Read Wizards for Free Online Page B

ago. Not the one who gave him the stones but another one seeking somewhere to make his own. He stayed with the Master for about a month before deciding he would continue with his travels. I think those stones he had in his pocket protected the Master from the wizard, because while the two of them seemed amicable enough, I know the Master was relieved to see him go."
    "In any case, this wizard is back and is demanding we tell him where the Master is. He turned King Petre into a statue when he refused to tell him. The scream was Queen Janti crying out when she saw it happen."
    "How did you get away?" someone asked.
    "He's sent the courtiers out into the town to spread the word. Unless the Master is returned to the Palace within the hour, he will turn the Queen and Princess Esmeralda into statues as well."
    "But the Master is gone with the Bad Luck Wizard and in some other world," someone pointed out.
    The fat man shrugged. "I felt safer in the town than in the palace."
    "I'll have to go to the palace," I said and started to walk towards it
    "Stop stranger!" a commanding voice shouted. "Who are you?"
    "I'm the Bad Luck Wizard," I said. "And it looks like this is my fault again."
    I carried on walking. I'd like to tell you the people of Salice fell in behind me and we marched to the palace as an army. I'd like to tell you, but that's not what happened. Not one of them joined me as I began the lonely trek across the bridge and up the hill to the King's Palace.
     
    As I passed through the majestic gold-plated wrought iron gates of the palace the bright light around it faded away. I presumed the wizard had lost interest in it. While magic requires little effort to maintain once established, it still took some power from the wizard. I never even noticed the drain the Master's lucky stones took from me, but it had undoubtedly been there.
    Now that I knew a little of how magic worked I was being much more careful about how I used my magic. However, I had taken the trouble to use a special locking technique Esmeralda taught me to permanently seal the Master in his cage. Even if I died, he would remain trapped inside the pot.
    The other wizard must know enough about magic not to waste his power. Having made his point by lighting up the palace he had recovered the magical energy he used to do it.
    The grand carved doorway of the palace led to a foyer where two enormous curved staircases on either side led up to the upper floor. In line with the grand doorway was another set of double doors that led into the Royal Ballroom. Those doors were wide open and the ballroom was packed with people in fancy clothing milling around uneasily.
    The people in the ballroom were not making any attempt to dance. They were staring towards the far end of the room where I knew there was a stage. That was where the royal family and nobility would be sitting on their thrones and fancy chairs.
    I knew the layout of the ballroom from my previous visit. This was a fortunate thing, because with all the people standing on the dance floor I couldn't see anything beyond them.
    I took off my duffle coat and threw it behind one of the large doors. I wasn't exactly dressed for a formal occasion in my faded jeans and grey pullover, but my clothes would have to do. I walked into the room and stepped into the crowd.
    The people had packed tight at this end of the room, and I discovered there was a considerable amount of open space in front of the stage. As I walked through the crowd, I touched people's backs lightly and wished their clothing to be lucky. It might not be much in the way of magical protection, but it might well save some of them if it came to a fight.
    I zigzagged through the hall touching as many people as I could. It took some time before I found myself at the front of the crowd. I stopped to take in what was going on.
    The Royal Ballroom was impressive. Its domed ceiling was thirty feet or more above us and the walls and ceiling were covered in bright