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From: fogelinc@pt.Cyanamid.COM (Carl Fogelin)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Errol] pruning flowers, thieves
Date: 5 Oct 1993 04:27:26 GMT
Organization: American Cyanamid Company
Lines: 197
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <28qt3e$7cq@c3po.jvnc.net>
Reply-To: fogelinc@pt.Cyanamid.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: nmr1.pt.cyanamid.com

Errol spread two, three, large scoops of ash around the base of the plant
before troweling in another layer of soil compost.  That was followed
by a layer of peat, which he tamped down with his gloved hands.  Rolling
back off his knees and onto the balls of his feet, Errol surveyed the
plot he had just transplanted.  Eight plants in all.  It would be a couple
of years before their bloomage would be spectacular.  He could speed it up
with his magic, but he would never consider it.  That just wasn't the way
things were done.

"Dat's bewtiful" said a small, child-like voice behind him.

"Right you are lad, a combination of Mrs Anthony Waterer and Agnes hybrids.
The former, a cross between Jacquemont and Rosa rugosa is a bright red,
picturesque flower while the latter is a cross between Rosa rugosa and Rosa
foetida.  A lovely pale yellow, which should contrast well with..."

'Who was he talking to?  He was alone, wasn't he?'  Quickly looking behind
him, he saw no one.  He stood up and turned a full 360 degrees around.  Still
no one.  He was about to cast a detection spell when the voice said "Down
here Mr Trafglar..."  

Looking down, he saw a small creature, no more than a foot tall.  It looked
somewhat like a common mole, except it was standing on its hind legs and it
had a human-like face with large brown eyes.  Seeing the creature, Errol
smiled and squatted back down.

"Hello Humphrey" said Errol kindly, "I see your hibernation is over."  

The creature blinked it eyes and repeated "It's bewtiful."  

Errol could see that the creature was now looking not just at his roses, but
the whole garden, the clear sky, and the warm sun overhead.  Pausing briefly
to relax and breathe the scents of spring, Errol agreed.  While Errol might
be partial to roses, it was nature in general which was a marvel.  One only
had to sit back and relax to notice it.

Putting his hand down so that Humphrey could climb onto it, he carried the
small creature over to one of the sitting benches and the two of them just
sat, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

*****

"Excuse me, Errol" interrupted a female voice, "Jorgie's here to pick up the 
morning catch."

Opening his eyes, Errol said to the air "I forgot all about that.  Thank you 
Erin.  Please direct him to the sitting room.  I'll meet him as soon as I 
clean up."

Picking up Humphrey, he placed the small creature on the path, then gathered
together his gardening tools and wheeled them into the shed.  As he headed
back towards the mansion, he thought probably for the thousandth time that
taking on Erin as an apprentice probably wasn't that bad an idea after all.
True, he was retired, but Erin had been easy to teach and helpful around the
manse.  Besides, it was nice having someone around who appreciated the world
around them like he did.

Entering back through the servant's entrance, he took off his work boots in
the mud room and put on a pair of casual shoes.  Climbing back upstairs and
into his bedroom, he went to his wardrobe closet and took out his normal
attire: brown shoes, tan dress pants, a white shirt with a maroon paisley 
waistcoat, and a dark maroon bowtie.  Over this he would wear a tan doublet.  

He didn't have time to shower, so he snapped his fingers and was instantly 
freshened and dressed.  He normally frowned on the frivolous use of magic, 
but taking the requisite amount of time would be impolite to Jorgie.  Looking
into a mirror, he added cuff-links, and a pocket watch.  Smiling at his 
appearance, he retrieved his walking cane and headed down stairs.

*****

Errol opened the sliding door to the waiting room and found Jorgie and Erin
talking.  Errol was mildly surprised that Erin had taken the time to entertain
his guest.  Recovering quickly, he said "Sorry for taking so long.  You caught
me gardening."

Jorgie, always feeling a little uncomfortable around mages tried to be non-
chalant and waive it off, but his hand betrayed his nervousness.  Errol
turned towards Erin and said "I'm surprised to see you.  I thought you were
working on an experiment."

Getting up, she said "I was at a point were I could take a break."  She 
looked at Jorgie and continued, "besides, it was my responsibility to be 
hospitable while you dallied..."

"Dallied???"

"Dawdled in the garden."  An impish grin was on her face.  "But I'll leave 
you two now," she said, and headed towards the door.

Errol shrugged at Jorgie, then said to Erin "Oh, by the way, Humphrey's 
awake."

"Really" said Erin with interest, "then I forgive you for dallying."  She
swished out of the room, heading towards the gardens.

'Hmmm...' thought Errol, 'those culottes looked good on her.'  Now he had
to convince her that the elven blouse just didn't go well with them.  
Sighing, he realized that heritage and tradition were hard to overcome. 
Turning back to Jorgie, he said "I haven't had time to check the grounds
yet.  Let's see what the wards say."

*****

The two walked down the front entrance towards the front gate house.  "So, 
how's your mother doing?" asked Errol.

"Much better, governor.  She use the magic you gave me."

"Not magic" corrected Errol, "just an herbal concoction that my mother swore
by.  Apply the paste twice a day and she should be fine."  Errol waved his
hand by the door and a portal appeared.  Before entering, he added "If it gets
worse, take her to a healer.  I only know home remedies.  For really serious
ailments, always go to a professional."  Jorgie nodded and the two entered the
gate house.

The small building was empty except for a small table and a couple of chairs.
The two ignored that, instead going towards a blank wall.  Errol raised his
arms and started to wave his hands.  He then pronounced some mumbo-jumbo and
the wall became misty.  (The words were nonsense, but Errol found that the
guards seemed to feel that great semantics and gestures were necessary to wake
the 'daemon' who guarded Warwick's Manse.  Truth be known that the security
system was based on something much more simple.)

He then produced faery-fire, which danced across the misty surface, and he
pronounced "Show me the location of all intruders!"  A relief map of the
Warwick Manse and Estate slowly resolved out of the mist and two red spots
started to glow, one near the front entrance and the other down by the river.

Errol waved his arms some more and the faery-fire stopped, the map disappeared
and only a blank wall remained.  Errol dramatically sagged, showing the result
of the great strain he had just incurred.  Inwardly he thought 'This is 
getting old.'

Turning to Jorgie, he straightened up and said "We caught two last night."  
The guard nodded and headed out to get two sets of manacles.

*****

The first one had been a fool, caught hanging by a strap from the top of the
iron spiked wall.  Errol couldn't believe the sight, the thief could have been
hurt.  He'd have to adjust the timer to recognise when the intruder was over
the wall before activating the holding spell.

The second one was much more clever.  He had found a drainage system which 
Errol hadn't known was even there, and had gotten entrapped in it when the 
Manse's security system had fired.  This time, Errol's gestures were real
as he tried to find the thief.  When it became apparent that the intruder 
was below ground and in an unmapped area, Errol phased himself out and sank
into the ground.  Shortly afterward, Jorgie saw Errol emerge with a body
slung over his shoulder.

"Do you recognize this one?" he asked.  

Jorgie looked at the fellow and a surprised expression sprouted on his face.
"That's Greased Melves.  He's a 'ard one to catch.  Wonder why he's here?"

"Wrong part of town?"

Jorgie nodded as he strapped on the wrist and ankle manacles.

Errol sighed.  Now he's getting cross-town action.  Reaching into his waist-
coat, he pulled out a gold coin and handed it to Jorgie.  "Thanks for taking
care of these two thugs for me."

Jorgie pocketted the coin and smiled.  "My pleasure, Governor."  He dragged 
the still dopey, chained thieves out to his caged cart and pushed them in.
There were already three other occupants.  picking up the reins to Old Meg,
he led the horse drawn cage on to his next stop.

*****

Errol wandered into the garden and found Erin conversing with Humphrey and
his family.  Errol always admired how Erin got along with the faery creatures
which lived on the Estate.  Elven love for all creatures was mostly a myth,
in Errol's experience, but Erin seemed to be an exception.

Waving his hand to get her attention, Errol said "I'm going to the Guild.
Do you want anything?"

"You?" she asked in surprise, and then nodded "It's time for your retesting,
isn't it?  I'd forgotten."

Chuckling a bit, Errol said "How would it look if the author didn't take his
own test?"

"Things have changed, Errol.  They might not require it anymore..."

"Paahh" he exclaimed.  Then waved, and headed out of the Estate towards the
Magic User's Guild.
  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Carl Fogelin (fogelinc@pt.cyanamid.com)   "All opinions are strictly mine" 

   Up the long ladder and down the short rope,
   To Hell with King Billy and God bless the Pope. -- traditional