Atlas Cloud And The Amulet of Thieves (8 page)

“How much power are we talking here?” I said, curiosity getting the best of me.

“It all depends on the magician. Some are stronger than others.” Farro said.

“There are rumours of a man that was so powerful; he was able to move mountains.” Roko said.

“You better rest now; we have a long day ahead of us.” Farro said. I leant back down onto my rucksack, closing my eyes. Listening to the night life, I felt happy for the first time in a very long time. The image of mountains moving imprinted on my brain. 

              “How did he do that?” Roko whispered.

“I know it was magnificent.” Farro said I stopped listening to the wildlife and directed my attention to their conversation, being careful not to be noticed.

“He shouldn’t be able to cast a spell like that, especially at his level.” Roko said.

“He has a strong heart, it makes him powerful. Just like his father.” Farro said.

“I don’t like it.” Roko grunted. “It’s dangerous.”

“He will learn to control his power.”

“But what if he doesn’t or he does but not in time. It took me years of training to control magic. I don’t want to be killed because the kid wants to create a flower, but ends up creating an earthquake.” Roko protested. Dangerous. Me? The words tainting the colourful world around me. I wanted to eavesdrop some more but I’m exhausted and the sandman has other ideas. My eyes closed and the river lapping up against the bank lulled me to sleep.

11 –FOREST OF THE MIST-

We awoke early; Farro had made some sort of stew concoction, the smell lingering around the camp making sure we were all up and ready. Chunks of some meat, rabbit maybe or it could be chicken, I don’t even think he knew. It didn't taste all that good but it was food none the less. Food I desperately needed. I realised as we were hiking for almost four straight hours that I had slept soundly, no woman, no mirror, nothing. Something as plentiful as sleep is taken for granted. It’s not until you've not had any that you start to comprehend how good it is. The night’s rest invigorated me; it almost makes this whole trip worth it. Not for the magic, but for the peace. Eli was plodding along, kicking sticks up the path as he walked.

“What’s the matter?” I said noticing how quiet he’d been since we left camp.

“Nothing, I'm all right” Eli said lying like a twelve year old boy who just broke the neighbour’s window with a football.

“Don't be like that, this is all as strange to me as it is to you” I said

“No it isn't!” he grunted at me

“What do you mean?” I said

“I didn't know how dangerous it was going to be. The first night in and you were attacked and almost killed. I'm supposed to be here protecting you but I have nothing to protect you with.” he said biting his lip. I could see that it had been playing on his mind for a while. We all slowed down eventually coming to a stop.

“You're fine with it because you’re protected, how am I supposed to have your back, be by your side if I can't even defend myself?” I wanted to say something but I didn't have an answer. He was defenceless, waiting on the side lines while I try and learn how to use this ring. I looked at Farro and Roko to see if they could jump in and help me.

“Eli my boy, I have something for you I think you will like.” Farro said reaching into his coat.

“It's not more soup is it? Because I'm sure I found a toe in my bowl last time.” Eli said with a look of disgust on his face.

“No no, something much better. And anyway what’s wrong with the stew?” Farro said. Roko just shrugged at him, avoiding the subject. Farro pulled a small folded piece of dirty white cloth from his over coat. He handed it to Eli. Eli stood there looking at it disappointed.

“Atlas look, aren't you jealous, I have an old man's dirty loin cloth” Eli said holding it up. I chuckled and was as confused as him about the gift.

“Eli you have to open it, it's heavy though so open it on the floor.” Farro said. Eli looked puzzled staring at the cloth. How can it be heavy? He put it on the ground and started to unfold it. It got longer and longer and wider and wider. The cloth could fit in your palm at the beginning; it was now almost a metre wide. Eli stopped unfolding it. He patted the cloth. There was something in it. Eli spun round pulling the object from the wrapping. It was a sword. It looked old and worn but the blade still shined, reflecting the sunlight, flashing its beauty to the world. Eli's face lit up. He was mesmerized by the fact he was holding a real sword rather than the plastic ones we used to buy at the fair.

“That my son is my old short sword.” Farro said.

“But how...”

“It’s a Diegol. It makes any object you choose smaller by folding it up in the cloth. A Diegol cloth is an essential for any traveller.” Farro said. Eli had stopped listening and now was swinging it and slicing the air with it.

“Stop playing with it, we have to keep moving” Roko snapped. Eli sheathed the sword away proudly and we began walking again. Eli had a spring in his step now, walking with purpose, ready for anything. It was true; magic is only limited by the imagination. I looked down at my dad’s ring; I remembered the magic tricks he used to show me and the shows we went to see. When he had time off work, we used to travel to stage shows, packing almost a year’s worth of junk food into the car. The long road trips were the best memories I have of him. There was no complications, no school, no magic, no crazy old men in big yellow coats. Just me and him. Happy. Atlas. A voice whispered into my ear. I turned around and found no one. It sounded like a woman. Atlas.

“Roko, did you say something?” I asked. She looked at me, her eyebrows frowning.

“No”

“Oh, okay” I said

“Why?” She said

“No reason” I said, trying to avoid explaining why I'm hearing voices. In front of us the path stopped. Dark, menacing trees blocked our way. The tree branches covered the skyline so that there was hardly any light reaching the ground. It was silent, dead.

“The city lies beyond this forest.” Farro said

“It's too dangerous” Roko interrupted “We won't last ten minutes in there.”

“I know!” Farro shouted. I could see in his eyes that he knew it was a bad idea. “We don't have a choice.” Farro said. Roko started pacing, trying to conjure up an alternative route.

“What's wrong with it, it's just a little dark.” I said, purposely sounding naïve, I'm no magician but even I can sense there’s something I don't want to find in there.

“Just a little dark!? It's not the dark we’re concerned about.” Roko said.

“The forest isn't the problem, it's what lies within Atlas, I can't tell you the full story of why, we don't have time and to be honest no one really knows. All you need to know is that it is not good.” Farro said. I believed him. I'm sure I don't want to know anyway.

“Short story.” Roko said “There's a creature in there that feeds on fear. It separates its prey using a mist, and then picks them off one by one.” Eli and I looked at each other. Eli's hand was firmly gripped on his sword, squeezing, tightening his grip, as he tried not to show the fear on his face for my sake, I could see it seep through his eyes, betraying his valour.

“Can't we go around it” Eli sputtered.

“No.” Farro said “As much as I would like to the enemy has spies all over, we can't have another night like the one with the hunter. If he knew you were here, it would be far worse. And we are short on time; it would take too long to travel around it.” Farro said. Memories of the beast's fangs and rotten breath chomping away at my face, trying to end my life. The images flash before my eyes as if it was that night again. A sharp pain radiated down my chest and arm. I grasp my shoulder, my knees start to buckle, but I focus on standing straight. The pain almost gets the best of me. Farro jolts over to my side, propping me up, holding me by the shoulders.

“The poison is spreading; if we don't get you to a healer in Northvale you’re going to get worse.” Farro said.

“Poison? I thought it was just a flesh wound.” Eli said. He was getting angry, our trip seemed to get worse and worse.

“The hunter’s blood is bleeding into his arteries and veins, infecting as they go.” Farro said. “It's not far, this is the quickest route.” Farro handed me his water container.

“Ok then what are we waiting for?” Eli said, he charged forward towards the tree line.

“Wait, wait we have to go together.” Roko shouted “It wants us separated, we need to stick together.”

“It feeds on your fear, don’t believe what you see, keep your focus and we will pull through.” Farro said. After the pain levelled out and I had control again, we headed into the forest.

              We kept in single file holding onto one another’s back packs and shirts. Farro, Roko, Eli and then me. The stench of the wood was almost unbearable. It didn't make sense until we came across the first of the bodies. Skinless hunks of meat. Their souls ripped right out of their chests. Leaving a savaged body behind, some were still clothed; others lay there naked and destroyed. Not even their dignity was saved. Some even had weapons, axes, swords even pitchforks but these man made tools didn't even have blood on. They didn't even hurt the creature? The blades as clean as they were when they woke up and sheathed them on their belts. The sight of the swords made me feel more uneasy than the bodies themselves. The last thoughts of families and loved ones were replaced with nightmares and hate. I stared at the ground, hoping not to see any more carcasses. I just wanted to be back home, sitting, relaxing. Safe. Seeing this on TV rather than in real life. You can't smell the bodies when you watch it on TV.

“Keep together now.” Farro said as he led us through the wasteland. Farro held his fist up, making us all stop. It took him a couple of minutes to say anything. “Do you hear that?” Farro said looking around. It sounded like the wind, except it was getting louder and louder.

“There!” Eli shouted, pointing in front of us. I went on tip toes to see what he was pointing at. A great white cloud was barrelling in our direction. It looked like a thirty foot high wall that was coming straight for us.

“Hold on!” Farro bellowed. His words lost on the wind. The mist hit us head on, I tried to grab Eli's backpack but it knocked me off balance and I fell to the ground. The roar of the white shadow was deafening. I clasped my ears, trying to stop my ear drums from bursting. Rolled up in a ball in the dirt, I realised I couldn't hear the rest of the group or even see them for that matter. The mist enveloped us and everything around us. I swung my arm in an attempt to find Eli but there was nothing but thin air to greet me.

“Atlas!” A voice cried out, it sounded like Eli. I revolve around trying to pin point the scream. “Atlas!” The voice cried out again this time a little clearer. It sounded like he was crying out from behind me. In my daze I must have done a complete one eighty. It was so thick I could hardly even see my hands in front of my face. “Help, please.” He sounded louder now, I was getting closer. I wanted to run to him but I couldn't even see where I was going. I thought I would never find him but then the mist started to ease off. I could see ahead of me. Someone was crouched down facing away from me sobbing. It didn't look like Eli. This person was broader and taller. Why was there another traveller out in these woods? I thought the myth itself was enough to scare people away.

“You all right mate?” I called out to him. “It's dangerous out here; you shouldn't be out here on your own.” He stopped crying and started to get up. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him. Blood was dripping from his hands; his clothes were drenched with a dark liquid.

“Why didn't you save me?” He said his voice resonated through my body. I was sweating now, the familiarity of him getting clearer and clearer. Please don't be him, please, anyone but him. “Why did you leave me there to die?” He turned around showing his face. It was dad. Standing there he looked exactly how I remembered him from the crash.

“I tried there was nothing I could do.” I said.

“You left me there. To rot. To die.” He said circling me as if I was prey. Everything about him was the same, except in his eyes. He was twisted, different. I tried to fight the tears in but it was an impossible task.

“I tried I did! There was nothing I could do.”

“You betrayed me Atlas, you have always been a burden to me, you’re pathetic.” His voice vibrated through my body, chilling my bones. I knew he wasn't real but I couldn't grasp that fact. He was standing there in front of me. He was gritting his teeth, black as death himself, his eyes were bloodshot and his finger nails were long, like talons. He started to walk closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine. I betrayed him and now he was having his revenge. He sped up, and his mouth widened. I could see into the back of his mouth, there were at least three rows of razor sharp teeth aching to bite into my flesh. He wasn't my dad; he was as close to family as the beast who poisoned me. He pounced, jumping at me with all its strength. But this time I was ready, I grounded my back foot and lunged with my foot forwards, channelling magic through my body. The beast was taken off guard my foot striking it in the chest, blasting it backwards. It let out a squeal, but recovered quickly, climbing up the nearest tree. It jumped between them. I fired a couple of fireballs towards it but the beast was too fast, as they all missed. It pounced once again; in a flash of panic I created an orb around me. It tackled me to the ground. It tried to bite my face and slash my throat but it was stopped by the force field. It pounded it with its fist, getting frustrated. The shield I was forming around me was draining me, making me weaker every second. I could feel the shield become brittle. Cracks started emerging throughout it. If I didn't think of something fast I was going to become dog meat.