Flash Fiction: Seduction (Wandering Monsters) (Patreon)

Wandering Monsters Flash Fic!

...okay, for the record, this is like twice the ballpark length I have in mind for flash fiction stuff. It's over 1,500 words, which is half again the max length of what flash fic is supposed to be. Just sayin', don't go holding me to this standard. ;)

Also, a QUICK NOTE ON NORWESCON: It looks like my first panel (Tips for Writing Space Battles) will be streamed on Twitch. It's at 3-4pm PST on Thursday, April 6th. The link is on the schedule, and you can find other panels streaming on YouTube and Twitch throughout the con here: Thursday Schedule – Norwescon

SEDUCTION

© Elliott Kay 2023

“Alvana the Enchantress stole away all of my miners, and half my support staff, too. They’re all up in her little mountain hideaway now, slaving away under her heel!” Elbraacht waved a hand at the gentle, tree-filled slope behind him. Short, middle-aged, and bearded, Elbraacht’s velvet clothes were a bit out of place amid the tents and mining carts. “Men, women, humans, dwarves, it doesn’t seem to matter. She seduces them all. Some of them were married, even.”

War Cloud’s furry snout wrinkled. “Have you talked to their spouses? Do you know if they’ve had any contact?”

“No, I mean the married ones went up there together,” said Elbraacht. “Like they fell under the same spell. It’s unnatural, I tell you.”

“Magic often seems unnatural to those who do not wield it.” Yargol tucked his staff against his shoulder so he could fold his arms, looking away from Elbraacht in annoyance.

“There’s nothin’ natural about what’s going on here,” said Elbraacht. “First it was just one or two people slippin’ out of camp, and that happens. People quit and move on or decide they want to go home. This job isn’t for everyone. But then one came back to tell his friends about the Enchantress, and they all left. I sent my best foreman and a pack of guys up there to deal with it. They came back in the night to gather all their things and went running back to her! I’m telling you, there’s nobody she can’t seduce. I don’t know what to do.”

Doubtful, wary glances darted around the assembled crew. Scars listened with his arms folded like Yargol, but without the hood to hide his furrowed brow. Teryn stood beside him in polite, curious silence. DigDig leaned on his shovel and stared blankly. Shady Tooth waited behind the rest, hands resting on the knives at her belt, wondering when they’d get on with this.

“Have you met this enchantress?” asked Scars. “You’re sure this is a real person?”

“Yes! She sauntered through this camp not a week ago, all flowing silk and a cloud of red hair in the breeze,” said Elbraacht with a dramatic gesture. “Walked right through here with Dain and Vedic looking all smitten and smug, like they were lucky to be eating out of her hand.”

“What did she want?” Scars probed.

“Nothing! Nothing from me, anyway. They went on down the hill into the village, brought back some supplies and a couple animals. Two cows, a couple goats, and some chickens. Hardly said a word to me, coming or going.”

“And she didn’t try to seduce you?” asked Teryn.

“No, not at all. Not a bit!”

“Wonder why,” said Shady Tooth.

“In all honesty, I didn’t dare confront her. I have no skill in magic, nothing to protect me from sorcery. That’s why I sent for you. But I don’t know how you could defeat her, either… unless you were to pounce on her unawares. Take her by surprise, slay her before she can seduce you, too.”

“We’re not going to jump out and murder a stranger on another stranger’s word,” said Scars.

“B-but I’m not a stranger! I’m the guildmaster, and this land has been in my family for generations. I’m a leader here.”

“Yeah. We get it. Still not sneaking up and killing her until we see all sides of this.”

“Even if it’s practical,” grumbled Shady Tooth.

“Give us a minute.” Scars told Elbraacht, then turned to face the rest of the crew. Nobody made any effort to hide the conversation from the guildmaster. “Thoughts? War Cloud, is this something you can block out?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “My faith is strong and I trust in Dastia’s protection, but sometimes it’s not a matter of faith. And I doubt any such protection would extend to you.”

“I can’t promise anything without knowing the source and form of the magic at work first,” said Yargol. “My greater concern is that she might turn some of us against the rest, and then we’re fighting one another.”

“This all assumes a hostile reception in the first place,” said Teryn.

“No one ever feels like a magician is hostile when they’re under an enchantment,” said Scars, “but you’ve got a point. And she can’t want a fight with the likes of us, right? If she was powerful enough to dismiss that kind of threat, she wouldn’t be seducing miners off in the woods.”

“You never know what some people are into,” said Shady Tooth.

“Alright, let’s cut to the chase. We need to start by talking peacefully, and a way to protect us from all falling under her spell if she tries it before we know she’s a threat.”

“Could send one person up to talk first,” said DigDig. “Hasn’t hurt anyone so far, right? One of us goes up and talks. If they don’t come back, we know she’s bad. If they come back under her spell, Yargol can see the magic, right? Or War Cloud?”

“No, that’s not…” Scars paused. “Wait. That’s not a bad plan.”

“Wouldn’t an enchanted friend tell her that’s the plan?” asked Shady Tooth.

“No one has resisted her! No one!” Elbraacht warned.

“Shush, we get it,” said Shady Tooth. “That’s what we’re planning for.”

“Knowing of the consequences still sends the message,” said Yargol.

“Right. Best retaliation she’d have then is to send her mob of victims down to fight, or come down herself,” said War Cloud. “We can evade the victims and single her out. We’ve fought magicians before.”

“We should send someone with at least a decent chance of resisting,” said Teryn.

“I’ve got no special resistance against magic,” Scars admitted.

“Neither do I,” Teryn agreed.

“I will go,” said War Cloud, “but my magic may be critical in a fight later, if she does try anything. The same could be said for Yargol.”

“It might not be a matter of willpower or defenses,” Yargol considered. “We may send someone less compatible for seduction, or less appealing to her.”

“She seduces every—”

“Shut it,” Shady Tooth snapped at Elbraacht, and then sighed. “Fine. I’ll go. I’ll talk. She won’t be interested in the likes of me.”

The rest of the crew looked at her like she’d grown an extra head.

“What?” she retorted. “How am I wrong?”

“How do you not know?” asked DigDig.

“You’re the most likely,” said Teryn.

“We don’t have time to explain how wrong you are,” Scars told her. “But on those lines…” His eyes turned. So did everyone else’s.

DigDig looked behind himself, and then back at the crew. “Oh, thanks.”

“You’re a little young for an enchantress, is all,” Teryn said tactfully. “We know you’re great, but people underestimate you. That puts you at an advantage.”

“Nuh-uh.” DigDig shook his head. “Got a girlfriend. Not cheating, not taking chances with any magic. She’s an enchantress, means I already know better. Nope.”

“We are overthinking this,” Yargol sighed. “I’ll go.”

“Wait, you—but you’re the magician!” Elbraacht protested as Yargol’s small, robed form stepped past him. “We need your protection here! She seduces everyone!”

“Then our cause is already doomed, and I have helped us by ending this conversation,” Yargol called back without turning his head. He strode up into the forested hillside alone.

The others watched and waited.

Yargol returned two hours later, with the sun still high and birds singing. The mining camp was even emptier than when he left. None of his friends were in sight. He strode to the center of the tents and small shacks, where they had discussed the plan, and let out a sigh.

“They’re mining further up the mountain. She provides free medicine, healing, and full profit sharing. Transparent wages across the board.”

“Oh.” Scars rose from behind a cart, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder.

“Alright then,” Teryn shrugged, stepping out of a bush. The others followed: War Cloud emerged from a tent, Shady Tooth dropped out of a tree, and DigDig stepped out of a pit hidden by leaves.

“Impossible!” Elbraacht exploded from the nearest shed, his eyes wide and face white. “Where is she getting such money?”

“They’re selling to customers on the other side of the mountain. They also only work four days a week. No one’s enchanted. She offered a better deal.”

“I’m enchanted,” said DigDig. “She still hiring?”

“We’re on the run from interested parties,” War Cloud reminded with a tap on DigDig’s shovel.

“Oh. Right. Damn.”

“This is no way to trade,” said Elbraacht. “It’s not sustainable. She’ll undermine the economy of the whole region.”

“By setting a better example?” asked Scars.

“It’s unethical. It’s demonic!” Elbraacht waved an accusing finger at Yargol and then the others. “She’s done it again. She’s enchanted you all!”

“Let’s go,” said Scars. The crew followed—with only one left to linger. Scars looked back with an obvious question on his face.

“What?” Shady Tooth stared at the path up the hill. “Tell me you're not at least considering it.”