The Wizard's Saviour

Christopher Freeman, 14, US

"The wizard's wizardnapped" shouted the apprentice running down the cobblestone road headed for the center of a large festival square not in use. I grabbed my tunic and sling and headed out the door, followed by many, bigger men ready to kill the next man they see to save the wizard.

"Who has taken him? Where did he go?" Were the most important questions I heard, and there was the occasional "What am I doing here?"

The apprentice finally caught his breath and started telling the story of how a demon broke in and wizardnapped the wizard, and stole several magic books which anyone who saved the wizard could keep, and there was a reward for returning the wizard.

Most turned and went back to bed at the mention of a demon involved. After the story, the remaining people paired off into groups of three and headed out to find the wizard, but me, I headed out alone.

After hours of traveling, I came on a small blacksmith shop with magical items. A lot of the men were there buying stuff in order to kill the demon. They didn't know it, but these items were made by the demon, and if you bought them, they'd put you under the demon's spell. I had no money, or I would have unknowingly bought some weapons and then I'd have been under their spell. Later on I saw a tavern giving away free ale and food. I didn't drink or I would have gone in, but instead I moved on. I knew that the tavern was also under the demon's spell, and anyone eating or drinking there would be under a spell. The crafty demon was trying to get all the followers he could! Later, I saw an old farmer standing near the edge of a big farm begging for money. The few pennies I had were turned over to him. He offered me food and lodging for the night, but I declined, knowing he too was part of the demon's plan to get people. The night went quickly in this fashion.

At halfway to noon (roughly 6:00,) it was obvious that either the swamp changed and I passed up the center, or I was in a circle spell and I was stuck going in circles and I needed to find out which way the first building was facing when I looked at it so I could turn the other way and head into the swamp circle. Both could happen, but most likely I was in the stupid circle (more like the outer rim of the inside).

I chose west and came out in the center. There was a demon not too large in size but built like a rock. It was sitting on a pile of bones of all sorts. The demon was staring at the people under his spell that stopped at the places along the way. Some people under the demon's spell attacked me, and I ran into the swamp. Then I circled around and charged the demon. The people that were under his spell behind me with bows and arrows shot the demon when they were trying to get me. The demon couldn't get away, since he was ready to defend himself from me. Several shafts pierced his hide. The demon died; the people come out from the spell they were in, and I untied the wizard. We all had a big party right there in the swamp circle, and that's not all! Since I killed the demon, I got its skin. I hung it on my bedroom wall with the very shafts that killed him.