1

The young boy dashed silently down a shaded narrow alleyway. His black cloak flailed behind him like a banner. He shoved a half dozen people out of the way, some purposefully in an attempt to block his pursuer.

Elwin chased the boy relentlessly, panting. Was this boy in better shape than he was? He wondered. He weaved around the people, ducking and bobbing. Slowly he closed in on the lad.

The dark cloaked youth skirted around a cart. Reaching out, he pulled it over as he passed. Quickly he darted around a corner, down another dark corridor.

Elwin leapt over the cart in a single bound. No, he thought. I’m still as agile as ever! With both experience and dexterity on his side, he pivoted, turning the corner effortlessly. The boy looking behind him, terrified. He saw that Elwin was closer now. Losing his footing, he stumbled over a crate and tumbled to the ground.

Like lightning, Elwin was on him, fist at the ready. He was full of adrenaline and anger. Rolling the boy to his back, Elwin feinted as if to punch him in the face. Instinctively the boy raised his arms to block. Elwin jabbed his unprotected stomach forcefully. He used his weight and advantage to pin the grimy street urchin to the ground.

Elwin could hear Emerson coming up behind him wheezing from the exertion, but it did not matter much. Elwin knew he was in full control.

“Hand it over thief!” He barked. His lips twisted to a snarl.

“It’s not my fault!” The lad huffed in a squeaky voice that struggled desperately for breath.

Elwin wondered if he punched the youth too hard. What if I broke his ribs? What if he dies from internal injuries? Would that make me a murderer? Would anyone care if a street urchin died here in this alleyway? Probably not he guessed, but still he hoped the boy would live. Elwin did not want to think of himself as a murderer. Even if no one else cared about it, he would know it. That seemed far worse to him.

Behind him he could hear Emerson snickering at the boy’s words. Why did he find the situation so funny? Elwin thought that Emerson could be heartless at times. He remembered briefly that Emerson agreed with Selby when the ogre children were slaughtered. He pushed those memories aside.

Elwin, using only one hand, held the lad down with great force. With his other hand he searched the boy’s cloak until he found it. He gripped the stolen map in his fist. Luckily it had not been damaged.

“You meant to steal from me boy! That makes you a thief under imperial law! Are dumb as well as immoral?” Elwin shouted. His eyes were blazing. He was shaking. His blood raced. Where he came from people did not steal. Everyone knew each other very well. Nobody would steal, ever.

“Let’s take him to the magistrate!” Emerson sneered.

“Have mercy my lord! I had no choice in the matter!” The boy’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

“Bullshit!” Emerson swore.

“Emerson!” Elwin said in just the right tone to make Emerson back off. To the boy he demanded. “What do you mean? Explain yourself lad!”

“I was paid to get the map from you, I swear it!” The boy cried. Real tears were flowing down his cheeks. He coughed violently. Elwin took a bit of pressure off the boy allowing him to breath. “I’m only trying to survive my lord! Honest!”

“By whom?” Elwin demanded. “Who paid you!”

“An old wizard! He wouldn’t tell me his name! By the Tomb of the Fire Lord, I swear it’s the truth!” The boy wept.

“He’s a liar!” Emerson stated. “All these street urchins are liars!”

“Aye, my lord, I tell you the truth! I’m supposed to meet him… in the Wizard’s Quarter… Once I had the map, your map!” The lad pleaded with him. “I can take you there. Point him out to you!” The boy continued to cry and clutched at his stomach. He moaned. “I’m so sorry, my lord. I’ll never do anything like this again!”

The child’s eyes were wild, but for some strange reason Elwin believe him. He thought the boy’s sobs were genuine. He looked the youth over. The boy could not have been more then ten or twelve at the most, only a few years younger than Anna.

Elwin relaxed his grip.

Instinctively Emerson moved around to flank. Both his hands were clenched into tight fists. Elwin did not know what Emerson was thinking. Kill this child dump the body perhaps? Maybe, but by the Gods I hope not! It was probably more akin to beating the living daylights out of him and take anything of value. Yeah, Elwin thought. That was probably it. Elwin smirked to himself. Thankfully, Elwin himself had higher morals and a strong desire to understand more about what was going on. Why would a wizard want his map? He wondered. It was possible the child still might be lying to him, but somehow, he doubted it.

He glanced down the alleyway towards Rith and Anna. They were standing at the entrance, light streaming in behind them. They stood back, not knowing what to do. Staying out of the way seemed best Elwin guessed.

Elwin got his first good look at the boy who claimed he was paid to be a thief. He had chestnut curly hair and dark eyes. He was unprotected beneath the clock.

“You will take us to him!” Elwin told him.

“Aye, of course! I never should have taken the job in the first place. But I have been starving these last few days. I need to eat my lord or surely I will die!” The boy confessed.

Elwin nodded.

Emerson looked sceptical. “I bet they all say that when caught. It’s a standard line if ever there was one. But sir I’m starving I couldn’t help myself!” Emerson mocked the boy.

“Emerson,” Elwin demanded. “Shut it!”

The boy was still sobbing. Elwin let go of him and got up. The boy produced a handkerchief to wipe his tears.

“Where are you parents?” Elwin asked him.

“They died a few years ago, in the war,” the boy said.

“So how do you survive here on the streets?” Elwin questioned.

“I had an older brother who looked after me, but a few months ago he was killed in a dispute with a street gang,” the boy explained.

“Elwin, it’s an act!” Emerson said sure of himself. “He probably has a different story for everyone he steals from.”

“It’s the truth,” The boy said. “If I was really meaning to rob you, I would have pickpocketed your coin when you weren’t looking. But all I got was the map. I don’t even know why the map is so valuable. It was this wizard that wanted it.”

“I believe him,” Elwin said to his friend. To the boy he said. “You’re saying that a wizard, who knew I had this map, paid you to steal it and take it back to him, right?”

The boy shook his head and blew his nose. “I get paid on delivery, not before.”

Emerson rolled his eyes. “Okay, whatever.”

The lad sat up and brushed himself off, straightening out his cloak. He took a deep breath. “But you’re more or less right. Like I said, I shouldn’t have done it, I know. I don’t trust wizards either. They are evil, all of them. But I need the coin and he offered gold. I swear I’m not a thief, but I’ll do what I have to survive. I’ve tried begging, but there are too many others doing the same. I’ll work for you even, to repay my debt. Something to eat that’s all I ask.”

The boy finally stopped crying and got to his feet.

“What’s your name?” Elwin asked.

“Markus, my lord,” he said wiping his tears away.

“Well Markus, I want to meet this wizard of yours,” Elwin told him.

“I’m to meet him later this afternoon, in an alley near the Wizard’s Tower. I promised to take you there and I will,” Markus stated.

“We can wait there. Let’s go now,” Elwin said. “And no running this time.”

“This is mazy Elwin! You’re going to believe this criminal?” Emerson was in disbelief.

Markus gave Emerson a sour look, but it was not fearful. It was defiant, almost confrontational.

“You don’t want to meet this wizard, eh?” Elwin said to him. “Are you afraid, Emerson? Does magic scare you?”

“No, I think he’s a liar,” Emerson said.

“Well, there’s one way to find out, isn’t there?” Elwin questioned. He and Markus walked off towards the Wizard Quarter. The others trailing behind them.

2

The four adventurers followed Markus to the Wizard’s Quarters. Along the way Elwin stopped at a vendor and bought small loafs of bread for everyone, even Markus. Markus devoured his in-record time. He explained to them how he had been working as a city guide, but he was having trouble finding people who wanted his services. That’s when he got desperate and started begging and stealing.

“I have no trade my lords, but I know the city like the back of my own hand, I do!” He explained to Elwin. Markus was a lot more upbeat now that he had eaten. “Thank you kindly for the bread, sir.”

Over the last couple of days, the four had spent their time training, but with a bit of sightseeing thrown in for good measure. They had relaxed a bit and were beginning to feel safe in Old Verant Quarter. That was until late that morning.

Elwin had shown the map to a few people. He was trying to find someone who could decipher the coded, but he had no luck. Unbeknownst to him, he had been watched by a wizard. Elwin surmised that the wizard obviously understood the map’s importance and wanted it for himself, so he hired this boy, Markus, to steal it for him.

Markus had approached Elwin pretending to be interested in the code, claiming he might know someone who could decipher it. It was all a rouse. Once Markus had the map in hand, he fled hoping to lose them in the alleyways. But Markus was still just a boy and Elwin was a full-grown adult.

Elwin went over the events in his head as the group walked past the site of the new Imperial Clock Tower. The foundation had been laid, now the bricklayers were working on the first level of stone. It was a gift from the new Emperor to the people of Verant. When completed, it would be the tallest building in Verant City. But they had no time to stop and marvel at the ingenuity. They had important business.

The map was a complete mystery. There were so many questions that surrounded it that Elwin was not sure where to begin. If the map was hundreds of years old, what were goblins doing with it? And near Salome Hollow no less? Was this fate? And what language was it written in anyway? What was it depicting for that matter? And now there was the greater mystery of an old wizard who wanted it so much he was willing to have it stolen from him? Would the wizard go a step farther and kill him for it? Elwin did not like where his thoughts were going. There were just so many questions that had gone unanswered. Elwin was tired of it. He was hoping to answer some of them in a short while.

Elwin had felt safe in the city, maybe too safe. He had started to feel like the map was a quizzical, but unimportant thing. Then someone tried to steal it. Now Elwin saw it in a whole new light. He could not just show this to anyone, not anymore. From now on, he would have to be very careful about who could be trusted to see it. True they had made a copy of the map and kept it with the other maps in a scroll case, but that was not the point. Nor was it as good as having the real thing.

Walking along broad avenues busy with people, they eventually they came to the Wizard’s Quarter. It was a small corner of the city just inside of Verant Proper. There was nothing that denoted this was a special place. Only the Old Verant Quarter, the inner and oldest part of the city, was walled off from the rest of the city. Once outside of its walls, Old Verant was surrounded by variously named quarters. The Army Quarter was in the northeast, and they had their own wizard tower. To the northwest was the Public Quarter where the Coliseum and race forum were located. The rest of the east side was the river and the Merchant Quarter which was filled with warehouses and workshops processing goods from all over the world. Finally, to the southwest was the Imperial Garden Quarter, where the rich lived, created out of a series of hills and the Imperial Valley River which flowed lazily through the quarter. Then in the extreme southwest nestled in a corner next to the outer wall of the city was the Wizard Quarter. It was the smallest of the quarters in terms of size, but it was dominated by the massive two hundred- and fifty-foot-tall Wizard’s Tower which stood in the middle of the quarter. The tip of the tower could be seen from anywhere in the city. The strange five-sided building was a hundred feet across at the base and tapered up to a sharp spire at the top. The entire tower was faced with a rare polished black marble streaked with white veins which gave the appearance of lightning. It stared down menacingly upon all the other squat wooden structures that surrounded it.

Elwin got a chill as he stared up at it. He had no understanding of magic or wizards. Levka was not skilled enough, the druid was more of a fraud and the ogre had terrified him. Elwin had no ability in the art himself. He did not even know how it worked. He had only seen a spell cast on a handful of occasions. The thought of tapping into such unknown power frighten him.

As he looked up, he swallowed hard. He looked over and noticed that Emerson was clutching the hilt of his sword as it sat in the sheath. He also stared up at the tower in fear. This was not a part of the city they were looking forward to seeing.

Elwin recalled the image of the map of the city. He knew that the Wizard Quarter was bordered on the south and east by the outer wall of Verant. To the west, the quarter was closed in by a massive reservoir. The southern aqueduct poured down fresh mountain water filling it to the brim. It could be seen lurching over the outer wall with its massive arches three levels high. On the other side of the reservoir was the Imperial Gardens Quarter. On the north side defining the Wizard Quarter was a massive triangular park with a large fountain in the center.

Throughout the world, the Wizard’s Towers were schools where young children would go to learn the art of magic. There were five of them in all of Gaia. The most famous of all was the first one ever built in Karnak a thousand years ago. Verant had two Wizard’s Towers. The other in the Military Quarter was known as the War Wizard’s Tower. Knowledge was limited to that which would benefit the army.

The quarter was mostly filled with students and teachers who lived there in small townhouses and other multileveled flats. The students ranged in age from eight years old up to twenty-eight. It was believed among wizard’s that the younger the child, the easier to train, the more they could learn.

Once they arrived, they noticed that both young students and teachers milled about the quarter. They all seemed to wear the same dark cloaks, but not exclusively. Some people did wear more extravagant robes. If it was coincidence or part of a uniform Elwin was unsure. The wizards in training all eyed the companions carefully as the passed by, but none of them said anything to them. The companions only received strange looks.

Magic had a tenuous place in society. It was viewed with distrust by most of the political powers that be. It was considered useful, but dangerous. There was a constant fear that one day wizards would take over the world if they were not tightly controlled.

“I don’t like this place,” Emerson muttered to himself as much as anyone who was listening.

“Everybody looks the same here. Do you know what the guy looks like?” Elwin finally spoke.

“Aye, I met him only the once when he gave me my orders. I’ll know him when I see him. Don’t worry,” Markus replied. But he could not hide the fact that he looked just as nervous as everyone else. Still, Elwin had noticed that his breathing had returned to normal. He was pretty sure that the boy would recover from his encounter with Elwin and his fist.

Markus looked about the streets as they walked around the quarter. Finally, he pointed out the alleyway where he was supposed to meet the wizard. It was behind a row of houses.

Elwin and Emerson scouted out the location before deciding to set up a trap. The alleyway was wide, almost ten paces across and about a hundred paces long.

“Markus,” Elwin said. “I want you meet this wizard as planned.”

“But sir, I don’t have the map,” the boy protested.

“You’re going to give him this,” Elwin said producing the copy.

Markus took the map. He shook his head. “He told me it was cloth…”

“You tell him this was all you were shown,” Elwin said. “I’m going to be right here hiding close by. If he doesn’t accept this, then I’m going to come out of hiding. Emerson, I want you at the end of the row of houses. I don’t want talk to this wizard and I don’t want him to escape,” Elwin instructed. Emerson nodded and headed down the alleyway. “Rith, you and Anna set up at the other end of the ally. Don’t let any wizard come running past you.”

“Sir, I’m scared. This wizard… he’s frightening!” Markus said to Elwin once they were alone.

“My friends and I are well armed. I’m going to be nice and close, in those bushes over there. If he comes down here,” Elwin pointed to a narrow break in between the house that a person could walk down. “Then I’ll step out and block it. We’ll have him trapped.”

“Think it will really work?” Markus questioned him. The young boy did not seem convinced.

“When it comes to wizards? Who knows,” Elwin said with a shrug. They did not have a better plan that they could improvise on such short notice. It was almost time for Markus’ meeting.

Elwin got into position. All the houses had large potted cedar bushes next to the doors. The place was clear of people. Classes were back in session again and all the students were at school. The alleyway was empty… as the wizard had intended.

3

Holly was only eight when she was brought to the Wizard’s Tower. They put her through a series of tests and whatever they saw in her and her talents, must have been enough. She was accepted into the school for training.

Training was intense and the teaching sessions could go all day. They learn much at a desk about potions, various plants and magical artifact. They had books full of the information. Writing scrolls and the actual casting of spells came later in the training, but that was where things really got hard and many of the boys and girls could not do it. Some simply were not good enough to continue and others quit as the broke under the pressure to preform to a certain level. Many never got out of the trade and simply studied what they could on their own becoming sorcerers or druids. About half of all the students accepted at age eight were gone by age twelve. That’s how old Holly was now. But Holly was one of the good ones.

It was a nice day out and Holly had done well recently. She took some time off to herself to relax before some big tests were about to come up. The better students could sometimes be excused from class on occasion. This was such an occasion for her.

Holly had been quietly studying a textbook while shadowed in her dormitory doorway. Something she did quite often since it was quiet back there.

Suddenly, she heard some voices and saw two young men talking with a young boy about some important meeting. She was a bit annoyed at being disturbed, hoping to be along for a while longer. However, she was also curious as to whom they were and what they might up to. Instead of retreating inside, she used a cloaking spell to hide her presences and watched.

4

It did not take long for a tall figure to emerge from the narrow passageway. He wore a long dark green robe that billowed out making him appear larger-than-life. In his right hand he held a gnarled staff. Made from an Elder tree branch it had a red ruby-like stone embedded in the top. His wide brimmed hat obscured his face, but Elwin could tell he had long grey hair and a matching beard. He must have stood six and half feet tall.

“Do you have it?” The ancient-looking wizard demanded in a gruff voice.

“Yes, my Lord, right here!” Markus said and handed it over.

“This is not the original,” The wizard said. “I was very clear that I wanted the original. The one made of cloth.”

“Nay my lord. I’m very sorry, but the man was too clever. I couldn’t get it from him so easily!” Markus replied as Elwin had instructed him. He held his hands out defensively. “This was the one he showed me.”

“You pathetic worm!” The wizard hissed at him. “We have an agreement! You promised me you could do it. What happened? You’re supposed to have the proper map.”

The wizard was furious. He dropped the paper copy and grabbed the boy by his cloak with his free hand. He staff gripped tightly in the other. Markus was caught off guard, both by the action and the old wizard’s inhuman strength and speed.

“I caught him!” Elwin stated emerging from his hiding spot.

The wizard was startled. Turning, he stared straight at Elwin. His eyes were blazing with anger. But the grin on his face was chilling to say the least.

“How do you know about my map?” Elwin demanded. He refused to show any sign of weakness. Wizards were still human, steel still cut. From this distance Elwin was pretty sure he could be upon him with a sword before her could cast any spell.

“Bold as brass aren’t we, farm boy! It wasn’t exactly a secret you know!” The wizard snarled. “You flashed the thing all about town, so you did!”

“What’s it to you?” Elwin questioned. “It’s none of your concern!”

The old wizard smirked. His facial muscles were pulled tight, creased badly from great age. He spoke in a high bone-chilling tone. “You have no idea what you possess, do you farm boy?”

Incensed, Elwin unconsciously took a step towards him. He was bolder now, fuelled by anger. He tossed his fear away. His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword, itching.

“Come no closer!” The wizard commanded. He turned to Markus. “You would dare to entrap me! You are a fool boy! Do you know what happens to traitors?”

The wizard swung his staff wildly at Markus. The lad ducked and flung himself to the cobbled ground. He narrowly escaped being struck.

Elwin moved in blocking the narrow passage which flanked the wizard from behind.

The wizard raised his staff and a lightning bolt struck it out of a clear blue sky. The lightning crawled down the wizard’s staff from his hands to Markus’ cowering form. The wizard seemed to be completely unharmed, but the jolt sent Markus flailing backwards. His limp body skidded to a halt against a stone wall. It lay lifeless as a rag doll. His skin was charred, his clothing smoked.

Quickly the wizard turned back to face Elwin. Instinctively, Elwin dodged the swinging staff. He feared following in Markus’ footsteps.

The wizard pulled back and unleashed a ball of fire the size of a large pumpkin.

Elwin was forced to jump out of the way. He knew that wizards were weak when it came to physical combat, so quickly he countered with a trust of his sword, but the wizard was surprisingly nimble for a man of his age. He knocked the sword away with his staff.

He sneered at Elwin and said. “Do you court death so easily farm boy? You have no idea how close you came!”

With that said, the wizard darted down the wide alleyway in Emerson’s direction.

Elwin whistled.

Emerson appeared and blocked the way out.

The wizard stopped and laughed. “I will get what I want… just not today!” He turned and looked Elwin dead in the eye. “Next time I won’t hold back.”

In an instant the wizard opened a portal and vanished. Elwin rushed down to meet him, but there was nothing. The wizard was gone before their eyes. There was no puff of smoke, not even a sound, just a quick flash of light and he was gone without a trace. As if he was never there.

“By the Gods!” Emerson cursed meeting Elwin in the middle.

“I knew wizards couldn’t be trusted!” Elwin said. They had a chance to get more information and he let it slip through his fingers. He was angry with himself more than anyone. He stared off in the direction the wizard had run. He thought himself stupid. What made him think they could trap a wizard so easily! He wondered. He knew nothing about them. He should have known that there would be tricks that could be used to escape a trap. What good was cold steel if it had nothing to strike at? Youth and inexperience had worked against him this time, next time he would know better.

Elwin signalled for Rith and Anna to return to the group. They rushed down the alleyway towards him.

“Where’s the wizard?” Anna asked. “And what happened to Markus? Is he still alive?”

She rushed to the boy’s side and checked him. She recoiled right away and let out a shriek. Anna looked bay at the other three. Her hand shook. “He’s not breathing! I think he’s dead!”