WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 6: The Old Warlock

Gorma paced angrily. They had almost made it. It was Rukma, her young sister who blew it up by delaying the capture unnecessarily. Time and again it was her younger sister who came in between her success. They could have so easily captivated the Princess if acted quickly. She thought about the silly girl who threw a handful of sand on their eyes and tricked them. How dare that silly puppy of Priest to do so?

“It is your fault, you silly.” Gorma screamed at Rukma to vent out her anger.  

“But - But Gorma, what did I do?” Rukma was surprised.

“If you had acted quickly as I instructed, we would the Princess here now. But Alas! It is not so now.” Gorma eyes blazed with anger.

“I - I only wanted to help you.” Rukma began to sob. Gorma knew her sister had a child like mind even though she is aged much beyond. She began to smoothen up.

“Oh! Now - now, don’t start it again. Look, I want you to be wise and not a fool.”

“You mean to say I am a fool - I am a fool Aha - aha.” Rukma once again took it all wrong and began to cry hard.

Gorma sat beside her taking her hands, “Rukma, I didn’t mean that. I said I want you to act wisely next time.”

“Next time! You mean we are going again.” Rukma was surprised.

“Yes, we have to. Remember we have to avenge the King for he has treated us cruelly.”

Rukma touched her left cheek; yes the King has indeed treated them very badly. He dared to hurt them physically, she too was keen on avenge, they have to avenge him. She stood up with a determination and looked at her elder sister.

“Yes, I still remember his treatment. I swear I shall be wiser next time.”

Gorma got up and hugged her sister, “That’s my sister.”

 **

Champaka stared at the beautiful flowers grown in her garden. How lovely they look! Her husband had insisted to grow them in their garden. He always believed flowers would bring up good fortune, and it did for them. They were very fortunate to have a happy family.

“Mother, is father still angry with us?” Vasundari joined her in plucking them.

Champaka smiled affectionately at her, “No, not anymore, but that doesn’t mean you could go on sneaking again.”

Vasundari giggled “ha ha we will not, but mother I want to ask you a question?”

Champaka looked at her daughter, she was so young yet she was always filled with questions. It has been like that since beginning; many times Champaka just did not know how to answer to her questions.

“I would be glad if it stops at one.”

“I - I want to know all about old Warlock.”

Champaka was surprised. Old Warlock! Where did she hear that?

“Why do you want to know?”

“People say he is a great Wizard, he might know all about those Mountain Witches.”

Champaka signed, she knew what a great man he was. “Yes, of course, he would. Your father has met him once and he likes him very much.”

Vasundari eyes began to glow at once, “That’s nice, can we meet him once?”

“I don’t think so, but ask your father once.” Champaka said.

Least she didn’t want to encourage her daughter. She knew the old Warlock leaved in a small hut in the west. He is a very kind old man indeed; there would be no harm in meeting him. However, she did not think her husband would be happy about the kids meeting the old Warlock.

**

Chitrakshi walked towards the garden. It was filled with lovely flowers of all types. She knew Mani would sit here whenever she felt low. She felt sorry for bringing the trouble on Mani. She knew the King was very angry with Mani. But it was not her fault. Princess was the one who has insisted in sneaking out. Now she wanted to make that up for Mani.

Chitrakshi saw Mani sitting near the rose plants. She was very afraid lest Mani would be angry with her. Her heart started to beat fast as she approached Mani.

“Mani, are you angry with me?” Chitrakshi asked very innocently.

Mani at once turned looking surprised and smiled faintly at the lovely Princess, “Ah! Princess, no I am not angry.”

Mani looked at her with a sad face; this lovely Princess has everything in her reach, save a happy life. Mani had heard the tales from the guards of the Palace about the Witches of Mountain and knew the lurking danger. She had been foolish to send the Princess alone. She would never ever do that no matter how persistent the Princess would be in future. It is her responsibility to protect the Princess.

“Thank god! I thought you would be. Do you know that I was captured by the Witches of Mountain?” Chitrakshi asked her raising her tone dramatically.

“Yes, I have heard that. I am very afraid for you Princess.” Mani sadly took hold of Chitrakshi’s hand.

“Is there no one who can kill them?”

Kill them! Mani began to think. She had heard the old tales about the tricks and black magic of the evil twin Witches. They are really powerful and vengeful; they don’t hesitate to hurt the Princess to avenge their insult. But is it possible for the King to kill them? She didn’t think so, the guards had told her about their invincibility ability and great sorceress power. Yes, only him; the old Warlock of the West could do that. She had seen him couple of times when he visited Palace. He seemed to have a god like charisma. People often said he is very old, in fact over hundred years.

“Answer me Mani?” Chitrakshi persisted.

“Yes, there is only one who can save you from their wrath.”

“And who is that? Do I know him?”

“No, you don’t. There is an old man who is hundred and ten years old, he only can help you.”

“And what is his name? Where does he live?” Chitrakshi was very curious at once.

“His name is Mahapitha and he lives in the West. People affectionately call him old Warlock or old Wizard.”

**

Vaachaspati started walking briskly from the temple. The weather looked quite treacherous. A lighting stroke somewhere in the West. Vaachaspati taught of hurrying before it started raining. West! Yes west it is. That is where the old Warlock lived. He tried to remember their only meeting. People used to say he is aged more than hundred and ten years; he always wondered whether that is true? For the old man still could walk like other young people. He has heard the tales of the mysterious Mahapitha, popularly called as old Warlock.

People always referred his name with some kind of fear. He was a Wizard who lived in a small hut above the hard range of big rocks in the west. People referred him as the wisest man on the earth for they believed that, there is nothing he, the old Warlock knew not. There was a belief that even the King Maheepati possessed great respect towards the old Warlock. Many people talked about King’s secret visits every now and then in order to consult the old Warlock regarding his political matters. 

Vaachaspati remembered his only visit to his hut in the west. It was two years after the birth of his son Bakula. He had sensed something unique in the child. He was also worried about Atma and his mysterious star stare habit as well. It was Champaka who urged him to meet the old Warlock once.

It was a bright day when Vaachaspati went to meet the Warlock of the West. He had to walk a long way and climb hard rocks to reach his hut. He clearly remembered the meeting; as he approached the hut, he saw a tall white figure standing outside the hut. The figure had the hairs as white as snow. His beards were long, very long, indeed, it almost touched the ground. He wore a long white cloak which seemed to dance to the tunes of winds. He had very sharp eyes which seemed to pierce into the inner core. For a moment, Vaachaspati felt a pang of fear. But as soon as he heard the voice, he felt at peace.

“Greetings!”

“Greetings, Oh! Warlock of the West.”

Mahapitha smiled at his designation, people really use fancy names to call him. He knew well about Vaachaspati and his kids, especially Atma and Bakula.

“I am honored with your visit, is everyone well at home?”

“Yes they are, I - I wanted to consult you on a personal matter.”

Vaachaspati looked at his sharp eyes. He suddenly noticed the kindness in his small pair of eyes; it seemed to twinkle just like the stars.

“Let’s go in, you must be tired after the uphill journey, allow me to refresh you first.”

As they walked inside the hut Vaachaspati noticed that it was big, or at least it looked bigger from inside. Is this a Magic? He wondered with awe, what this old man is up to? The hut seemed extremely colorful from inside; it had long walls filled with diagrams and pictures of stars that he could not understand.

The old man motioned him to sit on the velvet mat and went inside a small chamber what looked like a storing place. He came up with a bronze cup in hand, “Have this, this will ease out your breath; a potion made of nuts and olive oil.’

It was really refreshing as it did ease his mind and body at once.

“I am worried about my two kids, they - they seem to display strange behaviors.”

Mahapitha closed his eyes for a few moments.

“Hmm, Like what?”

“Atma, my adopted son rarely cries for a two year old kid, he keeps on staring at the stars for long hours.“

“No wonder! He is a boy of potential, no need to worry about that as he is blessed by the great stars.”

“Stars! What do you mean? Does he have a Wizard blood? Who are his parents?”

“My friend, I can see that he has a Wizard blood in him, but that does not make him bad, in fact that is his very strength and don’t worry about his parents, there is no use in knowing it now.”

“What about Bakula? He seems to smile forever; he even started talking when he was just four months old.”

“Ah! There you go, that’s a sign of rare strength again, and I would say you are lucky to have them as your children.”

“But - I would like to know the answers to their strange abilities.”

“Vaachaspati, my dear friend, let us not question the nature, it is our mother; for she knows best and you are a sacred soul who is to guard the little flowers, let us leave the things to that.” The old Warlock said with a thick smile.

****