[b]Chapter 4: A talking cat[/b]

Nicolas learned quickly, that Edgar had many stories to tell. He was quite comfortable man but was also a great chatterbox. As the duo wandered around in the Village of Hundred Passages, Edgar told about numerous travels he had had in that place in question. He had seen many kinds of courses, both good and bad things, from showy festivals to witnessing the deeds of an assassin.

Once Edgar had blathered enough about his experiences and things he had observed, he turned in turn to Nicolas.

“May I ask why you are traveling to Violet Hillock?” Edgar asked.

“Well… um… I just recently figured out that I'm a wizard”, Nicolas answered. “My intention is to learn more about my new powers.”

“I see”, Edgar uttered. “You don't really look like a wizard but more like a lost runt.”

Nicolas scratched his head in a little bit uncomfortable manner. Was it really that visible?

“I don't deny it”, he said anyway.

Edgar laughed.

“No offence, boy”, the man blurted. “Anyhow, magic can be dangerous, both to the user and to others. Therefore, it's good that you are planning to learn about your powers. I hope that you will use your gift for the good. The world needs more benevolent wizards. I met one when I lost my hand. Thanks to him I didn't have to suffer for long from my bleeding injury.”

After that the topics shifted back to ordinary themes. Also, Edgar's cheerfulness transmitted soon to Nicolas. The duo continued their wandering in the village, chitchatting and getting to know each other better.

They had just met but Nicolas already liked this man. He was so full of joy of life and adventure will and positive attitude. Nicolas felt like that Edgar was safe and pleasant travel companion, because he seemed like an honest man, who had seen the world. He was exactly the kind of company which the young wizard needed on his journey. The earlier insecurity of Nicolas was like swept away, thanks to this kind man. Maybe from the beginning Nicolas' problem wasn't the journey itself, but loneliness. But now he didn't have to worry about it.

As the day came close to evening, Nicolas and Edgar approached the inn Mad Hound where they were planning to spend the following night. They stepped inside to the building and right away they reserved a room for two persons. Lucky for them there was still some left. But before shutting themselves into the room they enjoyed a warm meal in the hall. Edgar suggested that he would pay both of their meals, which Nicolas didn't mind at all – he had not eaten well for all day. The waitress brought for both of them a serving of potatoes and chicken as well as beer for drinking. The duo ate with great appetite, leaving the talking for less.

After their meal they drifted into the room on the second floor they had got for the night. It was pretty small, the only fitments being two beds and a tiny table, which had a candle on the top of it. A little window offered a view to the lively main street.

“It's best to get some sleep”, Edgar stated while taking off his shirt. “It's good to get going at dawn.”

“All right”, Nicolas consented. He undressed his new cloak and tunic as well as his boots and went to bed. He didn't have to wait for long for slumber to come and soon he was fast asleep.

At morning Edgar shook Nicolas to wake him.

“Get up”, the man said. “As a traveler it's good to utilize all the daylight.”

Nicolas sat up, yawned and stretched his limbs. Then he stood up from his bed and dressed back the clothes which he had took off. After these affairs the duo left the room that had offered them the accommodation and descended to the downstairs. With them they bought some bread and a couple of apples for a filling of Edgar's bag, leaving the building after that. The day was still young and it was a little bit cool outside. Nicolas shivered from the cold, but Edgar didn't seem to be bothered by the chill. The men headed to the well to fill their flasks. Then they set off to walk away from the Village of Hundred Passages along the main street, leaving this hospitable place behind after a moment.

They weren't yet far away from the village when Nicolas asked: “Where are we going now?”

“Our next stop is the Village of White Fox”, Edgar answered.

“Why such a name?” Nicolas inquired.

“Oh, it is a tragic story”, Edgar stated. “But maybe it is good for you to know it, so you won't get scared to death when we spend the night in there.”

Nicolas got tense.

“If I remember correctly, this story happened a couple of thousands of years ago”, Edgar started. “There was a certain lord who lived in castle with his servants. One day his whole life changed, when a young maiden came to beg for a place to stay. The lord had never seen anything like her. The maiden's clothes were like from another world and her essence were both at the same time strong and lovely. It's uncertain that who this mysterious damsel was or where she had come from, but it was clear where this her visit lead: she and the lord fell in love. For a small while their life was perfect. But not everyone has happy endings. The ending of their happiness came as a form of jealous wizard. This wicked master of magic conquered the lord's castle and after seeing the lord's lover, wanted also her for himself. The maiden refused and furious wizard transformed the lovers into a black and white fox and banished them away from the castle's lands. Maybe if fate could have been more merciful to the hapless duo, they would have lived happily in their new bodies. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Soon a hunter killed the former lord. The maiden couldn't withstand to live without him, so she run through the nearby village howling in a heart tearing manner and threw herself off the cliff into her death. Still that sorrowful ghost of a white fox rushes through the village crying loudly an eerie cry, bringing misfortune to anyone who faces her. The castle is in ruins nowadays, but every night haunting of the fox sustains the memory of those times. No one knows how this story has ended up in common awareness. Maybe it isn't even true. But isn't it bittersweet?”

Nicolas didn't know what to say. The thought of meeting a ghost honestly gave him the creeps.

Edgar laughed benevolently at the young man's frightened expression and stated: “It's not as scary as it may sound like. Let's stay inside when the evening comes and everything will be fine. Bandits should be feared more. You know, sometimes the living are scarier than the dead.”

“How long distance do we have to Village of White Fox?” Nicolas asked in between the older man's pondering.

“Almost two days”, Edgar answered. “We will get to sleep under the open sky next night. Hopefully it won't bother you.”

“I have never spent a night outside”, Nicolas admitted. He hadn't never left his home village's region, either. So many new experiences were on the way.

“Well, you will now get accustomed to it”, Edgar said.

After that they walked for a while in silence. Wordless travel didn't last for long when Edgar was already blabbering again. Man told about his family which consisted of his wife and two daughters. He hoped that some day he would travel together with his little ladies and would gather experiences around the world as a family. They were still too small for such an adventure, but maybe one day Edgar's wish would come true.

The day got warmer around the noon. The weather was pleasantly warm, not too cold nor too hot. The duo's journey got along straightforwardly. At some point they stopped to eat some of their provisions and to drink, but otherwise they walked continuously.

When the day turned to evening and darkness came closer, the men started to prepare to rest. Nicolas was totally exhausted, for he didn't have such remarkable fitness and experience as a traveler like Edgar had. The older man collected together some firewood and Nicolas helped by igniting then the campfire with Edgar's tinderbox. The young wizard intertwined to his cloak and sat by the campfire; the warm fire felt good in the cooling night.

“So, how has the traveling felt like?” Edgar asked.

“Harder than I thought”, Nicolas answered.

“You'll get used to it”, Edgar said.

“I guess so”, Nicolas stated.

The wizard stared at the campfire's flame's dance. Something in that sight was very hypnotic. Little by little the young man wrapped in his cloak floated completely imperceptibly into the land of dreams.

As the dawn came the older man once again woke up the young wizard. Nicolas hadn't slept very well because of the cold night and because he hadn't get used to sleep on the soil, no matter that it was padded by moss. Fortunately they could spend the next night again in indoors. After having a meal, the duo continued their journey.

The time passed as the two wayfarers waded determinedly forward. The day was cloudy and Nicolas hoped that it wouldn't start to rain. It would be nasty to walk in such a miserable weather.

Around the afternoon in front of the men was their destination in sight: Village of White Fox. It was significantly smaller than the Village of Hundred Passages, especially because farther behind, not very far away, stood on the hill with pride ruins of an ancient castle like a ghostly huge shadow.

When the duo arrived to the village, Edgar turned to Nicolas and spoke: “I have some personal thing I need to take care of. Will you be fine on your own for a while?”

“I guess so”, Nicolas answered.

“Good, good”, Edgar said. “See you at the inn around the evening.”

After this the older man marched to his own ways. Nicolas remained just standing for a while and watching how his fellow traveler moved further away from him. It would take a little time before evening arrives. The young man could already search for the inn and rest while waiting for Edgar. But on the other hand, he could wander around the village to kill some time. Yes, yes…  So he decided to do. And so Nicolas left for a small village trip.

The residents of Village of White Fox spend a peaceful life. At least it seemed like that in Nicolas' eyes. He saw few villager's doing their chores, but not many. They didn't really pay any attention to the young traveler; although a couple greeted him. To Nicolas the place felt cozy, maybe because its quiet everyday life brought to his mind his home village.

After some time Nicolas noticed to his mishap that he had managed to get lost. He looked around him, trying to find some clue from where he could possibly get to the inn. There was no one to be seen in that nook where he had succeeded to wander, so he couldn't ask for guidance from anyone. Except if he went to knock on the doors, what he wouldn't gladly do.

Nicolas scratched his head. A certain alley near him seemed promising. Maybe he could try where it leads.

He, however, had time to take only a couple of steps before he heard a voice: “I wouldn't go there if I were you. Thieves may skulk there.”

Frightened, the young wizard looked around him to see the speaker. However, he seemed to be alone.

“Up here.”

Nicolas turned his gaze to upward. Although the only creature he saw was a black cat sitting on a wall. But it couldn't possibly be behind that mysterious voice, could it?

He was wrong.

“You don't seem to be one of the locals”, the cat said.

“I… I'm not”, Nicolas answered, bewildered. “Have I… oh good grief… have I become insane?”

The black cat swung its tail and asked: “Well, do you think you're insane?”

“No… I guess?” Nicolas had never heard of talking animals. But taking into consideration that he was a wizard, talking animals were just as possible. This was again a good example of how closed community he had lived in.

“Where are you going?” the cat asked.

“Well… To Violet Hillock”, Nicolas answered still confused.

The black cat tilted its head and stated: “So you're looking for an accommodation from here. Turn back and go then to the first alley that turns left and continue forward. You'll arrive to the inn soon.”

“Thanks”, Nicolas thanked. Then he set out following the instructions of the mysterious cat.

As the cat had said, the young wizard had soon arrived to the inn. The place's plaque was so worn that you couldn't tell what it was saying. Nicolas stepped inside the building and glanced quickly around him. There weren't many people in hall enjoying the treats of the house. Some talked with each other and some focused on eating and drinking. Nicolas walked to the counter and ordered for himself a drink while waiting for Edgar's arrival.

After a while, the wizard's travel companion did arrive. Together the duo decided to eat dinner and ordered food for themselves; the place's specialty was stew. The duo ate with good appetite and even after a meal they stayed in the hall to chatter. Only after the evening turned to dusky, the travelers reserved a small room with only a couple of beds and then prepared to rest. Edgar seemed to get quickly some sleep, but Nicolas had a bit of trouble falling asleep.

It didn't help either that from the outside could be heard terrible, ghostly howling that caused Nicolas to feel both sorrow and fear.

At dawn, the duo prepared to get going again. Just like earlier in the Village of Hundred Passages, they got equipped to the journey by purchasing bread from the inn and outside they filled their flasks by the well that was located near the center of the village. After that they were ready again for the travel and left behind the small Village of White Fox.

However, they were not aware of that a dark shadow followed them.