Copperfox
Well-known member
"Be at peace, friends!" exclaimed Mistress Pineshade. "Marsudel herself is only barely starting to understand what sort of gift the universe has manifested in her. Give her time; give it time."
"I can't make it come," the child told them all. "I just knew that Mister Wheelaxle would die if he went straight to the store. I don't know how many more things will come in my head. I want to go home."
Bearing in mind that Marsudel's mother was the Lady Mayor, and could complain directly to the Eastern Warden if her family suffered insult, the neighbors retreated for the present. But they did not cease from talking vigorously among themselves, and they had not dispersed out of earshot before one man could be heard saying something like, "Human knowledge belongs to the world!"
Yonazere, who had not said much during all these goings-on, took her first opportunity to approach Marsudel timidly. Reaching for her friend's hand, the younger girl asked in a faint voice, "Now that everyone says you're magic, are you going to quit playing with me?"
Marsudel replied by throwing her arms around Yonazere and kissing her. "No, I won't quit playing with you! And my dolls won't quit either, because all of us love you!"
Yonazere brightened up after this, but hovered near Marsudel as much as she could for the rest of the day, as if to make sure that Marsudel and her dolls would not change their minds.
Mister Wheelaxle decided on a way that he could simultaneously forgive Mister Brickledge, and promote public safety: before departing, he bought all of the matchlock muskets the Brickledge Mercantile had in stock, with their ammunition. Mister Wheelaxle figured on reselling most of this ordnance, but on being more careful with it while it was in his possession.
By sunset, the chatter about Marsudel was dying down.... until she herself caused it to resume. Suddenly charging outdoors and running over to the Rushing Creek Road, she saw a farmer passing by, mounted on a donkey. "Mister!" she cried out. "Your wife is going to have a baby boy for you next year. That's a for-sure thing!"
"I can't make it come," the child told them all. "I just knew that Mister Wheelaxle would die if he went straight to the store. I don't know how many more things will come in my head. I want to go home."
Bearing in mind that Marsudel's mother was the Lady Mayor, and could complain directly to the Eastern Warden if her family suffered insult, the neighbors retreated for the present. But they did not cease from talking vigorously among themselves, and they had not dispersed out of earshot before one man could be heard saying something like, "Human knowledge belongs to the world!"
Yonazere, who had not said much during all these goings-on, took her first opportunity to approach Marsudel timidly. Reaching for her friend's hand, the younger girl asked in a faint voice, "Now that everyone says you're magic, are you going to quit playing with me?"
Marsudel replied by throwing her arms around Yonazere and kissing her. "No, I won't quit playing with you! And my dolls won't quit either, because all of us love you!"
Yonazere brightened up after this, but hovered near Marsudel as much as she could for the rest of the day, as if to make sure that Marsudel and her dolls would not change their minds.
Mister Wheelaxle decided on a way that he could simultaneously forgive Mister Brickledge, and promote public safety: before departing, he bought all of the matchlock muskets the Brickledge Mercantile had in stock, with their ammunition. Mister Wheelaxle figured on reselling most of this ordnance, but on being more careful with it while it was in his possession.
By sunset, the chatter about Marsudel was dying down.... until she herself caused it to resume. Suddenly charging outdoors and running over to the Rushing Creek Road, she saw a farmer passing by, mounted on a donkey. "Mister!" she cried out. "Your wife is going to have a baby boy for you next year. That's a for-sure thing!"
END OF CHAPTER FOUR