Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Twenty-Eight: the dreaming djinns
Within the Temple of Tydiss - an awe struck Enchanter was being escorted down one of the many halls. Everything about this strange and wondrous place seemed both alien and familiar - but why?
"Where is the library?" he asked curiously.
"This way!" the two djinns replied together as they all but dragged him towards a set of golden doors. Once there - the two let go of him and bowed respectfully to him.
"She is beyond these doors," one said as she flew away.
"It was a pleasure meeting you," the other added as she too flew away. Enchanter watched the two as they vanished around one corner and then looked over at the golden doors before him. He slowly began to reach for the handle - but to his surprise - the doors slowly opened inward.
"Come in. try not to look too lost," a friendly voice requested. Enchanter hesitantly made his way passed the doors. Before him - were hundreds of rows of books that went off in almost every direction and went from floor to ceiling. It was as he was scanning the room that he noticed a twenty-foot tall female djinn standing by a bookshelf reading.
"Hard not to look lost when I am," he replied calmly. The woman looked over from her book and smiled at him. she closed the ancient looking text and returned it to its place.
"Hopefully that will change," she replied as she walked over and sat down before the wizard so that she wasn't towering over him.
"Was the book any good?" he asked curiously.
"Yes. I've read that one twice. How about we cut to the chase. I know you didn't come here to talk about my books. You have questions - hopefully - I will have answers," Tydiss said calmly. Enchanter looked over at the doors and then over at the djinn that was smiling at him.
"Why does this place seem so familiar?" he asked curiously.
"You grew up here - before the great djinn/efreet happened," she answered. Enchanter shook his head.
"No - I grew up in a small nameless town," he replied seriously.
"Did you?" she asked curiously.
"Yes. Small place," he answered.
"Tell me about it. Tell me your first memories of that place," she requested calmly.
"Uhm, why are you asking?" he retorted curiously.
"Your first memory - was when you were - six. You were climbing a tree - with your friend - Thomas. He was a little older than you and had a habit of getting into trouble. Why were you in the tree?" she asked coyly. Enchanter modestly blushed as he remembered that day.
"There was a 'secret place' where a bunch of girls liked to bathe - how did you know about that?" he asked.
"I am a dreaming djinn. Dreams - memories - are my domain. They are where my kind used to dwell until we learned how to cross over into this plane of existence. Can you remember anything before that?" she asked. Enchanter was going to reply - but he realized that he couldn't.
"Don't fret over it. You can't - because - you weren't there - before that moment," she stated.
"That - makes no sense," he muttered. "Tom was my best friend," he added.
"How did you two meet?" she asked. He tried to think back - but the slate was blank.
"Enchanter," she began as she shrunk down until she was about five feet tall. "Your parents as you knew them - were not your real parents. If you think back - I am sure you will have picked up on the differences," she continued. Enchanter sat down. What he was hearing was outlandish - even by his standards.
"I'm a wizard - that's why," he rationalized.
"No. It was more than just that. Your appearance - your aptitudes - and yes - even your powers - are unlike those in your social circles. Even now. You are a child of - an interesting union. Your mother - was a Wishmaster Djinn - your father - was - as you would call a plainswalker," Tydiss continued.
"I remember my parents," he stated.
"I know this is confusing - but please - hear me out. Your mother - was a dear friend to me. she helped me through some difficult times - as such - I owed her a debt. That debt was her child - you. She knew that dark times were brewing. She knew that the members of her clan were being hunted down - and knew that she would fall. She asked me to protect you. And so I did what I could - for five years of your life. Then the war happened," she resumed. Enchanter listened to the outlandish story - hoping to hear some flaw. "I knew that I couldn't keep you safe when the war began. So I placed you in the care of a mortal family. I made everything you had encountered here - seem as a dream. For if you remembered - you would be at risk," she continued.
"That makes - no sense," he muttered.
"Does it? The Wishmasters and the Dreaming Djinns were hunted down - with extreme prejudice. Our clans were the most powerful - and most feared. If you knew what you were - others would have learned as well," she rationalized. He was going to debate the fact - but then a memory flashed into his mind.
"The Lord of the Pit - he - knew?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I wasn't sure how he came about that knowledge - but luckily I was able to stop him from sacrificing you. I convinced him - to keep your identity secret - for a time. Until you were strong enough in your magic to properly defend yourself," she replied. Enchanter was going to say something when he picked up something from the answer.
"You said - you weren't sure?" he asked. Tydiss sighed and looked over to the side.
"How much do you know - of this game you are playing right now?" she replied seriously.
"Enough - why?" he responded hesitantly.
"Then you know nothing at all. Tell me - what you know of Markys," she asked - changing the subject.
"That she is a powerful plainswalker that is married to that demon named the Mountain King. That she lures wizards here to kill them, steal their powers and add them to her own," he replied calmly. Tydiss sighed and leaned forward.
"Her style - ethics - sound familiar?" she asked curiously.
"She is a lot like me in some regards - but I don't kill unless I have no choice - or if angered to a certain point," he admitted.
"Markys - is more than just a plainswalker. She is my sister - and a Dreaming Djinn," she stated calmly.
"I - I thought you were the last one," he replied.
"Technically I am. Her envy and jealousy of you led her down a dark path. She wanted to possess the kind of power you would one day wield. I begged her not to tread down such a dark path - but she refused to listen. After the war - when you were settled into the mortal world - my sister made an unholy pact - with the Mountain King. You see - he wanted the same thing she did - he wanted to be able to tap into the power of these - potent lands. He cast a spell on her - it changed her. the part of her that was djinn - was now mortal and demon," she continued.
"She did this - because of me?" he asked in disbelief.
"I do not blame you. However young Markys was at the time - she was still old enough to know right from wrong. As you must have been aware - the spell that was cast on her - causes her body to undergo - changes," Tydiss began.
"You mean turning into a child and growing into an adult?" he asked.
"Yes. What my sister was unaware of - was that she was the Mountain King's link to the power. When her body was that of a child - her power - became his and she would become helpless. He tried to make the spell permanent - but nothing he could do worked. It was when she came into her power - the power she was promised - that things started to get crazy," she explained. "She toppled the Mountain King and subjected him to the kind of abuse that he had put her through. After she had dealt with him - her thoughts - were once again on you," she continued.
"You - you mean - she - she told the Lord of the Pit - what I was?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. She would have had a direct hand in your sacrifice had her powers fluxed back to the Mountain King. I learned of her dealings and managed to save you. After that - I did what I could to make sure that such happenings would not occur again," she stated.
"You were watching over me - the whole time?" he asked hesitantly.
"For the most part I respected your privacy. I just kept watch over your territory to make sure that others couldn't get to you as that one demon did," she answered with a smile.
"When I learned of your coming here - and of Markys' hand in the matter - I was mildly concerned. I had hoped that since that time so long ago that she would have forgotten about you. I was about to warn you to stay away - but then she appeared to me. She said that if I interfered in the natural course of things that it would lead to war. I told her that if it must be - so be it. She backed down - but said," she began.
"A fight it must be - but I will make no move against him until he returned home," Markys added from the door. Enchanter leaped to his feet and prepared to defend himself. Markys smiled and made no aggressive motion. Enchanter looked over at Tydiss who was also calm.
"What is going on?" he asked seriously.
"Be calm. I am bound by powers just as you are. If you do not believe me - try to attack me," she goaded. Enchanter tried to cast a spell at her - but some force prevented the spell from happening. He looked over at Tydiss who was still surprisingly calm.
"Markys speaks true. No creature may harm another in this place. Such is the rule," she confirmed.
"Why are you here?" Enchanter asked coldly.
"Is that any way to talk to your past lover?" she asked mockingly.
"Sister - behave," Tydiss scolded. Markys glared at her but began to laugh. She walked over and gave her sister a gentle hug.
"I missed you so," Markys said softly.
"You will always be welcome - it is your friends - who are not," Tydiss replied as she hugged her sister.
"Must we talk here? The library is so - cold. The bathing springs perhaps? It has been too long," Markys asked innocently. Tydiss rolled her eyes and looked over at Enchanter.
"May we continue this talk in the bathing springs?" Tydiss asked Enchanter.
"You - trust her?" he asked in disbelief.
"She is my sister. I lover her with all my heart - but no - I don't. But while she is here - she can take no action against us. and while she is at the peak of her power - her husband can take no action either," Tydiss replied seriously.
"You told him about that?" Markys asked in disbelief. "Never mind - please Enchanter? I haven't had a reason to indulge myself in the bathing springs in almost a decade," Markys asked politely. Enchanter shook his head and sighed.
"Whatever," he replied untrustingly. The three made their way from library.
A short while later - the three were relaxing in a large pool-sized hot spring that was in a lower level of the temple. Markys relaxed in the waters across from a tense looking Enchanter and a calm looking Tydiss.
"This - is sinfully delicious. Tell me - do you still have those precious servants here?" Markys asked. Tydiss clapped her hands. Three djinns flew into the room and landed by Tydiss.
"Our guest requires some attention," she stated calmly. The djinns nodded and flew over to pamper Markys. Enchanter looked over at Tydiss and was having a great deal of difficulty in understanding why he was being so nice to her.
"I missed this kind of attention. My husband - curse his eyes - and his uncouth minions just can't compete with this," Markys said contently as two djinns washed and massaged her back while the other one washed her feet. "But I will get down to business. I am not an unreasonable woman Enchanter. I've done some bad things - but who hasn't? I will make you an offer - please - think hard before refusing. I will let you live - I will let you keep all of the power you possess as a plainswalker - all I want - is your birthright," she began.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"She is referring to you lineage. You are the last of your clan - not pure - but the blood of the clan of Wishmasters is within you. She cast aside her heritage as a Dreaming Djinn when she made her pact with the demon. If you do as she asks - you will no longer be a djinn. Everything as you know it will change - a lesson she learned the hard way," Tydiss explained.
"Why such an interest in my birthright?" he asked curiously.
"Because - the power of a Wishmaster - could free me of my curse. Tydiss cannot help me because I cast myself away - but if I become of the Wishmaster clan - I would have the power needed to free myself of - of that demon," she muttered in disgust.
"Why not just try to kill me as you did Toy Maker and Lord Arachnid?" he suggested. Markys began to tense up. It did not go unnoticed. "Hit a nerve?" he added coyly.
"The spell that binds the magic of this land to me - only affects the magic. I kill you - I get all of your power - but the last of the Wishmaster Djinns - will be dead - and his power with him. I - need you. That isn't exactly easy for me to say - especially now. Please - help me," she requested surprisingly sincere.
"You tried to have me sacrificed," he pointed out. Markys looked over at Tydiss and sighed.
"I was young and stupid. Okay? I was trapped within the bounds of a dreamer. Doomed to see the dreams of others - live through them - but to never have dreams of my own! You can't imaging what that is like. Then I met you - a child - a child destined to have powers unimagined - and be able to have dreams. And it was all there for you. It just fell on your waiting lap. I had to deal with a devil just to know what a nightmare was," Markys began as emotion began to take over. She lowered her eyes so that Enchanter couldn't see the tears that were forming. "Yes - I did tell the Lord of the Pit what you were. And had my power not waned - I probably would have done it myself. You want me to beg? Fine!" she exclaimed as she made her way over to where Tydiss and Enchanter were and knelt down before him - sobbing. "Please - help - me," she begged emotionally. Enchanter could tell just by looking at her that she was not faking this.
"Is there anyway I can help her?" he asked seriously.
"Not short of sacrificing all that you are. Were you full Wishmaster - you could will it so - but as you are - to do what she asks - would cost you your soul," Tydiss replied seriously. Enchanter looked at the woman before him and sighed.
"I'm sorry," Enchanter replied softly. Markys covered her eyes with her hands and tried to force back the disappointment. She knew that he was her last chance - she knew that he was her only hope of undoing the curse that she had inflicted on herself. And she knew that - that one chance - was fading away.
"You - are sorry? Do you know - what the Mountain King - has done to me? Do you know - how he has defiled me?" she asked emotionally as anger began to well inside her.
"I made no pact with a demon. You went in with your eyes closed. If I could go back and change things I would. But I can't and neither can you," he replied calmly. Markys slowly moved her shaking hand and glared at him with a hate he didn't imagine possible - but it began to melt away.
"Please - don't do this to me - please," she begged. She reached forward and gently held his hand between hers. "You are the only one that can free me. You are the only one that can save me from my - act of stupidity. I will do anything you ask of me - be your eternal servant, slave, whatever - but please - please do not refuse me," she begged emotionally. Enchanter slowly removed his shaking hand and looked away.
"I can not do what you ask. I am sorry," he answered hesitantly. Markys looked at the wizard before her and began to realize that no matter what she said or offered - he would not help her. She slowly got up and turned her back to her sister and Enchanter.
"That is that," she muttered dryly.
"Stay here sister - he can protect you," Tydiss offered. The two could see Markys' hands shaking with pent up rage. It was then that they heard a weak laugh coming from her.
"Protect? He cannot protect me. He has damned me. He has slammed shut the only door that can free me from my eternal prison. So be it. If you will not help me - I will content myself with your powers. Good day to you both," Markys concluded as she stormed away from the two.
"What happens now?" Enchanter asked as Markys vanished around a corner.
"We wait. Her armies are on route as we speak. She will war with us. Enchanter. She can not fight you within these lands. The powers prevent such from occurring. She will attempt to lure you away. if you fall prey to this and get lured into fighting her on her terms - you will fare no better than Toy Maker or that spider wizard Arachnid," Tydiss warned.
"Toy Maker saw this coming," he muttered in disbelief.
"He and the spider wizard were brought in to keep you off your game - to keep you from seeing the truth. I am bound by oath to protect you Enchanter. This is my fight now. Let me handle this," Tydiss requested seriously.
"If such is how it must be - it must be. But I will use my magics to help," he offered.
"I would expect no less. Come. There is much to prepare for before she makes her move," Tydiss replied the two were handed robes by the three servants that were present. They then left to prepare for the greatest war that the islands had ever seen - and the prize - would be Enchanter!
To be continued...
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