Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 1: Start of a journey.

Days passed by fast for Samth. She left her house, family and friends all at the whim and unspoken invite of the magic man Espex. In the days of travel she acquired new clothes to wrap around her small frame. Rather than old cloth she was now wrapped head to toe in seal skin. It was warm and cosy nothing like the brown ripped cloth that barely hid the essentials she used to wear. Seeing a seal was a wonderful sight Espex was right it was a large fat creature that swam in the sea but its face was one of a puppy dog. To get the skin Espex had to kill it a sight Samth did not wish to see. A small mercy Espex told her that it was old and would have died sooner or later. He used his special magic to carve the flesh from the creature and form the large baggy salty skin into trousers and a large top with a hood much like Espex wore. That had happened on the first day after the event in her pub. On the second he taught her some basic magic to help herself out if she was to travel with him. A magic that allowed her to move objects without even touching them. She liked this one but it took a lot out of her just to move a small cup. She was told the more she practices the better and easier it will get for her. They slept on the ground, no magic bed much to Samths disappointment. The more land she saw the more she realized her life was bubbled, she saw strange birds and animals on the ground. The weather was unpredictable. She remembered walking and seeing a waterfall for the first time to her it was as magical as Espex, the way the water fell down constantly and it hit the water below with a great thunderous rage. To her it was a sign that nature was magic in its own rights. Samth asked a great many a question to Espex from why was his hair purple to why was he travelling. Some got answered others ignored.

"Who are you looking for?" A panting Samth asked after getting to the top of a large grassy hill.

Espex turned with his hood down swaying his long purple hair across his face. "Just an old friend I must see once more." He smiled under his hair as he moved it aside and continued to walk forward ending the conversation before it had begun.

As night loomed they made camp under trees on the outskirts of some woods. Samth went in to collect some wood. As dry as she could find as it had rained during the day. With every step she took a crunch followed from leaves and wood under her seal boots. She managed to collect a good handful, if her arms-were bigger and stronger she would have carried more but eight was her limit. Upon arriving back to the small camp Espex had made a small crackling fire. She walked over then placed the wood down next to it and looked at Espex with a large smile on his white face.

He pointed next to the fire "Good work the fire will keep the bear's away." his voice cheerful.

Samth did what she was told and sat at the opposite side of the fire. A long day of walking had made her tired and all they had eaten was some wild hare and the odd fish.

In her gentle low voice she asked Espex a question "What's a bear?"

Espex grin grew large and he chuckled "It is a large animal." Standing up and lurching his hands above his head he stayed in that position and spoke once more. "It is bigger than me even like this. It has large claws and teeth. Its skin covered in brown fur and skin as thick as a wall. It is one of the few creatures we don't want to run into."

Espex sat back down after his explanation of the bear. He saw Samth wide eyed and with a little fear in her eyes. He sat laughing away at himself her reaction was perfect. It was one of the few times Samth had heard Espex laugh in the days she had been with him and it was infectious. The laughter suddenly came from her thin chest and up out of her red lipped mouth. Her jaw was going back and forth with tears running down her face. True laughter was amazing, It felt like she was dying she could not breath but did not want the laughter to stop. The same was happening to Espex he too in great pain clutching his chest unable to breath or make a sound. Actions still in motion they sat for a good ten minutes in silence but in fun, the odd breath now and then to keep them going. They slowly got tired out and just sat watching the fire crackle in the darkness of the night like a beacon. Espex took some bread out of his small pouch he hid under his seal top. He cracked it in half and passed it to Samth who thanked him for it before devouring it like a hungry starved hog.

"Rest Samth as off tomorrow I will be teaching you some new spells that you will need, as we are about to approach the city of Gord."

"What is it like?" She said eyes slowly closing.

"A very large place with white walls protecting it, hundreds of people live within the walls that protect them. It is a place of many sights and also a holder of many secrets. So rest you will need it for what I teach you tomorrow your life may depend on. Gord is more dangerous than any bear."

By time he had finished Samth had placed her light blonde hair on the grass and drifted off to sleep. "Ah suppose I will do the same. Got to make sure fire will last the night, I will cheat a little." Espex waved his hand over the fire a chanted "Laatste de riacht brand" And he sat down and nodded to sleep in an upright position as the fire lasted the entire night without any wood.