Disclaimer: don't own any highly recognizable characters, though I wished Morgan and Howl really existed.
A/n: Very sorry for the long delay! If it wasn't for the exams and the writer's block, I would have updated earlier. This chapter got rewritten many times, and this is the final draft I was (finally) satisfied with. Thanks to all who reviewed!
ChocolateEclar: Thanks! I hope Morgan's portrayal meets up to your expectations! Sorry for the LONG delay though! Please update Canine Capers! Please? Pretty please?
Calcifersgrl: I don't think Tonic Traders are really wizards. However, people in Ingary do treat them with respect, as long as the potions live up to their expectations (well, that's what I think). Next chapter here! Sorry it took so long.
Alright! Now on to chapter 3!
Chapter 3: In which Kate does something rather senseless
She took in the sight of him as she extended her hand. Tall! Were the first words her mind thought. Apart from that, had floppy bluish-black hair and bottle green eyes that glinted as they shook hands. Morgan also had a rather stubborn chin which pointed out he would probably be strong minded. He was dressed respectably, like the son of a prosperous businessman who had just made his way in the world.
"So tell me, what are you doing in Porthaven?" he asked quizzically as he tilted his head aside and considered her. "Very sorry, for intruding like that, but you were looking a little lost and lonely. I can tell you're new here too."
"I'm from Strangia. Actually, I just arrived in Ingary," she said, a little annoyed to be described as 'a little lost and lonely'. "I'm here as an apprentice of a tonic trader. That's all."
"An apprentice of a tonic trader?" he repeated. "You actually came to Porthaven to be an apprentice?"
Kate's forehead creased. "The feeling of homesickness came crashing down on her in full force. Morgan noticed the look on her face and realized that he had put his foot in. "Sorry," he said with a charming lopsided grin. "Didn't mean to upset you. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want too. Can I buy you a drink? You look as if you need one."
Kate refused. Instead, the two of them went for a walk along the beach. For no reason, Kate found herself telling her whole story to Morgan, who was a very good listener. He hardly said anything throughout her whole narration, only pausing to ask questions. Although she knew she was dripping her problems on him, Kate was decidedly glad to have met Morgan, although the fishermen along the beach were giving them rather knowing smiles. Kate suspected they had gotten the wrong idea to see the two of them strolling down the beach at this time of the evening. She gave an inward shrug of resignation. People in Periwinkle hood were like that too.
"So your uncle actually sold you off as an apprentice?" he let out a low whistle. "You must be worth a lot."
"I don't know about that," she said, as she twiddled a stray curl of loose hair distractedly. "Uncle Jonas said that he agreed reluctantly to take me as an apprentice, but I saw him getting a bag of money. It's all a big confusion."
"If I were you, I would have screamed and kicked like mad when they loaded me into the carriage," he commented darkly. " I wouldn't let them cart me off like–" he stopped short all of a sudden. Kate glanced at him in surprise. He was eying a mound of sand piled up. Oddly shaped seashells were littered around. Automatically, she reached down to pick a shell up.
"Don't do that," Morgan said sharply just before her fingers touched a shell. Kate blinked as she felt some hot air curling around her face. Looking up at the mound, she saw the air around it turn slightly wavy, the way air did when it was hot. She blinked again and everything was suddenly back to normal. Kate felt surprisingly light headed and floaty.
"I think we'd better get back to town, it's getting late," he said. Morgan tilted his head and looked at her for agreement. All of a sudden, something seemed to be pulling at her insides and everything jolted back to ordinary. The dizzy feeling vanished as well. It was then when she suddenly realized that she had to meet Morton Maxwell. The sun had completely set now, and in it's place were winking stars.
"I have to be at the Spotted Dog inn," she said. "And I have no idea where it is."
He frowned. "Only the bad ones go there," he said. "That's no place for a young girl like you. Not at night"
Kate drew herself up. "I'm going to be eighteen, I'm not that young anymore, you don't have to worry about me (Morgan snorted at this). But anyway, I have to go there, or else Morton will be worried about me."
Morgan frowned. "Morton? As in Morton Maxwell? You're his apprentice?" Kate nodded, puzzled. "Morton Maxwell is the biggest cheat around here!" Morgan exclaimed. "I can't believe that he's here in Porthaven, after the warning we gave him the last time!"
"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Kate asked. "What do you mean by 'the biggest cheat'?"
Morgan sighed frustratedly, and pushed his hair out of this eyes. "The potions and tonics he sells, they're all duds! They don't work! All there is to them is just colored water and a pinch of shortening! He caused quite a riot in Market Chipping (that's about seven leagues from here," he added, for Kate's benefit) when the people found out that his potions don't work as well as he claims them to be! And you! Of all people! His apprentice!"
"Morton's a fake?" she exclaimed. That was something she wasn't expecting. She had come as an apprentice to a fake! That was somewhat of a rude shock to her.
"Yes. If I were you, I'd take off. He's trouble," Morgan advised.
"Maybe it's all a mistake," Kate said, determined to be fair minded. "There must be an explanation to this."
Morgan snorted again. That made Kate feel that there wasn't much hope of Morton not being a fake. So what was she to do then? Continue being his apprentice, and help him swindle people or to bound up and confront him? There must be an explanation to all this. So what if Morgan's right? What if Morton is a fake? She wondered. The best way to find out is to ask Morton, the irritating voice at the back of her head nagged.
"Where is that inn?" she asked as she turned to Morgan.
Morgan gave a put on sigh and put his hands into his pockets. "The Spotted Dog Inn is this way," he said. "But don't say I didn't tell you that you're making serious mistake," he mumbled under his breath.
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Peering cautiously from the door, it wasn't too hard to spot Morton's ample figure. He was sitting in an ill-lit corner, and drinking beer with great hasty gulps. It was obvious that he was waiting for someone to arrive, but there was an air of secrecy about him. Kate knew that he was waiting for her, and was getting tired of waiting. She was about to go forward towards him, when Morgan took hold of her arm.
"Don't tell me you're just going in like that?" he demanded. Kate wished that she hadn't allowed him to accompany her into the inn. Morgan had a bossy streak, and it was showing itself now. "Then what do you suggest I do?" she asked with what seemed like exasperation.
He gave another one of his lopsided grins. "Spy on him," he suggested. He threw his hands towards Morton's direction. "There. Now he won't be able to hear or see us." with that, Kate found herself being led to the table closes to Morton's table. Once more, Kate felt glad that Morgan was around. Shaggy, unkempt heads turned towards the slim girl who was making her way across the room. If it wasn't Morgan's hold on her arm, she was sure that one of the beer drinking, card playing, wolf whistling roughnecks would try to accost her.
"What are you all looking at," Morgan mumbled. "Look away and mind your own beeswax." this was followed by another quick hand movements. Automatically, the heads turned back down to whatever they were doing. Kate felt surprised. She had no idea that Morgan was a wizard, and asked him about it.
Another lopsided grin followed. "My father's actually the local sorcerer around these parts," he confessed. "But what they don't know that the Sorcerer Jenkins is also known as the Wizard Howl, one of the king's royal wizards."
Her mouth dropped. "Then you're the son of a Royal Wizard?" she exclaimed.
Morgan's spell held fast. None of the heads turned their way although she had exclaimed that in a rather loud voice. He just laughed at that. "Nothing much to boast about. I'm just an apprentice, like you," his smile quickly snapped out, and his head jerked up towards the Morton's table. "Someone's joining him," he said staring at the table ahead.
He was right. A mysterious cloaked and hooded figure came, striding up purposefully towards Morton. It was evident that he was expecting the stranger, and a look that was crossed between nervousness and considerable relief crossed his fat face.
"It's about time you came," he said in a way of greeting. "I've been waiting here for ages."
The stranger ignored him, and just sat down. "Of all places, you had to choose this hole to meet. Where's your apprentice? You said she'd be here," a low sonorous female voice said.
Kate felt herself catch her breath. Who was that stranger, and why was she being asked for?
A jolt of worry flickered across Morton's face. It was quickly replaced with a vague, genial look. "Ah-I think the girl's somewhere out there. I mean, she had a hard day, it's understandable that she would take sometime off for herself. You know, to see the sights of Porthaven–" he was cut of by a sharp wave.
"Give me no excuses Morton. I saw her earlier, at the beach. She had a companion with her." the stranger stared pointedly at Morton. "Do you know anything about this?"
There was a strange pounding in Kate's chest. So she was being watched now. But why? And who was this cloaked personage? She seemed to have uneasy effect on Morton.
"A companion? I know nothing about it, Lavvie. You saw her just now, at the beach? That's ridiculous, the girl doesn't know a soul here. I think she's looking for the place as we speak. It just crossed my mind that I forgot to give her the directions to the 'Dog just now–"
"Fool that you are!" the lady spat back. "I warn you Morton Maxwell, you told me that you would bring the girl to me less than a fortnight ago. You so confidently assured me that everything was going accordingly to your plan. Answer me now, do you have the girl or not?"
"I had her just now, she was just there, helping with the tonics. All I did was just to give her a short break, and all I've been doing is just sitting here, taking a few pints, but I swear, I had her with me," the plump sham tonic trader blustered.
"For your own sake, I hope you have her," she responded with enough iciness that made Kate's blood freeze in her veins. "Let this not be a ruse to part with my money, Morton Maxwell. That is all I can say to you. I've wasted enough time here," she rose, gathering her cloak with her. "Let me just remind you one more time, let this not be another of your lowly deceptions. You know what the penalty is if I catch you puling a stunt on me." With that, she stalked out of the inn, taking the icy draft with her.
Morton swore, and banged his beer glass on the table. "Damnation! I will get that girl for her, even if it's the last thing I do. I'm not just going to let ten bags of gold just slip through my fingers like that!"
That was enough for Kate. She pushed the chair back, and bolted out of the room, with Morgan close behind her. She took off down unfamiliar streets, although she could hear Morgan yelling at her not to be a silly cow to just run off like that. Kate just ran, and ran, not knowing where she was going. It was quite a while later when she realized that she had done something very senseless. There she was, lost, with no money, no lodgings and food, in a strange country. To top it off, there was a mysterious woman who wanted to buy her from Morton Maxwell (who happened to be a fraud tonic trader), and she had outran the only friend she knew. And to make things worse, it was already dark.
"How could I be so stupid!" she moaned to herself.
There hadn't been much choice but to stay where she was before she got herself getting hopelessly lost in Porthaven. Sitting down unhappily on a wine barrel behind a wine maker's shop, she settled for a long uncomfortable night....
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She was rudely awoken by someone who was shaking her hard. For a moment, she thought that the strange woman had caught up with her, and lashed out.
"Won't you stop it," an irritated voice told her. "If you weren't looking so uncomfortable on that wine barrel, I would have left you there to sleep all day!"
It was Morgan, and a very exasperated Morgan it was. He had started reproof her immediately for last night's conduct.
"That was something plain stupid you did! Didn't you realize that you've gotten yourself lost in the process of your supposedly heroic plan to run away? I had to cast at least three finding spells before I found you here? What do you think would have happened to you, if I hadn't found you? Offer yourself to feed chickens to earn a living? That is before that strange witch descended upon you like gnats and devoured you?"
"I'm sorry then," she said sulkily. Morgan had no right to just bound up and nag her like that. She wasn't a small child anymore, and he had no right to act as if he was her father or something. His bossy streak was coming out again well and good. Besides, Kate was never really at her best in the morning. But she was in debt to Morgan for finding her, and for acting like a good companion last night, so she managed to stop herself from saying something rude. However, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "So why are you looking for me if I cause you so much trouble?"
He clicked his tongue, and stared at the sky. "I was worried that you'd taken a wrong step, and fallen into the sea or something, for not knowing where you went."
"That's very kind of you," she responded somewhat snappishly. "So what do you think I should do now? Go offer myself to feed chickens and ducks?"
"I was thinking along the lines of taking you to get help," he said. Kate remembered that his father was the Royal Wizard. She gave a resigned sigh. "By all means."
~end of chapter 3~
Next chapter: In which Kate meets a fire demon, the rest of Morgan's big family and a Talking donkey.
Review please! [or I'll set the mysterious witch on you *just joking!*]