“CASTLE” an Inktober Short Story

Written and Illustrated by Luis Roding
Reading time: 7 minutes.

I was just about to be done with my third cup; that’s how I knew the old man talking to me was real. I was broke then, so I could not afford another round unless I accepted his invitation, which I did not want because that meant only one thing.

– You’ve been stretching that beer for quite some time, lad! – He said.

I took my last sip. The bar was clearing out and would remain that way until the next wave of customers arrived. So, as I feared, the bartender brought him two cups. Once he grabbed one, he pushed the other one before me.

– Would you mind? – He said.

For some reason, with time, you learn to read some people after hearing them talk for a while, and this one seemed like the stubborn kind, but I was not in the mood for arguments either, or even worse, fist fights.

– Not at all – I said.

– You know? Life’s been good to me.

– I can see that! Cheers!

– You having a bad day? Huh?

I shrugged.

– Ha, ha, ha. I know the feeling! – He said.

– Well, you don’t seem like.

– Ha, ha, ha. I was broke once, too, but many years ago, I found my very unique type of business.

– What do you do?

– Ha, ha, ha, ha. I am a master builder!

– Hmmm? I know many of them, and they’re struggling.

– Ah, but not me, my lad. – And he took a long sip of his cup. It was clear he wanted me to keep asking him, so I continued playing his game.

– How come?

– It’s the types of buildings I do that’s so rare, you know?

– Are you a sculptor?

– Ha, ha, ha. No, but I am associated with one. He works for me. A very talented artist, he is. I paid him well.

– Oh, you work for the Count, then?

– Oh, no. I did some work for him in the past, but not anymore.

– Well. The landlords and the church here pay pretty bad.

– I know! Ha, ha, ha. My clients are foreigners!

– So. What is it like to work for foreigners?

– Ahhh! You have no idea! I would typically not say it to anyone. But you look like an honest lad.

I laughed, I did not know that people looking like shit was a synonym for honesty.

– Believe me, lad, with time, you learn to read people. You understand me? – He said.

– You bet I do – I took another sip.

– Well, my clients are pretty peculiar people. They are from some northern realm.

– Really? What do they ask for?

– A very specific type of building. This last one wanted me to build him another castle.

– Hmmm. So you traveled to the North?

– Oh no. He wanted to have his castle built here.

– Hmmm, it must be a pretty small one then. Haven’t seen any new castles around.

– Clever man! This castle he wanted was not as large as the Count’s; it was more like a tower. You know?

– Oh – I took another sip and wondered how much more I would bear this old man’s chat.

– Of course, I did not start making castles for them. The first time they hired me, they tested me! He wanted to find out if I was up to the task.

– Well, I don’t blame them. A castle is not a cabin.

– Ha, ha, ha. It certainly isn’t. But it’s funny because the test he gave me was something like a cabin. It was a bathroom!

– How is a bathroom a test for a castle?

– Forget about the bathroom. The test was about the foundation’s principle!

– What do you mean?

– You know? Even the most humble building, like a restroom cabin, relies on the ground to support it.

– Yes, that I get it.

– Well. In these buildings, all the foundations rely not on the ground but on a single object!

– An object on the ground?

– Yes and no!

I must have made the dumbest of faces because he laughed hard.

– This object is a sphere. It must be placed in the ground for practical purposes, but does not need it. This is done, so the workers don’t ask too many questions.

– Questions about what?

– About what happens when the building is complete!

– What happens to it?

– The sphere replaces the ground!

For a moment, I thought that maybe the drink had something weird. I wasn’t drunk, but this guy felt like he was convinced of what he was saying.

– Are you telling me all the buildings rest over a sphere?

He nodded, and he drank.

– What size is this sphere?

– Well, the sphere for the bathroom was pretty small, like a small melon. The one for the castle was quite large.

– How come a building can rest over a sphere?

– That’s the unique part! The sphere replaces the ground! Everything in direct contact with the sphere stands still as if it were stuck in the ground!

– And how do you build these spheres?

– I don’t. That is something only my client and the ones like him know how to craft.

– They make them?

– As far as I can tell.

– I don’t understand. Why can’t they build the castles in the north? Why can’t they build the castles themselves?

– Because they are not master builders.

– Oh, I see. Just another bunch of noble stiffs?

– Oh, no. They are quite knowledgeable! But they are savvy on other things – the man looked at the ceiling – … They are like shamans!

– Are they some sort of magicians?

– I wouldn’t put it that way, more like alchemists, you’d say.

– Alchemists? Can’t alchemists create all that they want?

– It seems not. They can create their own alchemy things, but when it comes to other stuff, they need an expert in each field, just like everybody else.

– And when did you deliver this castle you are talking about?

– Ah, last week! But I received the complete payment yesterday! – The man peeked at my cup, which he’d invited me to.

– Where is this castle? Can it be seen?

– I don’t think so. My client particularly requested that we leave the area after we delivered it. But even if I told you where it was, I am pretty sure it must have launched by now.

– Launched?

– Ha, ha, ha, ha. Yes, the castle takes off the ground!

My face must have spoken for me.

– Are you ok, lad?

– Listen, old man, I am truly grateful for the free round. I really appreciate it. But I am not drunk enough to follow you on that one.

The man’s face grinned. He stared at me in the eyes.

– Lad, I don’t have any trouble inviting you to more rounds. I’ve been doing it all afternoon with every honest man I could spot. But I am an honest man as well, and if you only believe me after some more drinks, you won’t really believe me, will you?

I took a deep breath.

– Well, that’s fair. However, let’s face it, you are not precisely making too much sense.

– Why not? Just because you’ve never heard of or seen a flying castle before?

– Pretty much. That’s how we know we are adults and not children anymore – I said without overthinking about it.

He finished his cup with a gulp, but I could tell sadness on his face. I felt like saying something.

– I am sorry, man! You’re good folk, but I am broke; life’s not been good to me. I am not to fall easy on off-the-ground stuff. You understand? – I said.

– At least you’re honest! In that, I am never wrong about! – He stood up with some difficulty, then called the bartender – One more to this good lad! Please!

– Oh no, you don’t have to!

– Oh, I know. Have another drink for all the grounded things that make us adults. Cheers!

And he walked towards the bar, leaving me alone in my favorite tavern corner.