Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Twenty-Three: a beginning
For almost a week the Toy maker and Tuly had traveled through the magical forest that was protected by the dragon Tithian. In that time the two encountered only minor problems from creatures and beings that sought to obstruct them. They chalked this up to having separated from Markys. The two stopped in the middle of a clearing. High up, the branches filtered the sunlight that entered and made everything glow an almost magical green. There was no doubt in Toy Maker's mind - this was where he had to be.
"Why have we stopped?" she asked curiously.
"We're here," he said as he knelt down and placed his gauntlet on the ground. He closed his eyes and could feel the power that was swelling beneath his hand.
"This is where your palace will be? Won't the trees be in the way?" she asked curiously.
"They won't be," he replied seriously. He rose to his feet and summoned the power he had called upon many times before. Three red orbs of swirling mana formed a triangle before him. The mana orbs smashed into each other and formed a portal of bright light. From the portal many miners - some of which he had called upon before to clear the way when the Wretched Imps tried to bar their way - emerged.
"Will they be enough?" she asked.
"They are fast workers," he answered. Tuly almost jumped when she heard the sound of several trees crashing into the ground. It was then that she remembered another important factor.
"Uhm, won't Tithian object to your boys playing lumberjack in her domain?" she asked - hearing the sound of a distant roar. Toy Maker sighed and sat down on the stump of a toppled tree.
"I have a feeling we will get the answer to that soon enough," he stated. In the distance he could see the large forest dragon flying high above the trees - heading their way.
"Should I hide or something?" she asked.
"No. Just stay behind me - and do not look at Tithian - at all costs," he replied. Seconds later an angry looking Tithian crashed down on to the forest floor and stalked her way towards the calm looking wizard.
"I see that you have ignored my warning artificer," the dragon began.
"Nothing of the sort," he replied. Tithian looked over at Tuly who was doing her best not to look at the dragon.
"Something wrong with your friend?" Tithian asked.
"No. The reason for your being here is because of me - not her. She has nothing to do with this. For all intentional purposes - she is not here - I am. As such - talk to me," he replied seriously. Tithian moved her head closer so that her face was inches away from the artificer.
"You are laying waste to my forest," she hissed.
"There is something in the land below that is needed. If you fear the fall of Argoth happening here - don't. My needs are small - and I take only what I need," he stated seriously.
"Says the wolf to the sheep," Tithian retorted.
"I would never have called you a sheep," he retorted.
"You tread a thin line," the dragon warned.
"Then allow me to take a small step back," he suggested. The dragon arched her head back and looked down at the wizard with a sincere look of confusion.
"Explain," she hissed.
"Tuly, go check on the workers and make sure that they are still operational," Toy Maker requested. Tuly nodded and timidly made her way away from the intense negotiations. "My time in this place will not be long. Be it by my choice or design - or an untimely end caused by Markys or one of the others. When my time is done here - all I have taken will be returned," he stated seriously. More trees came crashing down.
"You have taken much artificer," the dragon pointed out.
"There is no other way. But before you doubt my intentions - behold," he requested. The dragon watched as a crystal pyramid began to float in the air between them. It then floated to the ground and doubled in size - then doubled again - and again until it was its normal size. Tithian moved her claws and wings through the ghostlike walls. Then, the pyramid slowly faded from sight.
"The Fields of the Mana Barons - known by some to be the key to power of all lands. You have both found it and unlocked the secrets to its power.. Impressive as your discovery is - how does that prove your intent to be different from that of the destroyers of Argoth?" the dragon asked.
"You are a wizard yes?" Toy Maker asked.
"Among my kind - yes - you could say that," the dragon replied.
"Show me your mark," he requested. Tithian placed her claw like hand on the ground and caused a hiss. When she moved her hand away - her mark - the sign she used to tap into things was before him. she watched as Toy Maker waved his hand over the scorched mark. The mark began to glow. Tithian watched as her glyph rose up from the ground and slowly spun between the two.
"What game are you playing?" she asked seriously.
"No game," he replied. she watched as the mark attached itself to an illusionary wall of the pyramid - a few inches below his own mark. Then - the wall that had appeared - vanished.
"What have you done?" she asked seriously.
"I have placed your mark on the artifact I have restored. Should anything happen to me - control of it - will fall to you - but only you," he began as he walked over to where the dragon was .
"If what you say is so - what is to stop me from slaying you to possess it?" she asked seriously.
"Nothing - save that is what Markys wants. She would like nothing more than to have you kill me so that she could gain control of this - sacred device. But that will not happen. The device will not fall into her control or her hands. If I am gone and you relinquish control of it - it will return to the ether that it formed from. This forest needs a protector. A fight between us would just hurt that which you seek to protect. On my honor - my word - you have my oath - that my stay here - will not be permanent. I will leave - and all I have done to your domain - your land - I will restore," he stated seriously. The dragon sat down and studied the artificer.
"If not - I would be able to restore it myself," she stated calmly.
"Exactly," he added. Tithian quietly laughed and extended her wings.
"You play an interesting game artificer. Perhaps I was mistaken about you - time will tell I suppose. So long as the land does not bleed - so long as my power is not affected - you will have no problem with me. Enjoy your stay within my domain Toy Maker - I will be watching you closely," she concluded as she flew away. Toy Maker sighed and shook his head.
"Toy Maker?" Tuly called out.
"Yes?" he replied.
"All of those workers you summoned here just vanished - is that a bad thing?" she asked. He hopped up and floated over to where she was. Tuly looked over and noticed that Tithian was flying away.
"What did you do to get her to leave? She looked pretty steamed when she arrived," she asked.
"She had good reason to. The brothers and their allies - appeared just as I did. I made a pact with her of sorts - and came to an understanding. Let's just leave it at that," he suggested. Tuly nodded and decided to leave well enough alone.
"If you say so. I'm just glad she's gone," she replied.
"I - won't miss her all that much either. The area is cleared. The time has come. You might want to get behind me - in case anything goes wrong," he suggested. Tuly followed Toy Maker away from the clearing. Once there she stood behind him and looked over his shoulder. "Now - the hard part," he continued. He extended one hand out to the left - the other to the right. Tuly watched as red mana pulsed from one gauntlet and how the blue mana swirled fluidly around the other. The ground began to violently shake. Tuly almost jumped when jagged black rocks began to push up from the clearing. Within moments - a large black mountain was now standing where the clearing was. The shaking stopped.
"Uhm, is that it? All I see is a big black mountain," she asked hesitantly.
"The rock - is but a cocoon - the spell - is not yet done," Toy Maker strained. Tuly stepped back as red mana and blue mana shot out from the hands of the wizard and soared at the black mountain - and vanished? She was going to ask him what was happening when she could see red and blue cracks beginning to form where the mana had struck. "It - begins," he continued. He spun around and shielded her with his cloak. Seconds later - the black mountain exploded sending shards of magical rock everywhere. Several pieces hit the wizard but caused no damage. Some of the surrounding forest felt the sting - but for the most part was undamaged.
"Is it safe to come out?" she asked curiously. Toy maker stepped back. Tuly quietly began to cough as the dust from the explosion had yet to settle.
"Can you do something about this dust? I can barely breath," she requested.
"The dust will settle in a matter of minutes - but look over there - and tell me what you see," he requested. Tuly tried to wave the dust away but had little success. She looked over at where the dust was thickest and could see the faint outline of something.
"I can barely see anything," she began. It was then that a gentle breeze began to blow the dust away from them. it was then that she saw it. A palace unlike anything she had ever seen. The sun cast a magical reflection on every smooth surface.
"My - god - I - have never seen anything so beautiful," she said in quiet awe. Toy Maker smiled and bowed politely to her.
"I couldn't exactly have you living in a hovel princess," he replied.
"Princess? It has been so long since anyone has called me that. But after everything that I've been through - I would be happy living in a box," she added with a smile.
"That won't happen so long as I'm around," he stated seriously as they began to make their way towards the magical structure.
"Are - you sure about this? About us? I mean - I'm not exactly an easy person to be around," she began. Toy Maker reached over and held her hand.
"You seem agreeable enough to me," he commented.
"But you hardly know me," she pointed out.
"I probably know you better than Enchanter did," he replied.
"You got me there. You at least talked to me - and even listened. I just don't want," she began but stopped herself. "I just don't want to be hurt again - especially by you," she added timidly.
"I will do everything in my power - to see to it that such a thing never happens - unless you've changed your mind," he began.
"No! I mean no - I haven't. Really," she interrupted. The two stopped before the large crystal doors that marked the entrance to the wondrous structure.
"How about - we put our pasts behind us - baggage included - and deal with things as they approach us. Fair?" he asked curiously. Tuly smiled happily and nodded.
"This would beat staying in Tithian's Pass," she commented.
"I would hope so. This may sound strange - I know that we have only known each other for a short while - but I don't know what I would do if you weren't there. If you weren't by my side," he added quietly. Tuly smiled at the artificer.
"Is that your way of saying you love me?" she asked curiously. Toy maker began to blush and turned away. He looked over at their reflection in the crystal wall of the palace he had created and found himself smiling.
"Yes - I guess I do," he answered.
"After what happened to me - I didn't think I would be able to trust anyone - let anyone in - then I met you. You gave me my life back expecting nothing in return," she began misty eyed.
"Is that your way of saying - you love me?" he asked with a smile. Tuly began to laugh and kissed the artificer. The two hugged each other for what felt like hours.
"Of course I do silly. I always will," she whispered. The doors beside them slowly opened.
"Shall I show you around - our home?" he asked curiously.
"I'd like that very much," she replied. she held onto his arm and walked with him into the magical palace. The doors slowly closed behind them. Seconds later, Lord Arachnid and the Spider Lords stepped out from the shadows of the surrounding forests and looked at the place.
"How disgustingly pleasant," Arachnid muttered. Black mana spiraled around his hands.
"Now is not the time master. If you deal with him now - disaster will surely follow. Find the secrets of the Spiders of Crae - and the fall of the artificer will be assured," one of them began.
"If you act prematurely - your vengance - will not be attained. All you have lost - sacrificed will have been for naught," another added. The mana began to fade away. he knew that they were right. He knew that he had to wait - although seeing the man responsible for the murder of his best friend Nibbles so happy - made such wisdom hard to grasp.
"Fine - let's go. We have a lot of territory to cover. I want the secrets of that forgotten spider - I want that cold blooded artificer to feel the pain I have felt - I want to see his arrogant head on a pike - I want all of this as soon as humanly possible if not sooner!" Arachnid said impassioned. The Spider Lords nodded and led the way. Arachnid looked over his shoulder and glared at the beautiful looking structure.
Your time is coming soon Toy Maker - soon! He thought as he followed the Spider Lords deeper into the forest.
To be continued...
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