Birth of a Wizard

by MJ Schutte

  ‘No, there seems to be someone who can sense my energy. I hid it from them before I came back here, that’s how come they can’t find us now,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘Now would be a good time to go back to the camp. Half the guards are not there,’ Lance suggested.

  ‘True, but it still leaves a thousand elves for us to face,’ Adri replied.

  Brighton looked up at the dark clouds forming in the sky.

  ‘I have another idea. Instead of making them fear me, we should make them fear nature itself,’ he said.

  Three confused faces looked back at him.

  ‘While I was leading the guards away from you, I had some time to think. Lance, what are your intentions with the northern part of Livia Farasnei?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘We want to build some homes and live in peace,’ Lance answered.

  ‘And what do you think the elves in this part want from the forest?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘They want gold,’ Lance replied.

  Brighton waited for the thought to take shape. Slowly Lance started nodding.

  ‘I understand. These elves are greedy. They are using the forest and the slaves for their own personal gain and so the forest is trying to drive them away. That is why everything is so dead here. We, on the other hand, have honourable intentions and the forest has accepted us. That is why our part is flourishing,’ he said.

  ‘Exactly! It is not elves or people that are poisoning the forest. It is greed. You are wrong on one thing, though. These elves are not the problem. Someone else is behind all of this. Remember what that guard said. They trade the gold for food, weapons and slaves. He never said they keep any of it, so where is the gold going?’ Brighton replied.

  ‘I think you’re right. How do we go about fixing that? We can kill every elf in that camp, but someone else might come and simply take over. The process will repeat itself,’ Lance frowned.

  ‘First, we destroy this mining camp and free the slaves. Then, we go look for the mastermind behind it all. If there is nobody willing to trade for the gold, the need for this mining operation disappears,’ Brighton explained.

  ‘How are you going to destroy the camp?’ Adri frowned.

  ‘I am not, nature is. I will merely be the messenger,’ Brighton smiled.

  Brighton walked up to the camp entrance, Mischief by his side. Ten elves drew their swords and waited for him.

  ‘I am Erostagnos, the great wizard and I have a message from Livia Farasnei for all the elves that guard this camp,’ he shouted at them.

  He shot a quick look at the sky. Dark, threatening clouds were hanging low over the mountain. For a moment, Brighton wondered whether the elf spirits were doing this to help him.

  The ten elves in front of him looked at each other nervously. They were under strict orders from Hundo, the second in command, to kill anyone trying to enter the camp, although none of them wanted to find out if it really was Erostagnos walking towards them.

  Brighton lifted his arms. A thick lightning bolt jumped from the clouds and struck the ground between him and the guards.

  ‘Leave now, or the forest will kill you,’ his deep voice boomed.

  It was enough to discourage all ten elves not to challenge him. They quickly retreated.

  Brighton kept walking until he was in the middle of the camp. Hundreds of elves surrounded him, but nobody had the courage to attack or even speak to him.

  ‘I bring a message from the forest. Leave this place immediately, or face the wrath of Livia Farasnei,’ Brighton shouted.

  A brave elf stepped forward and said, ‘Imposter, Lady Jaclyn rules.’

  ‘Jaclyn is dead. I am the master of the forest now,’ Brighton replied.

  The elf took another step forward, sword ready.

  From above, a lightning bolt flashed, striking the elf down.

  ‘Who else opposes Livia Farasnei?’ Brighton shouted.

  More lightning bolts struck the ground making the elves scatter in all directions.

  Brighton walked to the entrance of the mine.

  ‘Let the prisoners out,’ he growled at four elves standing in front of it.

  They did not move.

  Brighton felt a large group of elves approaching from behind. Hundo had organised them into an attacking force.

  He turned around to face the threat. Hundreds of elves stormed towards him. Instead of waiting for the attack, Brighton broke into a dead run towards them, Mischief right at his side.

  Brighton moved through the elves like a shadow, walking stick flashing. He did not aim for elbows or knees. Every time the cane made contact, an elf died. Knifes, swords and spears were shoved and swung violently, but not one elf could land a single blow onto the big man. It was as if a ghost was dancing through the maze of sharp edges, the oak in his hand claiming life after life.

  Mischief ripped through the elves like black death sent from the demon world. Some elves tried to end the panther’s life, but not one of them was fast enough.

  Hundo shouted a few orders. The attackers ignored Mischief and focused on Brighton. They simply rushed forward, cramping Brighton’s ability to swing the cane. Elves started jumping on his back. The big man went down to the ground as more elves piled on top of him. The elves did not try to use swords or knifes anymore, they simply wanted to crush the life out of him.

  Brighton’s talent connected with the earth, drawing an enormous amount of power into himself. More elves jumped on top of their comrades in an effort to keep Brighton down.

  An explosion of lightning bolts flashed from Brighton’s body, shaking the ground beneath them. Elves were sent flying in all directions, some as high as thirty paces into the sky.

  Slowly Brighton got up. The ground was littered with dead and maimed bodies. Mischief made his way through the carnage towards Brighton. The remaining elves quickly turned and ran for the woods.

  Brighton walked to the mine entrance. The four elves that were guarding it were gone. Slowly, Brighton entered. A few paces beyond the entrance, the ground fell away. Brighton looked down into an enormous pit. An eerie light illuminated the inside of the cave. Hundreds of people stared up at Brighton.

  ‘You are free to go!’ Brighton shouted.

  ‘Who are you?’ someone shouted.

  ‘Brighton, is that you?’ a familiar voice came from the crowd.

  ‘Peter?’ Brighton gasped.

  He quickly climbed down a ladder into the pit.

  ‘Peter!’ he shouted.

  ‘Here!’ came the reply.

  Brighton gently pushed through the people, following the sound of Peter’s voice. The crowd opened leaving Peter standing alone.

  ‘Peter, you’re alive!’ Brighton shouted as he flung his arms around the old man.

  ‘Yes, but if you keep hugging me like this, I will not be for much longer,’ Peter chuckled.

  ‘Sorry,’ Brighton laughed as he stepped back.

  ‘How did you end up here?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ll tell you later. First, tell me whether Nicky is all right,’ Peter replied.

  ‘Yes, she is fine. She came to Weston to warn us about the war, but it is over now. She is back at your house,’ Brighton assured the old man.

  Peter let out a long sigh of relief.

  ‘Thank you, my friend,’ he said with tears in his eyes.

  ‘Let’s get you and everybody out of here,’ Brighton said.

  They made their way to the ladder. Brighton climbed up first. He wanted to make sure that there were no more elves around before the prisoners came out.

  ‘Ok, it is safe,’ he shouted down to Peter.

  There were three more ladders lying on the ground, so Brighton quickly lowered them into the pit. He and Peter walked out into the sunlight. The dark clouds were almost gone.

  ‘How did you find us?’ Peter asked.

  ‘I was looking for the evil that is poisoning Livia Farasnei. My search led me here,’ Brighton replied.

  He decided not to tell Peter the
whole story.

  ‘Well, you found it!’ Peter exclaimed.

  ‘No, not yet. This prison camp is only part of the problem. When everybody is safely out of that cave, I am going to collapse it and then go after the greedy people who started this camp in the first place,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘You can’t do that,’ Peter replied.

  ‘Why not? I have to destroy the root of the evil, otherwise this will just happen again,’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘No, I mean you can’t collapse the cave. It is the home of the moon people,’ Peter said.

  ‘The moon people?’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘Yes, that is what the elves call them. They call themselves the Enshindi tribe. As far as I can tell, they are distant cousins to the elves,’ Peter replied.

  ‘And they live inside this mountain?’ Brighton gasped.

  ‘Yes, they do,’ Peter confirmed.

  Brighton looked at the people streaming out of the mine.

  ‘Point one out to me,’ he said.

  ‘They won’t come out now, it’s still daylight. They only come out of these caves at night,’ Peter said.

  ‘Is that why you call them moon people?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘No, not really. Maybe we should wait until everybody is out of the cave, then you can go look. It’s best you see it for yourself,’ Peter replied.

  It took a long time for all the prisoners to get out of the cave. Brighton used the time to tell Peter about the war and how it ended. He also told the old man of Jaclyn’s death and what is happening in the north where the old Tylia clan has settled.

  Finally, when no more people were coming out of the cave, Brighton said, ‘Let’s go have a look at the Enshindi tribe.’

  He and Peter walked into the cave. Standing on the edge of the pit, Brighton’s mouth hung open. Scores of people looked up at him. They were about half as tall as he was and a soft glow came from their bodies. Their ears were pointed upwards like those of the elves and they all had long white hair. Brighton suddenly understood where the light in the cave was coming from.

  ‘It looks like they all have a tiny piece of the moon in them,’ Brighton whispered.

  ‘Now you know why they are called the moon people,’ Peter said.

  ‘People of the Enshindi tribe, you are free now. The elves will no longer enslave you,’ Brighton called out to them.

  He suddenly felt the same strange energy as before focused on him. It prodded his body gently. He immediately brought up an energy barrier around himself.

  A collective gasp came from the people in the pit. They retreated to the far side of the cave. Brighton looked at Peter, but the old man just shrugged.

  One of the people in the pit stepped forward. It seemed as if he was talking, but Brighton could not hear anything.

  ‘They speak very softly. I do not think they know how to shout. If you want to talk to him, you will have to go down there,’ Peter explained.

  Brighton headed for the ladder.

  ‘Leave the walking stick here. The Enshindi people hate any form of weapon,’ Peter said.

  Brighton handed the cane to Peter and climbed down the ladder. He walked up to the man in the middle of the pit.

  ‘Good day, I am Brighton,’ he introduced himself.

  ‘El, be what my name is,’ came the hesitant reply.

  It was clear to Brighton that El struggled to speak in this manner.

  ‘I am pleased to meet you, El,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘El pleased be to meet Brighton,’ El replied.

  ‘El, do you prefer to communicate like the elves do?’ Brighton offered.

  El shook his head and said a few words in a strange language. Brighton shrugged his shoulders indicating that he did not understand.

  ‘El be speaking Brighton tongue,’ El offered.

  ‘Thank you,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘Brighton be protected from feeling?’ El asked.

  Brighton realised that he still had the energy barrier around him.

  ‘Yes, I can protect myself from your feeling,’ he smiled.

  ‘Yli Brighton tracked, Brighton here, where Yli be?’ El frowned.

  ‘I can also hide my energy from your feeling. That is why Yli could not track me. I think the elves fled, taking Yli with them,’ Brighton said.

  ‘Elves Yli forced, Yli unwilling be,’ El said with a sad shake of his head.

  ‘I understand,’ Brighton smiled.

  He dropped the energy barrier.

  ‘You may feel my energy, if you wish,’ he offered.

  Brighton felt the strange energy again; feeling and prodding his body.

  ‘Brighton powerful….,’ El started but struggled for the correct word.

  He turned and spoke to someone behind him in his own language.

  ‘Wizard,’ came the soft reply.

  ‘Brighton powerful wizard be,’ El said.

  Brighton decided not to argue and simply nodded.

  ‘Brighton Enshindi people free?’ El asked.

  ‘Yes, I came to free all the slaves,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘Return, the elves will. Enslave Enshindi once more,’ El said sadly.

  ‘No, they won’t. I will protect you,’ Brighton promised.

  El turned to his people. He spoke a few words to them.

  Turning back to Brighton, he said, ‘El told Enshindi people, Brighton saviour be.’

  Brighton looked past El. A bright glow started rising from the people behind him. They came forward and surrounded Brighton. Excited whispers reached his ears.

  ‘Enshindi people grateful be,’ El said.

  ‘Nobody should ever be enslaved. I am glad this is over,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘Tell me, where do you get food from? There cannot be animals and plants in these caves,’ he asked El.

  ‘Enshindi no kill another living. Forage for food when small light in the sky be. Forest dead, El be uncertain where food to find,’ he answered.

  ‘The forest will come back to life soon. I will make sure wagons are sent with enough food to sustain you until then,’ Brighton promised.

  Looking around him at the Enshindi people, he estimated that there were only three hundred of them here.

  ‘Where is the rest of the Enshindi tribe?’ he asked.

  El frowned and said, ‘This Enshindi tribe be.’

  ‘Did the elves kill the rest?’ Brighton gasped.

  Again, El looked confused.

  ‘This, Enshindi tribe always be. Young only be born when old rejoin to mother.’

  ‘So, a baby is born only when someone dies? There have always been so few of you?’ Brighton gasped.

  El nodded enthusiastically, glad that Brighton understood.

  ‘Incredible,’ Brighton whispered.

  ‘Brighton remain with Enshindi?’ El asked.

  ‘No, I have to go, but I will keep my promises to you,’ Brighton replied.

  He made his way to the ladder.

  ‘I will come back to see you again,’ he said to El.

  ‘Brighton always welcome be,’ El smiled.

  Brighton quickly climbed to the top.

  ‘Peter, did you know that there is an entire race of people down there? They live in the caves and only forage for food at night,’ he said to the old man.

  ‘Yes, I have gathered that much in my time here,’ Peter answered.

  ‘That is amazing!’ Brighton exclaimed with awe.

  Peter smiled at the young man.

  ‘Yes, it is amazing.’

  ‘Tell me, how did you end up in the prison camp?’ Brighton frowned.

  ‘I was trying to gather information about the army that was invading the Mountain Kingdom. I got too close to them one day and a few soldiers chased me. Luckily, I was on one of the Erostan horses and they had the slower Northern tribe breed, so I was able to outrun them. My route back home was cut off, so I decided to travel south. I was hoping to enter Mendin through the cave of demons, travel to Weston and warn you about the a
pproaching army but some of Jaclyn’s former honour guard captured me and sold me as a slave,’ Peter said.

  ‘I see. You were then brought here to work in the mine,’ Brighton replied.

  Peter nodded.

  ‘What are your plans now?’ he asked.

  ‘I am going to follow the road that leads out of this camp. I will find the person responsible for this and make him very sorry. You are welcome to travel with us,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘Once you’ve found this monster and dealt with him, will you go back to Weston?’ Peter asked.

  ‘I have not thought that far ahead yet,’ Brighton shrugged.

  He did not want to tell Peter that he might never be able to leave the forest again.

  Brighton stayed in the camp for a few days to make sure the elves did not return. Lance and Carlia made frequent trips out, but could see no sign of the elves that fled. Even the group that chased Brighton went missing. The majority of the former slaves did not have anywhere to go, so they decided to stay in the camp.

  On the third day in the camp, Lance came up to Brighton and said, ‘Come look at this.’

  Brighton followed Lance to the seemingly dead woods. On all the trees and bushes, small leaves were making their appearance.

  ‘Life is returning to this part of the forest,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘Yes, and it is happening really fast,’ Lance agreed.

  ‘Good. Now we can go find the person responsible for all of this,’ Brighton said.

  Early the next morning, Brighton, Lance, Carlia, Adri and Peter headed out of the camp. They stayed on the road that lead east. Everywhere they saw new growth in the forest. They travelled for a number of days before Brighton could sense any life nearby.

  ‘There is a village on the edge of the forest. It seems this road is leading straight towards it,’ he told the others.

  ‘How many people are there?’ Lance asked.

  Brighton concentrated.

  ‘No more than a hundred,’ he said.

  ‘Perhaps it is some of the soldiers that fled,’ Lance speculated

  ‘It is. Yli is with them and her energy is fading quickly. The moon people can not survive for long away from their cave home,’ Brighton said worriedly.

  ‘How long does she have?’ Peter asked.