Read Locmire's Quest: Book One A Tales from Calencia Novel Page 10

  The deserts of Fogarth were home to the Wizards, who mainly kept to themselves, choosing not become involved with the outside world. Very seldom did the Wizards make their presence known to the world outside of the desert, but when they did it was always of the utmost importance. Most believed them to be only a myth. No other race had ever been permitted to step inside the desert for any reason. The mystical home land of the Wizards was shrouded in secrecy. The only structure visible to the outside world was a monumental golden tower, visible from almost any point in Calencia. Everyone had suppositions regarding what took place inside the confines of the desert, but no one could be certain.

  Once, a convoy sent by the Human King set off into the desert bringing good tidings from Galdarath. A group of onlookers watched as the nervous party set forth into the brown sands of Fogarth. After traveling only ten feet, an enormous sand storm engulfed the convoy with tsunami-like rage. From within the brown wall of dust, the terrifying screams coming from the Human convoy ended as abruptly as they began. No one ever heard from them again.

  Although considered an extremely rare occasion to encounter a Wizard, it did not prove difficult to recognize one. They wore traditional long, dark colored robes, fastened with a length of rope to secure them to their waist, open toed sandals and fingerless gloves. Although Wizards could perform magic without the aid of a staff, the spells were considerably less powerful, thus creating the need for a magical amplifier. Deadwood was the most suitable material. Every Wizard of Fogarth wielded a staff made from deadwood, a type of wood presumably only found within the confines of Fogarth. The Master Wizards, the highest rank a Wizard could attain, all wore black lenses that covered their eyes. Many believed they wore the lenses as protection from the sands of the desert and to dampen the effects of the bright sun that always seemed to loom over Fogarth. Never to be confirmed, but widely speculated, it was thought that some Wizards, mainly the Lookers, became blind from the evils they had seen during the course of their unusually long life. What actually happened to their eyes remains a mystery, but many believe they went mad and tore them from the socket after years of continually seeing the prophecies.

  Great mystery surrounded the Spell Casters, known to be the first race to walk the world. Most stories of the beginning had mention of a Wizard. Many wondered if the Wizards were such a great part of the beginning, why were they so obsolete now? Why had they decided to step out of the sight of man? Was their work done? Whatever the reason as to why they had remained secluded for so many years was not of great concern. All that needed to be known was that they had made a grand return. More Wizards had been in direct communication with the outside world over the past several months, than in the recent millennium. It was, in fact, the Wizards who alerted the Humans of the Dark Wizard Hasbarie and his diabolical plan.

  A select lot of Wizards known as Lookers, the second highest rank of Wizards, had one main purpose in life; constantly observing the Sands of Seeing and interpreting the visions that came from them. The Lookers interpreted the prophecy concerning the evils that would soon fall upon Calencia. The Wizards unanimously agreed that something must be done to stop Hasbarie, and although no Wizard ever physically took part in the battle, they offered pertinent advice and instruction to The Saviors. They played one of the most vital roles in the Great War, alerting everyone of Hasbarie and his heinous intentions before he had become too powerful for even the Wizards to stop.