The Soul of a Mage
A/N: Sorry once again for lack of updates...what can I say, school sucks. Please review as always...trust me I need a little support right now. I hardly have time to breathe anymore. THANKYOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR REVIEWS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you all enjoy this chappie!
Chapter 4: The Scales Are Tipped
Palin tossed restlessly; he had spent the entire evening studying the spells he would need to know for his Test. But somehow he had been unable to focus, something felt wrong, very wrong. He had worried his Queen's plan had been thwarted, that perhaps somehow his idiot father had figured something out. He was relieved to hear her dark majesty's sweet liquid voice; she came to him as the Dark Temptress in his dreams as she often did. The sight of her pure, creamy skin barely covered by her flimsy black lace dress was too much for him.
"My Queen..." he said huskily, or at least attempted to. Unfortunately one of the drawbacks to his age was a difficulty controlling the pitch of his voice, and right now he was finding it damn near impossible. Instead of laughing, Takhisis smiled kindly. She was always so kind to him, they were all wrong about her she was perfection, all he had ever imagined a goddess would be and more. He was surprised and ashamed of his own overwhelming desire to beg her to make him her own. He knew she knew this and felt his face redden slightly. Finally sensing his discomfort she spoke.
"My dark child." She said affectionately kissing his forehead. She could see the wave of desire pass over him. Humans were so easy to manipulate, their weakness for flesh made them the perfect pawns in her plans. She stroked his auburn hair giving him a dark, warm smile. "My plan has been set into motion. At this very moment Chaos prepares to help me take over Silvanesti."
"Excellent. Did you manage to solve the problem of my Test?" Palin asked too eagerly. For a moment he saw a look of impatience pass over his Queen's face, but it was replaced so quickly by her loving smile he doubted that he had even seen it.
Takhisis had nearly slapped the bold human, how dare he question her, and doubt her abilities. She calmed herself quickly remembering he was necessary for the plan. "Yes in fact that was what I wanted to talk to you about." She saw his face light up with anticipation.
"So...?" Palin said wringing his hands nervously. A million feelings struck him at once, part of him was terrified to take the Test at such an early age, knowing the terrible risks he'd be faced with, his Uncle Raistlin had been an extremely talented mage and he had heard the tales of what had happened to him. Though his godly looks now never showed the hideous results of his Test, it had changed his soul forever. That was something anyone who met Raistlin understood immediately. But fear was completely overshadowed by a much stronger emotion, pride. How everyone had always praised Gilthas. Quite possibly the greatest mage who ever lived, a true master it was ridiculous. Gilthas was a naive fool who was so concerned with the "good" of the world he had no true foresight or ambition. And then there was his cousin Aidan. Sure he cared deeply for his cousin but something about him always had frustrated Palin. His father was the greatest mage to ever live, so ambitious as to become a god and what were his ambitions, to some day take over the Conclave? Pathetic, Palin's father was a bumbling oaf with the intelligence of a gully dwarf and he had bigger plans than he son of the most powerful mage to walk upon Krynn. He would show them all the grave mistake of underestimating him. They would all soon see the error of their ways.
His Queen watched him with an amused smile. "I see you're as excited as I am?" Palin nodded sheepishly, embarrassed for letting his mind wonder off subject. "I have already visited Dalamar in his dreams he is convinced you are a threat to him and his position on power and is ready to summon you now, confident you will meet your end. Justarius however was been a bit more annoying, he told Dalamar he refused to decide until they held counsel with Gilthas." The Queen paused looking straight into Gilthas eyes reading his soul.
"Was? Why what changed his mind?" Palin said confused.
"Gilthas is dead." Seeing the momentary shock pass over Palin's face she corrected herself. "Well not exactly dead..."
"Not exactly?" Palin said in a quiet confused voice.
"There was an artifact I obtained, a very powerful artifact of the God of Death, Chemosh. It is a dagger with the ability to steal the soul of the person who is stabbed with it. The victim must be stabbed in the heart and the person wielding the dagger must hold it until the victim would have lost their mortal life." Takhisis finished and smirked at the utterly confused look upon the young mage's face. "I can use his soul for whatever I want, for instance to give a dark, handsome young mage power that he never imagined could be achieved so easily, and along with my own gift of power...well I'm sure you can imagine."
Palin spoke uneasily, "But...it's his soul."
Takhisis shrugged, "You will have complete control over it, use it for its power, don't tell me you've suddenly gained a conscience." Her face looked stern and disappointed.
"No it's just...what if he overpowers me?" Palin asked looking truly fearful.
Takhisis laughed lightly now, "Dearest child, do you think I would let such an awful fate befall you?" Palin shook his head quickly. "Good, now stop worrying so much. Besides your uncle Raistlin survive having a powerful wizard feed off his mortal body for years, I think you can survive it." She spoke jokingly but Palin still appeared unsure.
"One thing I still don't understand, if Gilthas is basically dead now. Why would Justarius suddenly let me take my test?"
Takhisis smiled slightly, "That my dear is because they suspect you were involved."
"What?" Palin asked surprised.
"Well think about it. Your father was on a journey to speak to Raistlin about a private matter concerning you that had him worried. Dalamar had strange dreams about you being a threat to the Conclave. Aidan was certain that I was involved, and everyone knows your family hasn't had the best record of avoiding the temptations of evil. You aren't that only suspect though so I wouldn't worry."
Palin sighed rubbing his temples. "Alright my Queen when shall I be prepared to take the Test."
"Soon..." Takhisis took his face in her hands that were cold as death and hot as passion. She looked upon his face affectionately, "But now you need rest. I need my warrior to be strong of mind and body." She kissed his lips softly causing a shivering heat to run through his body. "Sleep love, and let the darkness be your guide." As Palin drifted back off into a peaceful slumber his lips parted in a smile as he dreamt of silky black hair and blood red lips.
Meanwhile in the darkest depths of the Abyss where even the Queen avoided Chemosh watched angrily as Takhisis told the mortal of her plot and use of his treasure. "This is the final straw..." he whispered angrily. "Her tyranny stops now, I will not be slave to that Queen." Around him black flames spiraled as his rage culminated, the Queens spies that had been watching turned into skeletons the moment the flames touched them. Chemosh kicked the piles of bones turning them to dust. "Let that serve as a message to your Queen." He said softly as disappeared from the Abyss.