“I knew this would work,” he murmured hoarsely.
Magnus felt his face turn red, though he wasn't sure if it was out of anger or out of shame. Who would have said that this was a manner of welcoming guests? When he looked around the room, he just verified his expectations from when it had been still dark. There was no order in this house. Various metal ingots were strewn across the floor, various tools and books were negligently stacked in shelves near the stone walls. There were also some items in the room which Magnus had never seen before. A big furnace was standing near the right wall.
I'll surely get a heart attack here in less than five minutes, thought Magnus, annoyed.
The old man sat down in an armchair by the left side of the table and let out a sigh. “That means you're going to die quite young,” he said calmly, pouring hot tea from a little green teapot into a cup which was placed on top of a tiny plate. “Come and keep this old man company for a while. Sit down.”
At that moment, Magnus realised it was of no use trying to hide his thoughts. He also got a great craving for the tea and who knows, maybe that old man was hiding even more delicacies. It would be rude to refuse an invitation to the table!
Before the old mage could lift his eyes, Magnus was sitting in the armchair in front of him. He put down his dusty hat on the right armrest of the chair.
“I've got to tell you, it looks like a battle has taken place here,” said Magnus, letting out a giggle, but soon he realised it wasn't the best joke for his host.
The mage smiled slightly and his wise, green eyes looked deeply into Magnus' silvery ones. The flames of candles were reflected in his mystic, deep stare. “You are a simple heart,” said the mage kindly. “But you should take care that your honesty does not hurt someone. Everything you want to say can be said in many ways and it is your responsibility to choose the right one. Each thought and emotion can bring joy or misery, it depends on how you express it,” said the mage mysteriously, lowering his gaze down to the cup of tea which was still hot and steamy.
Magnus was quiet for a while, thinking about what he had just heard. He didn't know it at the time, but the mage's words settled deep inside his heart, like a bright star in the night sky which would never go out. All of sudden, he felt inexplicable calmness inside that poured into all of his being.
“Who are you?“ said Magnus curiously, with a hint of admiration in his voice.
The mage smiled again through his thick white beard. “Me? I am just an old man who lives in a stone house with no windows.”
This was surely not an answer Magnus was expecting. “I see. And may I know the revered name of this old man, who lives in a stone house with no windows?” Magnus repeated his question in a different way, hoping that this time it was good enough to be answered.
“You're lucky my memory still serves me. My name is Valezar Idric. And yours is Magnus Il'idiel. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Magnus,” said the old mage, his eyes smiling at his young guest through the deep wrinkles on his face. Such wisdom and care was reflected in his eyes that nobody could doubt the good nature of this man.
Magnus couldn't hold back a happy smile.
“And I am very happy I wandered to your place. You can't imagine how much,” he said, hoping the mage wouldn't find the reason of his big relief. But Valezar's smile was a little too understanding.
“Actually, I can. And I am not surprised. This is the last place where the guards would come looking for you,” said the old mage.
Magnus smiled guiltily.
“Don't worry, we'll sort everything out. But first you have to eat something. You won't solve anything on an empty stomach,” said Valezar, laughing quietly. He didn't wait another second and poured hot tea into another cup. “Drink up,” he offered Magnus. It looked like he was really glad to take care of someone again.
Magnus dragged the cup closer to him, with words of thanks. Everything seemed extremely tempting. The colour and smell of the tea made him want to check if it tasted just as great. The only thing he was worried about was burning his tongue. But as soon as he took a sip, he realised the temperature was perfect, the taste was perfect, the smell, colour, – well, the whole moment was perfect.
SWISH!
Shocked, Magnus nearly spilled the perfect tea on his pants. Just around his head, something flew by and landed exactly in the centre of the table! It looked like a round porcelain lid of green colour.
Magnus wasn't sure if he understood what he had just witnessed.
“All right, could you tell me what exactly you just did?” said Magnus, unsettled by the green lid in the middle of the table. It was hot and steaming.
Valezar gave a hearty laugh.
“What are you going crazy for? I'm old! I hope you don't expect me to stand up for every biscuit!” He removed the lid, his hand shrouded by the long sleeve of his robe.
Magnus' eyes bulged as he slowly put the cup back on the table. There was a pile of freshly baked, warm gingerbreads which smelled completely irresistible. They had so many shapes that Magnus didn't understand how Valezar could have so many different forms for baking. But then again, you could probably find anything in that mess. At first, he couldn't decide which one to eat but finally he reached out to take a gingerbread in the shape of a mage's hat. Magnus smiled, letting out a giggle.
“It looks like yours! Well, almost,” he said but then he stopped laughing. He remembered what Valezar had told him earlier about being too honest.
“Hey!“ shrieked someone abruptly, in a shrill voice.
Magnus felt utterly bewildered. He looked at his host in confusion but Valezar's mouth was shut.
“Who do you think you are?“ the voice ringed again.
When Magnus realised what was happening, he let the gingerbread fall out of his hand. Who has ever seen a talking gingerbread?!
The gingerbread leaped up with difficulties, a few crumbles falling off it in the process. “He even bangs me on the table, how terrible! The world is full of rascals!”
Seeing and hearing all that, Magnus felt as though he was dreaming.
Valezar smiled broadly. “You mustn't waver so much! These are nagging gingerbreads. Eat it quickly or you'll hear something even worse. Don't worry, they are not alive, they are just enchanted. There is a special magickal ingredient in them which makes their taste irresistible. However, it also causes their bad nature,“ said Valezar with bitterness in his voice, but he was still smiling.
“Shut up old chap,“ said the gingerbread arrogantly and turned around to face Magnus again. “I don't even have to step outside to know that the world is full of good-for-nothings! And you are the worst of them!” it yelled angrily.
Magnus looked at Valazar again, as though he wanted to make sure that the gingerbread could really be eaten. An unspoken question got an unspoken answer. Valezar nodded slightly.
The gingerbread had no mercy. It went on screaming until there was a crunchy sound and then – silence.
Magnus was delighted by its unique taste. “Finally quiet,” he said with his mouth full and before he could even swallow, he immediately reached for another gingerbread. He was stuffing himself contentedly when it struck him; this man could read thoughts. Maybe he could refresh Magnus' memory! But before Magnus could even say the question out loud, Valezar shook his head in disagreement.
“No, my lad... I cannot read from a blank paper. When you remember, let me know, but by then you will not need my reading any more. So you see, telepathy really isn't everything.“ As he said that, Magnus saddened visibly and his gaze darted downwards as he gave a sigh. “But, I do know one thing; you will remember...“
Hearing that, Magnus looked up with hope.
“...one day,“ Valezar finished. Before Magnus could fall into despair again, the mage let out a false cough. “Anyway, are you planning on staying in the town for a bit longer?” he asked swiftly to make Magnus forget about the previous topic. He could see great interest in his guest's eyes now. Finally something
that Valezar could help him with!
The time spent in pleasant company went by faster than they realised. A short sitting with tea and gingerbread lengthened into a several-hour-long discussion about Ragna and its inhabitants, but to Magnus it felt only like moments.
After talking about the guilds in town and the jobs in Ragna, Magnus had another question on his tongue. He was going to ask about what this house had to do with the strange black box that Eagle used before, but Valezar was faster.
“This house is the centre of The Telepathic Devices Company and I lead a team of mages who take part in development of more and more advanced telepathic devices. Not everyone knows this trade as well as I do,” said Valezar in a bright voice and winked at Magnus playfully.
Magnus looked dazed. “So, it was you? You made the thing that allows people to talk by thoughts!” he said eagerly.
“Well, yes. But I think that it's more important for you to get the permit to stay in Ragna now than contemplating about my company. We'll get to that another time.“
Magnus smiled disappointedly.
“To say the truth, Ragna is one of the most guarded cities of the Aria Kingdom,” Valezar went on, but Magnus interrupted him, his eyes wide and bright.
“This Kingdom is called Aria? I didn't know that!” he said, looking dazed.
“You have definitely forgotten a lot of things,” Valezar commented. “Again, you are lucky that you ventured here. Do you see this folded hat?” said Valezar and pointed upwards. “A folded magickian's hat means that I am... a former Mages Guild member,” he said, lowering his voice into a whisper, as though he didn't want anyone else to hear that, although there was only the two of them in the house. “And I have a very friendly relationship with the Guild Master, I've always had.” A good bit of nostalgia could be heard in his voice.
“A former member? Why aren't you still in the Guild, Valezar?” asked Magnus curiously.
“Hm, we'll get to that another time, too.“
Magnus wanted to insist on his question, but then he understood that Valezar probably didn't want to talk about it. Those must have been some bitter memories.
“I'll write a recommendation for you, I am sure my friend Zimbadur will gladly help you. I bet you'll get a permit from him without any problems,” said Valezar, sounding a bit merrier this time. Then he pulled a scroll, pen and ink out from a drawer in the table.
“Hm, how should I start?“ said Valezar, as he delved into thought. “Kind friend... no, no, that's too settled down. Dear Zimbadur... no, that sounds as if I were in love with him. Revered Guild Master Zimbadur... NO! That sounds as if I didn't know him at all!” he screamed, grasping his head hopelessly.
Magnus came to the conclusion that Valezar didn't write letters very frequently.
“And what about: Hello Zimbadur?”
If Valezar had been a few years younger, he would have jumped up from his chair in joy.
“You're a genius!” he shouted out. “How did you think of that? That's incredible!” Valezar murmured in amazement as he started writing.
The letter was scribbled down faster than Magnus had anticipated. He just hoped that it would also be usable. He reached out his hand towards the green pot on the table but he couldn't grasp gingerbreads any more. He looked puzzled. Where had they disappeared?
“They ran out quickly, didn't they?” said Valezar without raising his eyes from the scroll which he was reviewing.
Magnus felt a bit disappointed. He wished there were more of them in the pot.
“Well, this is it,“ Valezar said, slowly standing up. He packed the scroll into a leather bag which he handed over to Magnus. “Keep it, you'll need it. Listen up,” he glanced somewhere at Magnus' belt. “When you follow the houses on the left side of the square and take the first turn left, there is a cheap inn. You could use that pouch of yours and spend the night there.” Valezar pulled out some kind of a map from underneath a pile of papers. “This is a map of Ragna, maybe it will be of some use to you tomorrow,” he said and gave the map to his young guest.
If Magnus feared something that evening, it was leaving out for the night. No matter how scary the place had seemed to be at the beginning, the thought of a night spent in a smoky inn was even scarier! He stuffed the map into his backpack without saying a word.
“I'd love to let you stay over here but that's not possible now. It will be a little busy here tonight,” said Valezar with a distant look. Afterwards, he leaned over Magnus and gazed at him more seriously than ever before. “Promise me that you spend the night inside and you won't go out.”
Magnus suspected that Valezar was keeping something from him.
“Why?” he said and looked at Valezar curiously with his big, silvery eyes.
Valezar paused for a while and straightened up. “Believe me, boy. It's better not to know,” He mumbled, staring in front of him and a cooling darkness could be felt from his voice. “It's late,” Valezar's voice cut through the silence again and then he escorted Magnus to the exit. He opened the door which was unlocked now.
Foregoing hope that he could learn something more of what was going on outside at night, Magnus put on his backpack and reached over the chair for his hat. All of a sudden, he had a feeling that even though they had spent such a wonderful afternoon together, Valezar wanted him to leave quickly now. It was time to go.
When Magnus was crossing the threshold of the house, Valezar placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don't forget! Go straight to the inn, don't stop anywhere. And when you are looking for the Mages Guild, follow the highest tower that can be seen from the square. If you get lost, ask someone.” Valezar was looking at Magnus with worry in his eyes. He'd rather let Magnus stay in his house during the night, but he couldn't.
Magnus nodded silently and walked outside as the first raindrops hit his hat. The sky was overcast with grey clouds, which made it even darker than it should have been at this hour. A storm was coming.
“At least it will get clean,“ joked Valezar, but then his chortle died. He knew what Magnus was thinking; would he finally remember everything in the morning? “Don't worry too much, everything is as it should be,“ Valezar said soothingly.
Magnus cast a last look at Valezar and walked along the left row of houses. The old mage observed him for a while. The farther Magnus went, the lonelier Valezar felt. “Come visit me again sometime, Magnus!” he blurted out.
Magnus turned around in the distance and waved at him again. After that, he disappeared from Valezar's sight completely as he took the first left turn, just as Valezar had told him.
That brought a faint smile to the old mage's face. It looked like Magnus wouldn't get lost, so he stepped back inside his house and shut the door with the ghostly face, on which raindrops were now rolling down like tears.
III. The Haunting Of Ragna
The raindrops got heavier.
As the storm rose Magnus felt them hitting him harder and more frequently. He tried to keep his eyes fixed on the road, but the cold raindrops splattering on his face forced him to bend his head so low that he almost couldn't see where he was going.
He narrowed his eyes and looked up, but the dark cobblestone lane he was walking made his legs stop suddenly, as though they didn't want to go any farther.
Magnus felt a great dread fall on him. What could have been happening in Ragna at night that Valezar didn't want to talk about? And why couldn't he let Magnus stay overnight at his house, saying it was not safe outside?
He trembled with cold. Just as he was about to step forward again, a clangorous sound broke into his ears.
Faster than he thought he could, he turned in the direction from where he heard the sound. His bulged eyes surveyed each corner in his vicinity but here was no sign of anything alive close to where he was standing.
Magnus breathed out in relief. It was just his fantasy! But then-
“AAAAH!” he shrieked abruptly. Before he could even realise what happened, he jumped in terror.
So, it was not just his imagination after all! For quite a while, he was peering out between his fingers and standing on one leg, just in case there was something nasty crawling on the ground.
When he assured himself that nothing was going to attack him, he saw an animal quickly disappear in the shadows and for the very first time in this spooky evening he was glad it had been so dead out there. He surely didn't want anyone to see him being scared of a common cat!
His wild breath and heart that was hammering fiercely like a drum calmed down and he finally acquired the ability to think rationally.
“Valezar has definitely fooled me. There's no danger here. He just wanted to scare me,” growled Magnus under his nose, refusing to admit that the fear he just felt was well-founded.
As he came to perceive his surroundings again, he realized the rain became excruciatingly cold. He felt his blood slowly freezing in his veins. Moreover, he still had the feeling that someone or something was watching him.
Thunder rumbled over the town.
This fired him up to continue his trek because in that moment he finally saw a battered wooden sign hanging from a rusty bracket on the left side of the dark street, as though fighting the storm. There was faint lettering which read “Merry Pigeon” and a drawing of the same meaning on its opposite side. The sign creaked in the wind as he quickly approached and crossed the rivers of water running down the lane.
Magnus didn't care if he had found the exact place that Valezar referred to. He felt like he wouldn't be able to stay in the rain any longer. He turned around for the last time and saw a few people closing the remaining windows which were open. It almost looked as if they were scared of something.
With an unsettling feeling squirming in his stomach, Magnus rounded back on the tavern's door which creaked audibly as he pushed it open. That sound obviously caught the attention of all the guests inside, because the whole inn was now quietly staring at Magnus who was gaping back at them from the entrance door. There was a long and painful silence. A ten-year-old boy without the escort of an adult probably wasn't a common sight here!
Drakonika (Book 1) Page 3
