The sorcerer(I)

- Who are you? And how did we meet?–I asked, staring into his eyes-
- Oh, come on. –he answered, unwillingly-
- My memories of you are deleted. So tell me, who are you?

He sighed.

- I’m Ed Davies. I own a publishing house in South Sandwich and some other businesses in Orsinia. –he said-. You made a stupid deal with Hellgirl, a devil woman you’re friends with. You agreed to write a book for her if she brought Bob, your boyfriend, back to you. She entrusted me with the publication of your book and she would get the earnings. I just followed her instructions and contacted you.

My face radiated. For a moment, I walked on a cloud thinking I was a published writer.

- Have I published a book? –I asked, very excited-
- I’m very sorry to disappoint you, but you haven’t. I wrote it for you to pay your debt with Hellgirl. But it’s a long story.

Gosh I was friends with a devil woman and this guy had saved my soul writing a book!

- It seems I have an interesting life.
- Sure, you can’t complain.
- Go on. Tell me more about yourself.
- Oh Leni, is this really necessary?
- Yes, it is.
- I was born in Burdishland and live in the South Sandwich Islands.
- How old are you? Hm… you must be fortyfivish… -I said staring at him-

He laughed.

- No, I’m quite older.
- Forty-six? –I said, smiling and getting closer to him-
- If I’d tell you what my real age is you would die of a heart attack, so wait until the sorcerer comes and you recover your real identity. Believe me, you already knew everything about me.
- Give me some refresher hints, please. I’m a poor amnesic woman who has forgotten everything. –I asked, pretending to pout but smiling then-

He laughed again and looked down.

- This is one of the things I like most about you. You’re so curious and funny; so alive.
- Stop flattering me and tell me, how old are you? Are you married? Do you have kids? What do you do in your spare time?
- Fuck, Leni if I told you all this you’d get scared the hell out of me and I would lose you again!

He sighed deep and sipped his long drink.

- I’m 297 years old. I married twice and was widowed twice too. I had four children, but they’re all gone.

I nearly fell off my chair laughing.

- Dude, do you know that you’re really talented for gothic pitch-black humour and horror movies? That was fun but stop teasing me, will you?
- Yeah, I’ll stop teasing you. –he said, looking down-

But no, that was not a joke and he was not teasing me. That was his real story and he didn’t want to talk about it. The world we were living in was no longer ordinary, but notoriously weird. We were just two tiny pawns lost in the fight between good and evil.

He was saved by the bell: it was providential that the transparent butler made his appearance with a gloomy individual who wore what appeared to be a shiny magical armour over his black cloak. He wore chunky chains and layers of necklaces dripping with amulets. His hands were full of rings.

- Mylord… Master Nikolae the Long is here. –announced the butler-
- Good den, Mylord. Good morrow, my lady – said the sorcerer, greeting Ed and me-
- Good den, Master. How fare thee? Welcome to my chambers. I disposed to call you with the purpose of breaking a major spell that has been cast on this gel. It has been brought to my knowledge that thou art reputed to be the best in thy field. –said Ed. bowing at him-
- My modesty prevents me from declaring my services as the best, Mylord. But mayhap… -said the sorcerer, bowing too-

They both laughed.

- Please, be me guest. I will introduce thou to the hexed gel. –said Ed-
- Aye, Mylord.

Oh gosh, they spoke old English, just like in Dungeons and Dragons, Tunnels and Trolls, Medieval Fantasy, Gor and all the games I used to play in my teenage role player years! At least I could take advantage of all the hours spent as a basilisk, an elf woman, a female zombie or whatever creature the gamemaster would assign me.

I could follow and speak the same language, which surprised Ed and pleased the sorcerer.

- What be your name, kid? –asked the sorcerer-
- Nicolette Bixby, Sir. –I answered-
- Excuse me but, she thinks that’s her name, but her real name is Leni. -interrupted Ed immediately-
- Aye. Methinks thou art very pretty… by my troth! –said the sorcerer-
- Verily, she is so. –said Ed-
- Grammarcy, you are kind, Sir. -I thanked them-
- Master; call me Master, please. And don’t forget to bow at the Lord. Come hither, gel.

I approached him and couldn’t resist the temptation to ask:

- Dude. Tell me something. You can speak modern English, can’t you?
- Of course I can. – he chuckled-
- Then why do you use the old language? We’re in 2010, not in 1500.
- Because modern English doesn’t taste good in my mouth. –he answered with disdain-.

Gosh, was he arrogant and scary! I called it quits and softly bowed at Ed. I noticed he had to make an effort not to split his sides laughing. The sorcerer smiled at me and I approached him, not very confident. He took my face in his hands and stared into my eyes. His mesmerising look sucked all the energy out of my body and I fainted.






Tangerine dream “Impresions of sorcerer"