Mage Storms

July 21 2009

Chapter 4- Dreams

Disclaimer: The only thing here that is mine is the plot. Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce.

The dream was not like the others. It was not controlled by the mage that had shown her the others. Kel knew it was given to her by someone, or something, with much more power than a mere mage.

A woman stood on the edge of cliff. She was young but she looked aged, much older than she truly was. Kel was standing in midair in front of the woman, who just looked right through her. Kel notice her facial features, the most interesting of all was her eyes. They were not normal. A thick, black line ran down the center of her eye separating the green eye into two segments. The color around the line that was her pupil was a darker green than the rest of her eye. Her nose was sharp, her lips were thin and her face was tattooed with scales. These features gave the woman a very snake-like look. Still the woman seemed somehow… beautiful.

Kel's stomach turned. This was the woman who had spoken to her in her nightmares. She didn't even need to hear her speak. She just knew.

The snake-woman pushed up her sleeves to reveal her tattooed arms. The scales of the tattoos matched those on her face and neck. The mage raised her arms to the bright, cloudless sky. The sun shown down on her white hair, making it shimmer like snow.

Before Kel's very eyes the sky changed. Dark thunderheads, gathered above them.

Fog curled around the woman, but somehow Kel was still able to see her. Rain began to pour but Kel didn't feel anything and she didn't get wet. The rain just passed right through her, as if she was a ghost. Lightning flashed behind the weather mage and thunder boomed.

"That's where you're wrong," a voice said. Kel gasped and looked at the mage. She was still looking through her, unknowing that Kel was even there. Besides that wasn't the lady's voice. "Over here."

Kel turned around to see another woman. She was tall, taller than Kel. She had long, dark flowing hair. She wore a long silk dress that covered her feet. "Who are you." Kel asked walking slowly towards the mysteriously glowing figure.

"Well, that's no way to greet your patron. I am Uusoae, Queen of Chaos," The woman replied.

"What did you say? Patron? You're my patron?" Kel asked in wonder. She didn't want to be anybody's patron. Especially not the Goddess of Chaos.

"Yes, I did say that. I am your patron and you are my vassal. Is that so bad?" Uusoae asked.

"Why me? I'm no mage. I can't possibly do anything for you." Kel tried to avoid the other question. Of course that is bad, she thought.

"Ah. Well that's where you're wrong. Again! Oh, my dear girl you need some information," Uusoae told her. Suddenly the scenery changed. Kel was in an office. Shelves of books and potions lined the walls. "Sit down, please! There is no need to be afraid of me dear. I would never hurt one of my creations and I especially would never hurt one of my vassals." Kel looked for a chair. When she saw that they were glowing and changing colors she decided she would rather stand.

"One of your creations. What do you mean? And where am I-"

The Queen of Chaos held up her hand to silence her vassal. Laughing she said, "I would be happy to explain if you would only give me a moment. You do know that humans are half chaos, correct? So technically I am, at least partly, your creator. Next on your long list of questions, you are in the realm of chaos. Not as horrible as you would have thought is it? This,' The goddess waved her hand to encompass the whole of the office, " is my office." Kel opened her moth to interrupt but the goddess raised one eyebrow and gave her a look. "I know all of your questions so just be quiet and let me answer them! Right now you are here in dream form. When you are in this form you can travel anywhere I wish you out go. Next question- Why you? Well, that one is easy. I chose you because that woman I just showed you wants you. Now hold your hurroks! Trisiphone, the snake woman, is another one of my creations. Sadly she has gone astray. She was somehow able to cross the border into your realm. While she was there she fell in love. You, my dear Keladry, killed the man she loved and for that, she wants you to die. By her thoughts I believe she wants you to die a rather painful death. That is why I chose you. I want you to kill her, or she will kill you. So really you have no choice in the matter."

Kel sat down now, glowing chairs or not. Her head was spinning, trying to process all of the information that the goddess had just told her. "Who-"

"One by the name of Blayce. Blayce the Gallan." Uusoae answered the question Kel hadn't said. "So I read your mind- get over it! Yes, I believe that you two had a bit of an… issue. I was very impressed with the griffin feathers by the way. Good thinking, to use those to see him when he was invisible. You'll need to be quick witted to kill this one. She will be much harder than anything you've ever faced. Gather your friends and go to Corus. Make a plan." Uusoae turned to leave through a place in the wall that had just evaporated. Outside Kel could see

"Uusoae." the goddess stopped, her back to Kel. "How am I ever going to face a mage? I don't have any powers of my own." Kel was still in a daze.

The goddess turned around and walked towards Kel. There was an angry look on her face. A look that turned the once beautiful looking woman into a vicious creature. "Never call me by my name human. You have no power. That is correct. That just makes it easier to kill you. So don't anger me." the queen of Chaos snarled.

"That's where you are wrong. You wouldn't kill me. You want this covered up. If it's not, then that just gives the other gods reason to create war. Another reason you won't kill me is because you need that monster killed and you have chosen me to do that."

The goddess smiled. "Now that, is why I chose you, Keladry. You are not afraid," She laughed. " Even when you should be, and you are quick witted. I think you can do this. Do not fail me, my child. The fate of your realm, and mine, rests with you. As for how you will kill her, I have no idea. You are going to have to figure that one out for yourself. I can't give you answers to everything."

The image faded and the last thing Kel saw was Uusoae's glowing form walking away. Kel awoke from her dream with a massive headache.

A/N:

I don't think that I'll be updating for a while. I have some summer reading to get done. Don't worry- The longest that I'll take is a week. I hope that you enjoyed the story so far! Thanks for reading!

-Bloodhound840

Oh!- and a special thanks to my reviewers-

Miss. Pure, Olive-Whisper, wind-on water and Chestnut-chan! Thanks againJ