The Thief of Shagrim

Nothing is ever free, as Afeek so glumly realised when the wizard went on to illustrate his conditions. "I want half the price of the Sceptre when you sell it," he said, his beard creasing as he smiled. "It'll be my little retirement fund. I'll need it; the pittance the Sultan is offering."

"Ah, there could be a small problem there Effendi," said Afeek, scratching at the fur under his chin. "You see, I don't intend to sell it."

The Wizard inadvertently inhaled too much smoke from his pipe and spent the next few minutes looking as though his head was about to burst from the strain of coughing. When he was recovered enough to talk, he blurted out the dreaded "why?" The effort started him coughing again and Afeek fidgeted while the older man regained control.

"It's quite a complicated story you see," said Afeek, once again wishing he were anywhere but here. "And one I'm sure you don't want me to bore you with."

"I'll be the judge of that, young man," said the Wizard. "Besides, anything that would make you keep something as valuable as the Sceptre rather than sell it has got to be worth hearing."

Afeek sighed, dreaming blissfully of his home. Of course, he was wanted for over a hundred counts of theft in his village, and returning would mean facing his penalty of five hundred years in prison, and three executions, but, there was nowhere quite like home. He could still remember Kazim, his young friend and companion, teaching him the intricate art of lock picking. "Remember the golden rule Afeek," Kazim had told him. "People wouldn't know their locks were worthless if we didn't test them."

He went on to tell his story, how he had been caught stealing jewels from the Sheikh's house, and how he was then told to pay the man a great deal of money as punishment. He told how he had been unlucky enough to bump into Abdul during the night and brought before the Sheikh yet again, this time being told to steal the Sceptre. The wizard listened with much nodding, grunting, and re-lighting of his pipe. When the Katrin had finished, the wizard sat back in his chair and scratched at a rather large wart behind his ear absently. "It seems to me you have a problem," he said. Afeek blinked, wondering if he had perhaps missed out an important part of the story, or if the wizard was simply an idiot.

"A problem?" said Afeek. "I have a little more than a problem Effendi. If I am caught, I'm likely to have my vitals removed; with a spoon."

"Oh, that makes me feel a LOT better," Afeek rolled his eyes and slumped down in his seat. The wizard shook his head and chuckled. "My boy, you have little to worry about. I will help you, now that you have told me the truth. And don't concern yourself with 'Sheikh Hekim', I am sure he will get what's coming to him. What you need to think about, is getting the Sceptre without waking the Sultan."

"Well that shouldn't be a problem, all I need to do is turn myself invisible and make myself as light as a feather so I make no noise!"

"The invisible part, I can do," said the wizard, nodding to himself. "The light as a feather part, no. I'm afraid you will have to rely on your own, erm, unique skills for that."

Afeek raised an eyebrow in question. "You can make me invisible? You never told me that."

"Well, you never asked," said the wizard with a grunt. "But never mind that, we need a plan."

"We don't need a plan, if you can turn me invisible, I can get in and out without any problem." Afeek smiled widely, wondering if he had perhaps praised the Gods without knowing it. Then again, maybe they were just luring him into a false sense of security.

"Of course we need a plan boy. Do you think the guards outside the Sultan's room will not notice the door opening and closing by itself? I know they are slow, but even THEY will notice that."

"Ok," said Afeek, feeling his jubilation slip, but only a little. "A plan it is. But, couldn't you just magic me into the room?"

If you find any problems with this, or any other page, please do not hesitate to contact us,