Brian Pratt - The unsuspecting mage

“I like women, most definitely,” he replies, then comes to a stop when the last little bit Miko said finally registers. Turning a quizzical look to Miko he asks, “What do you mean ‘because I was mutilated’?”

Looking a little embarrassed, Miko says, “Well, when we took our baths the other night, I couldn’t help but notice that a part of you had been cut off.”

“What are you talking about?” James asks confused. Then it hit him, he was circumcised. He starts laughing and says, “What you are referring to was done when I was born. It’s a custom with my people that when a boy is born, such is done to him.”

Looking aghast, Miko asks “What for?”

“It’s the common belief that if it’s removed then there will be less chance for infection during his life,” answers James. “In fact there is one religion back home that mandates it.”

“I’m glad I wasn’t born there,” Miko states with conviction, unconsciously covering himself.

“There are times when I wish it hadn’t been done to me too, but there’s not a whole lot I can do about it now. But rest assured, it still works as well as anybody else’s and it doesn’t affect my desire for sex.”

“Then why don’t you go after the women?” he asks.

“I was raised to believe sex is not a casual thing,” he explains. “And it’s definitely something you should never pay anyone to do. Also, there are certain diseases that you can get from such activities that really mess you up bad, even kill you.”

“The boys I used to hang around with, whenever they got hair between their legs, started going after the girls,” says Miko.

“Yeah, I knew guys back home that were like that too,” admits James. “But you should always do what you think is right, no matter what others may think or do.”

James resumes walking and Miko is silent for a while, thinking about what he just said. They eventually arrive at the main marketplace which is still surprisingly busy even though night has already fallen. Several performers scattered around, one is a juggler who has several different objects coursing through the air simultaneously. Next to him sits a chair with a knife sitting half on and half off the seat. At one point the juggler adds the knife to the dance of items in the air with an upward kick of his foot. As it flies up from where it had sat upon the chair, the onlookers ooh and ahhh. When he catches it and incorporates it within the pattern of the other items, they erupt in applause, several tossing coins into a hat resting on the ground before him.

They remain to watch as the juggler continues keeping the items airborne while twice people tossed other objects which he also incorporated into his aerial display. Miko is completely fascinated by the man so they stay there for a little while watching him. By the time they move on, the juggler had seven items in the air and didn’t look like he was going to stop anytime soon. James gave Miko three coppers to drop in the hat.

As they make their way through the marketplace, they momentarily stop to observe other performers, though none are as talented as the juggler. While they pause to watch a fire breather, James notices a small tent almost hidden in a dark corner of the market. Inside is a woman sitting at a table. Before her atop the table rests what looks to be a crystal ball. She looks just like a fortune teller right out of an old movie, he thinks to himself. Curiosity gets the better of him.

“Miko, I’ll be over there,” James says as he points toward the small tent.

“Alright,” Miko acknowledges. “I’m going over to watch the monkey.” He points over to where a man has a monkey doing tricks and wearing a funny little outfit.

“Don’t get lost,” James says before he makes his way through the crowd over to the tent and enters.

“Close the curtain so we may have some privacy,” the woman says to James as she indicates the chair sitting across from her. “Come, sit down and I’ll look into your future.”

He unhooks the curtain and lets it fall, then walks over to the chair and sits.

“Place your hands upon the table, next to the ball with your palms up.” When James has done so, she rests her hands upon his and says, “Now look into the ball and make your mind blank, let it drift as it will.”

He stares into the crystal ball, but all he sees is the crystal ball.

“You must relax,” she tells him, giving him a reassuring smile. He does his best and slowly his mind clears, his body relaxes.

She stares into the ball as she says, “I see a great future for you, one of power and fame.”

“Really?” he asks as he tries peering closer into the ball but fails to see anything.

She looks up from the ball and says, “The ball does not lie. Now, gaze deeper within its depths.”

He stares into the ball as she says, “I see love and happiness for you.” When he looks up to her she meets his eyes and says, “And not too far away.”

“She looks to be a daughter of a rug maker,” she says and then glances up to see his reaction. Then says, “Or possibly a horse trader.”

“Where can I find her?” he asks.

“Back home,” she says. “Where you were born.”

Fake! he thinks to himself. There aren’t any such back where I come from. “Thank you,” he says, then begins removing his hands from the table.

Suddenly, her hands spasm and clenches his tightly, preventing him from leaving the table. Then she says, “I can see that you have come a great distance and not by choice.”

Inside the ball, a deep red color blossoms from within its center. He sits back down, intrigued by the show if not by the accuracy.

“You have many questions,” she says, her voice becoming more distant, “and few answers. You are on a quest, a quest for answers.”

A chill runs down his back, she’s hitting closer to the mark now. The deep red color continues to grow and starts to slowly swirl throughout the ball.

“I see a long road but you are not alone, another walks with you,” she says, her voice changing, growing harsh and raspy. “He will be the key, a lock must be opened.”

Nervous, he hesitates. On the verge of leaving yet drawn to see what will happen.

The red swirling begins to churn faster and a subtle pulse can be seen coming from within. Gasping, her body jerks, hands tightening around his in a grip of surprising strength. He tries to free his hands but is unable to break away. Her grip grows uncomfortable.

Looking at her he sees that her features have changed subtly, yet unmistakable. With a voice growing less human she says:

With the star, seal your fate,

A giant knocks upon the gate.

Her voice rises in volume and pitch, the throbbing red vortex in the ball swirls like a maelstrom. The pulsing continues to grow and becomes much more pronounced with each word she utters.

Pillars of Flame dispel the night,

Out of darkness, blossoms a light.

Her grip on his hands becomes painful. Eyes wide with the pupils rolled back into her head, her visage completely unnerves James. Scared, he wants nothing more than to break free. Struggle though he may, her grip on his hands is simply too strong.

A friend’s wrath you shall feel,

Destroy the land so it may heal.

The crystal of the ball is now completely infused with red and the swirl is no longer apparent. Now a solid red, it pulses, keeping in time with the words being spoken by the woman.

Return the lost, stones to dust,

The table begins to vibrate, the pulsing becomes more pronounced, actually bathing the entire tent in an eerie pulsating red glow. In a voice that sounds as if it’s being stretched to its limit, she cries:

Remember… in all… your heart… to trust!