By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Six
In a place a safe distance away from the city controlled by the magistrate, Enchanter took a break to collect his thoughts. Something about what he faced in the city unnerved him. The face - the face he saw only once as a child. The face of a woman that saved his life. A face he had almost forgotten.
"It's been so long." Enchanter said to himself as he looked at his reflection in a shallow stream. He shook his head and through a small rock into the waters. His mind flashed back to when he was a child. Back to a time when his mind wasn't attuned to the power he possessed. He remembered all too well that demon that tried to slay him while he slept. And had that woman not intervined - he knew that he wouldn't be where he was today.
"But why now? Why over six thousand years later would i think of her now?" he asked himself.
"Maybe your subconscious is playing tricks with you?" a voice asked. Enchanter snapped himself out of his trance and looked over at an elfin maiden that was watching him.
"I didn't realize i had an audience." Enchanter admitted as he returned his attention to the stream.
"I know. Who was she?" she asked curiously.
"I don't know. I never got the chance to ask her." he replied. the elf sat down beside him and looked into the river to see what had captured his attention so.
"Sounds like quite a catch." she commented.
"I know it must sound foolish." he admitted.
"Not to me. Want to talk about it?" she offered.
"Hmmm. I don't see why not. Before I became what I am today - I - was a beacon of sorts. Things - were drawn to me - bad things - dark things. My parents at the time - thought it was just in my head - the imaginings of a small child and so forth - but it wasn't. As time passed - stronger things began seeking me out - until - until he came." he stated coolly.
"Who?" she asked.
"Dorragarr - the Lord of the Pit. I wanted to cry out for help - but the terror of seeing his blood red eyes - those fangs the size of cattle - I froze." he stated as he looked over at the elf.
"You know him by name?" she asked.
"You think I'm making this up?" he asked curiously.
"You have to admit - it does sound a little fantastic." she replied with a smile.
"True enough. I remember his minions binding me to an altar. It was made of the bones and flesh of past sacrifices.I saw the Lord of the Pit - raise a horned shaped dagger up - then - I saw a light so bright and pure - that I went blind. I heard the minions scream in terror and pain. I heard the Lord of the Pit engaged in an epic battle - then nothing." he continued. The elf looked over to see his face.
"You don't look blind to me." she commented.
"I got better. I remember being lifted up from that altar. I still coundn't see anything - the darkness was all around me. Then the darkness began to fade into a glowing white. That was when I saw her face. I never saw anything so perfect or beautiful in my entire life." he continued.
"Some story." she stated calmly.
"It gets better. I woke up seconds later back in my bedroom. I thought it all just a fantastic dream - but my wrists were still scarred from where the demons bound me to the altar. I looked to the window and saw her face - vanishing into the sunrise. I never saw her or thought of her again." he concluded.
"Until today?" she added.
"Until today. But why would she appear to me now? It makes no sense. Wouldn't you..." he began. he looked over - the elf was gone. he quickly got up and visually searched for any sign that she was there - but there was none.
"I must be losing it." he muttered.
Find the Dreaming Djin and all your answers will be found. A voice whispered in his mind. He quickly looked around to see who or what was speaking to him - but he could neither see or sense any creature - spirit or otherwise nearby.
"I am losing it. Time to get focused. Objective one - find that troll wizard pest and deal with him. Objective two find out who is playing head games with me. Objective three - find out what the hell a Dreaming Djin is." he said to himself as he hurried away. Seconds later - a small spring began to bubble up from the ground. the spring began to churn into a black mud. It was then that the troll wizard popped his head up.
"You may find - but you no be able to deal with me. Dorragarr - its been a while since I talked with him. Perhaps he would be willing to serve me - in exchange for the wizard." he muttered to himself. Just then a lightning bolt shot down from the cloudless sky and flung the troll from the black mud.
The wizard is mine! Do as you are told! Betray me and i promise you that you will know suffering unimagined! a loud voice echoed in his head. the troll rolled on the ground covering his sensitive ears. He whimpered as he slowly got up.
"I do good - you see." he called out as he scampered after Enchanter.
To be continued...
