Bottom of the Bottle

"Well I hardly know what apparitions are simply illusion and what ones are real now do I? I haven't seen the women in a hundred years or so. Just do as I say!" Nate raged. When he was done he remembered something important, "Don't tell her I'm the one that sent you. Could you keep that a secret?"

"I suppose so, Magician. Will you transport us there or shall we ride?" the stouter of the two inquired.

"Oh, yes. I am afraid you will have to ride. If I transport you I cannot guarantee you will arrive in the state you left in." Nate looked slightly apologetic.

"The same state, sir?" the weaker guard stammered again.

"Yes, some end up as frogs, flies, I do believe there was even a case of some unfortunate wizard turning into a puddle. Now go!" Nate shot lightning into the middle of the throne room and the guards hastened away.

"Is there something you wish to tell me? Oh High Wizard of the King?" Wizzen inquired in the moments of silence that followed the departure.

"Not particularly sir. Just hope we catch this witch on a good day. See you later," Nate gave a serene nod and vanished from Wizzen's sight, leaving the King to finally start shaking.

Emhaia Marie was sitting in her kitchen when she felt a twinge. She raised her eyebrows and walked to the globe sitting on the counter. She waved her hand over it and the intruders into her forest were revealed to her. They seemed to be two soldiers from a country she didn't know. She watched them make their comical way deeper into the trees. One was walking upright and looked quite brave; the other was crouched lower to the ground and would grab the other's legs every now and then. She smiled whimsically and touched the globe in a spot just in front of the two. A large dragon appeared in front of them.

Em continued to watch and play with the two soldiers until she became bored. At the rate they were traveling it would take them a week to reach her. She blew gently on the globe and the two soldiers materialized in her kitchen. She waved her hand quickly, forcing them into chairs. The chairs responded to the unfamiliar men by wrapping bark around them so they were trapped. She smiled politely and jumped up onto the counter beside the globe.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"We were sent by K'K'King Wizzen to retrieve you," the nervous one replied.

"What does a King I don't know want with me?" she demanded.

"Well, we're not exactly sure ma'am," the stouthearted solider replied for the one who had scared himself so much he passed out.

"Please don't call me ma'am. If you must call me something, call me Em."

"Ah, so you are the witch Emhaia Marie!" the solider looked triumphant.

"You wandered into a deep, dark, mysterious forest without knowing for certain if the one you sought was even there?" Em was impressed.

"Well, yes. You see the one giving us this order hardly enjoys being disobeyed. He seemed certain you would be here," the solider informed her and then paused.

"Ah, so this King Wiz-whatever isn't really the one who sent you?" she squinted her eyes in accusation.

"I never said that ma'am," he fumbled.

"Well, well, let's go see who is requesting my appearance then," she smiled graciously, waved her arms and transported them into the castle.

"Ah! Where did you? Oh, you must be that witch." The small man on the throne jumped up.

"I am a witch. I don't know if I'm precisely 'that witch'," Em smiled, trying to hold in her amusement.

"Hold on, send for the Magician," the King turned to the guard at the side of his throne.

"A Magician?" Em sighed, "This never turns out well for the other person."

"Are you suggesting, ma'am, that you could beat my Magician?" the King laughed loudly.