“If any dead knows how to leave Deads’ Town,” Baity said, “it is the conjurors.”
He led Brad Jordan along the main road through Deads’ Town, past the musicians who filled the night with tinny music, past the delicious smells of the cooks, past the actors in performance, and to a road that branches off of the main one that Brad Jordan has never noticed before. The mist thickened as they moved along the road and Brad Jordan noticed that the trees and vegetation along both sides grew thicker, more wild and untamed.
“I been here a while now, I ain’t never heard of no conjurors.” Brad Jordan said, straining to see through the mist at this new section of Deads’ Town that he hadn’t seen before.
“They live here in the bush,” Baity said. “Its best not to come here unless you know something about Death Magic. The conjurors like to keep monsters as pets, so it ain’t safe to move around out here unless you know what you looking for.”
“It ain’t safe for a dead?”
“Not at all,” Baity said. “Even the dead can die, and some of the conjurors’ pets eat souls. The conjurors are the favored of Owuo and they choose to live away from the majority of the other deads. They are Death Magic incarnate, it is all they do.”
“You know Death Magic?”
“I know enough to keep us safe and for you to ask two questions of the Oba. He is the leader of the elu, this community of conjurors. He is loyal to Owuo, but he likes to share his knowledge with any dead who comes to him with respect. The Oba of the conjurors’ elu is the only dead who would know how to leave Deads’ Town.”
Soon, they arrived at the large, violet fire that marked the entrance to the conjurors’ elu. The fire blocked the road that was visible because the mist that covered every other part of Deads’ Town dissipated against the flames.
“How we get through that?” Brad Jordan asked, eyeing the fire skeptically.
Baity laughed. “We go through it, it is the only way in to see the conjurors.”
“Can’t we just go around? The woods ain’t on fire.”
“Don’t stray from a path in this part of Deads’ Town unless you wanna wander the bush forever. There is so much magic here and it is not a mixture of Divine Essence. This elu is pure death magic. We go through the fire. Don’t be scared. Deads cannot be easily harmed by death magic, and this fire is only meant as a marker of the elu.”
Brad Jordan watched Baity walk into the violet flames and he cursed loudly, then followed him through. He ran so quickly that he emerged on the other side of the flames just as Baity did. The difference between the conjurors’ elu and the rest of Deads’ Town was stark to Brad Jordan. The absence of the mist made the density of the forest on either side of the road more visible. As they progressed, the road eventually forked in eight directions, but Baity moved along the road that most aligned with the one that had led them to the fork.
The forest began to thin as they moved along and soon they arrived at a clearing in the woods with earthen homes that looked eerie in the darkness. A dead appeared as the road that led to the community disappeared.
“Welcome Baity,” the dead said. “The Oba will see you and Brad Jordan now.” The dead stepped to the side and indicated with a hand toward the most central of the earthen homes.
Baity nodded and Brad Jordan followed him inside. The inside was much larger than Brad Jordan expected. The Oba levitated cross-legged in the center of the space and there was a purple haze that moved slowly around the environment.
“Ask your questions quickly, Brad Jordan,” the Oba said. “I have matters to return to.”
“Is it possible for me to leave Deads’ Town?” Brad Jordan asked.
“It is possible, yes, but you must stay here to learn Death Magic well enough to accomplish that.”
“Is there a way for me to leave Deads’ Town without learning Death Magic?”
“No,” the Oba said. “Thank you for seeking the knowledge of the conjurors. Please go in peace.”
“I’ll stay, then,” Brad Jordan said to the Oba and he looked to Baity.
“He’s not the one to ask about that,” Baity said. “Now, let’s get out of here before we annoy him.”
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