The Stardust Affair (Part I)

June's Story Tag

Illustration By Tamsin Gordon

The Verdant Butterfly

The rooftop of Greyfen's Keep stretched like a jagged spine against the dying sky, each soot slick tile a stepping stone in the perilous ballet of the daring. Twilight did not fall silently here, it hunted, wrapping the chimneys and spires in shadow as if the city itself were holding its breath for the next leap.

Beneath the waning moon, a rogue hurled himself across the alley’s yawning void, boots skimming air, curses trailing behind like tattered banners.

Behind him… cats.

A dozen. Maybe more. Eyes glowing greenish gold. Claws singing against tile. The cause? A silver bead, lobbed and cracked by his mentor not moments before, a puff of smoke laced with rare Summerroot and wild catnip, potent enough to make felines dance from death to rapture. Now they hunted him, frenzied and euphoric.

From the nearest chimney stack , a voice like rustled parchment spoke, “Never sniff before you leap, Tobias. Rule one.“

Ser Whiskerquick of the Thornwall Mice stepped from the shadows and perched on a broken shingle, tail curled, rapier glinting, and a half mask strapped over his twitching nose.

“You said it was a distraction!“ Tobias yelled, mid-leap.

“It was. You were the distraction.“ The mouse landed beside him, matching his sprint, feathered hat barely rustling. Together, they vaulted the next ledge, the cats in ecstatic pursuit.

“You baited the Greyfen Guard?“

Whiskerquick clicked his tongue. “Better us than the Lord Regent’s spy mistress.“

Tobias choked. “Wait, she was there?“

Whiskerquick smirked, leaping through a shattered skylight just as a yowling feline overshot the edge. The rogue followed, tumbling down into shadow. They landed hard on warped floorboards, the scent of burnt parchment thick in the air. Shelves lined the circular chamber, bowing under the weight of scrolls long turned brittle and black around the edges. Melted wax clung to rusted sconces.

Kearston

“Did you get it?“ a voice drawled from the shadows. The sorcerer's robes blended into the darkness. His power rippled.

“Of course we did,“ Tobias said, striding across the dimly lit room before dropping a pouch of stardust onto the worn wooden desk. “Now you can explain why you used me as bait.“

Leaning forward, Tobias placed both hands on the aged desk and glowered at the old man seated behind it.

Shadows swirled, obscuring his face. “You forget your place, boy.“ The old man snarled. A gnarled hand reached across the desk and snatched the pouch before Tobias could blink.

Whiskerquick cleared his throat and removed his hat. “Forgive the boy for his impertinence, my liege.“ Bending low, his long tail whipped up dust. “His mind must be muddled from the fall,“ he added, pointing a paw to the skylight.

The rogue bristled at the slight but held his ground. “If I’m to be used as bait, against my mother, I damn well deserve to know why,“ Tobias said with an edge of exasperation in his tone.

The sorcerer and mouse glanced toward each other before Whiskerquick squeaked. “Your mother is the spy mistress?“

A loud thud followed by several dozen softer thumps scuttled on the ceiling above—too loud to be the cats.

The Sorcerer motioned for both rogue and mouse to be quiet as he gathered shadows and power around him. “Were you followed?“

“Uhh...“ Tobias looked to Whiskerquick, unsure how to respond.

“My liege, 'twas just the Greyfen Guard,“ he said, paws outstretched in supplication, catnip and summerroot staining the tips of each small claw.

“You fools!“ The sorcerer opened the pouch of stardust, grabbed a handful, and sent them all flying through darkness.

To be continued…..

Read Part II

Thanks so much for reading! This one turned into a little novelette, so it will be done in parts! I can’t wait for you to experience the incredible talent each writer brings, it's such a delightful and fun story!

A story tag is a collaborative tale where each writer adds a scene before passing it along to the next person. I kick off a new one on the first of every month in my Sub chat, and we'd love to have you join in on the fun!