The sun was shining bright as Merlinus walked to work the next morning. He was in a chipper mood, and was whistling a cheery tune as he walked. He tipped his hat to a lady as she passed. When some young children started making faces at him, he made faces right back. Nothing was going to ruin his good mood this morning.
Merlinus had been replaying yesterday's events non-stop in his head and, needless to say, they had become slightly exaggerated every time.
Merlinus walked into his store, and not even the musty smell put a damper on his high spirits.
"Good morning Alex!" he shouted out, much louder than was necessary.
Alex came running out of the shelves, looking slightly worried.
"Is something wrong sir?" he asked.
"Wrong? Wrong, Alex? Quite the opposite m'boy. I'm on top of the world," beamed Merlinus. "Did you see the way we dealt with those ruffians yesterday? We had them running with their tales between their legs, we did! They'll think twice before they try to hustle ol' Merlinus and Alex again, you mark my words!"
"That they will boss, that they will," laughed Alex, not adverse to his own fits of ego boosting.
"Anything new?" asked Merlinus, taking off his cloak.
"Not much sir. Mr. Lemmings came by to pick up his furniture, that's about it."
"Good, good," said Merlinus, taking his place behind the counter. "You know Alex, that trouble yesterday had me thinking back to my days on the road. Did I ever tell you the story of how I met up with Lord Hector and Lord Eliwood?"
Alex's eyes grew wide as he shook his head.
"No? Well, no time like the present, as I like to say. Now then, let me set the scene for you: This would have been a few years ago, back when I was just a poor peddler selling my wares town to town. So one night I was travelling through the marshes outside of Caelin, when I heard screams and shouts for help. So I did what any red blooded man would do, I grab my finest sword from my stock and headed towards the commotion. And that's when I saw them, Hector and Eliwood. They were surrounded by at least twenty, no, thirty bandits! Things weren't looking for them, let me tell you. The bandits hadn't noticed me, and I had a decision to make: I could either turn around, and pretend I had never seen anything, or I could leap into battle, trying to protect my Lord from harm," Merlinus paused for effect.
"What did you do?" asked Alex breathlessly, lapping every word of Merlinus' story.
"I leapt into battle of course!" shouted Merlinus, leaping forward to demonstrate. "I charged through those vagabonds like a battering ram, scattering them left and right. They didn't know what had hit them, let me tell you. My sword was a whirling blur of steel; up, down, side to side, no one was safe!" exclaimed Merlinus as he parried and thrust against an army of invisible rogues. "And that's when I ran into their leader. He was as big as an ox, and twice as strong! He came charging at me and our swords met with a terrible clash, leaving me with a broken blade in my hands. And that, young Alex, is when I got really mad. And that big oaf saw it too. He turned and-"
"Heh, that's not quite how I remember it Merlinus."
Merlinus looked up angrily at the person who had interrupted him.
"I'll thank you to keep- Matthew?" exclaimed Merlinus, recognising one of the strangers who stood before him.
There were two of them; the second's features hidden form view by the long red hood over his face.
"Well, Matthew… you see I was, I was just explaining… to my young protégé here… how I, how I defeated…" stammered Merlinus, back-peddling furiously.
"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me," said Matthew, giving Merlinus a wink.
The second figure stepped forward now, his once obscured features becoming clear.
"Erk? How good to see you again! My how you've grown. Why when I last saw you, you were naught but a boy," said Merlinus, recognising the second man as the studious mage, Erk.
Erk nodded curtly, but did not smile.
"I apologise Merlinus, but we have little time for pleasantries. I have come for the key, I trust you have kept it safe?"
Merlinus gasped as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
"Of course! It was you who sent me that key! It caused its fare share of trouble around here, let me tell you," chuckled Merlinus.
"How so?" asked a much too serious Erk.
"Oh well, you know. Two ruffians came in here looking for it, but we took care of 'em, didn't we Alex?"
"That we-" started Alex.
"Two men?" interrupted an alarmed looking Erk. He and Matthew exchanged worried glances. "These men, was one big, and one small, wearing purple robes?"
"Oh, why that's them exactly," said a surprised Merlinus.
"Then it's as I feared Matthew. We are very quickly running out of time."
"May I enquire as to who those two men were and what is so special about this key?" asked Merlinus.
"I'd rather not say Merlinus," said Erk, "The less you know the better. There are dark things afoot, and I don't want you getting hurt."
Merlinus squirmed under Erk's intense stare.
"The key, Merlinus."
"Oh, right. It's in the back, let me just pop back there…" he trailed off as he entered his office. He returned a few moments later, pale faced.
"Alex, where- where is the large dresser that was in my office?" he asked falteringly.
"The dresser? I told you: Mr Lemmings came by to pick it up…" his eyes grew wide as he realised the implications of his words.
Matthew and Erk stood listening to them, confused.
"Is there something were not getting here?" asked Matthew. "Who's this Lemmings fellow?"
"The- the key. It- it was in- in the drawer we sold to Mr. Lemmings…" Merlinus managed to stutter.
"You mean the key is gone?" asked Erk.
Merlinus merely nodded, not meeting Erk's eyes.
Erk cursed under his breath.
"Then we have no choice. Merlinus, you must accompany us to this man, Lemmings, and retrieve the key. If we're lucky, our enemies will still be far behind us. Come," he said to Merlinus, "we must leave immediately. There is no time to waste." With that, Erk turned on his heels and headed for the door.
Matthew gave Merlinus an apologetic shrug. "He's been like that for awhile now. Ever since he accepted that promotion from Lord Pent, really. But he is right, there's no time to waste."
"What are you waiting for boss? Let's go!" said Alex eagerly.
" And where do you think you're going?" asked Merlinus, stopping Alex in his tracks. "You will stay and look after my store, while I go off with Erk to fix this tidy little mess you've caused," said Merlinus, finding some of his backbone again. "Don't look at me like that. Trust me Alex, I won't be gone long, an hour or two at the most, and then I'll be back, and everything will return to normal."