Chapter 139: Sorcerers Vs Warlocks

Chapter 139: Sorcerers Vs Warlocks

Arent sorcerers and warlocks the same thing? I said. I mean, they both do magic, right?

To some extent yes, said Bibler. Its how they do it that separates them. But I am a mere amateur when it comes to these matters. I just fiddle with knobs. He waved the box in his hands at me. There are other people who can explain the intricacies of the dark arts far better than I.

Like this guy from our world? asked Maurice. Whats his name?

We call him First, said Bibler, because he always acts before anyone elseits very impressive. As for his real name, I should probably leave that to him. Hes very sensitive. Doesnt like people talking behind his back. And always seems to know when youve been doing it. The power of a warlock. He rolled his eyes dramatically.

It was all very mysterious. And possibly a bunch of lies.

Shall we go? said Bibler, like we were all the best of friends. Mind you, he did have the only ride in town (or just outside of town).

Do you really expect us to get in another of those boxes? Everything was healed up, but the memory of the crash landing was enough to send a twinge down my spine. Imagined or not, the warning was clear: dont fly in magic boxes until they at least invent the seat belt.

Oh, were too close to the city to fly. If were spotted, it will only make it easier for those who are looking for you. No, well have to walk from here. The exercise will do you good! He slapped his large belly, setting off a series of jiggles it was hard to take your eyes off.

Bibler set off at a brisk pace, confident we would follow.

We didnt really have much of an option. Yes, he could be leading us into a trap, and we had little chance of winning any kind of fight, but the city was the only place we knew about, and as he had said, it helps to know a few a shortcuts.

We formed a train behind the Fat Controller and stomped through the tall, yellowing grass. Still no signs of birds or even insects.

Claire and Maurice were in the rear. I could hear them discussing something. Eventually, Maurice pulled out his notebook, ripped out a few pages from the back and gave them to Claire, along with a pencil. Apparently, he carried spares.

Shes really taken your suggestion to heart, said Jenny. Shes going to have a list of question for this guy were going to see.

Great, I said. That should annoy the fuck out of Guldan, or whatever his name is.

Guldan was a shaman, not a warlock, Maurice shouted from the back. How did he hear me? Never underestimate the ears of nerd. Although he did later become a warlock, so technically youre right.

I stopped and turned around. What do you mean, he turned into a warlock?

Maurice stopped. He made a pact with a demon and got a bunch of horrible powers.

So a warlock is someone who makes a deal with demons? The guy were going to see is in cahoots with the masters?

Did you seriously just use cahoots in a sentence? said Jenny.

I can assure you, said Bibler, First is definitely not in cahoots with the masters.

Oh, you can assure me, can you? Because warlock means hes in cahoots with someone. Right? The last bit was posed to Maurice for confirmation.

I believe so, although my WoW lore is limited to the now defunct trading card game. It was quite good, as I remember. I never played the video game.

We arent talking about WoW, I gently shouted at him, were talking about warlocks. Stay focused.

What the fook is wow?

Not now Flossie. Bibler, where does First get his power from?

Bibler shrugged. I dont know, but he uses those powers to fight the masters, not serve them. The masters dont share their power with anyone.

You said he killed sorcerers. How does that hurt the masters?

It would be best if you asked him yourself. Bibler turned and set off again.

Ill put it on my list, said Claire, scribbling it down as she raced after him.

Jenny shook her head at me. Cahoots.

And they got back in line, like I hadnt uncovered a massive reason not to go anywhere near this guy.

Where are you all going? Cant you see its a trap?

We dont have anywhere else to go, Admiral, said Maurice. Its a guy from our world. Hes probably just using the word incorrectly.

Ahm hungry. Theyll have food, wont they?

Has everyone gone nuts? I said to no one, since they had all left me standing there.

Jenny turned as she walked. No, they just think if it comes down to a fight between you and him, youll win. She spun around again and carried on walking.

Where had this confidence in me come from? They hadnt even seen the other guy. He could be able to summon balrogs, while I could put on a nice light show.

On the other hand, they probably would feed us before sacrificing us to Mephistopheles, and I was getting a bit peckish.

After about an hour of trudging, we arrived at the city. There were no wall, not even a gate. Tall, crooked and precariously stacked, the buildings looked like they might fall over any minute. They also gave the impression they would wait until you were within reach before they did it.

The sound hit me first, and then the smell. Raucous and unrelenting, the noise was like a wall you had to walk through. There was so much of it, you couldnt tell where it came from, you were just in it.

The smell, on the other hand, was easy to identify. It was everything bad. Sweet and sour to damp and unsanitary. If youve ever been to a rubbish tip, you could sell that odour as a perfume here.

I pulled up my shirt to cover my nose. Flossie was gagging and retching. Everyone else was randomly naming things they recognised like they were at a particularly horrific wine tasting event (so, any wine tasting event).

Bananas in vinegar!

Oh, oh fish. Do they have fish here?

Thats not fish. I think its a rotting corpse.

Bibler went to the bar, had a few words with the barmana small man with one eye a milky cloudand then indicated for us to follow.

He took us into the back, through a doorway into an interior that was even darker and dingier. He sat down at a table in the corner. We all took seats, and only then did I realise there was someone already sitting at the table.

Robed, cloaked, hooded and veiled, it was the kind of outfit youd wear if you were cosplaying an assassin at Comic-Con. I mean, it looked the part, but it didnt feel intimidating.

I have brought them as instructed, First, said Bibler. They are not as I expected.

No? said a voice from deep inside the shadows, although the voice itself was not deep. Better or worse?

Bibler shrugged. Hard to say.

Hey, I said, in a friendly manner, you arent going to make us call you First are you? Its kind of a douchey nickname. No offence.

I couldnt see his eyes, but Im pretty sure they werent looking at me kindly.

Im Colin.

David. The restraint was palpable.

Great. Are you from Hong Kong by any chance? I know Uncle Pete sent a team to the Temple Under the Mountain, so I was thinking you might be one of them.

Yes. A long time ago I lived in Hong Kong. The edge in his voice had been replaced by a soft wistfulness. I take it Uncle Pete sent you here.

I dont think so, I said. I think he tried to kill us and we ended up here instead.

My guess was that Uncle Pete had done the same to his group as hed done to ours. Enemy of my enemy.

Colins a sorcerer, Claire interrupted aggressively. Are you going to kill him?

Claire, you know we spoke about knowing when not to butt in? This would be one of those times.

Are you? insisted Claire.

You are all sorcerers, said David.

We only dabble, said Claire. Colins the only one who can do impressive shit.

Er, Claire, youre supposed to ask questions, not go around painting bulls eyes on peoples backs.

Im getting answers. I cant ask them after hes killed us all, can I?

Why do yo kill sorcerers? Flossie asked.

There was a long sigh from somewhere inside Davids hood. We have much to talk about, but I have to take care of something first. Wait here.

He got up. He was refreshingly short and not bulked up. Assuming he couldnt shoot lasers out of his eyes, I quite fancied my chances. Of course, in this world, he might actually be able to shoot lasers out of his eyes.

He walked across the room to a door with a curtain across it. And then he leaned against the wall and did nothing.

It was a bit like talking to someone at a party and them telling you they had to go say hello to someone but they just walked off to stand by themselves.

Thats a bit rude, said Claire.

Well, you were a bit full on, I said. And dont tell people Im a sorcerer. Especially when their job description includes killing sorcerers.

I was trying to provoke a reaction. The way you do. Rile them up.

Well, dont. No riling.

How am I supposed to improve if I dont practice.

You dont need practice in that area. Youre already too good at it.

David was still standing by the door, looking cool. He had a belt around his waist that hung at an angle, like it was weighted on one side. It could have been a sword, or a lightsaber, or a pair of rollerblades. Cool people can carry that stuff off. If I walked around with rollerblades people would assume Id had a stroke and had forgotten how to be a proper human. But David could whip out a pair of ridiculous footwear with wheels and everyone would be like, Oh, thats so clever, always ready to make a quick getaway.

There was a movement behind the curtain and a soldier, one of the guards from the gathering in the square, walked out and held the curtain aside. General Dorma entered.

He was dressed in less garish clothing and had a less belligerent look on his face. He seemed quite relaxed.

Whats he doing here? I asked Bibler.

Hes the leader of the rebellion.

More guards followed.

The leader of the rebels is also leader of the city? It seemed ridiculous. Why not just let yourself win?

Yes. Its the perfect cover. As long as the masters do not suspect him, he is ideally positioned.

David stepped away from the wall. From his side he drew not, sadly, a pair of rollerskates, but a sword. He held it out, and just stood there.

A dark shape jumped down from somewhere above, a weapon held in its hands, aimed at Dorma. It fell directly onto Davids waiting sword like it was committing honourable sudoku.

There were gasps and shouts from around the room, not least from the guards around Dorma.

I can see why you call him First, I said. It was like he knew it was going to happen before it happened.

Yeah, said Maurice, eyes narrowed. Or like he'd seen it happen before.