#at some point they would branch out. small jobs already has stuff about water trade but now i'm kinda like hmmmm

[potatoesandsunshine]

'surely it's time to deal with the plot of the game. we're 25k into the fic' you might think that! but no. now it's about industrial espionage

[lia-jones]

Growing Stronger - Chapter Twenty-Four - Olives and Handkerchiefs

My great-grandfather was nothing if not a man of vision. Having grown up in extreme poverty, he spent his childhood days begging and stealing vegetables and fruit from other peoples’ orchards and farms so he could feed his family. His dream was to own land that would reach as far as the eye could see, and build it up with trees and animals, so food could be grown there, and no one in his family would have to starve ever again. So, when he became a man, he did everything he could to make that dream come true. Because he was too poor to go to school, he couldn’t read--only do some basic math--so he taught himself. A lonely tailor taught him his trade and provided him with enough knowledge to try and make a life for himself. He went to Oporto to work as a tailor for the elite.

My grandmother said he never stopped working for a single day, even when he was married and the father of five children: two girls and three boys. And finally, when my grandmother, the oldest of all the children, turned fifteen, he had finally saved enough to buy the land he had dreamed of. It wasn’t perhaps as grand as his ambition would have had it, but even so, vast enough so that, after it was filled with trees and animals, it could feed an entire village.

Unfortunately, my great grandfather’s dream was short-lived. Fate would have it that, while traveling to the city with his wife to buy provisions, he would lose the control of the wagon, ending his life and his wife’s at the bottom of a cliff. My grandmother was left an orphan, with four other mouths to feed, and a huge piece of land that she had no idea how to capitalize.

That didn’t stop my grandmother, though. She was desperate, and she had a determination that would be very much alive inside of her until the day she dies. Understanding that pretty much everyone in the village was barely scraping by, she offered her land to feed the small village provided she had the help necessary to feed her own family. The neighbor lands struggled to bloom due to the lack of water, so she worked her own land so the spring in her field would water all the other plantations, and, in time, she created the amazing farm she had in the present day, devoted to the production of high-grade olive oil. To that day, one week a year, there would be a large celebration on her farm, and all the villagers would help harvest her olives, thanking her for the cooperation of years ago.

It’s said my mother’s family blood makes strong women, and so far that was true. My grandmother raised an entire village on her own, my mother left the village to become a notorious therapist and researcher, and I… had been abused by a violent prick. Obviously I didn’t get the strong gene. And that made my family worry for me. Although no one ever blamed me for anything, I couldn’t help but feel like the ugly duckling. Even though I knew my family loved me to pieces, they couldn’t help but look at me with sorrow in their eyes, sad I wasn’t strong enough to fight an abusive man.

As I drove with Victor to my grandmother’s farm, I felt like things could be different now. I had finished my doctorate with the highest praise, had a good job as a researcher in a good institution, and was dating a great man. Maybe this time I could prove my worth to my grandmother, show her I was worthy of the Collaço name. The thought was as exciting as it was terrifying.

“So, garfo means fork.” Victor closed his Portuguese for Foreigners book, seeing if he had all those words memorized.

“Yes.”

“ Foca means knife.” He looked at me for approval. I laughed. He glared at me.

“ Foca means seal. The word you want is faca. ” I kept my eyes trained on the road, as I drove us to my grandmother’s farm.

“ Faca. ” He repeated. “Glass is copo.”

“It can be a glass or any kind of cup. It’s the container that is used to drink liquids. It can be paper, glass. My grandma has clay cups.” I explained.

“For the vinho.” Victor offered. “Very rustic.”

Half an hour later, we were arriving at the village my grandma lived in. It was a really small village, with only a dozen houses, a pharmacy, a supermarket, and a small church. And woods all around, luscious green as far as the eye could see.

My grandmother was already waiting for me at her door when I parked the car next to my mother’s. She was her usual self, a serious expression on her face, all dressed in black, golden Viana earrings in her ears.

“My beautiful child!” She spoke in Portuguese, opening her arms to me.

“Hello, Vó. ” I greeted, embracing her. “I brought someone for you to meet.”

“Yes, your mother told me you were bringing your foreigner boyfriend.” She frowned. “Why do you keep dating these snotty boys from the city? Look at him, so polished, he looks like a candlestick! You need a real man, with hair on his chest and some meat in the bones!”

Victor smiled, oblivious to what was being said about him.

“ Vó , be nice.” I warned her and took Victor’s hand, bring him to my grandmother. “Victor, this is my grandmother, Bia. Vó , this is Victor, my boyfriend.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Victor shook her hand, speaking in Portuguese.

“Same.” She replied, eyeing him up and down. “Come, I’ll take you to your rooms so you can change your clothes. We have work to do.”

Victor looked at me to translate what she said.

“We are taking our stuff to our room, then we’ll go olive picking.”

As we arrived in one of the rooms, with a double bed, my grandmother turned to me.

“Leave your things here. You’ll be sleeping here with Cristina.” She ordered.

“Wait, what about Victor?” I complained.

My grandmother turned to both of us, her expression stern.

“It’s very simple.” She spoke slowly in Portuguese, gesturing so Victor could understand. “Girls in one room.” She made a circle with her right hand. “Boys in the other.” She extended the index finger of her left hand. To our absolute embarrassment, she inserted the index finger in the circle and started pulling it in and out. “No funny business in my house, understood?”

Victor swallowed hard as I watched all the color draining from his face, and then returning in a bright red.

“She said-”

“No need!” Victor interrupted me. “I understood clearly.”

“You, come with me.” She pointed at Victor and raised her voice, speaking slowly. “I’m going to show you your room.”

“Vó, he just doesn’t speak Portuguese, he is not deaf.” I scolded her softly.

“You and your mother and these foreign in-laws you bring.” My grandmother shook her head. “There is nothing wrong with Portuguese men, you know.” She then turned to Victor. “Come, Stretchy. Let’s see if I can fit you in one of my beds.”

It was clear that my grandmother didn’t exactly approve of the CEO in my life, and it would take her time to accept it. Knowing my grandmother, I knew she would test and push him in any way she could, and that made my stomach turn with worry. Victor, on the other hand, looked serene and confident, completely up for the challenge. That somehow eased my mind and allowed me to enjoy my time spent with family a little bit more. Everything would be ok, I told myself. We were not alone. My parents and Josh and Cristina loved Victor, and they would vouch for him. And Victor being his extraordinary self, it was only a matter of time before she would see what a true man of value he was.

We arrived at the field filled with rows of olive trees, ready to work. We geared up with gloves and a small saw to cut some branches, and started working on the tree my parents were.

“I see you arrived safe and sound.” My mother greeted us. “Andy, teach Victor how it’s done.”

“Ok, so you take the branch from its base.” I took a branch and tighten my grip somewhat nearest to the trunk. “Then you slide to you, pulling the leaves and the olives. Just let them fall on the ground. It’s ok if you step on some, but try not too.”

“I take the leaves as well?” He furrowed his brows.

“Yes, will we separate the leaves from the olives later on, with a special sifter.” I explained. “Give it a try.”

Victor pulled the branch somewhat clumsily at first, but soon he got the hang of it. My mom smiled with pride.

“We have ourselves a picker.” She offered. “Your grandmother will be pleased when she sees this.” Insightful as always, she quickly picked the look on our faces, and turned to Victor. “Don’t worry, she’s hard at first, but she’s a softie deep inside. Reminds me of someone I know.”

I stifled a laugh.

“Ok, this one is pretty much done.” My mom took a last look at the now almost completely naked tree. “Andy, you and Victor take the next one, we take the other next to yours. Let’s make this interesting for our entrepreneur.”

“You mean a contest?” Victor smiled, pleased with the suggestion.

“That’s right.” My mother clapped the dust out of her gloves. “The first to clean the tree, wins.”

Suddenly Victor, who seemed completely out of his element before, was now completely engrossed in the olive picking task, cleaning branch after branch with amazing speed. The look on his face was a focused yet relaxed one, and I wondered for a moment if he remembered that across the ocean, miles and miles away, he was a business shark, owner of a company worth millions. Not even his clothes would differentiate him from the rest of the group. He looked like a countryman, working hard on the land, taking pleasure from harvesting its fruits. And I had to say, it suited him well.

Across the field, a group of women chanting the Portuguese well-known tune.

“Ó rama, ó que linda rama,

Ó rama da oliveira,

O meu par é o mais lindo,

Que anda aqui na roda inteira.”

Soon, everybody was singing in unison, all busy disrobing the tree branches, including my family and… me. When I finally noticed, Victor was frozen, staring at me, a loving smile on his lips. I shut up immediately, blushing.

“Don’t stop on my account. You have a beautiful voice.” He glanced at me, still smiling smugly, as he took another branch to strip it clean.

I eventually overcame my shyness and resumed my singing with the crowd. After a while, Victor was joining us too, humming the tune.

“Stretchy, I have a job for you.” I heard my grandmother talk to Victor behind me. “Are you strong?” She unceremoniously pinched his arm. Victor seemed to understand, and he nodded promptly. “Tell him to help me take the olive bags to the truck.” She asked me.

“She needs you to carry some of those bags to the truck.” I translated. “Do you mind?”

“Absolutely not.” Victor turned to my grandmother with such a ceremony I almost expected him to salute her and yell ‘Sir, yes Sir!’. Instead, he stretched his arm, motioning her to lead the way. My grandmother eyed him up and down and scoffed, walking away.

A lot of men would be deterred by this. My grandmother went out of her way to show him that despite him being a successful and rich man, she was not impressed. Part of me believed that she was making him carry those bags only to break his back and prove her point. What she didn’t know was that the man I loved was as strong-minded as she was, and wouldn’t shy away easily from a challenge. Besides, the guy worked out on a daily basis, and carried me in his arms as if I was made of air. A bag of olives was nothing to him.

I watched them go with a cocky smile on my face, when I heard someone talk to me in Portuguese.

“Is that your boyfriend?” The old woman from the village asked. “He’s very handsome!”

“Yes, he is.” I quipped, unwilling to keep that conversation going.

“He is very successful too.” My mother chimed in. “A millionaire.”

“Andrea! You won the lottery! Gorgeous, polite, rich… Oh, just look at that…” She sighed.

And I did. The heat must have had the best of him, because he took off his grey sweater, and was now wearing a white t-shirt with his dark blue chinos, his sweaty muscles visible with the strain of carrying the heavy bag on his shoulder, the t-shirt rising slightly, allowing his well-defined abs to come to view. Seeing him like that made me feel suddenly very hot… And it wasn’t the sun.

He looked my way and smiled seductively, noticing I was all flustered on his account. I smiled back, letting him know I was enjoying what I was seeing. A second later, his face fell and he looked away, his cheeks turning bright red. I looked behind me to see what he had seen, surprised with his reaction. I then noticed the group of old women behind me, all of them also flushed and sighing as they watched my boyfriend go by. I took a fallen olive branch and waved it in front of her eyes.

“Let’s get back to work, ladies! Shame on you! You are all married!” I scolded. I heard my parents cackle in the tree behind me.

“Well, we are married, not gelded!” One of them complained, walking away.

“We can’t help it if he’s so easy on the eyes! If you have it, flaunt it!” Another chimed in.

“Oh, he was flaunting it, alright…” Another sighed, waving her handkerchief to cool herself.

I felt slightly guilty for being such a hypocrite, as I turned his way again and enjoyed the wonderful view of his cute butt moving as he picked one of those heavy bags from the ground. Easy on the eyes was an understatement. That man was hot as sin, and I was looking forward to getting burned.

I was startled with the sound of my grandmother clearing her throat, a look of disapproval on her face.

“We need you in the kitchen.” She said with a grumpy voice.

“What?” I stupidly asked, still dazed with the view.

“Is the sun cooking your brain? Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the girls these days! Get going!” She scolded impatiently, and I practically ran to the kitchen.

An hour later, someone rang the bell, letting the workers know it was time to place the tables outside for lunch. I smiled as I secretly watched Victor carrying some chairs, his bangs matted to his forehead with sweat. My grandmother must’ve done a number with him, but he looked happy. Point for Victor.

I started serving lunch to the people outside, lamb stew in clay bowls with a piece of cornbread on the side, and all the wine one could wish for. I watched Victor struggle with the lack of utensils, since the only thing he was given was a fork. I came to his rescue as I served the rest of the people.

“The meat is tender enough to cut with the fork, and you push the food into the fork with the bread.” I whispered behind him.

“Aren’t you coming to eat?” He turned to me.

“In a second. I need to make sure everyone is served first.” I patted his back.

“I’ll save you a seat next to me.” I heard him behind me, as I moved quickly to distribute bowls of food to everyone.

After everybody had a bowl of food, we placed the big clay pots in another table nearby, in case anyone wanted a second serving. I took some food for myself and went to sit next to Victor… Only to find my grandmother was sitting right there. Victor saw me coming and got up, so I could sit on his chair.

“Sit here, I already ate.” He offered, looking a little sad for not being able to sit with me.

“Where do you think you are going? You aren’t finished yet!” My grandmother pulled him down by his arm, speaking in Portuguese. “Marília, get another serving for Stretchy here!” She called another woman that she saw was getting up. “Got to put some meat on those bones, you are too thin!” She pinched one of Victor’s fingers, showing him how skinny it was. Victor paused, seemingly trying to understand the situation.

“Andy, sit here.” Josh, who was sitting in front of Victor, scooted to make room for me. “You don’t need to eat more if you don’t want to, Victor. Portuguese moms want to feed you until you burst.”

“It’s not much of a sacrifice.” Victor confessed. “The food is delicious.”

I sat down and started eating, observing Dona Bia and Victor. She still wore her stern expression, while Victor seemed to be in a good mood and perfectly relaxed. While she was going out of her way to show him she didn’t like him, he was dead set on winning her over. They were both stubborn mules, so I suspected we were in for quite a treat with these two.

After eating, I helped the other women clear the table and the men went to finish harvesting from the last trees. The next step would be the next day, separating the olives from the leaves, and taking them to the mill, where they would be pressed to produce olive oil.

It was already late in the afternoon when we finished washing the vast amount of dishes. My mother was already busy peeling cloves of garlic.

“Where’s Victor?” My mother asked me as I returned from the other room.

“I don’t know. Probably on some task grandma gave him.” I sighed.

“You know, we could really use him in the kitchen. He’d do this in a blink of an eye.” She showed me the garlic cloves she had yet to peel, a bored look on her face.

“He would.” I smiled, sitting close to her. “Let me help you, you’ll finish faster.”

“What are you girls talking about?” My grandmother entered the room. “You need to hurry with that, we have to season the meat with that.”

“We were saying Victor would be a great help in the kitchen.” My mother answered. “Where is he anyway?”

“Would he?” My grandmother frowned. “That would be a first. A man in the kitchen with the women.” She laughed.

“Mother, times have changed.” My mother scolded lightly. “Men can cook. And Victor is great at it. Got training with a known chef.”

“Men these days…” Grandma shook her head. “He’s with Josh cutting dead tree branches. Where he should be. Men don’t belong in the kitchen.”

I felt sorry for Victor, knowing he would be under the afternoon sun, working those sweaty muscular arms, bringing the saw back and forth. At least he wouldn’t mind the sleeping arrangements that much, he would pass out the moment his head would touch the pillow. And fortunately, dinner was coming soon. Provided we worked a bit faster.

After a while dinner was served. A vast selection of dishes, including Cozido à Portuguesa, Rojões à Minhota and Caldo Verde. As it seemed to be the rule, my grandmother was adamant in keeping Victor and I apart, so she put me on dessert duty, making the rice pudding and Aletria while they ate.

After my long journey in the kitchen, manning the stove, I was finally able to sit down and eat, chatting with the women washing the dishes. I wondered where Victor was, hopefully Josh was with him, helping him cope with all the new he was being immersed in. I was slightly worried he was hating it all, just enduring it to humor me.

“What are you still doing there?” Cristina interrupted me. “Where’s your skirt and handkerchief?”

“Crap, is it today?” I almost jumped from my chair. “Oh, nevermind, Victor is probably tired and not in the mood to dance.”

Every year, on the last Saturday of the olive harvest, the village would have a dance to celebrate the community’s spirit of mutual help and cooperation. My grandmother gladly hosted the dance, providing her huge barn for the festivities, as well as food and drink. But this dance had something special though: the men of the village would get together and pick flowers in the fields, and they would go to each house and offer those flowers to their women, who were waiting by the window, as an invitation to the dance, while they offered them perfumed Viana handkerchiefs, that they embroidered themselves. My grandmother insisted I did one myself, years ago, so I could give it to my future husband.

The tradition asked that the men wore a red waistband, and the women a skirt. I was rummaging my grandmother’s closet to see if I could find a traditional that fit me when she entered the room.

“Well, I guess it’s time I give you this.” She handed me the handkerchief I had embroidered years ago, full of flowers and a dove, and the words O nosso amor só vai acabar quando esta pomba daqui voar (Our love will only end when this dove flies away from here.).

I looked at the old woman in front of me, the stern look on her face gone. Only love in her eyes.

“You approve of him?” I smiled.

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?.” She begrudgingly admitted. “Just don’t let him hurt you like the other one, do you hear me?” Her voice quivered.

I held her tight, tears spilling from my eyes.

“He won’t hurt me, Vó. ” I assured her. “He is a good man.”

My grandmother wiped a few tears from her eyes, clearing her throat. She had more in common in Victor than she would ever care to admit.

“Now go.” Her stern face was back in place. “Stretchy is waiting for you outside.”

I put on the skirt in a haste, not believing my own ears. But sure enough, as I left the room, I started hearing the guitars playing outside, and male voices singing the known song “Menina que estás à janela” (Lady by the window).

“Andrea!” My mother called, excited. “Look who’s here!”

There he was, in all his glory, and my heart stopped. Victor had changed clothes in the meantime, wearing a white shirt with black pants and the typical red band around his waist. Without a second look, he was a villager. He smiled widely at me, as I stood by the open window, stretching his arm to offer me the makeshift bouquet of wildflowers he had collected.

I ran to my room to spray my handkerchief with my perfume, the one I knew he liked best. I bolted downstairs to meet him, and without a second thought, I threw myself in his arms, my heart bursting with joy. He held me tight, a warm chuckle vibrating in his chest.

“Will you give me the honor of coming with me to the dance?” He presented the bouquet ceremoniously.

“How could I say no to such a thoughtful invitation?” I put the handkerchief in his hand, closing his fingers around it. His smile widened and he presented his arm for me to take.

As he led us to the dance, he looked at the embroidered piece of cloth I gave him, bringing it to his nose.

“It’s scented. Did you make it yourself?” He gave me a tender smile.

“A long time ago. Carefully kept to be given to someone very special.” I looked back, and saw my grandmother at the window, looking at us and smiling.

Victor pulled me to him as we walked, hugging me tight with his arm. A huge wave of happiness and affection hit me and almost made me lose my senses, drunken with his smile, and his scent, and his warmth. I didn’t know where the future would lead us, life could be so complicated sometimes, but I was certain I would never love any other man like I loved Victor. And now that he was finally letting me in, trusting me with the darkest corners of his mind, I felt that love so much more real and possible.

The name fitted him just right. He was a victor, alright. He had won my heart, and my family’s, and even managed to melt the hardest one of all. Not because he was ambitious, or cunning, or insistent. Because he had this immense light inside of him, and whenever he let it show, one couldn’t help but fall in love.

[wonderous-writer-suggestions]

Victors past (part 2 finally)

By the time he had returned home it was the thick of night. No people were bustling in the streets and every shop was closed. All that remained were a few oil lamps outside houses and some police men on guard duty. Victor made his way back towards his house, this time careful not to make a sound as he entered, despite his excitement ready to explode out of his chest.

His father was waiting for him, back to the front door and reading a news paper. "You're back already?" He asked in a condescending tone. Victor came up to him without a word, and dropped the 10 pound sack of coins in his lap, causing his father to jolt. He was about to scold him until he realized what exactly was just thrown on him. He opened it up in a hurry and saw it was filled with gold coins. He looked to Victor with what seemed like fear in his eyes, "Where did you get this? How did you get this?"

"I got a job, they paid me in advance. The only catch is that I have to travel rather far, that's why they gave me so much so early." He lied.

His father put the sack down gently on the floor and then stood up and hugged his son, "I'm proud of you, you did good."

Victor was a bit happy to get some validation from his father, "See what happens when you have faith in me?"

His father laughed, "Don't push this now you got lucky. But... most people do so, just don't take advantage of it"

Victor nodded, "Advice taken sir."

He went upstairs and kissed his mother on the forehead, then gathered up a few things from his room for the trip. His father gave him some food, and canteens of water. Before he left his father stopped him once more.

“If at any point you get into trouble you turn back around. You’re more important than whatever the job pays. And there’s still a chance of work with me in case. Got it?” It was the first time in a while his father sounded sincere, or worried for that matter.

Victor nodded, “Will do dad.” They shared a smile, then Victor left.

He went around back and grabbed his horse, named Pearl, the name fitting with her white and ashy coat. He petted her softly to sooth her, then leapt on her back and headed into the woods. If he had any chance of completing the list he needed to be fast and not waist any time. Even if the time given was marked by some candle, and who knows how long that will stay burning. Best not to think about it, he thought.

He looked over the list quickly, first up was a water lily. The closest pond was on the outskirts of the woods where a river pools lazily into swallow ground. With Pearl’s help he made it there before the moon was at midnight. The moonlight reflected like silver over the black pond water, and made the few stray lilies glow brightly with white light. Using a long branch he was able to guide a lily pad over towards the shore.

He smiled at the frail flower, the last time he’d been here was when he was much younger, with an old lady friend whom many wished for him to marry. They would spend hours getting away from the town and just be kids. Once they grew up the town snatched them back, and he’s rarely seen her since. But the memories still held sweetness. He pocketed the flower into the saddle bag and hopped back on his horse.

Next was to get cedar wood, to which he’d need to travel far out to a local town where they did traded. The wood was commonly used to make coffins, beautiful to say the least when finely crafted. This town offered the best supply of it. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that it took the rest of the night just to get there. He made the trade and pocketed the small samples of wood before looking over the list again.

There were still about four other things he needed, although he wasn’t sure how. Sticky burning ambers, a piece of love, cold, and a lost mind. Half of these were concepts let along an object. He looked to see the sun rising, thinking to himself to at least try to get these before sunset. He fed Pearl and then headed back towards the woods, making it back by noon.

Once there he stopped to let her rest, leaning against an old tree. He laughed breathlessly, “This lady’s got me doing her shopping doesn’t she?”

Pearl huffed in response as if understanding fully.

He turned to her, “Where do I even find these things?” He scoffed, “I’ll tell you what by the time I’ve figured it out I’ll have the lost mind.”

Pearl nudged him, forcing Victor to stumble.

He readjusted his hat, “What you think that’s what she means? I have to find loopholes is that it?” He looks over the list again, “You know that’s not that bad of an idea.”

He pulled away from the tree and noticed some sap getting stuck on his hand, he tried wiping it off at first then stopped. He smiled, “Sticky burning ambers... son of a gun.” He grabbed a scrap piece of paper from the saddle bag and collected a bit of sap.

He turned to pearl as he pocketed it, “That counts right?”

He sat down in the grass, and soon Pearl laid down next to him like a dog. He looked up and watched the clouds through the tree leaves.

“I wonder why so many people fear her, she seems nice. Aside from possibly wanting to, kill me.”

Pearl gave him a side glance.

“I said possibly!” Victor defended. He relaxed again, “Think about it though. She’s alone in the woods. Seems to me she has her life figured out, has a house and no one is barking orders at her.”

He petted Pearl softly, “Then again, she’s not making deals with a suspicious hermit in the woods in order to gain a father’s approval.”

He sighed, “Wish he would trust me. What’s so bad about trying to do my own business anyways!”

Pearl pushed into him, and he smiled, “Sorry girl. I know I’m getting distracted.” He watched a few leaves fall around him from the trees above. He picked up a large red maple leaf, “Cold.” He said softly before pocketing it.

He felt himself doze off beneath the warmth of his friend, and the cool breeze weaving between the fall colored trees. Realizing for the first time since he left, just how tired he was. He woke up to Pearl nudging him relentlessly till he acknowledged her.

He gave her a carrot and she calmed down while he got up and brushed himself off. It was nightfall, and growing deeper into it.

He held Pearl by the reigns and guided her towards the Mistress’s Home. He figured in the least he can give her these things, and see how far the candle had burned. He tied Pearl to a branch at the bottom of the tree, pet her softly, and made his way up into the tree house.

The lights within were still a glowing dim orange light. He made his way to his feet, and noticed the candle close to its end. Overcome with a sense of dread, and looked around for her, “Mistress Fortune?” He said as if scared to speak.

She appeared from behind the flame, “What do you want.”

Victor jumped and clutched the saddle bag tighter, “I came to give you some of the things from the list.”

“Some?” She pointed out.

“Yes, my apologies, I still haven’t found a piece of heart and a lost mind.” He said.

She took the saddle bag and laid out what items he brought, “These are clever.” She says smiling, “I’m impressed.”

“Thank you miss.” He said returning the smile.

She crossed her arms, “You know Victor, I’m feeling generous. So I’m willing to help with those last two items.”

“Really?” He said surprised.

She nodded, “Your own head will do for the lost mind. I mean that as a compliment by the way.”

He laughed, “Funny I didn’t think it would count.”

She smiled, then wet her fingers and extinguished the flame before moving over towards him. He took a step back, “What are you doing?”

She came up inches to him, “Retrieving the last item on the list.” She held up her hand between them, revealing a red dust which she blew in his face.

He flinched, coughing as it entered his system. “The hell is that bloody stuff?” He said doubling over.

Soon he couldn’t think beyond a wave of emotions. Every doubt or bit of sadness, even love, was suddenly amplified. He felt caught in a swirl of it all, so much that he nearly forgot where he was. Until he felt the mistress touch either side of his face.

“Breath Victor. Look at me.” She said in a sing song tone.

He rubbed his eyes, realizing he was crying, “What... did you do?”

She walked away with a vile which she used to collect some tears, “I collected the last item, I piece of the heart. You’re welcome.” She said placing it beside the other items.

He coughed once more and stood up, “Thanks... I think.”

“It’ll wear off shortly.” She said plainly.

He walked over to the table, “So, what now?”

“Now we fulfill your wish.” She turned to him, “For your family to be wealthy throughout all generations to come, yes?”

He nodded without hesitation.

She smiled, “Good!”

She sat him down at the table and began to get to work. She used the wood as kindling for a fire beneath a small cauldron. She placed the tears and sap in first, stirring thoroughly. And finally the lily, crushing it in her hands and letting it fall into the mixture. As it cooked she fingered through some labeled bottles on a shelf, until finding the one she was looking for and poured in a drop or two. A puff of green smoke billowed out once she did, and she extinguished the fire beneath.

“Alright, just one thing left.” She said.

“And that would be?” Victor asked.

The Mistress dipped her fingers into the mixture, and flicked it onto the candle, causing it to reignite with a green flame. Victor stared in awe a moment before looking back at her. She beckoned him to stand beside her, and he did. She dipped her hands into the pot, the liquid seeming to coat her skin like a glove, and travel down her arms like veins. She pushed some of the liquid onto her lips as if it were lipgloss. It all changed the room’s lighting into a bright and brilliant green as she smiled.

Victor couldn’t seem to speak, just stare in awe. She held his hands, the liquid seeming to move into him ever so slightly as she moved closer.

“Wait.” He said flinching away.

She moved back a bit, “What’s wrong?”

“Are you ok with this?” He asked.

She seemed confused, “I have to kiss you for this to work Victor.”

“Yeah but are you ok with it?” He asked again.

She sighed, “You’re ruining it Victor. I’m ok with it. Just let me grant your desires.” She said moving in again.

This time he didn’t stop her. He felt her lips press against his softly. Feeling like fire yet cold as ice. As she held him in the kiss, the potion crept from her body onto his, seeping into his arms and body. From her lips to his like a deadly poison. Into his mind and heart.

Once it was done she backed away, as if it were nothing.

“There.” She said as the light returned to a dim orange glow, “Your wish is granted.”

He rubbed his head, then looked at his hands a moment, noticing that he could see his bones through his skin for but a brief moment, then he was back to normal.

He turned to her, “So my family is wealthy now?”

“Yes.” She said starting to clean up.

“And future generations too?” He asked.

“Them too.” She said blowing out the candle.

He smiled, then bowed, “Thank you so much Mistress Fortune. I am forever grateful.”

[robertmcangusgroup]

The Daily Thistle

The Daily Thistle – News From Scotland

Sunday 23rd April 2017

"Madainn Mhath” …Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you…. 4am, I rise from the warm bed and dress, I can hear the tail banging on the door already, she smiles as only she can do and together we go out into the dark of the morning, my friend Bella and me, together we watch the stars in the sky, moons come and go clouds, rain and the sons of Perseus rain his meteors upon the heavens, we talk to each other, no words are spoken, but we converse and then it’s time to go back to the house, Coffee brewed, in my absence, cookie for my friend and I and time to contemplate the news, Bella loses interest at this point retiring to her bed, while I tap the keys bringing you, my thoughts on the news….

HOW GANG THAT BLEW UP CASH MACHINES WAS CAUGHT…. A seven-man gang that blew up cash machines across the UK, including four in Scotland, stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds, have been handed jail sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. During their year-long crime spree 13 banks and shops were targeted, with some ATMs blown up using "powerful explosives" and others being dragged away by stolen cars and attacked with high-powered tools to access the cash.

The gang's getaways were compared to blockbuster movies such as Fast and Furious and the Italian Job after they made off at high-speed in stolen performance cars which were then hidden in a lorry that doubled as a hangout for the criminals to lie low. It was an attack on a cash machine at a Co-op in Carnoustie in Angus in February 2016 that proved to be the gang's last. They hauled the ATM out of the wall with a stolen Land Rover before seizing £16,000 in cash. Hours after the robbery an off-duty police officer spotted a suspicious car seven miles away in Arbroath. As shocked diners looked on, armed police swooped on the car park at the town's McDonald's. Five men, all from the Merseyside area, were arrested after the police fired tyre deflation rounds at the gang's Mercedes as they tried to get away. In the weeks leading up to the arrests, detectives in Scotland and England were already closing in on the gang. It was after an overnight raid on the cash machine at the Co-op in Kingswells, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, in August 2015 that police made a major breakthrough. CCTV from a nearby industrial estate picked up a rendezvous between a lorry and high-performance car as the gang headed back to England.

DOG CAUSES “TAILBACKS” ON SCOTLAND'S BUSIEST MOTORWAY…. Traffic was brought to a standstill on Scotland's busiest motorway after a dog was spotted running along the carriageway. Police were called to the eastbound M8 at about 10:30 amid reports that a small brown dog was "running all over the Kingston Bridge" in Glasgow. Motorists set up a rolling roadblock to help police catch the animal, which ran onto the M8 at Drumbreck. The dog was eventually caught unhurt by officers shortly before 11:00. Images from Traffic Scotland cameras showed officers from Police Scotland trying to coax the animal away from traffic. It is not known how the animal came to be on the motorway, although its appearance caused significant tailbacks back to junction 22 Plantation.

MAN CHARGED OVER ALLEGED £180,000 FRAUDULENT GARDENING SCHEME…. A man has been charged over an alleged fraudulent gardening scheme said to be worth about £180,000 in the north east of Scotland. Its follows complaints about the company Gorgeous Gardens. Police Scotland said the alleged fraudulent scheme was between December 2015 and February this year. A 30-year-old man has been charged and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Police said the investigation was still ongoing. Det Con Jill Anderson said: "We have worked closely with our colleagues at Trading Standard."

FEMALE DOCTOR WHO WOULD BE COOL, SAYS KAREN GILLAN…. Former Doctor Who companion Karen Gillan has said an actress succeeding Peter Capaldi in the lead role of the long-running TV series "would be cool". Scottish actor Capaldi is appearing in his final series as the Doctor. He has said whoever replaces him - whether a man or woman - will be "wonderful".

Inverness-born Gillan, who played Amy Pond alongside Matt Smith's Doctor, said she would respect whatever decision was made on the role. A man has been chosen as Capaldi's successor, according to newspaper reports.  Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, Gillan said: "It's OK, maybe next time. "I trust the BBC and their choices and they haven't failed us yet with the Doctor. "But it would be cool to see a woman in the role one day because a woman could absolutely play that role." The BBC said no casting decisions have been made. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Gillan plays blue-skinned space pirate Nebula.

POST OFFICE WORKER JAILED FOR EMBEZZLING £134,000 FROM EDINBURGH SHOP…. A man who admitted embezzling more than £134,000 from an Edinburgh post office where he was the manager has been jailed for 16 months. Daryl Louden, 26, from Edinburgh, had pleaded guilty previously to embezzling £134,177.46 from the branch in RS McColl's in Ferry Road between 1 January and 29 September 2017. Louden had taken the money to feed his gambling habit. Sentence had been deferred for background reports. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, sheriff Frank Crowe told Louden his breach of trust had been enormous. His actions, he said, had been devastating for those who worked with him and trusted in him.

On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,

Our look at Scotland today is of the Rumbling Bridge near Dunkeld in the Highlands. This old stone bridge spans the gorge high above the deep, rocky narrows and takes its name from the ferocious rumbling of the River Braan below.

 A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Sunday 23rd April 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

 All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in ….. Be safe out there…

 Robert McAngus