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"I had an idea..."
The Tale of the Mad Wizard of Imbroglio
By Pukaq
Chapter 12
Weeks later, stories were being told that the Glacian Swan had been discovered, sunk just off an island, part of a group of islands in the East, the sailors had not been to before. When they made landfall to check for survivors, they found all of them had been killed and horribly mutilated. A group of sailors had gathered forces to map out the six islands. On one, they built a dock and a land base where they could explore, map and try to solve the mystery surrounding the deaths of the passengers and crew of the Glacian Swan.
Attacks had soon followed. Appearing out of nowhere, screaming incoherently and murderously, they had been attacked: many had died. No matter which island the sailors fled to, death followed. One survivor made it back aboard ship as it made its escape and lived just long enough to describe a mad man who could appear anywhere. It was a wizard who had attacked them screaming something that sounded like "Imbroglio".
Stories continued to flow into the Candolis tavern as I worked. Some were clearly exaggerations of the stories that had already been told. But word soon came out that a much larger expeditionary force was being assembled to bring this mad wizard of the Imbroglio Islands to justice. Then one day, in the middle of delivering a tray of drinks to a table of regulars, I heard from Anniu for the last time as he spoke to me from the East.
"Pukaq? Can you hear me?"
"Anniu. I'm here," I replied. This sounded like the Anniu I'd grown up with. It was so good to hear him like this again.
"Pukaq. My time is short but I wanted to say good-bye to my brother."
"What are you talking about? Where are you going?" I asked alarmed.
"The traps are all finished, including one he did not expect."
"Who? Tell me who you're talking about."
"The demon: I've finally trapped him. He knew things and I learned from him as he made me do those horrible things. But, I finally figured out how to trap him. I didn't think I could do it, but I had an idea and it panned out after all. I used his knowledge against him."
"What knowledge?" I asked.
"Wondrous knowledge, Pukaq, unlike anything I have ever studied, but it was used to create things that will cause great harm and I fear no good will come of it. In part, though, I am to blame for not being strong enough or trying hard enough to stop it."
"What did you do?"
"I did what I had to do for all of Draia, Pukaq, and for me it is now too late. Stay away from here - it is deadly dangerous here even though it may not appear that way - made that way on purpose."
"Can't you undo any of it?"
"No. I don't have the strength for it without that demon and I won't let him out. There is little strength left in me now, but it will be enough. Do me one last favor old friend?"
"Of course. Name it."
"Explain this to Itilli. Help her understand that it wasn't me that was in control. I hope that some day she'll forgive me. For me, this has been one nightmare after another and I'm so tired. Good bye, Pukaq."
"Anniu!!" I yelled. "Wait!!!" But the telepathic connection and my sense of him faded as did the light in the tavern. All sounds seemed to echo as though in a tunnel and then it was gone and I embraced darkness.
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