by Nova Rose
* * *
Tesnayr entered the town of Swalya with Nelyn, Arnin, and Nigilin. They strolled through the winding streets. No one paid attention to them. They appeared to be only another group of soldiers looking to relax. Laughter echoed from a building drawing their attention.
“Where is this wizard?” said Nelyn.
“Ernayn said we would have no trouble finding him,” replied Tesnayr.
Nelyn approached a lone man in the street. “Where can we find the wizard?” Immediately, a loud pop sounded from down the street with yells and screams. “Perfect,” she said to herself. Nelyn took off for the commotion with the others close behind.
They burst through the grimy doors of the tavern and knew instantly that they had found the right place. In the center of the room sat an old man with stringy brown and white hair hanging around his face. His soiled and torn robes displayed a man with no hygiene.
“Only slightly inebriated,” said Nelyn in a sarcastic tone as she watched the wizard swing his mug of ale around. The liquid sloshed and spilt over the side spraying anyone in the way.
“I’m telling you,” slurred the wizard, “Women are trouble.”
He swung his empty hand around the room. Items exploded where he pointed.
“I was going to get married once,” another shake of his hand produced a loud pop. “But she left me.” Another loud pop occurred as something else broke. “She wanted to marry a normal person. A normal person! Can you believe that?” This time glasses shattered as the wizard waved his arms around.
Having enough of the side show, Nelyn took the lead and walked up to the wizard. “Wizard,” she said, “You’re coming with us.”
“I’m finishing my drink,” slurred the wizard. He pushed his arm out and the fire in the center of the room flared to three times its normal size. The surprised crowd scrambled to avoid the flames, knocking over several tables.
Nelyn snatched the mug from the wizard’s hand and slammed it on the table. “Arnin,” she said.
Arnin and Tesnayr each took an arm and hauled the wizard from his chair.
“Unhand me,” yelled the wizard. “I’ll turn you all into pigs.” The four stood there waiting for the wizard to carry out his threat. He raised his hands and his face turned red as he concentrated really hard. Nothing happened. “I appear to be out of sorts tonight.”
Arnin and Tesnayr grabbed the wizard again and dragged him out of the tavern. His arms flailed and the barrel of mead behind the bar exploded, showering everyone with foamy brown liquid. The patrons dodged out of their way, relieved to have the old man gone.
“Where do we take him?” asked Arnin.
“The river,” said Tesnayr trying not to gag from the odor emanating from the wizard. Within minutes they had reached the river. Arnin and Tesnayr unceremoniously tossed him in. The wizard hit the water with a tremendous splash. He burst through the surface gasping and coughing. The cold water seeped through his clothes causing the sensation of needles to surge through his body.
“What is that?” said the wizard as Nelyn waded to him.
“Soap,” she replied.
“You wouldn’t.”
Nelyn seized the wizard and shoved him under the water. She pulled him up and scrubbed his skin raw with the soap. Water splashed everywhere as the wizard struggled to free himself. His flailing caused rocks to fly around them at random. Ignoring his obscenities, Nelyn’s hand moved furiously as she scrubbed him down, washing away most of the dirt and grime.
“Apparently she would,” whispered Nigilin to the others.
“Enough! Enough,” roared the wizard. He twisted and squirmed until he broke free of Nelyn’s grasp. “What was all that for?”
“The smell,” replied Nelyn, coldly, “You drunken bastard.” Water sloshed as she waded to shore.
“I demand to know what is going on.”
“Aw, Max, surely a bath will not kill you,” said Ernayn, stepping from the shadows into the moonlight.
“Ernayn,” spat Max as he crawled out of the water. Slowly, he pulled himself up, his feet slapping the ground as he walked. Puddles formed where he stood on the sand. “I should have known you were behind this.”
“Indeed.”
“I need to get back to the tavern.”
“Your intoxicating friends can wait,” said Ernayn.
“Get out of here you witch!”
“I’ll leave when I choose.”
“Such is always the case. You never do anything for others, always for yourself.”
“You’re no testament to selflessness and charity,” snapped Ernayn.
“Don’t you criticize me, you ungrateful ingrate. I’ll…I’ll—”
“You’ll what? You’ve never been able to best me, wizard, and you know it.”
Crunch, rustle, crunch. Watching the argument attentively, Nigilin munched on some nuts from his pocket. Even Tesnayr and Nelyn sat silently as Ernayn’s and Max’s shouting match intensified. None of them wished to get between the two as sparks flared from all their fingers.
“You two know each other?” said Arnin, tentatively.
“Know her,” thundered Max. He stomped his foot on the ground. A sound resembling an explosion emanated from it and echoed around them. “Sometimes I think I know nobody, but her. Always showing up unannounced.” Bark flew off of a tree sending shards in their direction. “Always getting unsuspecting people to do her bidding. Serving her own interests is more like it.”
“Max, you think so ill of me,” Ernayn purred.
“My wedding day! You remember that?” A wave of water flared up from the center of the river. “Left there at the altar by my bride because you, you conniving sorceress, had to pop in.”
“I didn’t receive an invitation,” said Ernayn.
“There was a reason for that,” replied Max. “I never sent you one. I didn’t want you there. I could have married and had children and had a normal life. But, no. You had to show up. The moment she did the guests screamed. They ran away. Couldn’t get away fast enough. Then, she drops the fact that I am a wizard. Not that I was going to be able to hide after that. And no girl wants to marry a wizard. People who have the ability of magic are always considered strange and unreliable.
“You scared my bride away,” he pointed at Ernayn. “Life has never been the same since. You old—you old toad!”
“Mind your tongue.” A dangerous note entered the sorceress’ voice.
“I ought to blast you into oblivion.” Suddenly, blue flames swirled around the wizard. They built in intensity growing hotter. The flames fizzled out. “Damn. I need a drink.” Nelyn smacked a flask in the wizard’s hand. Greedily, he uncorked it and took a big swig. Water sprayed everywhere as he spat it out. “What is this garbage?”
“Water,” replied Nelyn.
“Water?” gasped Max, “I need something stronger.”
Having enough of Max’s attitude Tesnayr stepped in. “Water is all you are going to get. From this day forward you will not have any drink.”
“What?”
“You know the orcs,” said Tesnayr, his tone serious. “They’ve swarmed the land.”
“I know of those filthy beasts,” Max said through gritted teeth.
“We need your help,” Tesnayr said, “There are things you know about them that I do not.”
“Tesnayr, the hero of the five lands, who has vanquished the orcs time and time again does not know how to defeat them,” said Max, sarcastically.
“Save the snide remarks,” replied Tesnayr, “You have spent months—”
“Years,” interrupted Ernayn.
“Spent most of your time,” reiterated Tesnayr, “In one tavern or another. People talk freely around drunks. And you are no exception. I am certain that you heard rumors, or bits of information about the orcs from those who support them.”
“I might have picked up a detail or two,” said Max in a wary voice.
“Unlikely, in your state,” said Nelyn.
&
nbsp; “My dear girl,” Max said, “Even an inebriated wizard is useful. I may not have been able to walk, but I could still observe those around me.”
“Will you help us?” asked Tesnayr.
Max glared at Ernayn. “I’m sure this is all her doing.”
“Consider it a way to make amends,” Ernayn said, calmly.
“Make amends,” spat Max. “It wouldn’t be necessary if you hadn’t butted your nose where it didn’t belong.
“I did apologize,” said Ernayn.
“Save it,” Max shouted.
“Will you help us,” interrupted Tesnayr, having grown weary of the two’s argument.
“Of course I’ll help you,” yelled Max. “I don’t care for those wretched beasts. Besides I was running out of coins for my habit.”
“Really,” said Nelyn with slight interest.
“Yes,” replied Max, “Even a great wizard like me can run out of theatrical displays of magic that wows the people.”
“You mean that they did not care for your parlor tricks,” said Nelyn.
Air spurted from the wizard’s nose as he huffed in frustration. “One day, dear girl, you will be awed at my magic. One day I will prove to you just how great a wizard I am.”
“Perhaps,” Nelyn conceded. “Camp is this way, and so is a bath.” She stalked off with the others close behind.
Max stood his ground fuming. “I’ve already had my bath!”
