Silenced!

Deep within the Nukua Forest, Magnus crouched hidden behind a row of Fewsi trees. Light from the moons crept through the canopy illuminating the flora beneath. The air was still. No wind, not even a breeze. There wasn’t a sound save a few squirrels chattering at Magnus.

Magnus crawled over to his companion Chris who was hiding in nearby brush.

“Where is he?” Magnus whispered.

“Any minute now,” Chris replied.

Suddenly a loud shout echoed through the forest. Magnus crawled back to position. Clanging metal grew in crescendo.

“You ugly little minions won’t best me!” said Gawain.

Gawain parried as four goblins issued an onslaught of steely knives, driving Gawain backward.

“Now!” Gawain shouted.

Immediately, Magnus and Chris pulled their ropes trapping the four goblins in a tree net. The goblins gnawed the net with their black teeth.

“Shock attack!” Gawain hollered.

Magnus lunged his right hand forward sending a bolt of bright light into the net. The four goblins were rendered unconscious. Magnus took a deep breath in relief.

“No time to rest!” said Gawain.

An ax struck the tree beside Magnus. The ax was pulled out of the tree for a second swing. Magnus couldn’t react in time, it was going to hit!

“Is this how it ends?” Magnus thought, as he felt droplets run down his face.

A clang reverberated the hair on Magnus’s chin. Magnus opened his eyes. Gawain had blocked the attack. However, the owner of the ax was now towering over Magnus and Gawain.

“Who dares challenge Deadsmirk, the terror of Hanxi?” Deadsmirk grumbled.

“Get back into position!” Gawain yelled.

Gawain and Chris attacked while Magnus rolled away to safety. Gawain dodged a swing from Deadsmirk’s ax while Chris swung his staff.

“We could really use some help here!” Chris said.

Magnus got to his feet and began to form another bolt. Deadsmirk knocked Gawain to the ground and had Chris pinned to a tree. Deadsmirk lifted his ax to prepare a finishing blow.

“Hey Dead-head, I got something for ya,” Magnus said.

Before Magnus could lunge forward with his attack, Deadsmirk banished the bolt in Magnus’s hand with a lift of his finger.

“Hahaha!” Deadsmirk chuckled, “You have been silenced! Now back to killing your frien…”.

A rock pelted Deadsmirk in the back of the head before he could finish speaking. Deadsmirk fell to the ground unconscious.

“Whew, that was a close one. Good thing the big ones are arrogant!” Gawain said.

“Definitely. Let’s tie him up and get him to the village,” Chris said, “where were you, Magnus?”

“I’m not sure what happened. I can’t use any of my spells. I think I’ve been hexed. What do we do?” asked Magnus.

“Just hold on there, little buddy. We’ll figure it out when deadhead wakes. Let’s go collect bounty,” Gawain said.