Wizard’s Alley
Scraps, a gutter child, is sitting in his hiding place in a back alley, waiting for the cold thunderstorm to pass. Suddenly, lightning strikes in front of him, and then a second time. The two lightning bolts become men—two wizards—one from the Red Order, the other from the Blue.
The Red Wizard, chanting his curses, throws lightning bolts and fireballs. The Blue Wizard, singing his spells, throws lightning bolts and ice shards. So intense is their fighting, they become lightning rods. It seemed as if God Himself cast His lightning bolt, striking the ground between them and consuming both wizards in its white blaze. Scraps watched as the lightning bolt gouged its way across the alley, striking him.
Rain on his face awakens Scraps. The only thing left of the fighting wizards is a smoking crater and their scattered artifacts. He feels compelled to gather their possessions and hide them and himself. The dispersed items glowed red or blue, and he notices that he now has a magenta aura. Magenta, a combination of both red and blue, but more powerful than either.
Scraps then does what he has done all his life to survive. He hides. And unknowingly, he has become the catalyst for change in the Kingdom.
About the Author
James Haddock retired from the military after twenty-two years of service. He is a full-time author and RV’er. Along with his wife Lorelle, he enjoys travelling and seeing the wonders of America. He loves reading sci-fi, as well as watching sci-fi television and movies. He’ll get an idea or see a picture, and think, “That would make a great story.” Writing as a “pantser”, to him, is like reading a new story—he has no idea where it’s going to end up. James gets excited every time he picks up a pen to write, and he looks forward to writing many more stories.
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