Kimeara's Story
Chapter 1
Her father told her to hide. They were coming. She knew it was her fault and tried to cling to her father's leg as he pried her hands from him, all the while trying to get her to listen. He was a mountain of a man towering almost seven feet tall with shoulders broader than a dwarf and hair black as coal. They were in the kitchen of the inn that he owned and loud banging sounds could be heard from both the front and side doors.
"Kimeara, you have to get out of here," her father said yet again, growling at her to try to break through her panic. "You have to hide! They'll break in soon and if they find you they'll kill you."
"No! I won't leave you Papa!" She cried, tears streaming from her eyes as she got her sobs under control. "It's my fault. I won't leave you to die for me."
Her father finally succeeded in extracting his leg from his daughters grasp. He stood her on her feet and gripped her by the shoulders to steady her. Then he went down to a knee which put them at eye level with each other.
She looks just like her mother, he thought to himself as he stared into her eyes, eyes that were so light a blue people would mistake them for white or grey; she'd gotten them from him. Her hair shone like spun honey and her face was as beautiful as her mother's was, her mother who had died bringing her into this world.
"All parents are willing to die for their children my daughter," his voice calm now that he had her attention. "You are not to blame in all this. It is the narrow mindedness of those around us that cause this, nothing you did. You have powers they do not understand and that priest has driven them to fear and hate those powers."
It's something he told her a lot. You have nothing to be ashamed of Kimeara. You are not evil Kimeara. Other people just don't understand Kimeara. She's heard it since she first summoned Calthix at the age of five. That was the first time they had moved. They've moved many times over the years and now at the age of twelve a self-proclaimed holy man has turned this newest town against them and has convinced the villagers that she needs to burn to save all their souls from corruption.
"But why can't you come with me Papa?" She asked looking into his eyes
"My daughter they've surrounded the inn and there is no way for me to leave," his voice calm but his eyes wild with panic and fear. "But you can get out and so you must," he said releasing her shoulders and standing up.
"How Papa?" She asked looking up at him.
"Summon Calthix, he can get you out of here," he said.
"What? No! That's what caused this all to happen to begin with," she cried. She had been practicing in the stable two nights ago. She always did her best to make sure no one was around so that no one would know. But the holy man's coach driver had been sleeping off a hangover in the hay and had woken at the light of Calthix being summoned. Before she could say anything he'd run off into the night.
For the last two days the inn had been empty. No one came in for food or more importantly ale. Her father had thought that maybe this time it would be different. They had friends in town and he had hoped they'd see past the narrow mindedness of the priest to try to understand and accept what his daughter could do. They both had hoped that this time things would be different, that they could finally have a home again after all these years on the run. They had gambled all, and now they would lose everything.
"My daughter, Calthix didn't cause this to happen anymore than you did. You must summon him now," he said with no hint in compromise in his eyes.
It didn't matter that she didn't want to summon Calthix. Her father had ordered her to and she would obey his command. She reached in a pocket sown into her dress and pulled out a piece of chalk. Squatting down she began to draw the symbols of summoning that Calthix had taught her years before. When she was five she had summoned him with just her will alone, but he'd explained to her that it would only work that way for a little while until she was old enough and strong enough to use the symbols to do it properly. She'd studied with him hard for the last two years and had perfected the symbols last month.
She made the last line and stepped back. The symbols were completely incased in a circle to focus their energy. They now glowed with a faint purple light. Closing her eyes she reached into her mind with her thoughts to grasp the power she always knew lay there. Once she had hold of it she threw out her right hand and willed the power into her fingertips. As the power built her hand became engulfed in pale green flames.
When enough of the power was made manifest in flames, she bent her will to forming it into a ball. That done she cast the ball of green flame at the circle she'd drawn on the ground. When it hit, the outer circle lit up with green flames while the symbols inside of it pulsed on and off with a purple light.
"Calthix, come to me," she quietly said staring into the flames.
The flames shot higher, they were almost three feet tall now, and the symbols flashed faster and faster. Then with one final bright pulse and a burst of green flames Calthix appeared in the middle of the circle and the flames and symbols disappeared, not a mark remained on the floor.
He was the size of a house cat and in one glance no one could mistake him for anything other than what he was. From his leather wings, to the monkey/dog like face and his clawed hands and the talons on his feet, he was clearly nothing more or less than an imp. But if anyone bothered to look into his black eyes they wouldn't see evil, they'd see a caring if sometimes mischievous light that shone out of them. Those eyes looked all around the kitchen in a quick glance before locking onto Kimeara's tear fill gaze.
"Little Mistress what has happened," he said, his voice as wispy as smoke over a morning cook fire.
He spread his wings and with a couple of flaps took flight. After gaining sufficient height he alighted on the kitchen table to be closer to her eye level.
"They're coming for me Calthix," she said, her voice soft and mournful. "They want to burn me at the stake"
"What! Why Little Mistress?" He said shocked that anyone would want to hurt his Little Mistress.
"A so called "Holly" man has convinced them that by summon you she is evil," her father said to answer the imps question. "We don't have time to go into why they listened or to wonder if we can talk them out of it. They are outside and trying to break in and once they do they'll kill her."
"What do you want me to do?" The imp asked. "I'm not strong enough to fight them to protect her. I'll try but I will not win."
"I don't want you to fight them Calthix. I want you to save her," her father said. "I know from the pranks you used to play with her that you can make her invisible. Can you still do that?"
"Yes but I can only make one other invisible, not two," Calthix said.
"No Papa! I won't let you do this," Kimeara said breaking her silence.
"You will listen and obey me in this my daughter," he said in a soft growl. His eyes grew focused and all hint of panic and fear left them to be replaced by resolve. "Calthix will turn you invisible and you will hide so that when they break in they cannot find you, and you will be silent! No matter what you hear, you will not show yourself or make a sound. When it's over you'll leave town. Take what supplies you can but get out fast. Do you understand me?"
Looking up into his eyes she wanted to argue. She wanted to tell Calthix to attack the villagers trying to break in. She wanted her father to figure out a way for them both to escape. She wanted so many things; but she loved her father and would always listen to him.
"Yes Papa," she said walking over and wrapping her arms around his waist. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. Releasing her he reached up and removed a gold pendent on the end of a silver chain from around his neck and placed it around hers. The Pendant was of two pines twined around each other, the symbol of her parent's marriage. It had been her mother's gift to him on their wedding day. From his belt he took a pouch full of money and handed it to her.
"I will love you always my daughter," he said looking down at her. "Always remember who you are and where you come from. Never be afraid of your gift and guard yourself at all times."
"I will Papa," she said putting the pouch into a pocket on her dress. "I will always remember you."
A splintering sound came from the front of the inn and the voices of the villagers grew louder. Calthix launched himself into the air and glided onto Kimeara's shoulder.
"Quickly now and remember what I said. No noise and get out as soon as you can," he father said hugging her for the last time. The he released her and stepped away.
"Goodbye Papa," she said.
"I'll take care of the Little Mistress sir," Calthix said. With a click of his claws they disappeared from sight.
She hid in the pantry behind some barrels of potatoes. She'd left the door open thinking that they would be less inclined to search a room with an open door than a room with a closed door. The last she saw of her father was him pulling his sword down from the rafters and kicking things out of the way in the kitchen. He had served for several years in the king's army and though he was in his middle years he was still strong.
More crashing came from the front and side doors. From the sounds of the noise they had finally broken through. Her father's shadow passed the door way as he stepped to meet the intruders at the kitchen entrance.
"Stand aside Liam," a man shouted.
"We want the girl not you," another said.
"You'll have to kill me first Allen," her father said.
Allen. She knew that name. He was one of her father's friends and served as a town guard. He and his sons used to come over. They would play together while their fathers talked.
"They really are all against us," she whispered to Calthix on her shoulder.
"They've been whipped into a mob little mistress," he whispered back.
"I'll ask you one last time Liam," Allen said again. "Stand aside and let us have the girl and you'll live. She's an agent of evil and needs to be destroyed."
Liam watched as two more men appeared behind Allen and the other man. He glanced around the kitchen looking for any way to even the odds and found none. Steeling his resolve he dropped into a guard position.
"You may kill me, but you'll never find my daughter and you Allen will at least take the trip to hell with me for your betrayal" he promised them grimly.
"Fine! Have it your way you old fool," Allen said and then attacked.
From behind the barrel Kimeara couldn't see all of the movements but from the shadows cast on the wall and the noise you'd think a whole army battled in their kitchen. Men cried out in pain and rage. Her father fought like a berserker, ignore injuries and dealing out blows of his own. She knew he kept his promise when Allen's head flew by the open door, no longer attached to its body. The body of another man landed halfway into the pantry his guts spilling out of his stomach.
More men came pouring into the room. Her father was full of rage and he fought them for a long while but it was not to last. The sound of battle began to die down and more of the cries of pain belonged to her father than the other men. Eventually no more sounds of battle same from the kitchen and everything was quite.
Kimeara made to get up and see what was happening but Calthix whispered in her ear, "Be still little mistress, it's not over yet."
A final man entered the kitchen. She could just make out the edge of his robe; white silk sown with the finest gold thread, sunburst was worked into the sleeve and his skin shown like alabaster. When he spoke his voice was a smooth as the silk he wore.
"Bring him before me," the holy man said.
A pair of men dragged her father by the arms and laid him down in from of the holy man. Her father's cloths were torn and bloody and more blood was seeping out of him as he lay there. Slowly moving no more than an inch at a time he struggled to get himself upright. He only got as far are his knees before he lacked the strength to go any further. His body may have been bloody and battered but defiance still raged in his eyes. He glared up at the holy man and a grim smile creased his face, made more disturbing by the blood leaking out the side of his mouth.
"So come to get your own hands dirty," Liam said with a wheeze in his voice.
"You're dying Liam," the holy man said. "Save your soul from eternal damnation and tell us where your daughter is."
"My soul is ready and you'll never find her you bastard," Liam said and spat on the holy man's robes.
The holy man stuck her father in the head with a backhand that seemed to come out of nowhere. Looking over at the men standing in the kitchen he said "Find her! Tear this place apart until you do."
All but two of the men ran off in different directions and proceeded to lay waste to the beautiful inn. They searched high and low for her, while the two who remained stood guard over her father. When two men came into the pantry Kimeara moved as close to the wall as she could. They pulled over the barrels of potatoes that she was hiding behind so their contents spilled across the ground. But seeing nothing but an empty wall behind them they moved on. After another five minutes they rejoined the other men who came back into the kitchen empty handed.
"We cannot find her anywhere your Holiness," one of them said.
"She has to be here," the holy man said. "We've had the inn surrounded the whole night and no one's come or gone."
"We've searched everywhere and I tell you she's not here," the man insisted.
"They must have a secret room somewhere," the holy man said.
"Well we cannot find it and he'll never tell us," the man said gesturing at her father on the ground. His breathing had slowed so much that he hardly seemed to breathe at all.
"Fine get everyone outside," the holy man said. "We'll burn the inn to the ground with them both in it, a fitting end to demon child and her father."
That said he spun around and left the kitchen. The other men from the village followed him out. Once the sound of the footsteps had faded away Kimeara dashed over and fell to her knees by her father. She reached out and grasped his hand holding it to her chest.
"Calthix let me be seen," she said softly.
As she became visible she reached out with her free hand to lift her father's head so it was in her lap. His eyes opened and he met her gaze. He squeezed her hand gently and his lips moved. She leaned forward to put her ear next to his lips.
"I love you my daughter," he said his breath becoming more labored with each passing second. "You...have to...leave me...now...They're going...to set fire...to...the building."
"I love you Papa," she said kissing his lips.
"I'll...give your mother...your love...when I see her," he said. Then the light of life left his eyes and his final breath eased out of him.
Silently she wept clutching him tightly too her. Her mother had died giving birth to her. Her father had been the only parent she had known. Now he was gone and she was left alone.
"Little mistress we must leave," Calthix said. "They have already set fire to the common room."
"How Calthix?" she asked.
"I'll turn you invisible again and we'll sneak to the stables. You father has a secret passage there that heads west and comes out on the other side of the hills," he answered her.
"Ok but we have to get some food from the pantry before we leave," she said.
She gently laid her father's head on the floor and reached out to close his eyes. She stood up and looked down at his body.
"I'll remember you always," she said then walked back into the pantry.
She grabbed a sack and quickly threw a half wheel of cheese, some of the potatoes on the floor, a few apples and some carrots and some salted pork into the sack. She headed back into the kitchen and grabbed a small skillet and threw it into the bag also. She could smell the smoke now and the air was starting to get warmer.
Calthix turned her and the sack she carried invisible and she ran toward the side door that was closer to the stables. It was still shut. She tried to push it open but it was barred from the outside and the wood was hot to the touch.
"Where now," she asked Calthix.
"Upstairs! The stable roof is close enough to jump too from the window in your father's bed room," he said.
She dashed into the common room and found it completely ablaze Calthix on her right shoulder and the sack of food over her left. The heat was intense and she felt like her skin was drying out. There was a flaming beam blocking her way to the stairs. Running back into the kitchen she took her cloak and threw it over her left should with the sack then took her father's cloak in her hands and ran back into the common room.
"Calthix fly to the other side of the beam and let me know if anything else is there," she said.
Calthix leaped into the air and with a few beats of his wings was on the other side of the beam.
"Nothing else but the beam, little mistress," he called out to her.
"Stay there I'm going to push the beam out of the way to clear a path," she said.
"But your hands," he said.
"I'm going to wrap them in my father's cloak first," she replied.
She set the sack and her father's cloak down and threw her own cloak over her shoulders. The wrapped her hands in her the other one. Reaching out she grasped the beam.
DAMN, she thought this hurts are the heat assailed her hands even through the cloak. She pushed with all her strength and the beam only budged a little. Not enough for her to get through. She gripped the beam lower and tried again. It moved a little more. Five more times she push the beam and five more times it only moved a little. Growing desperate she took a few steps back and looked at the beam.
I only need to move it another foot, she thought. She was getting tired and the fire had continued to spread while she was struggling with the beam. She didn't even know now if should be able to get out the window. The walls appeared to be made of fire. Looking down at her hands she saw that the cloak was almost gone and that her hands had been burnt already.
Funny, she thought. I don't feel any pain.
She knew that her arms and hands didn't have the strength to move the beam another foot, but she wondered if she hit the beam at a run with her whole body if it'd get the job done. Leaning down she picked up the sack and tucked it under her right arm. Then before her nerve could fail her she ran at the beam and struck it with her right shoulder and all of her weight.
The beam let out a groan and toppled out of the way at the same time pain blossomed in her right shoulder. Looking down she could see that she had dislocated it. Grimacing in pain she staggered up the stairs to where Calthix waited. Turning she slammed her shoulder into the wall and popped her arm back into the joint. She nearly passed out from the pain. Only the drive to get out kept her on her feet.
"This way little mistress," Calthix said and took off down the hall to the right. She followed in his wake moving as fast as she was able. She could feel the floor boards underneath her feet warming. She went bare foot and she usually did and her feet had no extra protection from the heat and flames.
They ran together into her father's room and crossed to the window. Peering out, she discovered that while the wall was on fire the flames haven't reached as high as the window yet.
"Do you see anyone down the Calthix?" she asked.
"It's all clear, Little Mistress," he said.
"Go check out the stables and make sure no one is waiting for us," she said.
"I'll be back shortly little mistress," Calthix said and he flew off.
While he was gone Kimeara quickly searched her father's room and discovered a small book on herbs, plants, berries and their different uses and a hunting knife. She quickly added them to her sack and went back to the window. The inn was starting to groan from the weight of the roof on the failing support beams on fire. They had only a short time left before the inn came down on their heads. Calthix flew back into the room and landed on her shoulder.
"I didn't see anyone little mistress," he said. "I didn't have time to check all the out buildings but it seems to be safe. Either way we're out of time, the front of the in is starting to sag and once it falls the rest won't be far behind."
"Alright, hold on tight," she said and stepped onto the window sill.
Gathering her courage she leaped out across the four foot expanse between the window and the roof of the stable. She tightened into a ball to try to absorb some of the impact but still landed on the roof with a jarring thud. Even worse she landed on her right shoulder and the pain caused a sharp cry of pain to escape her lips.
As she lay there trying to overcome the pain Calthix climbed off her shoulder and scrambled across the roof to look out into the night. After a minute he returned to her and started pulling on her left arm.
"You must get little mistress," he said softly. "Someone might have heard you cry and be on their way to check it out. We cannot be here when they arrive."
"It hurts Calthix," Kimeara moaned gently while struggling to get up.
"I know little mistress, but if we don't get away soon your father will have died for nothing," he said.
The reminder of the loss of her father lit a fire in Kimeara's eyes. With renewed determination she forced herself to get to her feet and to cross the roof. Crouching down on her hands and knees she peaked out over the edge to check if anyone was around. See and hearing no one she gently eased the sack over the edge of the roof and dropped it to the ground below. I made a little thump and became visible now that is was no longer in contact with her body. Quickly she eased herself over the edge and also dropped to the ground below.
She quickly took up the sack again and once she had it in her hand it turned invisible again. Calthix flew down from the roof and hovered in front of her.
"It is this way little mistress, the trapdoor to the passage is located in the fourth stall on the right," he whispered to her and flew off in the direction of the stall.
She started following him but saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Before she could do anything a strong arm clamped around her waist and a hand covered her mouth. In that instant she realized their mistake. In their haste to get to the passage they forgot to check the stalls to see if anyone was waiting for them. There were usually horses in the stall's and would have provided a quick means of escape if someone had gotten to them. This man apparently had the same idea so he had staked out the stables to see if she would show.
She struggled against his grip and kicked him in the shin, which since it was an offensive action broke the spell shrouding her in invisibility. The man pulled her tightly to his chest, his beard scratched against the back of her neck.
"Got you, you little bitch," he slurred into her ear. She could smell the ale on him.
"Goin' to get a nice pay day from the priest for bringing you to him," he said.
Kicking him wasn't working, and her feet were just inches off the ground so she couldn't get any traction to try to pull away. With nothing else to lose she bit the hand covering her mouth as hard as she could. He tried to pull his hand away but was only partly successful; a small chunk of his flesh tore off in her mouth. She spat it out and staggered away from him as fast as she could, but her grabbed her by the arm and swung her around and stuck her across the face. Pain blossomed across her check as he cheek bone broke and the skin split. The blow stunned her and she fell to the ground.
"You little bitch," the man said bending to reach for her again and scary predatory light show in his eyes. "I'll show you want happens to those who piss me off."
Before her could touch her and before she could think about screaming or not a small ball of green fire shot through the space between them and landed at the entrance to the stables exploding into a burst of flames.
Both of them looked and saw Calthix standing in-between the stalls with another ball of green flame in his hands. For such a little being he looked terrifying.
"You touch her again and the next one lands on your head pig," Calthix told him.
In the light of the flames Kimeara could see the face of her attacker. It was Alsor, the local butcher and her father's closest confidante these last two years. She had taken to call him Uncle Al when he was over. Feelings of anger and betrayal welled up inside of her. A cold rage she'd been feeling since she'd said goodbye to her father stoked into an inferno. She was on her feet in a flash staring down this vile, greedy, pathetic man. Purple lighting skittered across her eyes and her hands burst into green flame.
"YOU!" she growled at him. "You helped them? We trusted you. My father loved you like a brother. We let you into our lives and treated you like family."
Alsor took a couple steps back. He looked around but the only way out was blocked by the imps fire which had spread to cover the entire entrance of the stables. He pulled his knife and pointed it at Kimeara.
"Knock off the magic you little bitch or I'll gut you like your father," he said with false bravado.
Looking at him Kimeara notices that he had some badly bandaged wounds on his arms and legs. The only ones who were injured we those who fought her father she realized. Her anger was consuming her from within but suddenly instead of burning hotter it burnt cold like something was freezing inside of her. She realized it was her trust of her fellow man. Here was a man that for years was her father's closest friend, and he betrayed them and fought against them for what, a bag of money that would last a month? She continued to stare into his eyes.
Seeing her resolve strengthen and not weaken he lunged at her. Before he could even bring his sword near her two things happened at once. Kimeara felt a great power well up inside of her begging to be released. She flung out her hand and the swirl of pink and blue light shot out of her fingers and stuck Alsor in the chest. But they didn't burn or dissipate; instead they seemed to latch onto something inside of him and started funneling that something into her. The pulse of energy took her unawares, it was incredible and she could feel the wound on her cheek heal. The second thing to happen was a ball of green fire struck Alsor head and showered him in flames. His scream shattered Kimeara concentration and the magic slipped from her. Alsor crashed to the ground trying to smother the flames but only ended up starting secondary fires all over the stables before death claimed him.
"Little mistress, we must go now," Calthix said landing on her shoulder.
"What was that Calthix?" She asked staring down at her fingers in awe. She had never done any magic like that before. All she had ever done was summon Calthix.
"No time to explain now, the inn has collapsed and this place is next," he said while pulling hard on her ear to get her to move.
"Fine but once we're out of here I want answers," she said.
She looked around for the sack and spotted it just a little to the right of her. Picking it up she ran to the fourth stall and opened the trap door to the passage way. She dropped the bag down to the floor below and started to lower herself down; it was only a six foot drop. Once in the tunnel she told Calthix to set fire to the support beams holding the entrance to the tunnel so that this end would collapse and buy them time to escape.
She started running down the tunnel with Calthix once again perched on her shoulder. She thought about the land above and tried to remember how far it was from the inn to the hills. If her memory served her well it was closed to one mile to the hills. On any other day she could have run that in no time at all but today was not a normal day. The pain in her hands and feet started to grow and her shoulder started to ache once more. In the terror and excitement of getting to the tunnel she had ignored the damage done to her body. Now, in an empty tunnel, in relative safety, the pain was catching up with her, slowing her down.
It was almost dawn when she reached the exit and walked out under the stars once more. Looking to the east she could see the sky starting to lighten with the dawn. She sat on the ground, this had been the longest and most trying night of her life and she didn't know what to do now.
"What are we going to do Calthix," she asked with despair in her voice.
"We survive little mistress," he replied. "It's all anyone can ever do."
"How?" she asked.
"First we need to find some place to hide where you can bandage your wounds and get some rest," he said. "Then we run deep into the woods and hideout until the stop searching for you."
"Why into the woods? Why not go to another town?" she asked.
"Because they will be searching all the towns nearby for you little mistress," he answered her. "You are injured and weak and cannot yet defend yourself with magic. So we run and hide and you recover. When you are mended I'll start training you in your magic. When you are strong enough to protect yourself we can go wherever you wish."
Kimeara stared at Calthix, her mouth hanging open. For as long as she had known him, he'd never spoke in such a manner. He was always the one to come up with pranks they can pull on the people in whatever town they were in. He was mischievous and tricky and loved to joke around without any cares in the world. True there were times when he showed insight and wisdom, like when he was teaching her to draw the summoning symbols and explaining to her why they worked. Watching him now and listening to his words she was hard press to reconcile this new Calthix with the one she'd known since she was five.
"What are you exactly Calthix?" she asked realizing that he was much more then she'd always assumed.
"I am an imp, little mistress and also your first demon," he answered her. "Also I am your teacher and your guide and one of your guardians for a long as you live."
"Why?" she said.
"Why what?" he asked.
"Why are you my teacher, guardian and guide? What was it that I did to Alsor back in the stables? What am I?" her voice grew strained as she asked the last question. She was afraid to know the answer.
"All will be explained in time, little mistress," he said. "We do not have time right now to go into all of this but for now know that I am you friend first and foremost and that you are a Warlock. Now we must find shelter. Get on your feet and let's go."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye when she heard the command in his voice. He stood on her shoulder with her hands on his hips and she could tell she'd get no more answers until he was ready to give them. Sighing she climbed to her feet and set off into the hills toward the woods. Where they'd find shelter she didn't know. She thought of all she had lost and the new answers she had gained. Her father was dead. She was on the run. Her only companion was an imp, and apparently she was a Warlock, whatever that was. As the sun peaked over the eastern horizon she wondered what else life had in store for her.
Chapter 2
8 Years later (present day)
Lion's Pride Inn
Goldshire
"Wake up Little Mistress," Calthix called to her. "You're dreaming again."
Kimeara opened her eyes and gazed about hit small room. Calthix's words penetrated the haze in her mind and she let go of the last pieces of the memory/dream. She gave herself a few moments to shake off the after effects of remembrance and felt a couple of tears slide down her cheeks. She dashed them away angrily with the back of her hand. She almost always cried when she remembered the night her father died, but she'd learned over the years not to let grief consume her and would limit herself to a few tears only.
"They're back again Calthix," she said looking up at the imp on his usual perch in the rafters.
"They will never leave entirely Little Mistress," he said with compassion in his voice.
"I know but I wished they would," she said sitting up in her bad and looking out the window. Dawn was coming and soon her duties would start. She'd worked at the Lion's Pride Inn in Goldshire for almost six months now and things were starting to take on a feeling of routine.
She knew she should have moved on to another town by now, but the staff here was really friendly and it almost felt like home. It was something that she hadn't felt in eight years. The patrons were interesting and with Stormwind only a half-day ride to the north-west all sorts of characters would pass through. Add to that the Abby to the north-east, where young adventures went to learn the basics of survival, and this area was a center of excitement and intrigue.
She sat and listened to the sounds of life stirring in and around the inn. Birds and other small animals were flitting and scampering about out in the woods, the rooster in the chicken coop greeting the dawn with a crow, the cook and the barkeep setting things up for the day. She let out a soft sigh, wishing for a normal life and the simple comforts it involved.
"Any strangers lurking around that I should be wary of Calthix?" she asked him like she did every morning. He served as sentential at night so that she could rest if they were in a town. If they were off on their own she'd have set wards around their campsite at night and would have dismissed him to rest in his own plane when she went to sleep.
"No Little Mistress, nothing to worry about," he said sleepily.
"Thanks Calthix," she said. "I dismiss you and will summon you again at dusk."
Calthix gave her a little bow and in a small burst of green flame vanished.
Getting out of bed she dressed for the day and looked at herself in a small travel mirror she carried. At twenty years old she was now almost six feet tall and her long honey colored hair hung half way down her back. Not that anyone around knew this is what she normally looked like. With a few words and a potion from her travel pack her features changed. Her hair shorted and became black as night, and her impressive height shrunk down by six inches. Also her face became a little fuller than before with her cheekbones not as defined. Lastly her eyes changed from a light icy blue to deep brown and the burn scars on her hands vanished. She was never sad to see the scars fade away.
Watching the changes take place in the mirror she let out another sigh. She liked her own features better that this form scars in all, but her enemies were still out there and some he her features were just to distinctive to be seen. If someone came looking for her it was best not to appear as herself but someone else. She had a few close calls over the years and had no interest in taking any chances.
Reaching back into her travel pack she took out her herb satchel and opened it. Looking through the contents she realized that she didn't have enough herbs to make another potion. The one she took would last a day but then she'd have to go gathering to make more.
She let out her third sigh of the day. "One more thing to worry about," she said to herself. Ready to meet the day she left her room and walked out into the kitchen.
"Morning Mary," Bridget the cook said upon spotting her. Mary was the name she'd gone by since entering Goldshire looking for work.
"Morning Bridget; how's your son," she asked.
"He's doing well now, the fever is down and his color is better," Bridget said. "That tea of yours must have done the trick."
"That's good to know," Kimeara said sitting down at the small staff table in the kitchen. Her "tea" was actually a very strong healing potion. The poor little boy probably would have died from the fever if she hadn't convinced Bridget to try this "tea" a peddler had sold her. She didn't want anyone knowing or suspecting that she did magic but couldn't just let the boy die.
Bridget wandered over and placed a tray of food in front of her then went back to making breakfast for the inn's customers. They'd be up soon and there would be hell to pay if they weren't fed on time. Hungry patrons were never happy patrons and the sooner they were fed the better the morning would be.
"Anything new for the day," Kimeara asked in-between bites of her food.
"Same as last night Mary," Bridget replied while kneading a loaf of morning bread. "The inn is full and we're still short on dark ale and veal so push the light ales, pork and fish as much as you can."
"Will do Chef," Kimeara replied finishing her food. "I'm going to go gathering tomorrow morning, anything you need."
"If you can find any rosemary or mushrooms that would be great but we're pretty well stocked," Bridget said setting aside the loaf she was working on to let the dough rest and starting to work on another.
"I'll see what I can do," Kimeara promised. Getting items for the kitchen was an easy excuse to give others for her time spent gathering herbs in the woods.
Her plans for the next morning set she dropped her dishes in the sink and headed out into the common room to get it ready for customers. Handreed, a tough old mountain dwarf who served the inn as barkeep/bouncer was wiping down the bar as she walked in.
"Morning Mary," he said without stopping his work.
"Morning Handreed," she replied take a broom from behind the bar and proceeding to sweep the floor.
The next hour past in a similar manner for her; she greeted the other employees of the inn as they came in and they cleaned and prepped the inn for a day's work. As the time passed she felt herself settling into the flow of work. Her mind stopped worrying about anything but the next task and for a little while the worries and fears she always had melted away. She was still aware of all that was going on about her and ready for any threat that may come; but she allowed her distrust of others to slip out of her.
By the time the first customers pulled themselves out of bed and staggered, in some cases, into the common room everything was ready and waiting for them. The morning passed by quickly in this manner, and Kimeara felt at ease with her role of bar wench and flirted lightly with the male clientele and gossiped with the women. A few rowdies still slightly drunk from the night before made swipes at her when she walked by but a stern grunt from Handreed always reminded them to mind their manners and more importantly their hands.
As midday approached the people who'd stayed the night at the inn began filtering out and new travelers coming from and going to one place or another started to come in. It was busy and bustling as always but between her, Handreed and the other two bar wenches they managed to keep everything running smoothly and were able to give each other some down time to rest their feet and eat and drink.
Looking out over the crowd Kimeara once again felt a longing for a life that was taken from her and that she could never have again in any permanent way. Be they traders, mercenaries, adventures, diplomats or any other kind of traveler they all stopped here to eat and share the news before heading out for parts unknown. Many have never seen each other before and my never set eyes on one another again, but for a time they had a sense of belonging at the Lion's Pride Inn and giving people that chance was a worthy occupation. She watched the Innkeeper go from table to table and greet each patron. Pausing here and there to share in a story, trade a joke or two, give the latest news and offer advice as to which routes were safest and what to expect on the trip ahead according to other travelers.
Shaking herself out of her pointless woolgathering, Kimeara got back to work.
The day passed much as any other day at an in, minor disturbances were quickly settled and a constant flow of people kept them all going. It was nearing twilight when things changed. A trio of guards in full armor came in and started questioning the patrons and staff alike. From their colors it was clear to all present that they were part of the Prince's guards. They asked everyone they talked to the same question. "Have you seen him?"
Kimeara eased over to Handreed by the bar. "What's going on?" she asked the dwarf.
"Looks like the little scamp's got away from his nanny again," he said with a twinkle of delight in his eyes.
"That's the second time this moon cycle," Kimeara said with a laugh.
The King had a young son named Anduin, and as kids his age were wont he was always up to mischief of one sort or another. He would escape his teachers and nannies from time to time and would wander all over Stormwind. Going places he ought not and pulling pranks on unsuspecting targets. No one was ever harmed and he'd always be found with some tall tale ready to tell at his lips. Thinking about the kids antics caused a bubble of laughter to escape Kimeara's lips. Unfortunately for her one of the guards heard her and made a bead line for her.
"Now ya done it," Handreed said, his own laughter in his voice barley restrained.
"Crap," she said quietly to him as the guard reached her.
Now that the guard we closer she could see that this one was female and would be almost as tall as her in her true form but the guard had about ten years and fifty pounds of muscle on her.
"Is there something funny about the Prince being missing girl," the guard asked.
Keeping her face free of anger at being address as girl Kimeara replied in a low steady voice "No."
"I thought not," the guard said. "The Prince is missing again and this time he's managed to get outside the city walls. There are dangers aplenty in the woods around here and this is not a laughing matter."
"My apologies ma'am, I didn't know he'd escaped the city," Kimeara replied in a serious tone. She knew the dangers of the woods from her time spent in them.
"We'll keep an eye out for him ma'am," Handreed said to defuse the guards ire.
"See that you do, and inform us if you see or hear anything that might relate to his whereabouts," the guard said and left with her two companions.
"We'll aint that a fine kettle of fish," Handreed said to Kimeara once business had resumed.
"It's bad alright Handreed," Kimeara said. "I'm going to go into the woods tomorrow to gather some things for Bridget. I'll keep an eye out for our little troublemaker while I'm out there."
"You do that lass, the sooner he's found the better," the dwarf said and went to get ale for a customer.
After that the night wore like it normally would but now instead of tales being traded of past adventures all the patrons talked about was the missing prince. Plans were made to organize a search party tomorrow at midday if they hadn't heard of him being found. Many who would have normally departed the next morning agreed to stay and help should they be needed.
Kimeara was silently glad they decided to wait until midday. Her potion would wear off in the night and it would be hard to explain her presence and "Mary's" disappearance to anyone searching. When the last customer left to seek their bed they cleaned up the days mess and she headed off to her own room.
She lay in bed for over an hour waiting until she was sure everyone was in their rooms if not asleep already before summoning Calthix. He appeared as usual with a bright bust of green flame.
"Good evening Little Mistress," he said bowing slightly to her.
"Evening Calthix," she said quickly getting the greetings out of the way and wasting no time going what she needed. "Calthix we have a lot to do tomorrow and I'll need you for at least part of the morning. I'm out of herbs for my disguise potions so I need to go gather more in the woods. Also the Prince in missing again and this time it looks like he made it outside the city walls."
"What! That's the second..." Calthix began.
"I know," Kimeara said cutting him off. "Everyone is planning to search the surrounding woods if he's not found by midday and they'll notice if "Mary" is not among them and I don't want them running across me in my true form out in the woods. So we'll need to have all the herbs gathered, brewed and made into a potion as quickly as possible. Then I'll have to be back here as "Mary" before noon to help with the search if needed."
"Sounds like a busy day you've planned," he said thoughtfully. "We should also look for the little guy while we're out in the woods by ourselves."
"Ok, but we have to be careful," she said.
"Deal; now why don't you get some rest Little Mistress. With the day we have tomorrow you're going to need it," he said flying up to the rafters.
"Alright Calthix," she said and changed for bed. Once under the covers she said "Goodnight Calthix," and blew out the candle in by her bed.
"Goodnight Little Mistress," Calthix said.
She was up and hour before dawn the next day. Her body had reverted to its natural self and since she'd be spending the day in the woods she dressed in her travel cloths instead of her work dress. Both were made of sturdy material but the travel tunic and pants were enchanted with potions and magic to make them more resilient to attack that a normal pair would be. She did put the dress in her travel pack; that way if she had to change her appearance quickly she'd have cloths to go with it. Over the cloths she wore she threw on her cloak which was imbued with powers to help her blend into shadows should the need arise. She belted her father's hunting knife at her waist, still in good shape after all these years and drew her pack over her shoulders.
"Ready Calthix," she said.
In response Calthix dropped from the rafters and flew out the window. She followed him out not wanting to bump into any early risers. They made quick time through the little town and were soon deep into the woods. They both quickly settled into their normal patterns. Calthix would fly high up in the trees circling her position to keep an eye out for any danger and Kimeara kept her gaze closer to the ground looking for the things she needed. The both also kept an eye out for any signs of the Prince.
Within a couple of hours she had everything she needed except for some silverleaf. She'd also found the rosemary and mushrooms for Bridget along with a few truffles which were a rare treats and would make Bridget ecstatic.
"Have you seen any silverleaf Calthix?" she said.
"Not in this area Little Mistress," he replied. "We can go check by the lake, there is always some there."
"I know, but going to the lake means we might have to deal with murlocs and I don't want to deal with them today," she complained.
"Your choice Little Mistress, but if you don't find it soon you're going to run out of time," he said.
"Fine let's go to the lake," she grumbled.
They headed off toward the lake. Calthix stayed very close to her now that the danger of encountering murlocs increased. Murlocs are about three to four feet tall and are very territorial and commonly attack without any provocation. As they neared the lake they started to hear the little gurgling sounds that murlocs make when they attack. Glancing all around, they could find no sight of them.
"Must be after a deer or something," Kimeara said.
"I'll go check Little Mistress," Calthix said and took off in the direction of the noise.
Kimeara crouched and waited for his return. While hiding behind a tree she found the silverleaf she was looking for and picked it clean. Ten minutes passed and still Calthix hadn't returned. She got impatient and started to slowly move toward the sounds of the murlocs. She'd been moving forward for a couple of minutes when Calthix came blazing up to her as fast and his wings could take him.
"Little Mistress you must hurry, the murlocs have the Prince treed and surrounded. He's already taken a spear in one leg and it doesn't look well," he said quickly and then landed on her shoulder.
"Damn," she swore as she kicked into a run with all thought of stealth forgotten. The only thing on her mind was getting to the prince in time.
Chapter 3
She ran as fast as she could without completely winding herself, she'd need to fight at the end of this and couldn't do that if winded. While on the run she pulled the hunting knife from her belt and switched it to her left hand. She was as good with her left hand as she was with her right. It comes with breaking your arm and having no one around to do things for you. She reached into her mind and started to pull for her power. She'd gone months without using it for anything more that potion crafting and she felt the wild pull of her powers at their fullest.
Purple lightning started to skitter across her eyes, not that she could it but she'd pull on her powers while looking in a mirror a few times and even she had to admit the effect was startling. She drew her right hand into a first and green flames started to appear on it.
"Little Mistress the forest is to dry for fire," Calthix advised her. "One miss and you'll light the tree the Prince is in aflame."
"Right," she said and eased the flames in her fist back down until they left completely.
"How many murlocs are their Calthix," she asked. She knew they were getting closer to their targets because the sound of the murloc's gurgling increased.
"Five that I could see, Little Mistress," he answered. "They have the tree surrounded and are throwing their spears up at the Price who is way up in the top of the crown."
"Lucky for us the little monster can't climb," she said.
"How's your juggling?" she asked him with a smirk.
"As good as yours," he replied puzzled. "Why?"
"We cannot take on five murlocs head on without getting hurt pretty bad ourselves and we'll need to tend to the Prince if we win. So we need a distraction that will allow me to take a few out before they know I'm there," she explained. "I want you to fly ahead and create that distraction by summoning and juggling balls of fire near the murlocs but far enough from the tree that a few might move to get a better view and to at least have them all looking at you. Then I'll hit them from behind."
"As you wish Little Mistress, be careful," he said and once again took off through the woods.
"You too Calthix," she whispered to herself as she continued to run.
When she caught up to Calthix as she expected most of the murlocs were watching him juggle six balls of green flame and not paying any attention to the Prince or thinking about where the imp had come from. Only one murloc kept an eye on the prince, making sure he didn't escape. She looked around the area from the shadows of the tree she hid behind and couldn't see any other murlocs but the five already there.
"OK, take out the smart one first," she said to herself. Reaching into the shadow of the tree she summoned her power and pulled forth a ball of shadow energy. Stepping into the open she hurled the ball into the back of the murloc watching the prince. When it stuck the creature it let out a gurgling scream as the ball of shadow melted into it and sent it to the ground. If the murloc wasn't killed instantly it would be in so much pain for a while that it was out of the fight. She quickly ran to the base of the tree the print was in.
As the other murlocs turned from watching Calthix to see what happened Kimeara hurled her knife into the back of another creature. The knife struck it right in between the shoulders and suddenly the creature was more interested in the knife causing it pain that anything else. The other murlocs had seen her now and turned to attack her.
Suddenly a spear flew out of the tree and impaled one of the monsters through the chest, it went down instantly. Risking a quick glance Kimeara saw the Prince hanging out the side of the tree with one arm still extended form the throw. Blood ran freely from the now unblocked wound in his leg.
While the two remaining murlocs charged Kimeara, Calthix dispersed his balls of flame and launched himself at the back of the head of one of the murlocs. He latched on with the talons in his feet and started ripping into fleshing with the claws on his hands. Though hardly killing wounds they certainly distracted the creature enough so that it couldn't concentrate on attacking Kimeara.
Left with only one opponent Kimeara again reach for her powers. This time she struck out with her mind at the mind of the attacking creature inflecting incredible mental pain and making it waver as it threw its spear at her. Quickly she side stepped the spear so it wouldn't strike her. She lashed out again and again with her mind dealing more damage to the murloc's psyche. Finally the creature couldn't take anymore and crumpled to the ground, mewling pitifully. She reached into the shadows of the tree the prince was in and drew forth another ball of shadow energy and threw it directly into the creature's heart and with that it died.
"Look out," came a shout from above.
Spinning Kimeara had just enough time to get a hand up to deflect the spear the remaining murloc had thrown at her. The fire of pain raced up her arm as the spear sliced through her flesh and then into the tree beside her. Looking back at the creature twenty feet away from her she knew it was the one Calthix was fighting from the bloody wounds all over its face. Pure hate and rage burned in the creatures gaze as it drew a dagger from its belt and advanced on her.
What happened to Calthix, she thought looking around for him. She spotted him on the ground a few yards behind the advancing creature, a long tear in one wing and one of his legs clearly broken. Her own fury now exceeding that of the murloc's she drew on her power again and thrust out her right hand. Pink and blue energy shot from her hand and struck the murloc in the chest. Then the energy began to pulse and started to funnel the creature's life force and soul into Kimeara, her eyes had closed in concentration. Throwing out her left hand she shunted some of the healing life energy flowing into her back out her hand and a red ray shot out to Calthix and started to heal him.
Just a little longer, she thought. Maintain two spells was extremely hard to do and she could feel her control loosen a little. Driving back her fatigue she maintained both spells until both Calthix and herself were healed. By the time that was done the murloc was in convulsions on the ground, its dagger lying beside it. She walked over and picked up the dagger and stabbed it into the creatures heart and watched the last dregs of life fade form its eyes.
The only murloc left alive was the one with her knife in its back. Calmly she walked over and ended its life also. She took her knife out of the creatures back and wiped it clean on the rags the murloc wore. The she cleaned the dagger in the same manner. Looking down at the weapon she noticed that if was a finely made weapon and had the seal of Stormwind etched into the hilt. Probably the Prince's she thought.
"Nicely done, Little Mistress," Calthix said landing on her shoulder fully healed. "Those are two very difficult spells to maintain at once and you did it perfectly."
"Thanks Calthix," she said rubbing his back. "I'm glad you're OK now."
She walked back over to the tree the prince was in and looked up into the branches.
"You can come down now young Prince," she called. "The murlocs are dead and you are now safe."
No sooner had she finished speaking than with a thump the Prince hit the ground butt first. He tried to get back up but the loss of blood caught up to him, he collapsed back to the ground. Rushing over Kimeara knelt down next to him and began to inspect his wound.
"Calthix I need my pack. It's over by the tree I was hiding behind," she said waving in the general direction while she started removing the Prince's pants to get better access to his wounded leg.
Calthix left her shoulder and returned with her pack, dragging it behind him since it was too heavy for him to fly with. Reaching into it Kimeara withdrew a small copper cauldron and handed it to Calthix.
"Could you fill this with water?" she asked.
"Right away Little Mistress," he said and flew off toward the lake.
Reaching into the pack again she took out a few bandages, her sewing kit and her last healing potion. Then she swept the area beside her free of anything that could burn and dug out a small pit for a fire. Piling twigs into the pit she lit the fire with her magic. After an initial burst of green flames the twigs burned merrily the normal yellow and orange of a normal fire.
She picked up the healing potion and removed the stopper. Very carefully she poured a few drops of the small vile into the wound on the Prince's leg to prevent any infection. Then she gently made the Prince drink the rest of the vile, lightly massaging his throat to get him to swallow.
Good thing he's unconscious, she thought and she prepared to sew up his leg. The potion she gave him would help with the healing process but with the amount of blood he lost most of the potion would go to replenishing it, so his wound needed to be closed the normal way. With a speed that spoke of years of practice she quickly sutured the wound and tied a bandage over it to protect it from the elements.
Calthix returned with the cauldron full of water and taking a bracket out of her pack she set it over the fire to heat. She had gathered enough herbs to make four of her disguise potions before rescuing the prince and she set about adding them to the water in the proper order to make the potion. Once the potion was brewed she removed the cauldron from the fire and let it cool.
The Prince continued to sleep. He was a sturdy lad of twelve and his body was starting to pick up the more muscular physique of adolescence, though his youth was still clearly evident.
"He threw that spear with the skill of a solder," she said to Calthix.
"He's the King's son Little Mistress. He's probably been training with weapons since he could walk," he said.
"You'd think he'd have more sense than to wander off in the woods alone," she said.
"He's young and yearns for adventure," he said. "He'll grow out of it with age just like you did."
"You're right," she agreed quickly with him not wanting to be reminded of her own youthful misadventures.
When the potion was cool enough to handle she removed four vials from her pack and filled them with potion. Once secured she put them back into her pack and sent Calthix off to get more water. She still had some herbs to make healing potions with and wanted to replenish her supply. When he returned she repeated her process of heating the water, adding the correct herbs, letting the potion cool and placing it in vials. While smothering the small fire she glanced over at the prince and saw that he eyes were open and watching her.
"You're awake at last, your Highness," she said turning to face him and offering him a small bow.
"Who are you?" he asked sitting up and looking down at his bandaged leg.
"I'm a friend, your Highness," she replied, with a small motion of her fingers she signaled Calthix to hide himself before the prince got a closer look at him. She felt a small pulse of magic as he turned invisible.
"I'm glad I was able to reach you in time to be of some assistance," she continued to distract the prince from the sound of Calthix taking flight. She knew he'd go keep watch for any dangers while she talked with the Prince.
"You bandaged me," he stated as much as asked.
"Yes I stitched and bandaged your wound," she said.
"You made me drink something also," he said a shrewd look in his eyes.
"Yes your Highness. It was a healing potion to help stave off infection and to replenish your blood," she said. "I have another one for you but wanted to wait to see how you were before offering it."
"I think I'm good for now kind stranger," he said. "Pray tell me your name Miss."
"My name is my own your Highness," she replied with a little steel in her voice.
"But I'm the Prince and I want to know your name," he said with a little bit of a petulant whine entering his voice.
"Your Highness I have saved your life not once but twice over, first by killing the murlocs and the second time by healing you. I think I've earned the courtesy of keeping my name to myself," she said calmly.
The Prince stopped what he was about to say and considered her words. While he thought over what she had said Kimeara repacked her travel pack and offered the Prince a travel biscuit while having one also.
"You're right," the Prince said after finishing his biscuit. "You have more than earned the right to not give your name should you so wish and I have been remiss not to offer you my sincerest thanks for what you've done for me."
"You're welcome your Highness, as I've said I was just glad to be able to get here in time to make a difference," she said acknowledging his thanks with a nod.
"Do you know where we are?" he asked.
"About a mile east and a little north of Goldshire your Highness," she replied.
Before the Prince could ask her any more questions she heard the flapping of Calthix's wings and felt his weight settle on her shoulder.
"We must hide Little Mistress," he said softly.
"Why?" she said him just as softly but she noticed that the Princes eyes were wider than before. He must have heard Calthix's wings or voice.
"The searchers got organized more quickly than we thought and will be here shortly from the west. They have a mage and some of the Prince's guards with them," he said.
"Your Highness I must go," Kimeara said addressing the Prince again. "Here is the other healing potion I told you about. People are on their way and will assist you back home."
"Why can't you stay? Are you wanted Miss?" he asked.
"No your Highness, but I cannot stay," she said placing the healing potion in his hand and picking up her pack. She dropped his dagger on the ground while picking up her pack she was sure he'd find it soon. "By the way, that was a great spear throw you made."
With that she turned and headed further east into the woods. At a word from her Calthix turned her invisible and she heard a little gasp of shock from the prince as she disappeared from view. After she'd gone far enough into the woods to convince the Prince she had left, she crept back to close the Prince to watch over him until the others arrived. She was sure the absence of "Mary" had been noticed at least by the inn staff but if she was careful she still might keep her cover intact. She crouched down behind some bushes about a hundred yards from the Prince.
As she watched he struggled to get himself to his feet but when he discovered he couldn't he settled for sitting with his back against the tree he had sought shelter in from the murlocs. He noticed his dagger on the ground next to the small fire pit she had made and took it in his hand and waited. About ten minutes passed before the sound of the approaching searchers became clear.
The Prince waited a little longer before taking any action. When they were close enough that they might be able to hear him he started call out "I'm here" over and over again. His voice had yet to deepen with maturity and its high pitch could be clearly heard by the searchers as they began to call back to him. In a few minutes the female guard who'd talked to her at the inn and two of the villagers came in sight of the young prince sitting against a tree, without pants, his leg bandaged and the bodies of five murlocs all around. The guard broke into a run and came to a skidding kneel before the Prince.
Kimeara couldn't hear the words that passed between the Prince and the guard but the guard kept glancing around at the bodies of the murlocs and her gaze kept searching the surrounding trees as if looking for someone. It looked like he was telling the guard about his ordeal. As the tale wound on more and more people gathered around the Prince. Eventually the guard was joined by the other two guard's who'd came into the inn yesterday and a middle aged man in a robe whom Kimeara could only assume was the mage.
"Care full Little Mistress," Calthix warned. "Yonder mage could pierce my invisibility with a spell if he suspects we are still about. "
"Hush Calthix we're fine here," she said and she continued to watch the Prince tell his story. It was almost like she could hear the words but the gestures he made and the crowd's reaction.
She knew when he came to the describing her, all the sudden the guards and mage peered at the surrounding woods with closer interest and the villages and travelers making up the reset of the search part started gossiping. She was glade that she had come back close to the Prince from a different angle then when she left because when he described her departure the mage and one of the male guards went over to inspect the area. She felt power well up and leak out of the mage.
"He's trying to find out trail," Calthix informed her.
"Will he find it?" she asked.
"Of course not, he might be able to break through our invisibility but he cannot track us with magic unless we actively using it and since the invisibility is a passive spell we're safe," Calthix assured her.
The guard went back to the Prince but the mage continued to gaze and where she had vanished and then once again started looking around the woods. For one terrifying second she thought they had been spotted because the mage's eyes seemed to linger on her hiding place, but then they moved on and she breather a little easier.
The mage rejoined the Prince and said something to him. He then took the vial of healing potion she'd given him from his tunic pocket and handed it to the mage. The mage inspected in closely with his magic and with his eyes then opened the vial and smelled it. He said a few more things to the Price then handed him back the vial and indicated with a wave of his hand that he should drink it apparently satisfied that it wouldn't harm him.
Kimeara snorted softly. As if she'd go through all the trouble of saving the Prince and patching him up just to poison him with a fake potion. After the Prince drank the potion it was obvious to all that it was truly a healing potion. He was able to gain his feet and with the help of one of the guards able to start walking back towards Goldshire. Kimeara was about to turn and head deeper into the woods when she saw the mage pull a piece of parchment and a stick of charcoal from a pocket. He jotted something down then carefully placed the parchment under a rock by the tree before leaving.
"I wonder what that is," she asked Calthix.
"Stay here Little Mistress," he warned. "It could be a trap. I'll go check it out and be right back."
She felt his weight leave her shoulders and heard his wings take off in the direction the searchers had left in. She waited for about five minutes then saw the rock holding the parchment to the ground lift into the air then settle back down. The parchment itself disappeared from view. Then she heard him approaching her.
"Here Little Mistress," he said and she felt the parchment slide into her hand. Once she had contact with it she could see it. Looking down she read the words it contained.
"I know you're watching and I wanted to say thank you for your care of Prince Anduin. He would have surely died if not for you. I also must commend you on your potion skills, rarely have I seen one so perfectly made in such adverse conditions. If you ever need assistance you may call upon me and I will help you if I can."
Mage Tyon Bronte
"Wow," she said softly as she finished reading the note.
"Indeed," Calthix said. "Either you've made a friend or he's trying to lure you into a trap."
"You might be right," she said tucking the note into her pack.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"For now we have got to get back to the inn," she said pulling out her work dress and changing. Once done with that she took one of her disguise potions and assumed the shape of Mary.
"What about the note," Calthix said.
"I don't know Calthix," she said shortly. "I'm going to think about it and we'll see."
They started back to the inn but with each step thoughts poured through her mind. Could she trust the mage? What if it was a trap? Did she want anyone's help? She'd done pretty good on her own these last eight years and had a strong streak of independence in her. Did she want to meet the mage and see if he could offer her protection from her enemies? Would he turn her over to them?
She was in such deep recollection that she hardly was aware of getting back to the inn and gave Bridget the rosemary, mushrooms and truffles she had found. She went about her work and dodged questions about where she'd been but saying she was gathering things for the kitchen. Whenever someone asked what part of the woods she'd been in she'd always give them a location well south of where the Prince had been found. Only one thing penetrated the fog her mind was in and that was that the Prince, the mage and the female guard were all staying at the inn for the next few days while the Prince finished recuperating. She was glad she'd dismissed Calthix on the way back to the inn. The magical surge of his dismissal would have surely registered with the mage and she didn't want him looking any closer into the "vanishing woman who saved the Prince" as people were referring to her as. It had been a longday and she was glad it was over when she finally went to bed.