Chapter 12
Nobody in this world decorated much. The sorcerer’s cabin had a table, a few chairs, and a bed. The walls and floor were bare. Thaddeus and Galen sat down and waited for the sorcerer to return from checking the big book, whatever that was.
Thaddeus shifted nervously. He was so close to getting home. All he had to do was give the sorcerer the amulet and let him put magic in it.
The sorcerer returned a few minutes later with a giant book. Gems shined brightly on the cover. He dropped it on the table with a loud thud and started looking through it.
“Let’s see here, what you say sounds oddly familiar. Oh, is that—no, that’s for other dimensions. And some of them do look interesting. Look at that, Ice Dancers, they are sinister. Aha, I think—yes here we go.” The sorcerer began reading out loud. “Little is known about the other side of the world. It is a shadow of our own. The geography is the same unless tampered with by the humans who live there. From all accounts the humans on the other side are more advanced and have created far more than the humans of this side. It has been reported that children from the other side have somehow crossed the boundary and are now living here. It is unknown how this is possible. There is no known way to return them to their own side of the world.” He stopped and looked guiltily up at Thaddeus. “That’s it I suppose. No known way.”
“That’s why I thought I could use a wish on the amulet. They are good for a wish with magic.” Thaddeus said.
“And who told you that?”
“I met a scientist who was given a wish by a sorcerer. He wished that he could live longer and he was turned into a bean bag man.”
The scientist closed the book. “Sorcerers don’t grant wishes. We only use spells, and it is not allowed for a sorcerer to use a spell on another human.”
“But this one sorcerer did give the scientist a wish.” Thaddeus stressed. “I saw him with my own eyes, he was a bean bag man. Now how could something like that happen without magic?”
“Did the scientist say when this was?”
“Thirty years ago.” Galen answered.
The sorcerer tapped his chin with his finger. “Around thirty years ago there was a sorcerer who went bad. This sorcerer went around the world using his magic on people, sometimes with disastrous results. He was tired of the restrictions put on his magic. He wanted to do whatever he wanted. This sounds like the work of that sorcerer.”
“Where is he now?” Galen asked quietly.
“He came back here to prove to everyone that magic could be used on people. Of course we laughed at him. He decided to use a spell on himself to prove it worked. He tried to make himself grow taller and instead turned himself to stone. We set up a nice garden around him. Maybe you’ll see it on your way out of town.”
Thaddeus grew very anxious. He stood up. He could no longer bear sitting. “Can’t you try to put magic into the amulet? I really need to get home.”
The sorcerer shook his head. “Magic cannot go into an object like that. If this scientist really did turn into a bean bag it was because the bad sorcerer did it himself. It makes sense. He wouldn’t tell this scientist that he was going to use a spell on him. Who wants to get a spell used on them? He probably told the scientist that there was a wish in the amulet and then used a spell so that the scientist wouldn’t freak out that someone used a spell on him. Does that make sense?”
Thaddeus paced the small cabin, attempting to find something to say to sway the sorcerer. “But why can’t magic be used on people?”
“Because it has disastrous effects. People are so complicated. The mind is a very powerful force and can change the intended effects of a spell without anyone realizing that it’s doing it. If I tried to use a spell to send you home right now you might end up turning into a house or worse.”
Tears started to well up in Thaddeus’s eyes. “Can you please at least try something? I can’t stay here forever.”
Galen put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. Thaddeus suddenly felt a little calmer. “It’s alright.” Galen said softly. He then turned to the sorcerer. “Is there anything at all to do? Do you have any ideas—any recommendations?”
The sorcerer sighed. “I can’t think of anything. What we need to do is find out why you came over? Did you intend to go someplace new?”
“No, I just wanted to take a path through the woods.”
“Have you tried going back to the woods? Maybe if you retraced your steps you could get back.”
Thaddeus wiped his eyes and sniffled. “I don’t think I would ever find the spot if I went back.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
The boy sat down and felt the world crashing down around him.
The sorcerer looked on sadly. “I won’t give up just yet. Tonight I’ll look through this book and see if there is anything I can find. Do you have a place to stay?” Galen shook his head. “Oh, then stay here. I’ll get some beds and—have you eaten?” Again Galen shook his head. “No problem, I’ll get some food right up.
The sorcerer said a few words under his breath and two mattresses appeared in the corner of the cabin complete with blankets and pillows. He said a few more words and two plates of food appeared on the table.
“Go ahead and eat and go to bed and I’ll stay up looking through the book here.”
Galen sat down and started right away on the meat and rice on his plate. Thaddeus ate slowly trying to tell himself that the sorcerer would definitely find something in that old book that could be useful.
After they ate they went to the mattresses and laid down. Galen went to sleep but Thaddeus stared at the ceiling for several hours. Occasionally he looked over to see the sorcerer turn a page or mumble under his breath.
In the early hours of the morning Thaddeus finally got to sleep.
Something startled Thaddeus awake. He sat up and looked around. The sorcerer was gone but the book was still open on the table. Galen slept soundly on a nearby mattress. Thaddeus looked around but didn’t see any reason why he should have awakened so suddenly.
A pounding on the door shook the whole cabin. Galen bolted upright. “What’s happening?” He said groggily.
The sorcerer came out of a small room they hadn’t noticed the night before. “My word, who comes by so early?”
He opened the door and the king of the Bell Forest ran in. He looked steaming mad. He pointed a finger at Galen and Thaddeus. “What did you do to her?” He growled.
“What?” Galen said, rubbing his eyes.
The king looked like he was about to strangle Galen. “One minute we were talking to her and the next she vanished.”
“Who?”
“Why did Yew vanish?” The king bellowed.
“I’m right here.” Galen said.
“Not You! Yew!”
Galen nodded. “Oh, the girl, what about her?”
“She’s gone!”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know!” The king howled.
Galen waved his arms around. “Wait a second here. You tried to kill us. Don’t tell me you didn’t know about those rapids.”
The king punched the air. “I haven’t left the forest in years. I forgot.”
“Then how did you get through?” Galen asked, standing up.
“We got in our boat after the—where did she go?!”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“You tried to kidnap her, you must have done something to her.”
“Kidnap?” Galen said, his voice rising. “I didn’t kidnap anybody. She stowed away.”
“Stop lying.”
“Lying?” Galen shouted as though that was an insult to his lying ability. “Why would I throw her back if I wanted to kidnap her? My goodness you’re hard to talk to.”
Thaddeus stood up. “What did she say before she left?”
“Something about not being from
here. You told her something didn’t you?” The king accused.
Thaddeus shook his head. “She told me she was from the other side.”
“I don’t care what she said.” The king yelled. “I am going to take both of you back to face sentencing for this.”
“Sentencing?” Galen said. “No, I don’t do anymore sentencing.”
“We have a jail,” the king sneered, “and you are going to spend a very long time there.”
Galen was about to protest but stopped and smiled. “And who’s going to take us back?”
The king put his hands on his hips. “I am.”
“You are?” Galen smirked. “You didn’t bring an army? Or is it that they would never catch us?”
“I’m going to add disrespect as an offense. Now come with me.”
The sorcerer stood behind the king and waved at them. When he got their attention he pointed to the door.
Galen ran to the other side of the cabin. The king went after him while Thaddeus ran for the door. Once outside the sorcerer led Thaddeus through the colony and away from the water. The boy looked back and saw Galen running after them, the king close behind.
Sorcerers jumped out of the way and some even cheered them on.
Galen and the king were much faster than Thaddeus and the sorcerer. They caught up shortly after they passed the last cabin.
“Keep going.” The sorcerer yelled to Thaddeus. “I’ll get him off your trail. I’ll meet you by the cliff.”
“Cliff?” Thaddeus shouted.
The sorcerer wasn’t listening. He slowed and let the king pass him. He spoke a few words and the king suddenly stopped. Thaddeus looked back and watched as the king spun around in circles and ran back to the colony.
Thaddeus slowed. Galen caught his arm and pulled him back. He looked and saw that his feet were right on the edge of a cliff. A fifty foot drop ended in sharp rocks. It was about twenty feet across to the other side.
“Sorry about that.” The sorcerer said. “It was closer than I thought.”
“What did you do to him?” Thaddeus asked, attempting to catch his breath.
“I used a spell so he would run the opposite direction. He may never stop. See, that’s the problem with using spells on people.” The sorcerer stepped up to the cliff. “If you follow this cliff you’ll find a slide of sorts that will take you down to a little path between the cliffs. Keep going and you’ll find a train station eventually. It can take you all over.”
“Did you find anything in the book?” Thaddeus asked hopefully.
The sorcerer sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, little one. There is no known way to get back. But don’t ever give up. The answer is out there somewhere. I’m sure you can find it. Now I need to find that man and see if I can sort him out.”
Thaddeus nodded and felt the tears well up in his eyes again. He started away from the sorcerer in the direction he pointed out. Galen thanked the sorcerer and followed Thaddeus.