"Untitled: Chapter 1" by Derek ´Wiseman´ Bangay

The icy northern breeze swept across snow covered plains, as a lone figure made its way towards the quiet village nestled along the shoreline. The settlement, consisting of only a handful of small buildings, was deathly quiet in the darkness of the night. The figure, bundled up in layers of warmth, entered the outskirts of the village with the confidence of one who had visited there before. Without even a pause the stranger left the man road, venturing down a thin trail that wound amongst the older of the snow-covered buildings. Coming upon a slightly larger building, a cry pierced the quiet night air as the huskies tied up outside declared their presence to the intruder.

            Seemingly unfazed by the commotion, the figure whispered a few soothing words to the animals before moving on towards the door. Knocking sharply on the thick wooden door, the figure began whistling a pleasant tune as he waited for an answer. Glancing into a nearby window, there came a faint light of candle making its way towards him. Turning to the door again, the figure waited patiently while the inhabitant fumbled for the lock, before pulling back the heavy door. From the darkness inside appeared the face of an older man, his face deeply tanned; a sharp contrast to the white hair that framed his worn face. Still weary from being awaked in the middle of the night, the man studied the figure that had appeared on his step. “May I help you?” he asked the visitor irately.

            This seemed to amuse the stranger as a muffled chuckle came from beneath the many layers. Gloved hands rose to the figures hood as it was slowly pushed back to reveal the strangers identity. The man watched closely as the visitors head was revealed to show curly black hair covered with a thin layer of frost. Next the figure forced the scarf down to reveal the face of middle aged man. A moustache, as thick and curly as the man’s hair lined his upper lip as he spoke with a grin. “You should be ashamed Edward. Not even knowing your best friend.”

            Surprised by the sudden appearance of his good friend, Edward Silverman swung open the door and ushered him out of the cold, greeting him with a handshake and a quick word. Leaving his friend to remove his many layers, Edward hurried over to the stove, adding a log to the fire and putting the old iron pot on to warm. As he continued his preparing in the kitchen, the newcomer, having finally removed his travelling clothes, took a seat at the square table that sat against the wall in the small room. The man was neatly dressed, clothed in a thick wool sweater and denim slacks that signalled he was not from the area. Edward shuffled around the kitchen before pouring two mugs of freshly brewed tea and taking a seat across from his old friend.

            “What are you doing here Thom? Last time I heard from you you were teaching at some school down south. It not work out for you?” Edward asked as he slid the boiling tea across the table. Laughing at his friend’s ignorance the newcomer, Thom, glanced out the ice covered window, sipping at the welcoming warmth the tea brought. “Well it’s good to see you too.” Mused the dark haired man, a joking smile on his face. Shaking his head in mock disgust, Edward rephrased his question. “What happened this time to have you travel all the way up here?” he asked his amused friend.

            “I’ve forgotten how out of touch you are up here Edward. You’re lucky I got up here in time…” Thom trailed off, leaning forward, the smirk gone from his face. Stirring the tea with a spoon Edward had produced from one of the drawers, Thom stared into it thoughtfully. Sensing his friend’s interested gaze on his lowered head, Thom sat up with a sigh. Looking into his friends eyes Thom spoke slowly so that the other would not misunderstand him. “We are at war.” He spoke in a serious tone, as he continued his report to his now startled friend. “Relations between the humans and mysticals have deteriorated very much since your last venture into the civilized world, my friend. The human leaders have decided that we are too much of a ‘threat’…” he trailed off. Picking up a small frame the sat on the table, Thom glanced at the four smiling faces in the photograph. Placing the frame back on the table Thom sighed before continuing. “… they’re goal is to eliminate all magic from the world, which means you and your family are in danger.”

            Wide eyed Edward stared at his friend attempting to organize his thoughts after such a horrific surprise. Instantly he thought of his wife and his two sons and what he could do to save them. Realizing there was no way they could hide from a world that wanted them dead Edward turned to his friend for an answer. “Is there somewhere safe for us to go?” he asked his traveller friend.

            Pleased to know he could now relay some positive information to his old friend, Thom explained the situation. “Yes there is. You see all of the magical academies across the world have become safe houses for those like us. I happened to work at one such school before setting out to find you and was told that your family would be welcomed there if you so chose.” He explained as he watched his friend breath a sigh of relief at the good news. “The only problem is actually making it to the academy. Ever since the war began travelling has become quite a hassle. Even those with no physical traits relating to magic are being captured as the human leaders have started a ban on travel.” He continued his tale while informing his friend of the potential danger.

            Reaching down into the small leather pack strapped to the outside of his right leg, Thom removed a black scroll case decorated with intricate silver designs. Flipping the latch, the case popped open to reveal a series of parchment rolled together. Unrolling the outer most layer, Thom set the case on the floor before rising to his feet and spreading the removed parchment across the table. The scroll, a map showing the entire world, was covered with notes and markings as to the location of the academies Thom had spoken of earlier. Scanning the map with one finger, Thom searched for the symbol he was looking for. Finding it at last, he tapped a small scribble on the map and said “This is the place”. Leaning forward for a better view, Edward read the almost illegible writing carefully before the two man began discussing the path they would take to their destination; Calica Academy.

            Only meer feet away a boy’s eyes snapped open at the sound of voices coming from the other side of the wall. Realizing his room was still in the dark grasp of the night, the boy was intrigued as to why someone would be up at that hour. Listening carefully the boy heard the voices of two men deep in discussion. One he recognized as his fathers, but the other he could not place. ‘But I sounds strangely familiar’ the boy thought as he kicked off his heavy blankets and sat up. Placing his bare feet on the cold wood floor, the boy stood up and quietly made his way to the door. Realizing he was only wearing the light shirt and pants he slept in, the boy removed the thick grey sweater hanging on the back of the door and pulled it over his head.

            Turning the handle slowly the boy opened the door and crept out into the dark hallway. Glancing down the short hall, he could see the faint light of candle light emitting from the house’s small kitchen. The boy’s heartbeat filled his ears he made his way towards the voices he heard. Reaching the door leading into the lighted room, the boy glanced in carefully. Sitting at the kitchen table was his father, still dressed in his sleeping clothes and a stranger the boy did not recognize. Studying the visitor, the boy noted the man’s thick black hair and unusual garb as strange for the area. Stepping back the boy tried to silence his racing heart as he attempted to listen to the conversation in the other room.

            Thom paused in his explanation as the feeling of eyes on his back washed over him. Glancing over at the window on the opposite wall, Thom used his trained eyes to catch movement at the door. Shaking his head he returned to his discussion with Edward, this time more watchful of his words.

            As the two men finished their plans and took their seats once again at the table, Thom steered the conversation to his friend’s family. “It’s been a long time since my last visit it seems. How are Theresa and the boys?” Thom asked as he placed the map back in its case and slid the container back into the pouch at his side. “Well Theresa is doing well, as is Milez. That boy is so intent on following in his brothers footsteps.” Edward chuckled. “Milez? Why that boy must be almost a man now. What is he eighteen? Nineteen?” laughed Thom, glad lighten up after the tense discussions of earlier. “No not quite,” replied Edward, “he’s still my seventeen year old boy but soon enough he won’t be a guess.” Thom watched as his friend stared at the picture sitting on the tabletop before he continued his history. “Chris however has got me worried. He’s attending one of the academies to the south but we really haven’t heard much from him lately.” Edward recalled, a worried look creeping onto his face. “But I guess he’s moved on. After all he is twenty three now.”

            “Yep they’ve got to grow up sometime though” replied Thom, a grin spreading across his face. “However your younger son is still not mastered the art of sneaking I can see. I would have thought you’d have taught him a thing or two Edward.” Turning away from his confused friend Thom spoke to the shadows by the door. “Why don’t you come join us Milez? It must be quite uncomfortable standing out there.”

            To Edward’s surprise, out of the dark hallway appeared the figure of his youngest son. “Milez? How long have been standing there?” he demanded, a hint of anger in his voice. “I just got there” replied the boy, his head lowered at his lack of stealth. Edward looked to his friend for an answer but only received a shrug before Thom pushed out a chair for the boy. “I think we’re going to need more tea Edward.” Thom said as the youngest son took a seat at the table with the two men.