...,-~*THE PLOT OF SULLIMAN...,-~*
Na Rúin an Chaisleáin Bogadh
"My…" Madam Sulliman breathed, curled around her crystal ball in rapture of the vivid scene displayed beneath her. Abundant white—lace, feathers, silk, tapestries, candlesticks, and linen—swathed the lovely depiction of a wedding. A fated union between her, and a young man known as Howell Frend.
"I have yet to meet you, young Frend," Sulliman said, more to herself than the crystal ball. "But when I do, I will be certain to win your heart." She could see him displaying his fantastic powers in the vision, delighting the wedding guests with fireworks, flowers, live doves, and lifting the entire congregation into the air for dancing. "Your sort is exactly what I need to dispatch the King. Until we meet, young Howell Frend."
.-.-.-.
Not long after that vision, the Great Sorceress Sulliman was called to the Royal Acadamy for Magic. She was informed that a new student had been sent for from Ershire. His family name was Frend.
And upon seeing the strikingly handsome and familiar face of the young boy, Sulliman knew he was Howell. It was a bit odd perhaps that she was thirteen years his senior, and yet they were destined to be united, but magic is as magic does. Anything could happen, and Sulliman was determined to have Howell's power on her side.
"Enchantress Sulliman, this is the new student. We believe you will find him far more advanced than his twelve years would predict. His uncle is the Great Wizard Graycore. Howell is the only son of Frederick and Ursula Frend, a noble family of Ershire. We know you will find a proper teacher for him, and swear him in to loyalty of the kingdom."
Sulliman turned beautiful gray eyes on the King Brauten, and smiled a vixen's smile. "Of course, your highness," she said. "I will evaluate his power for myself. And I hope that he mayhaps be my own new student. If his power is so great, at such a young age, there are none more qualified than myself."
"My word! This is wonderful news, Enchantress! Young Howell, you will find a spectacular guide in Madam Sulliman. Study hard, and remain faithful, my son."
.-.-.-.
Even if he performed his tasks a little unconventionally, Howell could do everything Sulliman asked of him. He could tell she was surprised, by the way her slanted gray eyes lifted upward. He was very pleased with himself; not only was Lady Sulliman obviously a fabulous sorceress, but she was beautiful too. Howell loved a pretty face on any woman, and she was no different.
"How was that, Enchantress Sulliman?" Howell inquired, adding in a bow for good measure. He badly wanted this lovely lady to be his teacher.
"…Quite astounding, Master Howell. You, are brilliant. I must have you as my pupil!" Sulliman snapped the fan she was holding in determination. Howell looked at her mildly surprised, but accepted her fervent invitation with a smile.
.-.-.-.
"There he is! The unstoppable Mr. Frend."
"He's incredible, he can make mountains move if he wanted to!"
"Oh, look how handsome he is, Theresa! Not only is he fabulously powerful and respectably rich, but he's so handsome too!"
Howl could hear the other students whispering, all mages in their own right. At fourteen, he was still very much a boy, and yet…for some reason, he was treated like a young adult more often than not. He suspected that Madam Sulliman had something to do with that. Everyone knew, after all, that he was her favorite. She had ensured he had a private room, personal hand servants, and unregulated leave from the castle grounds by way of a magic portal, except during their lessons. And as if that wasn't enough, she constantly called for him, just to talk or inform him of something he might not have heard or thought of before. In fact, Howell was headed to see her at that moment, as he eavesdropped on the excited whispers of classmates when he passed.
.-.-.-.
"Madam?"
Howell knocked and entered Sulliman's office, knowing he'd find her waiting in her high-backed chair by the fireplace. It was unlit however, since the current season was summer.
"Oh, Howell, there you are! Come in, and please have a seat. Sooner or later, you will have to stop calling me 'Madam', and just use my name, Howell."
"But, Madam, I could never do that! It is against the Academy's policy."
"Pish-posh, policy! I am the Enchantress Sulliman, and if I say you may call me Genna, then you may. Say it to me once, Howell, if you please."
"…As you wish, Madam Genna."
"Only Genna, Howell." Howell retained a grimace, not wanting to upset his teacher. He esteemed her greatly, but as he got older, found her whimsical attentions quite annoying sometimes.
"Genna," he said, unable to keep his attitude completely out of his voice. Fortunately, Sulliman did not seem to notice.
"Wonderful! Now then, I asked you in today to tell you about falling stars."
"Stars?"
"Yes. A star is an abounding source of power. The Great Wizard Qeraban once used the power of hundreds of stars to vanquish entire armies of several warring countries, in order to save this one. That's a formidable and difficult skill to learn, but it is useful." Howell was certainly used to Sulliman talking about war tactics and the 'great and formidable' skills one could learn. He didn't always understand however. He'd made it clear that while he wanted to become as advanced as he could, he wasn't interested in her notions of ambition. Rather, he had his own.
"That sounds like a great feat, Madam, but if Qeraban had to harness hundreds of stars, then how powerful can one on its own really be?"
"Excellent question, Howell. And one I am prepared to answer." Howell wondered if there had ever been a question Sulliman wasn't prepared to answer… "A single star, if chewed, can bestow enchanted youth and beauty on the eater for an entire year. If swallowed whole, the star will embed itself in the person's heart, and linger there as a source of strength and added mystical power. My research has shown that those who swallowed stars whole were able to tell the future merely by wishing to. Those individuals also had the power to grant others wishes, when so inclined." Sulliman smiled smugly at Howell, who was sitting regally on the padded footstool. He was certainly becoming a handsome young man, and was exceedingly bright. She looked forward to his maturity, and the fulfillment of their union.
"But, take caution, Howell. If a star is fallen, and not harvested from the sky, then chewing it will reduce the amount of time the eater may look young and beautiful, and the swallower will lose his heart to a demon—a variety of star demon. Fire demons, in other words."
Howell dipped his ebony head to show he understood, and then was dismissed.
And Sulliman reclined in her chair, satisfied that her plan was in motion.
.-.-.-.
Howell loved his uncle's garden, loved the cottage he'd been given to use. This was the place he went to through the portal in his private chambers at the Academy. He'd already put his own charms on the place, to entice the flowers to grow. Some had responded, but as of yet, many were taking their time. Fortunately, Howell was patient, and knew one day that the field would be resplendent with blooms and petals beyond the wildest imagining.
On his way back to the cottage, and the portal to his chamber for bed, Howell stopped in his tracks when he saw a brilliant streak flash across the sky. He turned to look, and then it was followed by another. And another!
"By jove, shooting stars!" Howell looked straight up, in amazement as several stars came falling down to him at once. All but one changed directions or fizzled out. The last one was yelling at the top of its voice. "Catch me! Catch me, or I'll burn out in that lake!" Shocked, Howell reached out to magic the glowing spark into his hands.
"Thank you," wheezed the star. Howell had a difficult time looking at it directly, it was so bright. But he forced himself to peer into the stellar being.
"I may be going out, but I didn't want it to end in a lake. Thank you, kind sire."
"Going out? Are you dying?" Howell asked, horrified at the prospect.
"Of course! I was knocked out of the sky! Any star which falls or is harvested dies. I have no regrets, however, I've burned a good life. Fifty thousand millenia isn't such a bad life span, now is it?"
"I suppose not…" Howell agreed, rather slowly. "But, star, is there any way to save you? It's unfair that you were knocked out of the sky like that."
"…There is a way, sire, but I'm afraid I cannot ask you. I would have to take your heart from your chest, and dominate it for the rest of our lives. It would be a terrible curse, and only broken by…well, I don't know."
"I must swallow you whole, mustn't I?" Howell asked bluntly, surprising the star. "Yes! Er, how did you know?"
"I am a wizard. My teacher told me about this. I'll do it. I don't want you to lose your life. And what need have I for a heart? If I can use it to save someone from dying, then it's been well-used."
"Geez, kid, that's grand, but do you really know what you're saying? I mean, there could be side effects! And I'm a star, I've lived forever! But it just goes to show, that sometimes even 'forever' ends…"
"Prepare yourself, star. I'm about to swallow you."
"No, kid, don't do it! Just put me down, throw me in the river, I don't care, you're too young to—" The star's protests where silenced by Howell closing his mouth.
The bitter flames tickled his tongue and cheeks. Howell struggled to swallow the burning heat. And then, alarmingly, his heart began to race, literally pounding against his chest for release. Howell felt the star's warmth surround the organ, and raised his hands to catch it as it fell softly into his palms.
He blew on it, and a brilliant flame came to life.
"Whoa… Kid, this is unbelievable. You really saved my life! I can't believe you did that, you stupid kid, but… But I'm grateful. I will do everything in my power to aid you for the rest of your life. Because, really, do I have a choice? We're stuck with each other, forever."
"What about when I die? Will you die as well?"
"…That's the thing. Since I'm a star, and I'm dominating your heart, you won't die. Ever. Unless I'm drowned or vanquished, or your human body is destroyed beyond recovery. We live and die as one, sire."
"My name is Howell Frend. And yours?"
"Calcifer. My name is Calcifer, Howell."
"Pleased to meet you."
"HOWL!" A woman's crying voice shocked them both, and they looked to see a gaping black hole in the field across the river, where she was sinking fast. Howell wanted to save her, but for some reason could only gape. And besides, he had Calcifer in his hands. As yet, he had no place to put him, and would not risk ending both their lives.
"I know how to help you now!" the silver-haired woman said. Her hair reminded Howell of starlight, which still twinkled above him. "Find me in the future!" Then, followed by a squat and furry creature, she disappeared, as did the hole.
"…Eesh, what kind of place is this anyway? Where did she come from, Howell?"
"I…I don't know," the boy admitted. "But nevermind that, we need to show you to Madam Sulliman right away! She'll know what do to!"
.-.-.-.
"Genna, Lady Genna, I need your help!" Howell pounded on his teacher's door, though it was the middle of the night. He knew that if he used her name, she would most definitely come to assist him, her favorite student.
"Howell?" The enchantress opened her door slowly, and saw Howell standing outside with an orange flame in his hands. The flicker ignited a delighted look in her eyes.
"I need to speak with you immediately, Lady Genna! It's of great importance!"
"Come in, of course, come in, Howell. Let us speak." She ushered him in, and lit the lamps of her chambers with a sweep of her arm.
In her magnificent nightgown and robe, with her amber locks braided and twisted atop her head, Sulliman sat, and listened to Howell's frantic account of the fallen star and where to put him.
"What should I do, Lady Genna? Where is a safe place for him? Now our lives are entangled forever! I never thought I'd have to act on what you told me only yesterday, but now…" His voice trailed away, as he looked in awe again at Calcifer, fused with his own heart. It was beautiful, small, warm, and fluttering. And the place it had taken up in his chest, was strangely empty and light and cool. Despite his energetic retellings of the event, Howell noticed that he did not feel the emotion he was displaying.
"Give him to me, Howell," Sulliman said, all too eagerly. "I will hold on to him for you." Howell looked up at his teacher, displeased by the expression of ambition on her face.
"I'd rather keep him with me, Madam. This is after all, my heart."
"Exactly, Howell. Come, let me show you something." Howell obeyed, though unwillingly.
He was puzzled when she took out her crystal ball. She wanted to show him the future?
Sulliman bent over it, and stroked the glassy surface with one finger. Her vision from over two years ago appeared. Howell looked closer, not sure of what he was seeing. White, and lots of it, and a woman who appeared to be Madam Sulliman, and a man…who looked like…resembled…his father?
"You see, Howell. That is myself and you. This is a vision of our union. Our powers are to be united as one, so that we can make the future brighter than it ever was. That is why I told you about fallen stars, and sent many of them to you by your cottage this very evening. I knew you would catch at least one, and swallow it to save its dying flame. All so I could hold on to your heart for you, until you were ready to join with me." Her eyes never left Howell's face, which turned on her in shock and horror.
"You want my heart? To keep?" he breathed. He had never imagined such a thing. It was horrible!
"Not forever, Howell," Sulliman negated, frowning slightly. She wanted to have that firey little sphere in her hands! "You'll get it back on our wedding day."
"Wedding day! Madam, you're married!"
"Not anymore. I took care of that damned fool."
"And that's why I should marry you!" Howell exclaimed. "As if I'd do it anyway! You murdered who knows how many stars tonight, all for the sake of your unfathomable ambition. I would never marry someone like that! You will never have my heart, or Calcifer, or my powers—ever… I take my leave of this place, forever." Howell's passionate speech gradually lowered into a calm and deadly finality. His young face suddenly seemed aged beyond its years.
"Not without my blessing, Howell," Sulliman said, in a threatening purr. "If you persist in refusing, I will cast a curse on you that will turn you into a great beast whenever I will it. I know how that would mortify your vanity, Howell! And, if you have not agreed to my proposal by the time the prophecy must take place, then the beast will overcome your body, and you will be a man no longer!" Sulliman's features rejoiced in her cunning; she was sure that Howell would give in.
"Never," Howell denied her furuther. He stood his ground, preparing himself for her to cast. He knew he was not yet strong enough to escape. But with Calcifer's added power, and his own talent, he believed he could alter her curse, and create a magnificent disturbance in tandem. Creating distractions were, after all, his specialty.
"Fine then. Have it your way. You will come around, Howell, believe me." Without saying more, Sulliman pointed at Howell, and a great, black, winged and feathered shadow flew at him from her fingertip. Howell's face hardened, as he focused and pulled on Calcifer's power for help. The fire demon was already prepared, and concentrated his ample energies on Howell's task, as the looming shadow swooped over them both.
Then there was a great crack of silver lightning, and a terrible metallic whining broke out all over the grounds.
Howell ran with Calcifer, towards the sound of the clanging. He didn't have time for flights of stairs, so he sailed on his heels out the window. Behind him, Sulliman ran and willed her monster to take over his body.
But it didn't happen. Furious, she realized that he must have tampered with her spell.
Howell meanwhile disappeared into the incredible blue fog he had just conjured from everywhere. Sulliman couldn't see him, or the source of the horrible screeching. She glared out the window, defeated, and spat: "It's not over, Howell. Oh, no, the game has only just begun."
