Chapter 2
Liora and Castaspella awoke the next morning to breakfast already on the table and a note. Liora picked it up and read it.
"What does it say?" asked Castaspella.
"It says that he left early this morning and figured he best let us sleep in. And he said that he left us some muffins on the table for breakfast", said Liora.
Castaspella looked at the muffins on the table and said, "Well, he didn't need to put that in the note to let us know".
Liora suddenly stared at the door. She started to say something, but Castaspella looked at her and said, "I sense something too. Something is outside".
Liora and Castaspella walked toward the door. Liora stepped in front and slowly pulled it open. She then jerked it open all the way. She and Castaspella stepped outside and saw nothing unusual.
"Well, you said you sensed something too so I am not crazy", said Liora as she looked around.
"What do you think it was?" asked Castaspella.
"I don't know, but I felt anxious. Whatever it is, it is not friendly", said Liora.
"But Norwyn said we'd be safe here", said Castaspella.
"Yeah, but dark magic can penetrate these woods. He might not have though that anything would be wanting to come here", said Liora.
Castaspella ran back inside for a few seconds. She then stepped back out, a knife in each hand. She handed one to Liora. Liora took it, stared at it for a few seconds, and then asked, "What are these for? We have magic".
"Yeah, but so might whatever is out there. Face it Liora, we are just sorcerer's apprentices", said Castaspella.
"I don't need an eleven year old telling me that. It is bad enough when Norwyn does it", said Liora, as she slid the knife into the loop on her belt. She pulled her cloak around her as a gust of wind hit.
"You feel that?" asked Castaspella.
"Yes, and it does not feel good. I am suddenly frightened. You are right. Norwyn did not prepare us to fight any forms of dark magic", said Liora, as she shivered.
"Because we don't enough white magic. We just have to make use of what we have", said Castaspella.
"You have a good head on your shoulders from someone your age. No wonder Norwyn seems to trust you more than me", said Liora.
"That is not true, Liora", said Castaspella.
Liora's eyes got really wide. "Castaspella! Look out!" she cried, as she grabbed Castaspella throwing themselves on the ground.
A dark shadow passed over their heads. Liora looked up to see the thing turn and head for them again. It floated in the shadows made by the trees, avoiding the patches of sunlight. It took no form. It was a shadow that belonged to nothing.
"Run!" cried Liora, as she stood up, helped Castaspella up, and they both ran into the woods.
After running for about a minute, Liora and Castaspella stopped and looked around. Liora felt a stitch in her chest from running so hard. She wanted to sit down and catch her breath, but she didn't know where that creature or whatever it was.
Castaspella peered out from behind a tree and looked at where they had run from.
"It's gone", said Castaspella.
"What the hell was that?" asked Liora.
"I don't know", said Castaspella.
"Did you see how it avoided the sunlight? We need to keep going and find a clearing where the sunlight can reach us and that thing won't", said Liora.
"Where? We don't know these woods. Norwyn just teleports us here. I bet he does that so we can't find our way back to Mystacore", said Castaspella.
"And now he is going to get us killed", said Liora.
Liora and Castaspella started to walk, not knowing which direction to go. They walked away from the cottage, fearing that the shadow creature would be there, waiting for them.
Castaspella looked back and looked as she saw something dark moving across the leaves, like a something was heading toward them, something invisible that was still casting a shadow. It made no noise, but she could feel the chill of its black magic starting to creep up her spine.
"Liora, it's coming right at us", cried Castaspella.
Liora turned, saw the shadow moving fast on them. They both ran through the woods, not stopping, but occasionally glancing back to see how far the shadow thing was behind them. Liora tried to summon some of her magic to give her energy to keep running. She tried to think of any spells that might work against it. Castaspella was running fast behind her. Liora turned, grabbed Castaspella's hand, not wanting to lose her in the chase.
Liora felt herself jerk backwards as Castaspella screamed. Castaspella had tripped over an fallen branch. Liora stopped and tried to get Castaspella to her feet, but she screamed more. She realized she was screaming in pain and not in fright.
"Castaspella, we have to keep going. I can't carry you", said Liora, as she watched the shadow creep closer.
"Liora, I heard a pop. I think I broke my ankle", said Castaspella.
Liora stared with wide eyes, as the shadow grew closer. An idea came to her head and held out her hand. She concentrated hard on all her powers, and then a blast of bright light shot forward out of hand and hit the shadow creature. For the first time, the shadow made a noise as it screamed in pain and burst into several smaller shadows and then was gone. She then looked down at Castaspella who was sitting on the ground, holding her right ankle.
Castaspella rubbed her eyes and said, "Great work, Liora, but next time let me know when you are about to do that. You almost blinded me".
"Better to be blinded than experience whatever that thing might do to us. Besides, my name is Light Spinner for a reason", said Liora, as she knelt down, and looked at Castaspella's ankle,
"It hurts so bad, Liora", said Castaspella.
"We need to get you back to the cottage. I am sure Norwyn has some healing herbs stashed away", said Liora.
"Do you know how to get back?" asked Castaspella.
"Well, we can just head in the direction where I destroyed that shadow creature. We did run from there", said Liora.
"I don't know how far we ran, but I can't walk", said Castaspella, as she winced in pain.
"Oh, Cassie, what would you do without me? I am not going to stay here all day, so you have to try and stand up. You can lean on me for support", said Liora.
Castaspella tried to stand on her good leg. Liora helped lifted her up and placed her arm around her shoulder. Liora started to walk back toward where she thought the cottage was while at the same time, making sure Castaspella was on her foot. Castaspella kept her injured foot off the ground, but just hopping caused enough vibration to make it hurt.
"Do you know any healing spells?" asked Castaspella.
"No, do you?" asked Liora.
"What do you think? If I did, I would have used it already", said Castaspella.
Liora looked up ahead and failed to see anything familiar to them. She was hoping to remember that she recognized anything from when they were running from the shadow creature, but as they had been running, all she could concentrate on was getting away. She started to wish that Norwyn was here and would help them. He had said for them not to leave the cottage, but they had no choice. She hoped that perhaps he had sensed something was wrong and was on his way from Castle Bright Moon right now. The way back seemed so far back and they had to walk very slowly. Castaspella was in great pain and sometimes had to stop and rest because her good leg was getting tired from all the hopping.
The sun was already high in the sky meaning that it close to noon. Liora and Castaspella both stopped to rest and sat down on a fallen tree. They shed their gray cloaks revealing their colored tunics. Liora always had a preference to wearing red while Castaspella liked blue. Sorcerers and sorceresses in training had to always wear gray and if they wore other colors, they had to keep them covered up by the gray cloaks. It did not matter much now that they were not in Mystacore. The sun was managing to get its rays past the heavy trees and beat its heat on them. Castaspella straightened up her leg and set her broken ankle on another fallen tree right in front of them.
"Liora, help me get my boot off. My ankle feels like it is going to split it anyway. I can feel it swelling up like a balloon", said Castaspella.
Liora reached over and slowly started to untie the strings. Castaspella moaned and cried out, "Ouch, Liora, can't you be more gentle".
Liora snapped back, feeling a little irritated and said, "I am going as slow as possible. You want me to help you take it off or not".
"I'm sorry, Liora. It just hurts so much", said Castaspella, as she gritted her teeth, trying not to cry out.
Liora began loosening up the strings. She slowly pulled the boot off, ignoring Castaspella's cries. Her mouth dropped when she saw Castaspella's bare ankle. Castaspella saw the look on Liora's face and cried, "What? Is it that bad?"
"You can look for yourself. It is all black and blue and nearly twice its size. You did a good job", said Liora.
"We have to get out of here. We need to find someone who can help us", said Castaspella.
"Who? We are in the middle of nowhere. We can't even make it back to the cottage without you screaming", said Liora, as she stood up and threw her cloak on the ground.
"Liora, I am sorry. I did not mean for this to happen. I wish I could cast a simple spell and make it heal, but I can't", said Castaspella.
"Well, I guess we go slow and hope that there are no more of those shadow things waiting to get us", said Liora, as she sat back down, and lowered her head into her hands.
"I am scared, Liora. One minute we are eating breakfast, and the next we are here in these woods, not knowing what else is out there", said Castaspella, as tears began to form in her eyes.
"I am scared too, Cassie. Not just of these woods, but of what is going to happen. There is dark magic out there. I don't know how, but I can feel it. I am also scared for myself. I don't know what I am capable of. I don't even know who my real family is, or even if they are still alive", said Liora.
"My parents are dead. I can barely remember them when they were killed", said Castaspella.
"I never knew my parents or even know who they were. It was your parents that took me in when I was baby and then they had you and raised us both as their own", said Liora.
Castaspella wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "We are sisters, Liora. Blood means nothing. No one has the bond that we have. We are going to do great things together".
"Yes, we are sisters. I love you. You and Norwyn are the only family I have. What's left of my real family is my name Light Spinner and no records can be found of anyone else of that name", said Liora.
"I love you too, Liora. I promise we are going to get out of here. I also want to help you find out who your real family is so you can know more about your heritage", said Castaspella.
"I'd love that, but you are my real family", said Liora.
"Well, I am not going to put that boot back on because it hurts so much, but I guess we can go a few more feet", said Castaspella.
Liora helped Castaspella back up on her good leg and said to her, "Not a few feet, but all the way back to the cottage. I know it hurts but I would hate to see what these woods offer when it gets dark out."
Liora and Castaspella awoke the next morning to breakfast already on the table and a note. Liora picked it up and read it.
"What does it say?" asked Castaspella.
"It says that he left early this morning and figured he best let us sleep in. And he said that he left us some muffins on the table for breakfast", said Liora.
Castaspella looked at the muffins on the table and said, "Well, he didn't need to put that in the note to let us know".
Liora suddenly stared at the door. She started to say something, but Castaspella looked at her and said, "I sense something too. Something is outside".
Liora and Castaspella walked toward the door. Liora stepped in front and slowly pulled it open. She then jerked it open all the way. She and Castaspella stepped outside and saw nothing unusual.
"Well, you said you sensed something too so I am not crazy", said Liora as she looked around.
"What do you think it was?" asked Castaspella.
"I don't know, but I felt anxious. Whatever it is, it is not friendly", said Liora.
"But Norwyn said we'd be safe here", said Castaspella.
"Yeah, but dark magic can penetrate these woods. He might not have though that anything would be wanting to come here", said Liora.
Castaspella ran back inside for a few seconds. She then stepped back out, a knife in each hand. She handed one to Liora. Liora took it, stared at it for a few seconds, and then asked, "What are these for? We have magic".
"Yeah, but so might whatever is out there. Face it Liora, we are just sorcerer's apprentices", said Castaspella.
"I don't need an eleven year old telling me that. It is bad enough when Norwyn does it", said Liora, as she slid the knife into the loop on her belt. She pulled her cloak around her as a gust of wind hit.
"You feel that?" asked Castaspella.
"Yes, and it does not feel good. I am suddenly frightened. You are right. Norwyn did not prepare us to fight any forms of dark magic", said Liora, as she shivered.
"Because we don't enough white magic. We just have to make use of what we have", said Castaspella.
"You have a good head on your shoulders from someone your age. No wonder Norwyn seems to trust you more than me", said Liora.
"That is not true, Liora", said Castaspella.
Liora's eyes got really wide. "Castaspella! Look out!" she cried, as she grabbed Castaspella throwing themselves on the ground.
A dark shadow passed over their heads. Liora looked up to see the thing turn and head for them again. It floated in the shadows made by the trees, avoiding the patches of sunlight. It took no form. It was a shadow that belonged to nothing.
"Run!" cried Liora, as she stood up, helped Castaspella up, and they both ran into the woods.
After running for about a minute, Liora and Castaspella stopped and looked around. Liora felt a stitch in her chest from running so hard. She wanted to sit down and catch her breath, but she didn't know where that creature or whatever it was.
Castaspella peered out from behind a tree and looked at where they had run from.
"It's gone", said Castaspella.
"What the hell was that?" asked Liora.
"I don't know", said Castaspella.
"Did you see how it avoided the sunlight? We need to keep going and find a clearing where the sunlight can reach us and that thing won't", said Liora.
"Where? We don't know these woods. Norwyn just teleports us here. I bet he does that so we can't find our way back to Mystacore", said Castaspella.
"And now he is going to get us killed", said Liora.
Liora and Castaspella started to walk, not knowing which direction to go. They walked away from the cottage, fearing that the shadow creature would be there, waiting for them.
Castaspella looked back and looked as she saw something dark moving across the leaves, like a something was heading toward them, something invisible that was still casting a shadow. It made no noise, but she could feel the chill of its black magic starting to creep up her spine.
"Liora, it's coming right at us", cried Castaspella.
Liora turned, saw the shadow moving fast on them. They both ran through the woods, not stopping, but occasionally glancing back to see how far the shadow thing was behind them. Liora tried to summon some of her magic to give her energy to keep running. She tried to think of any spells that might work against it. Castaspella was running fast behind her. Liora turned, grabbed Castaspella's hand, not wanting to lose her in the chase.
Liora felt herself jerk backwards as Castaspella screamed. Castaspella had tripped over an fallen branch. Liora stopped and tried to get Castaspella to her feet, but she screamed more. She realized she was screaming in pain and not in fright.
"Castaspella, we have to keep going. I can't carry you", said Liora, as she watched the shadow creep closer.
"Liora, I heard a pop. I think I broke my ankle", said Castaspella.
Liora stared with wide eyes, as the shadow grew closer. An idea came to her head and held out her hand. She concentrated hard on all her powers, and then a blast of bright light shot forward out of hand and hit the shadow creature. For the first time, the shadow made a noise as it screamed in pain and burst into several smaller shadows and then was gone. She then looked down at Castaspella who was sitting on the ground, holding her right ankle.
Castaspella rubbed her eyes and said, "Great work, Liora, but next time let me know when you are about to do that. You almost blinded me".
"Better to be blinded than experience whatever that thing might do to us. Besides, my name is Light Spinner for a reason", said Liora, as she knelt down, and looked at Castaspella's ankle,
"It hurts so bad, Liora", said Castaspella.
"We need to get you back to the cottage. I am sure Norwyn has some healing herbs stashed away", said Liora.
"Do you know how to get back?" asked Castaspella.
"Well, we can just head in the direction where I destroyed that shadow creature. We did run from there", said Liora.
"I don't know how far we ran, but I can't walk", said Castaspella, as she winced in pain.
"Oh, Cassie, what would you do without me? I am not going to stay here all day, so you have to try and stand up. You can lean on me for support", said Liora.
Castaspella tried to stand on her good leg. Liora helped lifted her up and placed her arm around her shoulder. Liora started to walk back toward where she thought the cottage was while at the same time, making sure Castaspella was on her foot. Castaspella kept her injured foot off the ground, but just hopping caused enough vibration to make it hurt.
"Do you know any healing spells?" asked Castaspella.
"No, do you?" asked Liora.
"What do you think? If I did, I would have used it already", said Castaspella.
Liora looked up ahead and failed to see anything familiar to them. She was hoping to remember that she recognized anything from when they were running from the shadow creature, but as they had been running, all she could concentrate on was getting away. She started to wish that Norwyn was here and would help them. He had said for them not to leave the cottage, but they had no choice. She hoped that perhaps he had sensed something was wrong and was on his way from Castle Bright Moon right now. The way back seemed so far back and they had to walk very slowly. Castaspella was in great pain and sometimes had to stop and rest because her good leg was getting tired from all the hopping.
The sun was already high in the sky meaning that it close to noon. Liora and Castaspella both stopped to rest and sat down on a fallen tree. They shed their gray cloaks revealing their colored tunics. Liora always had a preference to wearing red while Castaspella liked blue. Sorcerers and sorceresses in training had to always wear gray and if they wore other colors, they had to keep them covered up by the gray cloaks. It did not matter much now that they were not in Mystacore. The sun was managing to get its rays past the heavy trees and beat its heat on them. Castaspella straightened up her leg and set her broken ankle on another fallen tree right in front of them.
"Liora, help me get my boot off. My ankle feels like it is going to split it anyway. I can feel it swelling up like a balloon", said Castaspella.
Liora reached over and slowly started to untie the strings. Castaspella moaned and cried out, "Ouch, Liora, can't you be more gentle".
Liora snapped back, feeling a little irritated and said, "I am going as slow as possible. You want me to help you take it off or not".
"I'm sorry, Liora. It just hurts so much", said Castaspella, as she gritted her teeth, trying not to cry out.
Liora began loosening up the strings. She slowly pulled the boot off, ignoring Castaspella's cries. Her mouth dropped when she saw Castaspella's bare ankle. Castaspella saw the look on Liora's face and cried, "What? Is it that bad?"
"You can look for yourself. It is all black and blue and nearly twice its size. You did a good job", said Liora.
"We have to get out of here. We need to find someone who can help us", said Castaspella.
"Who? We are in the middle of nowhere. We can't even make it back to the cottage without you screaming", said Liora, as she stood up and threw her cloak on the ground.
"Liora, I am sorry. I did not mean for this to happen. I wish I could cast a simple spell and make it heal, but I can't", said Castaspella.
"Well, I guess we go slow and hope that there are no more of those shadow things waiting to get us", said Liora, as she sat back down, and lowered her head into her hands.
"I am scared, Liora. One minute we are eating breakfast, and the next we are here in these woods, not knowing what else is out there", said Castaspella, as tears began to form in her eyes.
"I am scared too, Cassie. Not just of these woods, but of what is going to happen. There is dark magic out there. I don't know how, but I can feel it. I am also scared for myself. I don't know what I am capable of. I don't even know who my real family is, or even if they are still alive", said Liora.
"My parents are dead. I can barely remember them when they were killed", said Castaspella.
"I never knew my parents or even know who they were. It was your parents that took me in when I was baby and then they had you and raised us both as their own", said Liora.
Castaspella wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "We are sisters, Liora. Blood means nothing. No one has the bond that we have. We are going to do great things together".
"Yes, we are sisters. I love you. You and Norwyn are the only family I have. What's left of my real family is my name Light Spinner and no records can be found of anyone else of that name", said Liora.
"I love you too, Liora. I promise we are going to get out of here. I also want to help you find out who your real family is so you can know more about your heritage", said Castaspella.
"I'd love that, but you are my real family", said Liora.
"Well, I am not going to put that boot back on because it hurts so much, but I guess we can go a few more feet", said Castaspella.
Liora helped Castaspella back up on her good leg and said to her, "Not a few feet, but all the way back to the cottage. I know it hurts but I would hate to see what these woods offer when it gets dark out."