???Some of you may be wondering why I called you all to this council.” He continued eying the whole crowd of wizards standing before him. When nobody responded, he continued his speech. “I have called you here on very important matters. It appears that your fore chief has committed the most horrible crime that any wizard can commit.”

He said this while pointing a menacing finger at a young boy, seeming no older than fourteen. He had light brown hair, two deep blue eyes and wore dark blue robes. Most people thought that he really was fourteen. But like they say, don't judge a book by its cover! This boy was actually the wisest and most powerful wizard in the world. He was also the oldest, five thousand, seven hundred and thirty two, to be exact. You may be wondering why he was so old yet did not look it. All of the other wizards in the crowd were all at least two thousand or a bit over. And they actually looked their age.

This is how a wizard's life works: When the wizard is born, he is like a regular person. Then when he gets to the age of about twenty-five, he will start to discover his powers. Then at the age of seventy, eighty-five he should have mastered his powers (with, of course the help of a fully-skilled wizard). Then he will stop aging and changing for the remainder of his very long life.

But with this particular wizard, he started learning about his powers at about the age of eight, and mastered them at around fourteen. His teacher, being his father, had been very proud at seeing how fast he was learning. The wizard had stopped growing and aging, and kept the appearance of a young boy.

“The crime that he has committed,” continued Girrith, “is the crime of introducing a mortal to magic! This crime cannot go without punishment. I say, five hundred years locked up in my most luxurious cell!” He declared all this with a menacing gleam in his eyes.

Then to everyone's surprise, Toshnol (the boy wizard) spoke. “I, for one do not see why this is such a crime. If we do not start this soon, then will die out!”

“How could we die out?” replied Girrith. “We have six great wizard colonies, each containing over two hundred wizards. And more of us are scattered throughout towns, cities and countrysides! Isn't that enough for you????

Girrith thought that he had finally taken control over the conversation. But to his surprise, Toshnol continued. “You could think of it that way, or you could think of it this way. Yes, we do have at least two hundred wizards in each stronghold, yet they are mostly all apprentices. And as apprentices they might not develop immortality or their full powers -- they may simply become healers and entertainers to the mortal public. So they need not be considered wizards. Then, the population is rounded off from one thousand two hundred to eight hundred wizards. Then it may happen that some colonies get destroyed, like the two last year, which would leave us with at least seven hundred. Then more wizards get killed, exiled or taken by Enmorth, the evil.”

He said all this, stepping in front of Girrith, speaking to the crowd, yet addressing Girrith.

???It has always been that way,??? answered Girrith. “Yet I have changed my mind about one thing, you shall not be imprisoned in your own tower, but in the room at the very top of central tower, overlooking my courtyard. This may teach you a lesson about manners.” He was looking at Toshnol with a grin starting to spread on his face.

Then Toshnol looked over at his staff, lying on the High Table. Toshnol knew this was a mistake the moment he did it. It took only that one glance to tell Girrith that as long as the staff contained powerful magic, he would never be able to contain Toshnol.

???But your staff should stay out of your reach. It does not deserve to remain, in one piece.” And so, lifting up the staff in both hands. Then bringing it down hard on his knee. With a powerful surge of white light, the staff broke clean in half.

For a split second Girrith had a satisfied look upon his face, but then it turned into a look of utmost fury and pain. He let go of the staff, screaming in pain. As the staff came clanging onto the ground, both pieces shot back together.

The staff lay on the ground, appearing intact.

Girrith took up the staff and looked at it curiously. “You cannot break it!” said Toshnol in an amused voice. “Your powers are, well, not powerful enough!” It was his turn to grin.

???Then if I cannot destroy the staff I shall destroy the power source.” As Girrith said this, his hand reached for the dark blue orb positioned at the top of the staff.  He tore the orb off and let it drop to the ground. Toshnol stood, watching the orb crash to the ground.

“You have made a grave mistake!” Toshnol yelled, looking at the shattered remains of the once beautiful Harthankis, the orb of the world. “This will be the ruin of us all!”

“I did what was right, I got rid of a criminal,??? Girrith said, turning to the crowd. “All in favor of imprisoning Toshnol, light your staffs.” He waited a bit, then continued. “More then half. Guards: Take him away!”

The guards took Toshnol away, and brought him up to the top of the central tower. There they locked the door and left to lock away his staff. He lay awake for a long time, wondering about how his apprentice was getting along, the drifted off to sleep.


The Grand Escape.

As the weeks passed, Toshnol stayed in his tower.  Of course he could not get out. Throughout this time, he didn't so much as hear a whisper of Girrith's name. Yet, this was not his main worry! His mind was fixated on his apprentice: Renzy. This apprentice was a real thirteen year old.

As Toshnol thought about Renzy, a loud crash came from the courtyard two hundred feet below him. An old oak had apparently fallen on the gate. All the guards outside occupied themselves with moving the tree. Then, a few yards away, a small shadow slipped over the wall. Toshnol watched eagerly to see who it was. He waited a long time, but could see no one.

Later on in the night, while Toshnol was writing in his journal, he saw a flash of light in the crack at the bottom of the door. A moment later, a crash of metal was heard tumbling down the stairs.

Agitated, Toshnol got to his feet to ready himself for whoever was coming up the stairs. He waited for what seemed like an eternity; of course it was really only a couple of seconds. The door blasted open and a figure strode in. When the smoke cleared away, seeing who it was, Toshnol let out a yell of surprise.

“Renz! Where have you been? How did you get in?”

Renz smiled and said: “I would have been here earlier, but I had to get your staff. As for the getting in part, I had to create a distraction.”

???You were the one to let that tree fall on the gate?” asked Toshnol, a bit inquisitively.

???Yes, I did do that. Getting the staff was a bit hard, but getting up the tower was a lot easier. I cannot give you the staff just yet -- we must leave first.”

“Right then, let me pack a few things, the we shall be off!” Toshnol then strode over to the bed, reached underneath it and pulled out an old and battered bag. He pulled out of it an old, yet well-tended looking cloak, put it aside and put into the bag a few extra pairs of clothes. He then went over to the table in the middle of the room opened the drawers on the sides, which he emptied of their contents (mostly journals and scrolls). He then packed these things in his bag, buckled it up, picked up his cloak, put it on, and then swung the pack over his shoulders.

“I am now ready to go,” he said, grinning to Renz.

 
Toshnol then flipped his hood over his eyes and stole down the staircase, followed closely by Renz. They passed dozens of doors, all locked fast. When they got to the bottom of the tower, they heard voices.

“The intruder went this way!” It was guards speaking!

“It appears that your entrance did not go unnoticed,??? said Toshnol, looking at Renz. “What did you expect?” answered Renz. “This to be easy with out no one noticing?” “Well, I was hoping. But I guess you can't get every thing you want.” Said Toshnol ending in a whisper.

Opening the tower door, they saw a few guards running towards them. “I think that now is the time for you to give me my staff.” Whispered Toshnol closing the door. Resentfully Renz dug into his right pocket, rummaged around a bit, then drew out a brilliantly orange marble sized orb. Looked at it then dropped it on the ground. It blew up on impact and immediately grew in to a tall golden handled redwood staff. Everything on it was perfect. Accept for the very top: a semi sphere hole. This hole was meant to hold the orb of power. But even without the orb, the staff was very capable of making magic. Not the powerful stuff, just the simple stuff.

Without hesitating, Toshnol took the staff from Renz's hands and tapped it twice on the ground. It then changed to a long, lightweight silver handled sword.

“Which way did you come from?” said Toshnol, his left hand resting on the doorknob, his left clutching the sword.

???I came in from the south end and through the gardens.”

“Right then, hold my sword!” Toshnol handed Renz his sword then stretched out his left arm, palm up, barely a foot from his face. Then muttered, “Diroctominus!” A small green arrow made of light appeared in his hand.

There was a crash at the door.

“Point me the south,” Toshnol whispered to the arrow.

Another crash.

The arrow spun around once, and then zoomed off towards the back wall. Pointing outwards.

“Give me my sword Renz!”

Renz obeyed. Toshnol pointed the sword directly at the arrow, then muttered something that sounded very much like, “Omina Siva!” A thin white beam of light erupted from the tip of the sword, hit the wall where the arrow was pointing and blasted a small hole through it.

Crash! The door began splintering.

“Now Renz,” said Toshnol very urgently. “Listen to me very carefully, as we don't have much time. You follow me all the way to the wall; you stay very close, stay very low. Got it?”

“Yes!” replied Renz.

“Good! Now, when we get to the wall, you show me where you entered. Then you follow me again.”

Crack! This time, a whole board came out of the door. Several pairs of arms thrust through the opening and began flailing in every direction.

“But before we go...” added Toshnol, “we have other business to attend to.” There was a smile lurking on his face.

 * * *

Now that you've all had a taste of my work, I'd like it if you could send me some "good and bad" comments, and even advice if you've got some.  Hope you've all liked my story. If enough people liked it I may decide to publish the upcoming parts.