Delivered

“Now that the paperwork is sorted, this is for you.”

A plump woman with cascading blonde hair handed Ben a red leather satchel. A small humanoid shape of rainbow light hovered over the cluttered workbench between them, translucent wings fluttering.

An air elemental. Makes sense for speedy deliveries. Ben glanced at his own elemental, Basil, and rubbed the back of his neck. Curled up fast asleep on the piece of paper that Ben had just signed, his hair, like strands of moss, fell over his humanoid form. He looked more like a rock than an elemental.

“Thanks Mrs Parker,” Ben said as he looped the handle of the satchel over his head and rifled through the contents.

Squeezing past a teetering stack of parcels, Mrs Parker joined him on the other side of the counter and patted the Campfire Couriers crest on the front of the satchel.

“As it's your trial shift, we've only given you three parcels. There's some business cards and a map for your delivery route too.”

“You got it. We won't let you down,” Ben tugged his left earlobe. We can't afford to. “Come on Basil, it's time to go.”

Basil stretched, exposing his branch-like limbs as he clambered up Ben's robe, twig-like fingers gripping the fabric.

But as his footsteps echoed on the wooden floor of the courier's office, Mrs Parker called, “Oh and Ben, when you're carrying that satchel, you're advertising for our business. So behave accordingly. And your trial ends at four, so be back on time.”

Nodding, Ben swung the timber door open, stepping out into the afternoon sun and the sound and bustle of Hearthveil City.

“What do you reckon Basil? Three hours, three parcels. We can't get distracted." Ben stroked Basil's mossy hair and a leaf sprouted from the elemental’s shoulder. “Not like last time. Though working at the ink stall never did suit us. Or the printers for that matter.”

I hadn't meant to leave the stall unattended, but Old Mr Dean needed a hand. I didn't expect to come back to smashed ink bottles. And the upside down stencil at the printers wasn't my finest hour when –

Thwack!

Ben rubbed his ear, keeping an eye on the attacker: one of Basil's waving vines. But his lips twitched as the vines flailed again in an attempt to pull the map out of the satchel.

“OK, OK, I get it,” Ben laughed, "No distractions.” Unfurling the map, he pointed to the first destination marked in red ink. Basil climbed back to his shoulder, peering over. “Looks like the first one is pretty close, Cinder Roll Pastries.”

Setting off along the winding cobblestone street, Ben tucked the map away, while Basil tilted his head towards the sun and sprawled across Ben's shoulder. Buds sprang from the vines that held the elemental in place, blooming as light glinted from the sandstone buildings and the pink wildflowers that grew from the walls. Ben smiled. I could get used to this.

The pair emerged onto a flagged square. Businesses and stalls lined the perimeter, awnings and shop signs fluttering in the gentle breeze. In the centre, between blooming hedges and small trees, people lounged on wooden benches. But it was the yellow bakery and its sweet, inviting smell, that caught Ben’s attention. He hurried to the door.

Inside, Ben leaned against the counter, eyes drifting to the trays. Cinnamon and choppel berry rolls. My favourite. Taking a breath, he shook his head and rummaged through the satchel for the right parcel. I can't get distracted.

“Ello lad, can I help you?” A tall, lithe man with curly black hair wiped his hands on his green apron, and stepped through a door behind the counter. On his shoulder, a small fire elemental snoozed, puffs of smoke drifting up towards the tiled ceiling.

Straightening, Ben held out a hexagonal package. “Yes sir, I have a delivery here for you.”

“Oh excellent,” the man stepped up to the counter, taking the parcel, “I've been waiting for this all week.”

With one last look at the pastries, Ben left the bakery with his head held high and unfolded the map.

“The second delivery is on the other side of the elemental gardens.” He moved to the left, staring above the thatched and tiled roofs for a glimpse of the clocktower. “But it looks like we have plenty of time.”

Basil nodded, taking a seat on the highest point of Ben's shoulder as they walked away from the square and through an ivy covered lane.

*

Pausing on a stone bridge that crossed a babbling stream, Ben peered at the map. Ahead, cottages with sprawling gardens and narrow paths split off from the cobblestone street, winding up into the hills and farmland.

“It's somewhere off here,” Ben said, pointing to the homes to the left of them.

Boots crunching on stone chippings, the pair turned off the cobblestones towards a stone cottage with a thatched roof and a blue timber door.

As he approached, the door swung open and a voice called, “Oh hello dear. We've been expecting you, haven't we Flow?”

A small woman, tucking a grey curl behind her ear, stepped out onto the path and a small blur of blue darted ahead of her to hover in front of Basil. A flower sprang from his right foot and the water elemental directed a tiny jet of water to soak the petals.

Heat flushed Ben's cheeks as he fumbled with the parcels in the satchel. “Sorry Mrs,” he paused to double check the label, “Almson. You caught me by surprise.”

“Oh not to worry love. First day? I've not seen you before?” Mrs Almson reached out for the parcel, tucking it under her arm.

“Kind of. It's my trial shift. Just one more parcel left.”

“Well why don't you come and have some cloudy lemonade?”

Swallowing, throat suddenly as dry as the narrow beck behind his home in summer, Ben shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't. I can't get distracted. We need this job.”

A tinkling laugh rang out. “Well dear, you might need to remind your elemental about that.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Ben froze. “Where's Basil?”

Mrs Almson pointed a slender finger towards a patch of seedlings and Ben huffed out a breath. Basil stood on one side of a verdant plant, opposite Flow.

Vines reaching down into the soil, Basil closed his eyes. Flow blew out a stream of bubbles. They rose in an arc and settled over the plant's leaves as tiny translucent orbs. The plant shuddered before bursting into bloom.

As Basil and Flow celebrated, Ben's eyes crinkled. He's having so much fun. I wish we could stay. But we –

Clang.

The sound of the clocktower bells echoed from the hills. One. Two. Three? It can't be three already?

“Sorry Mrs Almson, got to run. Come on Basil, we can't be late.”

With clammy palms, Ben straightened the satchel and scooped up Basil.

“Bye, dear. Good luck.”

Ben took out the map. “Sorry buddy, but there's only an hour left for this last delivery. We're heading to the Golden Goblet, and we have to get back to the office too.”

Basil's leaves fluttered as he adjusted his position on Ben's shoulder, and the pair retraced their steps back towards the bridge and into the city.

*

Crossing the street from the library to the Mayor's Office, Ben stepped to the side to avoid a young woman and her dancing fire elemental, glancing towards the clocktower. “Look, it's only taken twenty minutes to get here. Now, we just need to find it.”

But as Ben reached into the satchel for the map, one of Basil's vines wrapped around his arm. Another pointed past the row of tall buildings in front of them to the right, and a wooden sign that hung from a property on the corner. A goblet of gold was painted onto the sign. Ben grinned.

“Thanks Basil! We might actually do this!”

Jostling through a small crowd outside the Town Hall, the pair emerged beside a tavern. Wooden tables and chairs lined the street beneath large windows and the purple painted doors were propped open. Ben reached for the last parcel and double checked the address. This is it.

With a nod to Basil he walked straight through the open door and then staggered back several steps. What the –

A large broad man loomed over them, pickaxe hanging from his belt.

As a bead of sweat tracked down his forehead, Ben gulped. Basil spun and sharp leaves whirled around his humanoid form before launching towards the stranger.

But the man's face split into a grin and he reached out a shovel-like hand. “Sorry about that laddie. Didn't see you there.”

Basil's leaves scattered in a strong wind. An air elemental peered out from behind the man's long brown hair, humming a gentle melody. Basil hid behind a fold in Ben's robe.

Shaking the man's hand, Ben smiled. “I'm sorry too. But, no harm done?”

A deep, rumbling laugh answered and the man straightened Ben's satchel and robe. “None whatsoever. Call me Alfonso.” He took a step back, pointing towards the open tavern door, “Heading in?”

Basil peeked out, vines rippling as Ben lifted up the satchel to reveal the crest. “I am, I have a delivery to make.”

“Oh go on in then laddie.” Alfonso patted Ben's back, sending him stumbling forward and through the open doors.

Inside, a fire roared despite the warmth of the afternoon. Wooden tables and plush armchairs were scattered around the room. Ben pushed his way between small clusters of people to the long bar, and caught the eye of a lively woman with short red hair. Her fire elemental hovered beside her, pointing fingers of flame and directing small sparks towards the nearest sconce. Each one missed.

“Drink?” she said, eyeing Ben suspiciously. “Not seen you in here before?”

Ben pulled out the parcel. “Just delivering actually. This is for Miss Kapel at the Golden Goblet.”

“Eek!” Leaning across the bar, the woman lowered her voice and pointed to her fire elemental, “Some new candles for Sydney. We've been practicing his aim.”

She swept the parcel off the bar and into a cupboard behind her, “Thanks.”

Ben reached out a finger towards his earth elemental, and flowered vines circled it. “Yes Basil! I knew we could do it. No distractions! We just need to make it back on time.”

But as Ben stepped out of the tavern, blinking into the light, a strong hand landed on his shoulder and a voice boomed, “Now then laddie. Help a pal out. I'm looking for Maureen's Antiques.”

“Oh Alfonso! Sure why not! That was our last delivery so as long as it's not too far, we can help right Basil?”

Basil pointed a sharp finger towards the clocktower, vines snapping the air.

Ben's hand drifted to his left earlobe. This isn't like last time with the smashed ink bottles. Or the stencil. The deliveries are already done…

“It’ll be fine. We've got half an hour to get back yet. And you spent long enough with Flow don't you think?”

Basil pouted but Alfonso’s blue eyes lit up. “Thank you, thank you.”

Ignoring Basil’s slump into his shoulder, Ben reached for the map. But in his haste to tug it free, several of the Campfire Couriers business cards fell across the cobbles. As Ben bent to pick them up, a gentle breeze rustled, scooping up the business cards and collecting them into a tidy pile.

“Thanks Pip,” Alfonso held out a hand and his air elemental landed with a pirouette.

Stuffing the business cards back into the satchel Ben and Alfonso gathered around the map. “I'm heading over here,” Ben pointed to a blue star marking the couriers building.

Alfonso squinted at the map moving his face closer to the small inked buildings. “That's it, right Pip?”

His large finger covered a quarter of a street not far from the tavern and Pip twirled.

“Better get going then,” Ben said, leading the way.

As they walked Pip floated alongside Basil and his leaves fluttered as she hummed. Soon, his whole body swayed along with the tune.

“Are you looking for something in particular at the antiques shop?”

Alfonso shook his head. “Looking to sell. Sell quite a lot actually.”

Ben raised an eyebrow and Alfonso winked, patting his pickaxe. “I'm something of a treasure hunter. We –”

Stopping in his tracks, Alfonso pointed. “There it is laddie, I can see the sign already. We'll let you get off. But I tell you what, give me one of those cards will you?”

Puzzled, Ben passed a business card over to the treasure hunter and waved goodbye.

*

Ben leaned forward, hands on his knees, catching his breath. Campfire Couriers stood in front of them but he studied the cobbles. I can't believe we're late. Who knew crossing the city would be so challenging? I should never have helped Alfonso.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered towards Basil’s wilted leaves. One of the elemental’s vines patted Ben's shoulder, tapping a soothing rhythm and he straightened. “I suppose I better face the music.”

It's a shame. I think we would have been good at this. But I've only got myself to blame. Again.

Clenching the strap of the satchel, Ben forced his legs to walk into the building. But he stopped as Mrs Parker’s familiar voice called from behind the desk, "Just wait there, catching up on messages.”

He leaned against a stack of parcels, out of sight. This is it. I just hope she's not as angry as Mrs Banton was about the ink bottles.

One of Basil's leaves fell, spiralling to the floor. Why do I always do this? I –

“Excellent work today Ben, just excellent.” Mrs Parker appeared at his side, patting his arm.

Ben's jaw dropped. Is she being sarcastic? Frowning, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I'm sorry we're late. Took a wrong turn from Hawthorne Avenue."

But she waved a hand. “Pfft. Don't worry about that. You might be the only candidate that was late back, but you're also the only one who understands advertising.”

“What do you mean Mrs Parker?”

Her air elemental hovered in front of Ben with a folded note as Mrs Parker said, “The message I was reading arrived just before you did, and was sent by some treasure hunter. It says you helped him and he'd like to repay the favour by trusting us with his artefacts. He wants us to deliver tomorrow, and he's paying top whack too.”

“Alfonso?” Ben's eyes widened and Basil’s leaves lifted. “Wait, so did I pass the trial?”

“With flying colours. Best candidate we've ever had!”

“But…are you sure Mrs Parker? It took me more than three hours to make three deliveries…”

“Definitely. I'll reshuffle the rota and put you on half loads until you've got your bearings. How about that?”

Flowered vines erupted from Basil, winding around Ben's upper arms.

“That's amazing!” Ben beamed, “Thank you Mrs Parker!”

“You just be back here tomorrow at 9am sharp.”

“You got it! We'll be here.”

As Ben stepped back out onto the cobblestone street Basil's vines, laden with yellow flowers, swayed behind them. Ben patted his elemental’s mossy head.

“We did it. I think we found a job we can be good at!”

Basil's leaves rustled as he nuzzled against Ben's hand.

And for once, I can just be myself.