Chapter 2:
Tris pulled on the reins of her gelding in frustration, drawing him to a stop. Glaring at the surrounding trees, she thought to herself, Will this forest ever end? It's not even pretty… just covered in cold, cold snow…
Niko noticed she had stopped and trotted over. "What's the matter?"
She shot him a death glare set to melt the surrounding snow, and waved an arm to encompass their surroundings. "This. All this snow, all this cold, and it just keeps going!"
He chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. "It will end soon enough. And when we reach Dancruan, and meet with Sandry's cousin I'm sure they'll have nice, hot baths waiting for us."
Hearing a grumbled, "They'd better." He chuckled once again and rode forward, sidling up next to Sandry, he said quietly, "Lark told me about last time. You don't have to do this, you know. We'll find another way."
She gave him a sobering. "No. This is the only way. And I'm the only one that can do this. I'll be alright."
He half hugged her, which shocked her to no end. "Alright. But I still feel bad about you kids having to clean up our mess." He tweaked her nose and rode further ahead, hearing a faint "We aren't kids." Float towards him from the direction of the young noble.
Lark didn't look at him as he drew along side of her. Instead she asked, "How's she doing?"
He replied, also keeping his eyes on the road ahead, "As well as can be expected, I think. She knows what's at stake if she doesn't do this. And as the niece of the ruler of Emelan, she won't allow that."
Lark sighed. "What they've been through in their lives… I don't think I could cope."
Niko frowned thoughtfully. "They've had each other for most of it. And the rest… well, they're strong."
Lark finally looked him in the eye. "But they shouldn't have to be that strong."
Daja rode with ease into the city of Kugisko, smiling at people as they waved a greeting, enticing travelers with their wares. Sniffing she felt her mouth water. Realizing it had been morning when they had last eaten, and it was now approaching dusk, she signaled Frostpine. "Do you think we could…"
He grinned. "Get something to eat? You're reading my mind, my dear."
After they had eaten, Daja remounted, and they continued their journey, casting longing glances towards the bath houses and hotels, but understanding that they had a duty, and that involved the expedient capture of Whitewater.
They continued onwards, to Dancruan, where Sandry was greeted by her cousin, Ambros fer Landreg. They spent the night in his company, along with his family, where they explained their idea to the dry Saghad.
He looked thoughtfully into the roaring fire as he sipped a hot chocolate. "It may not be that simple, cousin. You see, Berenene has been wanting to get you here for a while now. She won't like it if you arrive at court, ask for her assistance, and leave again."
Briar stretched languidly, as Tris curled up next to the fire. Daja spoke up from her position in an arm chair by the window, where she watched the snow fall gently to the ground outside. "It's going to have to be that simple. Whitewater needs to be stopped. I'm sure the Empress will understand the necessity of the situation."
He looked exasperated. "I find that highly doubtful." He sighed. "We'll just have to wait until the meeting tomorrow. You may be right, she might offer you aid. Let us only hope. From what you've told me about this Whitewater, it sounds as though he's a real menace."
He got up with a grunt. "Well, cousin, Vimeses, Viynains I must bid you good evening."
The other's nodded, and stood as well. Sandry gave Ambros a quite kiss on the cheek. "We should think about rest as well. It's been a long day. Goodnight cousin."
They made their way to their individual rooms, and all were asleep before their heads hit their pillows.
The next morning they rode to the Imperial Palace, intent on garnering the help of Sandry's cousin, Berenene.
After being introduced by the herald, Sandry walked up to the imposing figure on the throne and gave her deepest curtsey. The gesture was repeated by her friends and her teachers. The figure waved them off impatiently. "My dear cousin, there is no need for formalities between us, we are family."
Sandry flashed her a winning smile, but in her head she muttered to her friends, And if I hadn't used such 'formalities' she would have been offended. Daja grinned. To her cousin she replied. "And though I wish it were possible to spend more time in your company, cousin, I am afraid I approach you as a mage in need of assistance. You see, there is a man, who we tracked into your fine lands, and he has threatened both my life and the lives of my friends. He is a mad man, and a threat to all nations. We must stop him, and we request your aid in tracking him."
Berenene waved an impatient hand. "I'm sure there is more to it than that; why not discuss it over lunch?" Without waiting for a reply, she continued. "We shall eat in the Hall of Roses." Clapping her hands twice, her entire entourage stood and walked out of a side door.
Watching in exasperation, Sandry turned to the others. "Well I guess Cousin Ambros was right, this may be harder than it looks."
Lunch had not gone as planned. Berenene had introduced them to Quennail and Ishabal Ladyhammer, two Great Mages, and attempted to distract them from their purpose. Sandry had kept at her, trying to get an agreement for aid from her cousin, and failing miserably.
Finally, towards the end of lunch, Sandry insisted. "Cousin, I really must insist. This man is a danger to everyone he is involved in, and can not be left out there."
Berenene simply laughed. "My dear Sandrilene. There are people who catch criminals, and the nobility are not them. We pay them well, they catch those that endanger us."
Sandry's reply was ice cold in inflection. "As nobles we have a duty to our subjects, dear cousin. I am simply doing my duty by trying to bring Whitewater to justice."
Berenene's eyes narrowed, and the mages at her side stiffened. Like dogs. Sandry thought to herself. "I'm not sure I appreciate your tone, cousin. You still want our help, don't you?"
Sandry looked sad as she replied, a tone of finality in her voice. "It's becoming apparent that we won't get the help we need here, cousin. Thank you for the lovely lunch."
As they left, Briar muttered, "Good going, getting all up on your nobility, Sandry. She said she was going to help us."
Sandry shook her head. "She had no intention of helping us. She was just trying to stall us."
Riding through the city, a sudden feeling of wrongness hit Tris, as though the air had turned oily. Briar lifted his nose and sniffed. Sandry's eyes narrowed.
Daja's horse reared, and twisted around falling to the stone pavement. Daja fell clear of the falling stallion, hitting the pavement, stunned. The others dismounted and surrounded her as Sandry shook her gently, trying to wake her. The smith mage groaned as her eyes fluttered open. Sandry took her arm and helped her to stand.
Her mouth dropped as she noticed soldiers surrounding her. Quennaill and Ishabal Ladyhammer stepped forward, and the older woman opened a scroll, citing the contents. "In the name of Her Imperial Majesty, you are hereby under arrest for disrespect to the Imperial family. Submit yourselves and you will not be harmed." Her eyes begged them to struggle.
Daja, now fully aware of her surroundings, looked to her teacher for confirmation before they both sent heat to the soldiers' weapons, making them unbearable to touch. Lark and Sandry sent their power out to their clothes and cocooned them, leaving the soldiers swearing.
Briar and Rosethorn sent balls containing multiple seeds to the feet of their captives and sent their magic out, raising vines and thorns to finish the job. Quen and Ishabal shielded themselves against all of the attacks, and took the opportunity to attack, throwing their magic at the other mages.
Sandry, Briar, Tris and Daja threw up a shield, easily deflecting the attack. Niko, Frostpine and Jamella attacked with their own power, distracting them from Lark and Rosethorn, who had pieces of cloth and were soaking them in a strong smelling liquid. Lark used her magic to throw the cloth at the two mages, covering their faces with it. Unwillingly, Quennaill and Ishabal inhaled, and quickly succumbed to the strong sleeping potion.
Frostpine turned to Daja, looking her over with a critical eye. "Are you alright, my dear?"
She nodded, and winced. "Smith gods, I have a terrible headache though."
He examined her head with his fingers, gently probing, earning a sharp hiss from Daja. Satisfied that the injury wasn't severe, he gave her a brief but tight hug.
"What made your horse rear?" Lark asked, concerned.
Daja shook her head. "I don't know. Whatever it was, it didn't feel right."
Niko pursed his lips, walking over to the area where the horse had reared, bending over to examine it closely. Straightening, he scowled. "A curse. I'd bet that either Quennail or Ishabal here are proficient at them, it was well hidden." Daja nodded, rubbing her head absently.
As Tris was about to open her mouth, a jet of water hit her, sending her to the ground with its intensity as it split the group in half, teachers on one side, students on the other. Briar darted forward and grabbed Tris' arm, dragging her out of the way. Nursing her shoulder, Tris gritted her teeth. There stood Whitewater, grinning like the mad man he is, water streaming from his hands, seemingly being created out of nothing.
Sandry turned around, looking for her horse, with its special box mounted on its back, and her heart sank. When they were separated, her horse had ended up with the teachers. Seeing the direction of her eyes, Daja went to call the box to them, magic reaching for the claspings.
She gasped, a hand moving to her chest as her magic stretched away from her. Sandry grabbed her arm and pulled her magic back towards her sister. Daja sagged as Sandry supported her, and Briar waved a vial of Wakeflower under her nose. Breathing in sharply, Daja stood straighter, and released her arms from Sandry's grip.
We have to make a run for it. We can't call the box to us, because the unmagic will suck our magic in. Sandry said through their mental connection.
They all nodded in affirmation. Ready… Sandry said, Now!
They broke ranks and ran, separately, towards the box. Whitewater sent streams of water towards them, stopping them in their tracks. One stream hit Sandry dead on, forcing her into a wall with bone crushing force. She heard something snap, and then everything went eerily quiet as the water crept its way up her body and enveloped her head, creating a bubble in which she couldn't breathe. The jet stream was still hammering her body, keeping her arms pinned to her side as she struggled with her magic, trying to undo his. Panicking, she locked eyes with Daja, who was trying to make her way to her saati, trying to help her.
Sandry felt her throat claw for oxygen, and the instinct became too much as she opened her mouth to take a breath. Inhaling water, she coughed and spluttered within the water bubble, and was dimly aware of the world getting darker.
Whitewater watched all of this with glee, forgetting about the three other mages as he watched the young noble struggle, and eventually stop resisting, even as he kept their teachers at bay with more powerful jet streams. So distracted was he that he didn't notice Briar until it was too late. Kneeing the man in the stomach, he completed the combination with a punch to the face. Whitewater retaliated with a quick stream that knocked the plant mage aside.
Sandry collapsed to the ground, the water mage's spell broken in his lapse of concentration. She hacked and coughed, aware of nothing but the sweet sensation of oxygen filling her lungs and a sharp pain in her left arm, even as she violently expelled the water that had almost killed her. Daja made her way to her side, supporting her as she dragged the young noble to her feet.
She was joined by Tris and Briar, both nursing injuries of their own even as they supported Sandry on the other side. A vine wrapped itself around Briar's leg, gently, and he heard Rosethorn's voice in his head. You three take Sandry to the box, it's our only hope. We'll hold him off. Briar nodded in her direction and relayed the order to his sisters.
They staggered their way to the box which held their only chance of victory, and with a shaking hand Sandry keyed the locks, opening it. Gathering the net with her magic, fighting off the unmagic's attempt at stealing her power, she attempted to throw the net using her magic, she fell short by a long shot. Turning pleading eyes to Briar, she sent silently, help? The net's made from cotton. He nodded, and her sisters leant their strength. Together, they sent the net to settle gently over the top of Whitewater, and the jet streams of water stopped suddenly.
Their teachers stood, breathing heavily, and all was silent in the street, the only sound coming from Whitewater as he screamed, the unmagic drawing his magic from him in the most painful fashion. They all watched, silently, until the mage collapsed to the pavement, dead. Lark turned and hurried to Sandry's side, watching her charge as Sandry's eyes reflected the confliction within her soul.
Sandry turned to her teacher, feeling very vulnerable as she hugged her arm to her chest, asking, "I killed another man, didn't I?"
Lark shook her head. "It was the only solution, my dear. He would have kept hurting people, he never would have stopped."
To Sandry, her teacher's voice took on a tinny quality as the world spun. Dimly aware of her friends and teachers calling her name, their faces fell away from her as she fainted.
Sandry came to slowly, feeling a dull pain in her left arm. She opened her eyes. Hissing, she closed them again and lifted her right hand to clutch her head. A hand brushed her bangs from her face, and she opened her eyes once again to see Lark looking down at her, worried.
Sandry sat up quickly, and lay back down as the world spun wildly. Groaning, she felt a cup being held to her lips and drank greedily when she tasted Willowbark tea. After a moment, Lark spoke quietly. "How are you feeling?"
Sandry croaked. "Better than a minute ago. Where are we?"
Lark looked hesitant. "Berenene was most insistent that you recover in the comfort befitting an Imperial heir. We're at her palace."
Sandry looked around, both with her eyes and her magic. "I don't see any bars anywhere or any spells to keep us in…"
Lark's eyes laughed, even as her voice replied, seriously, "The order of arrest was rescinded. Apparently Quen and Ishabal acted on their own. She also said that she had nothing to do with keeping Whitewater hidden." Lark paused before continuing. "Niko found that to be a lie."
Sandry's eyes narrowed. "Why are we still here then?"
"It was thought that it would be better if we just accepted her help and left as soon as you recovered, rather than spurn her again."
Sandry nodded. "Where are the others? And how long have I been sleeping?"
Lark grinned, "We forced them to leave after the first two days. They weren't allowed to come within one hundred yards of your rooms, not without being chased out by Rosethorn. I suspect they'll be here any minute now. As for how long, four days. I was starting to get worried."
Suddenly a brown blur flew through the door, and Sandry felt herself being embraced by her sister-saati, Daja. She was closely followed by Briar and Tris, who piled into a group hug.
The teachers all trickled through for the next hour, until she was forced to go back to sleep by Lark.
When she was fully recovered, the group headed back to Emelan, thankful that their land was now safe once again.
The END!!!!