A Twist of the Sands

by P R Glazier

  ~

  Deanola was trying frantically to help Amndo release his arm, but suddenly she was aware of the presence, she turned and there behind them stood the dark elven mage, the Gatekeeper, her hand raised ready to deliver a burst of power. Deanola stood, calling upon her own power which rose within her. She walked towards the mage, what was the mage waiting for? She could have dropped them both seconds ago, but she was lowering her hand. Deanola looked questioningly at the mage who was obviously looking back at her. Amndo was looking at them, he was still held captive by the power of the Rift. He was sweating, fighting to keep the power from rising further up his arm; he knew it would consume him if he did not use all his concentration in fighting the great will of the Rift. The dark elven mage walked to the edge of the Rift and looked over at the swirling mass below. Deanola kept a wary eye on her.

  The Gatekeeper turned and Deanola thought she saw something other than evil there, but in a flash the evil returned and the mages face shone with foul intent once again. The Gatekeeper said, “it is all powerful you know, you cannot tame it, you can only use what it would decide to give to you.”

  Deanola disregarded what she had said. Instead she asked, “can you free him?” She indicated with a flick of her hand towards Amndo.

  “Free him? Why would I want to do that, he knows much, he can create powerful warding, who knows what else he can do. His knowledge will add greatly to the Masters, I look forward to learning all he has to offer.”

  Deanola felt anger rising within her, she needed Amndo and his knowledge, she needed him to save them, save her people. The last thing she wanted now was a negotiation with a misguided dread elven mage. “And what has it taught you?” She asked. “How to hate, how to destroy, how to cast out your love?” She felt uncontrolled power rising within her, as if her words had come true she felt exactly what she had just suggested. An overwhelming desire came upon her, she wanted to strike the mage down, not waste any more time, this had gone on long enough. She thought she heard a cackling laugh as she released the stream of power at the dark elf mage, a burst of energy from the mage deflected her attack. Deanola focussed more energy into her attack, her mind seemed to go wild. But suddenly Deanola understood. The Rift, it took your emotions it amplified them, it turned your thoughts into something barbaric and she had only been here a short while, what effect must it have had upon the dread elves who lived here. Deanola was appalled, she was shocked at how easily she had succumbed to the Rifts influences without being aware of it, how simply it had taken her thoughts and manipulated them, turned them into something far more powerful and evil than Deanola thought could possibly originate from within her. She lowered her hands as if they were part of someone else. She was disgusted at what she now knew she could do. But she was also thankful that she was aware of her thoughts and knew of the mistake she had just made.

  The Gatekeeper easily channelled the power that Deanola aimed at her back into the Rift, then she turned and set her eyes back on Deanola, the Gatekeeper laughed, “ah, I believe you need a further demonstration perhaps?”