Thosis was old. Even he couldn’t remember the time of his birth besides that it was frigid. Many years later, the wise old owl sat alone in the academy’s abandoned clock tower, sleeping away his remaining days. Once, not long ago, the owl took the most unusual student under his wing and, against his better judgment, trained her in the ancient art of Teutonic magic. Thosis still wonders if his breach of protocol was an error.
“Best not to fret over broken eggs,” said the old owl, then drifted off to sleep.
As Fall set in, the old owl felt a change in how nature worked. The air felt tired, and the wind moaned as if suffering from aches and pains. Life had lost its sparkle. “Perhaps my time has come, time to rest for good,” muttered the bird. Fall is a fine time to sleep, thought the owl, closing his eyes for the last time as he prepared for his journey to Walpurgis.
“Wake up, you old feather duster, we have work to do,” boomed a familiar voice.
Thosis opened his eyes to find his former apprentice Fern, the Marsh Wizard, standing in front of him in her usual manner, hands on hips and a quirky smile. Straightening himself, the owl cleared his throat. Then, in his best commanding voice, he spoke.
“Did I not teach you that it is impertinent to barge in here like a storm?”
“No. You always told me that I needed to be more imposing when I spoke,” Fern replied.
“Oh yes, I do seem to remember saying something like that,” said Thosis.
“We need to talk,” said Fern.
“It must be of great importance to get you away from your duties in Folksburywoods,” the bird said.
Fern explained that some of the wood folk had recently vanished. “Strangely enough, it’s only been the wee beasties that have been taken,” added the Wizard.
“It’s highly unusual for the wee folk to be popping off. Are you certain of this? Couldn’t it be they have gone unnoticed?” the owl questioned.
“I thought as much. However, after Franny, Izba, and Ursala did a complete check of the forest folk, it was only the wee beasties that were missing,” explained Fern.
“How is that fleabag getting on these days,” asked Thosis.
“Franny is fine, and the cat is as lazy as ever,” replied Fern.
“I was referring to the cat,” said the bird disapprovingly.
“When did you first notice the forest folk vanishing?” asked Thosis.
“Roughly two months ago, one of the wee folk was supposed to deliver badly needed wolfbane. When they failed to show, I inquired at their village, only to learn that during the previous night, something flew across the sky, blocking the moon. The next day, the herbalist was missing,” said Fern.
“Blocked the moon, you say. That is indeed troubling news. We must arrange for a Parliament as soon as possible,” said Thosis. Fern had often heard her mentor talk about the gathering of owls or Parliament. Whatever was causing the wee folk to vanish must have been extremely dangerous. A Parliament is only called when evil most foul threatens the land. The following morning, the owls began to arrive. Fern enjoyed seeing the headmaster rushing to and fro, greeting each new arrival.
“It appears the eastern contingent has failed to arrive,” said Thosis
“Perhaps they were engaged in more pressing matters,” replied the Marsh Wizard. “I know that look. Should I stick one or both feet this time?” asked Fern.
“Both. Fern, there is nothing more important when it comes to a Parliament. In my two hundred and sixty years, I attended only three. Each dealt with a darkness that threatened to destroy the world,” said Thosis. Fern reflected on her teacher’s words, only to have her thoughts interrupted by a nasal voice.
“Can you be certain that the missing folk haven’t simply gone off on holiday or met with an unfortunate end by a fellow resident, a fox perhaps?” asks Tritan of the northern borderlands.
“Most certain, in either case, the forest folk would have found some trace of them. No, I’m afraid after the shadow appeared, the wee folk vanished without a trace,” answered Fern.
“It is my opinion that this is the work of a necromancer,” said Thrusbill, the Parliament’s grandmaster.
“Necromancer, as in a scary, spectral creature that sucks the life out of everything it touches?” said the Marsh Wizard.
“The same,” replied Thosis.
“I was hoping I heard wrong. This is way beyond my pay grade,” said Fern.
“Then it’s time for a raise,” said the grandmaster. It was agreed that Fern would work with her sister, Franny, the Hedgewitch, to locate the creature’s lair within Folksburywoods.
“Secrecy is essential. If word should get out, the villagers would panic and alert the necromancer,” cautioned Thosis. The owls bid Fern a speedy return to the woods. The Parliament then returned to formulating a plan to capture and imprison the creature. Upon arriving at Folksburywoods, Fern headed directly to Franny’s house, where the two sisters discussed the Parliament. At the same time, Izba fetched Ursula, the wise woman. While discussing a proper method for searching the woods, the group was interrupted by a smallish man.
“Excuse me, madams and sir, but might I bother you briefly?” said the man.
“That depends on what you’re selling,” replied Izba.
“Oh my no, I’m not selling anything. You see, my bees have begun to act very strangely of late,” said the beekeeper.
Fern’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of strange?” asked the Wizard.
“I recently moved them to the apple orchard next to Sorrow’s Hollow. They refuse to go near the hollow even if I place sugar pots to entice them,” said the man.
The four stared coldly at each other. Franny said, “I believe we have found our missing specter.”
“I am sure we can help sort out your dilemma first thing in the morning,” said Izba.
“I thank you kindly, and if there is anything I can do to help, I will be waiting near the forest’s edge,” the man said.
“That won’t be necessary. Your presence may upset the bees, so staying home in the morning is best. We’ll notify you should we require your assistance,” said Franny. Fern contacted a local messenger bird and told the Parliament they had located the necromancer’s lair. Thosis was the first to arrive, and after a brief meeting, the group headed to the forest’s edge and Sorrow’s Hollow.
The silence was deafening. Where once lived a plethora of creatures now stood an empty tree-lined pathway. Even the undergrowth had withered away to a dry crumbling that crunched underfoot as the party moved deeper into the wood.
“Should we use a detection for Evil spell,” asked Franny. Her sister and the wise woman looked at each other in bewilderment.
Thosis managed a polite rebuff. “I don’t think that will be necessary. Just follow the death, and we shall find the necromancer.” The darkness continued growing, and soon, they could barely make out the path before them. Ursula lit a torch, and they proceeded with caution. The air filled with the stench of death, and there before them lay the bodies of the wee beasties. Their bodies withered and twisted, having the life sucked from them.
“Prepare yourself. The foul bugger could be anywhere,” warned the owl. Ahead lay the cave entrance, and it was a sure bet that the necromancer waited within.
“Izba, I know you are the weakest of us magically, but you are also the stealthiest, and we need you to scout ahead if you please,” said Thosis. The cat gave an understanding look and crept into the cavern. Moments later, the wide-eyed familiar came zooming out of the cave.
“It’s there, alright. I am sure it didn’t see me. Even getting close caused my life force to drain away,” whispered the cat.
“Wands ready,” said Fern.
“I have no wand. I have my potion of stillness at hand,” said the wise woman.
“That will do nicely,” remarked Thosis. The five move purposely forward into the blackness, each wondering if they could succeed against such a formidable opponent.
“Franny cast a glow ball spell,” commanded Fern.
“On it. Izba, stay close to Ursula. Remember, she has no magical powers,” said Franny.
The room burst with light.
“THERE,” said the cat, and all of them froze.
“You feel some need to come to my chambers with foul intentions. Arrogance, no doubt, made you think you could overcome me,” spoke the dark shape before them.
“We have come to end your reign of terror upon the good people of this forest,” said Thosis.
“How nice play things to amuse me before I feast on your life force,” spoke the necromancer. The dark figure rushed forward instantly, reaching out to touch the twins.
“Not today,” yelled Fern as she cast her spell. A brilliant beam shot from her wand and slammed into the necromancer’s body, throwing him against the wall.
“Fools, you can not defeat me. I will always win. I am death itself,” howled the figure.
“Oh, shut up and just try and kill us,” replied Thosis. The owl flew directly at the spectator and, just before impact, turned into a white ball of flame that seared the figure’s decaying flesh. “Tag your it,” said Thosis as he swung back around.
“Now? Should I throw it now?” questioned the wise woman.
“A moment, please, good woman. He is not weak enough for it to work,” said the owl.
Franny moved between Ursula and the spectator as a shield from its touch when she unexpectedly stumbled on a rock, causing her to fall.
“Look out, it’s attacking Ursula,” cried Izba. Fern jumped between the two without hesitation, prepared to take the necromancer’s touch.
“Be gone with you, foul demon,” screamed the wise woman, who threw her potion. Its effect was immediate. The necromancer froze in place, but only for an instant. The pause gave Franny enough time to cast her glow ball spell directly into the spectator’s body, bypassing its protective cloak.
“It burns, it burns,” howled the creature. The five backed away quickly, putting ample distance between them and the spectator.
“What do we do now? We used the potion. We have no way to hold it until the Thrusbill brings the holding box,” asked Fern.
“Improvise,” answered the owl. The twins moved to one side while Ursula and Izba took the other. Thosis hovered directly before the demon, who had recovered from Franny’s spell.
“I shall show no mercy to you. The pain I inflict will be a thousand times what you have given me,” the necromancer hissed.
“It hurts, does it? Well, maybe you shouldn’t play with fire if you can’t take the heat,” said Thosis.
“This ends now!” said the demon and lunged at the bird.
“Cast the spell now,” hollered Fern. Four glow balls descended on the dark figure. For a moment, it became translucent, revealing a human skeleton within the black shroud.
“It was a human. That gives me an idea,” cried Ursula, who promptly sat on the floor and began mixing potions from her bag.
“I don’t think this is the best time to brew tea, Ursula,” said Izba.
“Oh, little one, I have it. I know how to slow it down,” the wise woman remarked. The wise woman stood and marched straight at the creature before anyone could stop her. “Remember your pain,” Ursula said, throwing the potion. The room fell deadly silent as her shocked friends watched Ursula jump back from the figure and produce a grin. “That should hold him for a while,” snickered the wise woman. And true to her word, the necromancer swayed back and forth, and then a tiny sound emerged.
“That sounds like a whimper,” remarked Izba.
“What magic have you that can cause pure evil to cry?” asked Thosis.
“Well, I feel completely foolish,” said a voice from behind.
The group spun around to see Thrusbill, the Parliament’s grandmaster, with the holding box. “I expected to find withered wizards everywhere,” winked the grandmaster.
“Pardon my interruption, but I must know what you did to make the necromancer cry,” insisted Thorsis.
“Oh, that, well when the four of you sent your glow balls to stop the spectator, I saw it was once a human. I realized that during its time as a human, it must have caused tremendous pain and suffering to others to become as evil as it is,” said the wise woman.
“Yes, but what was in that potion to cause it to cry,” asked the owl.
“I made a simple potion of self-reflection. It compels you to think about the dark deeds of your past in hopes of setting you on the right path. I use it mostly for naughty children and boys who like to hurt animals,” smiled Ursula.
“So that is why he can’t do anything now. He is so absorbed with his evil past that nothing else matters,” said Izba.
“Yes, but it does not last forever. Grandmaster, Will you do the honor of entrapping him?” said Thosis.
Thursbill went over, whispered the secret unlocking spell, and lifted the lid. A bluish light emanated from the box, encircling the necromancer and pulling him into it. The lid snapped shut, and the lock reset.
“That should hold it for another ten thousand years,” said the grandmaster.
“Tea, we must have tea at my home,” chirped Franny.
“You all go ahead, Thosis, and I have some grim work to finish. The Wee beasties need a proper burial,” said Fern.
As the group walks past the bodies, Izba stops and says, “They didn’t deserve this. They were kind and gentle folk, and I guess that is why evil is drawn to them. It seeks out the most vulnerable: children, the elderly, and the frail. Well, at least no more will die from that demon.” He then rushed to catch up with the group.
The Marsh Wizard and her mentor arrived back at Franny’s home to hear Thursbill telling the tale of when Thosis mistakenly tried to make a date with a stone garden ornament shaped like an owl after his last birthday celebration.
“I can’t help it. I have a good eye for refined ladies, right Fern,” winked the old owl. Later, after everyone left, Thosis and Fern sat sipping tea and discussing his future. “I was going to pass over before your arrival the other day, but I still have much to share. Do you think it would be alright if I came and stayed for a bit here with you,” asked Thosis.
“Only if you help me stop my familiar from trying to kill each other,” Fern said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Ah, yes, those two. I did tell you that it was a bad idea to make two, but we shall see what might be done,” said Thosis. He felt an energy he had missed, the excitement of not knowing what tomorrow would be, only that it would be exciting.
The End?
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