the Book of Worlds CH 2 - Writers Forum

dbay2006 · 07-23-2007, 08:24 PM

Chapter 2
The Strange Sorcerer

The evergreens above the mouth of the cave towered high and blocked the moon. Though similar, this cave was not the same as the last. I know that many caves are alike, but the cave in which Billy entered had elm trees surrounding the deep ravine in which it sat, and all he could see were evergreens. Even the air seemed, well, thinner. Thought the beauty of the forest hit him firmly, he suddenly remembered the troll that had brought him here, and also realized that he could not see nor here him.
Billy had only began to think of his escape when the giant stepped back into the clearing not a few feet away. He was carrying a large burlap sack, and it was full to the top. The troll walked towards Billy, and placed the sack on the ground beside him. They looked each other square in the eyes and as if he could speak troll (that is to say, if they may happen to speak a language at all), he knew that the huge sack was for him. It was cold and dark and the troll did not eat him. I am sure that it was hungry though, because Billy was hungry, and the trolls stomach is much larger and probably emptier from carrying him such a long way. As I have said though, he did not eat him, he merely walked away and sat down at the other side of the cave’s door.
Billy’s filthy hands opened the sack and began to pull out many blankets of fur, and what seemed to be a very large pillow. With the look of amazement on his face he turned to the creature. "You knew that was cold. You’re trying to help me."
The troll just stared at Billy for a bit and then turned its head with a low grunt.
"Can you understand me? You can’t can you." Billy paused, as if waiting for the creature to respond. "Of course you can’t speak my language. You’re a troll!
"You know, I probably shouldn’t even be speaking to you. You are a troll you know, and that means that you are probably going to eat me eventually aren’t you? Huh?" He shook his head in frustration and sat back down on his rock.
"I don’t eat humans. If I did I would have probably bitten your head from your body. Maybe you would not be able to talk so much then."
Billy stood to his feet and began to back away from the beast. "You can talk."
"Of course I can. I am a troll, and therefore I can. My people are very noble in this country and we can speak many languages."
"Your people? What people?"
"Trolls, child. I am a troll."
"Yes I know you’re a troll, but I have never seen your people in this world before and as far as I know, humans rule this world and would have therefore known about you."
"Stupid boy. We are by no means under the rule of your fellowship any longer.
"You, child, are in the land of Arabar, no longer within Earth’s walls."
"What? I’ve never heard of any Arabar?"
"Of course you havn’t, and that is for the best. We do not need any more of your kind here."
"No more of my kind? I am sure- "
"Quiet! I heard something over there.
Listen, child, you go through those trees and yell if you see anything. I’m going to go this way."
"Wait. How do I know that you’re not just going to eat me in the dark?"
"There is more danger here boy than you could ever imagine, far worse than me."
Though the trolls last words were not very motivating, Billy was even more scared, also as you and I would have been, of the troll. So he stepped out into the evergreen forests of Arabar and walked lightly among the saplings and ferns that covered the forest floor.
After a few minutes of creeping, he came to a small clearing where the moonlight hit the ground. In the very middle of the clearing sat a rock, and atop it sat and old man. He was dressed in all black and sat very still. There seemed to be something though about this man that Billy could not resist.
If you and I were in another world, far from our own, and were being held prisoner by a giant troll who speaks our language, and you came across another like yourself I believe that we would approach it. Billy did the same and slowly stepped towards the man.
"Hello son," the figured said as Billy stepped into the clearing. He spoke very softly and his words were appealing. "My vision has been darkened by this world," he said as Billy was nearing close enough to touch the old man.
"Sir, are you alright? Can I help you?"
"Alright?" A tone of anger rang in the man’s voice. "No. I am not alright. I am blind. I can barely hear and I am lost."
"Sir, come with me. I know the way out of here. Follow me."
"There is know way."
"Why, yes there is. I was brought here no more than a few minutes ago by-"
"A troll."
"How did you know that? I hadn’t finished my sentence yet."
"Because child, it was that very same troll that brought me here and left me to die.
Many years ago I lived on Earth and was stolen from my home by this troll. He took me and sold me to the only other man that lived in this world. That man tried to comfort and teach me, but he too was infected with the lies of this strange country.
I soon took after the man, because you see, he was a wizard. I learned many things and gained much power, yet the wizard would never free me to go home.
One day I learned that the wizard had made a map. That map showed the way back to Earth, for you see, the wizard had also came from our home. I began to build my powers in sorcery and eventually killed the wizard in his sleep, only to find that he had hidden the map.
Boy, join me, together we can find our map and return home."
"Child, step away from that evil thing!" The troll had stepped into the clearing an drawn its sword without either of the two noticing. The sorcerer stood and faced the troll. When he did his faced began to shine red and a long forked tongue fell from his mouth. A strange breeze came up, out of the ground and almost lifted Billy into the air, but the sorcerer suddenly vanished.