Tic. Tic. Tic. Tic...

Charlie paced down the cobblestone roads of Syllina’s castle town with a basket in hand. Already quite tall on his own, a full head over most of the people he passed by, he was only made taller still by his stovepipe hat resting on the glassy surface of his head. With every step, the inner workings of his being ticked again, sounding off like a march for his rhythmic walk down the town square. It was quite early in the morning, and the dim blue light of the holographic candles in the lampposts that lined the roads was overpowered by the sun’s rays that seemed to bounce off of the pale ceramic skin of the machine.

“Oh, how exciting!” Charlie exclaimed, with an enthusiasm that didn’t quite fit the tranquil expression of his face. “Such rulebreakers, we all are. A veritable gang of roguish adventurers!”

A few steps ahead of the clockwork man, Theodore only glanced over his shoulder. Despite the sun of the new day, he still was shrouded in his dark cloak. The square was already beginning to fill with people, passing between the sorcerer and the machine to examine baked goods for sale or hand-woven blankets. No matter where one turned, there was something new to take a gander at.

Poppy nestled herself in the hood of Theodore’s cloak, eager to soak up the warmth of the sun in her feathers. She seemed quite at peace, despite Theodore’s constant turning to look between vendors. Everyone appeared to be smiling, and scurrying about the square. They were quite eager to forget the events of the previous morning.

“I want you to know that we are going against the king’s wishes,” Theodore spoke over his shoulder. “Despite any intentions you may have by tagging along, what we are doing is, by all means, criminal.”

“But,” Charlie trot over to his side, with an almost giddy demeanor. “We will be free to move as we please by acting outside of any political agenda. Neither crown nor holyman may stop us!”

“Goodie.” He grumbled, growing frustrated by Charlie’s unceasing idealism. He wasn’t sure why Henrietta had ran off out of sight, leaving the clockwork man in his care. Although he had never spent much time around these machines, he had never really liked them to begin with.

Still, he supposed the machine had a point. It would be much easier to simply move in darker circles, outside of the guidance of the king. With the Tressepan council fast approaching, he was sure that His Highness was in no rush to announce to the world that the capital was under plague. Who knows who would take advantage of their weakened state?

“Pardon me, but wouldn’t we find higher quality materials inside the shops?” Charlie questioned, lifting a gloved hand to his chin.

“Those stores sell overpriced, poorly made goods and dare to call them their ‘craft’,” Theodore said, lifting a candle from one vendor to inspect the size. “Whatever you need, you can find out here in the square, and for half the price. Besides, the make of the materials is not our top priority when dabbling in the arcane.”

“Well, well, aren’t you two a couple of charming troublemakers,” Henrietta’s voice rang out from somewhere in the crowd. Theodore looked around, but he could not spot her from those who passed to and fro. One stepped forward with an oustretched arm to grab his shoulder, nearly causing the man to leap from his skin. Poppy fluttered her wings violently to escape his hood.

The stranger laughed at the sudden leap backward, until she had to clutch her stomach to keep from doubling over. Theodore raised an eyebrow at the oddly familiar laugh, although his heart was still rushing from the panic. Charlie stepped forward, bending down low to try and catch a glimpse of the woman’s face.

“My Lady?”

“You,” Henrietta managed to say before gasping for another breath of air. “You should have seen the look on your face! The utter horror!”

She collapsed to her knees, laughing even harder than before. Theodore’s face only reddened from a brew of anger, embarrassment, and shock. For once in his life, the man was speechless, only capable of sputtering out incoherent sounds.

“Lady Henrietta,” Charlie stepped in, to save Theodore from the effort of forming his words. “Why are you dressed in such a way? It is certainly unbeffiting of your position.”

It was true, Henrietta was dressed quite peculiarly for the Crown Princess. A patchwork of brown cloth covered her legs and jacket, with a stained white shirt underneath sewn for a young man and bland brown cap on top. Her hair was messily stuffed into the cap to keep from falling out. Had they not recognized her face, the pair would have certainly thought her a beggar.

“Do you like it?” Henrietta asked with a mock twirl. “I think it suits me rather nicely. More importantly, I am completely invisible.”

“So we may investigate as we wish,” Theodore nodded, having calmed down through a few breathing exercises. Poppy cawed her approval from his shoulder.

“Ah! Were we required to change uniforms?” Charlie inquired, raising a gloved hand to his glass lips in surprise.

“I think we should suffice as is,” Theodore replied. “No one should bother questioning a clockwork man, such as yourself.”

“And everyone is too terrified to approach the Court Sorcerer. Too scared that he’ll snatch up their children and mix their blood in his potions!” Henrietta waved her hands in the air for atmosphere, wiggling her fingers with a chuckle.

Charlie had noticed that people tended to avoid Theodore. They never crept within a few feet of the man, even if he was in their path. Although they didn’t seem afraid to Charlie, they certainly seemed cautious. Such behavior was peculiar to the machine.

“Right then,” Theodore cleared his throat, eager to move away from rumors. “Charlie and I have gathered the ingredients. We must head back to the tower and discuss our next move. It would be in our best interest to tread carefully. The disease is likely spreading rapidly.”

“Quite a few people were gathered in the square yesterday morning,” Charlie noted. “How many would you suppose caught the Blight?”

Theodore hesitated a moment, thinking over his answer carefully.

“Anyone. Everyone.”

Henrietta nodded her head, her happy expression quickly changing to determination.

“Then I suggest we begin.”