The Colours of Magic

The loom could be heard throughout the shop. In the skilled hands of is worker the shuttle flew between the weave, rarely pausing, and never stopping. Some would consider her a master of the craft - she did not. For ten years she had studied weaving. She had began her learning as an apprentice under a journeyman, allowed to do no more than remove the finished cloth form the loom, until her hands became so sure that she studied the finest techniques among the masters and sold her cloth to dress the Queen.

Yet now, she knew, it was time to move on. Slender hands placed down the shuttle and grey eyes watched as the cloth was taken from the loom. When you set rules for yourself it is generally a good idea to follow them; this she knew - just as she knew that it was time to begin learning again.

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My arms grew tired as they stirred the vats of water in which leather was softened, my hands griping the ladle were dark from contact with tannin. Soon, I knew, it would be time to move on, but my heart was heavy.

Even though there are realms mortals cannot enter, most Gods preferred to spend their time outside of them. They prefer to spend their time walking the mortal lands, gathering followers and teaching their ways. Because of this I was not totally cut of from the other deities as Mithros had intended. Occasionally I even received a visitor. Today was one such occasion.

My visitor was one of the weather deities collectively known as the Storm Wardens. These Gods and Goddesses usually held the form of a winged human or giant bird of pray. They inhabited storms and flew about shepherding them. For every storm there was a Warden.

Perhaps it was because of this that I knew very few of them - they were rather hard to keep track of.

But Gadreal and Armenia, I know very well.

Gadreal had brought me news before. His presence is usually accompanied by rain, unless he is trying to be dramatic or impressive, and then he uses thunder and lightning.

This morning the wind changed. It had been a light southeasterly over the last few days but soon after dawn it began to come from the north and increased steadily though day.

By the noon bell the wind was screeching though the rafter and howling down the streets. Clouds raced though the sky and the surface of the river had been whipped into white caps. With it came Gadreal.

The door opened and he came in. It was the first time I had seen him this year so I took the chance to study him. His tunic and breaches were of a soft material the colour somewhere between light blue and grey, neat as the wind would allow them to be.

His brown hair was wind tossed (unsurprising) but all expression in his face was strangely guarded.

In place of grey-feathered wings he wore a dark blue cloak.

He strode though the tannery, uncaring of the stairs that he attracted form my apprentices, for after I acknowledge Gadreal I shooed them form our presence. Upon seeing me he hesitated with the greeting that would normally have flowed forth from his lips. In the end he ignored it completely.

"One of your followers," he began, yet seemed unsure how to continue.

"Who?" I spoke gently even though inside I was being burning with unease. His voice, his manner, his expression, his very stance bespoke uncertainty, perhaps even fear.

"Danmarie," he dropped his eyes, once again unable to continue.

"Anwyn and Danmarie, the twin sisters. Gadreal, until I know more I can be of no use to you at all." As the words parsed my lips I realised how unfair they were. It took a lot to make Gadreal afraid, but so far I had not even worked out what he was afraid of, or who for.

"I hadn't heard that Anwyn was Danmarie's sister." He spoke quietly. Almost under his breath he added. "But it makes sense."

"What makes sense? Gadreal? Please tell me. Please." Why was he keeping me in suspense like this? If anything his fear seamed to be increasing, I know mine was. "What can I do if I don't know what is wrong? You did come to tell me so I could be of use, didn't you?"

"Alathnia, there is nothing you can do," he met my eyes and the intensity of his own was fierce. "I only came to tell you so you wouldn't hear it by rumour." His voice began to rise as he continued. "If you were to try and interfere the Great Gods would happily use this as a reason to banish you so far though time that it will take you ten thousand years to return! In this I agree with Mithros, you gave your followers to much power, without your guidance there is nothing to control them, nothing to make them back off. Alathnia, there is nothing you can possibly do; Danmarie is far more powerful than you have been in years. The Great Gods couldn't even halt her actions, that or they are blind. Not even Sakaris. Not even Sakaris could stop her." By the end he was yelling, hands that had before been clasped behind his back were now held in fists at his sides.

"What happened? What could Danmarie have done to make you so afraid? What has occurred to Anwyn to make you act in this way? In some occasions I would call it surprising that a question could evoke such anger, but at the moment I would just call it frightening. I still don't know what Danmarie has done, as you have not yet seen fit to tell me." Perhaps I was pushing my luck a bit with that, but really, what more could I say? On second thought, I probably should have said less. Perhaps I should lighten the mood. "It's not like she brought someone back from the dead, is it?"

"How can you joke about some thing like that?" his voice was instantly as loud as it had been before. This certainly was not my intention. "How on earth can you be so heartless? They were your followers. You trained them. You tutored them. They are mages because you taught them magic. Do you have any idea how much life energy it takes to resurrect a mortal? Danmarie sacrificed a nation. An entire nation. Just to…"

"To call back Anwyn" I had to interrupt him. If you ignored the fury in his face, frightening as it was, you could see how afraid he was, how cold. I couldn't let him continue.

"You knew? You knew and you didn't even think to say."

The later was said despairingly.

"No, I just guessed from what you said before. I haven't even begun to come to terms with it. Anwyn is the only one Danmarie would ever… I can't believe she would even attempt something of that magnitude! There are reasons gods don't go near the barriers that hold life to these realms, as well you know them, there are reasons why only Sakaris can cross between these realms, I would have sworn she knew them. I would have sworn." As I spoke I began to take in what had happened. I couldn't believe one of my followers thoughtless enough to attempt an act that only though luck would not destroy the world. I felt my self beginning to shake. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that one of my own would so willingly destroy so much to gain so little. I couldn't believe I had not imparted enough common sense to my followers that they would not know the difference between love and wholesale destruction. I couldn't believe it, but what could I do if I didn't? Nothing, I would be as useless as Gadreal believed me and I could not accept that. Change that, I know Gadreal didn't think I was useless, but he certainly felt I couldn't be of any use, given the predicament.

"All magic users are taught the dangers that comes with use of their gift. There must be something we can do to enforce the lesson. Danmarie used magic in a way that could have destroyed the world, that's something that cannot be forgotten. We need something that won't be shaken off in a few generations, something that will last." I left the conversation there, wondering what could possible hold so many in its thrall. It had to be something that would last, or at least recreate its self. The later would probably suite the situation better, seeing as all population try to increase.

"What's something every mortal needs?" Gadreal spoke softly. He had been staring at me intently as I spoke and had continued to do so after I had finished. The rage that had filled him before left and now he was filled with serene calmness, endearing to behold. The quivering of my hands stilled "Besides sustenance, or shelter, something they won't forget, you say? Perhaps it could be symbolic?" I found listening to him speaking reassuring. I was so grateful, that somehow I wasn't expected to find a solution alone, that in that moment I believed I had laid eyes upon a deity more wondrous. "Colours, with spoken words to hold meaning? If you talk to Chronath I'm sure he would be happy to help supply a verse or two. Chronath's practical however much he cares about our history. I'm sure he would be more than happy to help you out."

A solution. Yes! "Sounds great." Um. "After I have spoken to Chronath, when everything is sorted out and something has been decided, would you spread the message?" why was I so uncertain?

He smiled "My brethren and I would be happy to oblige, Great Lady."

"I'm not…"

"No. You are."

"I was once but I am no longer."

"To us you always shall be. There is nothing Mithros nor Yolanda could do to you that would ever make us think otherwise. You are a great lady, outstanding amongst those that shine. What's more you are the Great Lady, and even if everyone else has forgotten we shall remember."

"Thanks, it means a lot. Will you be staying for dinner?"

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Deck them in the ashes of the world they destroy

Bind them with the flames they use to consume life

Shower their followers paths with sparks of wisdom

Shadow not the innocent, give them light to learn by

Remember this in any way, and in this way

All capable of destroying worlds shall dress in black

All capable of consuming life shall dress in red

All capable of recognizing power shall dress in yellow

All who learn without gain shall dress in white

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A substance found in the bark of some trees used in the tanning of leather.