Conway's Curse by Patric Michael Page A

a good enough reason to allow for mistakes? People die here every month, Wylde. People with names, and friends, and families.” Conway tucked his hands beneath the table and bent his head. “People who were cared for.”
     
    Wylde snorted. “Everybody dies, boy.”
     
    Conway’s head lifted sharply. He stared at the wizard, and Tion could see something like horror and pain crease his otherwise somber face.
     
    Tion stood on the bench and planted his fists atop the table. “You should probably know that until you saved Kail and me, I didn’t believe you existed. Now that I’ve met you and seen your true colors for myself, I see I was right the first time.” He turned and cradled Conway’s head for a moment and then kissed his forehead. “I’m going to go see about Kail. Come with me?”
     
    Conway smiled sadly and shook his head. “I still believe, Tion. I have to.”
     
    Tion nodded and turned to the wizard. He made an effort to quench the blue fire that threatened in his eyes. “Kail is loud and angry, and Conway here is powerless and gentle. Both of them are more real to me than you.” He jumped down from the bench, turned, and peered over the top of the table. “Good night, wizard. Despite everything else, thank you for saving me and my love.”
     
    Wylde flinched. “Good night,” he mumbled.
     

     

8
     

     
    Conway nestled into bed between the two sprites. “I gave my room to Wylde,” he had said when Tion answered the knock on his door.
     
    Tion sighed and curled up against Conway’s chest. “I’m surprised Marvin let him stay.”
     
    “I asked him to,” Conway said. “Told him I’d work double if he’d allow it.”
     
    “You’re a good man, Conway. Did you know that?”
     
    Conway shrugged, and Kail muttered in his sleep, jostled by the gesture. “Wylde said that too.”
     
    “I hope he was sincere.”
     
    Conway shrugged again, and Kail muttered sleepily, “About time you showed up, Oaf. I was getting cold.” He rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
     
    Tion smiled to see him hug the human’s chest. As much as he loved the sprite, Tion still felt his heart swell whenever he caught glimpses of Kail’s true nature. That thought led him back to Wylde, and Conway. “Are you still afraid of him? Of Wylde, I mean?”
     
    Conway shook his head. “No. We talked a bit when he went to bed. I still get a funny feeling when I look at him, but I think it’s mostly because I feel sorry for him.”
     
    “Why?”
     
    “ You know, I don’t think I would have understood it if I hadn’t met you two. Until then, I didn’t really know how lonely I was.” Conway’s voice took on a pensive note, and Tion felt it thrum through his chest. “I think that’s why Wylde seems so angry. He doesn’t have anyone and he knows it.”
     
    Deep in the forest, the woof howled, and Tion shuddered. Conway snugged him close, despite his own trembling. “I’m really glad he found you in time.”
     
    Tion blew out the lamp. “Me too, lad, believe me.”
     

     

     
    Tion woke as Conway sat bolt upright, dumping him against the pillow. Kail snarled as he too hit the bed with a thump. “What the hell’s wrong with—”
     
    Fierce snarls sounded in the square, and Conway leaped to the window. “It’s the woof! It’s the woof!”
     
    “I really hate that phrase,” Kail snapped as he ran to the window and tucked under Conway’s arm to see. He slid aside as Tion joined them.
     
    Faint starlight illuminated the shaggy beast as it pawed at the well. It swiped at the bucket hanging over the opening like a cat batting a toy, then whirled and growled as someone exited a shop and held up a torch. The woof snarled and charged, and the man screamed, throwing his torch and darting back into the building. The woof pawed at the door, and Tion had barely enough time to wonder why the thing didn’t just tear the door down when he heard a shout.
     
    “Arms! To arms!” A figure darted out