A Letter Changes Everything [FICTOID]

The alchemist’s cottage sat on the bank of the spring, the distant waterfall roaring constantly.

Inside, the alchemist sifted flour and added syrup to make a birthday cake.

He looked up to see the count standing in his doorway.  The count did not seem pleased.

“I demand a refund,” he said.

“Sorry, all sales final,” said the alchemist.

“You cheated me!”

“How?”

“You promised to create a spell that would put an erotic design on my mistress’ back.”

“That I did, didn’t I?”

“No, you didn’t!  When I applied the spell, I ended up with thousands of vagabonds and hoboes running through my castle, causing immeasurable damage.”

“What?!?!?  Let me see that spell.”

The count handed the alchemist a parchment scroll.  The alchemist looked at it then grinned sheepishly.  “Oops, my mistake.  I misspelled -- quite literally, and in both senses of the word.  I unfortunately added an extra letter, so instead of your mistress getting tramp stamped, you got -- “

“A tramp stampede,” said the count.

© Buzz Dixon