Flashback - Edirne, Turkey, 1829 Who: Tomáš Dobrovský(Radek)/Edwin(Merrick) What: First meeting When: 1829 Where: Edirne (Adrianople), Turkey Ratings G
Tomáš hurried along the street, the fingers of one hand clutching tightly both the satchel that contained the numerous small vial of morphine he’d managed to secure through traders, and the front lapels of his cloak, holding it closed. His other hand held aloft the flickering torch that lit his way through the dark laneways.
The losses over the last few months by the Ottoman empire to the Russian armies had been devastating, but Tomáš took little note of the results, instead just dealing with the streams of wounded who kept appearing. He’d stopped bothering himself with the politics over a century ago, having seen more than enough of it, and focused his attention on the people who were the fodder of the machines of war. As was usual, the supply lines were unable to keep up and he was used to having to source materials from other providers, some of which were less concerned with the quality than the payment. This source he’d found wasn’t one of those, the morphine he carried was of a good quality, and precious cargo.
He rounded a corner, looking to his right only to run smack bang into another figure, causing him to drop his torch and let out a gasp of shock and frustration as he clutched at the satchel.
Edwin was amused to be in this part of Europe these days after being in the Mediterranean for what seemed like ages and then France and back towards the east. While kept by his current master, the djinn was tall, thin, pale-skinned, dark-haired, and had cheekbones that could slice paper. Wearing a suit and an appropriate coat for the weather, time period, and region, he was just watching the chaos. This was a darker time for the djinn in regards to his personal rules.
Then he exhaled a silent grumble as a man had run into him. “This isn’t the marathon!” Edwin growled in annoyance and reached out to grasp Tomáš by the right bicep.
Tomáš staggered to a stop, his glasses askance as he peered into the suddenly darker night. His torch lay on the ground, sputtering, and for a brief moment Tomáš was relieved it was not raining. He quickly finished his stocktake on the vials with his free hand, sighing with relief when he confirmed there was nothing leaking and no telltale sound of crunching inside the package.
It was then he realised the other man had a hold of him. “Perhaps not for you,” he replied in his native tongue of Czech, slightly exasperated as he straightened his glasses, then switching back to the local dialect. “I apologise for colliding, but I am in fact on a mission,” he replied, bending to collect his torch from the ground before it extinguished. “I have patients whose pain relief depends on my return.”
Edwin slowly eased his grip and let go of Tomáš, looking him over and watching as the man was very concerned about his property. Then the reply in Czech, which the djinn understood. The old being had seen the first marathon first hand.
“Oh, you’re a doctor?” Edwin spoke, the local dialect slowly seeping into his voice. “And perhaps one who has been much further than this country, yes?”
Slowly Tomáš nodded, his eyes squinting a little as he peered up at the face of the taller man in front of him. “Yes,” he admitted, “I am from Prague, originally, but have spent time in many places to learn how best to heal,” he added, keeping it simple. As he spoke his torch sputtered and finally died, the brief moments of light it had offered having been enough for Tomáš to at least see the face of the man to whom he spoke. The features were not so common in this part of the world, and there was something about the accent that had tweaked Tomáš’ ear.
“And yourself?” he asked, his innate curiosity causing him to pause and ask. “You are not from here,” he said, more of a statement than question.
“I have spent time in my places like yourself, but not to learn the healing arts.” Edwin replied. He was sure Tomáš was much different than the others in this city and also similar. There was something about this doctor. But best not to spook him by helping him with his torch.
“Indeed I’m not from here. Just in passing with how time seems to fly.”
Tomáš nodded as he glanced around, listening to the man, looking for how he could reignite the flame. “Fly it does,” he agreed, pushing his spectacles up his nose to better see the other man. “As would probably be best for you to do too, as I doubt it will be long before the troops march through, and not the resident forces, who will be fleeing in front of the advancing victors,” he said, his voice trailing off as he glanced over his shoulder to ensure there was no spies standing within earshot.
Edwin’s personal rules, when it came to his magic and the restrictions placed on him by his servitude, were a bit looser in some spots. Yet he abided by the proximity to his vessel and the like. Little things didn’t hurt anyone. “Mmm, I will go inside soon. We’ll see how things turn out.” Then as Tomáš looked away, the djinn snapped his fingers and the doctor’s torch re-ignited.
The sounds had Tomáš look back quickly, his eyes narrowing as he watched the flickering of the flame that now encompassed the wick of the torch, shedding light on both of them. He again looked up into the face of the man opposite him, eyeing him with both some slight concern, but more intrigue. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the ways of mage, warlocks and witches having both been mistaken for one, which had led to numerous of his deaths, and meeting them through his centuries of existence.
“Was that you?”
Smoothing his left sleeve, Edwin looked over a shoulder as he heard troopers’ boots slapping rain-soaked cobblestones. Then he looked back at Tomáš. He had seen that look from so many people. It was normal for him. Witch, warlock, mage, demon. Well, the later was closer in most people’s hearts.
“Would you hand me over if I said ‘yes’?”
Tomáš shook his head quickly, pushing his glasses back up as he stopped. “If there is any who knows the risks of revealing unusual abilities it is me,” he told the man, looking back up at him after glancing over his shoulder yet again. He swapped the torch from his right to his left hand and held the now freed palm out, vertically. “I am Tomáš, a surgeon with the Ottoman Forces,” he offered.
Nodding, Edwin smiled softly. “We are few and far between these days.” He replied and followed Tomáš’s eyes. Then he watched as the hand was offered. He placed his right hand in the other man’s, silver rings on his middle finger and thumb. “Edwin. A valet.”
Again Tomáš nodded, acknowledging Edwin’s remark. “Thank you for your help with my torch, it not only helps me find my way, it can be useful as a weapon for protection,” he mused. His trusty dagger that never left him was tucked beneath the folds of his cloak, a garment he still wore as it enabled him to conceal both it and his sword if he deemed it prudent to wear it. He hadn’t worn it that evening, deciding he needed a hand available to protect and secure his precious cargo.
“You’re very welcome. It does. It’s a little of what I can do. Perhaps one of these days, humans will stop being so reliant on fire.” Edwin mused back. He had no need for a weapon though he was susceptible to physical injury. But he’d heal without a danger to his life. The djinn was out just to watch and perhaps find where certain shops had not closed up.
The change suggested by Edwin puzzled and intrigued Tomáš. Fire was one of the greatest discoveries that had allowed human development and while physicists and scientists of many different disciplines tussled with new ideas and inventions it was still fire that ended up being so very reliable as a source of so many benefits, along with some hazards when it wasn't handled correctly, and with respect.
Edwin had been around for so long and watched humans fight over the simplest things. He did understand the importance of fire. But power struggles revolved around someone knowing something that could be both a balm and a weapon. “Have I disappointed?”
Tomáš realised he'd been lost in his thoughts, something that happened with great frequency when a topic of conversation sparked an interest. He quickly shook his head, apologising for his silence. "No, no!" the immortal replied quickly "I was lost in thought, and that does cause me to appear contrary at times," he admitted.
As he spoke a small cart drawn by a donkey clattered its way along the street, the noise rising from the pots and pans dangling along its sides. Tomáš automatically felt for the vials in his satchel, comfort again seeping through him at the feel of the intact package against his chest.
“All right.” Edwin nodded. There were many occasions where the djinn was off-putting. But he was used to it. It tickled at his preening nature.
He stepped to the side to let the cart pass without hindrance. Edwin then noticed how Tomáš’s attention went back to his satchel. Was there something in there of high importance? Must be. “It looks like I have kept you for long enough. I often become distracted by things.”
Again Tomáš nodded. “I must return to my patients,” he confessed, “each minute I remain is another they must spend in pain.” He paused, blinked, and huffed a soft laugh at the rhyming, his literary scholar’s ear giving him a moment of reward, but he quickly continued. “Perhaps we will meet again someday,” he suggested, again offering his hand in friendship.
“Perhaps we will,” Edwin nodded and slipped one of his hands in Tomáš’s. “Go aleve the pain, dear doctor.” He smiled. Getting away from his master was something he enjoyed and it was also a lifeline to wavering sanity.
Tomáš nodded, his mind already returning to the triage area of the treatment compound and how he would best use the precious morphine he had sourced. “Until next time,” he replied and turned, pushing his spectacles up his nose and holding his torch higher to make his way along the darkened street. A final glance over his shoulder and wave as he gave Edwin a last look before returning his attention to not colliding with anyone else.
“Until next time,” Edwin replied and stood still, watching Tomáš. It was a habit that he had carried and would carry for a long time. The djinn waved back as he watched the doctor. What wonders would the world be if he were free to do as he liked and pursue things? Then he turned and continued down a walkway. It wouldn’t be long before his master would summon him back.