Battlemage Book 8 Origins and Dark RevelationsChapter 8
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~Interlude~
Kathryn was soon to arrive in the latest city of Port Johnston looking for anyone that had any information about Elliot.
Port Johnston was seaport town that sat high on the water and had lots of shoals, coves, and various little caves that often filled with water at high tide all around the city.
While she wasn't happy that she didn't find anything in the last city, she still was happy how she helped out the women who were kidnapped and who were going to be sold as sex slaves. She was still impressed that she could be so helpful to others without having to do it under the cover of darkness.
Freeing those women was the first time she had used her power for someone else's sake and not as a form of punishment for those who she felt wronged her.
While Kathryn didn't go after men she marked for death anymore, any man who wouldn't take no for an answer, like in the last city, she eventually gave in and slept with them.
But she made them work hard at it.
Soon after they did the deed she always took just a touch of essence from them to fuel her powers, but not enough to keep them out for days, just enough to make them sleep through the night.
It also helped her build up her reserves of power. She wouldn't ever be caught flat footed again like she was before when she was almost sold as a slave.
But she always did everything in her power to dissuade the men to leave her alone, and she made it a point to never go after any of them. Some men took the hint and just quietly stared at her with longing, but others kept pressing until she eventually gave in.
She could have had a bed mate every night if she chose, but she didn't want it to get back to Elliot when she found him that she was easy. He handled her relationship with William and his friends so badly that she didn't want to do anything to make him remember that time, and that was the primary driving factor that made her try to put so many of them off.
While lost in thought on the road to the current city she was headed too, which she could now see off in the distance about a mile or so away, she saw a man coming from another side road. It was one that came out from the other side of the forest and started to run right along side her road.
Soon the two roads would join and they would be walking together in the same direction.
While she traveling alone she knew there wasn't anything the man could do to harm her, so she didn't feel threatened by him, but she was preparing herself for yet another request for her to join the man at the nearest room in the first Inn they came across. It seemed that was the only thing most men wanted from her, she thought.
The man she noticed had light brown hair, was clean shaven, and had a light pack on his shoulders. He was dressed in homespun shirt and pants that were both different degrees of light brown in color.
"Howdy Miss, nice weather we're having," said the man cheerfully.
"Yes it is pleasant. It helps that it's so mild today. When one travels that always helps," said Kathryn as she walked on. Soon they were sharing the road as they headed to the city.
For a moment they both walked side by side silently, lost in their thoughts.
"Here it comes. Soon he'll comment on my looks and offer to pay for a room for some of my time, as if that would be compensation enough," thought Kathryn darkly.
While she had a pleasant look on her face she wasn't looking for this to play out any differently than it had hundreds of times before.
But she was surprised that the man was staying on his side of the road.
He didn't come any closer and didn't try to crowd her. If anything he was humming a happy tune with a large smile on his face as he kept looking ahead as if she wasn't even there.
"I see you're happy about something. May I ask what it is?" asked Kathryn when she couldn't stand the curiosity any more. Something she couldn't put her finger on made her ask that question.
"My wife, the love of my life, was taken from me in the middle of the night a number of weeks back. I thought I would never see her again and I traveled to a couple of cities and towns looking for anyone who might have any information about who took her.
"I just left the town I'm coming back from after a week of looking, and I found that she and some other ladies had already been rescued by a female mage. They say that the mage was very powerful and punished the men all for taking them.
"I also found out my wife had already headed back home and should be back with my son and daughter by now. So I'm so happy I can't contain myself. I just wish I knew who to thank for giving her back to me," said the man with a large smile as he turned and looked back down the road again.
Kathryn looked at him in shock.
This wasn't going the way she expected. She expected him, regardless of if he had wife or not, to try to proposition her. But he wasn't and he was openly talking about his wife and children instead of hiding them. Not to mention he didn't know she was the mage in question he was talking about.
"Wow that sounds incredible. I'm happy for you. What happened?" asked Kathryn wondering where the man's story would go.
As the man talked he told her about how he was working at the local Mill in the city, one of four they had, and his wife was at the market by herself last, best he could find out. And when she was on her way back she never arrived at home.
He and the kids eventually returned to find her not there. They found out that one other local woman had also gone missing and no one knew where she was either. When he went to the next town to find out what happened he found out that a couple of their women had went missing the week before.
The man made a tight loop around the country side only to find reports of other missing women. He realized that they were being kidnapped to be sold into sexual slavery.
But at the last town that completed his circle he found that his wife had been saved and was already on her way back. She had traveled back ahead of him and it had taken him a week to get back home. The kids in the mean time had been watched by relatives.
As Kathryn looked at him in shock, the man went on to tell her about how much he loved her and how important she was too him. He talked about his family and his kids and how important it was for their mother to be in their lives.
Kathryn was again shocked.
She never expected this from any man. Not one with such strong family ties, enough that just being around her didn't tempt him into trying for her attention.
A couple times in curiosity while he was talking she used just a touch of glamour to see if he would notice and respond, but he never even seemed to notice while he was talking about his family. She didn't want to tempt him, but she had to know if it was faked or not.
Before long they were out of the forest and nearing the city walls.
"Well Miss, I enjoyed your company and it's too bad we have to part ways here," started the Man as he reached to shake her hand.
"Oh, that was just a smokescreen. I should have known he was luring me in with all that talk. Now comes his sales pitch," thought Kathryn.
"My name is Weston Farmer, and my wife's name is Maureen. If you ever want a good home cooked meal I could try, but my wife's cooking is better. I'm sure she would like to meet someone as pleasant as you," said Weston
"Whaa..." started Kathryn caught off guard.
Again this wasn't what she expected.
You don't look like you have a lot of money and those vultures in town will try to either pick you clean or force you to do other things, if you know what I mean, to make ends meet. You look like too nice a girl for that. Besides my wife is back and I'd like to celebrate if I could," smiled Weston.
Kathryn tried to beg off, but Weston wouldn't take no for an answer and while they were debating it a little blonde haired girl about five or six seasons old came up crying out "Daddy! Mommy, look it's Daddy!" and hugged him around his knees.
Looking down the man said "Debra! How's my little jewel doing today?" and then he quickly picked her up.
It took the man a moment to notice that Kathryn hadn't moved but then he looked up at her and then the direction his wife must have been from where his daughter came and saw his wife standing staring at Kathryn with both her hands over her mouth.
"My god it's you," finally whispered Maureen.
"Have you met?" asked Weston.
"It's her. She the one who rescued me and the others," said Maureen.
"Well you have a real reason to help us celebrate now," said Weston as he let little Debra down.
Once on ground the little girl looked up with big eyes and asked, "Did you really save my mommy from the bad men?"
Kathryn tried not to let her question effect her, but she found her eyes swimming as she watched such a tiny girl look at her in awe.
"Yes, but she helped too," said Kathryn quietly as she nodded at the little girl.
"Please let me fix something for you," said Maureen.
Before Kathryn realized it she let herself be talked into having dinner with the Farmers.
Before Kathryn realized it she had accepted their offer to stay with them for a few days while she looked for any information on Elliot.
She didn't tell them everything, but Kathryn told them she was trying to find out about her old boyfriend who she had a chance to marry, but didn't.
Now she wanted to see if there was any chance that could be changed. She was hoping the fact she was searching for him to be enough to make him want to be with her.
Maureen just nodded in understanding, but Weston commented how dangerous it was for a young woman to be on the road by herself.
Maureen was going to comment it was more dangerous for anyone who crossed her, but Kathryn quickly made a small fireball in her hand and said she didn't know of anyone who could cast faster than her.
With the sudden appearance of magic Weston had to rethink his position.
One thing that Kathryn was impressed with was that once Maureen finished cooking and dinner was finished Weston cleaned up all the dishes used without a word as if it was a practiced motion by him. And for the few days she was there he always was the one to put little Debra to bed.
His son Jeff was twelve so he could put himself to bed. But his father always read his daughter a story and checked on the kids while he let Maureen unwind.
Kathryn asked Maureen one night after Weston left if he was doing this because he was happy she was back or because they had company, but Maureen said Weston always did this from the day the children were born.
But during the days Kathryn spent her time looking for information on Elliot and her nights were spent with the Farmers. She noticed that there weren't quite as many men in town as one would expect in a city this large. There were plenty of women and children, but they outnumbered the men noticeably.
The only time she got wind of what might have caused that was when a couple of women came by looking for one of their husbands.
After Maureen talked with them for awhile they left. Kathryn, not wanting to intrude sat and listened, but after they left she wanted to know what was going on.
"What was that all about? They said that another man had gone missing? What was that? Your men often go missing like this?" asked Kathryn.
"We don't know. I'm sure you've noticed that there are fewer men around than there should be. That's because for some reason, no matter what time of night it might be, the men suddenly get this strange look on their faces and then disappear into the night never to be seen again. Sometimes it will be months between disappearances and other times it will be with-in days of each other.
"Tonight Mabel's husband Douglas just walked off and she hasn't been able to find him. The strangest part is that as soon as the men who disappear hit the edge of town, all traces of them are gone. Most of the trails seem to disappear at the ocean. Many a man has disappeared and left his family to fend for themselves," said Maureen sadly
"Does anyone know what happens to them?" asked Kathryn.
"No, and that's strange too. It's been happening for as long as I can remember, but no one who leaves like that is ever seen again," said Maureen.
Kathryn hoped she was wrong, but something told her she might know what it was.
Kathryn might have been able to leave the city in a week of first arriving, but something changed her plans.
She was telling the Farmer family at dinner that she was going to be leaving soon when Weston's face took on a strange look.
Kathryn might not have noticed, as engrossed with talking to Debra as she was, except Maureen jumped up from her seat across from her husband and started screaming "NO, NO! Not WESTON! NOOOOOO!"
Weston slowly got up from the table and started for the door. His eyes were blank and he seemed to be looking off into the distance.
As Maureen lunged for him, there as a wicked static discharge and she fell unconscious to the floor. Kathryn quickly ran around the table to grab her because it looked as if she was going to fall into the fireplace next to her.
Before she turn back around Weston was gone from sight.
Suddenly there was a tiny ball of yellow hair screaming and crying that dropped to the floor as she cried out "Please save my daddy! I don't want him to go away forever! Please save my daddy!" over and over again.
As she was trying to quiet her down Kathryn used the succubus side of her magic to listen for what she was sure she would hear.
Having been given her power via Maxwell she could feel the pull or hear when other magical creatures where in a close proximity to her. Even though she couldn't feel a pull, with her being this close to the water as she was, she was sure she would be able to hear the song. And she was right.
She could hear the call of a Siren close by.
It was singing a tune that the targeted man would never be able to resist. It was similar to her power over men once they looked into her eyes or she cast a glamour around herself, but she didn't eat her victims and always had the choice to leave them alive, an option that she had been exercising 'a lot' lately.
Once she was able to lock onto where it was generally coming from she checked Maureen. She was ok. She had been knocked out, but wasn't seriously harmed.
"Everyone, you are here for a reason and it is something that has an effect on your lives both in the past and the future," began Brianna as they were all seated around the living room. As the last to arrive, once Matt and Rayne showed up it was time to get started. As they looked around at their children and their spouses, they both couldn't believe how much the boys took after their father, even down to having the same silver forelock now in their hair as well But knowing this would be...
Rising early Kat was up and noticed that Seth was seated at the table with his back slightly to the rest of the room. She slowly approached but she could hear him softly talking to himself. She tried to wait but eventually she got curious. "I know Marie, but we're almost done here ... you don't think you'll go early do you? Oh, not really ... Dusty met his first ghoul yesterday ... he'll be ok, but he was out cold again ... I better run everyone will be up soon. I love you," said...
Riding into the small town, it was aptly named "Dresden's Last Chance" There wasn't much to see but a few homes and a few businesses, maybe twenty to thirty buildings in total. Of course there was also the tavern that might have a spare room or two, but it was obvious that the Inn was more there for getting a drink than anything else. The companions reached the town about mid day. Kat only wanted to stop overnight since they were so close and give the horses a break then push on. She...
Aric was sitting the table mentally going over preparations for dinner. It was his week to cook. While Brianna was coming along with her cooking, he was still far better he thought with a smile. But she was getting better, and she was better at cleaning and laundry so he had no complaints. He was glad they took turns switching on and off each week. Even though he tried to stop it, his mind kept drifting back over the last few seasons. After Brianna and Aric were settled in they traveled a...
Dusty slowly opens his eyes and looks around and sees he's in a very nice room and Suzan is sleeping with her head down on the bed in a chair she's pulled up to the bed. It looks like she's been watching over him. As he groggily reaches out he softly touches her head, where he then starts to slowly stroke her hair. It seemed amazingly soft to him as he did. He always wondered how women always managed to keep their hair soft like that. "So she loves me huh? I guess that's why I'm more...
"And that all happened just a little over ten seasons ago?" asked Nathan slowly. The way this young man was acting he thought it was all recently at least in the last couple of seasons. Not something decades ago. "I left the city and I've not returned. Not even to see my family," said Elliot nodding yes. "But what happened to Kathryn after you left or the man she was with? Did you ever find out? Did you even want to know?" asked Nathan. As he thought about it, he realized that he...
Before lunch had been served Dusty had already spoken with the King. Even though he tried hard to keep the crystal phones they created a secret from the public, the King while bragging about them, had shown his off to a few of the nobles and visiting dignitaries. That was enough to spark a huge interest in them. Suddenly it was seen as a favor to the crown to have a few people outfitted with them, and a few others tried to curry huge favors with him to get one. Dusty and his friends kept...
While Kat had waited that morning for the three of them to arrive quite a few men had tried to "chat her up" as they passed by her going either into the city or as they left. Even in her generally loose fitting travel garb they saw the gem that she was. Somehow she managed not only to talk to them in a friendly manner, but she also managed to get some useful information while not offending anyone or giving the impression that she was willing to go to bed with any of them. Even though she...
The four women entered the large city and quickly blended in with the rest of the inhabitants. Suzan was just a little unhappy Dusty wasn't with her though it had only been a little over a week since she left Dusty and headed out for the mission. Although she missed her husband, she was also really charged up to be here and was well ready to take on a new mission like this. It took them several days of travel by ship and a few more days of hard riding and just barely stopping for anything...
Amber came into the house and kicked off her boots. She then put her pack down beside the door, took off her twin swords, and then leaned those swords against the door next to her pack. Her parents would be around somewhere, and after she found something to eat she would go find them. She had dropped Logan off in town, as he wanted to visit, but she only wanted to go home and unwind. As she walked down the hallway she had the same thoughts she usually did when she passed through...
Dusty felt like he was submerged in warm water. It was strange because while he couldn't see, he could feel everything. The feeling made him feel like he was surrounded by nothing and yet at the same time by everything. He could feel shapes, colors, sounds, even smells. He could sense everyone around him and as strange as it sounded he could sense himself. It was like he was looking at himself but he wasn't looking at himself. As Dusty was trying to puzzle that out, he felt child like...
Dusty and Suzan reached the double doors that lead to the council chambers. They had passed a few offices that the council members and others made their own. Now they were at their destination. There was a single desk outside the council chambers, and at it sat a very striking and attractive red haired woman. She looked to conceivably be in her mid-thirties, but with mages that didn't mean anything. She was dressed in similar robes as the guard out front with the same sash over her...
"Galen? Galen? Yes I know of him. He's one of those mages who seated themselves on their useless council. Don't you know that his meeting you was no accident? He was assigned to watch you. He also wanted to make sure that you didn't go power mad and crazy. While you may be stronger he's always hidden his true strength from you. "And you do know the reason that he took so long to help your son and his wife when her powers truly activated was because the council really didn't want to...
Wolfgang wouldn't admit it but he was really looking forward to Kat's visit shortly. She had just called to say that she was close and would soon be at his home, and once they broke the connection he found he was rotating the crystal phone around in his hands and staring at it as he thought about her. Ever since Dusty's phones started to be the rage it had made his life far easier. Of course he wished he had access to these phones a long, long, time ago but Dusty wasn't born during the...
Dusty and Suzan quickly made a few plans between them, agreed on them, and then set about separately doing them. First thing Dusty wanted to do was make sure the kids were taken care of. He knew that getting DJ started on his training was important right then and so he made a quick call to Lori. Talking as fast as he could Dusty then explained what was going on and why he needed to send the kids to her home. Telling Lori he had the emergency covered he made the plan to send their kids,...
Dusty, Suzan, Daniel, and Rachel all suddenly appeared on the pad next to Lori's home. The pad was large enough to accommodate five riders on horseback, but it was the four of them standing next to Dusty and Suzan's horses. Waiting while Dusty and Suzan took their horses to the stable, the four of them returned to the front of the door and knocked. "Lori seemed pretty excited when I called her, I wonder why," said Suzan as they waited "Bet she's discovered something new again. She...
While still stunned from Gemma's story, Brianna looked down at the table and said "But, but, I don't know if he even likes me back. What if he doesn't think I'm attractive enough? All the other women here are so beautiful, and I'm not that special. I don't know how to walk around like they do or how to flirt with him. And I don't really know how to cook very well. Everyone else is better than I am at everything." Gemma, looked at her stunned for a moment, paused and then started to...
"Thank you for the horses," said Marie as she looked over at Seth smiling. "I'm happy to loan them to you all. I'm just sorry how you received them, but not that you have them," said Seth. "I am too. I wished those men didn't have to die while helping others as they did, but I know those people in the town appreciated their sacrifice," said Marie to Seth. Seth just nodded as he rode. They rode in silence while they were sticking to the main roads in the forest so that they could...
As the five of them worked their way through the dungeon, they were surprised that they no longer found any opposition. There just didn't seem to be anything that approached them or tried to attack them. That bothered Dusty. They had just gone from having wave after wave of ghouls attacking for over an hour to an eerie quiet. The only thing that made it worse was the occasional dripping sound of water from somewhere in the distance as they made their way deeper into the dungeon. "This is...
Andrea sat next to the bed looking down at the face of a sleeping Daven. It was hard to believe watching him that this was the same face of the young man who was the terror of husbands and fathers alike. Likewise it was hard to believe this was the same face of the young man who was well known as well for his uncommon attractiveness. If it wasn't for his barely hidden arrogance, that few who got close enough to him could see, she herself might have found him more attractive. He always...
Melkin had to admit that Dusty was coming up in the world. When he brought him here he was someone who had nothing and had to start at the bottom. The council thought that this was the best way to do it and that it would make him more dependant on them for things he needed to survive while here. But not only had he started with nothing and grown, but he had been knighted, received a title and land, and was now turning a pretty decent profit. No one had expected him to be able to prosper...
Early the next morning found Ayden and Michael riding out to the guild's grounds. Knowing that it was a bit out from town, they started just before daybreak to see what was there between the town and the guild. Surprisingly there wasn't anything to see. As they rode they thought back about the night before. They found it strange that when they decided to go out and see a little of the town, and what their other options were for dinner, they found Maryanne and her cute friend Drava, both...
"We have a problem. It appears that killing their own men doesn't seem to be a problem for whoever took the wagon. I'm kind of surprised they even left Gem and Haley breathing," said Ariel as she got up from kneeling over the body of the second man they found today. It looked as if someone had strangled him, but Ariel was hard pressed to figure out why, as they had no defensive wounds on them anywhere. It meant the man was in some position where he couldn't fight back. They lost a day...
"You're kidding me. That's why she's been busting my nuts? Because she likes me? Com'on, you must be seriously kidding me, right?" asked Ayden with shock. Ariel and he had found a spare table in the back. It was one without anyone close by so that they could have a private conversation, even though this late at night there weren't that many people around. "Nope, but I wish I really was. Seems you were the one she was trying to win back when we were kids, but she was kind of mixed up...
Beth was having the strangest dream. She was facing Ariel and heard her scream at her, right before she fell forward under the earth, and now she was slowly drowning in some kind of muck that she found underground. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't keep her eyes open or seem to catch her breath. She could feel her breath slowing down. She knew she was dying. As she felt herself suffocating, she again saw herself in the cell during the time she was twelve and all those people,...
As they rode into town early that morning, right up to the Inn where they were staying even after being gone for five days, they could see Gary and Maria standing outside anxious for their return. The returning six rode right up to them and they both could see the bandages on Beth's arm as well as the one on Ayden's hand. They were curious but said nothing as they waited for them to respond. "We have the wagon and the crate back, but we need to talk," said Beth as she swung down from...
As they slowly walked into the house only one or two men seemed to be willing to stop them. Ayden and Michael asked to go first as to get more "combat" practice after watching Gem demonstrate how easily her skill stacked up against theirs. They didn't kill anyone, as that was something they never had to do before, but there would be a few who woke up with massive headaches. They searched the house but they couldn't seem to find anyone else around. Working their way lower into the house...
The town of Branson's Corner was eight miles just outside of the Guild grounds of the Sisters of the Sacred Blade. Close enough for the Sisters to visit the town if they wanted, but not close enough for most of the town's folks to just drop by without a reason. As the Sisters guild was considered a large guild with just over 400 active members, but did not including counting reserves or Sisters in good standing that had left. The guild had never had any problems or issues with the...
"With us not finding any trace of what's happing during the day it looks like we're going to have to venture further into the woods at night," said Suzan as she looked at Dusty and Seth. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean we've still not found a single trace of what is taking off with the people from around here," said Dusty as he turned to look at her. "I say we give it at least one more day, maybe two tops, before we go looking for any danger that we may not need to buy for...
3190 seasons previously before current times "Beth! Beth! Where are you? Are you here in the house?" called out Wolfgang as he started down the hallway. As he moved around the house, everything looked similar but somehow different. In spots there was dust and cobwebs, but not enough to make the house look abandoned. But no matter where he looked he didn't see Beth anywhere. Heading outside he noticed two young boys just outside his door. One was leaning with his back against the wall...
"Ariel, I still don't see why you were so dead set against my having brought my Bastard sword with me as a backup incase of trouble. I mean you have your swords with you. I just feel safer with mine as well," said Nathan grumbling as he walked along. While he wasn't really irritated at Ariel, he was irritated at the situation. "For the very reason you just stated. You should be comfortable with every weapon you know how to use well. But that won't happen if you only carry that one...
4001 seasons previously before current times The last five seasons the land of Pastial had been peaceful and the people and land prospered. Wolfgang managed to setup various changes in the land. He managed to introduce a few of his inventions further into the populace, like the wheeled plow, piped irrigation for the farm land, water filtration, and he was currently working on various steam powered inventions. Because of all of those changes the people kept trying to make him the new King...
The next morning Dusty got up very early, before the sun was even close to coming up, and started packing his pack for the next mission. As he pulled out clothing to take with him he noticed the suede leather jacket and jeans that he was wearing when he arrived here hanging in the wardrobe in the corner of his room. Seeing them once again took him back to when he first appeared in this world just under over a year ago. A lot of things had changed. First of all he now believed in magic. It...
Groaning Terrance rolled out of the wreckage of the bookcase he was lying in. There were a few sharp points and splinters he pulled free of his skin, but thankfully none were in his face or eyes. As he looked over at the ruined mess that was a side table he saw the light stirring of Rory. "Hey, are you ok?" asked Terrence tiredly "How can any one person have that much strength?" asked Rory as he finally opened his eyes and looked at Terrance. "The way he threw us I think he only...
"Are you ready? We don't have to do this if you really don't want to. We might be able to find another way. Or we could find someone else, or..." said Kat as she looked at Rory. Rory reached out and put his hand on her arm and gently held it. "Kathryn, we don't have a lot of time and it's not like it's our first time together, remember? Ariel is running loose and it's only a matter of time before she runs into a caravan or something else, and a lot of innocents become harmed...
Dusty started to run into the room, but he stopped and took a good long look around first looking for traps. As he stepped into the room he saw Galvin as he basically finished hanging his wife next to Daniel and Rachel from a hook by a chain around both of her wrists. When Galvin stepped back he could see that her shirt was ripped badly in the front and one of her breasts was in danger of spilling out of her already heavily overworked bra. He watched Galvin seem to take a good long look at...
Two men stood looking at the prone form of their leader. They just received the report that the man wanting to join them, a Christopher Jones, was just killed by someone a very powerful. It didn't look like magic that killed him, but they also had no idea at this point how he died. The men weren't too broken up about it because they felt the fool was wrong to be experimenting on children and they wouldn't miss him. He contacted them before with a deep desire to join their ranks and said...
"Mmmmmmm ... do you really need to get up and go work out so soon? The sun isn't even up yet. You really should come back to bed. I need you. I mean I really need you. You could just as easily work out with me instead you know," said Suzan softly but in her deep raspy voice. Even with just barely opening her eyes, she knew that she had her husband's complete attention. They had gone to bed the previous night in the buff and she could see his response to her request instantly. He was...
During the first week that Dusty and the others had left Marie and Seth had met with the King and Marie trained in the yard to keep up her skills, tone her body, and generally keep busy. The King gave her one of the outer rooms that faced the parade yards so that she was well away from the other nobles but close enough that she could work out in the yard and visit with Seth. King William gave her a knowing smile as his secretary briefed her where she would be staying. Marie smiled back at...
Once out of the chamber Dusty smiled and raced down the hall to grab Suzan's hand as she was still storming down the hallway, and pulled her trembling frame into an embrace. As he did he noticed that her face was unreadable, but he could see as he did this that she was still very much pissed off. While pulling her close he buried his face in her hair. "I'm sorry honey, but should have told you that you broke nothing. If I hadn't been so caught up in self pity I would have spoken up...
"Well my dear it has been almost two weeks, I don't believe they are coming back before the time limit," said Queen Morigan as she looked over at Rachel while she stood apart from the other women. Rachel was sitting and trying to look at ease, but it was an effort with all the various other Lady's and ladies in waiting around. All the various forms of nobility were hanging around the audience chamber making light conversation about nothing and gossiping. As Rachel tried to look like she...
Once breakfast was finished Ariel wandered the guild grounds once again. She was trying to learn where everything was, and she passed various areas once again including the blacksmith shop where Nathan worked as a blacksmith's assistant. When they first arrived they found that the guild already had a blacksmith, but like the other members he went on missions because he could make more money doing that than he could having the members pay him to fix their weapons. So there was a need for...
The meeting with Rayne's parents, Aric and Brianna, went really well Matt thought. Matt met her father Aric, and if he thought the boys were larger than life, he was shocked at the father. His presence seemed huge to him. But strangely, other than a silver forelock, Aric didn't look like he could possibly be a day over thirty at best to Matt. To Matt Aric seemed far too quiet, friendly, and gentle to be the famous Battlemage he had heard of. Didn't they only love death and destruction...
Aric worked hard while he was at the academy. And while it was grueling work, it was getting him where he needed to be. He wanted to finish fast to be back in Andrea's arms. He was ready to be married and with all that it entailed. The professors couldn't believe how fast he learned, and he seemed to be ready for any class he could take. The only exception was the class for Applied Black Magery, that class he refused to take. He didn't like the necromancy involved and flat out refused to...
"ARRRGGHHH!! What do we do now!" asked Andrea for about the fourth or fifth time since getting to Daven's office as she paced back and forth. Daven leaned back and watched her pace. Even though she was severely agitated, her pacing, and the waving of her arms in that dress, was doing wonders for her anatomy. No wonder he loved that dress on her and he thought again no wonder he had always wanted her. Once he got her unwound she was a tiger in the sack. He would really miss their time...
While Aric was making his way to see Aaron, Andrea and Daven were still shocked over Aric's announcement that he was through with them. To the best of their knowledge he never gave up on anyone. But for all intent and appearances he had on both of them! And to make it worse he was going to keep his word, they knew he would. Andrea still sat on the floor stunned. "Aric is done with me," she thought really worried. "Aric said he is done with me? That can't be! What am I going to do? I...
"Nana what was that?" asked a worried Gem. "I'm not sure. It felt like we hit something. But the ship isn't moving forward anymore and it's not sinking. But I do hear a lot of yelling, but I just don't know," said Brianna. Brianna and Gem were in a windowless room with the door bolted from the outside. But with their sparse clothing, or lack there of, they could clearly feel that it was now way colder than it was before. The reason for their confusion was that they felt the boat...
Dusty arrived with his friends at the kingdom of Stelmore. The first thing they did on entering was to head straight for the castle to talk with King Roland about the attacks. Reaching the city gates it was obvious that the city was on high alert. On trying to enter the capital city they had to get off of their horses at the gate and lead them into the city. The guards then separated them, and two guards checked them one at a time. One held a serviceable pike on them as the other one...
A bloody and very upset Suzan and Anita made their way back to the palace just as the Sun was cresting over the horizon. They had already made the stop by Tabitha's mother's house the night before to inform her of what happened. Needless to say it wasn't something they wanted to do, but knew that they had to and it was something they owed the only real victim to pay the ultimate price. Even though Suzan felt she should tell her, Anita insisted that because her death was her fault she...
"What... ? What does he mean that Aric doesn't love me as much as he did Andrea? How could he say that he knows for sure that Aric only stayed with me because I was the only person he had sex with? Aric's not that type of person! "No, that couldn't be it. He's just trying to make me feel bad. Aric loves me more than he ever loved her, I know he does. I just know he does, " thought Brianna, but deep down she was starting to wonder if there was really any truth to that...
As Aric and Brianna made their way downstairs they headed to the den and saw Galen sitting in a chair at his desk making some notes with his back to the doorway. Just as Aric was getting ready to knock on the door frame Galen said "About time you woke up boy. We need to have a talk. I should have had it with you long ago, but I put it off thinking that what I was seeing couldn't be true. But now I understand it is." As Aric and Brianna came into the room and took a seat on the couch...
"Ok, what the HELL just happened?" thought Aric. As he was filling the cart with wood, suddenly an extremely huge Brown Bear came out of the woods. He tried not to move, but the bear was looking for a fight. He was pretty sure he could take the bear, he was pretty strong and fast, but it would be close. The bear was easily twice his size in wide and almost twice his height standing up right. As he was trying to circle around to get a good position, his foot slipped into a gopher hole up...
Galvin sat on the cliff side with his legs dangling as he sat overlooking the city. It was a very prosperous city that originally had been a town that was built against the side of a cliff so that it could only be raided from one direction, and all the defenses had been developed to protect from that direction. But over the years the town had grown, as well as changes in modern warfare. Now if someone wanted to give the city a good pasting they could do it in relative safety from where he...
"Honey?" asked Brianna as she sat at the table one night a few months after Aric met Galen. It was after dinner at Aric's house "Since we've been seeing each other for a while now I was wondering, do you feel I'm pretty?" Brianna asked. Aric who was at the sink was cleaning their plates turned and looked at Brianna "You know I do. I remember the first time you sat in my lap topless a few weeks back and jump right back up soon as you sat down. I believe you felt how attractive I...
Suzan could tell by the rising and setting of the sun that she had been here at least a week and a half so far. She wasn't sure what was going on with Dusty and her friends, but she really wanted to see them again. The first few days she was there she refused to eat, though after awhile she decided starving herself before she found a way out didn't make sense. But she refused to eat with the Queen and Prince under any circumstances. She just flat out refused to see them. Everyday she...
At the end of the mornings training, and while they were both seated enjoying breakfast, Brianna quietly asked "Honey, Aric, what circle mage are you?" "I don't really know," responded Aric "maybe second or third." He wasn't really listening to her. He was really excited about having a good day today. Brianna was unable to knock him down or disarm him even once today and they switched hands back and forth easily. Even though she got in some good shots at him, and his shoulders and...
"So where do we start looking for him?" asked Rory as he looked around at the crowd in the town square. "I'm not sure. It's not like you can say 'Hey, has anyone seen any evil mages running around lately' and then have everyone know who you're talking about. He might even be from here or be terrorizing everyone into not talking," said Ariel as she looked around. "I need to see if there is a mage and see if I can borrow his crystal. I would like to contact Galen and see if he knows...
Once they came to the city they asked for directions and they headed for the address they were given. They found themselves in front of a very large museum with rod iron gates that were swung wide open. They entered and were shown into a very nice, but a very cluttered office. There were books stacked on every table. But at least the center desk was clear. As the secretary showed them in she smiled big at Dusty and offered him her hand as she showed them all into the office. And once he...