Amaya ran up the hill to her mare, her guard frowning at her quick pace. In her hands was a brown glove. Leaping onto the mare she set off in a gallop, the man following her closely.
"Princess," he hissed when he had caught up to her, "What is going on? Where is your sapphire?"
"Don't worry about it," she said, shaking her head. They did not slow until they had reached the gates to Mozenrath's realm. The entire journey Amaya's heart felt ready to explode from her chest. She would look back often, expecting someone to notice that they had been robbed. But no one came. Perhaps they did not know the power they had possessed.
The large gates stood open to them. A cool breeze stirred the sand around the horse's hooves. Shivering the princess looked at the guard beside her, her eyes almost pleading that he come with her. But she knew it was impossible.
Alone, the young woman made her way to the citadel. Again she found the doors open…
"Mozenrath," she breathed, leaving her mare at the door and running inside. She quickly followed the trail of damage down the pillared hallway. It was dark; the torches had gone out long ago. Or they had never been lit. Her stomach twisted as she pushed open the doors leading to a large room that had been used almost as a prison. A hole in the roof cast an eerie glow into the center of the room.
There on the floor lay Mozenrath. From where she stood Amaya could not tell if he was alive or dead. Gasping, her hands covered her mouth as she crept inside the room. Her footsteps echoed around the room, then down the empty all.
"You here to kill Mozenrath?" said a voice, almost weak with sadness. Amaya jumped, looking around the dark room. A slithery little eel slipped through the air over the body of his master. She recognized him as the pet that Mozenrath had kept hidden in his chambers when they had been training together.
"No, I would never… I mean to say… Is he alive?" she stuttered. Kneeling down she touched his cheek, which felt warm under her fingers. Silently she thanked whatever gods there may be that he lived.
And then cursed herself for the thought.
"The boy hurt him!" Xerxes said, hovering over the princess's shoulder. She nodded, whispering a charm to heal what wounds he had. She may not be able to heal Destane's magic or damage done by the gauntlet… but she could manage against any mortal's damage.
The sorcerer groaned, lifting himself into a sitting position. His skeleton hand held his head a moment, eyes pressed shut against the bright moonlight.
"Master lives! Master lives!" the eel yelled wrapping himself fondly around his master's neck.
"Yes Xerxes I live. But I've lost my power!" he snapped bitterly, clenching his bones into a fist.
"You mean this?" asked Amaya, holding the gauntlet out to him in the moonlight.
His eyes snapped towards her, cold and furious that she dare invade his kingdom. But then they fell on the gauntlet in her hand.
"Give that to me!" he said, grasping for it hungrily.
"Wait," she said pulling back and rising.
"Give me my gauntlet!" he snapped, but he was still too weak to stand and force her to hand over his most prized possession.
"On one condition," she said, stepping into the light. He looked up at her, the moonlight casting a pale haze about her. He had always teased her and called her his little 'Death Princess.' But seeing her in white with the moonlight on her olive skin he thought she looked like the Goddess of Death herself come for his soul… or perhaps an angel come to take him to heaven…
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he glared at her, "What is that?"
"You and I are to be wed. I want a say in what happens to my kingdom," she said, her voice suddenly turning gentle making her seem more angel then deathly.
Her kingdom… If he were a sultan even that street rat Aladdin would have to think carefully about attacking him. So what it had to put up with a nagging wife to accomplish it. And once his army was built up… He would have revenge on that filthy boy and his genie.
"Very well, Kitten. Now, can I have my power back?" he asked trying to remain calm and polite despite being impatient.
Amaya hesitated a moment looking at him. He had betrayed her before, but in her kingdom the people were loyal to her. She prayed it would remain so as she tossed him the gauntlet.
His laughter echoed about them, a black flame encircling him and raising him to his feet. Mozenrath gently stroked Xerxes's head, "Xerxes, go say hello to your new mistress."
The eel uncurled himself, floating closer to look at Amaya. She remained calm, though he was still strange to her. Looking at him she offered a small smile, her fingers gently stroking his head. He closed his eyes, enjoying the petting. He curled around her neck, drifting into a light sleep.
"You'll spoil him," Mozenrath said, walking towards. He looked at her hand still stroking his familiar, wishing that that same hand…
He brushed the thought away.
"Tonight we travel in style, Kitten," he said waving his hand. Black flames swept around their feet, lifting them into the air and carrying them down the hall, and out the door to a new life.
