Short Stories in English for Beginners

ran out of
magic water a long time ago.’
‘What? Does King Andur know?’
‘No, he doesn’t.’
‘But we must tell him!’ Lars just looked at Alfred. Alfred became
suspicious. ‘Why did you give the strength potions to this king? It is an act
against King Andur!’
‘These are some of the last potions for strength. There is no more magic
water. Do you understand?’
Alfred nodded.
Lars continued, ‘We might be able to make more magic water. We will
use these potions instead of original water.’ Then Lars added, ‘We have
always used original water. But this might work. We hope.’
Alfred was angry. ‘We have paid the gold for nothing? You betrayed me,
Lars!’ he cried. ‘You betrayed King Andur!’

---

‘Yes, I lied. But I did it to maintain peace,’ said Lars. ‘I want no blood on
my hands.’ He looked at Alfred and hoped he would understand.
‘How will this keep peace?’ replied Alfred. ‘The secret is that there is no
more magic water. No one knows now. But soon people will find out. Then
Andur will know you stole the gold.’
Lars stopped smiling. ‘Alfred, King Andur cannot find out that there’s no
magic water. The result will be war. Peace will be over. King Andur will
attack
 Arthuren.’
‘So you will make magic water for Andur with the potions?’ asked
Alfred.
‘Yes. Just to keep the peace,’ Lars said. ‘If we can.’
Alfred looked at Lars suspiciously again. The comment worried him.
‘What do you mean “if we can”?’
Lars looked at Alfred. Then he spoke slowly. ‘As I said, we usually make
new magic water with 
pure
 magic water. We mix magic water with normal
water. The normal water becomes magic.’ Then Lars paused. ‘But there is
no more pure magic water. The original water is gone.’
‘And?’
‘Well, we will try.’
‘Try what?’
‘We will try to make magic water from these potions. The potions have
the magic water in them. We will mix the potions with normal water.
Maybe it will make the normal water become magic.’
‘Maybe? Maybe?’ cried Alfred. ‘And what if it doesn’t? As you said,
there is no more magic water …’
Lars was silent. After a moment, King Arthuren answered. ‘If the potion
does not work,’ he explained, ‘then the battle at the Silent Woods was not
the last one.’ There will be war.