The 12 Tales of Christmas: More precious than Gold
For the second tale of Christmas Nate Hartman asked of me…for 2 rounds of generosity. The number 2 and the word generosity are the prompts for this story. But in this case Nate Hartman made this request. Yes, the one who requested my review of Idiocracy is participating in this challenge.
This is my way of saying thank you to all those who’ve helped me over the course of this rough year. As a writer I find that in the spirit of Christmas it’s always good to give back. And to those who support me in one way or another I can do no less than give back as good as they give me. Hence why I'm doing this.
For the second 12 tales of Christmas story, we’re heading into the realm of urban fantasy. To be precise we’re heading to the universe of Mage Squad. It’s a well-known fact that some things in this world are more precious than gold. Things like faith, family, friends, and love. Those kinds of things which are food for the soul.
And Christmas is a time for those important things more than ever.
In this story a young couple in the city of Blade’s Hope get hit with devastating news on their desire to have a family. Little do they know that one act of generosity towards two street urchin kids will have a major effect. The kind of major effect that will change everyone’s lives for the better. Get ready for a heartfelt feel-good story.
More precious than gold is coming up next.
The downtown area of the city of Blade’s Hope was alive with activity. Various cars and buses travelled down the busy streets towards their various destinations. People walked along the sidewalks also enroute to wherever they were going. Many of the shops of the downtown area showed off their various wares. Over the loudspeakers various radio stations played merry tunes celebrating the Winter festival.
On various walls a picture of an elvish man with hair that looked like leaves were up. Big bold letters on the posters read, “He has risen. Our Lord Sharis Quickblade has returned.’
Through the festive atmosphere Manda and Jergen Brandt walked. But unlike the rest of the crowd, they were not feeling so festive. Not a surprise considering the terrible news they’d received. Manda's husband held the bereft half-elf woman.
It had only been a short time since the doctors at the clinic had given her the terrible diagnosis. Manda had Cronson’s Disease a condition some of the more powerful Mind Magic wielders had. Because of which having children was impossible for her. The tear-streaked face of the woman matched the crushed feeling in Jergen.
Damn it, it’s not fair. The businessman thought.
Manda and I have worked so hard to reach this point. Now this Cronson’s Disease report comes up and we’ve wanted a family more than anything. The half-elf man thought.
“it's not fair Jergen,” Manda said.
“No, no it’s not,” The Brandt male said.
“How is it that after all the good we’ve done that such a cruel fate comes down on us?” Manda asked.
“I don’t know sunflower, I don’t know.” Jergen answered.
The two rounded a corner heading for the garage where their car was to drive home. Jergen Brandt thought to himself, I’m not going to allow this setback to stop us. By the Gods we’re having a family we’ve always wanted. Somehow, we’re going to have that family.
Their dark thoughts carried them towards the garage. They reached the elevator that would take them up. Then it opened and a man dressed in ragged clothes emerged. The foul odor of the man reeked of cheap drink. A rugged unshaven face showed a man who did not take care of his appearance.
The cold green eyes indicated clear malice. Before the couple could do anything, the man pulled a knife from his ragged coat and aimed it at the two. “Hey big shots into the elevator now!” The man shouted in a threatening tone.
Jergen looked at his wife who sent via her mind magic power, “He’s serious dear, stay on your toes.”
Noted, the businessman thought.
The two raised their hands as they stepped into the elevator. The door closed and the man snapped, “Hit the top-level button, move!”
The Half-Elf male did as the thug had instructed him. The elevator started to move. Manda said, “You don’t want to do this. You do know this place has security cameras watching.”
The man snorted and said, “I know some people who work here. They’ll turn a blind eye to what I do!”
Jergen kept himself from wincing. Despite the improvements to downtown there was still a corruption in some businesses. The half-elf man said, “I’m giving you fair warning sir, don’t do this. You don’t want to rob us.”
“The hells I don’t! I don’t give a crap who you are, you’re my new score!”
The elevator reached the top of the garage. The elevator bell rang as the door opened. “Out, out!” the man snapped.
The couple stepped out being very careful to keep the man in their sight. Jergen kept his wife behind him. The man trembled in anticipation. “I recall the term you would’ve used in your bad old days dear is he thinks we’re an easy mark.” Manda sent via her Mind power.
And that’s going to be his undoing, the Half-elf man thought.
He kept himself calm, as he watched the knife wielding man before them. “Hand over your wallets and cards…now!” The thug snapped.
“But how will my wife and I pay for anything?” he asked.
‘Not my problem moron now hand it over!” he snapped.
Jergen examined the man’s guard. For all his bravado the man’s stance was sloppy. While Jergen’s own military training allowed him to spot the holes in the man’s guard. “I’m sorry sir I can’t do that,” Jergen told him.
“I'm sure we can come to some kind of a deal to end this nice and peaceful…” he began.
“Shut up, shut up!” the thug snarled as he thrust his knife at the man.
But Jergen expected this and slipped to one side his wife moving with him. His right hand shot out like a coiled snake about to strike. He grabbed the hand with the knife as his free hand struck with a palm attack. The thug let out a yelp of pain as the blow struck and the knife got knocked out of his hand.
Jergen kicked the knife away. But the thug slipped out of the Half-elf's grasp and started to run. Jergen started to pursue the criminal. without warning the thief’s legs seemed to slow down as if some invisible force had grabbed them. The fleeing thug grimaced as he struggled against his invisible chains
Then a figure came out from behind a car and swung a lead pipe at the legs. The thug screamed in pain as the blow struck home. The petty criminal fell face first to the cement pavement. Jergen was on him moments later. “Manda, call the police,” he stated.
A few minutes later a group of police arrived and had taken the man into custody. “We can’t thank you enough Mister and Mrs. Brandt,” One officer said.
“This man has been causing the people of the downtown area trouble for several months. With the video evidence and your testimony, we’ll be able to put this man away for a long time.”
Jergen nodded and said, “I was glad to do what I could to help.”
Manda looked around the area. “You can come out now children.” She coaxed.
“Children?” the officer and Jergen asked.
“I can sense one of them, they have Mind powers,” Manda pointed out.
Jergen decided to play along with his wife. Considering my wife is never wrong about these things I know better than to disregard what she says. He noted.
“It’s all right children, you’re not in any trouble,” he added.
A couple moments later two children came out from the cars they’d been hiding behind. The officer’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well, I’ll be,” he said before a smile flashed across his face.
“You know these two?” Jergen asked.
The officer nodded his confirmation. “I do, that’s Rory and Micah, those little half-elves are two of the local homeless street urchins. They’ve helped us catch more than a few local troublemakers.”
The two kids saw the officer and their eyes widened. “Officer Norton,” the boy called.
The three approached the kids. “Hello Micah and Rory, so you tripped up this thug huh?”
The boy nodded at this. “That guy hurt some of the local kids, so we had to help.” The girl added.
Jergen looked on the boy and said, “I can’t thank you youngsters enough for your help with that thug.”
The boy Micah said, “No big thing. Rory and I should go.”
"Hold on, hold on.” Jergen called the beginning of an idea popping into his head.
The boy and girl looked at the man. “I understand that you two are homeless. Do you have anyone?”
The boy’s face furrowed in suspicion. “We don’t have no one.”
But the girl spoke up. “We ran away from our parents a couple years back. Our old Mommy and daddy, they had problems.”
Jergen looked at his wife as the idea struck full on. My love are you thinking what I’m thinking?
In that moment he felt his wife’s depression break as a new sense of hope began to emerge in her. “Yes, yes I am, and I didn’t think about that route.”
Like I said at the clinic we’ll figure something out Manda.
The adult half-elf turned to the two. “What if I could offer you a deal kids?”
The boy raised an eyebrow. “A deal, what kind of deal are we talkin’.”
Rory spoke up again. “Big brother, Manda’s been Mind talking with me.”
Micah looked at his sister. “She’s got the Mind Speak gift?”
“She does and she’s told me everything. She and her husband…they can’t have kids of their own. Some kind of weird thing that effects strong mind speakers.”
Micah turned to the business owner who nodded. “It’s true Manda and I found out today that we can’t have children of our own. But…but I could do something that would be as good. I’d like to offer you and your sister a place to live and a family if you’d like that.”
The boy flashed a wry smirk at this. “I could mister, if you give us a good deal. First, we want at least one meal a day.”
This kid’s got something of the negotiator in him. Well time to show him how I wheel and deal. Jergen thought as he flashed a wry smirk.
“I’ll see that offer and I’ll up it to three meals a day.”
“Three meals?” the children yelped.
Jergen said, “I can also offer a warm place to call home.”
“Sounds good, but what about a right to play. My sister and I want to have time to play.”
Jergen said, “You can have that, but you’ll also need to go to school.”
The two kids’ faces took on a suspicious expression. “Why?" they moaned.
“Because kids,” The half-elf businessman explained. “That way you can learn more about words and numbers and get smarter. Also, I can show you how to make better deals.”
That took the boy by surprise. “You can do that?” Micah asked.
The officer chuckled and said, “Micah, Rory don’t you know who these people are? This is Jergen and Manda Brandt. This man owns Brandt Toys, and his wife works at the mental health division of Blade’s Hope General hospital.”
“Officer Norton is right Micah. Manda said so to me.” Rory added.
The boy turned towards the man in surprise. “So…so it’s true you and your wife can’t have kids of your own?”
The half-elf CEO nodded his confirmation. “That’s right Micah, my wife’s condition makes it so. But…but it would make her and me happy if the two of you would come live with us.”
“Why are you doing this?” the boy asked.
“Because Micah, you remind me a lot of myself. You see I ran away from my own birth parents years ago. They were very violent and mean people. I was on the streets for two years. Until a kind couple name of Markus and Charlotte Brandt took me in and made me their son.”
“He’s being straight up right with us Micah.” Rory confirmed.
That took young Micah by surprise. Jergen stated, “My adopted father helped me get off the street and become a better person. I could do no less for you son. That would make my wife and I very happy."
“Would you and your sister like that? Would you like to come with us?” Manda asked of the two.
The street boy looked hesitant. But Rory put in her own thoughts. “Yes, yes please! Micah, I don’t want to be cold at night anymore!”
The boy turned and extended a hand. “Okay we got a deal, we got a deal here!”
Jergen Brandt took the hand and shook it. “We’ve got a deal indeed.”
Officer Norton smirked at this change. "Well, this is a great way to celebrate the Winter Festival season. Of course, you’ll have to take a quick trip to Blade’s Hope child protective services. But I don’t doubt they’ll be more than happy to see to the adoption papers.”
Jergen put a hand on the boy’s right shoulder. “Thank you for this Micah.”
The little girl ran over to Manda who hugged her. The CEO knew they were speaking volumes with their mind magic abilities. Jergen got to his feet and dusted himself off. "Come on everyone let’s go and see about starting that new life for us all.”
And there we go, the second story of the 12 tales of Christmas is done. A feel-good story with a happy ending which is perfect for the Christmas season. But stay tuned folks there’s still more tales to come. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Did I do good or does my work need improvement?
Constructive criticism is welcome here. Your input helps me to become a better writer.
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Until next time this is Animeman73 signing off. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. See you soon and enjoy the Christmas season.
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Next: Story #3 - A race for mercy
Precious: Story #1 - Motor city Mania