Kidnapped
Darkness settled over the city of Imardin like a great silken blanket. It tucked away into corners, hiding the secret dealings of Gutters and Thieves. It disappeared in the soft orange glow of the regular street lamp. It smothered the sound of soft footsteps as they made their way from alley to alley, and from street to street, Closer and closer they got until they reached their ultimate destination…the Magicians Guild.
The marching guards, so often seen at street corners idly watching for trouble they knew wouldn't come, didn't see this wraith like assailant pass like a shadow among men.
If they had seen him, they would have stopped him, but no, they were not Limek who have keen eyes and even keener senses.
Nor were they mind readers for if they had been able to see what was in this man's mind they would have been on him like a dwell on a gold coin, or an Icahni on a slave.
In the Magicians Guild, unaware of the disastrous storm to come, slept the new generation of Magicians.
Little babies whined, older magicians snored and some even tossed and turned, caught in a nightmare they could not escape.
Even in the dark, brooding residence, hidden in the darkness of the forest, the man inside, not as feared as its former residents had been, cried out as he saw his men killed again and again.
This man, this creature, edging closer and closer to these innocent people was on a mission. Like so many before he had dared enter Imardin, but this time he was here for a different reason, for an altogether more different master.
How many times had he relived that day. How many times was he going to see Lorlen, his friend, his teacher, covered by rock and rubble? How many times did he have to endure the memory of Lorlen's face, bruised and pale before he had eventually died.
It was cruel but this was the day. The day the Guild had changed? That was debateable. Some say the Guild had changed when Akkarin and Sonea had been exiled, others when the Ichani invaded.
Staring up at the ceiling Osen knew the Guild had changed the day they had refused to believe the truth and had doomed themselves to death.
No, I must not wallow in these memories he thought. But he knew they would never go away. He was saved from another bout of pity by a loud knock on the door. It came again, persistent.
Osen hurried to the door of his rooms and opened the door before the servant beyond could knock again.
"Administrator." the servant said, bowing, "Lord Regin sent me to get you. You're presence is required in the Day Room immediately."
Osen looked at the man in confusion. Why would Regin want him at this time of night?
"Did Lord Regin give you a reason for this?"
"No. my Lord. He said it was urgent, that you must come quickly."
Osen nodded, "Tell him I'll be there in a moment."
Shutting the door Osen hurried to his rooms. As he pulled on his robes he wondered what could be so urgent that Regin would ask for him so late at night. A memory came to mind. Of a night, not dissimilar to this. When he had been sent to wake Lorlen after Lord Jolen had been murdered. Surly no one had been killed.
Bursting out of his rooms, Osen strode down the corridor and out of the Magicians building. Hurrying over to the Seven Arches, he made his way to the Day Room. Lord Regin, Lady Vinara and Lord Peakin were already there. They were all looking worriedly around. As Osen entered the room all their eyes gratefully looked towards the distraction.
"What has happened?" he said breathlessly.
Vinara shook her head, her usually stern face expressing distress and fear.
"I cannot believe it. Right under our very noses.'
She shook her head again, looking at Regin.
Osen looked to the Head of Warriors as well. Regin scowled.
"Tonight several magicians, including the High Lord have…well…disappeared."
Osen's heart froze…disappeared?
Regin began pacing.
"We wouldn't have noticed so early if I hadn't thought it wise to post a guard in the forest in case we have any intruders. But this guard came to me less than an hour ago and told me heard strange noises in the High Lord's residence. He saw light on the top floor and the shadows of two people who appeared to be struggling. Of course being unable to enter the residence he came to me."
He looked at Osen, his eyes haunted, "I called out to Balkan but received no reply. I then went to the residence and forced the door open. Everything was destroyed. Scorch marks on the walls, furniture in pieces, doors flung of their hinges," he sighed, "Balkan was fighting someone in there, someone powerful and…it seems he lost."
Osen gasped. Balkan dead.
Regin sighed, "It seems that he lost, I had Sonea brought over to search the scene. A powerful opponent and a scene so destructive can only mean one thing…a black magician."
Lord Peakin shuddered. "It certainly sounds like it. Perhaps we should go to the residence and see if Sonea has found anything to disprove these theories."
Regin nodded. Rising, Osen couldn't help feeling a twinge of fear. If Black Magicians were involved, it would be a disaster. The Guild was still not strong enough to face such an attack again.
They made their way across the gardens and around the side of the university until they reached the path to the High Lords residence. Light blazed out of every window and the door stood open, making the building look like a giant face, an angry face waiting to eat them when the opportunity arose.
Stepping into the wide hall, refurbished from a guest room after Balkan had become High Lord, Osen followed the others as they moved to the right staircase and began to descend in to the underground room. He felt his chest tighten as the hurried down. The underground room. So much had occurred in this room, so much Black Magic had occurred in this room.
Reaching the bottom they entered a small, bare room. In the middle stood a small woman. With her stern face and black robes she cut a striking figure. So different from when she first joined us, Then she was the impressionable slum girl, now…
The woman looked up as the magicians entered the room. Her pale forehead was creased in a frown and her dark eyes looked beyond them.
Shaking her head slightly her eyes focussed on them.
"Have you found anything yet, Sonea?" Regin asked.
Sonea sighed and crossed he arms over her chest, " A little. Balkan isn't dead, or wasn't dead when he left the residence."
"How do you know?"
"Because he and who ever has taken him, left through this door." she gestured to the door that lead to the secret passages underneath the Guild.
" I didn't find any blood on the handle so I'm guessing that the intruder didn't drain Balkan of energy. There is no body in the residence and the residence isn't destroyed so that would rule out dying naturally or exhausting himself."
"Maybe the intruder took Balkans body with them," Peakin suggested.
"No, what use would he have with a dead body?"
"Did you find anything else?" Regin asked, walking cautiously over to the open door and peering into the passages.
"Yes , I found this upstairs in Balkan's bedroom."
Pulling out a small gold object. Osen edged closer to take a look. It was a gold coin, or something very similar. On it was stamped the profile of a mans face. Turning the coin over they saw a very peculiar sign, a hand and a new moon.
"What is it?" Vinara whispered.
Sonea shrugged her shoulders, "I have no idea. I was going to check in the library after I looked at the other rooms. How many magicians have disappeared?"
"Ten."
Sonea frowned, "Are there any similarities between them? Same Family? Same House?"
Regin shook his head, "Not as far as we can tell, but we will check again in case we missed something."
"Yes, do that." sighing she looked up and smiled wearily, "I better go and have a look at the other rooms then."
Nodding once to them all, she swept to the door but before she climbed the stairs she took one more look around the room the left.
Osen felt his heart squeeze in sympathy. He had seen her expression before she left. The tight bitter mask with the pain filled eyes. This room held more memories for her than anyone else. Most of all it reminded her of him.