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The Curse of the Mage King |
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Roughly one month Back
Terika sighed, and looked down at her charge, her cousin. He had alot ahead of him if she was right, and he was the kind to not accept help without deadly need. He probably didnt remember that she'd met him before, back when he had been first born, and later when he'd turned two- Sharia, his mother, had been like a sister to her.
He slept deeply, and from looking at his spell notes from he night on the train, she new he was gifted in spell design, and probably would've been one of the greater Weavers, if not for his bloodline. Well, that was a story for another time.
She gathered his equipment like her master had gathered hers, as had every master going back to the time that the Mage King had first taught his eldest daughter, and left behind the staff and spare clothes, and the rather ill written note. He seemed like the type to survive to at least get revenge, so maybe it wasnt as ill thought out as she assumed...
Sighing she left the fielded area, already sensing that 'The Gardener', an entity that existed in the canyon somewhere, had already sensed her and Zakerin.
As if on cue, a masculine voice with a bored tone said, "I see you're back, little kitten."
She turned to face the apparition, for thats all he was to her. He stood tall, roughly six feet, and had muscles that proved the difficulty of his work. Dark red hair was tied back in a ponytail, but none of that detracted from the danger that even this massless ghost exerted. Somehow, she could never see his eyes.
"Ive long since stopped being a kitten, Gardener." she said calmly.
He walked around her, looking her over in a studying way.
"For certain you are no longer the girl who spent her six months hiding on the mountain tops..." he said nodding. "... but you are still a kitten, kitten. Did you bring a new one?"
She nodded. "He's the child of Sharia and Zerfin."
"Zerfin...." he said, with a slight tone of wonder. "Sharia too? Amazing... I hope he's as brave as his parents.... Did you bring him for the bet?"
Terika drew in a hissing breath. The bet, she had forgotten that entirely.
"I-"
"Forgot. But let me remind you that even if it wasnt your intention, you still brought him. Meaning he has to face your trials, or you lose your magic." The Gardener said, not sounding bored any more. "And you may not help him. At all."
Terika was getting angry. "That wasnt part of the Bet!"
"It wasnt?" The Gardener said with a sneer. "Your life for a bet, that was your deal. Any terms." He then looked thoughtful. "Though, you are right, this isnt fair at all to the boy.... hrm..."
At once, not sure how she had gotten the idea, Terika suddenly had a plan.
"Its not fair to him to do something for nothing Gardener... so if he succeeds, why dont you teach him? He has the Eye of the King, and a quick mind..."
The Gardener floated silently, not taking its gaze off Terika, and she began to fear for her life, and that of Zakerin.
"Here is the complete bargain then," The Gardener finally said. "The boy will have to pass three tasks, ones that deal with Luck, Skill and tenacity. If he succeeds the three tasks, I will have him brought to the Garden for three months. If, in the garden, he fails to find the Source of the nullification, you lose, and your Magic is forfeit. If he finds it however, you will be told of the Mage King's Secret. That is the bet as it now stands."
Terika realized that if luck was limited, she had just used up enough to save the lives of an entire country. She was not likely to get a better deal for Zakerin or herself, and thus she replied, "Agreed."
And though she had never been religious, she began to pray.
 Azzy Rael · Tue Apr 20, 2010 @ 12:07am · 0 Comments |
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