confident his omissions would pass undetected.
The blond stared at him minutely, then approached and tugged off his cloak. "Where are your things, then? You look too plain to be a merchant."
"My things are at the inn," the foreigner claimed, taking back his cape with little force. "Dressing simply does the job, and I see no need to adorn myself so… flamboyantly."
"You have some nerve, going up to my keep like that," the blond said. "Calcifer interrupted my bath because of you." Before any questions arose, the well-dressed man continued, "Calcifer is my fire demon. So, what's your name?"
"As if I would easily give it to strangers," the supposed merchant answered with a scoff. He honestly had not thought that far. A suitable name, he needed to think of one quickly.
"Well, I am the Wizard of this kingdom. The name's Howl," the blond introduced himself. "But I'm sure you already knew that. This town does like to talk of me, after all. Always have, always will."
The merchant donned his cloak before beginning to walk away. It was his mistake to linger; at that moment, he wished for nothing but to be rid of the arrogant narcissist. A thick hand gripped his arm desperately, holding him in place.
"Since you're already here, keep me company."