Adventures Of The Bushika

Chapter Eight

“My Lord, we should kill him right now!” A soldier suggested as he rushed to grab Alves by his hands and tied them behind him. 

“No! Do not kill him yet. Perhaps he will be useful to me.” Arman smiled, his devilish eyes looking at Alves. “How stupid could you be to walk into my villa, pulling such a stunt? Huh? You think we're all dumb?” He sounded angrier. 

Lord Arman’s wizard went closer, “Why don't you want to kill this impersonator right now? He's proven to be dangerous, his aim was to make an attempt on your life.”  

“Let's talk somewhere private.” Butshaf said and they walked away from everyone, into the Lord's private chambers. 

“Listen to me, whoever had the magic to turn that young man into General Cenred must really be a great wizard. Such powers are not seen around everyday.” Arman began. 

“So what is your plan? My Lord.”

“I and my wife have been unable to have a child. According to you, I have been cursed. So this powerful wizard might have the power to lift this curse. Or he might have the power to put a baby in my seed.”

“I see.”

“So I will use this boy to get to the wizard. I will make him tell me who performed such sorcerey on him.”

“What if he refuses to tell you who the sorcerer is?”

“Then we shall torture him to death!”

*****

Arithayal was worried! Nhevia looked devastated as she slowly used a clothe to clean the table. “Are you sure he's not in danger? He should be back by now shouldn't he?” She asked. 

“It's been a day and a half already. If he's not back yet, that only means one thing…”

“He's been captured?”

“Yes!”

“What do we do now? How can we help him?” Nhevia’s voice cracked and her hands shaked.

“We need to come up with another plan.”

Boom! The door to Arithayal’s home was kicked open and four Doshikan soldiers walked in, dressed in their uniforms, with metals attached to their bodies, heavy shiny helmets and swords in hand. 

“We are here from the villa of Lord Arman Butshaf. He sends a message to you, Arithayal.” One of them said. 

“Say it!” 

“He wants you to know that he has captured your friend.”

“I don't have friends.”

“We are not here to play games with you wizard.” His tone arose. 

“You call me a wizard, and you still speak with me in such tone? One snap of my finger and I shall blast you with wizard fire. Watch your tongue dirty soldier!”

“My message has been delivered. The young man was captured at the villa, he is currently being turtured and he confessed that you cast the spell of turning him into one of our generals. He gave us every information we need, and now Lord Butshaf wants to speak with you today.”

“You dare not make an attempt on Alves’s life!” Arithayal threatened, knowing it was meaningless because Alves could already be dead, especially if they discovered he was the Bushika. 

“If you don't meet with Lord Arman today, your friend shall die!” The soldier turned back to the door and walked out as the rest of his men followed. They exited and banged the door behind them, making the room vibrate. 

“I want to go with you to the villa.” Nhevia said to Arithayal. 

“It's too dangerous, we don't even know what plan Arman Butshaf has for me. But for all I know, all his plans are always evil.”

“So how do you plan to save Alves?”

“I shall know when I get there.” He put his hand on Nhevia’s shoulder, “I can't just walk into the villa and start blasting my wizard's fire everywhere. Arman has thousands of soldiers, and he also has two wizards right there in the villa. I need to walk in there alone.”

“Alright. I wouldn't insist.” 

*****

“Welcome, the great wizard Arithayal. It's good to finally see you again after all these years.” Arman Butshaf faked a smile as he saw the powerful wizard walk in with his white hair perfectly tied backwards. 

“I can't say it's good to see you Arman, and the innocent people suffering at the hands of all your wicked Doshikan soldiers won't say the same thing.” 

“Tell me Arithayal, why does everyone say I make them suffer? The choice is in their hands. I just want to make the world a better place.”

“Do you call the killings and bullying your soldiers do, making the world a better place?” Arithayal spoke with confidence, he turned to his left and saw Jordiah, one of Arman’s wizards. To his right was Buma, the second wizard under Arman Butshaf’s command, both looking ready to attack if Arithayal would attempt some magic. 

“I called you for personal reasons. Let's have a word in private.” Butshaf said, ignoring the harsh words. 

As he always did, he lead Arithayal to his private chambers. 

“Your friend Alves has been hurt a little. But he won't be hurt anymore if you would help out with something I need.” Arithayal stretched forth a cup of wine. 

“What makes you think I would drink anything you offer me? And what makes you think I would ever want to help you?”

“Well, wizard. You would help me because you have no choice. If you don't give me what I want, your little friend Alves, would be killed, Now!”

“What do you want?”

“You see, I have been in search of a child for so many years. And I figured out that some piece of shit did some shitty magic to prevent me from ever having a child.”

“And you want me to help you get a child.”

“You have always been smart!”

“I will need a few resources from your wizards.”

“Nice, I'll call Jordiah so he can take you to his special room.” 

*****

Arithayal followed Jordiah as he walked him into his room filled with magical portions and artifacts. The dark room was lighted up with candles just after Jordiah said a magic word “Griomborhni!” 

“Welcome to my special room, great wizard.” He said with a smile. 

“Do not welcome me like I am your friend. I despise you for using your gift to serve a tyrant like Arman Butshaf. You could be using your powers for a greater purpose, for something positive. But look where you are.”

“We all have our own reasons for our choices, great wizard. You made your choices and I made mine. These are my special resources. Feel free to use whatever you need.”

“I need to be alone in this room.” Arithayal said, his eyes locked on Jordiah as he walked out of the room. 

Arithayal quickly sat down on the floor with his legs crossed. He had a plan and he needed to act fast. He stood up quickly to check if Jordiah had really gone, then rushed back to his position. Legs crossed, hands open and his face looking at the ceiling, yoga position. “Hirinda Ekbet ardini Dorshkhai!” the words left his mouth, his voice so deep. “Hirinda Ekbet ardini Dorshkhai!” he said again and a bright light shined in the room, so bright that a mirror hung on the wall shattered into pieces. As the light slowly fade, Arithayal succeeded in duplicating himself. He became invincible while his duplicate which remained at the spot he sat was still visible, but it was just a copy of him, a mere imitation.

Moving quietly, he approached the door, careful not to attract attention. If someone watched, they would only see the door opening, revealing nothing about the one who opened it. Arithayal, now doubly present yet unseen, turned the handle with a silent precision, the door opening just enough for him to walk out.

He walked past the guards who couldn't see him in his invisible form, found his way to the dungeon where Alves was tied up. There were two guards at the door “Etmien Slipel” He whispered the magic words, making the guards go into deep sleep just as they stood. He went to grab the keys from one of them, Alves could see the keys moving in the air towards the door, he couldn't see who held the keys but he did know, someone was there to help. 

Alves saw the keys going into the keyhole, they turned and the door made a sound. Slowly, it opened and then he felt someone touch him. “Who are you?!” He asked calmly. 

“Arithayal.” Came the familiar voice. 

The chains on his hands and legs were quickly broken as his face shined bright with relief. 

He saw a circle being drawn on the floor with a powdered substance. “Quickly, step into the circle, there's no time left. Do it quick!” Arithayal said and Alves rushed to get his sword from the floor, picked up his medallion where it had fallen. Walking in the circle, they both vanished!