Form

“Secrets, kept from the light; break out through whispers in the darkness.”

A group of riders from the east huddled around a gypsy in a dark corner of the inn as he began his story.

“He stood like an apparition.” The gypsy was saying. “I was stricken with wonder at the power of his presence. His energy extended out to the air around him. - creating an impenetrable gap between the ground and the Wizard’s wooden soles. The ground beneath the Wizard’s feet was disturbed by a gentle wind, showing that he was floating just above it.

“In that space, life went on unaware of him. The blades of grass, pushed over by the passing wind, bent around his feet; but they were not crushed. Ants walked under him towards whatever fallen produce was rotting by the wayside. Their steady marching ranks were unobstructed by his apparent presence in their path.

“His wooden soles were made of a dark oak wood and the thick leather straps that held them in place were stained so that the sandals looked nearly black. The wooden soles looked thin, but sturdy. The dark leather straps over the tops of his feet and around his ankles were thick enough to hide most of his feet and legs from view. The open toes revealed well kept nails and surprisingly clean skin considering the dust that was being kicked up on the path from carts going by. The front strap on either of the shoes was pressed with the symbol of a tree. The branches and roots of the tree extended out towards each other into a circle that encased the tree itself.

“Around the big toe on his right foot, the Wizard wore a metal ring that pressed down, creating an impression on the wooden sole. It was clear that the Wizard had worn both for a long time. Still, the metal was clean enough to shine in the afternoon sun, without a single blemish. There was no writing or symbols on the metal’s outer surface; but in the center it held a red jewel with shades of orange and yellow that came and went in waves - giving it the effect of a fire in a rising wind.

“An identical stone rested in a metal band fastened to his left ankle. The metal itself was as bare as the ring on his toe; but the band around his ankle rose and fell around his bone so that the stone was always facing straight out over his left foot. The band clasped in the back where a small pin fell through several intertwining loops.

“A light grey cloak hung down to part way up the Wizard’s legs. Between his ankle and the bottom of the cloak were three straps on each leg, each strap at least two inches thick. The cloak was a thick wool with white silk sewn around the edges. The bottom edge was covered in a series of symbols, beginning with the tree symbol at the front. The tree was joined by a mountain, the sun, and various animal symbols. The wolves and bears seemed to tell a very old story. A story that had been long forgotten in a language that no one living could understand.

“The silk edge continued up past the thick buttons. Every wooden button was made from the same dark oak as the Wizard’s sandals. Each was shaped into an animal or a part of nature from the symbols at the bottom of the cloak.

“The first button showed the side of a wolf’s head. The wolf’s face was pointed down so that its chin came down close to its thick neck. The wolf’s ears pointed back so the whole profile nearly made a perfect circle with only the tips of the ears and the end of the nose sticking out.

“The second button showed a fish. The fish was arched so that its head nearly met its tail in a circular shape. However, in addition to the fins that pushed out and broke the circle - it did not come all the way together at the top. Instead, completing the circle was a dark blue stone. It was the same size and shape as the two red stones around the Wizard’s feet; but it didn’t have the appearance that it was moving the way the red stones did.

“On the third button was the head of a bear, turned slightly to the side. The mouth was open, teeth intricately carved into the wood. But the image did not seem ferocious. The lips were relaxed rather than snarling and the eyes were large. Curious, expecting maybe; but not aggressive.

“The fourth button showed the mountain symbol. Instead of the mountain itself being the whole button; it was carved into a circular base. The edges of the circle were raised, making it look like a large wooden coin.

“Above the fourth button, the cloak was wrapped in a thick black sash. The sash wrapped around the Wizard’s waist and hung down to the bottom of the cloak, displaying writing in some lost language. The letters shimmered in a red material sewn into the dyed leather sash. As it moved in the wind, the lettering looked like blood trickling down its length. The sash was fastened around a silver ring on the Wizard’s left side.

“The fifth button, sitting a few inches above the dark leather sash, showed the symbol of the tree. Like the others, the roots and branches of the tree came together in a ring around the tree - creating a raised edge. In the center of the tree, the trunk split to create a hollow and each side went in a half circle before meeting again at the top. In the space left in the center of the button, there was another small stone. This stone was deep green and the shape of an apple.

“On the sixth button of the Wizard’s cloak, there was the shape of an eagle. The wings completed the circle with feathers extending out here and there on either side. The eagle's talons stretched out in front of the bird, its eyes intent on its eternal mission. Still, like the other animal symbols, it did not look aggressive. Its head was back slightly, relaxed. And its beak was closed.

“The seventh button, at the Wizard’s throat, showed the image of a setting sun. The sides were raised in a perfect circle, the same as the mountain and tree symbols. The top of the button showed the rays of sun shooting out from the center. The bottom of the coin had no rays, although the circle of the sun was completed below the line of the horizon, like the moon rising in the night.

“Each of the wooden buttons was large. The sun and the tree were slightly larger than the others; but even the smallest button was an inch wide; and they were all nearly a foot apart. In total, the Wizard had to have been eleven feet tall.”

Occasionally, one of the listeners in the crowd that had gathered around the gypsy would jeer at him to get to the good part, or that his story was a load of cow dung. But each in turn was turned out by the other travelers, intent on hearing what the gypsy had to say.

“The dust that was being kicked up by passersby settled on every surface except for the Wizard.” the gypsy continued. “His grey cloak repulsed the dust itself, pushing it away from him in a steady gust. A slight wind that emanated out in every direction from where the Wizard stood. The white edges of the cloak and the end of his decorated sash blew out slightly in the wind; but not one speck of dust would land on their surface.

“Against the pure clean white of the silk edge, the dark brown, almost black hemp string threading in and out of the cloth - binding the white silk to the grey wool - was a stark contrast. The thick string extended along the whole edge of the cloak, looping in each of the cloak’s seven buttons and fastening them tightly to the cloak’s edge.

“Hanging from a belt that was fastened underneath the Wizard’s leather sash were a series of various sized dark leather pouches. The largest pouch hung from the Wizard’s right side extending just below the hip. Sticking out from the edge of the sash, the pouch’s cover was visible as well as a small strap tied to a loop near the bottom of the bag. The straps’ almost black hemp was nearly the same color as the dark leather of the Wizard’s sandals and sash. Like the sash, the cover of the pouch was decorated with red lettering that stood out from the contrast and yet were unreadable from their lost origins.

“The small leather pouch on the same side hung down only a couple of inches. This pouch and an identical one on the opposite side were synched closed at the top by dark hemp cords attached to the hidden belt. Each one looked full, although it would be impossible to say with what. It seems a fair guess that whatever the contents were, they were valuable. Rare gems or gold coins.

“On the Wizard’s left side, beneath the hanging black sash, was a black scabbard nearly three feet long. The scabbard was not died or stained, it shone black like some kind of metal. The hilt of this great sword I did not see, as it was hidden from view under the top of the cloak.

“The cloak in total hung in three sections. The chest and bottom, each the same light grey wool, came together at the sash where the bottom was held by the Wizard’s belt. Each had the same white silk edge and wooden buttons. The third piece, resting on the Wizard’s broad shoulders and extending up into a hood, was made of leather. However, rather than being dyed dark like the sash around his waist, the Wizard’s hood was so light that it nearly matched the grey of the wool. The front of the hood came down over the Wizard’s chest in an upside down V shape around the top button.

“Beneath the leather hood, hanging down to just below the top button was a golden amulet. The pendant was nearly two inches in diameter with a small clasp on the side that showed the pendant itself may be opened. Etched into the golden surface was lettering that matched the sash.

“The center of the pendant on both sides was clear glass, showing the deep red color of the contents within. Whatever was inside the amulet, it seemed to slosh around like a liquid. It could have been a stone like the ones on his feet. Somehow, I got the feeling that it was something far greater.

“The pendant hung from a thick chain made up of cylindrical black stones fitted together with silver joints. Each black stone was about half an inch thick and two inches long.

“It was only because of the awe in seeing this appearance and the greatness of the Wizard’s presence that I did not immediately notice the object in his right hand - although some magic was obviously at play to hide the scene from every other individual that passed by us.

“Grasped tightly in his right hand, pointed forward slightly at the top so that the bottom did not touch the ground, was a staff that itself was so mystical that it was unmistakably owned by a Wizard.

“The end of the staff was split into three spiralling branches that intertwined with one another at the end to create a cage at the top of the staff which held a single red stone. The stone radiated red and orange light like Dragon’s Fire. The spot at which the three branches of the staff split off was held together by a thick black stone ring with red lettering that matched the letters on the Wizard’s sash.

“The Wizard’s right arm was not extended out far; his elbow rested on his ribs. But the way that he leaned into the gentle wind defied reason. It was as if he was pushing hard against an invisible force; and the stone held in the staff’s clutches swelled to fill the space between the branches.

“From the ring of stone around the staff’s neck, the wood extended down - not straight; but in such a way that a handle was made in its curve. Apart from the stones at the top of the staff; it was not adorned or wrapped in any ornaments. The staff around the Wizard’s hand was typical in every way such that one almost didn’t bother to look down to the bottom of the staff. But in my reverence for an experience of such magnitude, I took in every detail.

“Nearly hidden behind the Wizard’s leg, the bottom of the long staff resembled a small tree that had only recently been pulled from the earth and washed. Although the end came to an unnatural point; the bark was not stripped and the roots were still extending out in search of soil and nutrients. It was as if the staff had been carved into the perfect shape and then given new life. Otherwise, it grew like that - in some unnatural way.

“At the ends of several roots, the Wizard had fixed tiny blue and green stones so that they looked like beads on braided hair. But one only had to look to see that the stones themselves were sending energy up from the ground through the staff to the end in shots of visible light.

“In a sudden burst of blinding light from the direction the Wizard was facing, the ground was covered in a blanket of white. The only shadow cast in the brightness was that of the Wizard and his staff. The sharp black edges of his shadow felt out of place in this moment of total illumination. I could not bring my focus off that shadow; but I knew from something inside myself that I was no longer on the path to market. Nor was I surrounded by trade wagons. There was nothing except for the Wizard and myself.

“Then, just as quickly as the light had come, so it was gone. The darkness that replaced the light was just as all encompassing. And still the only point that I could focus on was the Wizard.

“In the darkness, the energy that the Wizard harnessed was visible as flowing light. The light came out of the ground, swirling around his feet and up his right leg. The red light seemed to flow like water into the stones on the Wizard’s sandals and his ankle. It flowed up the adorned cloak, illuminating the ancient writing with a red glow. Green, blue, purple, and yellow light continued to swirl around the Wizard’s body. Each bright strand of continuous light found solace in the buttons of the Wizard’s clothes, the roots of his staff, and the amulet around his neck.

“The energy, in all its brilliance, came together to fill the hood of the cloak with pure white light. It was as if the Wizard himself was glowing in the darkness. Then, reaching his shoulders, the strands of glowing color changed direction and started to stretch out from under his hood, spiralling down his right arm. Beams of energy twisted around the Wizard’s long, wide sleeves. The energy traveling through the Wizard danced on his staff like oil in a hot pan.

“Then, in a flash like a dream that suddenly becomes a nightmare, the Wizard was looking directly at me. Calmness washed over me like a warm bath and I stared back for a moment that felt like a year.

“The Wizard’s chin was long, but not pointed. His jaw line stood out under his thin beard. The white strands of hair were wound together in braids and wrapped with beads and leather ties. His fair, clean skin had no wrinkles or scars.

“The man’s eyebrows grew long in every direction. Grey and white hairs pointed down from the ends and crept up his forehead at the top.

“In the white glow, most of his features seemed pale and lifeless apart from the Wizard’s eyes. Both golden eyes shown through the darkness between us like stars on a moonless night. In his gaze I suddenly felt as though I was the apparition instead of him. A spirit from this realm out of place in that dark cavern beneath the Earth. The air had changed from the dry dust of the usual path into Market to a cold wetness that latched onto the skin. In that moment, with the Wizard’s eyes locked on my own; I knew that I had been somehow transported there by his power.

“As he turned his head, the Wizard’s hood slid back on his head to reveal thick silver hair. He had most of it brushed out with thin braids scattered throughout. Each braid had crystal beads that glowed red, purple, and blue as the energy from the ground around his feet continued to course up his body.

“Slowly, he turned his shoulders towards where I was standing; but the Wizard’s body and his staff faced steadily into the darkness. Although, for the moment, he didn’t appear to be struggling against the same invisible force that had pushed at the Wizard until the flash. The Wizard paused with his lips slightly open, then mouthed something to me.

“There was no great distance between us; but I heard no sound when he spoke. I haven’t known myself to read lips either; but when the Wizard’s mouth moved again, the message was clear.

“‘Run.’”