Chapter 1

 

'I am looking for Tarek! Are you he?' Ella stumbled tiredly across the dusty forest pathway to confront the tall bearded man who rested against a tall pine tree with his eyes closed. Ella knew not whether he was asleep or merely quiet in contemplation.

The man opened his eyelids slowly, and surprised Ella with how strikingly blue and bright his eyes appeared. He looked at her directly, analysing her movements towards him, but gave little of his thoughts and emotions away as he remained calmly facing her.

'Please, tell me, are you Tarek the magician? Or do you know where I may find him?

'Why are you looking for Tarek? What is your concern with him?' he said at last.

'I need to speak to him on an urgent matter . . . I have travelled far to see him.' Ella's legs suddenly became weak. She found it hard to say anymore; she had completely exhausted all her energy reserves just to get this far. She just prayed that she had now reached her destination from the directions she had been given by her brother, and all her efforts had not been in vain!

'You are very weak; you need to rest.' The man wrapped his arm around Ella's shoulders when she reached near to him and stopped walking, to support her before she fell.