Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here I am…updating as promised…though I only got four reviews again! I am very close to wondering if anyone ever reads this anymore…so please review if you read this…otherwise I may very well stop posting for a while…so here is the very dramatic, very shocking chapter I have been promising…Hope you like it…thanks to everyone who reviewed…
Oneinamilliongirl: Thanks; I'm glad you liked it! Hope you got my response via review…Read some more and tell me what you think…
Ramona Dottsworth: It does go fast…but it should last a while…at least I think it will…yes I do love getting reviews…it tells me that people read my story and that it is worth it to put it on ff.net. If I got no reviews, I would write (because I love it and not much could ever make me stop) but not post…I know everyone is always fainting…but that should grow less as the plot thickens…glad you like it, and please read more ( and review)
Wildmage101: You only waited four or five days…I'll call you later…I know you're at dance right now…and Ed is tonight…we have to go to Nanny's house…so I'll call you tom, and Avesnir…
Dragont-tamer-shane: Glad you like it…Update soon 'cause I love yours…and review more if you feel like it…
I'll write a note at the end…and I hope you enjoy this shocking chapter…
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The Red Dawn
It was half a day's ride to Galla, and by the morning, Amanda had arrived at the place to which she had been directed. The field was covered in glittering white snow, except for one patch of air, where the snow fell and disappeared in mid-air. It was an illusion, magic made to hide something, or someone. Amanda did not know how to lift an illusion, knowing only weather magic. What she did have, however, was power, and plenty of it, she could force sheer power through the gaps I n the spell, and it would open.
Amanda took a deep breath, and forced as much copper fire as she could muster through the chinks in the spell. It exploded, and she was thrown back. When Amanda got to her feet, she saw a young man, in his early twenties, with blonde hair in braids, in long, silk robes. This was Ozorne, the emperor of Carthak, one of the most powerful rulers in all of the eastern lands. He had once been Numair's friend, during his days in Carthak, until he had realized that Numair could best his ability in magic, and deemed him a traitor to the empire. The man smiled grimly, showing straight white teeth.
" I have been expecting you," he said, his voice educated and terse. "I knew that Arram would be too afraid to come on his own, so he sends me you, his student."
Amanda knew that he was referring to Numair's old name, Arram Draper, before he had changed it to avoid Ozorne's men. She smiled grimly.
" You are mistaken," she informed him "I came here of my own accord. It's time we had a talk, you and I. Let me make one thing clear, and just say that I'm not from around here. I know all about you, and how you are acting on Uuosae's orders, and what I want to know is why."
A look of insane rage broke over his face.
"Yes, I do know all about you Amanda, and you obviously know all about me, so I will forget all the introductions, and answer your question. I am following the orders of Uuosae, the goddess of chaos, for one simple reason; power. You may realize as you go through life, Amanda, that in the end it maters not what is right, or wrong, but if you are strong, or if you are weak. This is why your friend could not stay in my good graces; I found him an obstacle in my ascent to power, and that could not go on. In fact, this is still a threat, and so this is why we must be forced to continue our talk in Carthak. I hope you don't mind."
Without warning, he held out his hands, and green fire sprang from them, which enveloped her senses. She couldn't see. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. Her mind grew dark as her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground.
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Amanda woke up, and immediately wished she hadn't. Her head was swimming and dizzy, and she was exhausted. She was on a mattress on the floor in a small room; it was sweltering hot and stuffy. She lurched to her feet, and walked over to the window. It showed a sandy, dry, tropical place that seemed oddly familiar.
She was in Carthak. Ozorne had taken her to Carthak, for… what had he said? Her thoughts were slurred, and she shook her head to clear them. Ozorne had taken her to Carthak, so he could kill Numair…or so he had said. It did not make sense.
Trying in vain not to panic, she ran out of the door, which was to her surprise, open, and ran down the stone-tiled corridors, in no particular direction. There was not a soul in sight but her, any servants, or guards, seemed to be somewhere else. She reached a large room that must be the banquet hall. At the end of the room, lounging in a lavishly gold carved throne, sat Ozorne.
He smiled grimly, "I hope you will forget the impoliteness, but I was hurried, and preoccupied. I believe you will like it her after a while."
Amanda had begun to tremble with fury. " I will not be here for long, and you are not forgiven. Numair will come here for me, and you will die."
He smiled grimly. " I sincerely doubt that. Follow me."
The walked down passages sloping steadily downwards until they reached the maze of tombs and headstones Amanda supposed must be the catacombs. Ozorne stopped in front of a dark, stone room, and motioned for her to enter. Amanda felt a trill of foreboding as she stepped inside. The room was empty, and dimly lit by a creepy light that seemed to come from the walls. There was a stone table in the middle, and on it laid a man. Amanda gasped.
It was Numair. He was dressed in his black robe; his black hair tied back behind his head, his skin as white as paper. His hands were at his side, and his eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping, Amanda reached out a hand, and touched his cheek. It was cold as ice, and he did not stir.
He was dead.
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Oooooooooooohhhhhhhh that was cliffy! And I won't update if you don't review… this may be a steep demand, but I want 53 or more, or no new chapter…it's how I know you all read it…So have a great holiday (those who celebrate it) and I will update as soon as I get 53+…and tell me what you think…
-Queen of Connaughts
