Whisp by Grace Mattox (first ebook reader TXT) 📕

"Yes, Whisp?" The wizard floated in, his dark green gaze rested on his leader with pure admiration. He wore a black robe which flounced around his ankles as he walked, his shaggy brown hair waving. 

Whisp wore a red robe with a black ribbon around it. His coal black eyes penatrated his companion; he put both hands together, folding them onto his lap, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"You wanted to see me, sire?" The small wizard paused in front of his leader, bowing magestically. "Im here, to obey your every command."

Whisp took a breath, clenching his teeth ever so slightly. It annoyed him that his people shall pretend nothing was going on, as the land was being attacked this very minute.

"Yes." He spoke, his voice deeper than the other wizards. "Callus, I need you and Klur to find out what the ruffians intend to do with our land. We built it, we shall keep it." He added, a sense of pride running through him. It was true, his people had been around for so long, longer than most.

Callus breathed in sharply. "Im afraid that is not possible, my good sir." He said hesitantly. "They refuse to even come near us."

Whisp blinked, his eyebrows raised slightly. He was confused. If they did not wish to be near his people, why come on his land then? Was there something here that captured their interests? He wondered.

"I see." Whisp pursed his lips, his mind speeding through the possibilities, the plans he could use to drive the intruders far away. But he hated using his powers, wasting them on the lower class wizards, when there was more he could be doing. There was no way this could work. But he knew that they needed to leave.

"What is their business here, anyway?" He let his gaze rest once again on Callus, nostrils flaring slightly with rage. They needed to get out of his land, or he would be forced to use his powers.

Callus shifted. "We dont yet know, sir." He answered, his gaze flushing with confusion. "As I said, they refuse to be near us, much less tell us what they are doing here, in our own land. They could be of more harm to us now that Losa is gone."

"'Tis true." Whisp murmured. "Her death will forever remain both a mystery and a tragedy."

Whisp glanced beside him, out his window. His people were gathered in the graveyard, grasping flowers. they had their heads lowered ever so slightly, mourning the loss of their dear friend. Whisp remembered how she had always remained the most cheerful, picking his people up when they fell down, always being the most helpful of the group. She was always the strongest, most powerful, even before Whisp. But there was always something else about her, something even Whisp could not place, as of yet.

He drew in a shuddering breath, refusing to let the tears glisten in his dark eyes. The pain stabbed his heart, yet he turned back to Callus with a small sigh.

"You are excused." Whisp murmured quietly, his folded hands coming apart. He stared directly in front of him, unable to meet his friends eyes. Emotions were something Whisp was unfamiliar with. He had grown up without them.

"Yes, sire." Callus bowed once more, and proceeded out of the room. At the door he paused, glancing back at his leader with a small smile.

"The village would like to hold a ceremony in honor of Losa." He murmured, sadness creeping into his voice at the very end of his sentence. Whisp nodded blankly, and Callus left the room without another word.

As the click of his friends shoes grew into the distance, the wizard found he had been holding his breath. He let it out slowly, refusing to let the tears gathering in his eyes fall. He knew there would be tragedies. That went without question. But he needed his village to be strong, and keep fighting through their dark times. Whisp remembered long ago when he himself had been a new wizard. Even without many powers, he had been strong and fearless, fighting with his village to protect loved ones.

But things werent always this way, with villages of wizards. They usually didnt work together like they did now. They had refused, dubious as to why they should even think about becoming friends. Everything was strange for Whisp back then, so he had fled.

Eventually, after a long search, he found another wizard willing to become friends with one of her own. Her human friends had not worked for her. Losa was the most beautiful person Whisp had ever seen. After they had made the village, they had become close, more than just friends.

And now she's gone. Whisp realised, glancing out the window again. The graveyard was empty; the chamber doors were closing as everyone settled in for the night. Whisp knew he had to stay awake, for it was his duty to protect and serve his amazing village, his people whom he had formed with hard work.

But his chamber door creaked opened, and in stepped Leiha. Leiha was Losa's big sister. They had found her unwillling to join together with others but her sister. But after a near death experience, being saved by Whisp and her sister, she decided maybe it wouldnt be too bad to be friends.

Leiha crept into the room, narrowing her icy blue eyes at Whisp ever so slightly. 

"The intruders wish to speak to you." She said quietly, opening the door a bit more. A tall wizard stepped into the large, cavernous room, and Whisp narrowed his eyes.

Behind the wizard came in another. His companion was short, but had a sinister smile on her face. Leiha stood by the door, her hands warily gripping her wand just in case.

The first wizard spoke softly to Whisp first.

"Im Vincent." He introduced himself politely. "This is my friend, Tabitha."

"What a pleasure to meet you." Tabitha said, her voice thick with contempt. "Maybe we'll be friends."

Whisp narrowed her eyes at her tone. "Sorry, but I don't make friends with intruders." He snapped, annoyed.

Tabitha rolled her eyes coldly. "Whatevs."

"Tabitha, manners." Vincent snapped. "Its rude to backtalk to another leader."

"Yeah sure." Tabitha snickered. "I'll be civil."

Whisp glared slightly at the female wizard, obviously displeased by both tone and expression. Vincent cleared his throat lightly.

"Anyway," The leader went on. "We just need you to sign this form, decreeing the land to be ours." He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Whisp.

"Hold on just one moment." Whisp narrowed his eyes coldly, rage bubbling inside of him. "You want me to give away our land? The only home my people have ever known?" His voice rose with indignation and fury. "Leiha, get these two out of my sight, now!"

"It's very touching you should care so much about your village, and whom it contains, however, the land is ours." Vincent looked slightly annoyed. "So, you'll be taking your leave tomorrow."

"Me and my wizards will not be pushed around." Whisp said softly, a hint of malice in his voice. "If you so much as try to take our land, we'll rip you to pieces." He waved a hand at Leiha, and she pointed her wand at Viincent.

"Out." She growled quietly.

Vincent raised his hands. "Very well then." He murmured. "Just know, you have been warned." He walked to the door, his companion following. Vincent left, but Tabitha turned.

"Whisp, right?" Tabitha asked, her dark eyes searching his. Whisp narrowed his eyes at her. He wanted her gone, so the best way to get rid of her was to answer the stupid question.

"That is my name." Whisp told her, annoyed. 

Tabitha nodded strangely, a smirk on her face now. "Then your land shall forever be consumed by smoke." She stated, and turned to walk off.

After she was gone, Whisp put a hand to his head. This was terrible. vincent and his people wanted Whisp's land..to themselves now. Why, though? What was so special about this land, and why couldnt Vincent settle for another one? Perhaps because the hard building was done for him here? 

Whisp drew in a sharp breath, closing his eyes tightly. "Leiha, send me Callus."

Leiha nodded. "Yes, sire." She said, spinning on her heel. Her shoes clacked down the hallway and away, toward Callus' dorm.

After a few minutes Callus came into the room, this time looking quite mad. He paused in front of his leader, the anger melting into exhaustion.

"Yes, sire?" He asked, politely. Whisp looked at him for a moment.

"Apparently, Vincent, the leader of intruders, wants this land to himself." He explained. "We need a plan. Or two. Maybe three. He's a monster, Callus, they all are." 

"What would you like me to do?" Callus said without hesitation, his eyes glittering slightly with interest and expectation. Whisp had never seen him so ready for a battle.

"Report to Flint, and Niome. We may need them most." Whisp said. Niome was Losa's mother. Besides Whisp and Losa, she was the strongest, fearless, and best at this type of situation. She had a strange power Whisp had not yet mastered, and he was thinking it may help to have someone like that in his village.

Flint was a fire wizard. He controlled heat, caused fire, anything of the sort. He could turn others into ashes, but only if he had enough power, which was rare as he was young and carefree.

Callus narrowed his green eyes slightly, and his face fell. "No one told you?"

"Told me what?" Whisp asked, alarmed. If Flint and Niome were gone, there was hardly any hope in sight.

"They left, to go find someone to help." Callus explained, obviously unhappy. Whisp knew his friend hated delivering bad news to anyone, especially his leader.

Whisp pursed his lips. "Did they say when they would be back?" He asked. Perhaps, maybe, there was some hope in the dire situation.

But Callus shook his head, his frown growing deeper. "No one inquired." He replied. Whisp held back a sigh, and closed his eyes. "Very well. You may leave." He said quietly.

"Yes sire." Callus left the room, leaving Whisp alone to think by himself.

The moon came and went without a second glance. Before Whisp knew it, it was morning. The birds were singing, his people were awake, and the intruders surrounded the castle, brandishing wands.

Whisp stood in front of his people gathered outside, equipped with their own wands. He seemed unwilling; sure, these were high class wizards, but there were better things he should be doing. However, taking out these guys should be no problem at all, right?

"I'll make a deal with you!" Vincent shouted from across the land. "I can bring back the dead."

Whisp blinked, the possibility of having Losa back sparking his interest. Callus widened his eyes, shaking his head slightly. One look at the dispair in his friends eyes, he knew the right choice.

Whisp snapped to his senses, narrowing his eyes. "As much as I would love to have Losa back, I wouldnt trade my peoples home." He declared.

"What is so important to you about this land?" Vincent commented, annoyed should his offer be turned down. Obviously he was unwilling to battle as well.

"This is the only home my people have ever known." Whisp explained, narrowing his eyes even more. "They would be deeply saddened if they lose it."

"Touching." Vincent placed a free hand on his chest, the other gripping his wand still. "However, as touching as it was, I apologize but the land is ours."

Whisp's knuckles turned white, as did his face. "You can't do this." Vincent let out a soft chuckle.

"On the contrary, I can do as I please, fool." He snarked. 

"You asked me why the land was important to me. The same question is now directed to you. What is your business here?" Whisp's eyes glittered with rage; his grip tightened on the wand.