NaNo bit

Walking with a skip jump pace Alec tried to keep up with the longer stride of Kratz as they made their way through the city streets. It was late afternoon on a cloudy day with just enough chill to make people hurry through their business in an effort to get them done. Kratz didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold, but then again few things did seem to bother him the old man. He was the oldest person that Alec knew, older than even his grandpapa, but he always acted remarkably young.  When Alec had asked him once how old was he, Kratz had laughed and said “Old enough.” Though old enough for what, he didn’t say.

            “Where are we going?” Alec asked as he reached up to take the old man’s bony hand.

            “Just to the park,” Kratz answered. 

            “What’s at the park?”

            “You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”

            Alec pouted at this response, and glanced up at the darkening sky. “It’s going to rain soon,” he said.

            This stopped Kratz suddenly, the old man looking down at Alec, his eyes fierce with curiosity. “How do you know that?” he asked.

            “I dunno. I just do. Lar can too,” he said with a shrug.

            “Well, Laruna is a water wizard, she’s supposed to know that.”

            “So? We’re twins,” Alec said as if it justified everything.

            “Of course you are,” Kratz soothed, and ruffled Alec’s hair. He started to walk again, leaving Alec to play catch up. “Did you have fun with Jono yesterday?” he asked. 

            Alec gave a shrug, “I guess. He’s getting a dog.”

            “You don’t like him very much, do you?”

            “He says we’re friends.”

            “Ah.”

            Alec looked at him. It was one of those sort of things that grown ups said when they were thinking one thing but didn’t want to say it. Kratz didn’t seem to want to elaborate on it.  They walked on in silence to the park. 

            The park that Kratz had chosen was situated right against one of the city’s walls. It had a large pond in the middle of a grassy area with a fire fountain situated in the pond. Kratz and Alec visited this park frequently and Alec, familiar with it, ran to his favorite spot by the pond’s edge to sit on a large boulder. Kratz followed more slowly, to sit on the grass besides the boulder.

            “Did you know there used to be wizards who could control all four elements?” Kratz asked.

            Alec looked down at him from his perch on the boulder, “Teacher said only one element for one person.”

            “Oh yes, now it’s like that. But there used to be fifteen original families.”

            “Fifteen! That’s a lot!” He said, lying down on his stomach to reach into Kratz’s long hair and play with it.

            “Yes, fifteen, three fire, three earth, three air, three water and three element.”

            “Wow,” Alec said, and then frowned, “What happened?”

            Kratz craned his neck up to look at his godson, “They died.”

            “Cause they had more than one?”

            The old man shrugged. “So tell me, what else can you do that your sister can?”

            “I dunno… stuff. Where’s my surprise?”

            “Impatient, aren’t you?” Kratz said with a laugh. He patted his lap, “Come, sit here, and I’ll give it to you.” Alec slid off the rock and sat in the old man’s lap. From a pocket, Kratz pulled out a small folded cloth, offering it to the boy. Alec took it and unfolded it carefully. Inside was a pendent of a golden phoenix clutching a red stone on a leather thong.

            “Oooh! Shiny!” Alec said picking it up, turning it over in his hands.

            “Do you like it?”