Warlocks Index – Previous Chapter
He turned away from me, and we were in my home on the edge of the village. At least it looked a lot like my home, but things weren’t quite right. Certain things were missing, changed, or mis-placed. Small things, but things I knew well.
My twin took a leisurely stroll around like an uninvited guest. “Such a simple life. Pleasant, cosy, but tedious, dull, yes?” It wasn’t a question, more an assumption that I would naturally agree with him. He stopped his tour when he reached the dream crystal, set up for a reading. “And the infamous Dream Crystal.” He knelt down for a closer look, and his voice took on a mocking tone. “It helps to channel a Walker’s gift by enhancing the connection between dreamer and Walker.” He snorted. “Lies.” He stood a went to knock the crystal away his hand passing harmlessly through it, at which he laughed. “Hah. I sometimes forget when I’m Walking.” He then clicked his fingers and the crystal faded away.
He then turned back to me. “The crystal limits you. It’s like a filter. It limits your gift.”
I wanted to reply to him but found I couldn’t. I was essentially a monument to myself, observing, waiting. I had wanted to say that we used it to protect both dreamer and Walker.
With a grin he then said, “It’s nothing like Silver Tongue.” The silver pipe was suddenly in his hands. “She makes Walking like a light morning breeze. It opens the mind like a flower on a spring day, welcoming me in, and in these places, I can be anything I want. I can find what a person’s deepest desires are and make myself fulfill those desires.” And it was gone again.
He made a grand gesture to the room. “No more living like this. Love is a powerful tool, and we can bring that to these people.”
He paused, looking at me, as if expecting a reply, then he raised a hand to his lips. “Opps. I do forget myself.” and which a wave of his hand I felt a sense of tightness fade, and I could open my mouth.
With so much to say, I started with my most immediate shock. “Love?! You call what you are doing love? You killed and destroyed entire communities!”
“Punishment.” He said is far too simply. “Their Walkers resisted me, and I hit them where their attachments were the strongest.” He raised a finger and began to pace, like some instructors I previously had. “And not all villages I came across were destroyed, as you put it. Some joined me and treated me like their grand sage, or some-such. Some of them are even here with me. I gave them love, and they gave me everything. Which reminds me,” he waved his hand and a vague figure appeared between us. Graciul. “Your companion will have to face the consequences for taking out one of my followers. An impressive feat no doubt, and I will enjoy having a little chat with such a talented young man.”
“Where is he?” I asked, perhaps sounding a little too scared on reflection.
“Not for you to think about. He is being cared for, until I am done with him.” and he waved the image away.
Another voice, soft and subtle, formed in my mind. “Lies” it seemed to say. As far as I could tell, only I heard it. My twin continued on oblivious.
“What you need to focus on is how you will contribute to this great unification I am planning.”
The world fell away from us and I was flooded with a stream of images and settings. Cities, nations, people, people with adoring expressions, a powerful elite, an elite of Walkers, formed under an Academy, but different from that in Haven, dark, powerful, led by the man in black. The last vision left a feeling of crushing in my chest. A vision of me, at his side, with an expression blending a happy grin with adoration.
*****
When I regained consciousness, I was no longer restrained to the central support of the tent. I had been moved to a chair where my ankles and waist had been bound. The chair itself appeared to be tied to a large crate. In front of me was a small table with a selection of food and drink. just enough to ease the hunger. With my hands now free, I eagerly ate and drank, thinking too late that it may have been tainted with something. Fortunately, this eventually proved to be a false fear.
I had no idea where the day was at, but the warmth suggested early afternoon. My host, such as he was, had not removed my cloak, which was not helping in the warmth of the day, but I was unable to see my pack. I could still feel the Master Crystal resting against my chest hidden still, and the loss of the pack did not matter thereafter.
Feeling a little clearer in my mind, I took in as much detail around me as I could. This tent was apparently being used as storage. Locked crates and various containers lined the inside walls. Contents could have been anything, however. They gave no indication of their contents, nor were there any signs on the ground. In fact, the ground seemed untouched.
There were strips of material like rugs that covered much of the floor, with some exposed areas of soil beneath, but it was all neatly played out, and the areas of soil seemed too smooth. What seems obvious now was still too vague for me at the time, but I knew something wasn’t right. There was also the whispering voice under-toning everything I thought.
The tent flap was slowly opened and there stood a young woman silhouetted in the sunlight. Cassinda stood there for a brief moment, draped in a light dress that did little to hide anything about her figure.
“Hello Master Walker.” Her voice was soft and coy. Immediately, I tensed.
She slow walked into my space, relaxed, open, and smiling. She did nothing to hide herself from my sight and even let out an odd giggle when I turned my head away. “I’m so glad you’ve come to join us.” She said softly. “The Maker has a great vision.” She moved closer, her moves something unfamiliar, and lightly touched my shoulder. “He thinks that with your assistance, his vision will that much easier.”
I had always found the attractions that others experienced unrelatable. As much as I had born witness, both in person and in dreams, the concept alluded me. I always found joy in the witnessing of joy, but not for myself. Cassinda’s approach did little but make me more uneasy. To distract myself, I visualised the events of the day, the visions of the The Maker as Cassinda called him, his history, his grand ideal, the tent I found myself in, the odd cleanliness of the tent.
None of this was right, and as I could feel Cassinda lean in close, I focussed what strength I could raise and mentally pushed as hard as I could. Recalling the same energies and sensations of the previous evening, I imagined a wave ripple out from me, a white wave, cleansing the space immediately around me. The presence of Cassinda dissolved and the air changed, becoming dryer and full of smells that weren’t there before. I opened my eyes to see The Maker getting to his feet, and that I was still bound by the wrists.
“Oh my. This is going to be fun.” He chuckled to himself. “Brother, I will break you free of those cultist idiots, and together we will start a new era.” He dusted himself off. “For now, you’ve earned a reprieve.” He turned and yelled over his shoulder. “Get this man some food.” He looked at me. “And a chair.”
Then he turned to leave and said on his way out, “Until next time, brother.”
Reflection of a Ham 