By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Two
"So what do you need from me?" he asked.
"First, i would like a name. I like to know the names of those i am dealing with." Toymaker replied.
"Me? Granger, Thortan Granger." he replied.
"Okay - Thortan, I am not from this area. I, like you, am a traveler. As such, i am not familiar with who people are here or why they would so foolishly attack me. Do any of these people look familiar?" Toymaker asked. Thortan looked at the elf before Toymaker and shook his head.
"Does he have any markings that you have seen in your travels?" he asked. Thortan examined the tattoos on the elf, but again - he shook his head.
"I'm sorry. I stayed away from the woods. Had back luck with sprites in the past - not to mention the dryads." he answered. Toymaker sighed and pointed to where a white knight had fallen. Thortan walked over to examine the dead knight. Toymaker was expecting the same answer - but he was not going to hear it.
"I don't know this guy - but i do know the order. When i was summoned here - we were allied up with this bunch of zealous knights. They are of the order of Serra. They aren't from this world - but then again, neither am I or you for that matter." he replied calmly.
"Then there is a plainswalker at work. But why me?" Toymaker asked himself.
"You are the Toymaker right? Artifact mage? I know you - well of you. And in my travels around this place - i can safely tell you that alot of people here know of you as well. You built quite a reputaion for yourself - no pun intended." Thortan stated. Toymaker shook his head.
"I would have been content to live a quiet life. But Inquisitors learned who I was and what I could do. They feared that i would usher in a scale of destruction like the founders Urza and Mishra. They laid seige to my home while i was studying abroad. Everything was consumed by their flames. My wife - my daughter. I merely fought back." Toymaker replied calmly.
"You merely fought back? You recreated an Armegeddon Clock and from half burned blueprints - and that empowerd clock destroyed the entire continent. That says something." Thortan stated. Toymaker smiled and shook his head.
"It says that i couldn't control the power i had - or the construct i made. I just wanted the castle destroyed - not the entire continent. A lot of innocent people died for nothing because of me. Save being impressed for someone that deserves it." he replied coldly.
"Why are you here then?" he asked.
"I don't know. It felt as though i was drawn here - but i don't know what it is. Knowing my luck - it is the same power that attacked me. In your travels here - did you encounter any plainswalkers?" Toymaker asked. Thortan shook his head.
"Hey, no disrespect - but people like you are the reason that i am stranded here. If i heard there was a wizard in the area - i went the other way." he replied calmly. Toymaker smiled and leaner towardsThortan.
"Then why did you stay? You knew what i was - you knew who i was." he asked curiously.
"I don't know. Sometimes my common sense takes leave of me." he replied.
"Happens to the best of us. Sorry i was - rude - earlier. But that was the third time i was attacked. To make matters worse - i am unsure as to if i am dealing with three or more plainswalkers - or if i am dealing with just one." Toymaker stated calmly.
"I'm sure however many there are that you will be able to handle them." he replied.
"Really? because of the clock? Please. Distruction is easy - creation - that's true power. But enough philosiphy - I must go - and i am sure that you have other ambitions than hearing an old plainswalker babble on." Toymaker concluded as he began to walk away.
"Hey, hold up. I might be able to help you. I've been here for a while and I know the layout of the land. I could be your guide if you want." Thortan offered. Toymaker looked over his shoulder studied the man.
"Not to cast any shadows on your character - but what would you want in return?" he replied.
"After you finish here - send me home - my home - the one i was taken from." he answered. Toymaker looked around the carnage of the battlefield around them. He then looked back at Thortan.
"Deal. Come on." he replied. The two began to make their way out from the battlefield. Unknown to either of them - a large white falcon that was adonred in gold landed on the broken lance of a fallen knight and silently watched them leave.
To be continued...
