Good Luck, Bad Luck

by Jenni Ward

  Mary heard him take a step closer behind her, and she felt his hand on her right shoulder, “Mary...”

  Moving away, she shrugged his hand off, and her mild tone melted away like a glacier into the ocean, “Quinn, you must leave and return to your home. Tiani is not a safe place for a dragon to be.”

  “A dragon?”

  Turning, Mary glanced over at him. He gazed at her with a playful look in his eyes and a smile on his lips. She quickly averted her gaze to a pile of books that she felt needed her attention.

  “I’ll leave tomorrow night,” he said in defeat. “But Mary, until then, my offer stands.”

  Mary heard his footsteps fade behind her but then pause, and she knew he needed her help to return to the safety of the hidden room. The truth was out there now, and Mary felt content knowing Quinn knew she recognised him as being a dragon.

  Chapter 9

  A tremendous thud shook Mary awake as the sounds from downstairs echoed up to her bedchamber. Hurriedly, Mary put on her plain brown dress and rushed down to the floor below. The door to the book building rested on the ground surrounded by the glass that had shattered over the stone floor. It pained her to think about how to get that fixed or how she might pay for it. She looked out through the void, in the distance could see the hanging tree beyond the well. Tearing her gaze away from the tree, she saw Prater standing amongst the devastation, ordering men to do his bidding. He paused when he saw Mary standing in the doorway of the main room.

  “Good morning, Mary,” he said in the same way he might have greeted her in the street.

  “What’s going on?” she said, trying not to sound too demanding, but she felt angry about the search, especially so soon after the last. “The dragons won’t be happy about this, they will be angry that you are damaging the books, preventing me from caring for them.”

  “We’re just doing another search, Mary, it’s not like we’re burning the books or anything like that.”

  Mary sighed in frustration at Prater’s response. He sauntered towards her from where he had been standing. His eyes narrowed on Mary as he took each step, and she could not maintain the gaze. Just centimetres away from Mary, Prater paused.

  “Billy tells me he saw a man in here after I left yesterday – who would that be Mary?”

  “Billy must have been mistaken – clearly I’m the only one here.” Her words didn’t have the confident ring to it she had hoped.

  “Don’t play games with me, Mary; the man was seen here – he must be the reason you are hesitating on my offer. Would being bound to me be so bad?”

  Mary wanted to shout in his face that she would rather die first, but his men were already turning over tables and pulling all the books off their shelves. If Prater ordered, she could be hung before sunset.

  “Master Prater, tell them to stop – there is no one else here!” Mary pleaded. It had taken her most of the night to put the books back on the shelves and she hardly wanted to have to shelve everything again.

  Prater sneered before his hand reached out and grabbed Mary’s right wrist. She tried to twist her hand away, but he held it firm as he removed her glove with his free hand. An abrupt change swept over Prater’s face as his eyes found the binding mark.

  “What’s this?” he whispered; clearly he hadn’t expected to see a binding mark. Mary gulped and tried to free her hand again as Prater leaned closer. When she failed to provide an explanation, his mouth curled into a snarl. “What is this, Mary?”

  “A binding mark, Master, it’s a binding mark.” Mary’s wrist ached from his hold and had begun to redden around the paleness of where he held her.

  “When...who...” His questions faded off, and Mary tried to think quickly of an excuse.

  “I was bound when I went to Haversy...to...to another book-keeper. He was here yesterday to see me...”

  Prater moved closer to her; she tried to back away, but his hand held tightly onto her wrist. “If he was here yesterday, then why did we not find any sign of him?”

  Good question. “He...he...he only arrived when you left.”

  “I saw no one enter the book building.” His eyes narrowed on Mary; it wasn’t the look that had covered his face the day before, but she didn’t like it any better. “You’re lying, Mary. You’re not bound to a book-keeper...you’re bound to the dragon, aren’t you?” Prater’s voice boomed in her face, and Mary found herself reeling backwards, tears moments from falling.

  “No, I swear I’m not lying...” Mary claimed as she lost her balance and fell onto the hard, stone floor. Prater had stumbled forward but released her wrist in time to regain his footing. He loomed over her, casting his shadow across the light.

  “Then why not say anything about the binding? Why conceal it with a lie? Why hide him? Why make a fool out of me?” Prater crouched in front of her.

  Tears fell from her eyes despite her best attempts to prevent them. Memories of the burning flooded her mind and the same feeling swept through her body; she felt scared, powerless. Her lips trembled as they failed to find the right words. Her body shook as she cowered from Prater. Her eyes darted trying to find an escape.

  “I made her promise.”

  Both Prater and Mary turned as the soft tone interrupted the harsh interrogation. A beautiful woman stood behind Prater. Her red haired flowed loose around her shoulders and against her dark blue dress; her eyes were a piercing emerald green and her snow-white complexion soft and light against the darkness inside the book building.

  “Don’t be angry at her; I made Mary promise.”

  “And who are you?” Prater demanded.

  The woman smiled and continued to capture Prater’s own gaze with hers. She took a small, but purposeful, step towards Prater. Mary watched her feet as she moved yet again and noted that her step made no sound.

  “I am her sister, by binding of course.” She paused. “I made her promise because my brother is a very powerful man, and I didn’t want him to feel too overwhelmed by the simple villagers.” Again, she paused, as if on purpose. “Please release Mary’s wrist.”

  Prater did as she requested immediately and stood up straight; his shadow still kept Mary in darkness but she appreciated the distance. Mary had no idea who the woman could be as she didn’t look like Michael. The thought nagged away, making her nervous given the unusual events of the past couple of days

  “But book-keepers are not powerful...” Prater began, and the woman laughed the slightest of laughs. His jaw set as he scowled.

  “Silly man, my brother is not a book-keeper.”

  Prater looked at Mary instead of the woman.

  “Now please, order your men to leave immediately so that I may talk with my sister.”

  “Men, abandon everything where it is and leave.”

  Oooh, that’s not normal behaviour, she is not a human at all. Mary’s eyes followed the men as they marched stiffly past her and out of the building with Prater in tow; she pursed her lips before turning back to the woman. There’s only one explanation – she must be a sorceress.

  Alone with the unnamed woman, Mary felt small. Her heat beat hard in her chest and she felt sweat soaking into the gloves. As Mary watched the woman’s face, the placid, sincere look altered to reveal a sneer.

  “You stupid girl!” her voice cut through the newfound silence, and the dark blue colour of her dress darkened to black. Her voice sent a shockwave reverberating through the building.

  “Excuse me?” Confusion consumed Mary and quickly mixed with her fear.

  “I planned to be bound to Michael for years; years I slaved away to see my plan work, and then you, you stupid girl, you con him into becoming bound to you!”

  “Michael?” Mary tried to think of some way to appease the woman. “I...I...”

  “What, no answer?” The woman paced back and forth with her hands clenched by her side. “All my hard work!”

  Suddenly, Mary found the woman’s eyes focused back on her. A wave of fear swept over Mary – compared t
o this woman Prater seemed almost like an amateur at intimidation.

  “There’s nothing I can do...”

  “You are bound to him! I can’t even undo that – I, a powerful sorceress, can’t do a thing about you since you’re a human.” She paused and looked Mary up and down. “I want to kill you, to break the binding spell, but that’s not allowed either!”

  Mary breathed in relief. I guess in some ways mortal humans are more powerful.

  The woman took a step towards her and Mary swallowed hard, wondering if her magic allowed her to read private thoughts. The sorceress’s eyes glared at her, and Mary felt the wall at her back as she attempted to move away.

  “Yes, human, I am unable to kill you; it’s against the rules, but you have no idea how big of a problem you created for me. Michael and I were to be bound next month and now I’m trapped in this nightmare of your creation. Perhaps I should turn you into an old woman...no, I have a better idea.”

  Mary warily glanced at her as the sorceress moved towards the table to her left. The desktop had books and papers in piles that she had been going through, trying to understand about soil and the weather and how they affect crops. The sorceress paused by one of the tables and her finger lightly traced the embossing on the top book.

  “I didn’t...I...”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed in on Mary, “You, a plain, simple little book-keeper thought that someone like Michael would want to be with you?” The laugh that escaped her lips sent chills both up and down Mary’s spine before she looked away from the woman.

  “Cecilia!”

  Both Mary and the sorceress turned at the sound of Quinn’ voice, not the soft voice Mary had become accustomed to but one much more forceful.

  Does he know this woman?

  Quinn’s set face focused on the woman as he took a step towards the woman and stretched his left hand to her, “Don’t do it, sister.”

  “Why not?” Cecilia had placed her hands on her hips and turned to face Quinn.

  “Please sister, I beg of you...”

  “I understand brother. It is fine for you to interfere with my business, but not the other way around?”

  “This is between us Cecilia; it has nothing to do with Mary.”

  “It has everything to do with her! It is because of her that I have come here – I thought I only had to worry about you meddling in my business. I didn’t think I needed to shield Michael from stupid village girls!”

  “Mary’s not...” Quinn started and a blue glow began to form around his hand.

  Mary’s eyes widened at the magic. Sister, brother...glowing hands...if she’s a sorceress then...

  “You’re a sorcerer?” Mary whispered.

  “Come on Cecilia, you owe Mary. She saved me sister; they had me bound in gold...”

  “Then she should have left you to hang!”

  “And Michael? If it wasn’t for Mary, he would have hung too!” Quinn replied and Cecilia pursed her lips.

  “How has that helped me at all – dead or alive I can’t bind to him now!” Cecilia growled and took a step towards her brother. “Then what shall I do, brother? What would you have me do?”

  “Leave Mary be.”

  “Leave her be?” Cecilia smiled at her brother. “Are you thinking of breaking the same rule you were preventing me from breaking? That’s very bad of you brother.”

  Mary was only paying the slightest attention to them as she was battling her own inner voice: The Golden Law. Why did I save a sorcerer? This is not going to bring me any luck; my luck might even get worse. Her head shook in disbelief and her fingers grasped that fabric of her skirt. Tears welled in her eyes as her breathing quickened to match her racing heart.

  “Cecilia...”

  “I love you baby brother, despite all your faults and interference, however while the binding solved your task, I’m infuriated. I can’t just let that go by; watch all my work and sacrifices – sacrifices that whether you believe it or not would have benefited you too.” Cecilia paused and the corners of her mouth turned up. “I see all these books around and they’re open, I think I am inspired.”

  Cecilia turned and walked back to where she had been standing first with a smile playing on her lips. Mary felt small, insignificant, cowering on the ground like a beaten dog. Mary hated hearing a conversation that she couldn’t follow or understand; it made her feel stupid.

  “You took what was mine, Mary, so I will take what you need and value the most.”

  Mary glanced at Quinn. A brief smiled flashed on Cecilia’s lips as she raised her arms, but just as quickly vanished in a spray of blue light. Mary saw Quinn’s arms fall to his side a moment before the world turned to darkness.

  Chapter 10

  “Mary, Mary,” Quinn’s hand shook her shoulder and when she turned to look at him, she could see the concern. “Are you alright?”

  “I don’t feel any different.” Mary took a moment to glance around, everything looked the same. Despite her conviction that nothing was altered, she had a nagging feeling in the put of her stomach; it insisted that something had changed but provided no more information. “You must leave Quinn; it’s not safe for you to stay here.”

  “Are you sure? My sister, her curses and spells can be a bit unpredictable. It might be something small.” Mary shook her head and sat up; looking beyond him at the books that covered the floor.

  “Prater will return, Quinn. You really need to leave as...”

  “But Mary...” Quinn began but Mary’s attention had wandered.

  She glanced around the corridor and to the broken door that lay on the floor, before landing back on the books strewn around the floor. The sight made her sad and she felt compelled to fix it as soon as possible; despite everything she didn’t want to upset the dragons and bring any additional bad luck to her life.

  “Quinn, and you must go back to your home...and be with your own kind. I need to deal with this.” Her hands waved over the mess before them. “I only have my books left; I need to make sure that I don’t lose that as well.”

  Quinn grabbed Mary’s shoulders; he turned her so that she faced him, and she met his eyes for a moment. “Mary.”

  “I told you, Quinn, I’m perfectly okay. Nothing has changed. I must put the books away. The main room is a mess again.”

  “Mary, the books will remain with or without you to watch over them. You can’t allow the books to control your life...”

  Mary stood up, leaving Quinn kneeling on the stone floor in passage room. Her feet moved slowly as she walked into the main room and began to pick up the books one at a time. She didn’t give them a second glance as she made piles to pick up and carry later. Until she saw a cover with a dragon.

  Crouched down ready to grab the book, her hand hovered over it. Mary cocked her head to one side as if that would assist her, but nothing changed. Slowly she started shaking her head back and forth.

  “No, no, no...”

  Quinn joined her where she stood staring at the cover of the book. Quickly she picked up another and bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I can’t read the title. I don’t understand...I can’t read any more.”

  Mary’s hands clasped together over her mouth as her own words repeated in her mind. Reading had been the only thing that had ever made her feel special instead of completely useless. How can I take care of the books if I don’t know what they are?

  “I’ll fix it, Mary, I promise,” Quinn said softly from behind her.

  Mary turned, anger stirring inside her.

  “You’ll fix it? This is all your fault! You were meant to be a dragon, but instead you’re a sorcerer. I rescued a sorcerer!” Mary threw the book in his direction, though he only had to turn his body slightly to avoid being hit by it.

  “Hey, it’s not so bad...” Quinn said, putting a smile on his face as he stepped closer to Mary. “Look, maybe I should have told you that I wasn’t a dragon when I realis
ed, but you had your mind made up as to what I was. I thought you might turn me out, and I would have regretted that, having to leave on bad terms.”

  “Bad terms? I don’t think lying is exactly the foundation of a friendship.”

  “I didn’t lie though, Mary, not exactly. I just didn’t correct your assumption. Mary...”

  Shaking her head, Mary pointed her finger at Quinn, “First, I miscalculate and rescue Michael... bind to Michael; then I think I’ll still have good luck simply rescuing a dragon...but I’ve made another mistake. The book was wrong!”

  Quinn moved around so that he faced Mary once again. “What did the book tell you, Mary? Did it say there would be a dragon?”

  Mary paused and thought back to the book. “It said a good powerful being...it had to be a dragon. Besides, the book was about dragons and not sorcerers. The books are written by dragons.”

  “Mary, dragons maintain the books, but many were written by humans and sorcerers as well.”

  “I have to believe what I was told Quinn. Despite everything that has happened with my family and life, I have to believe that dragons are good creatures.”

  “And sorcerers aren’t?” Quinn countered defensively.

  “Exactly!” Mary dropped the book in her hand to the ground. “The dragons took away any chance of luck that night of the burning. We were all punished because of what happened that night. The only way I can get some luck, some happiness coming back my way is to keep them happy. I maintain these books; I learn from what I read. I’ve done everything I can think of to be good, to appease the dragons. They’re the only ones that can turn my luck around.”

  Quinn’s eyebrows knitted. Reaching out, he gently touched Mary’s cheek and ran his fingers down her face until he held her chin in his right hand between his thumb and index finger. He raised her face upwards so that her eyes were looking at him and not the discarded book.