The Wizard and the Green Dragon (Part 3)

This is the third part of the story.

To read the second part, click here.

To read the first part, click here.

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And the morning came.

“So, people here don’t even serve a proper breakfast, or of any kind, to the ones they are to execute? Barbarians! Do they really want to further worsen my mood? But, unlike them. I’ll be magnanimous, and, instead of cursing them, I’ll even give them a good wish.”

“A good wish?”

“Yes, Galen. May they rest in peace!” Galen laughed. “What? When one annoys me to this extent, death is their best escape. Is it not?”

When the time of the execution approached, the guard came to get the Wizard. The Wizard let him tie his hands behind his back, without even a comment. Then, obediently, he followed the guard to the execution platform. A crowd, not too big, was gathered in front of it. A small military unit had it encircled. Other than the executioner, a couple more people were on the platform. A palace’s tower could oversee the whole area. At about half past nine the king and his company appeared on a balcony, there. The head knight was nowhere to be seen. The Wizard smiled, satisfied.

When the crowd’s cheering calmed, one of those on the platform read the royal decree. Then, they had the audacity to try to force the Wizard to his “proper” place. Everyone on the platform, just like that, died on the spot, but their bodies didn’t fall. A fear, subtle, too subtle for anyone to realise it was caused by an external force – a spell – but strong enough to keep everyone from making a move, filled the people’s minds and hearts.

The Wizard walked to the front of the platform, and stood there, haughty and tall.

“So, you petty dogs have gathered here to watch this show. The great I welcomes the worthless you. And I promise you, you’ll see a show you’ll never forget, in your short lives you’ve left to live.” Then, turning to the king. “Are you the Dog King?”

“Impudent!” a royal guard yelled.

“Your Majesty, he is stalling for time!”

The Wizard’s eyes turned to the one who spoke this. His glare alone pushed the man a few steps back. The ropes that held the Wizard’s hands tied became undone by themselves, and the Wizard, mockingly, applauded the man.

“What a clever dog! Indeed, I’m stalling for time. After all, even a wizard, as great and mighty as I, needs some time to perform a miracle as impressive as the one I’m going to perform.” A gentle, breeze started blowing. The barking of dogs came from afar. “Are you the clown who pretends to be the diviner?”

“A charlatan calls me a clown? Your Majesty, command his execution right away!”

The gentle wind became more noticeable. Still gentle, though. The barking hadn’t stopped. The daylight, probably, had dimmed down a little. The king didn’t speak.

“You call me a charlatan?” A circle of flames, strong and tall, surrounded the Wizard on the wooden execution platform, but they didn’t seem to burn it. They simply stood in place. Ten gongs came from the tower clock. The daylight dimmed down more. Didn’t it? The last flying birds landed wherever they could.

“Those are simple tricks, my Lord. These flames are fake. Execute him, at once.” The King was too scared to talk.

“Simple tricks, huh?” The Wizard looked at the sky. “Hear my command, oh bright sun. Obey me, and cover your face. Deprive this land of your light, until I say otherwise.” Everyone looked up. “Make haste and obey!”

The sun’s light disappeared. The sky was filled with stars. Panic filled the crowd’s hearts. Screams. Cries of despair. The Wizard laughed. It sounded like evil laughter to everyone’s ears, but, in fact, the Wizard’s mood was now good. He had sensed what he wanted to sense.

The King turned to the diviner. “How can this be a trick?”

“It’s a natural phenomenon, my King. This is just a solar eclipse.”

“Fool! If I don’t give the command, the sun will never shine again! Command the execution, King of Dogs, and your land will never see the sun again!”

“Don’t believe him, Your Majesty. In a minute, or two, whether he lives or dies, the sun will appear again.”

“A minute, or two? Care to bet? Here is your choices, Dog King. You can trust that braying donkey who thinks he speaks and kill me, hoping the sun will shine again. Or! Since that donkey said, ‘a minute, or two’, let’s wait an hour, or two. Let’s see if this… how did he call it? A solar eclipse, or what not, will… disappear? End? What is the right word, Donkey?”

The Wizard snapped his fingers and the King fell on the floor, for his seat was now on the execution platform. The Wizard sat in it, crossing his legs, and watching everything amused.

“Is this, too, a simple trick, Diviner?”

“It must be. I don’t know how he did this, your Majesty. He must have some accomplices with him. But no matter how many work for him, he can’t control the eclipse. Don’t believe him.”

“If so, let us wait and see.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Charlatan! You dug your own grave!”

The Wizard smirked. The wind stopped. The barking of the dogs ceased. The birds returned to the sky. The sun and the light were nowhere to be seen.

Ten thirty. Not even a beam.

“How is this possible?” The diviner, now, was at a loss.

The crowd was asking for the Wizard’s release. The Wizard didn’t allow the King to speak. Eleven. Eleven thirty. Noon. A midnight noon.

“Two hours have passed, King of Dogs. Is there any sun?”

“No, Your Excellency.” The king was again able to speak and move.

“Am I still to be executed?”

“No, Your Excellency.”

“Am I free to go?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Please forgive our disrespect. And, please, release the sun.”

“My hearing must be really bad. I’d bet I heard a dog using majestic plural. Do you believe that? And even worse, I didn’t hear that dog begging!”

“I beg you, my Lord! I beg you to forgive my disrespect, and I beg you to allow the sun to shine again.”

“Oh! Much better! And what about the mule?”

“His head will fall!”

“Bad hearing, indeed. I need to do something about it. Sorry, Dog, I didn’t hear you. Tell me again, what about the mule?”

“What’s your command, my Lord?”

“Oh, that’s what you’ve said! Good, good! Exile him, right away. Once he is out of the walls, I’ll release the sun. In the meantime, bring me five kilos of gold. Or your head. Either will do.”

And you probably can guess what the king decided to give. He even begged the Wizard to stay and receive his hospitality.

“I’ve seen enough of the hospitality you, dogs, provide to your honoured guests. So, I’d rather not ‘enjoy’ another moment of it. Bring me three horses, and I’ll leave.”

“As you wish, my Lord. My Lord… will you spare my country?”

“Your country was doomed to disappear from the face of earth, in two years’ time. The disaster was to start today. And I was not the one who’d do that. I actually came here to stop the demise. But, you chose the wrong master to wank your tail for.”

“I beg of you, spare us, my Lord!”

“Spare you? Do I have a reason to do that? Do I?”

The king could not respond.

“Anyway, I’ll be merciful and say that not every soul of this country will die, and the country itself won’t disappear from the face of earth. But! I only promise that. Disaster will still fall upon you. Just not the complete one you were fated to receive.”

“Thank you, my Lord.”

And the Wizard, riding a horse, and having a “free” one at each side of him, left Larchwood, towards the east.

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To read the fourth part click here.