Chapter 6: Idling
Faust had been held "captive" for a little over two hours, and night was beginning to fall. His captors hadn't been back to see him ever since the older sorceress had visited him, but he assumed that it was for all the better. No food was better than being fettered. Every few minutes or so he would look at the door of the prison, knowing full well that he could have left. However, he never moved from his spot on the bench. Something kept him from leaving. Something was telling him to stay, but he didn't know what. There were a few times when he had actually gotten up and opened the iron door of the prison, but then immediately shut it. An urge inside of him decided to stay, but that urge seemed vague and grey at best, with no real motive behind it.
Faust began thinking to himself. The older sorceress had been very cryptic in her speech, and almost talked in riddles. What could the motive for Faust's presence here be? Faust's mage intuition told him that the sorceress had the potential to crush him at whim, but if so, what was he doing here? Could they being trying to get to his father? Who knew-- Faust's father had been uncharacteristically distant—Or more distant than normal, rather. Maybe the Zann Esu, which is what Faust identified these sorceress' as, were being particularly hostile. They had always made false claims that they had a hand in destroying the Prime Evils. They were always jealous of the sort of recognition the Priests were subject to after one o their own saved Sanctuary. But if this was to get at his father, why did they need Faust? It made no sense.. He needed answers.
Finally determined to find these answers, Faust thrust open the door of his cell and began to walk out. The sky now burned with streaks of orange and magenta of the setting sun, but Faust had nowhere to go. All around him there were various huts that were all identical to the one he had been imprisoned in, giving him no idea where to start. Reluctantly he began to walk forward.
However, he didn't get very far. He took a few steps out of his hut, when he was clubbed in the chest by a small, yet precise foot. Hurtling backwards, he thrust his hands out and was able to fall into a back flip, righting himself. It was just in time, too, for at that moment he had to duck a razor sharp blade that was aimed for his shoulder. He lashed out with a punch, only to have his hand sink rather fruitlessly into the links of ring mail. With an adrenaline rush of dire necessity, Faust backed up and released three Den'Trag at his adversary, causing her to back away in pain. Faust tried to shoot more, but the assailant pushed forward, knocking him on his back. Deftly, the attacker put their blade to his face. The attacker was now revealed to be feminine, if only by the tightness of her chain mail. With a harsh yet somewhat silky voice, she spoke to Faust;
"Get back, now. I have orders to debilitate you if you do not comply."
Now Faust was partly worried, and very confused. According to the older sorceress that had talked with him, he could have left. Why was this venerable guard keeping him at bay? These questions crept into his mind as he lay there, pinned by this hostile prison guard of sorts. Knowing that resisting would get him no where, or at least predicting that, Faust sighed, bowed his head in defeat, and lifted his hands in surrender. His assailant let him up, and without a word he walked back into his hut-cell. Looking back he could see that his strange guard had disappeared. He didn't know here name, but he guessed that she was one of the elusive Viz- Jaaq'Tar. That was even more puzzling, for the Viz-Jaaq'Tar were a division of the Vizjerei.. So why would they be allied with the Zann Esu?
Faust didn't have long to ponder this, for soon a small clap of thunder sounded in the room, and the older sorceress he had talked to before had come in the room, but she had seemed older! Her faced was lined with minute wrinkles where there was once smoothness. Also, her hair had in it gleams of grey, like that of an older woman, and the tips were almost white!! What happened to her to make her so much older? There were so many questions!! With her the woman carried a tray, as well as something under her arm that Faust couldn't make out in the fading twilight. She set the tray down next to him on the bench in the hut, not commenting on him being in front of the cell instead of inside of it. Deciding to get some questions answered, Faust talked;
"How long have I been here?"
The old sorceress smiled back at him, a wonderful smile now that Faust had noticed it;
"Only a few hours. It is still the same day as your battle with my apprentice outside of your mausoleum. Here's your evening meal."
The tray contained a slab of veal, as well as a variety of vegetables and fruits local to the region of the Eastern Jungles. In a rather large tankard, there was also what Faust judged as water. Taking the provided silverware, Faust began eating the meal, and seemed to ignore the sorceress. However, she was still paying attention to him. Daintily, with more grace than her appearance suggested, the woman put a book next to the tray. Looking up at her in confusion, Faust saw her bat her hair and smile once more. The smile, Faust thought, was starting to look familiar... As if he had seen it years ago.
"Begin looking at that... You're training starts tomorrow."
With that, the sorceress left.
Now Faust was genuinely dumbfounded.
Faust had been held "captive" for a little over two hours, and night was beginning to fall. His captors hadn't been back to see him ever since the older sorceress had visited him, but he assumed that it was for all the better. No food was better than being fettered. Every few minutes or so he would look at the door of the prison, knowing full well that he could have left. However, he never moved from his spot on the bench. Something kept him from leaving. Something was telling him to stay, but he didn't know what. There were a few times when he had actually gotten up and opened the iron door of the prison, but then immediately shut it. An urge inside of him decided to stay, but that urge seemed vague and grey at best, with no real motive behind it.
Faust began thinking to himself. The older sorceress had been very cryptic in her speech, and almost talked in riddles. What could the motive for Faust's presence here be? Faust's mage intuition told him that the sorceress had the potential to crush him at whim, but if so, what was he doing here? Could they being trying to get to his father? Who knew-- Faust's father had been uncharacteristically distant—Or more distant than normal, rather. Maybe the Zann Esu, which is what Faust identified these sorceress' as, were being particularly hostile. They had always made false claims that they had a hand in destroying the Prime Evils. They were always jealous of the sort of recognition the Priests were subject to after one o their own saved Sanctuary. But if this was to get at his father, why did they need Faust? It made no sense.. He needed answers.
Finally determined to find these answers, Faust thrust open the door of his cell and began to walk out. The sky now burned with streaks of orange and magenta of the setting sun, but Faust had nowhere to go. All around him there were various huts that were all identical to the one he had been imprisoned in, giving him no idea where to start. Reluctantly he began to walk forward.
However, he didn't get very far. He took a few steps out of his hut, when he was clubbed in the chest by a small, yet precise foot. Hurtling backwards, he thrust his hands out and was able to fall into a back flip, righting himself. It was just in time, too, for at that moment he had to duck a razor sharp blade that was aimed for his shoulder. He lashed out with a punch, only to have his hand sink rather fruitlessly into the links of ring mail. With an adrenaline rush of dire necessity, Faust backed up and released three Den'Trag at his adversary, causing her to back away in pain. Faust tried to shoot more, but the assailant pushed forward, knocking him on his back. Deftly, the attacker put their blade to his face. The attacker was now revealed to be feminine, if only by the tightness of her chain mail. With a harsh yet somewhat silky voice, she spoke to Faust;
"Get back, now. I have orders to debilitate you if you do not comply."
Now Faust was partly worried, and very confused. According to the older sorceress that had talked with him, he could have left. Why was this venerable guard keeping him at bay? These questions crept into his mind as he lay there, pinned by this hostile prison guard of sorts. Knowing that resisting would get him no where, or at least predicting that, Faust sighed, bowed his head in defeat, and lifted his hands in surrender. His assailant let him up, and without a word he walked back into his hut-cell. Looking back he could see that his strange guard had disappeared. He didn't know here name, but he guessed that she was one of the elusive Viz- Jaaq'Tar. That was even more puzzling, for the Viz-Jaaq'Tar were a division of the Vizjerei.. So why would they be allied with the Zann Esu?
Faust didn't have long to ponder this, for soon a small clap of thunder sounded in the room, and the older sorceress he had talked to before had come in the room, but she had seemed older! Her faced was lined with minute wrinkles where there was once smoothness. Also, her hair had in it gleams of grey, like that of an older woman, and the tips were almost white!! What happened to her to make her so much older? There were so many questions!! With her the woman carried a tray, as well as something under her arm that Faust couldn't make out in the fading twilight. She set the tray down next to him on the bench in the hut, not commenting on him being in front of the cell instead of inside of it. Deciding to get some questions answered, Faust talked;
"How long have I been here?"
The old sorceress smiled back at him, a wonderful smile now that Faust had noticed it;
"Only a few hours. It is still the same day as your battle with my apprentice outside of your mausoleum. Here's your evening meal."
The tray contained a slab of veal, as well as a variety of vegetables and fruits local to the region of the Eastern Jungles. In a rather large tankard, there was also what Faust judged as water. Taking the provided silverware, Faust began eating the meal, and seemed to ignore the sorceress. However, she was still paying attention to him. Daintily, with more grace than her appearance suggested, the woman put a book next to the tray. Looking up at her in confusion, Faust saw her bat her hair and smile once more. The smile, Faust thought, was starting to look familiar... As if he had seen it years ago.
"Begin looking at that... You're training starts tomorrow."
With that, the sorceress left.
Now Faust was genuinely dumbfounded.