Hinsel was on his bed with all of his sheats in a bundel upon his back. He woke to find the sunlight flooding the room with its welcoming rays.
Hinsel beamed. He streched and came toward the window, gazing outside to found children playing in the meadow. They danced in the warm morning air. Women walked about with large baskets of fruit while the men bragged and bargained.
Hinsel made his bed and began to dress. He wore a lightly padded shirt and thin pants that hung loosely around his legs. Although thin, they kept out even the strongest of winds. He ran out of his house and down the hill to join the comotion. He brought some coins and automatically began to buy whatever met his interest. He bought a blue little diary with two green strips and also bought a ripe apple. He then bought a set of dragon history books and a future book (though he wasn't sure what that was.) He made his way down the street and ducked into Artrawers bar.
"What do you want?" came a voice from behind the counter. It was Artrawer. Artrawer was a short man with a hunched back. He had long muck like hair and one eye. He covered it with a black eyes patch. He wore a rough looking coat that went to his ankles concealing the rest of his features.
"I would like a mug of beer please" replied Hinsel politley. Artrawer glared at him suspiciosly but eventually nodded and went to get it. Hinsel looked at the room he was standing in. It was a fairly large room with stonewalls. It had a cozy fireplace and a magnificent rug. It was faded red with intracte designs woven into in. Gold tapestries clung to the ceiling and all together it was welcoming.
"Well?" Hinsel spun around and found Artrawer holding a chipped mug filled with beer. Hinsel tossed a few coins down on the counter and took the mug and went to find a seat. This wasnt hard since this bar had fairly bad service. He found a spot near the fireplace and slid in the rough chair. Hinsel wrapped his hands around the mug and hunched his shoulders.
"Hinsel!" cried a familiar voice as Hinsel took his first sip. Hinsel jerked his head up to see Sakens twisted figure standing in the doorway. Hinsel slowly stood up aware that all eyes where on him. "Sit down there is no hurry!" Saken said cheerfully. Hinsel lowered himself into the chair. Saken wadded over and sat in the chair across from Hinsel."The traders are here!"
Hinsel jumped out of his chair and ran outside leaving his mug behind. Hinsel looked down the road and saw travelers coming through the gate. They had large sacks where they kept their tents and trailers pulled by ox carrying wonderful merchandise.
Hinsel ran between the carts and looked for Asretum, the magic and war materials seller. A huge crowed came forward and pushed Hinsel away. They began chatting with the traders and offering items. Hinsel sighed and decided to wait till the traders set up there tents. He turned around, back facing the traders.
There was a boom behind him and he spun around to see Asretum transform into a giant. All of the men and women ran into shops screaming,and the children climed into trees. Hinsel was the only one who hadn't fled (aside from the traders.) Hinsel laughed and headed toward the giant."Hello Asretum"
"It's a bit windy up here." He replied. He transformed into his regular self wich was a tall figure with thick silver eyebrows. Both his beard and hair were straight, which fell to his shoulders and he wore a black robe that fell to his ankles.
Hinsel laughed again and ran up to Asretum. Asretum greeted Hinsel with a hardy pat on the back. "What did you bring this time?" Hinsel asked. Asretum always brought something for Hinsel without Hinsel having to pay; however, Hinsel must buy anything other than whatever that gift was with a certain amount of coins.
"I have brought a" (he pulled something large from his sack)"new mahogany bow with fire arrows." Hinsels eyes gleamed as he picked up the bueatiful gift." Were could you have posibly picked this up?"" A man traded this for one of my love potions. Odd, he had to be desptrate. Would you like to purchase something?" Hinsel looked at his coins and at the dozens of objects on display."I'll have one of those," Hinsel said pointing to a black book with golden letters with the words "Magic and how it may bring you to a better fate" Asretum handed the book to Hinsel in exchange for three coins. Hinsel thanked Asretum.
Hinsel ran towards his home.He went through his window and hid his new bow and fire arrows under his bed. "Hinsel it's time for breakfast and I don't see any food on the table!" cried his mothers' voice. Hinsel walked into the living room." The traders are here." Hinsel said coolly. Without saying a word Hinsels mother put on her coat and ran out the door. One of the traders was his mothers boyfriend so Hinsel always took advantage of it so he could slip away before she came back. Today, however, he decided to make breakfast. He made half a dozen loafs of bread and some eggs. Hinsel ran to his room and picked up the book he had bought from Asretum. He flipped open the book to the first page and began to read one of the spells,
The forest hides many secrets
Some which you'de like to know
But due to confidentiality
The forest will not show
Now we give you this sack
Full to the topwith the courage you lack
Take this gift, and use it well
For this is an unreversable spell
As Hinsel read the last line, he was glad he had not spoken the words aloud. He flipped through the pages and found that eighteen of the spells where a few phrases while the rest where one word. Hinsel decided to try to perform one of the simpler spells. Thumbing back to the previous pages he stopped at one that read Portal. Under the title was one word:
Faolio
Curiosity overwhelmed him and he repeated the words. Before he had a chance to react he was sucked into a black hole that appeared out of thin air. Inside colors wizzed by him as the hole pulled him farther and farther into the perforation. When he came to, he was behind was behind an ivory pole in a dark and dismale room. The walls were made of black marble, very rare black marble. The walls had gold bases. The floor was also black, but made of an unfamiliar material. He stepped away from the ivory beam, and saw a dark figure with a gleaming silver razored headpiece.
At first Hinsel did not recognize the feindish person that he saw before him, but as he looked closer he saw it was Marohamata. He identified him by the description in one of his books. Hinsel backed away uneasily. Marohamata glared at him maliciously, and raised his hand, but before he could utter a word, Hinsel said "Faolio" again and disapeared into the portal only to be thrown in the air and crash againts his wall." About time," an odd voice said by the doorway. Hinsel jerked his head up to see another elf around his age looking at him. He had black, short hair, that was spiked and a sword in its sheath that hung from a leather belt. He had sharp features and black eyes.
Hinsel stood up and got ready to dive for his weapons. The boy pulled a sword from something behind his back and flipped it around and caught it on the flat side of the blade. The handle was a foot away from Hinsel and he feebly reached for it. The blade was perfectly straight and the handle had beautiful wood working with a magnifecent diamond in the very center. Hinsel felt the weight in his hands as the boy took his hand away. "Good, now let's go, we haven't got much time." "Time for what?" the boy sighed. "Time to leave."
The boy could see the confused look on Hinsels face and added," Your mother is already protected, now pack your bags! I will explain every thing on the way." Hinsel was in total shock. Despite his bewildrment, Hinsel obeyed catching the franticness in the boy's voice. He packed his mahogany bow and fire arrows. He packed five dragon books, his spell book, the future diary, and the trinklet box that he kept his most prized possesions in. He packed few clothes.
"Come on," the boy pleaded. Hinsel looked up and nodded. They crept out of the house. Hinsel took a final glance at the house and followed the boy. The boy veered off the road as he saw the first rooftops of downtown. Hinsel crept behind the odd boy wondering his purpose. The boy went behind the buildings and ducked under every window. He jumped over the three-foot fence that surounded Saca and motioned for Hinsel to follow. Hinsel sighed slightly but went anyway.
"Okay," the boy said and came to a sudden stop. He sat down on a rock and looked up at Hinsels confused face.
This was the first time Hinsel could really look at the boy closely. The boy wore a long black band around his head and the clothes he wore where some of the most expensive.
He chuckled slightly." I think you deserve an explaination. Well I think I'll come right out and tell you. I heard you say the magic word. I cannot speak it unless I want to see the evil king as well. Now that you have shown yourself to him, he will hunt you down. After he has captured you, death will be inevitable. We must flea before he finds your location." The boy finished leaving a impossible feeling in Hinsels mind.
"It begins."
