The Lost Mage (15 page)

Darakin made a sound of frustration and followed Nora into the kitchen. He spent the next hour learning about how to turn on the oven, the purposes of the refrigerator and other appliances, as well rules about not scratching Teflon surfaces with metal utensils.

Then Nora sat him down and discussed money. She taught him what the value of each denomination was, how to make change and went over some basics about what was expensive and what wasn’t.

After two exhausting hours of trying to teach money and kitchen etiquette to Darakin, Nora phoned Sean to find out if he wanted them to work that night.

“Thank Goodness, we’re both to go in tonight,” she said to Darakin as she hung up.

Darakin stood and touched the phone. “This … device – it allows you to speak to Sean?”

“Yes, this is a phone. Remember, I used one on the street the other day? That was my cell phone. This is my home phone. People in this realm like to stay connected.”

“It still seems like magic to me.”

“Yeah, but you thought my non-stick surface pan was magic, too.”

“Come on! A surface that you cook on and there’s no mess? No stuck or burnt on food? I stand by my decree that it’s magic.”

Nora laughed.

“Well, I should pack my old clothes up if we’re going back to Sean’s.”

Mrowley made some odd choking noises at the thought of the small room at the back of the bar. In two short days, he’d grown accustomed to having two warm bodies, a soft bed and his own litter pan.

“Mrowley? Are you okay?”

Yeah, just a hairball.
The disappointment was clear in his voice.

“Is he throwing up in my living room?”

“No, well actually, I don’t know. Are you throwing up, Mrowley?”

No. Just a gagging thing. I’m fine.

“He says he’s fine.”

“Okay, but listen, I told you to stay here. That little room at the pub is no place for a grown man and certainly no place for a cat. You’ll stay with me for a wee bit. I insist.”

“I don’t want to be an imposition.”

Dude! Impose. Impose. Please? I like it here. I even like her.

“That you’ve already been, between dead mice, battles with flies and a fire in me living room. It’s no time to be apologizing now. Besides, I have to confess that I’m enjoying the company, despite the messes.”

Wahoo. Please, Darakin? Let’s stay here. Please?

“Well, it seems that you’ve made quite an impression on Mrowley … and on me. I admit that I, I mean we, would be happy to stay with you for awhile.”

Nora blushed with happiness.

“In that case, put some food down for Mrowley and then come help me cook us an early dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Darakin did as she bid.

Mrowley rubbed against his hand as he was putting the food out to show how happy he was with the arrangement.

Later that afternoon, Darakin and Nora walked the ten blocks to the bar, because Nora was fairly certain that Darakin wouldn’t get on the subway yet.

“There you are! I missed yas both the past two nights,” Sean called out as they entered the pub.

“We missed you, too, Sean,” Nora gave the bartender a kiss on the cheek.

“So,” he asked in a quiet voice when Darakin was out of earshot, “how’s it been at your place?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she laughed. “He nearly set me place afire and his cat broke some of my stuff, but I kind of like having the company around anyway.”

At the sad expression on her face, Sean replied, “Aye, that you must, lassie, that you must.”

An unshed tear glistened in her eye. She wiped it away and headed to the kitchen.

Darakin spent the evening carrying heavy boxes of liquor and trays of glasses between the bar and the kitchen. He found himself compelled to watch Nora as she worked whenever he could. During one of these intervals, from behind the bar, he noticed a customer put his hand on her backside.

Without hesitation, he began to move in that direction, only to have Sean block him with an arm.

“Let her be, lad.”

“But that man –”

“Aye, I saw it, but Nora can handle herself. She’ll let us know if she needs help. If you mess up her tip from those blokes, you’ll not be hearing the end of it for some time to come. Trust me.”

Nora turned toward the offending patron, “Ach, didn’t your hand just slip there, boyo?”

“Sorry, sweetie. It’s got a mind of its own.”

“And here I was thinking it was just the one of you did any thinking,” she said, pointing toward his crotch.

The man’s companions all laughed and after a few seconds he did, too. Nora smiled at them and moved on.

Sean elbowed Darakin. “See, I told you. You don’t need to get involved unless it gets ugly, and like I said, she’ll let us know if it comes to that.”

The rest of the night passed peacefully and soon Darakin and Nora were walking home to her apartment in the early hours of the morning.

Darakin looked at the quiet, deserted streets and frowned. “I don’t like that you walked home alone before all those nights before I got here. This doesn’t feel safe.”

“When I’m alone, I usually take the subway, not that it’s much safer, but I also have my mace and a whistle in my bag should it come to that.”

Darakin looked at her in surprise. “You carry a mace?”

“Sure, any girl who travels alone at night should.”

“Do you know how to use it?”

“It’s not rocket science, Darakin.”

“Rocket science?”

“I mean, it doesn’t take a genius. Just point and spray. What’s so hard about that?”

“Point and spray? Is that some sort of tactical move you’ve been taught?”

“Huh? No. Point …” she held her hand up in front of her as if to point the device at the imaginary being in front of her, “and spray.” She made a squeezing motion with her index finger.

Darakin burst out laughing. “I’m afraid you’ve been misled as to how to use a mace. It requires a bit more finesse than just pointing and doing that other thing, even if it is one that’s tiny enough to fit in your bag. And quite frankly, I don’t see how any weapon small enough to fit in your purse would do much damage.”

“Clearly, you haven’t seen a handgun yet.”

“Of course I have. We have pistols in my realm, but they’re much bigger than your bag. And the guns we saw in that magic box program were also far too large to fit in your purse. Do you have a small gun?”

“Well, they exist, but I don’t have one.”

“So let’s stick to talking about your mace.”

“Okay fine. It doesn’t need to be a big container, Darakin. Just a small squirt is all I need.”

“Squirt?” He’d had enough confusing conversations with Nora to realize that it was possible they were speaking about two different items. “May I see your mace?”

She pulls the small canister from her purse. “See? It’s a small spray can. You spray it in someone’s eyes and the burning incapacitates them so you can get away.”

Darakin laughed.

“What’s so funny? You don’t think I’d be able to do it?”

“Well, I am concerned that you wouldn’t be able to get it out of your bag fast enough, but I was laughing because I thought you meant mace, the weapon. You know, the club that you use to hit people with.”

Nora laughed. “That makes sense then, your being concerned with its size.”

“Yes. But as for this spray, what if you get attacked from behind?”

“Well, to be honest, if I were alone, I’d have it in my pocket.”

“I still don’t like it. I’m glad I’m here.”

“Me, too.” She hooked her arm around his and they went home. Tired as they were, they still couldn’t keep away from each other once they reached the bedroom.

Mrowley, very put out at being locked out of the bedroom once again, pawed at the door.
Come on. I’ve been alone all night. Can’t I come in? I’ll just sit at the edge of the bed.

“In a little while, cat.”

Nora laughed as Darakin explained what Mrowley was on about. When they were done and Nora was in a light sleep, Darakin got up and let the cat in.

‘Bout time,
Mrowley grumbled as he jumped to the bed and settled in between his two people.

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning, Darakin awoke to find Mrowley curled up in the crook of Nora’s arm.

The cat opened one eye to peek at Darakin and started purring.
Morning.

“Morning,” Darakin replied.

“Mornin’,” Nora murmured without moving.

“How about I go make us some coffee?” Darakin offered.

“Mm, sounds heavenly.” Nora snuggled deeper into the blankets.

Darakin made his way to the kitchen and stared at the coffee maker, trying to recall Nora’s instructions regarding the little machine.

Back in the bedroom, Nora thought about how wonderful this day seemed already. There were no crashes, thumps or smoke alarms to awaken her, the purring of the cat was very soothing and Darakin was making her coffee.