This is the shortest chapter of this story so far, I think – consider it an
interlude of sorts.
Big things are coming up soon.
********************************
For the second time in a very short time, Raistlin felt completely helpless.
It hadn't taken him long to get rid of the tight cords tied about his wrists. The guards had been stupid enough not to search them for weapons very thorougly, so they had missed the little dagger that the mage always carried, hidden in his sleeve. He released it with a flick of his wrist, easily catching it with his nimble fingers, and used it to cut off the bindings. Only to find out that it didn't do much good: his feet were still shackled, and he couldn't remember any of his spells.
During his short stay on Earth, he hadn't even thought of studying his spellbook. So, it didn't matter that he could feel the magic surrounding him now that he was back on Krynn – the words of even the simplest spells were still beyond his reach. Besides, the people of the SGC had messed up his precious spell components, so he doubted he had everything that he might need. A quick search confirmed his suspicions. Nearly half of what he'd had was missing.
Raistlin decided not to bother telling the others that his hands were free. Not yet, when he would gain nothing by doing that. Instead, he would only make Carter more suspicious – if such a thing was even possible – he could just imagine telling her that his hands were free and he had all the physical means of casting a spell, but since he hadn't studied the words and rested, he was unable to do a thing.
***
Captain Samantha Carter was worried, and steadily growing more and more annoyed.
Sam shifted her position slightly, trying to ease her aching ankles. The shackles and chains were cold and heavy, and with them on and hands tied, it was nearly impossible to find a comfortable way to sit on the ground.
They were on P4A-984 again, but they were hardly much closer to finding their friends, or solving the riddle formed by the draconians and the army of mixed Jaffa. Even though she had been expecting that they'd be captured, she had thought they'd be taken to whoever was the leader around here, so they'd at least learn something. And she'd hoped that it wouldn't take long to find out what had happened to Jack and Daniel.
The sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. It was so dark that she couldn't really see who was coming, but she guessed it was just another Jaffa, coming to relieve some of the current ones from their guard duty.
Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light and flames, and two of their guards fell down to the ground. The third Jaffa soon joined his companions, struck by something that looked like a bolt of lighting.
Sam could hear Raistlin draw a sharp, raspy breath next to her, and she could easily imagine the furious look on his face. He thought this was magic, just like his, or maybe even stronger. She wasn't so quick to jump to such an explanation. It was much more logical to think that there was just some new weapon at use here. But who had used it, and why had they shot the guards?
The attacker was close enough now that Sam could see him, but she could hardly believe her eyes.
"Daniel?" she called out, amazed.
"Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, almost simultaneously with her.
He didn't seem to notice them at all, or understand who they were. The look on his face was enough to give Sam the creeps – an expression of utmost anger and hatred completely alien to the Daniel she knew.
"Don't try to stop me!" he snarled at them.
"Daniel! Come on! What's happened? What's going on?" Sam tried to get through to him, but he wasn't listening, or maybe he didn't even hear what she said.
Daniel continued on his way, running, without any sign of recognizing who Sam was or what she had said. Soon, he disappeared into the dark night.
***
Raistlin's face was twisted in a look of sheer fury that hardly lost to what Daniel had just showed. How had that stupid Earthling come up with such a talent so quickly? Raistlin had dedicated his life to learning about magic, he had sacrificed everything he had and even more, and hadn't gotten anywhere near the power that he had just proved.
At least they had one less problem now, with the guards gone. Without asking a thing, he grabbed his dagger again, and went on to free Caramon's hands.
"You'll help them too, won't you, Raist?" Caramon indicated the half of SG- 1.
"Of course I will," he replied quickly. "Captain Carter?" he turned towards the woman, showing her his free hands and his dagger.
Oh yes. He would set Carter and Teal'c free. Daniel had just given Raistlin a reason to stay around SG-1 a while longer. He would have to find out what had happened – how someone who was not of Krynn had suddenly become a mage.
The four captives had just begun to ponder how they could get rid of the shackles when the solution emerged from the dark ruins about them, in the guise of an anxious kender.
"This is just ridiculously easy! It's like an insult! They should've tried a bit harder, a two-year-old could pick this one with their eyes closed!" Tasslehoff Burrfoot declared loudly as he begun working on the lock about Caramon's feet. And true to his words, he opened it in less than a minute.
"Did you see where Daniel went? I think he came this way, though I'm not sure, it's so dark here. I think the sun should rise pretty soon, though. Anyway, that Daniel's really learned how to cast spells! I'd say he's just as good as you, Raistlin!" Tas looked up at Raistlin, already done with his shackles. "You know, he cast a web-spell, just like yours, on the entire party in our hiding place in the thicket. Well, almost the entire party, that is. I got away before it fell, so I decided to follow him, but then I lost him."
"Yes, Tas. We did see him," Raistlin whispered coldly. "And now that we're free, we're all going after him."
********************************
For the second time in a very short time, Raistlin felt completely helpless.
It hadn't taken him long to get rid of the tight cords tied about his wrists. The guards had been stupid enough not to search them for weapons very thorougly, so they had missed the little dagger that the mage always carried, hidden in his sleeve. He released it with a flick of his wrist, easily catching it with his nimble fingers, and used it to cut off the bindings. Only to find out that it didn't do much good: his feet were still shackled, and he couldn't remember any of his spells.
During his short stay on Earth, he hadn't even thought of studying his spellbook. So, it didn't matter that he could feel the magic surrounding him now that he was back on Krynn – the words of even the simplest spells were still beyond his reach. Besides, the people of the SGC had messed up his precious spell components, so he doubted he had everything that he might need. A quick search confirmed his suspicions. Nearly half of what he'd had was missing.
Raistlin decided not to bother telling the others that his hands were free. Not yet, when he would gain nothing by doing that. Instead, he would only make Carter more suspicious – if such a thing was even possible – he could just imagine telling her that his hands were free and he had all the physical means of casting a spell, but since he hadn't studied the words and rested, he was unable to do a thing.
***
Captain Samantha Carter was worried, and steadily growing more and more annoyed.
Sam shifted her position slightly, trying to ease her aching ankles. The shackles and chains were cold and heavy, and with them on and hands tied, it was nearly impossible to find a comfortable way to sit on the ground.
They were on P4A-984 again, but they were hardly much closer to finding their friends, or solving the riddle formed by the draconians and the army of mixed Jaffa. Even though she had been expecting that they'd be captured, she had thought they'd be taken to whoever was the leader around here, so they'd at least learn something. And she'd hoped that it wouldn't take long to find out what had happened to Jack and Daniel.
The sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. It was so dark that she couldn't really see who was coming, but she guessed it was just another Jaffa, coming to relieve some of the current ones from their guard duty.
Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light and flames, and two of their guards fell down to the ground. The third Jaffa soon joined his companions, struck by something that looked like a bolt of lighting.
Sam could hear Raistlin draw a sharp, raspy breath next to her, and she could easily imagine the furious look on his face. He thought this was magic, just like his, or maybe even stronger. She wasn't so quick to jump to such an explanation. It was much more logical to think that there was just some new weapon at use here. But who had used it, and why had they shot the guards?
The attacker was close enough now that Sam could see him, but she could hardly believe her eyes.
"Daniel?" she called out, amazed.
"Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, almost simultaneously with her.
He didn't seem to notice them at all, or understand who they were. The look on his face was enough to give Sam the creeps – an expression of utmost anger and hatred completely alien to the Daniel she knew.
"Don't try to stop me!" he snarled at them.
"Daniel! Come on! What's happened? What's going on?" Sam tried to get through to him, but he wasn't listening, or maybe he didn't even hear what she said.
Daniel continued on his way, running, without any sign of recognizing who Sam was or what she had said. Soon, he disappeared into the dark night.
***
Raistlin's face was twisted in a look of sheer fury that hardly lost to what Daniel had just showed. How had that stupid Earthling come up with such a talent so quickly? Raistlin had dedicated his life to learning about magic, he had sacrificed everything he had and even more, and hadn't gotten anywhere near the power that he had just proved.
At least they had one less problem now, with the guards gone. Without asking a thing, he grabbed his dagger again, and went on to free Caramon's hands.
"You'll help them too, won't you, Raist?" Caramon indicated the half of SG- 1.
"Of course I will," he replied quickly. "Captain Carter?" he turned towards the woman, showing her his free hands and his dagger.
Oh yes. He would set Carter and Teal'c free. Daniel had just given Raistlin a reason to stay around SG-1 a while longer. He would have to find out what had happened – how someone who was not of Krynn had suddenly become a mage.
The four captives had just begun to ponder how they could get rid of the shackles when the solution emerged from the dark ruins about them, in the guise of an anxious kender.
"This is just ridiculously easy! It's like an insult! They should've tried a bit harder, a two-year-old could pick this one with their eyes closed!" Tasslehoff Burrfoot declared loudly as he begun working on the lock about Caramon's feet. And true to his words, he opened it in less than a minute.
"Did you see where Daniel went? I think he came this way, though I'm not sure, it's so dark here. I think the sun should rise pretty soon, though. Anyway, that Daniel's really learned how to cast spells! I'd say he's just as good as you, Raistlin!" Tas looked up at Raistlin, already done with his shackles. "You know, he cast a web-spell, just like yours, on the entire party in our hiding place in the thicket. Well, almost the entire party, that is. I got away before it fell, so I decided to follow him, but then I lost him."
"Yes, Tas. We did see him," Raistlin whispered coldly. "And now that we're free, we're all going after him."