by Thandi Ryan
And that is how the days, weeks and months passed; the six and their army were holed up in the mountains, working or soldiering by day and dining around the cave fires at night. Rakan would spend much time with Maddox; talking, laughing and learning from him while Maddox enjoyed Rakan’s company.
I do not know why Maddox could not sense the darkness that lived in their hearts or the evil that coursed through them but he did not and so Maddox let his guard down and befriended Rakan and his five friends. Every evening, Rakan would spend a while sitting in the cave with Maddox and then he would return to the five; sometimes Maddox would join them and sometimes he would not.
Rakan was learning a lot from Maddox and Maddox was happy to teach him. Maddox used magic that Rakan had never seen before – it wasn’t always particularly powerful but it was different; what Rakan liked most, was Maddox’s ability to take objects and enchant them, or make them magical.
Maddox would share everything, except that one secret and Rakan was wise enough not to press the old man for an answer. For Rakan, there was still so much to learn and he did not want to jeopardise that.
As time went by, Waldon and Rufus remained friends but in the back of their minds were the conversations they had had in the caves and the forest that day. Waldon had come to regret telling Rufus of his feelings and Rufus had come to wonder how he really felt about his friend.
He remembered that day with Luxor and Waldon and he had seen the expression on Luxor’s face and his eyes – and he had known; he knew that Rufus felt something more than the others for Waldon and he wondered how. How could Luxor have known, he had barely admitted it to himself and yet, here was this brat boy mocking him, with the full knowledge of his feelings.
Rufus was troubled, he was troubled about how he felt and he was troubled that Luxor had some how known it too. It was not long before the two men were once again working together in the forest. Once again it was just the two of them and when the mornings work had passed, they broke for a while and retreated to the same cave for lunch. They ate and made small talk and at the end of their meal, they put out the cave fire and resumed work once again. They toiled late into the evening and when they were done, they made their way back to the mountain. They remained on their feet and led their horses through the trees; at first they remained in silence but eventually, Waldon broke it.
‘Are we to remain this way?’ he asked.
‘Which way?’
‘Like this – the long silences, the discomfort that is now between us and the inane small talk. Is that to be our fate?’
‘I hope not.’
‘So do I but then where do we go from here. Things between us are not good Rufus and that pains me so.’
‘It pains me too my friend – it really does.’
‘Then what – what can I do?’
‘I do not know,’ Rufus said, stopping in his tracks.
‘We cannot remain this way,’ said Waldon, as he stopped too. He walked closer to Rufus until he was in front of him. ‘I miss what we had. I have known you all of my life and now, we are reduced to small talk – why?’
‘Because what you said threw me and discovering and facing how I feel, has thrown me too.’
‘How do you feel?’
‘I can’t explain; I just feel it when you are around, or when I think of you. It’s what I have been feeling for the longest time.’
‘I was beginning to regret having told you, I thought I had pushed you away or lost you – even as the friend you are.’
‘I will always be your friend Waldon – always. That I promise you, but the rest it is new to me and it scares me.’
‘I know, it scared me too,’ Waldon said, as he moved closer to Rufus. ‘It scared me so,’ he whispered, as he took hold of Rufus’s arm with one hand and ran his fingers through his hair with the other.
‘Waldon,’ Rufus whispered.
‘Tell me to stop,’ Waldon said quietly.
‘No,’ Rufus said.
Waldon pulled Rufus close towards him and kissed him and Rufus kissed him back; the two of them remained in that kiss and under the moonlight for a while and each of them at that moment, felt they were right for each other and the awkward moments melted away. When the kiss came to an end, Waldon stepped back from Rufus but Rufus pulled him back closer to him and smiled warmly at him.
‘Are you sure?’ Waldon asked.
‘Yes I am,’ said Rufus, as he leaned forward and kissed Waldon, who kissed him back for a while and then Waldon stepped back once again and this time Rufus let him.
‘No more awkward silences?’ Waldon asked.
‘None,’ Rufus said, as he laughed softly.
The two men held onto each other for a while under the moonlight sky and talked – really talked and when everything between them was resolved, they made their way back to the mountain, where they had been living.
‘Do we tell the others?’ Rufus asked.
‘Let’s wait a while,’ Waldon said.
‘How long is a while?’
‘When we both agree.’
Waldon and Rufus made their way back to the top of the mountain and took dinner with their friends, and Maddox. The evening passed by quite quickly and before long, they were retiring for yet another night in the caves that they had now begun to call home.
As time passed by, Rakan, his friends and his army, were nearly ready to march into Parades. They were now well clothed and well fed and armed to the teeth with the weapons that they had made while holed up in Equer. They all carried at least three weapons on their bodies. Every soldier had a sword, a knife and a battle-axe, or more or some other fearsome and deadly weapon that they carried on their back. They were armed to the teeth, savage and now – fully trained soldiers.
Before, they had begun as a rabble, a small rebellion and then they had grown in size and skill and now, they were a fully-fledged army – and they were an army to be feared.
As their time in Equer drew to a close, Rakan told Maddox that they would soon be leaving and that the mountain would be all his once again. Maddox was not as happy as Rakan thought he would be; the old man had become attached to Rakan and his five friends and he had begun to enjoy having the company. It would have been a lonely winter for Maddox and having Rakan around, had shown him that perhaps he wasn’t as solitary as he thought he was. In the last few days, Rakan spent every day with Maddox and one evening Maddox brought a bundle to the edge of his cave where Rakan was sat and presented it to him.
‘What is this?’ Rakan asked, smiling at the old man.
‘A present,’ Maddox replied. ‘I think you are going to need it.’
Rakan unfolded the cloak and looked at it, it had presence and a sense of power; he looked at the black cloak and wondered why it felt the way it did.
‘You can feel the power in it can’t you?’ Maddox said.
‘Yes I can and it is not like anything I have ever felt before.’
‘I know – it wouldn’t be.’ Maddox took the cloak from Rakan and began to put it on. ‘It will render the wearer close to invincible.’
‘How?’
‘Watch,’ Maddox said, as he finished putting the cloak on.
Maddox looked at Rakan for a few seconds and smiled a wry smile before he reached back and pulled the hood of the cloak over his head and as the cloak went over his head, his face disappeared right before Rakan’s eyes. Rakan’s eyes widened incredulously as he saw the cloaked figure rise up inches from the ground and float towards him.
‘How? On this earth, how is that possible?’
‘Magic,’ Maddox said, in a now deep and powerful voice that rumbled with power. Maddox took the cloak hood down and grinned at Rakan.
‘How long does the magic of the cloak last?’ Rakan asked.
‘For all eternity. You see magic does not die but those who wield it do; their powers drain, they grow older and they die, that is why it does not last forever in humans – physical form cannot sustain it – but certain obj
ects do. They never tire – enchant the object and it remains magical until it is destroyed.’
‘But how?’
‘When used, magic draws power from the universe; when the wearer wears the cloak, they draw power, but through the cloak. The cloak is already enchanted, it knows what it can and cannot do.’
‘Draw your sword,’ Maddox told Rakan.
Rakan looked at Maddox and he stared at the old man bemused and puzzled.
‘Draw your sword,’ Maddox said once again.
Rakan was still puzzled but he drew his sword anyway. Maddox looked him in the eye and held his gaze.
‘Now thrust it through my body.’
‘What – are you mad?’ I will do no such thing.’
‘Trust me Rakan. I am not going to leave the earth yet. Now, thrust your sword through my body.’
Rakan looked hesitatingly at Maddox but Maddox simply stared back waiting for Rakan to do as he was told.
‘Thrust it,’ he commanded.
Rakan did as Maddox ordered and he grimaced as he thrust his sword through the centre of where Maddox’s body was. Rakan had done so with his eyes closed and when he had extended his arm fully and felt his sword push through, he opened his eyes and they widened at the sight before him.
Maddox was still alive, alive and well and staring at him with a strange look in his eyes that was a mix between a glint and a twinkle. Rakan looked at his sword and saw that it had disappeared into the cloak and only the hilt remained exposed.
‘Incredible,’ Rakan exclaimed.
‘The sword never entered my body and as long as I wear the cloak – it never will.’
‘Where is the sword then?’ Rakan asked, as he moved the sword around gently, just in case it did enter Maddox’s body.
‘Within the cloak,’ Maddox said simply. ‘Here,’ Maddox said, taking the cloak off and giving it to Rakan. ‘You try.’
Rakan took the cloak from Maddox and hurriedly put it on. He felt immensely powerful when it was fastened around him and he smiled a broad smile at Maddox.
‘It’s incredible,’ he said in awe of the fine cloak that he was wearing.
‘Put the hood on,’ Maddox told him.
Rakan did as he was told and as the hood went over his head, his face disappeared into a black void and Maddox could no longer see his face.
‘Now don’t walk, just will yourself towards me,’ Maddox told Rakan.
Rakan did as Maddox had told him and as soon as he began to think of walking towards Maddox, he was lifted a few inches off the ground and felt the cloak glide towards him.
‘Amazing! Incredible! The most amazing thing ever!’ Rakan exclaimed.
‘Will yourself to stop,’ Maddox ordered him.
‘Stop,’ Rakan said.
‘No! Will yourself,’ Maddox said, with an edge in his voice. ‘Will yourself now.’
Rakan willed himself to stop and looked at Maddox strangely.
‘Why did you stop me?’
‘Look,’ Maddox said, nodding his head in a downward direction. Rakan looked where Maddox was looking and saw that he was precariously close to the edge of the cliff.
‘Oh,’ Rakan said, slightly surprised that he had moved so far and stepping backwards.
‘What can you see with the hood on?’ Maddox asked.
‘I can see for leagues around. I can see as though it were broad daylight,’ Rakan said, looking at Maddox.
Rakan was slightly unnerved because when Maddox had worn the cloak, Rakan could only see pitch-black darkness instead of Maddox’s face. He knew that Maddox could not see him and only he could see Maddox but despite that fact, Maddox was looking him straight in the eye.
‘That’s right young Rakan, you can see all around, but always remember you need to look,’ Maddox said, eyeing the edge of the cliff.
‘A lesson learned,’ Rakan replied gratefully.
‘I surely hope so,’ replied Maddox.
Rakan took down the hood and his head and face reappeared once again. He looked at Maddox and Maddox led him back to the cave.
‘Where did this magic come from?’ Rakan asked.
‘That I cannot tell, I can tell you that it is powerful and that it is light magic and dark magic combined.’
‘You combined light and dark magic?’ Rakan asked, clearly intrigued.
‘Yes.’
‘How?’
‘I did say I cannot tell,’ Maddox said, slightly scolding Rakan.
‘I am curious.’
‘I know you are, but Rakan I can never tell you. You have to know what magic is – not just light and dark, good and bad; but magic as a whole and if you ever learn that; you will be the most powerful person on earth’s plane. Anyone who learns that will be the most powerful person on earth’s plane.
‘You know don’t you Maddox.’
‘I’m an old man who lives in a cave in the middle of nowhere,’ Maddox said, blatantly avoiding the question.
‘There is more to you than you let on Maddox my friend.’
‘Perhaps, but that can be said of many.’
‘But it is absolutely more so in your case.’
‘I’m a very old man Rakan, time alone made more of me,’ he said and laughed softly.
‘It surely did’ Rakan agreed.
‘The cloak is yours if you want it.’
‘It truly is a magnificent gift Maddox and I am not sure if you will be doing right to give this cloak to me.’
Maddox laughed loudly and rolled his eyes and head back and when he looked at Rakan, he smiled and he had that twinkle in his eye that sparkled in the night.
‘Rakan, one day you will return the favour to me I swear it and the thing is – you won’t know you are doing it, but don’t feel bad,’ Maddox said mysteriously.
‘What do you mean?’ Rakan asked, even more confused.
‘I see much in people, I see the good, I also see the bad and I see outcomes. As much as I can I see, is as much as I cannot tell and so it leaves most in a dilemma – the trick is not to worry.’
‘Maddox you’re baffling me with every passing moment.’
‘Good, imagine a world, where nothing baffles you anymore; where there are no surprises?’
‘Not really no.’
‘Good, that’s the way it should be.’
‘Maddox.’
‘Yes.’
‘Thank you for the cloak. It truly is magnificent.’
‘My pleasure, but that is not the only cloak.’
‘No?’
‘No – there are five more. One for each of your friends.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, I made six in total, that was to be my leaving present.’
‘I cannot thank you enough.’
‘I know,’ Maddox said softly. ‘I shall retire for the evening now Rakan, but please, come and collect the other five cloaks and I will bid you good night.’
‘As you wish,’ Rakan said, as he followed Maddox into his cave.
The cave was always warm and welcoming and in stark contrast to the outside. Rakan stepped inside the cave and walked a few yards and then Maddox turned around and pointed to a trunk on the floor.
‘In there,’ he said to Rakan.
Rakan made his way to the trunk and knelt down beside it, he hovered tentatively over it for a few seconds before he opened the box and saw the cloaks neatly folded inside. He picked them up in two piles and felt them. They were each identical to the one he had been wearing and he shook his head slightly. Part of him thought the gift was far too much and part of him marvelled at Maddox’s creation. He looked at the cloaks for a while and then he picked them all up, stood up and turned to face Maddox.
‘They truly are a miracle,’ Rakan said. ‘Thank you.’
‘I hope they serve you well young Rakan,’ Maddox said.
‘Oh they will,’ Rakan said vehemently.
‘I am glad, well now I will bid you goodnight as I must retire.’
‘Good night Maddox,�
� Rakan said fondly.
‘Good night Rakan,’ Maddox said, as he showed Rakan to the edge of his cave and when Rakan stepped out he turned and waved at Maddox and when Maddox waved back the cave disappeared from Rakan’s sight.
Rakan stared at where the cave was for a few moments and then he looked down at the cloaks that Maddox had given him. He wondered how Maddox had made them and what magic’s he had channelled to enchant the cloaks with as much power as they possessed. He wondered about Maddox and the cloaks and his magic and then he wondered what Maddox had meant about there being more than light and dark magic and how he – Rakan – would one day repay the favour.
Rakan pondered about the old man for a while; the more he got to know him the more of an enigma he was but Rakan really liked the old man, even though he could be extremely odd at times.
Rakan looked back at Maddox’s cave and then made his way to where the other five were. He entered Waldon’s and Kenaz’s cave and greeted them happily; the five men greeted him back and they stared at the bundle of cloaks that he was carrying.
‘What is that?’ Rufus asked.
‘A present from Maddox,’ Rakan replied.
‘Cloaks?’ Kenaz said questioningly.
‘Yes.’
‘Does the old man not see that we are already prepared for winter?’ Kenaz said, laughing slightly.
‘The old man sees more than we will ever know,’ Rakan said. ‘These cloaks are not for the winter.’
‘Then what?’ Luxor asked.
‘Watch,’ Rakan said smiling.
Rakan put all of the cloaks on the floor and picked up the one he had previously worn and began to put it on. He fastened the strings around his neck and at his waist and then he paused – partly for dramatic effect and partly because he wanted to see their faces before and after he put the cloak on. He stared at each and everyone of them in turn and smiled before he raised his hands up and reached behind his head to take hold of the hood of the cloak and then, he slowly brought the hood up over his head and watched his friends as they watched him and his face disappear into the black void that the cloak created.