Surfeit Of Curses

A Surfeit of Curses - Chapter 1

Prologue

Once upon a time, but not very long ago, a baby boy was born in a castle. His family had called it a manor house for centuries, but in this day and age, anyone who saw it would agree that its stone turrets, dragon filled moat and magical drawbridge allowed it to be deemed a castle.

Thirty days after the baby was born, as was the tradition in his family dating back over six hundred years, his parents held a festival to celebrate his birth, and to give him his name.

So, on February 14, three dozen witches and wizards from across the land appeared at the castle on the moor, and gathered in the ballroom. Only one of those invited did not attend; he had more important business to attend to in London, but his prospective hosts were understanding of his commitment to his duties.

Only one of those who attended was not invited.

At half past two, the baby, carried by his mother and escorted by his father, entered the ballroom and was placed into a green and silver draped bassinet in the middle of the room. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon, the winter sun was weak and candles shone halfway between the guests' heads and the ceiling. A few words of welcome were spoken by the host and hostess, and the presentation of the gifts began.

All the tangible gifts had been sent in the weeks before this ceremony. Today, the only gifts were ethereal ones, so each guest approached the baby in the bassinet with a flower selected to compliment the gift.

A thickset wizard approached, placed a deep red rose covered with thorns in the vase floating beside the bassinet, and said, "I give you the gift-curse of wit."

The next had dark hair and a long nose, and presented a prickly ginger flower and said, "I give you the gift-curse of authority."

A tiny witch with thick, curly hair stepped forward and said, "I present to you the gift-curse of an eater's appetite," placing a black dandelion into the vase.

One by one, the guests gave the baby various darkly colored flowers, the counterparts of gift-curses like "power", "speed", "vision", "seductiveness", "cunning", "observation", "a sly mind", "shrewdness" and "ready untruths."

As the last of the guests presented their flowers, a silvery green tulip appeared, floating next to the vase. The baby's father unrolled the parchment and announced to the assembled, "From the one who has given us the opportunity to celebrate here today, who introduced me to my lovely wife one year ago today, my wonderful son has received the gift curse which will allow him control of other people. And I myself am to see that he learns how to use such a generous and important gift properly. Now, please, follow me into the drawing room, where our tea will be waiting, and where we will conduct the naming ceremony." He led his wife away from the baby, towards the door across the room.

"Wait," said the witch standing alone on the edge of the crowd. "I have not presented my gift yet." A murmur traveled among the guests - they thought everyone had already made their presentations. Was there a new member of their group who had entered unnoticed? And why was she still wearing her cloak?

She moved towards the baby, and it was clear by the bulge in her stomach that she herself was a few months pregnant. As she pulled the hood from her head, and a cascade of dark red hair tumbled over her shoulders, the mother and father both gasped and stepped towards their son's bassinet. Her steps were so purposeful, however, that she reached his side before they could return to him.

From the folds of her cloak, she pulled a large white flower; it had only one petal that twisted into a circle. "I give you," she said, a green light shining from her eyes, "the gift of a conscience".

The baby's father shouted, "No!". His mother's hand flew up to cover her mouth. The witches and wizards in attendance gasped, horrified. Even the tulip acted as if it was upset by what this witch had said, and drooped suddenly in the vase.

The redheaded witch leaned down, whispered a few words to the baby which none of the assembly were able to hear, and kissed the baby in the middle of his forehead.

As the baby's father reached to pull her away, she disappeared, but the circle mark she left on his forehead, where she had kissed him, remained.