Presenting… Chapter 13! So proud of myself with writing it so soon, even if it did take a while for me to feel like typing it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Tirragen

Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, Lady Knight and King's Champion of the realm of Tortall, member of the Bloody Hawk Tribe of the Bazhir, known through the land as the Lioness, was for once in her life, speechless. She entered Tirragen with a group of the King's Own at her back. Normally when the King's Champion entered a Fiefdom in such a fashion, everyone who could see stopped and stared, lining up along the streets.

That mainly happened here as well. An estimated three-fourths of the crowd stared up at her and her company in wide-eyed adoration and awe. The remainder of the crowd, however, continued walking down the streets, showing no sign that anything else exsisted. They walked across the street in front of her party, showing no emotions on their faces at all. It was if their minds had been erased.

Reaching for the ember-like stone that had hung around her neck ever since the Goddess had gave it to her when she was but a squire, she looked at the villagers. Stone in hand, she shuddered at what she saw with its aid. The emotionless villagers were all awash in a forest green glow, the color of the magic of the mage who had spelled them. On some, other colors flickered underneath the green, the magic of the victim.

Alanna released the stone, grim. She hoped Numair and Daine would get here soon. If they were lucky, she and Numair could handle this mage and free the villagers. But she had a feeling that the mage with the power to do this had a safe place where his Gift wouldn't be detected by another mage.

Sighing, she shook her head. She probably worried for nothing. Numair was the most powerful mage in the realm. If anyone could handle this mage, he could. She was just being silly, she told herself as they rode through the gates of Castle Tirragen. This would be handled quickly, without bloodshed, and she could go home and relax with her husband and children, something she hadn't been able to do since the beginning of the Immortals War.

-----

Naraku sat on a large, flat rock on the shore of Lake Tirragen, scrying mirror in hand. His long black hair was pulled back into a horsetail, keeping it out of his brown eyes as he studied the image before him. He watched as Alanna the Lioness rode into Tirragen, a company of the King's Own behind her.

He watched until they were through the gates of Castle Tirragen, then allowed the image to fade away. Standing up on stiff legs, he went to inform his master of what he had seen.

Climbing the rocks, he entered the cave, kneeling before his master as the mage finished with yet another villager from Tirragen. As the villager left, the mage's attention turned to Naraku. "Yes?"

"Master," he began, looking up at his master's face. The mage's black hair was almost invisible in the darkness, making Naraku wonder if his hair looked the same way. "Alanna the Lioness has just arrived in Tirragen with a company of the King's Own."

"Really?" the mage said, frowning. "That could complicate things. But unless another mage, a good one, comes to her aid, I believe we'll be fine as long as we are cautious. Make sure you and Akito scry regularly and inform me if another mage decides to make their temporary home in Tirragen. The proper steps to ensure my safety would then have to be taken."

"Yes, Master," Naraku replied, standing and bowing. With a wave of his Master's hand, he was dismissed.

-----

Several days after the Lioness arrived at Tirragen, Numair and Daine rode into the town, Numair using his Gift to cloak their arrival. Only when they arrived at the castle gates, guardsmen in the black and purple of Tirragen on either side, did he drop the cloaking spell, revealing who they really were instead of a couple of peasants. The guardsmen, recognizing the pair, bowed as they opened the gates, admitting them into the castle courtyard.

Hostlers, also in the black and purple of Tirragen, came to take their horses.

Daine and Numair dismounted, Daine picking Kit up out of her traveling basket. "Behave," Daine told Black and Cloud sternly before they were led away.

The head footman came out of the castle, bowing once he reached Daine and Numair.

"We're very glad you've arrived safely," he began, straightening. "The Lioness and my Lord and Lady have been anxiously awaiting your arrival. If you'll come with me," he continued, motioning towards the castle.

Nodding agreement, they allowed themselves to be led into the castle. "My Lord and Lady are currently occupied, but Lady Alanna ordered that she be informed as soon as you arrived." Leading them up a flight of stairs, he stopped at the first one on the left. "This is Lady Alanna's room," he explained. "She just left the practice courts before you came in. The room beside hers and the first room on the right are ready for your use." Bowing once more, he left.

Leaning against the doorframe, Numair knocked on the door. Alanna opened it, the relief showing plainly on her face as she motioned them through the door. "You don't know how glad I am that you've arrived."

Numair smiled. "Good to see you too, Alanna," he said, lounging back on the couch, sending the black fire of his magic to the four corners of the room, spelling them against eavesdroppers. Daine sat beside him, leaning against him as she greeted her friend.

"Have you noticed the villagers?" Alanna demanded as Kit crawled down from Daine's lap and started to examine the room. "We have one powerful mage on our hands."

"Of course we noticed," Daine sighed. "Almost half of the town is already possessed. What about anyone inside of the castle?"

"Some of the servants," Alanna answered. "Not the Lord and Lady or their children, thankfully. When I arrived a few days ago, there were only about a fourth of the town's people possessed. Or controlled, whatever you want to call it. The mage's magic is forest green. It cloaks the ones he controls, and if they have their own Gift, the mage's magic covers it, just as it does his victim."

"We found where the mage made his hideout while he and his companions stayed in Benton," Numair began.

"His companions?!"

"Alas, yes. At least one, perhaps two. There were three smaller caverns branching off from the main cave, anyways. But we only went through two of the caverns before we came across… complications."

"Explain," Alanna said, sitting on her bed.

"I asked the animals," Daine began. "A buck led us to the cavern where the mage had stayed. The animals noticed the villagers coming and going, and knew it wasn't natural. Inside the cave was a large cavern, with three openings at the back. The first one led to a bedroom, one of the mage's followers, another mage, used it. The second room was the room of his Master." She paused, motioning for Numair to explain.

"Written in the back of the room was the word 'Alzamaree.' Do you know what it means, Alanna?"

She frowned, staring at the wooden floor. "No, I can't place it, though it sounds familiar."

"That's my problem," Numair sighed. "Well, anyway, the cavern caved in, sealing us in the mage's chamber. The mage had spelled all of the rock surrounding us to resist the Gift. If I had got us out of there, it would have drained me."

"Well, you don't look like you've been drained that recently," Alanna said, studying him.

"Thanks to Daine," Numair explained. "We had discovered another one of her new powers earlier that day. She now has telekinesis."

"Really? Moving things with your mind, very useful," the Lioness said, studying Daine, eyes gleaming with interest. "Any side effects?"

"Dizziness, and I was weak for a little while afterward," Daine replied. "Since what I have isn't the Gift, the rocks didn't resist my attempt to move them."

"Well, I suggest we ride out into the village, survey the villagers, see where they go. I would have done it earlier, but I knew I would have followed. Frankly, I'm not a good enough mage to be taking this one on single-handed." She grinned at Numair. "And though you probably could, I advise you not to try it."

Numair held his hands in submission. "Yes, Lioness, anything you say."

"Lord Kristopher and Lady Saralin will be wanting to greet you two, so I suggest we leave while we still can," she said, standing up. Daine followed suit while Numair pulled back the listening spell on the room.

Daine turned towards the young dragonet. "Kit, maybe you should stay here," Daine said. "We're just going for a short ride through the village." Kit trilled agreement. As curious as the dragon was, she was tired of riding for so long.

The head footman was waiting for them outside in the hall, leaning against the opposite wall while other footman stood beside him, Numair and Daine's bags at their feet. "Where would you like your bags, Master Numair, Lady Veralidaine?" he inquired, bowing with the other footman.

"You can put them in the room next to Alanna's," Numair said, leading Daine and Alanna down the stairs.

"The Lady's and yours?" he asked, but not quickly enough. They had already gone. "I guess that's what he meant," he muttered. "Well, you heard the man! Put the bags in there," he said, motioning to the door next to Alanna's. The footmen hurried to obey.

-----

Cloud, do you want to go for a ride into the village? Daine asked, leaning against the mare's stall door.

Not unless I have to, the pony replied, looking up from her oats. I'd rather sleep.

Daine sighed. All right, if that's what you want.

It is. Just don't get into too much trouble. I don't want to have to come rescue you.

You know, your confidence in me is really inspiring.

I'm sure it is, the mare replied, turning back to her oats.

Daine laughed at her pony, calling out a goodbye as she went over to Black. Getting his tack, she saddled him, informing him of where they were going as she did so.

A young boy in Tirragen colors rushed up, gasping for breath. "My apologies, Lady. I was supposed to be here if you required your horse. Would you like me to finish?"

She smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm almost done," she replied, tightening the girth. Putting on the bridle, now a hackamore since she had removed the bit on their journey to Corus, she led the stallion out of his stall. She put her bow behind the stallion's saddle, just in case, mounting after she had done so.

"Lady?" the young boy asked tentatively, looking up at her. "Your bridle ain't got no bit. If you'd like me to, I'd-"

"No, that's fine," Daine reassured him as Alanna rode up on Moonstar. "I don't require one."

"Ready?" Alanna asked.

"Yea," she replied as Numair rode up on Star.

"Then let's go," Numair said as the stable doors were opened for them. Riding through, they headed for the castle's gates.

-----

"Yes?" he asked, sitting down his drink.

"We watched the gates of Castle Tirragen as you asked," his man said, a youth in his lower twenties with light brown hair and blue eyes. "The Lioness, Master Numair, and the Wild Mage just left the Castle a few minutes ago for a ride through the city."

"So soon?" he asked. "Master Numair and Lady Veralidaine just arrived in Tirragen today. They must be more worried than we thought."

"Yes, sir," the man said. "They're heading down Main Street."

"Very good," he said, standing up. "You did a good job. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to," he continued, heading out the door.

-----

They rode down Main Street, watching the villagers go about their business. Only about half of the citizens stopped to stare at the small group. Black pranced happily, showing off for the crowd.

Stop that, Daine told him. You're making a fool of yourself, acting like a newborn colt.

What's wrong with acting like a youngster once in a while as long as you don't do it all the time? Besides, he snorted, they like watching me.

Well, I'm sure they'll get over it. I can't focus on the crowd if you keep turning and prancing.

Oh, fine, he said, neighing softly. It was getting a little boring anyways.

Alanna lifted the Goddess's token from its hiding place under her shirt, taking it off and handing it, chain and all, to Daine. "Hold it and look at the villagers," she instructed.

Obeying, Daine was surprised by what she saw. The villagers not watching them were covered in forest green magic, any magic the villagers themselves had suppressed underneath. When she would have handed it back to her friend, she motioned to Numair. Taking it from her, he looked around at the villagers for a moment, then handed it back to Alanna.

"This is not good," Numair said quietly, the imprint of what he had just observed in his mind. "We should have arrived here sooner. It will probably be much harder to destroy this mage now."

"Why?" Alanna asked. "Wouldn't he be weaker, if he's been using all this magic?"

"Not necessarily if he was using a power stone," Numair answered. "Now we have the villagers to worry about. If they're under mind control, they will most likely be called upon to defend the mage if he is endangered."

Alanna paled. "And we can't harm them. They're innocents in this."

"Exactly. If we had arrived when he did, we wouldn't have this problem to worry about."

"Well, I hope you don't plan on waiting until he moves on to his next town. It could take a while to track him down."

He scowled. "Of course I don't plan on waiting. Most likely no matter how ready we are, it would take days for information of his whereabouts to reach us. No, we just have to be prepared to keep these villagers contained safely."

"It would probably be too dangerous for the animals," Daine commented. "The villagers would have weapons and the magic of the Gifted ones."

"Perhaps a barricade?" Numair suggested.

"Why are we even discussing this now?" Alanna asked. "We need to find him first. More than likely he's probably run off now that you two are here. It's too much to hope for that he might be stupid."

"Well, maybe we'll get lucky and he isn't keeping a close enough eye on Tirragen," Daine said.

"Maybe," Alanna replied, turning Moonstar down a side street. "Let's ride around the perimeter of the village. See if we can spot one of his victims coming or going."

"You know, I could just ask the animals," Daine commented.

Alanna smacked herself on the forehead. "Of course! I've been so worried I'd completely forget. Do that while we ride around, just in case."

They were riding around the town, searching carefully for any sign of the mage's prey, when a young man on a chestnut mare rode up to block their path. He was young, appearing to be in his lower twenties. His shoulder length black hair was neat, his blue eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Can we help you?" Alanna asked suspiciously.

"Nice to meet you too, Lioness," he replied, a crooked smile on his face. "I'm Fiyero, and I'd like to talk with you three."

AN 1: It feels really weird to be updating this and not updating Opposites Attract at the same time. But oh well. This story is much more popular, so I don't care. I believe I have 98 reviews at the moment, so please review and get me up past 100!

AN 2: And here is the moment where I ask for your assistance. I need names for girls that begin with the letter A. If you have any ideas, I'd be delighted to hear them since none I come up with seem to fit.

Review!

The Dragon Kasia