Getting to know the sorcerer

Angelica was choking with tears. The young man hugged her stroking her hair.

"Take it easy!" he said again. "Now you should think about yourself! You said you had been searching for the sorcerer. I heard about him… a few times our Hakim sent his servants to him. The sorcerer lives in the east, near the sea. We're going the right way."

"Yes, you're right," Lica sobbed. "I must complete the mission! Prince Edward really wanted it and always believed in the success. Thank you, Isa!"

The girl hugged the man, then got to her feet and went to her horse. In five minutes the riders raced on. The sun was so scorching that it seemed as if sand was melting under the horses' hooves.

"There is another oasis," said Isa. "We need some rest and give the animals some water!"

Lica nodded, and our heroes turned their horses to the visible rising palm trees ahead. They were happy to cool 'life blood", water their horses and had a little rest in the shade of the trees.

"We have to get to the sorcerer until midnight," said the young man. "We need to hurry!"

He helped Angelica to sit on the horse and jumped on his horse...

A few hours of riding through the endless dunes had been exhausting the girl. She couldn't see anything around except one blinding sun! Her face and hands were burned, her lips baked with heat. Suddenly, the young man stopped and said:

"I can hear the noise of the sea!"

Lica listened, but heard absolutely nothing, except the rustle of sand crumbling under their horses' hooves. But her companion was right. Soon they saw a blue ribbon of the sea on the horizon.

"Hooray!" cried the girl. "The sea!"

"Save yourself," smiled Isa. "We are pretty far away yet!"

After some time the riders approached the blue lagoon.

"How beautiful!" Lica gasped. "But it is impossible to live here even for a sorcerer! There is nothing except the sea and sand!"

"I know that if you go to the north from this place, along the coast, you can reach the mountains that surround the desert."

"Then let's go!"

The sun was sloping to the west, when our heroes saw the mountain. The huge rocks towered above the yellow sand dunes, and some rocks looked as if they hung over the sea coast.

"I do not know if we can find the sorcerer, but at least we are safe from the Sand Snakes here," said Isa.

They reached the foot of the mountains, when the nightfall was in.

"We must stay here for a night!" the young man said. "Our horses are tired, and so are we. In addition, in the darkness we won't find anything."

"Then we have to climb a little higher, so we are not seen from the dunes!" said Angelica.

"You are right!" nodded her companion.

They dismounted and led the horses by the reins around a low cliff. Behind the rock they saw a small round meadow covered with wilted vegetation. A pure spring was running through the stones. The girl and the young man immediately slaked their thirst and gave water the animals.

"Here we can peg out!" Isa offered. "At least, we are near the water!"

Lica agreed. While Isa was taking care of horses, the girl picked up some dry sticks and grass and made something like bed.

"Probably, it will be cold," she said.

"I'll warm you!" Isa smiled.

He found nearby some bushy trees with fruits looked like wild apples, and brought some to Angelica.

"Sorry, there is no other food," the young man said. "You know, I'm very tired today! Let's have some sleep!"

The young man lay down on the sticks and grass, and a minute later he fell asleep. The girl washed the wild apples and looking at the stars started her dinner. Fruits were quite sour, but if you consider that Lica hadn't had normal food for two days, they seemed very tasty to her. After dinner the girl stayed up a little, but in some time sleep descended upon her eyes. She snuck under Isa's arm, cuddling to him and warmed by his body, fell asleep.

In the morning Angelica was woken up by some strange sound. She opened her eyes and saw a gray-haired man in front of her face. Lica gasped and got up. Isa also woke up. He grabbed his knife, but Lica stopped him.

"Hello!" she turned to the old man. "We are looking for a sorcerer. Do you know where he lives?"

The old man was looking at Lica and her companion with interest and after a pause replied:

"I do... I am a sorcerer!"

"Oh, how nice!" the girl was happy. "Your sister – Margo sent us to you. Here is the necklace she gave me to make you sure that I'm not ling you!"

With these words, the girl took off her necklace of coins and handed it to the man. He carefully examined it and nodded:

"Yes, this is the necklace I gave my sister for her birthday! Come with me!"

He turned and walked quickly up the fall. Isa and Lica took the horses by the bridle and followed the sorcerer. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at a flat area in front of the cave.

"You can bind your horses there!" the sorcerer pointed somewhere aside.

Isa nodded and led the horses to the place the old man had pointed.

"Here!" the sorcerer waved to Angelica.

They came into the wide cave with the huge main hall and several corridors scattering in every direction.

"It looks like Margo's!" she thought.

The only difference was the witch's luxurious furniture, but her cousin confined himself to conventional wooden chairs, table and shelves.

"Sit down!" the gray-haired man said. "Tell me! How is my sister doing?"

"She's fine! She longs for you…"

"Well... She was the only one who took my side, when my father kicked me out of the house! But you're here not to send greetings from Margo, aren't you?"

"You are right!" Angelica nodded. "My visit to you is very important! And your sister assured us that only you could help."

And she told the old man the Kingdom of Night story.

"...and when the Goblins' King killed the sorcerer," she said, "the old evil spirits were released from the abyss. The entrance there had been sealed by his soul. And now, in order to bring the evil back we need to find a man who knows the pagan rites and is able to control the elements."

"And do you mean me as that man!" the sorcerer smiled.

"Well, Margo could remember only you as a man who knows about pagan cult as much as you do," said Lica slowly.

"But why should I sacrifice my immortal soul? Can you give me at least one good reason?"

Having confused Angelica did not know what to say...