Toz

             Toz paused before pounding his fist against the door. His former mentor, Galen’s, words rung in his ears.

            “Don’t go back there.” He’d said. “It’s been 14 years since they left you with me. They won’t even recognize you – much less except you back into their family.” Toz’s forehead creased in frustration but he shook the memory away. Galen was nothing but a senile, old sorcerer. What did he know aside from magic? He certainly knew nothing about family. Toz’s parents would be delighted to welcome him back. He rasped against the door with his knuckles before self-consciously patting down his golden-brown hair. There was the sound of many feet and a chorus of small, curious voices. Toz could hear a woman scold,

            “Hush up! Whoever it is won’t want to be bombarded all at once!” The door creaked open slowly and a disheveled woman with wispy brown hair and a red splotched face stood before Toz with a crowd of young children gathered around her skirt. Toz suddenly felt too tidy and shook his hair a little. The woman gazed up at Toz with a suspicious expression.

            “What do you want?” she asked, looking Toz up and down. Her eyes rested momentarily on the silver band on the index finger of Toz’s left hand.

            “Don’t you recognize me?” Toz asked, hopeful. The woman raised an eyebrow but didn’t reply. A small knot of regret formed in Toz’s stomach.

            “I’m Toz. I’m your son.” The woman’s expression changed to a look of surprised realization.

            “Toz! You must forgive me for not recognizing you! I mean – I haven’t seen you since you were a baby. Now look at you! Come in! Come!” The woman rushed Toz into the modest home. She brushed off a chair and sat him in it before pulling up one for herself. Toz counted six children altogether, scuttling about excitedly after their mother. They were all younger then him. Could they all really be his siblings? The youngest, a little girl with gray eyes, seemed to look right through Toz. The woman leaned forward, scrutinizing Toz. She seemed ready to interrogate him.

            “You're certainly doing well for yourself.” She pointed out, eyeing Toz’s nice clothes and again his ring. 

            Well, having a princess for a girlfriend hasn't hurt my pocket, Toz thought. He didn’t say this out loud though.

            “How has the sorcerer training been going?” the woman asked. Toz snorted lightly.

            “I’m not learning from Galen anymore. I’ve been traveling for the past couple years.”

            “Really?” the woman questioned, with a tone that didn’t seem as interested as it tried to be.

            “Yes,” Toz sighed, deciding he wouldn’t bore her with an account of his travels. “How have things been with you?” The woman laughed,

            “Well as you can see I’ve gained plenty of mouths to feed since you’ve been gone! May I ask, did you get that ring on your travels?”

            “No.” Toz practically moaned, annoyed that everyone always had to ask about the ring. “Galen gave it to me. It protects my mind from being invaded by magical beings, like other sorcerers and soul-seers.” The woman nodded.

            “Did you also get those clothes from Galen?”

            “No. I got these when I worked for the royal family.”

            “My son worked in the castle?” The woman exclaimed. “What did you do?” She leaned forward in her seat.

            “I was a jester.” Toz coughed. A jester. He could never get over how stereotypical and undignified a job that was for a sorcerer.

            “You certainly got paid well, didn’t you?”

            “I suppose.” Toz wished she would quit questioning his fortunes. So what if he had nice clothes and a silver ring? Wouldn’t she be just as happy if he’d shown up in rags? When she leaned back and sighed contentedly to herself that she had a rich son, he doubted it. Toz stood up to leave.

            “Where are you going? You’ve only just arrived?” the woman asked, standing as well.

            “I only wanted to stop by for a brief visit,” Toz lied. “I really need to be going now.”

            “But you’ll come back, right?” the woman asked, her voice edgy. Just then the girl with the gray eyes stumbled into Toz’s leg. She hugged him.

            “Daddy,” She sighed. Toz bent down and looked into her eyes. They stared back at him blankly.

            “Do I look like your daddy?” he asked softly.

            “Look?” The little girl’s face scrunched up in confusion and she giggled, “You’re silly daddy. I don't look. I hear!” Toz inhaled sharply. He closed the girl’s eyelids with his fingers and she giggled again at the strange action.

            “Do you like flowers?” Toz asked.

            “They smell pretty.” The girl sighed at the pleasant thought.

            “They look pretty too.” Toz informed her.

            “But I don't look!” the girl exclaimed indignantly.

            “Are you sure?” Toz asked as he allowed her to open her eyelids. She squinted drastically.

            “It hurts!” she complained. The woman gasped,

            “She can see! You healed her!” But Toz was already out the door and on his way down the road.