Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Seventeen: truths
A half a day had passed since the small group came to the town of Tithian's Pass, and although they did split up to complete separate agendas - it was getting past the point when they should have resumed their journey.
On the northern point of the town, Toy Maker and Tuly were talking about the wizard they were seeking, but so far, everything they heard and knew was unreliable at best.
"The man knows how to spin a yarn." Toy maker stated.
"Tell me about it. I can't believe that everything I thought I knew about that manipulator Lokaan was a lie. Is it wise to seek him out? All of this running could be part of some ruse to lull you all in." Tuly asked.
"A possibility. But there is far too much riding on this - especially now. But enough about that - how are you feeling? Have the effects of the transformation warn off?" he asked.
"I'm feeling great." she replied with a smile.
"A pity it didn't restore your powers." He commented. Her smile faded as she sighed.
"My powers are gone forever. It is something I came to terms with when I was turned into a bird. Right now - I'm just glad to be human again." She replied sincerely.
"Won't you miss being able to fly and such?" he asked curiously.
"You sick of me already?" she remarked with a grin.
"No." he replied.
"After everything - I've endured as a bird - walking will be no big sacrifice." She said passively. She looked over at the artificer and then lowered her eyes.
"Are you sure - uhm, that there isn't - well, anything I can do to make it up to you?" she awkwardly asked. Toy Maker looked over at her and then looked away.
"It wasn't all that much - I just removed an enchantment." He replied.
"You gave me back my life." She stated calmly.
"I - I didn't do it to put you in my debt." He stated.
"But I am." She added.
"I don't know. If you feel you owe me - I will leave it your hands. I am past the point of collecting favors." He replied sincerely. Tuly sighed and smiled. The conversation could go on indefinitely at this rate - and resolve nothing.
"I wonder where the others are." She commented - changing the subject.
"I'm sure I don't want to know." he replied.
"Oh yeah - I almost forgot who I was talking about." She added. Another uncomfortable moment of silence began to build between them.
"Do you maybe want us to...?" she began. Toy Maker was sincerely shocked and almost fell over.
"I'm sorry." she instantly added. Toy Maker shook his head and placed a shaking hand against the wall beside him. In his head he could hear the voices of his wife and children - memories he had buried so long ago - memories that were now coming at him in waves.
"It's - it's okay." He quietly muttered.
"You sure - you look - well, in bad shape." She commented.
"Just remembering. Remembering what happened - when I let my defenses down and let someone in." he stated as he slid down and sat on the ground. Tuly walked over and sat down beside the wizard.
"Your - family?" she asked.
"I was - isolated because of what I was. Everyone either feared or hated me. Until her. She saw passed the power - the reputation - the rumors - she saw me." he began in a distant voice. Tuly reached down and placed her hand on his. He looked down at the gesture and smiled.
"She sounds pretty special." She commented.
"She was. I still focused on my craft - forging - creating - but I did it all for her. Understanding and learning from the devices and artifacts from the past - it was the key to making a better future. She was - is - always in my thoughts." He began - she could feel his hand shaking.
"I should have kept my fool mouth shut." She began.
"No - it has nothing to do with you - not in that way. I have just hurt - so many people - I don't want to hurt anyone else." He added weakly. She looked over and could see how much he was struggling with this.
"Hurt? You - you're worried - that if I got - involved with you." She began hesitantly.
"That - you might end up like her? Yes. That song Tithian sang, The Ballad of the Toy Maker, it is more true than I would care to admit. Death does follow me where I walk - and death touches all that stand with me." he said grimly.
"If you stand alone - you are already dead." she replied.
"You don't understand - for all of my power - I was unable to protect them - I can still hear their final cries - calling out to me to save them - but it was too late. I was lured away by some wizard earlier - it was so obvious a ploy - but I was too proud." He began as he lightly bumped his head against the wall behind him.
"After - what happened to me - because of Enchanter - I began to think that nothing was real. I felt as though everyone was like him. I felt ashamed of myself. For letting it happen to me. For letting my people down. For being so powerless even though I had power - even if it didn't do me any good against him. I hated everybody because of it. I blamed everybody. It was only after I came here - that I realized that there were people out there worse than Enchanter." She began quietly.
"Aren't we a pitiful lot?" he asked. Tuly quietly laughed at the comment.
"I guess so. So - is there any hope for us?" she asked curiously.
"Us as in?" he began.
"Either or." She replied calmly.
"I have a lot of things I need to contend with right now. The scheming and plotting of our traveling companions - and finding that which brought me here. Let me deal with those - and I promise - to both I will answer." He replied seriously.
"Is there anything I can do to help you? I may not be much of a fighter - or magic user - but I would like to help." She offered sincerely.
"Just be yourself. That will be more than enough." Toy maker stated with a smile.
"Fair enough." She answered.
"Why Tuly - you're looking absolutely human. I almost didn't recognize you without the feathers." Enchanter stated getting both of their attention. Tuly looked over at Enchanter and then indignantly looked away.
"Oh - hi Enchanter. I didn't hear you slither up." She replied coldly. Toy maker glared at the goading wizard. It wasn't going unnoticed.
"Such hostility my lady." He began.
"I am not your anything!" she exploded emotionally. She was about to rise to her feet but Toy maker placed his hand on her shoulder. Tuly clenched her fist - but managed to calm down.
"A fine line you are treading wizard. Do not push me." Toy Maker warned.
"You believe you are ready to deal with me? How precious. Tuly, I hope there are no hard feelings. I'll talk to you later Toy Maker - if you are serious about making this into something. Ta-ta Tuly." Enchanter concluded as he walked away.
"How can he still do this to me? How can he still hurt me? How can he feel such pleasure in causing me such hurt?" she sobbed. Toy Maker took a deep breath and put his arm around her. within seconds - her crying stopped.
"Ignore him for now. That's all you can do - that's all you need do." He whispered.
"Well, isn't this cozy." Lord Arachnid stated from atop a sealed barrel. The two looked over at the smug looking spider wizard.
"Hello Arachnid." Toy Maker muttered.
"Who's the friend Toy-boy?" he asked curiously.
"Tuly." He replied.
"Tuly? The hawk?" he asked curiously.
"The same." He answered. Arachnid whistled and hopped down from his perch.
"I bet you are just dying to see what she would look like in feathers." He commented. Toy Maker began to blush and looked away. Tuly glared at the spider wizard.
"You leave him alone you creepy person." She warned.
"Or what? Human you may be - but human is all you are." He retorted.
"But the same is not so for me. is there a reason for this pestering?" Toy maker asked calmly.
"Ouch. I felt the sting in that one. I thought that artificers only cared about their constructs and their craft." Arachnid pointed out. Toy Maker took a deep breath and stared through the spider wizard.
"What and who I care about - is of no concern to you. Now - is there a reason for this?" he repeated.
"No reason actually - oh wait! There was that one matter. While you were changing Tuly from bird to girl, I found out where our man Lokaan is hiding. Rumor has it that he has stopped running and that he is holding up in his citadel in the swamplands." He replied casually.
"Who did you hear this from?" Toy Maker asked. A small spider scurried down the spider wizard's arm and crawled onto his hand. Arachnid looked at the spider and then over at the artificer.
"A more reliable source than any of the people here. Just so you are in the know - Enchanter and I are going to be picking up supplies before we head out. So you two can do whatever you want - as we will be busy for a little while. Talk to you later Toy man." Arachnid concluded as he walked away.
"Did - did you mean what you said to him - about - caring about me? or am I being beaky again?" she asked curiously. The joke made the artificer smile.
"I would be lying if I said I didn't." he admitted.
"I - feel the same way." She likewise admitted.
"May - I ask why you came here?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course. I wanted out." He answered.
"Out?" she asked.
"I'm tired of the pointless fighting - the never ending wave after wave of youngling plainswalkers that seek me out to make a reputation for themselves - tired of the zealots and hunters and demons and angels that stalk me wherever I go." He explained.
"But - what does that have to do with being here?" she asked seriously.
"This place - it is isolated. Few to no people know that it even exists. I will build my warded palace here and live out the rest of my days undetected - unnoticed - in peace." He answered. the answer deeply surprised Tuly on many levels.
"Wow. That's weird - ever since I lost my powers - I just wanted back in." she commented.
"I think that is one of the reasons that we get along. We compliment each other." He suggested.
"Two sides of the same coin?" she asked.
"Nicely said." He replied.
"So - would there be room in this palace of yours - for me?" she asked innocently.
"You sure that's what you want? It would be lonely there with just the constructs I create and myself." He seriously asked. Tuly pretended to think it over for a bit.
"There could be far worse fates than being alone with you." She teased - making him laugh.
"Unless of course you don't want me there." She added hesitantly.
"When I started this journey - I thought I wanted to be alone. Now - now I'm not so sure." He answered. Tuly looked over at the artificer and smiled.
"Really? Maybe this will help you decide." She began. Before the artificer could react she leaned over and passionately kissed him on the lips. At first the startled wizard was tense by the act - but began to slowly return the affection. Just then he quickly jerked away.
"What? Did I do something wrong?' she asked hesitantly. Toy Maker took a few seconds to catch his breath.
"No - I did." He replied.
"I'm sorry. I guess I moved too fast. I just wanted to let you know how I felt." She began sincerely. She then smiled at the artificer and looked up at the sky.
"And judging by the way you kissed me - I think you feel the same." She added coyly. He looked over at her in disbelief.
"Hold up - you kissed me." he retorted.
"You kissed me back - same thing." She replied as she sat down on his lap.
"I - guess you're right." He admitted reluctantly.
"I - have a rather important favor to ask of you - and I will be crushed if you say no." she began - she ran her fingers through the wizard's hair.
"If you..." he began. She leaned forward - her lips inches from his ear.
"Please get us a room. I know she is watching us. I must tell you something important." She whispered as she lightly kissed his ear. Toy maker was mildly stunned by what he was hearing and what she was doing.
"What?" he asked quietly.
"I can't talk here - too dangerous. Please trust me." she whispered.
"Okay - you win - but please stop." He requested. She slowly backed away.
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"That is very - distracting." He answered. Tuly smiled and got off him. the two of them walked away from where they were talking. Tuly looked over her shoulder and saw a large individual talking with Markys. She quickly looked away and held onto Toy Maker's arm.
A short while later - the two were back at their room in the inn. Once inside, Tuly quickly bolted the door.
"What is going on?" he asked seriously.
"She suspects me. there isn't much time." she muttered as she began to unbutton her top. Toy maker tensed up and turned away.
"If this is what..." he began.
"Please believe me there isn't much time! Markys is sending someone here to interrupt us. if we aren't doing something she will kill me. I am not asking you to do anything - I am just asking you to make it seem as though we are. Please." She begged as she saw a shadow walk by a covered window. Toy maker removed his gauntlets and cloak. He wasn't overly comfortable with this situation - but something told him that she was being sincere - it was too strange a thing to say to be false.
"So - what do we?" he began. Her top fell to the floor as she walked over and began to passionately kiss him again. Toy Maker closed his eyes and began to return to affection. As if on cue - the door was busted in and the large man that was talking to Markys stormed in.
"Lindsy! I knew you were cheating!" he bellowed. Tuly covered herself with her arms and hid behind a disoriented Toy maker. He took a deep breath and slowly glared at the intruder. Red mana began to pulse from around the wizard.
"You are quite mistaken - leave now while you are able!" the wizard hissed. The man hesitantly backed up.
"S-sorry. I was told that my wife was cheating on me." he stuttered as he scampered away. with a wave of his hand - the door was back in place and was magically bolted shut.
"That was too close." she muttered as she hurried over to where her top was.
"You okay?" he asked seriously. She looked over her shoulder at him and nodded.
"I'll be fine." She replied timidly.
"Now what was so important that you dragged me here?" he asked seriously.
"I needed to tell you something - about the truth about this place - and Markys." She replied seriously.
To be continued...
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