Chapter 16: Meeting

Tahir huffed; escorting a trade caravan wasn't what he had in mind for himself. Especially since it was what he despised about the Aurora. But the declaration from that sect over seven years ago only steeled him. He had to do it now. Everyone had to protect themselves since that sect wasn't doing so anymore. The worst part about it was the sect simply disappeared off the face of the world when it needed them most, especially with the steady rise in creatures shrouded in shadows appearing.

"What does that even mean? Ultimate Light can only be found in Ultimate Darkness, what non-sense." His thoughts usually kept him occupied during the long trips as he acted as an escort for merchants and transports bringing in food from the Holy City of Orion. The famine that had hit nine years ago had seemed to slow down in its intensity but was still getting worse. Only Orion and a faraway continent known as the Edeal States were able to grow and produce enough food.

"That sect disappearing didn't help matters at all." Tahir thought, looking over to the cart heavily laden with grain, potatoes and fresh water. Though Arentia was known for its natural spring of water around the palace, there wasn't enough flowing water to sustain all of the people of the city, thus fresh water would have to be brought in to supplement it. Wells dotting the city had either begun to run dangerously low or had begun to foul.

"My friend, are you doing alright? You seem lost in thought." The transport driver asked, scooting over in the seat to better hear Tahir speak

"Nothing that is of importance. My mind tends to wander during the long journeys." He answered, pulling up his scarf as a gust of wind passed them bringing stinging grains of sand with it. He tied it around his face in hopes that the driver would leave him be but was sadly disappointed.

"Ah yes, my mind too wanders at times like this. I often think of my Son and his family back home on the Isle of Maples. He has made a good home for himself there…" Tahir absently tuned out the driver, concentrating on his steps in the sand so as not to think about his own wife and daughter. Yes, time had helped to heal the pain of their loss but not the ire. His hand reached to his belt where his former friend's dagger hung reminding him of the vow that he took to protect those he could, and kill the clerics of the sect. His thoughts were interrupted when the foot of the driver punted his shoulder, nearly knocking him into the sand.

"What are you do…"

"Don't get so lost in your thoughts that you forego what I paid you for!" the driver shouted, pointing to something ahead of them. Tahir reached for his dagger and narrowed his eyes to better see the creatures coming towards them. There looked to be a swarm of creatures cloaked in shadows coming for them over the dunes. But the more that Tahir looked, the more that he realized the creatures were coming at them from all sides. The first scorpion-like creature burst from under the sand near the wagon, spooking the horse.

Tahir clambered over the cart, drawing his dagger and plunging it into where he thought the heart would be. The creature reared and squealed in pain, swinging massive claws and stinger armed tail, trying to hit Tahir before slumping to the ground. He pulled his dagger out just as a group of impossibly large desert wasps came buzzing down. Tahir swung his dagger left and right, drawing a small sword from his hip and cutting through the wasps with ease.

"GET THIS CART MOVING!" Tahir screamed, jamming his dagger through the chest of another scorpion.

"I can't! There are too many ahead of us!" The driver called back, struggling to keep the horse under his control. Tahir growled as he jumped in front of the horse, stabbing and cutting through the creatures that came at them. As he killed the last one he slapped the horse's flank, instantly lurching the cart into motion bolting for the gate of Arentia. Tahir took up a position on the cart, standing haphazardly on a sack of wheat and potatoes, cutting through the wasps and scorpions that came near enough. The cart hit a rock in the path, jolting Tahir off the cart into a waiting scorpion's tail that pierced into his bicep, swelling as poison flooded it. Tahir shouted in pain and anger, slicing through the stinger to cut it off. He began running for the cart as a dozen wasps gave chase. The scorpion's claws snapped at him as he ran but only missed him as he ran until a second scorpion tried to tackle him. The scorpions collided and began to fight as Tahir made it back to the cart, cutting through the wasps that were giving chase.

As they neared the threshold of Arentia, the creatures suddenly stopped pursuing, acting as if they were in pain. Tahir looked back with curiosity at their behavior when he noticed movement on a dune some distance away. It almost looked as if a person dressed in a dark cloak turned and left. Was someone watching them?

The throbbing in his arm brought him back to his current situation. With one quick motion, Tahir pulled out what remained of the stinger, then cut through the skin on his bicep. Thick black goop oozed from it like pus making him gag as it poured onto the sands. The smell made it even worse; rotting flesh mixed with burning hair. With pure force of will, Tahir squeezed out what remained, sucking out the last bit, doing so making him vomit.

"Are you alright my friend? Did one of those creatures get you?"

"It's nothing, just a scratch." He answered, wiping his lip a rinsing his mouth with water from his water skin.

"That is no scratch. I can smell it from here, and we have a head wind." The driver pressed. Tahir ignored him, taking a cloth from his knapsack and wrapping his arm.

"I'm fine. I'll see a healer once we have the food delivered." He barked, noting that his arm was beginning to itch. Maybe it was just the effects of the poison in his arm.

"A healer should be able to give me an antidote and I'll would be fine." He thought. But the sight of that thick black goo pouring from his arm had him worried. He'd been stung before, bitten even, but none of the creatures had anything like this. In fact, thinking back over the creatures he had killed, something seemed different about them.

"Now that I think about it, the creatures on the last few escorts that I have encountered have been changing as well." The thought stuck with him until they arrived at the market place where people from all over the city came to purchase what had be brought. Within an hour, the cart was empty.

"Well, that didn't last long." Tahir grumbled, absently scratching his arm taking note that not only was it itching more, but it was beginning to feel warm.

"It never does my friend. Here is the remainder of your payment." The driver said, holding out a small pouch with coins in it. Tahir grabbed it away, pouring its contents into the pouch on his belt.

"Aren't you going to count it?" the driver asked. Tahir only tied the empty bag up and gave it back to the driver.

"When are you leaving next?" he asked bluntly. The driver waved his hand.

"I won't be leaving for another couple days. But there is a merchant friend of mine named Halsar. I received a message from him asking if I knew of any mercenaries that would do him a favor."

"What is he paying?"

"He didn't say but knowing him, he is paying well. I received the message while I was in Orion, and he said that by the time we returned, he would be renegotiating a trade deal with the king for transporting food from the Edeal States. He might even still be in the palace." Tahir nodded with an agitated sigh. He didn't like merchants to begin with as they were all greedy, fat men. But the work would keep his mind busy which is really what he wanted. Once he had signed his contract with the driver signifying the job was complete, he headed straight to the healer's. His sting wound was really beginning to ache and the itching was so bad that he had scratched his skin raw. It was a deep internal itch that couldn't be reached from the surface of his skin.

"Something worse is going on here." He thought. The healer gave Tahir an antidote and put ointment on the wound calming the itching and burning. Additionally, the healer gave him a small jar of salve to apply until the wound had healed over. With that taken care of, he made his way to the palace in search of this merchant. He was allowed in, escorted by the captain of the guard Tigun to the conference room where two more guards stood on either side of the finely carved door.

"He should be in here. The conference sounds as if it is still in progress, but I'm sure you can be allowed in. Should you need anything, please tell the guards here." Tigun instructed before leaving back for the main gate. Tahir nodded his thanks and entered, taking a seat in the back and scanning the room of those present. There was the king and queen, the prince, what appeared to be an advisor or two, and a chubby wealthy looking man sitting across the from the king and queen. Taking a seat, Tahir drowned out the conversation with his own thoughts which turned to the creatures he had faced. There was something ghoulish about them, almost as if they weren't alive. And the smell they exuded if you got too close; the pang of rotting meat and old wood. What would cause such a thing to happen to live creatures?

His thoughts were soon cut short when the meeting looked as if it had ended and the wealthy man began walking towards the door Tahir had come in.

"Excuse me, would you happen to be Halsar?" The man stopped and half nodded, half bowed to him.

"I am he. What can I do for you good sir?"

"I was sent here by a friend of yours. He tells me that you are having some trouble with your trade route and are looking for some way to alleviate that problem." Halsar smacked his lips and he began speaking once more.

"Ah, yes. Walk with me to my office, I will explain on the way." Halsar smiled, holding his hand forward for Tahir to walk through the door before him.

"As my friend has said I am having trouble with my trade route to Arentia. And while I do need help with it, it does not solve the larger problem."

"I don't like riddles. What is it that you need?" Tahir asked, already regretting taking up the offer for the job. Halsar Looked to him for a moment then let out a hearty laugh.

"I like your fire. What is your name?"

"I am Tahir."

"Very well then Tahir. The larger problem are the creatures that have been attacking not only my wagons, but also fellow merchants and friend. of mine. It has steadily been getting worse. What I need you to do is find someone for me." Tahir raised an eyebrow as they neared Halsar's merchant office, standing at the door as he reached into his coat and pulled a finely crafted brass key from it.

"I'll have you know that while I do on occasion kill, I am not an assassin." Halsar opened the door, looking back to him with a horrified look on his face.

"Good heavens! No! I am asking you to search for someone that could put a stop to this whole thing." Halsar exclaimed, lighting a lamp and quickly lighting others around the main room where thy had entered. Tahir narrowed his eyes; there had been a group that promised that very thing seven years ago. Was there another man besides them?

"Have you heard of one called 'The White Mage'?" Halsar asked. Tahir searched his memory for mention of the name, but nothing came to mind as he shook his head.

"He was said to have been a great mage, helping people whenever he could. A mage that could use light as his power; it was even said he could touch the sun itself and not burn. It is he that could stop these creatures making trouble for all us merchants. But no one knows where to find him, or even if he exists. There are those that say they've met him, some even living here in Arentia. But so much time has gone by that many are considering him nothing more than a folk tale." The mention of light made Tahir sneer to himself, still holding on to the rage he harbored towards that sect.

"And you want me to go and find him. If this man is as great as you say he is, why would he want to come and work for you? Why would he even consider it?"

"For something as sweet as the clink of money, anyone would do anything. Wealth is a weakness shared by all, even myself, ha ha ha!" Halsar laughed. But Tahir kept a straight face.

"If you find him, bring him back here and I will pay you three times your weight in gold. Here is a down payment for supplies and traveling expenses." Halsar chortled, holing out a rather large bag of coins and dropping it in Tahir's hand. It was at least twice what Hilda had paid him, and he still had the majority of that on him. But searching for someone like this White Mage without any leads could be a difficult and long journey.

"Very well, I accept. Payment will only come if and when I find him and bring him back here to you."

"Then let it be." Halsar bellowed, holding out his hand as Tahir shook it firmly. Halsar drew up a contract with the stated payment schedule which they both signed. Tahir then took a day to gather supplies, making sure that he had food and water to last at least a week's worth. Though it came a quite a cost since the food stuffs that had been brought were being carefully rationed. As he gathered supplies, he made small talk with the towns folk, finding out who it was that had supposedly met this illusive "White Mage" and where he might be found.

Some of the stories that he heard said that he was a lover to the last fairy in Usoria living near a massive tree in the center of the continent. Others said that he had traveled to the forests of Elinda, west of that central tree. Still others said that he had disappeared into a wooded area near the East Dragon Forest. It might take him the whole year, perhaps longer, to search that much ground alone.

"Then again, this is for the greater good." He muttered, just as the sun was coming up on the next day. He put on his back pack, locked the door to his house and set out for the rumored central tree. The food he had purchased would be enough to see him to a trading post to the north, but it would be a lonely journey. Luckily, there were other merchants or travelers at the post who were heading in the direction Tahir was going. While traveling with them, he asked of their knowledge of the White Mage. Some offered information directing him towards the East Dragon Forest. Most only repeated legends or told new ones that he hadn't yet heard.

The central tree left him speechless at its size, learning that the tree itself was said to be the home of the Deity of Life, Haim. With some careful wording and a little bit of luck, he found Haim himself. After some conversation, Tahir found that Haim personally knew The White Mage, confirming many of the leads he had found; it was to the East Dragon Forest that he would need to go.

For the next three months, Tahir offered his blade in service to many merchants and travelers heading in the general direction he aimed for. Many times, his travels and contracts would bring him close to his goal, only to take him away again. At last he stepped to the edge of the forest in the abandoned city of Lefra. So many travels had brought him to this point, as well as many stories from many people that said about White Mage helping them in their time of need.

"Perhaps there is more to this than mere legend." Tahir chuckled to himself. Regardless of his arrival, there was still a vast forest to search according to the maps that he brought with him. And that could take years, time that he felt that he didn't have. There was also the reminder of his arm as he reached up to absently massage it. Over time he had been applying the salve to ease the itching, but the antidote he has received either wasn't working, or there was more damage to his arm than he realized.

Every time he pulled away the bandage to apply more salve, he would notice there were wet flakes of something within the wound. Sometimes he swore he could see small wisps of what he swore was ash drifting up from the wound. It may not be good, but it wasn't slowing him down either at this point. Perhaps this White Mage would be able to do something about it.

"I should start by looking for that fairy that was his lover. She might know where to find him." He thought, stepping into the forest trying to determine where a fairy like that would even be. Every fairy was exterminated well before he was born, at least that is what he thought. For nearly an hour he searched for any kind of sign to indicate where this fairy was, finally leaning against an old and split tree to catch his breath. No sooner had he begun to lean against it than it moved away. Light began to emanate from cracks in the wood, giving the whole place a chilling blue green glow.

"What is your business in the forest, human." A low, resonant voice asked. The tree turned around revealing glowing eyes. Tahir backed away in a leap, drawing his dagger ready to fight.

"I-I-I-I- come seeking the White Mage. I was told that I might find him here." The tree creature creaked as it turned to face him full on, its long arms swinging to the front where carvings created a vest-like design on its body.

"It has been many moons since I have heard that name. But alas, you will not find him here."

"Then can you tell me where I can find him?" Tahir asked his hand still shaking, barely holding on to his dagger.

"The last I spoke to him, he had moved into the Forest of Peace. It is there that almost no light shines, and where he said that he would best be able to study Darkness. It is also there that he took two of my forest spirits." The creature creaked, pointing east through the trees that had grown tightly together, even more so further in.

"Thank you. I shall be on my way then." Tahir answered, poking himself twice before finally being able to sheath his dagger. The creature said nothing, only watched him as he moved on through the trees until he was out of sight. Three more days passed of him trekking through the forest, but his going was slow and he began to see creatures shrouded in a black mist of smoke.

They smelled the same as the creatures he had encountered in the desert, but these seemed to be creatures made of inanimate objects: rocks, trees, mosses and mushrooms.

"What could possibly make something like this?" He thought, trying to avoid them. Some of them found him, instantly becoming violent. After he would fight them off, he began noticing that the dull ache in his arm was becoming more and more of a hard, throbbing pain.

Tearing off the bandage, Tahir was surprised so see the flesh around the wound almost black in color. The rest was cherry red, swollen and beginning to ooze pus. From inside the wound itself, black flakes of what appeared to be ash began to float out. Taking a flint and steel out of his bag he quickly lit a small branch and held it to his dagger, heating the blade and burning away what was stuck to it. With clenched teeth he used the searing hot blade to cut away the blackened flesh, digging out what appeared to be turning to ash and searing the bleeding flesh closed.

It took a few rounds of heating, digging and pressing, but eventually he cut it all off. After tearing off a clean strip of cloth from one of his spare shirts, he wrapped the wound once again. The flesh was still tender, but at least now it didn't ache as badly. On through the forest he trekked, miles upon miles behind him with unknown miles before him. More and more of the ghoulish creatures began to appear around him, and each time he would fight them off. But the further he traveled, the more he began to feel an anger burning within him.

Thoughts of his wife and daughter came to him, as each swing of his dagger became harder and wilder against the underbrush and against the creatures he faced. Sweat ran from his brow, running into his eyes until he couldn't tell which was sweat and which were tears. Still the miles passed, still the creatures came, and still the rage and sorrow welled within him. Adding to this, the burning is his arm was back, this time even more intense than it had been before.

He was about to try and cut away the blackened flesh again, but as he worked, the flesh would just begin to blacken as quickly as he cut it away. Ash began to constantly float up from the wound now, slowly infesting the rest of his arm as he crawled through the underbrush. Eventually he lost the ability to even lift his arm as whatever was eating away at his muscle burned away enough that he could see his own bone. Blood began to leak from the surrounding skin as an aggressive infection spread up his arm. It'd only been three days since he entered the forest, but it might as well have been weeks for him.

As he walked, his steps became heavy, dragging along the ground catching on vines and branches. With each step his feet became heavier and his head lighter, swaying as he walked until he at last collapsed to the ground. He tried to sit himself upright, but all the strength in his body had since left him.

"Is this it? Am I really going to die here? How pathetic." He thought, reaching up to his chest and hold up the locket, popping open the cover to see his wife and daughter again.

"Talea, Farah. I'll be seeing you soon." He whispered, as his blurring vision caught sight of another shadowy creature coming towards him, fangs dripping with thick black liquid. Closing his eyes, he waited for the creature's fangs to plunge into his skin. Instead he heard a loud hum blow past him, annihilating the creature in a blaze of white light. Tahir was too weak to turn his head but as his awareness faded from him, he saw what appeared to be a man in a black robe walk up to him.

"Please sir, I need… to find… the White… mage." Tahir passed out, dropping his head to the ground. The man smirked, leaning down and pulling the black and gold cloak from around him to use as a blanket for the man on the ground.

Tahir stirred to awareness with a slow groan. His arm still had a dull ache in it, but he couldn't feel the hole that was in it before. Opening his eyes more, he found himself in what appeared to be a relatively expensive looking room. He had been changed into clean linens, and his clothes lay beside his bed, washed and folded neatly on the floor.

He was about to get out of the soft bed when the door opened and a man with long white hair stepped through carrying a tray laden with bottles of colored liquid, herbs, cloth and a mortar and pestle.

"Oh, you are awake. That is a good sign. If I had not found you when I did, I doubt you would have survived the night. What is your name and what were you doing so deep in the Dragon Forest?" the man asked. Tahir eyed him carefully, noting that his dagger was with his clothes. But the man seemed unarmed, so perhaps there was no real danger to be worried about.

"My name is Tahir, and I am in search of someone." He answered, looking more around the room.

"This is a rather lavish room for someone living alone." Tahir said with a snippet of distain. The man smiled, taking a bottle and pouring a clear liquid into the mortar before adding a bit of crushed herbs to it and mixing the two together.

"Oh, but I am not alone. There are many Clerics and Acolytes here with me as well. It is my home yes, but it is far from being only that. Whom are you looking for if I may ask?" the man asked as he ground the herbs more vigorously. Tahir looked around the room more thoroughly, noticing a symbol mounted on the wall opposite the bed on which he rested.

"I've come here searching for someone called 'The White Mage'. Reliable sources have told me he lives in these woods somewhere." Looking more closely at the symbol he recognized it as the crest of the sect that he so hated; the Aurora.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find him would you? Cleric of the Aurora." Tahir asked with contempt. The man smiled sadly as he came over to Tahir, took the bandage from his arm and replaced it with a mixture-soaked cloth. As he changed it, Tahir noted that the wound was nearly healed, save for what appeared to be a small circular scar.

"I am Dane, Leader of the Order of Aurora, known also as The White Mage. Welcome Tahir."