A Quest for Lost Chickens

Flash fiction contest entry. A wizard prepares for a side quest.

A Quest for Lost Chickens (293 Words)

It was late when I checked into the inn. I went straight to my room. People tend to get excited when a wizard is in town. Most innkeepers put me up in their best room — usually in return for a side quest or two.

The lodgings were quite favourable, to be fair — spacious, a decent bed, a big window overlooking a vineyard. I could’ve done a lot worse. I have done a lot worse. Once, I had to make camp in a bog.

I took my multicoloured patched blanket out of my bag and wrapped it around me, making my way to the window. The night sky was bright with stars and constellations. I was there on a very important mission for the Wizard Council, but I thought I’d get the innkeeper’s quest out of the way first. Mr Barlibum — stout, bald-headed, red-faced — had lost a few chickens. Classic side quest.

The best time to find lost chickens is at night, when they’re sleeping.

I got my magic orb, which was glowing lilac, and muttered a few ancient and mysterious incantations into it — “Okay, Orb, show me the location of all the local chickens.” It glowed red while it thought about my request, then turned green and went, “Bing.”

Ah — the orb connected to my mind’s eye and showed me a map sprinkled with little dots, indicating all the chickens within a ten-mile radius. It looked like there was a rundown barn not too far away, full of blinking chicken-dots. My plan was to start there. Feeling tired, I waved my wand at an empty cup by the sink — instant coffee. You never know what could be waiting for you at a rundown barn full of chickens in the middle of the night.