Reading The City of Wizards - Chapter 3
CHAPTER 2 - CONTINUED
To my relief, Lokmi was quietly snoring in the bed with his big nose buried under the pillow, when I returned to Quasim's. I lay down on my pallet and relived the day's events. I longed for her touches, smile, eyes...
Finally, I fell asleep with a feeling that I had missed something important.
What had she meant by a blindfold?
CHAPTER 3
DAY THREE
I woke up much later than I had the previous morning.
Lokmi was sitting on his pallet preoccupied with practicing witchcraft. With the most captivating spell he sent a whooping cough back to himself, and I had to slap his back so he didn't choke.
I think I hurt him a little, so we don't speak to each other once again.
Today's plans included sightseeing in the city and later a rendezvous with Elisa. Surely, the King's spire and the other monuments were even more impressive from a closer look, but my thoughts revolved around her soft and warm hands, smiling lips and wide brown eyes…
At the feet of the King's spire and the Gathering's tower the river of Averot'h meandered like a serpent. I walked up the pathway along the river surrounded by apple and chestnut trees until I stopped by a bay with reeds and ducks for a while. The sun was glittering on the water, reeds swayed peacefully in the breeze. I passed a running man with his dog as I crossed an ancient bridge to the oldest part of the city, a labyrinth of red brick houses tight against one-another. Gloomy underpasses and a number of bridges crossed turquoise waters crowded with boats.
“Hey, you!”
I turned and saw a black wizard with a grey staff just ten steps behind me.
Damn!
I looked around.
We were alone.
I cursed once more.
The wizard came closer.
I stepped backward.
He halted.
“I have orders to bring you to my lord,” he said with a creepy voice.
“And who might that be?”
“The Supreme.”
Martell…
I shuddered.
I must buy some time…
“What does he want from me?”
“He will tell you himself.”
“Why did he send you? Why doesn't he come in person?”
The wizard's eyes were as impenetrable as a wall. It took some time before he answered.
“It's not for you to know.”And in that moment I realized he wasn't telling the truth…
“I'm not going anywhere.”
He beckoned slightly as if he was expecting my refusal. The colors in his eyes began to darken.
“In that case…”
During our exchange I weighed my options. It was obvious.
Escape!
The nearest brick houses were not far away, maybe some twenty feet…
I crouched…
Now!
A shadow fell over my shoulders as another tephir flew over my head!
An incoming wizard was dressed in a sky-blue coat with carmine stripes. His black staff was decorated with a silver spiral triangle.
Both wizards approached cautiously.
“He is mine!” proclaimed the black one. “I have orders from the Supreme.”
The blue one shook his head. “I follow the will of the Council.”
They sized each other up, tephir to tephir, head to head.
“The Supreme rules the council, you know that!”
“Not for long, my friend.” The blue wizard said with a deadly tone. Besides, I have consent from the Great!“
I gathered my wits. The situation was favorable for escape. I waited for just the right moment.
And it came a heartbeat later.
The two foes crossed their fingers at the same time.
Run!
I saw a burst of light and heard a painful scream whilst my legs reduced the distance to the nearest house by ten feet.
The wind carried the smell of blood, and another dreadful yell followed by a flesh ripping sound that made me shiver.
Behind me something very different from a tournament exhibition took place. It was a fight for life and death.
Another ten feet.
And another breeze accompanied by the groaning of a dying wizard.
I slipped into a gap between two walls and squeezed into a hole that led to the city's sewer. I began to crawl feverishly into the darkness, fearing that the wizard who was still alive would use some spell to get me out.
The tunnel branched. I took the left passage heading deeper. The smell was horrible, but I moved on as fast as possible. At another branch, I took the right one.
I've made it…
A second later a quake shook the walls and the tunnel began to crumble…
To my relief, Lokmi was quietly snoring in the bed with his big nose buried under the pillow, when I returned to Quasim's. I lay down on my pallet and relived the day's events. I longed for her touches, smile, eyes...
Finally, I fell asleep with a feeling that I had missed something important.
What had she meant by a blindfold?
CHAPTER 3
DAY THREE
I woke up much later than I had the previous morning.
Lokmi was sitting on his pallet preoccupied with practicing witchcraft. With the most captivating spell he sent a whooping cough back to himself, and I had to slap his back so he didn't choke.
I think I hurt him a little, so we don't speak to each other once again.
Today's plans included sightseeing in the city and later a rendezvous with Elisa. Surely, the King's spire and the other monuments were even more impressive from a closer look, but my thoughts revolved around her soft and warm hands, smiling lips and wide brown eyes…
At the feet of the King's spire and the Gathering's tower the river of Averot'h meandered like a serpent. I walked up the pathway along the river surrounded by apple and chestnut trees until I stopped by a bay with reeds and ducks for a while. The sun was glittering on the water, reeds swayed peacefully in the breeze. I passed a running man with his dog as I crossed an ancient bridge to the oldest part of the city, a labyrinth of red brick houses tight against one-another. Gloomy underpasses and a number of bridges crossed turquoise waters crowded with boats.
“Hey, you!”
I turned and saw a black wizard with a grey staff just ten steps behind me.
Damn!
I looked around.
We were alone.
I cursed once more.
The wizard came closer.
I stepped backward.
He halted.
“I have orders to bring you to my lord,” he said with a creepy voice.
“And who might that be?”
“The Supreme.”
Martell…
I shuddered.
I must buy some time…
“What does he want from me?”
“He will tell you himself.”
“Why did he send you? Why doesn't he come in person?”
The wizard's eyes were as impenetrable as a wall. It took some time before he answered.
“It's not for you to know.”And in that moment I realized he wasn't telling the truth…
“I'm not going anywhere.”
He beckoned slightly as if he was expecting my refusal. The colors in his eyes began to darken.
“In that case…”
During our exchange I weighed my options. It was obvious.
Escape!
The nearest brick houses were not far away, maybe some twenty feet…
I crouched…
Now!
A shadow fell over my shoulders as another tephir flew over my head!
An incoming wizard was dressed in a sky-blue coat with carmine stripes. His black staff was decorated with a silver spiral triangle.
Both wizards approached cautiously.
“He is mine!” proclaimed the black one. “I have orders from the Supreme.”
The blue one shook his head. “I follow the will of the Council.”
They sized each other up, tephir to tephir, head to head.
“The Supreme rules the council, you know that!”
“Not for long, my friend.” The blue wizard said with a deadly tone. Besides, I have consent from the Great!“
I gathered my wits. The situation was favorable for escape. I waited for just the right moment.
And it came a heartbeat later.
The two foes crossed their fingers at the same time.
Run!
I saw a burst of light and heard a painful scream whilst my legs reduced the distance to the nearest house by ten feet.
The wind carried the smell of blood, and another dreadful yell followed by a flesh ripping sound that made me shiver.
Behind me something very different from a tournament exhibition took place. It was a fight for life and death.
Another ten feet.
And another breeze accompanied by the groaning of a dying wizard.
I slipped into a gap between two walls and squeezed into a hole that led to the city's sewer. I began to crawl feverishly into the darkness, fearing that the wizard who was still alive would use some spell to get me out.
The tunnel branched. I took the left passage heading deeper. The smell was horrible, but I moved on as fast as possible. At another branch, I took the right one.
I've made it…
A second later a quake shook the walls and the tunnel began to crumble…
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