In The Cards 26 - Dread Wizard And Hellkitten

It's strange about memories. The same memories that make you want to dig a deep hole and bury yourself to get away from them, can also be the memories that make your heart sing. Sometimes they can even do both at the same time.

Excerpt from 'Ruminations Of A Master Bard'

Lovely warmth and softness all around. Rini yawned quietly without opening her eyes. It felt like drifting inside a warm cloud. She supposed she'd have to wake up eventually, but right now she was far too comfortable. Fluffy pillow beneath her head, warm blankets all around, fingers tugging gently at her hair, almost stroking it… Hold on. The small girl sat up abruptly in bed and winced with pain as the unexpected movement caused a sudden yank at her red locks. Her golden eyes blinked owlishly as she tried to get her bearings.

She was in an enormous bed, one that could easily have harbored ten children her size. Amidst the clouds of drifting pillows and heavy blankets that surrounded her she could see that just one was present though. Edwin was sitting with his legs crossed under him, black hair tumbling messily into his eyes. He looked rather surprised and he still had a hand outstretched towards her. Next to him Softpaws lay on her back, still sleeping. The black kitten's paws batted at the air now and then. Probably she dreamt she was hunting.

"What are you doing?" Rini complained. She wasn't really at her best when just awakened and this was no exception. "What did you go and tug at my hair for?"

Edwin looked at his own hand as if he'd never seen it before and then hastily hid it behind his back. "I didn't do anything", he said. "It was you who yanked. I just…held onto it."

"So why were you holding onto my hair in the first place?"

The boy suddenly seemed to get very interested in the ceiling. "Er…no reason. No reason at all."

"What, you mean you go around pulling people's hair for no reason?"

"I told you, I didn't pull. You did. You're just being stupid."

"And you're being mean!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes! Admit it or I'll make you!"

"Ha!" Edwin gave her a superior smile and crossed his arms across his small chest. "You can't make me admit anything! I'm much too smart for you!"

"Oh yeah?!" The pillow hit Edwin square in the face and made him fall flat on his back. Softpaws hissed and jumped out of bed, seeking a more restful place to sleep. And it was probably wise of her to do so, for Edwin immediately retaliated, swatting Rini with a pillow of his own. Within seconds the two children had a very satisfying fight going, all the more so since they were evenly matched. Pillows flew through the air and the blankets were a sad mess. The children chased each other around the huge bed, giggling and hitting each other with the pillows, and this led to the interesting discovery that the bed was very springy.

Rini smiled widely and turned to Edwin who also had an excited grin on his face. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked.

"I think so. Let's fly!" As they had both suspected the bed was perfect for jumping in, and you could bounce almost all the way to the ceiling with hardly any effort at all.

"Wheee!" Rini cried out. "I'm * bounce * flying like an eagle! * bounce *"

Edwin was occupied with trying to bounce from a sitting position to a standing one and then back again. So far, he managed to succeed about a third of the times. "Check out my * bounce * lightning reflexes!" he boasted to the girl. "Bet you can't * bounce * do this!" At this moment his bragging caused him to forget to pay attention to where his feet were going, and he fell on his face.

"Maybe… * bounce* But why would I * bounce * want to?"

The unfortunate bed gave in long before the children did, sagging to the ground with an agonized groan that caused Edwin and Rini to break out in a new fit of giggles. The two children lay on their backs, panting and hot. The bedclothes were a ruined mess and all the feathers drifting in the air made the room look like it had just been subjected to a snowstorm. The children had so many sticking to their hair and clothes that they looked like they had just been out playing in said snow. "That was fun, don't you think?" Edwin said.

"Sure was!"

"Want to do it again?"

"Maybe later." The half-elf girl rolled over on her stomach and climbed out of the bed. "I want to see where we are first."

You're late for breakfast, that's what, Softpaws said. If you're not coming soon I'm having yours too, just so you know.

The walls of this room were stone as well, but this stone was a warm and inviting red, smooth and radiating warmth. Soft and flickering light played along the walls, though there was no obvious fire or other source of light to be seen. Apart from the bed there was a large wooden table and two chairs, and on the table, breakfast had indeed been set out. Rini stared at the feast, her eyes wide. Anything she could ever have wanted was there. Bread and cheese, sausages and ham, eggs, a large assortment of fruit, fried mushrooms, pancakes…even a large chocolate cake with pink glazing on top. Softpaws was sitting in the middle of the table, eating the last of what had been a plate of exquisite salmon. "Breakfast…" Edwin said, his voice filled with longing.

Rini kept staring at the cake, her mouth rapidly filling with drool. "Chocolate…"

Half an hour later the food on the table had been selectively diminished. The healthy food like the porridge, fruit and vegetables was mostly untouched. The pancakes and chocolate cake were nowhere to be seen however, except for the brown smudges on both childrens' faces. "Mmmm…", Rini said and licked her sticky fingers. "I love chocolate…"

"Mmmm…", Edwin agreed. "Me too." His dark eyes lit up as he thought of something. "Know what else?"

"No?"

"There's nobody here to tell us to wash our faces or anything."

The girl grinned at this pleasant thought. "What is it with grownups and washing anyway?" she asked.

"Don't know. I mean, if I don't care if my face is dirty, I don't see why they have to. It's my face, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Grownups are so weird…" Both children nodded solemnly in total agreement over this fundamental truth. "Know what I thought of?" Rini asked after a moment.

"No?"

"There's no door to this room." She was right. The walls were smooth everywhere, completely unbroken, with not so much as a keyhole to hint at any door. There weren't any windows either.

Edwin seemed unperturbed by this revelation. "There has to be", he said. "Otherwise, how could they get the bed and the food in here? Or us? And if there's no ordinary door there has to be some sort of spell." As if in answer to his statement a note materialized on the table. Edwin picked it up, leaving more than one sticky fingerprint on it, and read it with a small frown on his face.

"What's it say?" Rini asked, eagerly leaning forward across the table.

"It just says 'This is the Test of Truth. Truth shall bring freedom.' That's it, except for a drawing of an eagle." He threw the note on the table with disgust. "What kind of magic test is that? It's just stupid."

"It's a riddle", the half-elf girl said, thinking about it. She'd always been good with riddles. "I think…we probably should try being truthful about something."

"Well, that's easy." Edwin cleared his throat. "My name is Edwin, and I'm a mighty wizard." Absolutely nothing happened. "See? Stupid, like I said."

"I said truthful", Rini said in a meaningful voice. "Try again."

"Oh, all right", Edwin said, looking a bit sulky. "I'm Edwin, and I'm not a mighty wizard…yet." With a faint rumbling sound, a thin crack appeared in one of the walls, bright light leaking through it.

"It worked!" Rini crowed and jumped up from her chair to try to peer through the crack. She couldn't see anything though. "All right…um…my turn I guess." She thought for a moment. "I'm an orphan, but I live with my foster father Gorion." The crack widened a tiny bit more.

Edwin sauntered over, looking bored. "This is too easy", he complained. "Fine, I'll play along. My parents are Elvira and Galen Odesseiron, and they're both Red Wizards." The crack remained the same as before. "Now what?!" Edwin said, sounding very frustrated. "There's something wrong with the stupid spell, I wasn't lying, really I wasn't."

"I think I know what's wrong", Rini said. "The first ones were easy, like you said. I think we're probably going to have to tell more important truths to get it to open more."

"Like what?"

"I don't know…something you'd rather keep secret, I guess. Come on, I'm sure you can think of something."

"But I don't want to tell any of my secrets!"

The half-elf girl gave her companion a frustrated look. "Would you rather stay here forever?" she asked. "And you can forget about trying to make me do all the work. You have to help. Go on. I won't tell anybody else; I promise."

Edwin sighed. "Fine", he said. "I'll do it. But you'd better not tell anybody. All right…um…I still sleep with my stuffed bear in bed. I know I'm too big really, but I…well…sleep better when he's there. And I feel sorry for him if I keep him out." The crack widened a bit more. "And if you so much as whisper about it to anybody I'll curse you!" Edwin said. His cheeks had gone a bright pink.

"Don't worry", Rini said, careful not to so much as smile. "Nothing wrong with that. And I wouldn't tell anyway. My turn again." She bit her lip and her face turned sad. "Sometimes…sometimes when the other kids at home tease me about being a half-elf…sometimes they almost make me believe they're right. I mean…I can talk back most of the time and I don't let it show…but…sometimes afterwards I still wonder if I'm really a…an ugly freak, like they say."

"But you're not!" Edwin exclaimed; his voice vehement. "At least…at least I don't think so." The crack widened still further. It probably would be possible to stick an arm through it now. "Um…you know before…when we were lost in the darkness. I lied when I said I wasn't scared. I just didn't want you to notice."

"I know. But I don't mind. I was scared too, you know." The half-elf girl examined the crack. It wasn't quite wide enough for them to fit through yet, but almost. "Just a couple more", she whispered to herself. "Here goes." She steadfastly avoided looking Edwin in the eyes. "I…like you", she said, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. "You're funny, and smart, and nice to play with. I want us to be friends forever and ever."

Edwin's face was about as red as his robes by now and he was shuffling his feet about nervously. "I…er…like you too", he muttered. "I want to have you for a friend too. You're…you're clever, and brave and…and…" He whispered something unintelligible.

"What?"

"AndIreallywastouchingyourhairbeforebecauseIthinkitlooksreallyreallyreallyniceandIjustcouldn'thelpmyself."

BOOM! The crack exploded open to reveal a door large enough for both children to pass through side by side with no problem. "You have passed the Test of Truth", a disembodied voice spoke. "Like the Eagle you have shown yourselves capable of seeing far, without and within. The mage need not speak the truth, but he must nevertheless learn to see it. This is the third and last test. You may pass through to the Master's study. The children looked at each other, embarrassment quickly giving way to relief. Then they both whooped with delight and ran through the door. '

The children passed through the open door to find themselves in a very ordinary room compared to the ones they had recently passed through. There was a desk, cluttered with books, papers and quills, as well as a large crystal ball. Bookshelves overflowed with even more heavy volumes, and there were large and wobbly stacks of books all over the floor. A barrel held several magic wands and what seemed to be a stuffed alligator hung from the ceiling. On top of the crystal ball sat a red and horned little creature, with a wide smile that displayed an impressive collection of pointed teeth. "Students!" it said. "Nice students, clever little students to find their way here. And what a good game it all was too. Oh well. I suppose you did make it, so you'll have what you came for." The creature deposited a heavy book titled 'Dream Magic' in Rini's arms and handed Edwin a small mirror with a handle shaped like a dragon.

"What's this?" the small boy asked suspiciously. "And who're you?"

"Me is Nimus, and this is what Master wants. You give to Master, he be happy and help you out. Or maybe you wants to stay here, hmmmm? Play all day? You make up your little minds now, Nimus doesn't have all day. Just tell him if you wants to go back or not. He can send you, yes he can."

The children looked at each other. "I…I would like to stay and play some more", Rini said, her voice hesitant. "But…I think I'd better go back. Gorion will get worried if I don't come home soon."

Edwin nodded. "I…guess I'd better go home too", he said. "It's been fun, but they've probably started looking for me." He looked a little nervously over his shoulder as if he expected somebody to materialize out of empty air behind him. "They won't be happy if I keep them looking when I'm able to get back on my own."

Rini hung her head a little. "So…I guess this is goodbye then?"

"I guess so." Edwin looked equally dejected. Then he suddenly smiled shyly. "Hang on. I've got something for you, now that we're friends and all." The object he held out towards the half-elf girl was a glass marble, about the size of a strawberry. It's outside was frosty white and looked like it had been covered by a multitude of tiny snowflakes. In the middle a tiny flame burned, flickering red and orange. Rini had never seen anything more beautiful.

"Ooooh!" she breathed. "It's so pretty…is it really for me?"

Edwin nodded. "I've got more at home", he said. "I got a whole bag of them for my last birthday. That one's my favorite though."

"But don't you want to keep it yourself then?"

The boy looked puzzled. "Yes…but…I want you to have it more. I can't really explain it. I…guess I just want you to have it, so you'll remember that we're friends." Then he gasped with surprise as the half-elf threw her arms around him in a fierce hug. After a few moments he gathered his wits enough to hug her back.

"Of course, we're friends, idiot", the redheaded girl said. "And don't you ever forget it."

"Of course, I won't, nitwit", Edwin said affectionately. "And remember, we still want to figure out a way for us to play again. The Dread Wizard and Hellkitten, right? And I've got lots of great toys back home that I'd like you to see, like my enchanted chess set, or my Wild Wizard figures, or my Monster Manual, or…"

"You ready yet?" asked the imp Nimus, rubbing at his bottom. "Poor Nimus getting very itchy."

Both children wrinkled their noses at this statement. "All right", Rini said. "Send us back then." Edwin nodded his agreement. Softpaws gave an affirmative meow and climbed onto Rini's foot, tugging at her pants with sharp little claws.

"Righty ho! Have fun kiddies, don't forget to write now, hear?" The imp waved his tiny clawed hands and the world dissolved into a multicolored haze.

She was holding onto somebody, their arms wrapped around her. It felt comforting. Safe. Zaerini opened her eyes and stared directly into Edwin's face, only inches away from her own. For a few seconds she wondered why there were feathers all over his robe and chocolate stains on his face. Then her memory slammed back into place like a meteorite striking the ground and judging from the way the wizard's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open the same thing was happening to him. Bard and wizard sprang apart with a gasp of surprise and shock, and then they both almost fell as their brains tried to readjust to their now unfamiliar adult height.

Zaerini looked wildly about herself. She was back outside the ruin of the school, and the ghost of Ulcaster floated in the air in front of her with a very smug look on his face. Next to him Khalid, Jaheira and Imoen were watching her and Edwin, all of them wearing very strange expressions. As for Edwin, she tried her best not to look him in the face, since that brought up all sorts of strange images and conflicting emotions. Not that it was very difficult to avoid, as the wizard was trying his best to hide inside the cowl of his robe, groaning quietly to himself every time a particularly embarrassing memory hit him. Softpaws sat on the ground, saying nothing, but giving Rini a look that clearly stated 'This is all your fault'.

"Children?" Jaheira asked, and then frowned as both the bard and the wizard winced violently. "What is wrong?"

"Y-y-yes", Khalid went on, a worried look on his kind face. "And why d-do you both l-look like you've been r-r-rolling around in feathers?" He picked one out of Zaerini's red hair and looked at it curiously.

"Yeah!" Imoen said and pointed accusingly at Rini's face. "And isn't that chocolate? You might have saved some for the rest of us, you know."

Jaheira's scowl was deepening by the second. "Feathers…chocolate…just what were you two up to in there?"

"NOTHING!" The word came out as more or less a double scream, not sounding particularly convincing at all.

"Not…exactly nothing I…hope", the ghost of Ulcaster said, his hollow eyes twinkling cheerfully as he stroked his long silver beard. "There…was the small matter…of my book and my…mirror."

"Here", Rini snarled and thrust the requested items at the ghost. "Take them! You old bastard, you knew that was going to happen, didn't you? You might have told us!" She really, really wished it had been possible to kill somebody who was already dead. With every moment she kept remembering more things that she'd said…and done. I'll never be able to look Edwin in the eyes again, she thought.

"I…might have. But then…you would have refused. Couldn't…have that."

"Could you at least show us the courtesy", Edwin said, "of explaining why we just went through all of that?" His voice was wintry cold and the look he gave the ghost was nothing short of murderous. "I would hate to think that it was simply for your…amusement. (I'd like to squeeze him into a quivering heap of ectoplasm. Or force him to animate a stuffed toy for all eternity. Preferably a doll in a frilly dress.)"

"Certainly. This…is the book 'Dream Magic'. It, along with the…Mirror of True Seeing that you…fetched me, will allow me to…summon new students through True Dreams. Soon…the school of Ulcaster will prosper once more. I think…I'll get 47 students to start with. Nice number…magically significant."

"But you're a ghost!" Edwin protested. "How can you possibly be a teacher if you're a ghost?"

"I…will manage. And now for your…reward. Knowledge I promised…and knowledge you shall have."

"I suppose", Rini said, "it would be too much to ask for that you tell me something that's actually useful and not just cryptic."

"Useful it will be", Ulcaster promised. "The Mirror of True Seeing used…in conjunction with the…book…assures that. You may not…recognize the truth of the dream at once…or indeed remember it at first…but once you need it…the knowledge will help you. One dream…for you each…my two little friends. They will come…tonight." He winked and dissolved into mist, leaving only a ghostly chuckle behind.

Somehow, Rini thought, I can't shake the feeling that I've just been had.

The following hour provided both Zaerini and Edwin with a significant amount of torment. Their friends simply wouldn't cease questioning them about what had actually happened inside the school of Ulcaster, and the more they refused to answer the more insistent the questions became. Eventually Edwin declared that the arcane secrets involved would be perilous to anybody who hadn't actually been present.

"Why?" Imoen asked.

"Because I'll Fireball the next person who asks me about it", the Red Wizard hissed with a murderous look on his face. "Does that answer your question?"

Apparently, it did. The inquisition ceased as the party made their way out of the mountains and onto the plains surrounding Ulcaster School. Rini kept staring at her own hands, half expecting them to turn back into those of her younger self. Every time she looked at Edwin she remembered something else. And then he said…And then I said…and then…Aaaarrrrgh! Her thoughts spun madly inside her head. She knew she would have to come to terms with what had happened somehow though if she ever wanted to be able to talk to the wizard again. Once the adventurers found an appropriate campsite in-between some high cliffs, she hurried to draw Edwin aside, motioning for him to follow her out of earshot of the others.

"So…", she said, trying to look casual. She didn't succeed very well.

"So…", Edwin replied, staring at his own feet.

"You…remember everything, don't you?"

"I…think so. Er…how about you?"

"I…think so. Yes." The bard held out a small object in the palm of her hand. A glass marble, frosty white but with hidden fire within. "It's strange…" she said. "I'm sure I didn't have this when we went inside that place, and yet I also have memories of having carried it on me since I was eight years old. I never could explain to Gorion where I'd got it, or why I was so attached to it either. I just kept telling him that I'd got it from my 'secret friend'."

Edwin nodded. "I…experienced something similar", he said. "A double set of memories. I seem to recall pestering everybody at home about my 'secret friend'. Yes. I think I even tried to get my mother to divine your whereabouts, but for some strange reason I could never remember your name, and so it wouldn't work."

"Funny. I tried the same with Gorion. I couldn't remember your name either."

"It seems", Edwin said, "that while our present-day bodies were…affected…by the spell, our past selves were somehow drawn forward in time to assume control of them. Very interesting." His voice sounded much calmer now that he could focus on something other than the emotional part of the experience.

"Yes", Zaerini said. "That seems to make sense. And probably we were made to forget each other's names by the spell, so we wouldn't affect the present timeline." Concentrating on an intellectual problem was good. Theoretical magic would help her not think of certain other…things. Which was good. Of course it was. And yet…she couldn't forget about laughing herself silly with her friend. Or about falling asleep next to him. Or the way he had looked at her when he gave her his treasured toy. She didn't want to forget those things. Childish of her, no doubt. But somehow…she didn't care. Even if he couldn't possibly be interested in anything other than forgetting the whole thing as soon as possible. She spun the glass marble between her fingers, watching the flickering flame. "You know something?", she asked with a small smile. "I always thought that if I kept this on me always, I'd find you again someday. And…I'm glad I did. Dread Wizard."

Rini braced herself, certain that Edwin would retort with some sarcastic comment or other. And so she felt her heart skip a beat with surprise and relief when his mouth quirked upwards as well, his eyes glittering with reluctant amusement. "Actually", he said, "I suppose…so am I. Hellkitten."

And night fell over Ulcaster, carrying true dreams with it under its black wings.

Zaerini dreamt. Somehow she was also aware that she was dreaming, though she wasn't sure how she knew. She was wandering through an endless maze, every gray wall identical to the one that had come before it. The passages twisted and turned around her, constantly shifting and changing places. She was looking for something, she knew that much, and she knew that she would find it at the center of the maze. But she couldn't remember what she was searching for, and she couldn't find her way, even though she had tried every trick she could think of.

I'm not going to find it, am I? she thought, pushing her red hair out of her eyes with a worried frown. The passage she had been following ended in yet another wall. And I'll never get out of here unless I do.

And then there was somebody else in the maze with her. A woman stepped around the corner and paused warily in front of the half-elf. She was slender but strong like the narrow blade she held, and she moved with casual ease, like one well-trained in the art of combat. Her black hair was gathered into a neat braid, and dark and slanted eyes gave Rini a solemn look out of an olive-skinned face. A Kara-Turan, by the looks of it. She was beautiful, beautiful and deadly like sunlight glinting off a sword. Zaerini recognized her all too well by her movements and bearing.

"You!" the half-elf hissed. "I know you; you were with Sarevok! You helped kill Gorion!" Before she knew what she was doing her sword had leapt into her hand and that familiar raging fire was rushing through her blood, screaming for blood, wanting to kill. But the woman simply stood there, a serious and sad expression on her face, waiting to defend herself but not actually attacking.

What am I doing?! Rini thought to herself. I don't want to kill her! At least not like this!

THEY KILLED GORION, screamed that other voice, the voice of her sire. SHE DESERVES DEATH! KILL HER! LET YOUR BLADE DRINK HER BLOOD!

No, 'father'. I will not. She is here for a reason. I wish to know what that reason is, not simply slay her. Go back inside your cave. You won't win this time.

"Please", the woman said, her voice soft but with the hint of steel beneath. "I must speak with you. I ask you to listen to me."

"I'm listening", Rini said, her eyes still burning with hot golden fire. "Speak."

"You are lost. You will need to find your way, and I have been sent to help you do that. You must come with me, or you will never get out of here."

The half-elf thought about this for a moment. "Fine", she hissed. "Lead the way. But if you're leading me into a trap you will be sorry."

"It is no trap." The woman's eyes burned with determination. "I will help you find the one you seek, and I will ask you to do something for me in return, though it will be your own decision to do so…or not. Follow me." She walked off into the labyrinth, and Zaerini followed her warily. After some time, they came to another passage. "Shhh", the strange warrior warned. "He waits within. Do not let him see you yet. Just watch."

Rini peeked around the corner, and then she was forced to choke down a cry. Within the next empty chamber of the labyrinth Sarevok paced back and forth, growling softly to himself like some sort of wild beast. He looked much as she remembered him, still wearing that atrocious spiky armor, still in possession of a tall and powerful body and an almost regal bearing. Golden eyes still glowed like open furnaces from within the darkness of his helmet. But something was different about him. His armor, as well as what little could be seen of his skin were gray, like the stone of the labyrinth itself. Gray and covered with thousands of minute cracks, as if he were a statue about to crumble into dust at any second. And from within some of those cracks light shone, a light that felt somehow evil and unholy. Sarevok seemed not to be aware of any of this. He simply paced, like an animal trapped in too small a cage.

"You see now?" the strange woman whispered into Rini's ear. "We…we are losing him. The power is eating him, eating him from within, taking away that which makes him human. That…with which I fell in love. None of us can reach him. He does not know; he does not see. He must be made to see, or all will be lost." Her slim fingers seized the bard's arm in a firm grip. "It…it may be too late for me. But you may still be able to make a difference."

Zaerini watched the other woman uneasily. She wasn't sure quite what to believe about all of this. "Even if I believed you", she said, "why do you think I would help him? He killed my father. He wants to kill me. And even if I wanted to help him, what makes you think I possibly could?"

"You know better than that. You have felt the call of the blood, the call of the rage. You have killed and it has sometimes given you pleasure to do so. Already you have started to wonder what makes you different from him. For you are different, and yet alike. And in that may salvation for you both be found."

"Salvation?"

The woman's eyes were even more serious than before. "You will be given a chance to save him", she said. "And you must take it, you must try to draw him back to himself. If not for his sake, then for your own. Your fates are tied together. There will come a time when he must be there to aid you…or else you will certainly die."

Rini shivered. She didn't doubt that the stranger was speaking the truth, or that she thought she was. But it was all so…outlandish. Me? Save Sarevok? And him helping me? It sounded insane. And yet…she believed it. "I…suppose I will try", she said. "If I can even remember this once I awaken."

The stranger smiled, and her face became radiant. "You will remember when you need to", she said. "And…I thank you. As will he, should you succeed." Her form shimmered and melted away, as did Sarevok and the labyrinth. And Zaerini slept, her sleep haunted by uneasy dreams of her brother.

Edwin too, was dreaming, and aware of it. He dreamt that he was wandering across an endless plain, a plain divided into the perfect black and white squares of a chessboard. He wasn't alone, but his companions were making him increasingly worried. Next to him, on his right side, walked a large cat, almost the size of a leopard, but in the shape of a normal cat, holding her tail very high. Her beautiful coat was a brilliant red, the color of fire. For the cat was a 'she', of that the wizard was certain. The fur was soft beneath his questing fingers as he touched the back of the cat, so very soft. The animal turned her head to give him a look of amused indulgence, even affection. The golden eyes almost seemed to burn. And wherever the cat neatly put down a silent paw the ground did burn. Fire spread in her wake, leaving smoldering pawprints, now and then creating leaping flames, dancing and flickering as if alive and conscious.

The cat wasn't his only companion though. On his other side walked a huge black wolf, his gait smooth and even, as noiseless as that of a ghost. The wolf carried himself with effortless pride, looking like he expected whatever he encountered to get out of his way…quickly. Edwin's left hand was almost buried in the thick and glossy fur of the wolf's neck, as deep a black as if it was made from pure shadow, warm and comforting to the touch, and he could feel powerful muscles ripple beneath. Then the wolf, too, turned his head to calmly regard the wizard, gifting him with a fond look as he bared an impressive set of white fangs in a lupine grin. There was frost clinging to the black fur, frost and a few snowflakes. Wherever the great paws of the wolf touched the ground it froze as well, snow and ice gathering in ever larger drifts.

Edwin watched the two animals with growing unease. One on his right side, the other on his left. It seemed they had finally noticed each other by now, and neither was pleased with the discovery. The cat hissed, crouching and baring needle-sharp claws. The wolf lowered his head as if preparing to pounce, snarling silently. And Edwin was caught in the middle, holding on to both, trying to keep them apart.

"You won't be able to do that much longer", said an arrogant voice. Edwin hurriedly turned his head to see who was addressing him. Then he gaped silently. It was himself, standing some distance away, wearing the same red robes he currently wore. His own face, identical in every detail, with a very superior look in the eyes. "Really, you ought to have figured that out yourself by now."

"You're…me?" Edwin asked, feeling very confused and still trying desperately to keep the two angry animals apart.

"Brilliant. Whatever tipped you off? The handsome face? The charming voice? The tendency to place your nearest and dearest in mortal danger?"

"There's no need to be like that."

"But there is. After all, who would you possibly trust enough to take advice from, either than yourself?" The copy paused for a moment and regarded the wolf and the cat. "Well, apart from them. But you can't really talk to them about this, now can you? That would only make things worse. And should ice and fire come to fight they will consume each other."

"What do you want to tell me then?"

"Simply this." The copy looked extremely serious. "If you wish to keep them both safe, then you must let them both go."

"But I can't! They'll kill each other!"

"Not like that! Of course I don't mean for you to sic them on each other. Don't be absurd. No…you must drive them off. Make them keep their distance from you. That is the only way to protect them both. Not yet, but when the time comes."

Edwin felt a sick, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked from one animal to the other, not wanting to comprehend the words spoken by his twin. "D-drive them off…but…"

"Do you wish them to die, then? If you make the wrong decision, then one or both will. If you make the right one, then both will survive. Do you value your own immediate happiness above their lives?"

"No! NO! But…how…"

The eyes of the double were dark and filled with sorrow. "Your own words will serve you as they always have…on both accounts. I warn you now…words can hurt worse than any physical weapon. You will see. Go ahead now. Do it. Before it is too late. You know you have to."

And Edwin did. "Go away", he shouted to both animals. "Get away from me! Leave me! Leave me be!" He went on and on, repeating the same phrases over and over, cursing, screaming, sounding as hurtful as he could. And it worked. Oh, how it worked. The words struck both cat and wolf like whips, drawing actual blood. At first both persisted, staying by him, trying to make him stop, each trying to draw him closer. But in the end, they were both forced to give up, the pain of the whips too keen for them to endure any longer. They sprang apart, leaping in different directions.

The red cat crouched on the ground, the blood of her wounds a darker red against her fiery coat. She licked at her wounds, but the blood kept flowing, hissing and steaming as it hit the flaming ground beneath her. She was baring her teeth at Edwin by now, hissing furiously, raising her paw as if to swat at him in her pain. The look in the burning yellow eyes was one of extreme hurt and confusion, but there was anger as well, anger and bloodlust. He wondered if she would spring and tear his heart out. He wanted her to. After all, he deserved it. But then the cat turned around, gave him a final accusing look across her shoulder and disappeared into the raging flames behind her. Gone.

The wolf, too, bled from many wounds. The blood was almost invisible against the thick black fur, hiding the wounds, but red drops fell like a steady rain, blooming like crimson roses in the heavy snow at the animal's feet. The black wolf watched Edwin unwaveringly, looking almost incredulous at first. And then that emotion gave way to rage, rage as cold as that of the snow and wind themselves, but beneath that there was pain, both new and ancient. And Edwin knew that he had caused that pain, and he wanted nothing more than to bare his throat and feel those sharp teeth take his life. But the wolf simply threw his head back and howled, a mournful cry like that of a soul in torment, and then turned to disappear into the falling snow without looking back. Lost.

Gone. Lost. They had passed out of his reach, and he couldn't get them back, couldn't undo what he had done. Edwin wanted to cry, to scream, to plead forgiveness. But he could do nothing. The giant chessboard was already fading, disappearing.

"Remember", his double said to him. "What is gone may come back. What is lost may return. This need not be forever. And if you win through all will be well." But the words were small comfort, and as Edwin slept on, he walked in despair through his dreams, knowing himself all alone.