clutching it closer to him. “Not my staff... I have meat fresh from the forest.”
“I don’t need any meat,” Enat replied. “But there is one thing I could use your help with.”
Enat reached into his sleeve and pulled out a roll of parchment that was tied with a red ribbon. It was stained and flattened from wear. He untied the ribbon and unrolled the parchment. It contained strange symbols that Lorit did not recognize.
“Do you know what this is?” Enat asked Lorit.
“I’m not familiar with these symbols.”
“I’m sure you’re not. These are the ancient runes of the Free Wizards. They carry power beyond most people’s understanding. They’re sacred and passed only from master to apprentice.”
Enat guided Lorit down the alley off the market street. It was dark and dingy, with debris and discarded crates strewn about. They dodged the trash as they made their way along.
“Where did you get that?” Lorit asked.
“Where do you think I got it?” Enat answered. “I stole it.”
“Stole it! Where did you steal it from?”
“From the old priest. That’s where we’re going, to get more of these,” he said as he rerolled the scroll and tucked it back into his sleeve. “That’s where I need your help.
“I need you to help me sneak into the old man’s place and gather a few more of these. They’re valuable and powerful, and he’s senile and won’t miss them,” he explained. “The priest is old and decrepit. His magical powers are all used up. He can’t run after us. We can take whatever we want and make off with it before he can summon help.”
“I’m not sure about this,” Lorit answered. “We shouldn’t have to steal to obtain magic, it should be freely given.”
“Have you ever seen a priest give anyone anything?” Enat asked. He stopped and confronted Lorit, hands on his hips.
“No,” Lorit replied. “I never have.”
“Well, there you go.” Enat turned and headed down a side street that was lined with dilapidated buildings. Gnarled old trees shaded the street and gave it a dismal gloom as the day faded.
They waited in the shadows as, one by one, the lights came on in each house. Lamp light flicked in the windows as the occupants prepared for the night. When dusk had set in, they crept up to the house Enat had pointed out earlier.
“I will open the door, sneak in and get the documents. He keeps them in a drawer in his study,” Enat explained.
“What am I supposed to do?” Lorit asked.
“You keep lookout.”
“I don’t think this is such a good idea.” Lorit looked the house over. It was old and ill maintained. There was light coming from only one window, and by the flickering, it appeared to be the fireplace.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” Enat whispered. “You just keep a lookout and holler if anyone comes.”
“I still don’t like it,” Lorit answered.
“You want to learn magic, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t think this is the right way.”
“You’re free to go if you want to, but then there’s nothing for you when I get out,” Enat finally declared. He turned and headed for the door.
Lorit decided to wait and watch even though he knew that what Enat was doing was wrong. He crouched beneath a bush just to the side of the house, where he could see the walkway and the door.
He saw a figure approaching, far up the street. The Priest wore a long robe and carried a staff. Lorit wasn’t sure if the figure was headed for the house, or just passing by. He waited silently hoping for the best.
“You, there!” a voice yelled. “What are you doing there?”
Lorit froze trying to decide the best response as he scanned the area for an escape route. Suddenly, he felt as if ropes had been wrapped around him, and were slowly tightening in place. He struggled, but was unable to move his arms or legs, and fell over as he lost his balance. He tried to shout out, but something seemed to cover his mouth.
The figure strode over to
“I don’t need any meat,” Enat replied. “But there is one thing I could use your help with.”
Enat reached into his sleeve and pulled out a roll of parchment that was tied with a red ribbon. It was stained and flattened from wear. He untied the ribbon and unrolled the parchment. It contained strange symbols that Lorit did not recognize.
“Do you know what this is?” Enat asked Lorit.
“I’m not familiar with these symbols.”
“I’m sure you’re not. These are the ancient runes of the Free Wizards. They carry power beyond most people’s understanding. They’re sacred and passed only from master to apprentice.”
Enat guided Lorit down the alley off the market street. It was dark and dingy, with debris and discarded crates strewn about. They dodged the trash as they made their way along.
“Where did you get that?” Lorit asked.
“Where do you think I got it?” Enat answered. “I stole it.”
“Stole it! Where did you steal it from?”
“From the old priest. That’s where we’re going, to get more of these,” he said as he rerolled the scroll and tucked it back into his sleeve. “That’s where I need your help.
“I need you to help me sneak into the old man’s place and gather a few more of these. They’re valuable and powerful, and he’s senile and won’t miss them,” he explained. “The priest is old and decrepit. His magical powers are all used up. He can’t run after us. We can take whatever we want and make off with it before he can summon help.”
“I’m not sure about this,” Lorit answered. “We shouldn’t have to steal to obtain magic, it should be freely given.”
“Have you ever seen a priest give anyone anything?” Enat asked. He stopped and confronted Lorit, hands on his hips.
“No,” Lorit replied. “I never have.”
“Well, there you go.” Enat turned and headed down a side street that was lined with dilapidated buildings. Gnarled old trees shaded the street and gave it a dismal gloom as the day faded.
They waited in the shadows as, one by one, the lights came on in each house. Lamp light flicked in the windows as the occupants prepared for the night. When dusk had set in, they crept up to the house Enat had pointed out earlier.
“I will open the door, sneak in and get the documents. He keeps them in a drawer in his study,” Enat explained.
“What am I supposed to do?” Lorit asked.
“You keep lookout.”
“I don’t think this is such a good idea.” Lorit looked the house over. It was old and ill maintained. There was light coming from only one window, and by the flickering, it appeared to be the fireplace.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” Enat whispered. “You just keep a lookout and holler if anyone comes.”
“I still don’t like it,” Lorit answered.
“You want to learn magic, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t think this is the right way.”
“You’re free to go if you want to, but then there’s nothing for you when I get out,” Enat finally declared. He turned and headed for the door.
Lorit decided to wait and watch even though he knew that what Enat was doing was wrong. He crouched beneath a bush just to the side of the house, where he could see the walkway and the door.
He saw a figure approaching, far up the street. The Priest wore a long robe and carried a staff. Lorit wasn’t sure if the figure was headed for the house, or just passing by. He waited silently hoping for the best.
“You, there!” a voice yelled. “What are you doing there?”
Lorit froze trying to decide the best response as he scanned the area for an escape route. Suddenly, he felt as if ropes had been wrapped around him, and were slowly tightening in place. He struggled, but was unable to move his arms or legs, and fell over as he lost his balance. He tried to shout out, but something seemed to cover his mouth.
The figure strode over to
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