The Hybrid's Tale

Chapter 2: Kidnapped by a Wizard

Silence.

That's all that there is in the shadowed alley other than the sound of ash being whisked away on a soft breeze, and the crackle of dying embers from the surrounding debris caught in the wizard's onslaught.

That's all there is other than the blackened corpses littering the ground and the two figures left standing amongst them, weighed upon by the heavy stench of rot, burning hair and death.

I stand frozen. My body numb and mind in chaos trying to make sense of everything that happened in the past few minutes only to end up hitting a wall.

I stand there with my eyes trained upon the dead bodies and glowing embers for God knows how long, until I remember what caused all this damage and turn my head to look at the cloaked figure with a face shrouded in darkness watching me.

Flashbacks of the fire play through my mind and I take an unconscious step away from the hooded figure.

"Who are you?" I manage to force out after the thick silence becomes to intense to bear. The figure lifts their hands to the hood of their cloak, and in one swift motion, draws it back.

The face revealed to me is that of a middle aged man –as far as I can tell– with black hair interspersed with white falling down to his shoulders and a beard to match. His otherwise youthful face is creased with wrinkles that betray his age, and is relatively unmarred aside from a small scar above his left eye.

Looking at him, it shocks me how normal he looks. This guy could pass me on the street and I wouldn't suspect a thing was different about him. His height and the shrewd look in his eyes may be a bit intimidating, but not exactly out of place.

"My name is Orlan Portavir, and I need you to come with me Benjamin."

You've got to be kidding me right now.

"What do you mean by you need me to come with you? And what kind of name is Orlan?" I take a few steps to the left in arc, edging around my supposed hero and possible kidnapper.

"I mean exactly what I said," he answers in that same levelled, and rumbling voice. "And Orlan is perfectly normal name where I am from," he adds almost as an afterthought.

Shit... I'm about to get kidnapped by Merlin. When did my life become so complicated?

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't go with you. I have important things to do and all that, but thanks for saving my life though. Good night." I prepare myself to start running if need be, although I doubt I could outrun those flames if he used them again.

Orlan's features contort into a grim look. Sending chills down my spine with the next words out of his mouth.

"I'm afraid you do not have a choice."