The Magic Makers

Prologue

The torches cast dancing shadows across the hall, eerily lighting up the place. He sat on the high seat reserved for him. A man limped into the room and went down on one knee with difficulty. Blood was running down his temple. "Do you have it?" "N..no Your Highness.. it is heavily guarded..and.. w..we don't even have the equip-" "SHUT THE HELL UP!" Screamed the Man, making the General jump a foot in the air as his voice echoed around the hall. The Man took a deep breath. "I've been listening to this excuse since the beginning of time, General. Will you ever have the equipment?" "Y..yes o...of course S..Sire. Our m..most accomplished inventors are at work.. it should be ready by n..next m..month." The Man didn't stir. "So the fact that our best inventors are at work means our best Generals should be at work too, don't you think?" He asked in an eerily calm voice. The General gulped. "And I was supposed to have put the best man on this mission. I chose you. Don't tell me that was a mistake." His voice sounded like a serpent's cold hiss, a voice that froze the bravest of hearts. He himself was a very intimidating figure: standing over 6 feet tall, he was the picture of fear and terrible power. In his eyes burned the fire of Hell, but no one could be certain because looking into his eyes was fatal. No one lived to tell what they saw. The General looked visibly pale and out of breath. "O..of course Sire.. you h..haven't made a m..mistake.. I.. I'll make s..sure this doesn't h..happen again.." he stammered, not daring to raise his eyes. "You realise it General, don't you?" "W..what Sire?" "That there are better people out there.. a hundred times better than you. Younger, hungrier youths waiting impatiently to prove themselves. Also, I'm sure they don't stutter, unlike you who spends the entire day in conveying one word to me." A choking sound escaped the General's throat and his knee hurt from kneeling down for so long. "Sit down, sit down." The Man said, not altering his tone. "N..no S..Sire.. I.. I'm fine.." the General protested feebly. "SIT DOWN!" The Man bellowed, smiling with satisfaction as his command was obeyed immediately. "Good General.." he cooed, narrowing his cold eyes to slits and standing up, further intimidating the General. His cloak billowed around him though there was no wind. He walked down slowly to where the general was sitting cross legged on the floor, shaking from head to toe. "I won't regret this, General. Won't regret snatching away the right to live from one of my most accomplished generals. Because I know there are better ones out there." He purred softly. It was impressive how he could modulate his voice to fit the situation. The general knew his end was near. A quick prayer escaped his lips. A prayer to anyone up there who was listening. A selfless prayer which begged the listener to protect his wife and his young son, who were at the mercy of this gigantic bastard. Who knew what might happen to them after he was gone. Please protect them.. he whispered and steeled himself to meet his end. The Man stepped so close to the General that he could feel the black scarred face looming over him, daring him to look up. "Be brave, General." The Man whispered and withdrew a mangled hand from the folds of his cloak. The General stiffened as the hand fastened itself around his neck, squeezing it gently. "Look and see, General. With your dying eyes, don't you want to see what they all are so afraid of?" Saying so, the Man tilted the General's face so that it was looking directly into his own. The General squeezed his eyes shut. "Be brave, General." The Man whispered once again and the General opened his eyes.

The scream that pierced the night was heard by the wolves miles away.