The Leprechaun’s Stein

By J. M. Allison

“Well,” Louisa said, staring at the vast array of cups lining the cave walls, “which one is it?”

Andy turned in place, the assorted accessories hanging from his pack protesting the sudden movement. He adjusted his glasses, bringing the hundreds of wine glasses, champagne flutes, ornate chalices, hefty beer steins, delicate tea cups, and whimsical kids’ cups into focus.

He glanced down at the open journal in his hands, referencing the notes and clues he’d collected during his search for the Leprechaun’s Stein.

“Choose the one that means the most to you.” The words scribbled in the corner of the page leapt out at him. He’d found those words carved into the headstone of Fergus McTavish, the man who’d originally won the Leprechaun’s Stein.

After weeks of searching, they’d finally found the leprechaun’s cave, and if the cave was real, the Stein had to be as well.

Andy thought back over the legend. In it, Fergus had rescued a leprechaun who, in gratitude, had granted Fergus three wishes. Fergus first wished for a beer stein that never ran dry. Unlimited drink! According to legend, he had spent his other two wishes requesting health and wealth, or some such nonsense.

Andy walked slowly around the cave. “It’s called the Leprechaun’s Stein, isn’t it? It has to be one of those.” He pointed at the collection of beer steins.

Louisa came and stood next to him. She leaned in close and studied each cup, squinting at each option through the gathered dirt and grime.

“Shouldn’t it be obvious?” She peered into the nearest cup. “I mean, it’s supposed to be a cup that never runs out of beer. Shouldn’t it be the one that’s full of liquid?”

She had a point. Andy looked into each cup, hoping to find the promised amber liquid. All were empty.

“Well, this is disappointing.” Andy flopped down on the cave floor.

“Let’s just pick one,” Louisa reached for a large stein with intertwining circles wrapping around its center.

“Wait!” Andy scrambled to his feet and snatched her hand away from the stein. “You want your face to melt off or to get skewered by a booby trap? Haven’t you watched any relic-hunting movies?”

“We’re looking for a bottomless beer cup, not some golden statue.” She withdrew her hand, but still glanced around for hidden booby traps. “You really think Fergus had the foresight to set up booby traps?”

Andy shrugged and upended his canteen, sending the last drops of water to quench his parched lips. A cup holding unlimited beer might not be a prestigious find in academic circles, but it would impress his buddies at next month’s poker night, and after hiking up here, he could really use a drink.

“We made it this far.” Louisa faced Andy with a determined scowl. “We can figure this out! The Stein has to be here. Read the clues again.”

Andy sighed and tossed her his journal.

“Up in the hills, beneath the crags, lies the magical stein.” Andy recited the words from memory. “Tell it the truth of what you desire, and your drink will never decline.”

“Okay…” Louisa pursed her lips, reading over his notes. “…that part seems pretty obvious. You’ll find the stein in a cave under a cliff.” She gestured around the cave. “Well, we hiked into the hills, found a cave under a cliff, and found a bunch of cups. So we’re obviously on the right track.”

“Unless this is just where someone chose to stash their excessive drinkware collection.”

Louisa rolled her eyes.

“Choose the one that means the most to you,” Andy continued, “and to thine own self be true. But beware, take care, give power its due….” The next lines had been indecipherable, due either to his source’s drunkenness or Andy’s inability to understand Gaelic. Hopefully, the lines weren’t too important. “Something, something, something. Then the Leprechaun’s Stein will be within your grasp, and we can say adieu.”

“So, we pick the one that best represents us.” Louisa slowly turned in place, considering the options. “Let’s choose…”

“That one!” Their voices echoed in unison.

She pointed at a tall, elegant champagne flute with a square stem that gave it a sturdy look. Refined yet practical, it reflected Louisa perfectly. Andy, however, extended a finger toward a red plastic cup shaped like a Western boot.

“Well”—Andy looked from his boot to Louisa’s champagne glass—“it can’t be both. Which one do we pick?”

“Wait!” Louisa rushed over to Andy and shoved the journal under his nose. “It’s the Leprechaun’s Stein!”

Andy stared at her.

“The Leprechaun’s Stein!” she repeated.

Andy continued to stare, his confusion growing as her words echoed around the cave.

“We choose the one that best represents the Leprechaun!” Louisa bounced in excitement.

Andy considered her conclusion. It made sense. “It’s worth a shot.”

They glanced around the walls. What kind of cup best represented a leprechaun?

“There.” Andy pointed to a small beer stein at the far end of the collection. It was a quarter the size of the other steins, made of clay, with a single green four-leaf clover painted on one side.

Andy glanced at Louisa. She nodded, and he seized the little cup from its resting place.

“Hehehe!” A voice cackled around the cave.

Andy and Louisa spun around, searching for its source. They were alone.

“Beware, take care, give power its due, no thanks did you offer when choosing anew,” the voice chortled, “now I bid you adieu!”

With a loud crack, the cup in Andy’s hand dissolved into green dust.

Andy stood immobile, the green dust shimmering on his fingers. For one brief moment, he’d held it. Then it was gone. Perhaps he should have researched those lines a bit more.

“Well,” Louisa slapped Andy on the back, breaking his reverie, “They say Merlin’s staff is hidden somewhere in the woods just north of us. Shall we give that a try?”

Andy grinned. They had a new relic to uncover.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. M. Allison, more commonly addressed as Lisa, or Mommommommom, grew up captivated by the magic and wonder of fairy tales. She finds daily adventure in raising four small humans, teaching musical theatre and dance, sewing, drawing, cosplaying, writing, and reading. Stories can communicate so many things, and she hopes her stories will inspire others to courageously live their own adventures or at least bring a little happiness into their humdrum lives.

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