The Gods' War

Chapter 11

         LUCAS AND ADRIAN had spent the first week developing methods of teleportation – only one worked though. They had decided upon using viewings.

         The first part of their struggle was developing the required magic – this, of course, was created by Lucas. Lucas had to create the opposite of his returning spell – a sending spell. Lucas had accomplished this and had spent time improving it so that no parts they were sending were scattered across the Earth.

         Then Lucas and Adrian had to test it. The only problem being that they needed an out of the way place to send an item. This was provided by Adrian who said that they could create a viewing of Bartholomew’s library and cast the spell on it.

         To make things easier for Lucas to paint, Adrian and Lucas removed all the books from the shelves and all the items from Bartholomew’s desk; Lucas was not the best painter. Lucas painted it on a roll of parchment so that Lucas could carry it with him if he ever was sent to another place using their magic.

         The removing of items had taken half a day and it took Lucas another entire day to finish the painting. Lucas and Adrian then had to repack the library which took another half day.

         They played around with their viewing: sending books and boots. The items they sent through became larger in size: Adrian was their last test.

         Lucas put the paper on the floor. Adrian slowly and carefully put his foot onto the viewing. Lucas looked as Adrian disappeared – no flash, no bang and no glowing; he simply was no longer there. Lucas then looked at the viewing: there was Adrian, wearing a crazy grin on his face.

         Adrian came running through the door of the study and shouted that it had worked.

         “I know!” Lucas exclaimed, “Do you think it could teleport something outside of The Wall?”

         “Probably. It worked for me didn’t it?”

         “Then, my friend, it’s time I leave. Just for a few minutes of course. There is one place I would like to visit.”

        Lucas and Adrian stood looking at the viewing in the hall of the centre of Arnone and the beggar sitting on a bench near the fountain.

        “Why there?” Adrian asked Lucas.

         “Oh it’s just any old place, it isn’t special or anything,” Lucas lied.

         “If you’re sure then. You better cast the spells if you're ready.”

        Lucas cast the spells and made sure that the viewing of the library was in his pocket. He touched his hand to the viewing and was sent to a convenient alley way where no-one could see him.

         Lucas wondered if anyone had seen him. He looked around. There was definitely no-one in the alley. But maybe someone was hiding from him. He wanted to make sure though; Lucas did something then that no wizard before him had done. He sent into the sky his wizard-sight.

         The glowing blue orb that was Lucas’ wizard-sight ascended into the air. If Lucas looked through his eyes, he would see nothing; he was totally blind. If Lucas looked through his wizard-sight he could see in all directions: above, below, right, left, backwards and forwards. Lucas was amazed at what he had done. He had not thought there was a magic like this. His magic had simply responded to his wants. This was very dangerous for a wizard.

         Lucas was satisfied that no-one had seen him and so his wizard-sight disappeared, leaving him back with his normal vision. Lucas stepped out of the alleyway and into the area around the fountain.

         Lucas studied the fountain – he had not seen one like it. Instead of an arc of water the fountain seemed to sweat the water. At the top of the tree there was a pipe where the water would escape from. The water would slide down on all its stone branches and leaves and into the fountain, little streamlets trickling down from some leaves. The same happened with Agrione emerging from the tree.

         The bench the beggar sat on was carved into the side of the small, circular, shallow pool that was part of the fountain. Then he studied the beggar. He was an old bald man with a long and unkempt beard. He had laughing eyes and a mischievous smile. His clothes were little better than rags and had may holes and rips in them. Lucas approached the old beggar.

        “You boy! Have you any copper anits for an ailing old man?” He said, referring to the coins they used as currency.

         “I’m afraid I have none, good sir,” Lucas replied.

         “Good sir! It has been long since I have been called that. But come now,” he said, “a boy dressed as you are would definitely have some change in their pockets! I can show you a magic trick in return...”

         “A magic trick? How is it that a wizard becomes a beggar?”

         “Oh I’m no wizard. I’m just an old man who happened to stumble upon a few magic tricks – to earn money you know. But I never really studied it – never had the interest; a normal man will never be as powerful as a wizard. Now give me money or be gone!”

         “What’s your name?”  Lucas asked feeling a bit interested.

         “Oh I have many names, boy! Some call me Old Drunkard, others call me Homeless, Be Gone, as well as the obvious: Beggar. So shall you spare a few anits?”

         “Tell me your story, we shall see about the anits after.” Homeless sighed, giving in to the bothersome young man, “I was born long ago and cannot even remember the date. Though I do know I am old. As a young lad I stumbled upon magic and learnt a few tricks. I used to entertain the king with some of them, you know. But I was no longer needed, so then I left. I came here then, to the very centre of the kingdom. The people here ignore me, steal from me – not that there is much to steal, mind you – they even used to threaten me – O how I love them, the scoundrels. So here I stay, wasting away as I talk to an insufferable boy who refuses to give me any money!”

         “I have none!”

         “Do not lie! How else could you afford such robes and travel through here so easily?”

         “I...” Lucas tried to think of an explanation.

         The old man’s face then slowly broke into a huge grin that covered his face, “So you have come! I knew you would, of course! But, tell me: how ever did you escape?”

         “Escape?” Lucas asked. He had no idea what Homeless was talking about.

        “From The Wall, of course! How did you escape? Well come on then boy, don’t keep me waiting!”

         “How do you know I have escaped?” Lucas asked as he frowned in wonder at the old beggar.

         Homeless’ smile vanished and his face became blank. He turned and started talking to the people around Lucas who were busy walking to various destinations and were very busy, “Please miss, can you spare any copper anits for an old magician? Sir! I offer magical entertainment in exchange for a few copper anits! My dear Madam, will you not give an ill man a moment of your time...” So he went on, completely ignoring Lucas.

         Lucas frowned and walked back into the alley, thinking of the strange man called Homeless. Lucas took out the roll of parchment which he had painted the viewing on and touched the viewing. He was instantly back in Bartholomew’s study.

         Adrian came running through the door.  “We did it! We can leave here freely now, whenever we want!”

         Lucas was still thinking of Homeless and was not listening to Adrian, “Yes, I suppose, but not yet. Now we have found it we can wait a while to use it again. Besides, where would we go?”

         “Well that’s the beauty of it! We could go anywhere as long as we know what the place looked like! Imagine it, Lucas! We could go back to Digrael!”

         Lucas sighed, “Not now, Adrian. I must leave to think.”