Page 57 of Potions & Pints

“My name is Vir.”

“I don’t care what your name is, you—”

In two quick and very large steps Vir was at the chieftain’s side. Then he picked him up under his arm. The chieftain kicked furiously.

Tan was reminded of a toddler he had once seen being pulled along in the market by his mother. When the child didn’t want to walk anymore, he sat down. Then his mother picked him up. The lad screamed and kicked but he was no match for his mother’s strength.

“Tan is right,” Vir said. “He has no magic.”

“You believed me,” Tan said.

“Of course,” Vir replied. “So, do you guys want him or not?’

“Um, yes. Shackles!”

Someone from the back of the group came forward. The chieftain was swiftly bound and then Vir set him on his feet.

“That was easy,” one of them muttered as he passed Tan.

“Thank him,” Tan said, pointing to Vir.

The chieftain might have lost his magic, but Tan didn’t doubt he could have put up a terrible physical fight. The soldier looked at Vir.

“Thanks,” he said. “Vir, was it?”

Vir nodded and smiled. The soldier nodded back before barking at his comrades to move out. Tan noted that they kept their spears at the ready.

Three soldiers stayed behind and Tan wasn’t sure why. Maybe they just weren’t anxious to be around an angry chieftain, in case the magic came back as suddenly as it had left.

“What happened to the chieftain?” Vir asked. “Why is his magic gone?”

“Don’t know,” Tan said. “We need to free Pili,” he added, remembering suddenly.

“Yes,” the Librarian said. “But I don’t envy whoever is tasked with explaining these…latest developments to him.”

Tan shook his head impatiently.

“We’ll worry about that later?” he said. “Just get him out of there.”

“My assistant will go,” the Librarian said. “And the rest of the soldiers”

The assistant bowed his head and he and the soldiers left the room.

“Tan,” Vir said. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know,” Tan said.

The Librarian paced back and forth.

“Sir—”

“Quiet!”

Tan looked at Vir who shrugged. The Librarian stopped and looked at Tan.

“Curious,” he said.

“What?” Tan said.