Something I puttered with...

Imaginations aren’t for the common folk. He could hear his momma’s voice, “Best be leaving those thoughts be boy. You ain’t got no use for them.” He supposed she was right. No sense getting worked up about something that will never happen anyways. What did it matter if his mind painted pictures of the city, the lords, the knights and hinted at the touch of magic.

“There’s no such things as wizards, Johnny.” Even his best pal Frankie wouldn’t even join along with his adventures. Still Frankie had the same taste for going to the city and exploring all the fantastic sights they heard almost on a nightly basis outside the window of the “Splattered Pig”.

Of course if his parents knew he kept late nights poking around the tavern, he wouldn’t be able to sit for a week and it was sure as the grass grew he end up with more chores. Getting close to the Pig became the easy task, getting in and out of their houses took all of their sneaky attributes they could muster.

Stories tumbled out of people’s mouths like the ale from the tap of kegs. Johnny believed every word strangers would recite to the townsfolk who had nothing better to do in the evenings than enjoy a few pints of the hometown brewed ale. Frankie on the other hand often dismissed them as fables. “Why would them come so far to be spreading tales?”

Frankie’s stare left no doubt that the older boy knew what he was talking about. His responses sounded like they came from his momma’s mouth. “So me and your pa would buy them more drinks.”

With a shake of his head, Johnny would lean his head back against the wall and wait for the next story to begin. Swords and sorcery. Knights with large white chargers bearing down on wanted criminals, while mages kept the castle safe with unknown spells that could turn anyone into a frog if they breeched the walls, these men come from town to town and the stories are the same. They may have different names, but the results are the same and some horrible thief or outlaw from a distant kingdom would be served the King’s justice in some spectacular way.

Frankie leaned in and whispered, "I known it would be fun to go. We should save our coppers and go before the snows come." Frankie smiled.