Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Three: the gathering
Within one of the bars in the heart of the city, a small mob of women were sitting around a man that was playing a hypnotic song on his violin. The man was dressed in the finest clothes - had elegant looking jewelry upon his fingers - everything about him looked - perfect. Everything about him said - come to me. He is a plainswalker known - appropriately so - as the Charming Enchanter. He finished the song he was playing. All of the ladies applauded. With a wave of his hand - the violin vanished.
"Play us another song." One woman requested.
"I've already played every song twice." He replied as he kissed the back of her hand.
"We won't mind."  They all asked as one. He quietly laughed and shook his head. He ran his fingers through the hair of the woman that was sitting beside him.
"Tell us a story then." The woman requested.
"Of what? Surely ladies as lovely and educated as yourselves have better things to do than hear an old man like me go on and on about by battles - conquests - tragedies and so forth. Let's talk about something really interesting. Tell me how such a small city like this managed to be blessed with so many lovely ladies." He replied coyly. All of them giggled at the compliment.
"I would love to hear about your conquests." One lady commented. The others began to agree. he held up his hands in a form of surrender.
"If you ladies keep this up I am going to completely forget why I came here." He teased.
"Would that be so bad?" another lady asked as she undid the top two buttons to her blouse. Enchanter casually looked over at the woman and then shook his head.
"Just who was enchanting who?" he asked. All the women all giggled.
"Mmm. You ladies sure do know how to make an outsider feel welcome. I won't bore you with a story though..." he began. All of the ladies groaned with disappointment. With a wave of his hand his violin returned into his hand.
"But I do have a song - I never played it before. I never had the right audience - until now." He began. All of the ladies sighed. Enchanter closed his eyes and began to play the song he had promised them. all of the eager listeners happily swayed to each hypnotic melody that the wizard played.
On the other side of the room, the somewhat abandoned men were less than amused by the charming wizard. Throughout the course of the day - since the man had entered the bar - they had tried just about everything asides physically carrying the women away form him, but nothing worked. All of them found the whole situation - a little more than frustrating.
"Is it just me or is that man the most annoying thing on earth?" one asked as he took a drink from mug.
"If you are trying to state the obvious - mission accomplished." One sarcastically retorted. The two got up and were about to fight when their friends held them apart. With a little coaxing - the two sat down and resumed focusing their hate at a deserving target - the stranger that had all their women!
"I don't get it. What do they see in him? What has he got that we don't?" one asked.
"Our women for one thing." One answered. If it wasn't so true - it would have been funny. They all listened as the stranger finished his song. All of the ladies happily cheered. One man groaned and slowly rose to his feet.
"I believe that we are over thinking this issue." He began. They all watched as he pulled out his knife.
"You planning something?" one asked.
"In a matter of speaking. In situations like this - it isn't a matter of knowing why something is the way it is - or what the problem is. It is a matter of knowing how to deal with it!" he concluded. With incredible accuracy - he threw the knife across the room and imbedded it in the wall - inches over the stranger's head.
"Wait here boys." He retorted coldly.
Back where Enchanter was - he was looking up at the knife that would have hit - had his protective wards not deflected it. He casually reached up and pulled the dagger out and examined it. He then looked up and saw an angry looking gentleman heading their way.
"I think one of you lovely ladies has a jealous boyfriend." Enchanter commented.
"He'll get over it." One stated. The others happily giggled. The man that threw the dagger waded his way through the small mob of women, placed his hands on the table and glared at the unimpressed stranger.
"I believe you lost your grip on this my friend." He replied calmly as he extended the dagger to the man handle first. The man snatched the weapon from the wizard's hands and stabbed it into the table.
"It didn't slip." He retorted.
"Oh - I see." Enchanter replied calmly.
"And I'm not your friend. Leave now while you are able. You aren't welcome here." He warned.
"Is that true ladies?" Enchanter asked. All of the women around him and beside Enchanter disagreed with the man. Enchanter shrugged his shoulders and put his arm around the lady to the left of him and the did the same to the woman to his right.
"I can't let the ladies down." He stated with a smile.
"I don't know what kind of spell you put on them..." he began.
"Hey - hey. Hold it right there. Yes I am a wizard - but I don't do that. what's the point of doing things that way? Where's the fun? The excitement? I do what I do to - entertain - delight - amuse the ladies - but I never cast spells on them. that would be just plain rude." He retorted coolly as he kissed the woman to his right on the cheek.
"What and ever stranger. Say good bye - and get lost." He retorted angrily.
"Stranger? Ew. That sounds so - distant - informal even. I am known as the Charming Enchanter. You may address me as Sir -or even Enchanter. I'm flexible like that. in exchange - I will extend to you the same courtesy." He offered.
"You will be a charming corpse if you don't get lost." He repeated.
"I do so hate the jealous types - lack of vision and so forth. Which of these lovely women is yours?" he began as he looked to the right.
"The lovely red head with - big - beautiful eyes..." he continued as he looked to the woman to his left.
"The beautiful blond haired goddess with perfect cheekbones maybe?" he continued. The two women giggled at the attention. The man fumed and slammed his fist onto the table. The giggling stopped.
"None of them are." He retorted.
"Then what's your problem?" Enchanter asked - mildly annoyed.
"You are!" he retorted.
"So serious and stubborn. You remind me of someone - so serious and so forth - you have his grumpiness to a T. A fellow wizard - artifact wizard - what was his name? Toy Boat - no. Toy Man - no - that's just silly. Oh yes - Toy Maker. Ah well, that isn't important. What is important is that you learn a little civility and respect. I mean there is no excuse for being so rude to a total stranger." He replied calmly.
"Yeah!" all of the ladies added. The man was doing what he could to hold his rage in check. It wasn't something that was going unnoticed. Enchanter rolled his eyes. There was no way he was going to be able to talk this guy down while distracted in the manner he was.
"As fun as this is ladies - and fun it is. I'm afraid I have to do some - business with our good friend here." He began. All of the women groaned as they had before.
"Write down you name and address down and I will try to visit you later - promise." He added. The man watched as all of the women scampered to write their name and address down for Enchanter. He was in total disbelief at what he saw. Enchanter smiled and waved his hand over the small pile of addresses - all of them vanished.
"Hurry home now." He suggested. All of the women quickly made their way out of the bar. Enchanter sighed and then looked up at the man. the playfulness that was around him was gone. The man could see that the wizard was all business now.
"I dislike being interrupted. I dislike rudeness when I am entertaining. And I dislike your total lack of respect. Now before you make me angry..." Enchanter began as one eye glowed green -the other blue.
"Do you stand alone - or are you representing others?" he hypnotically asked.
"Uh - I - uhm - with others..." he strained. Enchanter blinked - his eyes returned to normal.
"I know you must think me to be some kind of womanizing whore who will use your women and throw them to the curb when I'm done with them - but that isn't what I'm about. I simply like to be in the company of beautiful women - and they like to be around me. It is a part of who I am - a part of my presence. Call your friends over here. I detest repetition - save when I am entertaining." He stated. The man waved to his friends to come over. Enchanter watched as the small mob of men made their way over to where he was.
"What is it? He asking for trouble?" one asked.
"No. he called you here because I told him to. I really don't care if you boys like me hate me or ignore me. but your friend here - almost hit a beautiful woman in the head with his knife. This is how you want to talk to me? This is how you chose to get my attention? Congratulations - you succeeded." Enchanter stated as he slowly rose to his feet.
"What - what are you doing?" one man asked.
"I am going to show you the error of your ways. Next time - if you want to get my attention - send a note!" Enchanter stated. He pointed a finger at the man that had thrown the knife. Everyone watched as he mutated before their eyes into a huge monster. As the moments passed - he grew smaller and smaller until he shrunk into a bubbling puddle on the tavern floor.
"Now - I am by no means an unfair person. He was acting on his own. I could see it in his empty headed thoughts. If he was acting on your say so - you would all pay actions - and their would be some really sad ladies here when I left. I don't want that - you don't want that. Right?" he asked coldly. They all readily and eagerly agreed.
"Good. Now sit with me. The next round - is on me. I sometimes forget how - it is when I entertain the ladies. How they forget about everything else in the waking world. It is rude - and on their behalf and mine of course - I apologize." He continued. A waiter brought over several pitchers of ale.
A few hours later - the group of men were laughing at some of the Enchanter's stories.
"You made that up." One man stated.
"Of course I did. But did that make it any less entertaining?"  Enchanter replied.
"I suppose not." The man admitted.
"But seriously. As beautiful as the women here are - and may the sky above open up if that ain't true - my intentions weren't dishonorable. Especially to the ones that are committed to you good men. They will remember me for a while - but then they will remember how good all of you are to them. Who gets hurt in this? No one. And that is the way I like it." Enchanter added seriously.
"You are something else." One of the other men replied.
"Tell me when I'm supposed to disagree." He humorously replied. the others laughed.
"Ah - that reminds me. I came here for a reason. I have some business to do in your fair town and I was wondering if you good lads could help an old wizard out." Enchanter added.
"Business?" one asked.
"Yes. I am looking for someone - a woman..." Enchanter began.
"There's a surprise." One humorously retorted.
"No - no. She isn't like that. She's the one I have been searching for all my life. I had a rogue encounter with some troll wizard a few years back - and - and I remembered things. I have been searching night and day - world to world for her - but I have had no luck. Then I heard a rumor of a place of forbidden magics. Since then all clues led towards one woman - a sorceress named Markys." He replied seriously as he lowered his eyes. The men were mildly surprised at how human he almost looked at that moment.
"Sorry. One of the few rusty chinks in my silver armor so to speak." He added with a clumsy smile.
"Happens to the best of us. If you are looking for Markys - you're wasting your time. the girl is mad. She speaks in riddles and has the mind of a child. If the sisters in the abbey didn't take care of her - she would probably end up dead or worse." One man stated.
"I like riddles - and madness is highly subjective. If you listen to someone - really listen - all will become clear. Besides - if anyone could get her to talk straight - I believe it would be me." he replied calmly. The men shrugged their shoulders and agreed with him.
"You got a point there." One stated.
"So where could I find these sisters that care for Markys? This city is monolithic in scale. I could search here for days and find nothing." He admitted.
"The abbey is on the north side of town. Follow the main road - you can't miss it." One answered.
"I thank you for your time and company gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me - I must be off." Enchanter concluded as he bowed to his new found friends and then left the tavern.
A short time later - at a small tool booth that was a short distance away from the Abbey, Toy Maker was picking up some supplies and tools that he believed he might need on his expedition.
They are a little primitive - but I suppose that they will have to do. He thought as he paid the merchant. He began to walk away when he bumped into someone - Lord Arachnid.
"Watch where you are going you - you - you're a wizard." Lord Arachnid commented. Toy maker studied the sinister looking mage.
"So are you." He retorted.
"I presume that you are here for this Markys woman." Lord Arachnid added.
"You're brighter than you look." Toy Maker retorted. The two stared each other down and prepared to battle.
"Hey! If it isn't my old friend the Toy maker!" a familiar voice called out. All color drained from his face.
"Oh no - not him." he muttered under his breath. Arachnid looked over to see who was calling out to the wizard before him. it was then that he saw the elegantly dressed wizard Enchanter heading their way.
"Who is he? You're boyfriend?" Arachnid asked.
"Funny." Toy Maker retorted.
"What's your problem with him?" Arachnid asked.
"Trust me - you'll find out soon enough." Toy Maker muttered. Instantly his eyes locked on Enchanter. Enchanter smiled at the artifact wizard and then looked over at the grungy looking wizard.
"I know him - who are you?" Enchanter asked curiously.
"That is none of your concern pretty boy." Arachnid retorted.
"You think so? I try my best." He replied calmly. Arachnid groaned.
"I am beginning to see what you mean." Arachnid muttered. Just then a voluptuous woman walked by and waved at Enchanter. The wizard looked away from the two wizards and then looked back at them - met with a look of confusion and disbelief.
"What?" he replied innocently.
"I don't have the kind of time to waste talking with either of you." Toy Maker commented.
"I'm going out on a limb - you both came here to see that sorceress lady Markys. Am I right?" Enchanter asked. Toy Maker stopped walking and shook his head.
"What of it?" he retorted.
"The reason I am here is none of your concern." Arachnid retorted.
"I'll take that as a yes. Guess what boys? We all have something in common - besides being plainswalkers and all - that is the reason I'm here too" Enchanter commented. The three wizards faced each other.
"You will have to wait your turn then. I got here first." Toy Maker commented. 
"What makes you think I care?" Lord Arachnid retorted as Nibbles hopped out from his hood and perched on the spider wizard's shoulder. Toy Maker's eyes widened as he stepped away.
"Spiders..." he hissed. Arachnid was going to push the issue when he felt a hand grip his free shoulder. He looked over and saw Enchanter smiling. He then looked over and saw that he had a hand on Toy Maker's shoulder as well.
"Imagine boys - if we are having this much fun now - just imagine what it will be like when things get really interesting. Doesn't it just sound fun?" Enchanter asked with an enchanting smile. Toy Maker and Lord Arachnid groaned. This was not how they had foreseen this adventure going.
To be continued...
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