Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Four: agitation
A short distance away from the old abbey, both Lord Arachnid had focused their hate at the man that was standing between them - the mage known as the Charming Enchanter.
"Thin ice Enchanter - that is what you are jumping on." Toy Maker warned.
"You are touching me. Remove your hand before I remove it for you and then feed it to Nibbles." Lord Arachnid warned. Enchanter quietly chuckled and removed his hands from the two wizards. He then smiled at both of them and then bowed.
"All of this hostile energy will get us no where. We all came here for one simple reason - the sorceress Markys. Despite whatever differences we have - we should put them aside until all of this is sorted out." Enchanter rationalized.
"What is there to sort out? I am going to see Markys - you two are going home." Toy Maker stated coldly.
"Hold on Toy man - what makes you think I would back down to you?" Lord Arachnid stated. Toy Maker slowly turned and glared at the spider wizard. Enchanter could sense that things were coming to a boil between the two and stepped back. It was then that the two looked over at him.
"You know - if we fought to the death - he would most likely be able to polish off the winner." Toy maker rationalized as his gauntlets began to glow.
"Funny - I was thinking the exact same thought." Lord Arachnid added.
"Oh please - how obvious would I have to be to try to pit the two of you against each other? Really - that isn't my style. But if you both are insistent on making this into something personal..." Enchanter began as strands of mana began to swirl around him.
"You will not find me to be an easy target." He concluded. The three wizards were just about to do battle when three elderly sisters from the abbey cleared their throats to get their attention. All of the wizards hesitantly looked away from each other to see who was trying to get their attention.
"Lord Arachnid - Toy Maker - Charming Enchanter - I presume." One of the elderly sisters stated.
"Maybe - who's asking?" Lord Arachnid replied.
"We represent the Abbey and have been requested to extend an invitation to Lord Arachnid - Toy Maker - and Charming Enchanter. The Lady Markys - desires an audience with all of you." She answered seriously. The three wizards looked at each other untrustingly.
"She wants to see us - together?" Toy Maker asked hesitantly.
"That was my lady's instructions." She answered.
"There must be some mistake." Lord Arachnid muttered - glaring at both Enchanter and Toy Maker.
"No mistake. She has desired an audience with all of you. If you are not too busy - follow me. I will take you to the Lady Markys. I am sure that all questions will be answered then." The sister concluded with a bow. The three wizards watched as the sisters began to walk back towards the abbey.
"This is far from over insect. And as for you Enchanter - stay out of my way." Toy Maker muttered as he walked away from the wizards to follow the sisters.
"Any time you feel lucky enough - step into my world. I promise you will not leave the same. And I don't care how charming you think you are - play games with me - and I will feed you to my family!" Lord Arachnid hissed as he followed after Toy Maker.
"All this hostility - ouch. Hmm. I'll try not to be too offended." Enchanter muttered as he followed after the others.
A few moments later the three found themselves in a long corridor. What unnerved them was how the sisters that had led them there had mysteriously vanished. The three walked down the hall and looked at the numerous paintings that were lined up along the walls.
"Quite the art collector this girl must be." Lord Arachnid muttered. Just then - the large doors that they had entered through - slammed shut. All three quickly looked at the door that was now locked by a magical seal. Lord Arachnid and Toy Maker slowly looked over at Enchanter.
"Don't even imagine it. I had nothing to do with that." he retorted seriously.
"I don't like this." Toy Maker muttered.
"You may not be pleased to hear this - but you aren't alone. This is starting to feel like a trap." Lord Arachnid added as he studied the intricate details that were in every picture he passed.
"You've been with spider's too long. Hey - is it just me - or do either of you recognize any of these people?" Enchanter asked. The two wizards walked over and looked at the paintings Enchanter was looking at.
"He is a Blue Illusion mage. Goes by the alias Phantom Wind. I met him once. Why?" Toy Maker asked.
"Since we have walked from the door to here - I have recognized at least ten reputable plaiswalkers. Why would this child have portraits of other wizards?" Enchanter pointed out. Lord Arachnid and Toy Maker walked around and began to study the other portraits.
"I know this one. Goes by the name of Thorn - the untouchable. Rumor has it that he survived the opening of a Nevenrile's Disk - and the Wrath of God. The battle laid waste to five other mages - but he walked away untouched." Lord Arachnid stated.
"You believe everything you hear?" Toy Maker retorted.
"Normally no. But one of my family was there - and witnessed the whole affair. It was something else." Lord Arachnid replied seriously. Toy Maker was going to comment when he saw a portrait that he recognized.
"Huh. I never thought I would see this guy again." Toy Maker muttered.
"Who?" Enchanter asked as he walked over to where he was standing.
"This one. A giant of a plainswalker. Goes by the name of Chaos. If you ever saw the guy in action you would know why. I witnessed him as he brought a warded empire to its knees. Not exactly very subtle - but he had a lot of power." Toy Maker replied. Enchanter was going to comment when he saw the portrait of a young looking female sorceress.
"You know her?" Toy Maker asked curiously.
"I did - once. But that was a long time ago." He replied as he shook his head. He then looked around and looked mildly perplexed.
"Am I the only one who is curious as to where our humble guides went?" he asked seriously.
"Well, now that you mention it..." Lord Arachnid added.
"The hall doesn't fork or snake. If they aren't behind us - they must have gone ahead." Toy Maker rationalized. It was then that a door near the other end of the hall began to slowly open. The three wizards looked hesitantly at each other.
"Did one of you do that?" Enchanter asked. The other two wizards shook their heads.
"I like spinning webs - I do not like being in them." Lord Arachnid stated.
"Stay or go. The choice is yours. I came here to find Markys. And that is what I intend to do." Toy Maker replied as he walked towards the door. Enchanter looked at the reluctant spider wizard.
"The stuffy toy wizard does have a point you know. I am wagering that we have both traveled far to find this person. It would be a waste to turn back now." Enchanter stated. Lord Arachnid looked over at Enchanter untrustingly.
"Who said anything about turning back? I just don't like waltzing into a trap." He replied seriously as he hurried to catch up with Toy Maker. Enchanter shrugged his shoulders and quietly laughed.
"Just checking." He commented as he picked up his pace to avoid being left behind. As he walked - he noticed the perplexed and befuddled looks that were on the faces of his fellow wizards. He slowly walked over and stood beside them.
"This - this has got to be a mistake. This - girl - is the legendary sorceress that I have searched hundreds of worlds to find?' Toy Maker asked in disbelief.
"I heard rumors - but I thought them to be just that..." Lord Arachnid added. Enchanter calmly smiled. For in the center of the large chamber before them sat an eight-year-old girl. Who was playing with several unique looking dolls and odd-looking toys.
"I think she's kind of cute." Enchanter commented. It was then that the three sisters appeared before the wizards. The three snapped out of their trance.
"The Lady Markys - will see you now." The eldest sister stated. They bowed to the wizards and then vanished. As if on cue - the girl looked up and saw her confused guests. A broad smile crossed her face as she hovered up to her feet.
"I have hunted and searched and quested - to find a child." Toy Maker muttered in disbelief.
"Do you want to play with me?" she asked happily. Toy Maker groaned.
"Not really." He replied. He sighed and leaned against the wall behind him.
"Do you like toys? I like toys. I have lots." She stated. Toy Maker casually looked over and watched as several hand sized constructs magically appeared around the child and began to move on their own. He was about to look away when he noticed something vaguely familiar about some of them. he walked over and looked at one. It was a scale representation of a Yotian Soldier. Another was a Bottle Gnome. But the one that caught his eye the most - was a scale representation - of one of his own Toy Soldiers.
"My god - these are perfect representations. Where did you get these?" he asked.
"I'm not talking to you. You were mean to mean." She retorted and stuck her tongue out at him. Toy Maker shook his head and collected the small toy sized artifact creatures and walked away from the child. Just then, Nibbles hopped out from Arachnid's hood and began to scurry towards the child. Markys saw the spider that was rushing towards her and shrieked out.
"Eeek! Spider!" she squealed as she ran towards Enchanter. Enchanter effortlessly picked her up and glared at the spider. The spider stopped dead in its tracks and stared at the wizard and sorceress.
"Make it go away!" Markys cried.
"Call it off Arachnid." Enchanter warned.
"Nibbles - what are you doing?" Arachnid asked - the spider made no sound as it continued to stare.
"It's scaring me." she sobbed.
"Call your damn bug off wizard." Enchanter warned.
"Nibbles wouldn't harm a fly - unless I told it otherwise." Lord Arachnid replied. swirls of mana began to spiral around an angry Enchanter.
"Last chance - call - him - off!" Enchanter ordered in a hypnotic voice. Arachnid began to sway a bit.
"I'll do just..."  he began. He shook his head and glared at the wizard that was trying to enchant him.
"Nice try. You almost had me - almost. Try again - and I will respond accordingly." He added.
"That was just one spell of many. Now call him off." Enchanter warned. Lord Arachnid clapped his hands together. His spider twitched.
"I do so only because you freaks are hurting his feelings." He replied. he made several spider noises. Nibbles twitched but then scurried over to where Lord Arachnid was waiting for him.
"Thank you Enchanter - you my hero." Markys said with a sigh as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Can we get back to the matter at hand? You know? The reason we are here in the first place?" Toy Maker asked impatiently.
"He wants me to go back." Markys whispered.
"Go back where?" Enchanter asked.
"Forbidden place. Dark and scary - it bad." She whispered while shaking her head.
"It's okay. I'm sure it wouldn't be scary if we were there with you." He replied.
"You would protect me from the scary thingies?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course. You keep mentioning the bad things - the dark and scary things. But what about the beautiful things? The wondrous things that you saw there. I know you must have seen one or two things that took your breath away." Enchanter asked as a stuffed rabbit appeared in his free hand.
"There were a lot of pretty things." Markys admitted. She quickly reached over and snatched the stuffed toy from the wizard. Enchanter quietly laughed as the two continued to talk. Toy Maker and Lord Arachnid shook their head in disbelief.
"He may be annoying - but he does have his uses - sometimes - it seems." Lord Arachnid muttered.
"Be that as it may. Charmer or no. that befuddled child couldn't find her own hand in front of her face let alone her way back to the Forbidden Isles." Toy Maker stated. Lord Arachnid wanted to argue the fact - but from what he had witnessed thus far he was forced to agree.
"Would you care to put some money on that boys?" Enchanter asked as he walked over to where the other wizards were.
"You learn something from the brat?" Lord Arachnid asked.
"I did. I asked her how she knew the way there. She told me that she had a map." He replied.
"A map? How glorious. Where is it?" Toy Maker asked.
"Here." Enchanter commented as he held up a folded piece of paper. Lord Arachnid quickly snatched it from the wizard's hands and looked at it. Upon seeing it he almost wanted to punch Enchanter.
"Is this your idea of a joke? This is just a child's scribbling." He stated.
"Is it? Markys - touch the map." Enchanter requested. Markys reached over and placed her hand flat against the map. Toy maker and Enchanter watched as all of the random scribbling began to warp and twist into tangible shapes. Within seconds - it looked like an actual map.
"Good news - bad news. Good news - the map is real. I recognized some of the landmarks. Bad news - the place is warded - we can't just teleport there. Good news - it doesn?t appear to be too far away. Bad news - the map will only work if she is touching it." Enchanter stated calmly. Markys removed her hand the lines on the paper collided back into an unreadable mass of color and lines.
"So who is going with the girl?" Toy maker asked seriously.
"Unfortunately - more bad news - all of us." he replied coldly.
"Us? As in the three of us? You must be joking!" Lord Arachnid retorted.
"Do you think I wanted this? It's the last thing I wanted - but I'm afraid she was quite adamant about it." Enchanter muttered. Toy Maker and Lord Arachnid glared at each other.
"I'm not traveling anywhere with him!" the two stated as they pointed at each other.
"All - or none. I no go if even one stay. Chose." Markys interrupted. The two wizards groaned.
"Listen - I'm not exactly overly fond of the idea of sharing anything with either of you. But if any of us desire to find what we are looking for we will have to put aside our petty differences and work together - at least until we find what we are seeking. I don't know about you. But what I seek is worth the compromise." Enchanter rationalized.
"Argh! Fine! Whatever - just tell that wizard - to keep his disease ridden spiders away from me!" Toy Maker retorted. Lord Arachnid hissed and pointed at Toy Maker.
"Count me in - just keep that arachnophobic lunatic away from my family." Lord arachnid growled.
"There - was that so hard? Now that we are one big happy family - let's make the necessary arrangements to get to these Isles. Fair?" Enchanter asked.
"Be at docks at when the bell tolls seven - no be late." Markys warned with an innocent smile.
"I'll be there." Toy Maker muttered as he vanished into a cloud of mist.
"Show off." Lord Arachnid muttered as he stormed out of the room.
"Do you want to play with me?" she asked. Enchanter sighed. He had hoped to visit one of the local ladies he had met earlier - but something told him it would be wiser to stay with the girl.
"I was going to play with some older girls..." he began. Markys made a pouty face.
"Okay - you win." He replied. Markys floated away from him and landed by a small pile of plush toys.
"You play with this one." She said as she tossed the tow to him. She sat down where the big pile of toys was and began to sing to herself. Enchanter sighed and was about to toss the stuffed toy aside when something about it looked vaguely familiar.
Where have I seen this before? He thought. he slowly sat down and studied the representation of the face.
"Thorn." He whispered. He quickly looked up to see if the child had heard him. but luckily she was too entranced with her toys to notice him.
He was the guy that Arachnid was talking about. He sounded like a pretty tough customer. I wonder what happened to him? he thought. Just then - a large stuffed teddy bear swung through the air and slammed into his face. he was knocked to the floor by the force of the impact. He quickly looked over to see what had hit him. when he saw Markys standing with a stuffed animal as big as she was he had a vague notion.
"I got you good didn't I?" she teased. Enchanter slowly sat up.
"You sure did. Where did you get this?" he asked curiously. Markys smiled and looked up at the roof. Enchanter slowly looked up to see what she was looking at, Just then he got whacked again. He looked over and saw her trying to hide the stuffed bear behind her back.
"Did you do that?" he asked.
"Maybe." She replied.
"Where did you get this?" he asked again. She looked over at the doll in his hands and then focused all of her attention on her stuffed bear.
"A nice man gave it to me before he went away." she replied. Enchanter sighed and shook his head. There was more to this that she was letting on - but he was positive that he would be able to deduce more the longer he was with her.
At a near by tavern, Toy Maker was fuming at the thought of having to team up with the creepy spider wizard Lord Arachnid - and was even less pleased that he was going to be stuck with that other wizard Enchanter.
"It is bad enough that I have to put up with that - creature - Enchanter - but to have to tolerate that bug wizard - argh." He muttered as he took out the representation of one of his toy soldiers - the representation he had taken from Markys.
"Time to see what makes you tick." He said to himself. He began to quickly dismantle the small artifact creature - taking exceptional notice as to every detail as he did. Within moments he had realized what he had suspected before he had even begun.
"It is a perfect copy. A perfect scale copy of one of my designs. How on earth did she get her hands on this?" he asked himself as he began to reassemble the artifact. With a wave of his hand - the reconstructed artifact vanished.
"Excuse me sir - may I join you?" a soft voice asked. He looked over his shoulder and saw a young woman looking at him.
"Are you talking to me?" he asked.
"Yes. Is that okay?" she replied hesitantly.
"I suppose so." He replied calmly. The woman sat down beside him and hesitantly looked over at him.
"I saw what you did with that thing - that little toy. Are you good at that sort of thing?" she asked.
"It's what I do. I make things and fix things. Why do you need something made or fixed?" he asked.
"No - maybe - sort of." She replied.
"Is there a reason you are nervous?" he asked.
"You are a wizard right? I don't want to anger you or anything." She replied.
"It takes quite a bit to anger me. what do you need done?" he asked calmly.
"Well, I was sort of admiring my father's timepiece - it was really shiny and I sort of dropped it. Now it doesn't work. If he finds out..." she began. Toy maker sighed and raised his hand. He had heard enough. Although such menial repairs were beneath him - he decided to relent this once.
"Let me see it." He replied.
"Do you charge much?" she asked hesitantly.
"I have no need of money or anything you could offer. Now may I see it?" he replied seriously. The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out the palm-sized timepiece. He gave it a light shake and could hear the loose part rattling inside.
"Sounds like a loose or damaged spring." He stated calmly. The woman watched as he effortlessly dismantled the watch and slowly removed the damaged part. Upon inspection he showed it to the woman.
"This spring was going to break - in a day or two had you not dropped it when you did. It's been over wound. I think I fix it though." He replied calmly. With a wave of his hand - the part was reconstructed. He carefully examined the spring and then carefully put the watch back together.
"How - how did you do that so fast?" she asked as she hesitantly picked up the repaired ticking timepiece.
"I have studied my craft from the texts of the best minds in recorded history. I doubt that there is any artificer in this day and time that is my equal." He replied as he slowly got up and began to walk away.
"Wait! What do I owe you for the watch?" she asked.
"Nothing. That was hardly what I would consider work. Just be careful when handling such devices." He concluded as he left the tavern. The woman held the ticking timepiece to her ear to hear the working device.
On the other side of town, in a section of old growth forest, the spider wizard was relaxing in a hammock made of spider webs. He was rocking side to side contemplating his future journey and his new traveling companions.
"I've got a bad feeling about this Nibbles. I don't trust that Markys child - I don't trust that dubious Enchanter - and I sure as hell don't trust that Toy Maker freak. Why would that child force us together? It makes no sense." He stated coldly. Nibbles hopped down from the branches above and landed on his chest.
"And all of those paintings - there had to be hundreds of them. So many wizards. Did all of them pass by this way - and if they have - what happened to them?" he asked himself. Nibbles made some chirping noises. Lord Arachnid sighed and nodded.
"Maybe I am reading to much into this. But I don't think so. Why would Markys want us all together for this trip? I know the answer - it is so obvious that it is invisible to me. do you think this is a trap?" he asked curiously. Nibbles made several chirping noises and then sat down on his chest.
"I agree. But we'll play it out for the time being. When the others out live their usefulness - then we'll act. After all - we have gotten out of tight spots before - haven't we?" he asked with a smile and he patted the spider as though it were a pet cat or dog.
"Greetings stranger." A voice stated. Lord Arachnid looked over his shoulder and saw a traveler staying a safe distance away.
"What do you want?" he asked calmly.
"Uhm, you are aware that there is a huge spider on your chest - right?" he asked hesitantly.
"Of course. I look at him as though he was my flesh brother. His name is Nibbles kind stranger. Would you care to stick around to find out why?" Lord Arachnid asked with a wicked smile. The stranger slowly put his hands up and began to back away.
"That - won't be necessary. I was just going." He replied as he hurried away.
"You want?" Lord Arachnid asked. The spider chirped but made no effort to move.
"I agree - he did look a little scrawny. Humans - such frail skittish creatures. Aren't they my pet?" he asked with a quiet laugh as the two calmly rocked in the hammock.
Almost two hours later, Enchanter and Markys were waiting on one of the empty docks. Enchanter was hesitantly looking around. If Arachnid and Toy Maker didn't show - no matter how charming he was to the girl - she wasn't going to take him anywhere.
"Clock chime six - is almost seven." She warned. Enchanter carefully lifted her up.
"I'm sure they'll show." He replied.
"What if they forgot?" she asked.
"I don't think they could forget - even if they wanted to. If I may ask - why do you want them along? Won't they just get in the way?" he asked curiously. A dark look crossed the innocent face.
"They no go - I no go - you no go!" she answered lowly.
"Okay - okay. I'm sorry. Hey - look over there - there's that spider wizard. See - he's heading this way. He doesn't seem to be in a hurry - but he is coming." Enchanter reassured. Markys looked over and saw Lord Arachnid making his way down a street. Seconds later - Toy maker appeared from a cloud of mist.
"Am I late?" he asked lowly.
"No. You're on time. so will your friend when he gets here." Enchanter stated as he pointed over to where Lord Arachnid was. Toy maker looked over and saw the wizard that was in no clear hurry to get where he had to be.
"How much longer until the clock chimes seven?" Enchanter asked.
"If he keeps up at the pace he's going - you'll find out." Toy Maker muttered. It was then that they saw the spider wizard's pace quicken a bit. Just then - he vanished into the crowd.
"Where did he go?" Markys asked.
"I'm here." A voice said from under the dock. The three watched as Lord Arachnid crawled out from under the dock as a spider would.
"Nice. Maybe next time you could take the scenic route." Toy Maker stated.
"I rush for no man - or girl." He retorted. Mere seconds later the clock began to chime.
"It time - you all here!" Markys sang happily.
"Yes we are. So where is our boat? I hope she doesn't expect us to swim to this place of forbidden lore." Toy Maker asked sarcastically.
"No silly. Our ride is almost here." She replied. they watched as her eyes glowed white. Seconds later a thick fog rose up from the water. Just then a huge ship pushed out from the fog and drifted up next to the dock. All of the wizards were mildly impressed with the ship.
"Nice." Lord Arachnid commented.
"Not bad." Toy Maker commented.
"Whatever you do for a living you must do quite well." Enchanter stated calmly - making her giggle.
"You like my toy boat?" she asked playfully.
"This is her idea of a toy?" Lord Arachnid asked.
"Ahem? For reasons which I believe are overly obvious - you will be on one side of the ship Arachnid - Toy Maker - on the other. I will be somewhere in between. Fair?" he asked seriously.
"Makes a certain amount of sense." Toy Maker muttered as he boarded the ship.
"Tell me when you are expecting me to object." Lord Arachnid added as he made his way onto the boat. Enchanter looked at Markys who was smiling happily. Apparently she was finding all of this very amusing..
"I want my room!" Markys stated as she flew from Enchanter and vanished into the boat. Enchanter shook his head and stepped onto the boat. As soon as he did he found himself face to face with Toy Maker.
"You know - I can't help but notice how close you and the girl are getting. I know you wouldn't be thinking anything stupid - like betraying us." he stated seriously.
"Hey. If I had my way - you two would have been waiting at an empty dock. I may look all-content - but I am not overly pleased either. And as for what you were implying - live in fear and wonder. I happen to get along well with women and with children and as luck has it - she is both. If you want to make an enemy of me here and now - that is your choice Toy Maker - but when we get where we have to go - who would you rather have watching your back - me or that friendly spider wizard? Something to think about?" Enchanter asked seriously. Toy Maker was silent for a moment but then turned and walked away to where his living quarters for the journey would be.
"And the fun begins." He muttered. just then, the ship began to move. He walked over to the edge and watched the dock slowly vanishing into a thick fog that was rising up from the water.
"That can't be good." He added. The fog began to spill into the boat. Just then Markys cried out and ran over to where Enchanter was and tightly hugged him.
"This was how it happened before. First these clouds then monsters and scary things." She sobbed. Enchanter consoled her as he watched the fog rise up to Markys' chest.
"I don't think that you'll have to worry about monsters - or scary things." He reassured as the fog rose up to his chest. If he wasn't holding onto Markys - he wouldn't be able to see or find her. the fog had a dark magic to it. One that was numbing him to the bone.
"You - okay?" he strained.
"Scared...you protect me?" she slurred.
"I'll do what - I can. But you are probably stronger..." he began.
"No - no - am not am not." She argued. The fog rose up to his neck. Everything began to get blurry to the wizard. Stars began to flash before him. He was about to collapse into unconsciousness when the fog began to thin. He looked forward and could see the outline of a landmass through the fog. The ship burst through the fog. Enchanter was gasping. He looked down and saw Markys still clinging to him.
"We made it." He stated.
"We did?" she asked as she opened her eyes.
"Yeah. Look over there. Is that the place?" he asked. Markys floated up and looked at the distant land mass.
"Yup. Those the Forbidden Isles. This is where it will get scary." She replied. Enchanter placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"I don't think that you will have much to worry about. I mean if the four of us work together - I don't think that there is anything on those little rocks that could hurt us." he stated.
"You really think so?" she asked curiously.
"I know so. Shall we go tell the others?" he asked. Markys nodded and floated beside Enchanter as they went below deck to talk to the others.
To be continued...
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