Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Sixteen: jungle
Only minutes had passed since their conversation with Tithian the panther faced dragon and our group of travelers had made little progress through the dense forest. The wide path that they had started down - had had branched off into several thinner ones and by this point - the path seemed to have vanished altogether.
"You sure you know where we're going?" Toy maker asked lowly.
"Of course I do. You remember what Tithian said? Two armies are in these woods looking for us - all of the paths will of course be monitored and trapped. You may be willing to gamble our lives on such a venture - I am not." Markys replied. Toy maker sighed and sat down on a tree stump.
"Whatever." He muttered. Just then Tuly quickly looked to the forest to her right.
"Something wrong?" he asked curiously.
"No - it's probably nothing." She replied hesitantly.
"Then why are you digging your talons into my shoulder?" he began. It was then that he could feel what she must have sensed and heard. The ground began to shake. The birds in the nearby trees flew away.
"Never mind - I think I have a vague notion." He muttered as he hopped to his feet and hurried passed the others.
"What's your hurry?"  Lord Arachnid asked.
"No time for small talk! We need some walls up now!" Toy maker replied. He threw five silver orbs passed the wizards. The three watched as five thinly made walls of shields rose up. Their heard a shrill sound as war mammoths trumpeted out enraged. They smashed through the shields as if they were made of paper.
"Mammoths!" Arachnid exclaimed. With a wave of his hand - a wall of wood grew up. They crashed through it and continued towards them.
"That bought me some time!" Toy Maker stated. He threw out a yellow vial. As soon as it was halfway between the wizards and the charging beasts - it exploded. Before them was a wall made of living flesh.
"Hate to be the one to break this to you - but that ain't big enough." Enchanter muttered.
"It will be." he retorted as he threw a black orb at the Living Wall. Upon contact it almost doubled in size. They all heard the mammoths trumpet out as they impacted against the wall with a sickening thud. The charge stopped.
"An army of mammoths. I wouldn't have expected that." Enchanter commented.
"Won't they just go around?" Arachnid asked.
"Not quite. Follow me." Toy Maker replied as he motioned for them to follow him up his artifact creature. Once atop the wall they looked down and saw that many were stuck in the wall where their tusks had impacted. The remaining few that managed to avoid that fate fled back into the forest.
"They won't be able to get out will they?" Enchanter asked.
"Not unless I will it."  Toy maker replied as he looked down at the frustrated mammoth riders.
"You will pay for this indignity!" one rider called out.
"I presume you were sent by Lokaan?" Toy Maker asked - ignoring the taunt.
"What of it?" he replied.
"Just checking." Toy Maker stated. With a wave of his hand - the ground around the trapped mammoth riders began to shake. All around them - marble walls began to rise up to form an intricate maze. The riders looked around and realized that the walls were too hard for their beasts to smash through.
"When next you have the good fortune to encounter your master - tell him - the Toy maker says - hi." Toy maker stated. The Living Wall released the mammoths and the other wizards watched as the imprisoned riders tried to find their way out of the maze.
"That won't hold them." Enchanter commented.
"Yes it will." Toy maker replied.
"Their master could unsummon them or so forth." He explained.
"No - he can't. The creatures within my labyrinth cannot be targeted by spells or affects. In fact - the only creatures that can escape this trap of mine - are creatures that can phase out from reality - or crafty wizards." He replied seriously. They all watched as the marble maze slowly began to shrink in size until the entire thing was palm sized.
"They go squish?" Tuly asked. Toy Maker floated down from the wall and picked up the small cube.
"No - they are that much smaller now. Even if they did manage to escape - they wouldn't pose a threat to us." he answered as the cube vanished.
"Well - that's one army dealt with. I wonder what the other one is." Enchanter commented.
"Well, Arachnid dealt with the cactus army - Toy Maker dealt with the mammoths - I guess the next one is all yours." Tuly remarked.
"What about the orcs?" he replied curiously.
"My force field." Toy Maker reminded.
"My pox spell." Arachnid added.
"Technicalities." He replied.
"Don't fret Enchanter. I'm sure that whatever he could send would be no match for you." Markys stated.
"How about we track down the ones that got away before they warn everyone in the forest - if they haven't done so already." Arachnid suggested coldly. The group made their way from the clearing made by the trampling mammoths.
A little under an hour later - they stopped. It was evident to all present that they were being watched.
"I have a feeling it's show time." Enchanter commented as he floated to the head of the group. Just then an arrow whizzed out from the shadows. Without batting an eye - his hand shot up and caught it before it could connect.
"Come on out. I know you're hiding somewhere." He called out. It was then that dozens of elves slowly came out of hiding - weapons ready and aimed at Enchanter.
"Elves - perfect." Toy Maker muttered.
"I presume that you are the wizards pursuing Lokaan." One elf stated.
"That would be correct. I presume that you are the second army that will attempt to stop us from doing this." Enchanter retorted.
"As you say - that would be correct. Whatever you seek of him - seek of someone else. Lokaan does not enjoy being pestered by wayward travelers." The elf replied and stated seriously.
"I'm sure that would be ideal for him - but unfortunately - he might have some answers that we can use. Lead us to him - and I promise you that none of you will be hurt. Deny me - and you will be - hurt." Enchanter warned.
"I get it - he's going to bore them to death." Tuly whispered to Toy Maker.
"I heard that lady bird - and no. I have other plans for them." Enchanter stated. Blue and green mana whisked around the mage. Then hints of the other three colors mixed in as well. A golden aura surrounded the wizard. He extended his arm outward - flames erupted from his clenched fist. Everyone watched as an ominous looking blade pushed itself out from the fire. On it were five jewels - one red, one blue, one white, one black and one green.
"One last chance to surrender." Enchanter warned as the flaming was pointed as the elf leader.
"You do not scare us! Attack!" he answered. The elves charged at the wizard. Enchanter leaped up and dived into the enemy ranks. They all watched as the sword cut through bodies as effortlessly as water through a paper dam.
"What is that weapon.?" Toy Maker asked quietly.
"A Mana Sword spell - he does have it." Markys commented with a smile. Within moments - all of the elves were dead - and Enchanter was standing - unharmed and untouched.
"Wherever did you get such an artifact?" Toy maker asked curiously. Enchanter smirked.
"This is no toy - it is an enchantment a powerful one. The power it gives - is equal - to the power one possesses. As such - these poor souls - never stood a chance." Enchanter replied coldly as he glared at Toy Maker.
"As fun as this isn't - there is still the matter of the mammoths that got away? if they get back to Lokaan - they will warn him that we are coming and he might run some more." Arachnid rationally argued.
"Well said. Come, we can kill two birds with one stone. Tithian's Pass isn't far from here." Markys stated agreeingly as she led the way.
A short while later - the group found themselves at the small forest town of Tithian's Pass. Here - several humans and elves did business as well as other forest entities.
"Enchanter? I promised Lord Arachnid that we would talk when we got here. He was pretty shaken up about seeing that spider get killed. Is that okay?" she asked quietly. Enchanter studied her and then looked over at two elf maidens that were watching him.
"Sure. I have some errands that I have to follow up on. If you need me - just call." He replied as he made his way over to where the elf maidens were. Markys looked over and watched him walk away with the two women.
"Arachnid? Want to have that talk I mentioned?" she asked curiously. The spider mage nodded and the two walked away.
"That Enchanter - he doesn't get into triangles - he gets into constellations." Toy Maker remarked.
"Well, it looks as though they'll be busy for a while. What are we going to do?" Tuly asked.
"I'm going to get the parts I need to finish that device I was working on. If all goes as planned - you will be human before we leave this town." He stated. He looked over at Tuly and could see that her thoughts were elsewhere.
"That - is what you want isn't it?" he asked curiously.
"Hmm? Of course I do - I mean - maybe - I don't know. I've lived as a bird for over five years. I don't know if I remember how to be human." She replied hesitantly.
"Try not to over analyze the issue. I'm sure that you'll do just fine." He stated as he walked over to a booth within the market place. Upon casual examination he saw all three items he needed.
"Unless of course you've changed your mind." He added.
"No! Change me back." She replied without hesitation. Toy maker smiled and bought the items he needed.
"Then let's get this started." He replied as they walked away from the market.
At that moment on the other side of the town, Markys was looking at a solemn looking spider mage.
"You're really shaken up over that - aren't you?" she asked curiously.
"A member of my family - was murdered by something that is supposed to be below it on the food chain. There is no way it should have happened. Perhaps had I done something." He began.
"How could you have known? Up until now even I knew nothing of those - spider wasps." She replied.
"Perhaps. But he still died." He stated.
"You came here - on a noble quest to find - a long lost member of the spider family - one believed to be extinct. Do you think that - the spider that was - murdered - would want his death to stop you from achieving that noble goal?" she asked curiously.
"No - I suppose not." He rationalized.
"I can see that you are grieving for his loss. I can not lie and say that I understand - but I will respect your wishes if you desire to be alone." She offered sincerely.
"I would prefer you stay." He replied.
"Really?" she asked.
"You are the only one - only human - I have ever been able to talk to. I thank you for that." he stated calmly. Markys smiled and sat down on his lap.
"It has been a long time since I found someone who had similar interests to mine. I think that is why we get along. Because we both share a common bond - the way of the spider." She replied as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"I couldn't have worded it better." He said as the two began to kiss.
Meanwhile, at the local inn, Toy maker was putting the finishing touches on the device he intended to use to restore Tuly's humanity.
"Is it almost done?" she asked curiously.
"Almost." He began. He put in a tiny screw - the hand sized device began to hum and glow.
"Done." He added. Tuly flew from his shoulder and landed on the floor a few feet away from the artificer.
"Just so you know - this is a one shot deal with this. If it doesn?t work - I will have to start all over again - and that could take some time." he warned.
"I spent five years trapped in this body. A few days - months - that won't make much of a wait in comparison." She replied. she watched as Toy Maker slowly aimed the device at her.
"Will - will this hurt?" she asked hesitantly as mana began to flow from the wizard into the device.
"I don't know. I've never used this before. Let's just hope for the best." He replied as energy began to snake out from the opening in the device that was facing the hawk. She watched hesitantly as the flowing power slowly weaved its way around her. Then it began to form a cocoon of light around her. Toy maker closed his eyes and began to quietly chant. The cocoon began to slowly shrink until it was the same size as Tuly.
The cocoon began to pulse. It then slowly grew upward. Tuly extended her wings outward. Arms - human arms began to separate from the wings. The head began to shift in shape from being that of a hawk to that of a human. Just then - the cocoon of light shattered - as did the device. Tuly looked at her shaking hands for the first time since she found herself under that horrid spell.
"Get off me!" she exclaimed as she threw the Cloak of Mesa from her shoulders at the door. Toy Maker was going to comment - but politely turned away.
"What? Is something?" she began. It was at that instant that she realized that she wasn't wearing anything. Toy Maker removed his cloak and extended it over to where she was standing. She draped it over her shoulders and looked at her hands again.
"I'm - me again." She said softly as she looked over at the wizard that had delivered her from her prison of feathers.
"My god - is there a mirror?" she asked excitedly. Toy Maker nodded and pointed to her right. She hurried over and gazed at her reflection as though it was a work of art. She hesitantly touched her face and looked over at Toy Maker who was smiling at her happiness.
"Could you - uhm, sort of." She began. Toy maker nodded and turned around. Tuly faced the mirror and slowly opened up the cloak and took a look at herself. She looked as she had when she had been enchanted by that damnable cape. She closed the cloak up and looked over at the wizard that was still facing the other way.
"Ever since - I was trapped here - trapped inside of that bird's body - I dreamed of this day. I never thought that." she began emotionally.
"I am glad I was able to help." He replied. Tuly walked over and sat down on the bed. As soon as she did a sharp pain stabbed all the way up her spine. She instantly rolled over onto her side.
"OW! Ow, ow, ow!" she exclaimed. Toy Maker turned around and saw her holding her backside.
"You okay?" he asked seriously.
"Let's just say that a certain part of me is still a little tender because of some pig pulling out a tail feather." She replied. Toy maker walked over and helped her to her feet.
"Try not to dwell on it. He will get his soon enough. Right now - we should get you to a tailor - if you are feeling up to the task." He offered.
"So long as I don't have to sit down - I'll be fine." She replied. just then her knees gave out. Toy Maker reached forward and caught her. His face inches from hers.
"Uh - sorry. guess I'm not as used to my old legs as I thought. " she began modestly as she slowly backed away. Toy Maker cleared his throat and looked away as well. For a moment - he swore he could see his long dead wife in her eyes.
"I'll help." He offered. She leaned on him and the two slowly made their way out from the room.
At that moment - in the busy streets of the town, Markys was walking and looking around. She knew that Arachnid was going to be out of action for a while. She had a vague notion where Toy maker was and what he was doing - now all she had to do was find Enchanter.
Arachnid should be sleeping soundly for an hour or two. Now where are you hiding Enchanter? She thought to herself as she looked around. It was then that she saw the two elf maidens that he had left to talk to earlier. As she listened - she could hear that Enchanter was still inside the room that they were leaving from.
"Enchanter - what an unfaithful slut you are." She remarked with an evil smile.
"A man after my own heart." She added as she calmly made her way over to Enchanter's room.
To be continued...
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