Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Twenty-Seven: enchanted paradise
It had been a week since the passing of Lord Arachnid and the artificer Toy Maker. Enchanter had witnessed the whole thing near the front lines of the battle under the cloak of an invisibility spell. He saw what Markys had done and knew what she had in store for him. And with the power of Arachnid and Toy Maker added with the countless other wizards she had lured into her domain - she was not a foe that he could dare to underestimate.
"Markys - is bonded somehow to the Mountain King. That could be the key to her power - or her only weakness," he said to himself as he looked out at the ocean that was on the east side of the island. "Time will tell I suppose," he added as he looked out and saw a distant looking island. He knew that what he sought was out there. Enchanter looked back at the island and thought back about Toy maker and Lord Arachnid and their adventures through this dangerous place.
"What's on your mind?" a soft voice asked. He looked over his shoulder and saw a female djinn hovering in the air behind him.
"Just remembering. Who are you? I didn't sense you," Enchanter asked.
"We're special like that," another voice added. He turned around and saw another female djinn. She was sitting on a rock. He slowly looked around to see if there were anymore onlookers - but the two djinns seemed to be it.
"Do - do I know you?" he asked hesitantly. The two djinns flew over and stood before the hesitant wizards.
"Why do you ask?" they asked as one.
"You seem familiar," he replied.
"We are not past conquests - if that is your concern," one stated.
"Maybe he knows mother," the other added.
"Mistress Tydiss?" the other asked. The recognition to the name showed in his eyes. The two djinns smiled and began to fly around him.
"He - must be the one," one began.
"The one she called to," the other continued.
"The one - who forgot?" the other concluded. Enchanter lowered his eyes.
"You hurt his feelings. Mother will be cross," the other playfully scolded.
"I - I don't remember much of my past," he muttered.
"Do not be sad. We are not here to judge. We are here to guide you - to take you home - your true home," one commented. Enchanter looked over at the beautiful djinns - the statement both unsettled him and confused him.
"True home? That was destroyed thousands of years ago - when the brothers war happened," he muttered.
"He is confused. Mother will help him. She will make everything clear," one stated calmly.
"Will you allow us to guide you home kind sir?" the other asked. Enchanter slowly backed away from the two and looked out at the distant island.
"I do not know what game you are trying to play," he began. A sad look crossed the faces of the djinns.
"He is angry with us," one began.
"We are sorry. Angering you was not our intent. We only wish to help. Please forgive us," the other added as they both bowed to the confused wizard. Enchanter slowly sat down on a large rock and looked at the two djinns.
"You - know where Tydiss is?" he asked hesitantly. The two looked up and nodded. "Take me to her please," he requested. The two got up and motioned for him to follow them. The two djinns flew up and began to head out towards the island. Enchanter knew that his instincts might be off. He knew that they might be leading him into a trap - but if there was a chance that Tydiss was on that island - it was a chance he would have to take. With a wave of his hand - he was flying through the air - a short distance away from his two guides. Within moments they three were on the beach of the distant island. Enchanter looked around - and could feel a familiarity about the place.
"What is this place?" he asked seriously.
"Home," one answered.
"Paradise," the other added.
"Paradise," Enchanter muttered as he began to walk towards the forest mountains before him. the two djinns looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.
"I guess he knows the way," one stated.
"All of us do," the other added as they hurried to keep up with Enchanter. As they walked - Enchanter got flashes of images - some where from dreams - so long ago that they made no sense - others so real that it shook his sense of reality.
"Are you alright kind sir?" one asked.
"Just - seeing things," he muttered.
"Remembering. It is a good omen," the other added.
"Children - do not scare him away," a voice echoed across the sky. The two djinns lowered their eyes. Enchanter looked up but saw only the branches of the trees.
"Who was that?" he asked seriously.
"That was mother," one answered.
"Mistress Tydiss," the other added.
"She worries that if we say too much," the first one began.
"That we might scare you away," the other concluded.
"Mother - Tydiss - is your mother?" he asked curiously.
"Tydiss is the one that keeps us safe," one began.
"She raised many of us since we were but babes," the other continued.
"She may not be our flesh mother," the other continued.
"But she is the only mother any of us have ever known," the other concluded. It was then that the three reached the top of the mountain. Enchanter looked down in awe at what lied below. Forests unlike anything he had ever seen flourished. Vegetation covered mountains surrounded the entire core of the large island. Wildlife of immense variety coexisted peacefully - some species he believed lost at the time of the Brother's war. But what got his attention - was what lied at the center of this magical place. For there is where a city of grandeur - unparalleled to anything he had ever witnessed stood. The walls were made of precious metals, jewels and ivory and were sculpted with precision that would humble the most skilled of artist or artificer. But for all of the words - phrases and sentences he could use to describe such wonders - only one word came to mind.
"Home," he muttered softly. Just then hundreds of djinns seemed to fly up from the city and forests and headed his way. He snapped himself out of his trance and prepared for the worst. His two guides quickly stood before him and motioned for him to remain calm.
"They mean you no harm," one began.
"They have been hearing rumors of your return," the other continued.
"They have never seen an outsider before," the other continued.
"Or a man for that matter," the other added. Enchanter was still tense - but lowered his offensive stance. He watched as the hundreds of beautiful djinns crowded around him. By the way the they were looking at him - he could tell that his guides had spoken true.
"Is he the one?" one asked.
"I don't know," another added. Enchanter tried to see who among the crowd was talking but there were too many faces. The two guides stepped forward and motioned for the crowd to be silent. Within moments all murmurs ceased.
"I know you all must have lots of question for our guest - among other things - but you must back up," one began.
"Please back up. You are scaring him. Mother wishes to speak with him as soon as possible. After he does - I am sure that he will be free to do as he pleases," the other continued.
"Until then, please let us pass," the other requested seriously. Enchanter could hear the disappointment from the crowd, but regardless - the crowd began to thin until only two innocent looking djinns remained.
"May we come with you? We promise we will be good," one asked eagerly. The two guides were going to send them away but could see little harm in their request. They looked over at Enchanter who was still in a state of confusion about what he was feeling - seeing - sensing about this place.
"If it is alright with Enchanter," one began.
"We have no problem," the other concluded.
"Uhm, sure," he replied as two hurried over and playfully held onto his arms. He was startled at first but realized that they meant no harm.
"They are stronger than they look," he commented.
"Thank you," the two hugging his arms said happily.
"Am - I in - trouble?" he asked hesitantly.
"No - why would you say that?" one of the guides asked in modest disbelief.
"My choices - my mistakes," he began.
"As I said kind sir. We are not here to judge - nor is Tydiss. We are just glad you are finally home," one of the guides replied with a smile. Enchanter allowed himself to smile as the small group began to make their way down the mountain.
After a long trek through the mountain forests the small group was at the boarder to the city. Enchanter noticed how almost all activity seemed to stop when they realized he was there. He was used to the reaction among the mortals - but here - it felt almost unsettling.
"You are perfectly safe," one of his guides stated.
"We won't let anyone hurt you," the two holding onto him added.
"Where - where is Tydiss?" he asked hesitantly.
"The palace at the center of the city. That is where her temple is. We will take you there - but we are not permitted to take you further," one guide began.
"Why?" he asked.
"It is not our place. Our duties are elsewhere," the other guide replied.
"But we can escort you to her," the two holding onto him added.
"That they can. Follow us. The journey for you - is almost at an end," the guide continued as they made their way through the busy streets. Enchanter saw tokens and relics from times that dated back further than he could remember on the tables of the merchants' booths. And before he knew it - the small band was before the guarded gates to the Temple of Tydiss.
"This is where our part of the journey ends. I wish you good fortune Enchanter. May our paths cross again," one of the two guides began. They bowed politely to him and then flew away. Enchanter then looked at the two guards and sighed.
"May we pass?" he asked.
"Enchanter, it's been a while - but you are just like I remember," one guard said with a wink.
"I - know you?" he asked hesitantly.
"We used to play together as children - but that was along time ago. I bid you welcome. Mother - is in the library. She is of course expecting you," she replied with a bow. Enchanter was going to reply - but the sight of seeing the two tiny looking women opening tower-sized doors mildly amazed him.
"This way!" the two djinns holding him said as they all but dragged him inside.
"Looks like he's going to have his hands full," the other guard mentioned.
"I think he'll manage," the other guard replied. They calmly closed the doors to resume their duties.
To be continued...
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