Hif

Three boys huddled together, whispering to each other. Around the corner, the market bustled about, with merchants hawking their wares, doomsayers calling for penance, families milling about and chatting with one another about everything and nothing, it was a normal day in Hif. After a moment more of whispering and pointing, the three split up. Two of them moved towards the different stalls, one moved towards the center.   "Look here, folks!" The boy was up on the side of the well now, shouting above the clamor. Eventually the crowd quieted and looked at the boy, whispering and pointing in confusion. "Look here, as I dazzle you with my craft!" Suddenly he belched and sparks erupted from the boys mouth, belly-laughing he did a backflip off the well, more sparks flying from his fingertips and feet. He landed with a bow, hat in hand. The crowd applauded him, several of them tossing a few coins into his hat. "Thank you, thank you! Now for the next trick I will need to borrow a handkerchief. Anyone have one 'handy'?" He says winking at the crowd. A few of them chuckled, rolling their eyes at the bad joke.   "Use mine, lad!" An older man wearing fashionable clothes stepped forward and handed him a thin, white, embroidered cloth.   "Wonderful, sir. Thank you! Now prepare yourselves, this will not be for the faint of heart." With that, the boy held up the handkerchief, draping it over one hand. After mumbling a few words under his breath the covered hand seemed to absorb light, growing darker. When the effect ended, the boy yanked it away, revealing his hand. Though this time it wasn't quite the same, it was withered and gray, with long, filthy nails and gnarled knuckles. Gasping, the crowd backed away, a little girl up front squealed and hid behind her fathers leg. "As you can see, it is no longer my hand, but the hand of the long dead witch who created this spell. The vile Muirianna La'Femme." The crowd gasped again, whispering in fear. "You all know her story, she tormented these hills for a century or two back in the day. She created this spell in an attempt to remain alive forever, but alas, her attempt failed and now this is all that's left." He wrapped his hand again and muttered an in incantation, revealing his hand, once again, back to normal.   The crowd clapped once again and the boy gave an exaggerated bow, hat out to the crowd once again, a few more coins were tossed in and the crowd began to disperse. The boy walked back to the alley where his compatriots would be waiting, nodding and smiling at some of the locals as he passed them. Once he reached his friends, he saw their grins as they hefted a sack of coins each.   "Quite the haul, Peter. You too, The Twig."   "That was a pretty exciting performance, Manny!" The Twig replied. "I particularly enjoyed the sparkly belch!"   "My favorite was the part about the witch.", a new voice said. Whirling about, the trio found themselves facing a stranger. The man stepped out of the shadows, an air of haughtiness to him. He was dressed in fine black clothes and had a cane topped with a golden eagle head, one eye encrusted with a large purple gemstone. "Do you truly understand that spell you were casting, or do you believe it to be a simple thing? Either way, you're coming with me."