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Fiction Short Story

Wynelda-Ann Shelton

Wynelda-Ann Shelton is an Executive Assistant in Northern California. She has also worked as a teacher’s assistant, an assistant manager for various bookstores, and as a nanny.

She is currently enrolled in Fiction 510 at WVU, where she is better known as Wyndie.

"The Cobweb Inn"

Wynelda-Ann Shelton

Alexandria Draconia, Mistress of the Dragons, strode into the Cobweb Inn and called out her order for a pitcher of ale. She didn’t stop to make sure she had been heard, wending her way instead through the rough wooden tables full of minor characters and back to the Main Character Room.

Beyond the heavy door, the polished wooden planks gave way to soft carpeting that Alex’s feet sank into. If nothing else, she had to give credit to The One, who had made the inn possible. Never lacking in imagination, The One had furnished the Inn for Alex and the others to relax in. The Main Character Room was opulently furnished. Sighing, Alex flopped into a padded chair and rolled her neck. She stretched luxuriously, propping her feet on an ottoman placed just right for her long legs. A waiter appeared, placing a crystal goblet and pitcher on the small golden table next to her.

Too bad Alex had spent entirely too much time in the inn lately. She had things to do, armies to conquer. If only The One would get off her high horse and come back to Yandara. True, "If There Be Dragons" was now completed, but there were so many other things that needed to be done. So many stories to be told.

Even the dragons were pining for The One.

Alex sighed and took a gulp of ale as Theonelly, the current Main One, walked into the room. Dressed in a set of wizard’s robes, the girl looked like a child playing dress-up.

Maybe she wouldn’t come over. Maybe she wouldn’t want to talk.

And maybe pigs would fly in The One’s next work.

Of course, with Theonelly as the Main One, it was entirely possible. Alex grinned at the thought.

"Alex, I need help." Theonelly made it a statement, so Alex merely nodded her head. Yes, the girl did need help. "She’s left me screaming at the castle gates for over 2 weeks. The poor guard is ready to slit his throat, and I swear…"

Alex looked at the heavy brass and wood door, praying for someone, anyone to walk through it. Shane, her husband and a master assassin, would be great. Z’Hara, God of Chaos and her grandsire, would create a nice diversion. At this point Alex would settle for Walker, the boy from The One’s "real-world" experiments.

No such luck.

"Theo, you have to have patience with The One. She knows what she’s doing." Hopefully that would quiet Theo down. The girl hadn’t fully gone through her transformation from insecure princess to self-confident young wizard yet, and was hard to handle.

Maybe Alex should pray for patience herself.

"Why is she even writing my story if I can’t hold her attention? She wrote Walker while I was still in my second chapter." Alex raised an eyebrow as Theo conjured herself a glass of ale. She actually got it right the first time.

"She hasn’t even given my story a title yet," Theo whispered, twirling a strand of blonde hair around one finger.

Alex shook her head. When would the new ones understand? "Look, The One took her time with my story, too. But it’s worth it. I promise."

"Why can’t it go faster?"

Alex drummed her fingers on the table top, annoyed. Didn’t this young upstart know what The One and Alex had been through? A coma. First love. Betrayal. Death. "Can you maybe…"

Alex took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Along with red-hair, The One had given her a temper to match. It would do The One no good for Alex to reduce this Main one into a pile of quivering fear. But, oh, if only she had a sword in her hand…

The One would come back to Yandara and be among her comrades.

Maybe.

Alex continued to ignore the new one as best she could. She looked deep into the marble fireplace, watched the logs on the fire. At first they were glowing, with only small flames to show that The One still thought of writing.

But as Theo chattered on like a magpie on drugs, a wondrous thing happened. The logs burst, the flames shooting up into the chimney and sparks flying against the grating.

She didn’t need to look at Theo to know that the girl hadn’t seen them. They burned solely for Alex.

The One was coming for a visit.

Smiling, Alex stood. "Theo, if you want to interest The One you really need to work on not being so annoying." Alex leaned down and whispered in Theo’s ear "Because, you know, she lets me kill the really annoying ones."

Laughing, Alex left the Cobweb Inn and headed home towards Yandara and The One.