By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Five
"Good sir..." the well-dressed man began.
"Are you talking to me?" he asked with a charasmatic smile.
"You are a plainswalker." he began. the man sighed and studied the man that was glaring at him.
"Yes? What of it? So are you? Oh! You want to fight me?" he asked curiously.
"You are the one behind the attacks! Time to pay for your ambition!" Toymaker hissed. the women around the well-dressed stranger hurried away. the patrons of the establishment began to rapidly exit from bar - none were eager or foolish enough to be near if two wizards were going to battle it out.
"Attacks? Ambition? You're talking crazy friend. Why don't you have a seat - I'll buy you a drink. What do you say? I'm not in the mood for a duel today. Finished with a messy one a few days back - still have a bad taste in my mouth over that one." the man replied.
"Spare the theatrics." he retorted.
"Huh? You're serious about this. Okay. But how about we take this outside? The man here - he runs a nice clean place. It would be a shame if he lost his livelihood because of our little dispute." he suggested. Toymaker nodded and exited the bar. The man sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry about that - but what can i say? Some people just don't have any respect for an honest man. tell the ladies i'll be back after i deal with the clown." the plainswalker politely stated to the bartender. The bartender watched as he got up and walked out of his bar.
Outside, Toymaker was waiting.
"So - is this for status? Is it knock down? Or is this going to be a serious sort of thing?" he asked.
"I guess you'll find out soon enough." Toymaker replied. he raised one gauntlet up. people nearby watched as glowing lights sparkled around it. Just then a monstrous looking creation appeared between the two wizards. The mechanical beast let out a powerful howl that intimidated everyone - save his opponent.
"Wow - that's neat - mind if i have him?" the wizard asked coyly. wispy blue strands of energy flated from the wizard's fingers and ensnared around the construct. Toymaker tensed up - he could feel his control over the beast slipping. his other hand pointed at the beast that was slowly turning to attack it's master.
"Actually - i do." he mumbled. A blast of red power shot at the ensnaring wisps.
"Deal with it!" the wizard retorted as he attempted to counter the spell.
"I'd rather not!" Toymaker retorted. he prepared to counter his foes counter spell. the wizard could feel power bing sucked from him. the spell he was casting fizzled - the beast slowly turned and looked at him.
"You are a crafty one. Let us try this a different way." the wizard stated he spun around - the ground began to sparkle. Toymaker watched as the sparkles took on the form of intangible snakes.
"You seem to be one of those artifact mages. One big weakness that all of your kind possess - is that you need power to keep your precious toys running." he pointed out.
"True enough - but this beast - doesn't need anymore. Attack him!" Toymaker shouted. The beast bellowed and charged towards the remarkably calm wizard. The wizard watched as the beast stomped harmlessly passed the enegry serpents.
"Oh - this would be a bad thing - but wait..." he began. a large pool of water appeared before him. the beast fell into the pool and vanished. Toymaker could sense that the beast was still there - but it was trapped by a powerful flood spell.
"That was a close one. So - Mr. Uhm Mr.?" he not so subtly hinted.
"The name is Toymaker." he stated.
"Toymaker - I've heard about you. There are songs and epics about the things you've done. Funny - from what i heard - i thought you'd have horns and a tail or something. Oh, how rude of me. I am known as the Charming Enchanter - by now - i think you can hazard a guess why." he replied.
"I can hazard a guees. You use people and things to do your bidding - preferrably other wizard's people and things." he replied seriously. Enchanter quietly clapped his hands to show his appreciation of his foes grasp of the obvious.
"I've played my hand. I have disabled the mighty constructed thing you have summoned - i have poisoned your link to the power you wield and control. Your move." Enchanter stated with a polite bow. Toymaker was about to continue his assault when he noticed something about the power that was swirling around the wizard before him.
"Your colors - are blue and green." he stated.
"Yes? And the point of this is?" he replied. Toymaker waved his hand. His beast returned to him.
"This is over. I was mistaken. You are not the one i am seeking. The one i am seeking does not play the way you do - and his color - is not blue. Count yourself fortunate Enchanter - I will walk away from this one - next time i will not." Toymaker stated seriously. Enchanter waved a hand - his spells ended.
"Does that mean we aren't friends?" he asked curiously. Toymaker didn't reply. he just walked away. Enchanter watched as the person that had entered the bar with Toymaker hurried to catch up with him.
"How very interesting. How very interesting indeed." Enchanter whispered to himself.
To be continued...
