authors note: chapter 4! Happy New Years everybody! :D enjiy this chapter!
HM
When Irys awoke every part of her body hurt. Just sitting up took more effort than it should have. She slowly made her way to the baths. Once she was undressed she sunk into the scalding water and leaned her head back, letting out a sigh.
Memories flooded back...
Roze above her naked... The First Magician straddling her and fingering her as her tongue was practically down her throat...
Irys's head jerked up and her emerald green eyes shot open. She rubbed her face with the palms of her hands. After she got washed up, she got out, got dressed and went to the dining hall. Bain was sat down eating and talking to a woman who's back was to Irys.
"Bain, where did Yelena get off to," Irys asked, eyeing the woman's back.
Bain just smiled, "Irys, we have a very special guest."
The woman turned around to face the Second Magician with a smile on her face.
"Zitora!" Irys exclaimed after a stunned moment.
The two magicians embraced each other.
"It's great to see you Irys!"
Bain wore a soft smile that faded after a moment.
"Ladies, let's go to my office, there's somethings we need to discuss," he said, gesturing for them to follow him as he left the room.
"Where's Yelena, Bain," Irys asked again when they reached his office.
"I sent Yelena, Leif and Lily to where the statue was being guarded."
"Was being guarded," Zitora asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The statue that Roze was trapped in was brought to Irys and I in shattered pieces," Bain said quietly.
Zitora paled, "So that burst of power I felt..."
"Yes, that Roze being released. Yelena and I believe it was my sister who let her out," Irys said, flicking her hair back over her shoulder, looking down at the map on Bain's desk.
"I'm sor-" Zitora started.
"Bain, why did you send them without me?"
"You needed your rest, child. There was no sense in sending you out there just to have your face kicked into a tree again," Bain said in a fatherly way.
"So that's what the cut on your face is from," Zitora said softly, running her fingers gently over the cut above Irys's right eyebrow.
Irys looked back down at the map.
"How long ago did they leave?"
"Just this morning."
Irys turned and made her way to the door.
"Irys, where are you going?"
"I'm going with them. I'm not about to let my sister harm my little girl."
"I'm going with you."
Irys and Bain looked at Zitora in surprise, then Irys smiled and nodded. The two magicians prepped two horses then headed off to catch up to Yelena's group.
Xxx
Lily rode behind Yelena and Leif as they talked about the Zaltana homestead. When they reached the but where Roze's prison had been guarded, all talk became strictly business and Lily blocked her mind. Little did the young Jewelrose know her aunt was watching them from the trees.
Nola, we have a problem, Roze said mentally.
What now?!
Your sister is on her way here so be extra careful. She has murderous intent on her mind.
With that Roze withdrew from Nola's awareness.
"Whoever was here was powerful," Leif began, his eyes closed as he focused.
"They were out to prove something. But... Other than that I can't pick anything up," Leif frowned.
"There's no footprints other than those of the guards," Yelena said, bent down examining the dirt in the clearing.
Guards were still there, since it was now a crime scene. Lily walked into to the hut, acting as if she was searching for clues.
"It looks like the lock was opened with magic," Lily said picking up the lock.
Yelena put it in her pack along with the cage the statue had been locked in.
Nola, Roze said, entering the rogue magician's mind again.
Yes Roze?
Get their attention. We need to get Lily away from them. Lead all of them into the plains near the Sandseed lands. I'll get Lily to meet you further in the plains so we can talk to her face to face.
Yes, Master Featherstone.
Nola took a breath and stepped out.
"Hm, don't you three look like you're enjoying yourselves."
Yelena's head shot up as did Leif's and Lily came out of the hut like a bat out of hell.
"Return to the scene of the crime have you," Leif said, shifting into a fighting stance.
Nola smirked, "Aw, you look so cute when you try to act tough."
Leif lost his cool and rushed her. She sidestepped, stuck her foot out, and thrust her hand down onto the back of his neck when he fell forward,sending paint shooting through his body. He fell into a busy of thorns and it took everything Nola had to not laugh.
Quit screwing around and get out of there!
Nola took off whistling for her horse as she went. She nimbly leapt into the saddle and rode off, knowing full well that they would give chase. When she reached the plains she knew she had lost them in the woods. Night was falling so stopped to wait for her niece.
Xxx
Lily, Roze said in the young girl's mind.
Yes Roze, she thought shakily as she followed Yelena and Leif on horseback.
When the moon reaches it's high point tonight, I want you to head east into the plains. Nola is waiting for you.
W-Why?
She's going to help me teach you.
O-Okay.
Yelena finally gave in and called it a night.
"We need to stop for the night. It's too dark and I can't sense her. She must be using a null shield... Plus we need to get those thorns out of you Leif."
After camp was set up and Leif was thorn free Lily laid down a little ways away from the two siblings, waiting for them to fall asleep. She rested for an hour or two for her meeting with Nola. She was nervous... She knew full well how her mother felt about Nola. But then... she knew how Second Magician felt about Roze Featherstone and here she was learning from her how to be a better magician.
Yelena and Leif fell asleep just before the moon reached it's high point. Lily stood and started heading east into these unknown plains. After what felt like an eternity of walking she wanted to give up.
"Wow, you really are brave. Wandering around out here alone."
Lily whirled around to see the woman they had been chasing; her mother's younger sister Nola. Lily didn't know what else to do so she bowed. Nola just smirked.
"Roze, are you sure she has what it takes?"
"I'm positive."
Roze appeared beside Nola, her transparent figure even more ghostly in the moonlight. Nola frowned now and with a sigh she pulled her tunic over her head and turned so that her back was facing Lily.
"Do you know what these are," she asked, gesturing to two blood red tattoos.
One was on her shoulder, the other was on her lower back. Lily's head cocked to the side.
"No, I can't say that I do," she said.
"They are blood tattoos," Roze said, folding her arms.
Then it clicked in Lily's head, making her breath catch in her throat.
"Kirakawa," she whispered.
Roze smirked.
"At least Irys hasn't completely sheltered you."
Nola put her shirt back on as she turned around.
Roze smiled as she said, "If you want to get strong, then I'll teach you how to perform Kirakawa."
Xxx
Irys and Zitora reached the hut to find three guards but no Yelena, Leif or Lily.
"Where are they," Zitora wondered aloud.
Irys frowned and jumped from her horse.
"Where did Liaison Zaltana go," she asked a guard.
"She chased a suspect into the plains," he said bowing in respect to the Master Magician.
She looked up at the sky, the sun was nearly set.
"Zitora, let's ride as far as she can before the sun goes down! We'll probably have to catch up to them tomorrow."
The two magicians got to the edge of the forest before calling it a day. Irys sat poking the fire while wearing a deep frown.
"Irys is something bothering you," Zitora asked.
"No, I'm fine."
Zitora frowned sadly. She knew not to press, if Irys wanted to tell her what was wrong she would have.
"That cut on your forehead looks infected," Zitora said concerned.
"It's fine Zitora," Irys muttered.
"Please, just let me take a look.
"Fine," Irys said with a heavy sigh.
Zitora scooted close to her and started examining the cut, her fingers brushing gently over the Second Magician's forehead.
"Are you worried about Lily," Zitora asked softly as she rubbed a salve from her pack onto the cut.
Irys looked into the fire sadly.
"I'm always worried about her. Now that Roze is out, I'm terrified for my daughter. With my sister doing her dirty work, who knows what Roze is going to do..."
"I wouldn't worry too much, Irys. Lily is your daughter after all."
Irys chuckled at that.
"There you go, that should make it feel better," Zitora said with a smile.
"Thanks, Zitora," Irys said smiling back.
Zitora's hand was on the Second Magician's knee. She slid her hand up slowly. Irys glanced down at the hand resting on the inside of her thigh and when she looked back up Zitora's face was close to hers. Zitora's lips brushed against Irys's...
authors note: woah! Zitora makin the moves on Irys? Roze offering Kirakawa to Lily? Well then... That was interesting... ;)
keep watch for chapter 5!
love
HM