Chapter 5: In Which They Hunt a Wizard
Fifteen minutes later, Mendanbar was alone in the armory. He set up so many anti-magic spells since he was freed from the Society of Wizard's trap that he had trouble concentrating. So as he lit the torches with a match, he started to hum a Christmas song to himself. "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. Next year all our troubles will be out of sight."
"Your majesty, what brings you down here?" a voice called. It was Willin. Mendanbar tried to ignore him as he looked at an enchanted blade for Cimorene.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas." Then he said nonchalantly, "We're going on a good ole fashioned wizard hunt. Sounds like a new Christmas tradition, doesn't it?"
"Wizard hunt? You haven't entertained the true ambassador yet, and you're thinking of hunting wizards?"
"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore," Mendanbar hummed to himself as he investigated a magic bow and arrow. "We're hunting only one wizard, and it's for the good of the true ambassador's health and the future of Christmas."
"If you say so, your majesty. I expect to hear the full report soon."
As Willin turned on his heel, Mendanbar approached a well-hidden sword, which was in fact the blade of the Enchanted Forest. "La la la la do do do do do do, if the fates allow," he sang to himself as he gripped the blade.
**************
Shiara was so put out with the yowling cats that she kicked the first one she saw. Morwen came out and frowned. "What do you want?" Shiara huffed.
"Now, is that the way to address me, young lady?"
"Oh, sorry. What do you wish for me to do for you, Morwen?"
"That's better, come in." She let Shiara in and showed her into the bedroom. "We just learned that this man is a snowwitch. Do you know anything about those?"
"Not a whole lot."
"Well, just talk to him. He might enjoy speaking to one of his own cousins, as he puts it."
Shiara walked up to him. The ambassador looked up at her. "Well, hello there young lady."
"Hello. I'm Shiara. Who are you?"
"Chris Kringle, or Santa Claus as some people call me."
"Oh, I've heard of you. You're that guy who supposedly goes around giving presents to brats around the world."
"No, never to brats. And what do you mean, supposedly?"
"Well, if you're real, why didn't you ever pay me or my brothers and sisters a visit? I mean, I can't tell how many Christmases we spent skinning onions and potatoes just because YOU NEVER SHOWED UP!" As her voice raised, Shiara's hair burst into flames. The ambassador reached out and just lightly touched her arm, and the fire immediately went out. "Whoa, that was cold!"
"That's part of the reason why. You are a firewitch. As I understand it, snowwitches and firewitches don't really have a good rapport with each other. I was always taught that if I got too close to one, I might melt."
"Well, couldn't you at least sent us something in the mail?"
"Were you good?"
"As good as a firewitch can be, I suppose."
"That's the thing. I only visit children who were good for the most part of the year. The truth is, firewitches don't tend to be good."
"Well, you do have a point. I mean, if it weren't for this stupid politeness thing--"
"Oh, you are polite normally, unlike most firewitches?"
"No. It was Daystar's stupid fault. My fire magic was latent, but Daystar used his magic to make me do magic only when I'm polite. Don't expect that to put me on your 'Nice' list anytime soon. Daystar's going to undo it one of these days, even if I have to force it out of him."
The ambassador turned away. "For a moment there, I was hoping that I found someone who knew my plight."
"I don't know if I can ever know what it's like to be you. I learned today that I can't even play in the snow. It just melts in my hands."
"I know how that is. As for me, I can't ever feel warm. I can stand and stand in front of a fire and never feel a thing. Of course, I'm used to the cold, but sometimes I wonder if that's all there is. Maybe that's why I do what I do. It puts a good feeling inside of me that some say is like warmth. I know after Christmas, the cold of the North Pole doesn't bother me." The ambassador smiled at her. "I'm glad we had this talk."
Shiara sat down and had to agree. She liked talking to him.
****************
Mendanbar didn't have to use the device Telemain gave him to find Grincheezer. All he had to do was follow the Christmas destruction. The forest made a pathway of snow melting, Christmas trees drooping, poinsettias wilting, and disembodied voices humming their Christmas carols solemnly, as if they have lost all heart.
"This just makes me feel so sad," Cimorene said. "It's like putting away your Christmas ornaments, except it's not even Christmas Eve."
"There he is!" Mendanbar whispered. "Remember, only use your weapons as a last resort. The last thing we need is this Christmas to get ugly."
They saw the imposter in the pathway with a bulging sack slung over his shoulder. Mendanbar cleared his throat, and the imposter turned. "Mendanbar! What a surprise to see you here! Do you need something from me?"
"Cut the act. We know who you are, Grincheezer." He twisted something in the air, and the imposter's true nature was revealed. His robe turned brown. The white beard grew smaller into a tweed-colored goatee. His eyes became rounder and more sinister looking, without a hint of a twinkle. He had buckteeth and a small, pointy nose.
"How did you know it was me?" he said in a raspy voice.
"That's none of your business. I don't take kindly to those who steal magic from my kingdom. So we can either take care of this the easy way or the hard way. It's up to you."
Grincheezer smiled deviously, showing his pointy teeth. "Oh, easy. I always choose easy." As he spoke, he pulled out his staff from within his robe and pointed it toward Mendanbar.
As a reflex, Mendanbar and Cimorene pointed to the wizard. "Argelfraster!"
Nothing happened. Grincheezer laughed. "I'm not one of those wizards."
"What do you mean?" Cimorene asked.
"Things aren't always what they seem."
Mendanbar and Daystar scrutinized the wizard. "Why exactly are you doing this?" Mendanbar asked.
"Why do you think? We weren't allowed into the Caves of Fire and Night, and we could no longer absorb magic from your domain because of your blasted sword. I've been around the world. There are few other places to get magic anymore. After working with the Claus for so many years, I was beginning to run about power. Then I read your friend Telemain's report on the Christmas phenomenon, and I knew I could gather the magic from this to become a powerful wizard, maybe even the Headwizard! When the Society is reborn, of course."
"But this is the magic of Christmas!" Cimorene cried. "This is the joy of little children. Don't you feel at least a little guilty?"
"Ha! Christmas. It's just an excuse to sell junk to spoiled children, making them more spoiled. Their parents can take care of that. They believe that the ambassador doesn't exist."
"Christmas isn't about that!" Mendanbar said. "It's about being together as family."
"Yeah, it's about giving, not getting," Cimorene added.
"And it's a time to think about the birth of Jesus," Daystar finally said. Cimorene nudged him. "Uh, that is, like we do every day." Cimorene still gave him a "We-have-to-talk-when-we-get-home" look.
"Bologna!" Grincheezer yelled. "It's noisy! It's stupid!"
"Then why were you working so long with the ambassador anyway?" Mendanbar asked.
"It's so simple. The more I give those pesky brats what they want, the more they would want to follow me. But now to you. You know too much, and I must destroy you."
His staff started to glow. Mendanbar drew his sword and absorbed the spell. Grincheezer tried again, and Mendanbar did it again. Daystar yanked something in the air to stop the wizard, but Grincheezer countered his spell. The fight went on like this for some time. Cimorene often got in between Mendanbar and the wizard to block whatever the latter had planned.
As Daystar threw one spell, he sensed something off. "Something isn't right." He twisted something around the wizard, and Grincheezer transformed again into a green, furry humanoid creature. "He is a Grinch."
Grincheezer roared and took in magic from his pack. He shot all kinds of spells, some Mendanbar absorbed, but some he missed. Grincheezer used a spell to knock Mendanbar's sword out of his hands. Then with a twisted smile, he walked up to the king, his staff up high above his head, laughing maniacally.
Cimorene forgot about her sword and started taking off her shoe. "Oh no. You are not going to hurt my husband!" She tossed her shoe and hit Grincheezer's head. Instantly, he disappeared, save for a small critter crawling around Mendanbar's feet.
"A mouse?" Daystar asked.
"No wonder he was called 'cheeser,'" Mendanbar observed.
"I'm not just any mouse!" Grincheezer squeaked. "I am the king of mice! The wizards were gracious enough to have me join their society, so I--"
"Oh yes, I've heard of you," Mendanbar said picking Grincheezer up by the fur on its back. "I know a fitting punishment for you."
"Not a cat!"
"No, not a cat." He twisted something in the air, and immediately the mouse turned into a wooden doll.
"A nutcracker!" Cimorene said. "How cute!"
"Yes. I imagine it will look splendid on the mantle among the garlands and the candles. But to the matter at hand."
Mendanbar picked up the sack and looked inside. He frowned as he turned back to the others. "This isn't good."
Fifteen minutes later, Mendanbar was alone in the armory. He set up so many anti-magic spells since he was freed from the Society of Wizard's trap that he had trouble concentrating. So as he lit the torches with a match, he started to hum a Christmas song to himself. "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. Next year all our troubles will be out of sight."
"Your majesty, what brings you down here?" a voice called. It was Willin. Mendanbar tried to ignore him as he looked at an enchanted blade for Cimorene.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas." Then he said nonchalantly, "We're going on a good ole fashioned wizard hunt. Sounds like a new Christmas tradition, doesn't it?"
"Wizard hunt? You haven't entertained the true ambassador yet, and you're thinking of hunting wizards?"
"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore," Mendanbar hummed to himself as he investigated a magic bow and arrow. "We're hunting only one wizard, and it's for the good of the true ambassador's health and the future of Christmas."
"If you say so, your majesty. I expect to hear the full report soon."
As Willin turned on his heel, Mendanbar approached a well-hidden sword, which was in fact the blade of the Enchanted Forest. "La la la la do do do do do do, if the fates allow," he sang to himself as he gripped the blade.
**************
Shiara was so put out with the yowling cats that she kicked the first one she saw. Morwen came out and frowned. "What do you want?" Shiara huffed.
"Now, is that the way to address me, young lady?"
"Oh, sorry. What do you wish for me to do for you, Morwen?"
"That's better, come in." She let Shiara in and showed her into the bedroom. "We just learned that this man is a snowwitch. Do you know anything about those?"
"Not a whole lot."
"Well, just talk to him. He might enjoy speaking to one of his own cousins, as he puts it."
Shiara walked up to him. The ambassador looked up at her. "Well, hello there young lady."
"Hello. I'm Shiara. Who are you?"
"Chris Kringle, or Santa Claus as some people call me."
"Oh, I've heard of you. You're that guy who supposedly goes around giving presents to brats around the world."
"No, never to brats. And what do you mean, supposedly?"
"Well, if you're real, why didn't you ever pay me or my brothers and sisters a visit? I mean, I can't tell how many Christmases we spent skinning onions and potatoes just because YOU NEVER SHOWED UP!" As her voice raised, Shiara's hair burst into flames. The ambassador reached out and just lightly touched her arm, and the fire immediately went out. "Whoa, that was cold!"
"That's part of the reason why. You are a firewitch. As I understand it, snowwitches and firewitches don't really have a good rapport with each other. I was always taught that if I got too close to one, I might melt."
"Well, couldn't you at least sent us something in the mail?"
"Were you good?"
"As good as a firewitch can be, I suppose."
"That's the thing. I only visit children who were good for the most part of the year. The truth is, firewitches don't tend to be good."
"Well, you do have a point. I mean, if it weren't for this stupid politeness thing--"
"Oh, you are polite normally, unlike most firewitches?"
"No. It was Daystar's stupid fault. My fire magic was latent, but Daystar used his magic to make me do magic only when I'm polite. Don't expect that to put me on your 'Nice' list anytime soon. Daystar's going to undo it one of these days, even if I have to force it out of him."
The ambassador turned away. "For a moment there, I was hoping that I found someone who knew my plight."
"I don't know if I can ever know what it's like to be you. I learned today that I can't even play in the snow. It just melts in my hands."
"I know how that is. As for me, I can't ever feel warm. I can stand and stand in front of a fire and never feel a thing. Of course, I'm used to the cold, but sometimes I wonder if that's all there is. Maybe that's why I do what I do. It puts a good feeling inside of me that some say is like warmth. I know after Christmas, the cold of the North Pole doesn't bother me." The ambassador smiled at her. "I'm glad we had this talk."
Shiara sat down and had to agree. She liked talking to him.
****************
Mendanbar didn't have to use the device Telemain gave him to find Grincheezer. All he had to do was follow the Christmas destruction. The forest made a pathway of snow melting, Christmas trees drooping, poinsettias wilting, and disembodied voices humming their Christmas carols solemnly, as if they have lost all heart.
"This just makes me feel so sad," Cimorene said. "It's like putting away your Christmas ornaments, except it's not even Christmas Eve."
"There he is!" Mendanbar whispered. "Remember, only use your weapons as a last resort. The last thing we need is this Christmas to get ugly."
They saw the imposter in the pathway with a bulging sack slung over his shoulder. Mendanbar cleared his throat, and the imposter turned. "Mendanbar! What a surprise to see you here! Do you need something from me?"
"Cut the act. We know who you are, Grincheezer." He twisted something in the air, and the imposter's true nature was revealed. His robe turned brown. The white beard grew smaller into a tweed-colored goatee. His eyes became rounder and more sinister looking, without a hint of a twinkle. He had buckteeth and a small, pointy nose.
"How did you know it was me?" he said in a raspy voice.
"That's none of your business. I don't take kindly to those who steal magic from my kingdom. So we can either take care of this the easy way or the hard way. It's up to you."
Grincheezer smiled deviously, showing his pointy teeth. "Oh, easy. I always choose easy." As he spoke, he pulled out his staff from within his robe and pointed it toward Mendanbar.
As a reflex, Mendanbar and Cimorene pointed to the wizard. "Argelfraster!"
Nothing happened. Grincheezer laughed. "I'm not one of those wizards."
"What do you mean?" Cimorene asked.
"Things aren't always what they seem."
Mendanbar and Daystar scrutinized the wizard. "Why exactly are you doing this?" Mendanbar asked.
"Why do you think? We weren't allowed into the Caves of Fire and Night, and we could no longer absorb magic from your domain because of your blasted sword. I've been around the world. There are few other places to get magic anymore. After working with the Claus for so many years, I was beginning to run about power. Then I read your friend Telemain's report on the Christmas phenomenon, and I knew I could gather the magic from this to become a powerful wizard, maybe even the Headwizard! When the Society is reborn, of course."
"But this is the magic of Christmas!" Cimorene cried. "This is the joy of little children. Don't you feel at least a little guilty?"
"Ha! Christmas. It's just an excuse to sell junk to spoiled children, making them more spoiled. Their parents can take care of that. They believe that the ambassador doesn't exist."
"Christmas isn't about that!" Mendanbar said. "It's about being together as family."
"Yeah, it's about giving, not getting," Cimorene added.
"And it's a time to think about the birth of Jesus," Daystar finally said. Cimorene nudged him. "Uh, that is, like we do every day." Cimorene still gave him a "We-have-to-talk-when-we-get-home" look.
"Bologna!" Grincheezer yelled. "It's noisy! It's stupid!"
"Then why were you working so long with the ambassador anyway?" Mendanbar asked.
"It's so simple. The more I give those pesky brats what they want, the more they would want to follow me. But now to you. You know too much, and I must destroy you."
His staff started to glow. Mendanbar drew his sword and absorbed the spell. Grincheezer tried again, and Mendanbar did it again. Daystar yanked something in the air to stop the wizard, but Grincheezer countered his spell. The fight went on like this for some time. Cimorene often got in between Mendanbar and the wizard to block whatever the latter had planned.
As Daystar threw one spell, he sensed something off. "Something isn't right." He twisted something around the wizard, and Grincheezer transformed again into a green, furry humanoid creature. "He is a Grinch."
Grincheezer roared and took in magic from his pack. He shot all kinds of spells, some Mendanbar absorbed, but some he missed. Grincheezer used a spell to knock Mendanbar's sword out of his hands. Then with a twisted smile, he walked up to the king, his staff up high above his head, laughing maniacally.
Cimorene forgot about her sword and started taking off her shoe. "Oh no. You are not going to hurt my husband!" She tossed her shoe and hit Grincheezer's head. Instantly, he disappeared, save for a small critter crawling around Mendanbar's feet.
"A mouse?" Daystar asked.
"No wonder he was called 'cheeser,'" Mendanbar observed.
"I'm not just any mouse!" Grincheezer squeaked. "I am the king of mice! The wizards were gracious enough to have me join their society, so I--"
"Oh yes, I've heard of you," Mendanbar said picking Grincheezer up by the fur on its back. "I know a fitting punishment for you."
"Not a cat!"
"No, not a cat." He twisted something in the air, and immediately the mouse turned into a wooden doll.
"A nutcracker!" Cimorene said. "How cute!"
"Yes. I imagine it will look splendid on the mantle among the garlands and the candles. But to the matter at hand."
Mendanbar picked up the sack and looked inside. He frowned as he turned back to the others. "This isn't good."