The Confabulator Cafe

Tag: trickster

  • The Crow Keeper

    Emmaline hesitated to ask the girl what was wrong. Far too often it led to a game or trick being played on her, but Nadia’s distress appeared to be quite real.

    “What’s wrong?”

    “Claudia has been gone for nearly two weeks. She should have been back by now.”

    “She’s a clever girl. I’m sure she’s fine.”

    “She’s not. I can feel it.” Nadia shook her head vigorously as she searched the dark void above them.

    There was no use arguing, a crow keeper and their wards were bound together in a union created by the glowstones. If a keeper said their ward was in danger, it was simply a statement of fact.

    “Then we should go.”

    “You are going to help me?” Nadia’s question was full of suspicion.

    “If I don’t who will?” (more…)

  • Cat in Heels

    Cat pegged the young man as a sucker even as he approached the gate to the Magic City. He’s my mark for sure, she thought, regarding his honest face. Then he opened his mouth and removed all doubt.

    “You can’t come in without life insurance,” the guard said to the honest-looking farm boy.

    “What?”

    “Life insurance, pal. You want to seek your fortune? You gotta be insured. Otherwise, you better go back to the provinces.” The guard paused. “Actually,” he said in a softer voice, “You’d be safer if you did go back.”

    The young man looked so darn lost and sweet and innocent that most decent folk would feel compelled to help him.

    Dammit, thought Cat. Now everyone’s going to target him.

    She moved fast. She clipped toward him on her four-inch high heels, hoping the kid fancied girls.  Cat’s looks were her third greatest asset. (more…)