Vermin? You sure?
~~~
Chapter Nine
Spinfer gently pulled Nimbalo's ear. Puzzlement clouded his face and he tugged harder. No - it felt real.
"You. . . you're really a mouse? It isn't a costume?"
"Correct, matey, and I'll thank ye to get OFF me. That really hurts!" The weasel released Nimbalo and stepped back, shaking his head in disbelief. He turned to Tagg.
"You must be a powerful wizard. Your mouse looks so real - but I can spot an illusion a mile away." He smirked and winked, then his expression changed to curiosity. "How did you do it? A disguise spell, I assume. . ." Tagg cut Spinfer off abruptly.
"It's not magic. I'm not any sort of wizard, and Nimbalo's as real as you or me."
"Oh, you expect me to believe that? Look, if this is part of your show I'll pretend I didn't notice. I won't tell."
"It's not an act. It's true," Tagg told the weasel, feeling exasperated. "If you want to believe that it is, that's fine by me, but I am not a wizard and Nimbalo really is a talking mouse." Spinfer shrugged. If this circus otter was in denial about someone seeing through his magic tricks, all well and good - he could sulk, but tricks don't last forever. He wondered what sort of act the "mouse" illusion would be involved in. Whatever it was, it was sure to be impressive. It looked like the strange performers would be in the prince's favour for quite a while. Or possibly not - the prince needed distractions more than ever during times of war, and the otter's tricks could run out faster now. Spinfer didn't like to think about what would happen to Tagg and Nimbalo when they did, but he was sure it would be painful.
"Very well. I believe you," he lied. "I - are you alright?"
Nimbalo was standing stiffly, with a blank expression on his face. Tagg waved a paw in front of the mouse's eyes.
"Nimbalo? What's wrong?" Nimbalo attempted to reply, but since all he could produce was a shrill squeak, it wasn't much help. Suddenly, he shook his head and looked up at his friend, apparently back to normal.
"What happened just then?" demanded the concerned Tagg. "You sort of. . . blanked out for a minute."
"I dunno," replied Nimbalo, scratching his head and pulling his cloak back on - no need to announce his species to all and sundry just yet. "It was kinda like fainting while still being awake, if you see wot I mean. I could still see and hear, but I sort of couldn't tell what I was seeing and hearing. I can't really explain it. It was creepy."
"Well, you seem to be alright now," said Spinfer, looking slightly puzzled. "If it happens again we should take you to see a healer. It could be caused by something unpleasant."
The three creatures thought little of Nimbalo's "episode" at the time, believing it to be something unusual but apparently harmless. Perhaps they should have worried more. In Welkin, mice were simply dumb beasts. Nimbalo, as an intelligent Mossflower mouse, was out of place. He was slowly transforming into an unintelligent Welkin mouse.
~~~
~~~
Questions? Comments? Email me at wordsmith101NOSPAM@btopenworld.com (don't forget to delete the NOSPAM first).