Chapter 31

Chapter thirty-one: The Wicked Sorcerer





Tyro had just past the end of the forest and headed towards the desert. His stomach still growled since the wizard didn’t give him anything to eat and he didn’t know if he was able to make the whole journey without food, so he decided to search for sand worms.

Sand worms were one of many delicious grubs Tyro knew and to search for them he only had to dig in the sand to find them. The tricky things with these were that you didn’t know which part of the worm which could be head or butt.

The thing was like this; if you were about to put the worm in the mouth with its head first you’ll get bitten by it and the sand worms got venom in their teeth that could actually kill a giant within two minutes.

Though Tyro had been taught by his parents and friends and knew how to trick the worm. By putting the critter in a tin can, the worm would react on the metallic surroundings and begin to chew itself out. Unfortunately, its teeth aren’t strong enough to provide an exit, yet only a simple solution of how its enemies could eat it without getting bitten.

The ogre started to dig in the fine sand and soon he found a bunch of worms, which he laid in a tin can he had brought with him along the way. Soon when Tyro had finished eating he continued his journey.

After some wandering he had soon reached the Abandoned forest but when he was about to enter it, someone shot arrows with flames at him! Tyro crouched and jumped to avoid become hit by them and just as he tried to keep away from another attack, Tyro felt something capture him by his feet and pulled him up in one of the trees.

The trollish mailman screamed of chock and attempted to break loose once more but then he realized it wasn’t worth it.

- What do you want from us, ogre, a deep male voice said.
- I’m here to deliver a message; it’s from Yiou Klonga the Wizard, Tyro explained.

Then some Fairies became noticeable and pointed their weapons at him, and then another yet older male Fairy appeared and said stern to the troll:
- Yiou Klonga ended as a Wizard many years ago, why should we in earth, believe a typical ogre like you?! You’re all the same; filthy, lairs and thieves at the same time, the Fairy male turned to his friends, let’s put an end to this horrible creature once and for all!
- STOP, a voice yelled and the Fairies held their positions.

The leader turned around and saw Elmehr and Luna, who ran towards him.
- Please… dear Mayor don’t kill the ogre, Elmehr said and gasped for air.
- Are you insane boy! This is one of our closest enemies, or shall I remind you?
- I know what they are, Mayor but… my wife Luna had a vision of that the troll had spoken to Yiou Klonga. Let him at least, speak out.
- What if the troll’s lying? What if your wife’s vision is only apart of her imagination, playing around with her mind?
- She also had a vision about the attack against our old hometown as well, before it had happen and only a few believed her when you said it was false! I still wonder how many people would have survived if you had kept your mouth shut.
- … Speak up ogre, Luna said while she let him loose from the trap.
- Thank… you m’ lady… the name is Tyro by the way and I’ve got some really important information for you, Tyro explained.
- Go ahead Tyro, Elmehr replied.

Then the trollish mailman began to tell what the Wizard had said to him.




* * * * *



In a gloomy and cold humid prison, where almost no light came in to visit, Halcyon people, Fairies and last fantasy creatures were imprisoned in cages; some dangled in chains and several others were attached to the stony walls above the ground. Cries mixed with sad songs echoed in the non-warmth dungeon made them all depressive and non-talkative.

In the bottom of the reformatory, sat Al the Great Genie himself; chained up with his hands and feet together with an anti-magic-spell over his shoulders, which made it impossible to break loose. Only a miracle could save him now.  

- Why… Al murmured, why is that I’m the un-luckiest person in the whole universe? Why… is it going to be me, why couldn’t anyone else… take my place instead?
- Fac ut…a soprano voice sang followed by another voice.
- …Animae …
- … Dorime…
- … Spiritum.
- The world will be destroyed because of that I didn’t listen to my former master… I wish I hadn’t existed… It’d had been better that way, Al sighed and looked up, all this suffering and pleading for mercy and freedom, for nothing…

Suddenly, in the other end of the prison, a door was opened and a large muscular centaur went in. He was dressed in black and red armour with a dark red cape attached to it, his mane and hair were murky and his eyes glowed evilly. As the centaur walked towards the Genie in chains, his nostrils flared and the weapons, which he carried onto his back, scratched the hard surface of the protective covering.
- The Master wants to see you Genie, you better be calm along the way; any tempts to run away and you’re done for, the Centaur demanded while some Nightmares came from behind, unchain him and bring him to our Master, he ordered to the shades.
- Yes, Lord Kardock, the Nightmares replied and followed the order.
- Be sure that he still has that spell over his shoulders; we don’t want any blood spilled in advance, Lord Kardock continued and went after the shades with the prisoner out from the dungeon.   

Not far away in the east wing of the castle, lingered the Sorcerer. The place was enormous, at least for Al who weren’t taller than 10 inches and the shorter distance he were away from the Wicked madman, the more regret and depression grew in his heart and soul.

The fortress was made out of stones; they had some sort of greyish dark blue tint and deep red flags and curtains hung onto the walls, which made the place even creepier. An old long rug in the same colour was put in the centre of the pebble gate.

A nasty smell reached the nostrils of the Genie and he felt wobbly; a stench of rotten bodies and dried blood mixed together with olden odours from the past.

As they reached the head quarters of the wicked Sorcerer, Al saw some other gloomy figures in the dark shadows but these weren’t like the Nightmares; these were lighter and acted more like smoke. The skin crawled on Al when his eye caught them and he sensed that the ultimate doom for him was near.

Some minutes later they reached a large gate made out of wood and were probably the entrance to the madman’s room. The centaur went towards the gate and knocked at the giant door. It opened and he commanded the shades to bring in the prisoner to their Master.

- Ah Lord Kardock, the Sorcerer begun, what a pleasant surprise.
- Master we’ve brought the Genie with us as you said, Lord Kardock explained as the Nightmares brought Al forward to face the madman.

The wicked Sorcerer turned around and grinned; finally the source was in his hands. He was dressed in a red/orange coat with a large hood decorated with purple patterns. The magician also had skinny fingers with long nails, a bony face with a long snout, which only a mother could love and last but not least dark and eyes of immorality.   
- Good. Chain him up against the wall over there and make sure he doesn’t escape. When you’re done leave me – I’ve got some business to attend to. Mwhahahahaha!
- Yes Master, the servants said and did what they were told.

When the servants had left, the wicked one went to the Genie and talked to him.
- So… this is the famous Al Zalam I’ve heard so much about? I’m… a little thwarted because I thought you’d be what shall I call it… a slight bigger than the size of a Fairy ha-ha. Well since you’re here I wanted to propose a small offer for you; I want you to become my most loyal servant.
- … What for? So you could rule the entire universe and use those who struggle against you for slavery, the Genie replied.
- And more beyond your imagination. If you accept…
- I’ll never join your side! I’ll rather commit suicide than follow you, you madman!
- Oh, are we a little cranky, aren’t we? See, I thought you’d say no so I brought someone that might cheer you up a bit, the Sorcerer said and grabbed his staff.

With a flash of light another small character became visible and made Al chocked and thrown.
- Claire! My dearest sister, the Genie exclaimed.
- Yes your tiny sibling… she was caught by sneaking around in the forests all alone at night. Sadly on the territory of the Nightmares, ha-ha-ha-ha, the Sorcerer answered.
- This isn’t about her or the others, it is me you want. If you let them go…
- No Al it’s a trick! Don’t listen to him, Claire yelled and vanished.
- Claire! No! What did you do to her?!
- I haven’t done anything to your sister, but… my Demonettes will show no mercy if she does something stupid. So again will you accept my offer?
- Never.
- Very well. A couple of days in the Asylum will probably change your mind, Genie! Guards!

Then two metallic creatures came into the room and saluted. They looked like some sort of mixture between a knight and an iron stove, which scared Al a bit.
- Bring this troublemaker to the Asylum and lock him in there. Put him in cell 509 – it won’t take long until he’ll plead and beg for mercy and fortunately, corporation, the wicked Sorcerer commanded and the guards took the prisoner to the Asylum.