This is my prey! the monster screamed.
We warned your tribe of ghouls, the wolf said in a human voice, These are our lands! They belong to werewolves! Dont come here! This man is my prey!
I found him first! He is mine!
Get away, across the river!
The ghoul scratched the wolfs belly, and he responded by grabbing his throat and tearing off his head. The creature roared before it died. And then the nearby oak trees were doused with blood. The werewolf howled.
The wolf turned his head to Dorkhand and clicked his teeth. His eyes filled with hellish fire.
Food! he growled. The wolf overtook Namlis in a couple of leaps, but, hitting an invisible barrier created by a magic ring, he fell to the ground. Growling a couple of times and making several scratches with his claws on the damp ground, the wolf again rushed at Dorhand. And again he hit the invisible barrier.
And you are not as simple as you seem at first glance. What did you forget in our forest, sorcerer?
I need to talk to your leader.
The wolf began to change before our eyes, acquiring human features. After some time, a short, hairy man of about forty wearing a wolf skin cape stood on all fours in front of Dorkhand.
You shouldnt have come to our lands, he said, standing on two legs. We dont like guests. I alone could not cope with your spell, but with the whole tribe we will tear you apart.
It is unlikely.
What is your name?
Call me Namlis.
Wow, Nameless. Dont trust me? Youre doing the right thing, Namlis! If I found out your real name, I immediately subjugated you to my will. The magic in our family has not yet faded.
A whole group of ghouls came out from behind the trees.
He killed Kurt! That wolf trash killed Kurt!
What have you forgotten in the lands of the werewolves? Why did you come here? he turned into a wolf again and howled, and his howl echoed through the forest.
Kill him!
Several ghouls attacked the wolf. He bit into the throat of one of them, but the other four tore him to pieces. More wolves appeared from behind the oak tree.
We warned you, enemies: you should not cross the river. But you disobeyed, the largest of the wolves flashed his eyes ominously. Do you want war? Well, we are ready to destroy your filthy family to the roots.
Well, brothers, lets teach the shaggy ones some good manners?
Stop! one of the pale-skinned men shouted, coming forward.
Wow, Laybon himself decided to come for a visit, said the leader of the wolves.
You know, Valukh, that we would not violate the borders if there was no good reason for it.
I recognize ghouls. They will start a fight themselves, and then run into the bushes when they smell something burning.
One of the ghouls rushed forward, but Labon held him back with his paw.
He called us. You know who Im talking about, right?
The sorcerer is in the house on the hill, Valukh whispered.
He is. I heard his call several moons ago. This has not happened for several centuries. It seems that the day he spoke of at the Conversion has arrived. The Great War is coming, and he is gathering our army.
Valukh acquired human form. He looks about fifty years old. Others of his tribe followed his example.
If it were up to me, I would immediately turn the spellweaver into dust.
For the sake of this, I myself would team up with the wolves. But this is not yet in our power. We are slaves to his will, and who knows how long this will last.
Be guests in my forests, ghouls. One day the time will come to forget hostility in order to unite against a common enemy.
Walukh sniffed.
Human! Theres a man here!
Several dozen pairs of eyes stared at Dorhand. One of them rushed towards the young man, but could not cross the invisible barrier created by the magic ring.
Sorcerer! What have you forgotten in our forests?
Im looking for a sorcerer who lives on the hill.
Why do you need him? asked Labon.
Tell me about him. Why do your tribes listen to him?
I was a man, Labon said. I was running from the soldiers when I met this sorcerer. Most of my wounds were fatal, but I hoped to hold out for another three days in order to have time to tell my people about the approaching enemy. The sorcerer seemed to be able to read minds. He offered to save a life. And I, a fool, agreed. When I woke up in the morning, I realized that I could not look at the sunlight. And there was also a thirst for blood. I tried to see the sorcerer to deal with him, but the entrance to his house was closed to me. I think liberation will come to me only with death.
He also deceived me, said Valukh. After meeting him, I turned into a half-wolf. In addition to our clans, there are also gargoyles raised by his magic.
Lead me to his house, said Dorhand. Ill try to help you.
But we wont go to that damned place! said Walukh.
Lets go. Or do you want to remain damned until the end of your days?
Do you know how to free us?
I hope so, Dorhand said.
***
Both tribes looked with hope at Dorkhand as a savior. Many of them once bought into the immortality promised by the sorcerer, and were eventually cursed. We all dream of overcoming death and living forever. But few people think about what to do in a series of identical days, and what price they will ultimately have to pay for defeating diseases. And the price turned out to be high for both ghouls and werewolves. The first could not appear in the sunlight, and their thirst for blood knew no end. And the wolf people lost control of themselves during full moons. Many of them did not remember how the previous night had passed, and often they were missing one or two comrades after the next belly moon.
This is the hill on which the sorcerers house is, said Valukh.
We have no further way, said Laybon, the enchanter has blocked this road for us.
A sorcerer named Namlis, kill him! Free our souls! I dont have the strength to endure endless imprisonment in my own decrepit body.
I will do everything in my power, Dorkhand promised.
***
The door opened with a creak. Dorhand fought the urge to hold his nose, escaping the musty smell of the old wooden house on the hill. It smelled of coltsfoot and other herbs and excrement. Darkness. The floorboards creaked treacherously. A flock of bats grabbed the young mans hair; only a spell read in an ancient book was able to drive away the hungry creatures. Dorhand turned on the magical light. There was a green-faced monster in the corner grinning ominously. Green lights blazed from his clawed fingers and headed towards Dorkhand. But they hit the protective field created by the ring. But the monster did not want to stop, continuing the magic.
Stop! Dorkhand shouted. Runes flashed white on Dorkhands iron ring. The sorcerer stopped dead in his tracks.
Where did you get this ring? the green-faced man asked without moving.
What kind of ring is this? Why does it have such an impact on you?
The sorcerer laughed.
Speak! What kind of ring is this?
This ring once belonged to the Goblin King.
So youre a goblin? I thought you were all banished overseas or exterminated!
I left the city of steel a long time ago. People expelled us from these lands to the Unknown Continent. But one day my people will return. And then the human race will wash itself with blood! And we will receive rich fertile lands that our ancestors once owned!
What is your name? Dorkhand asked.
Im Jack!
True name! Speak immediately! the goblin tried to resist. Speak! Now!
Gshuaandrfwaappreren.
The runes on the ring continued to glow, and the sorcerer looked at the royal ring with curiosity.
Goblins have long lost true magic. Dorkhand suggested. I read about this in a book. Your power is hidden in objects. What is your power, Gshu whatever your name is. Speak!
My greatness is in this pendant.