A Change For the Light

by Heather Maginnis

  Allia and Bria were kneeling beside Angee who was slowly coming out of her trance, "go..danger..now..south" Angee muttered, her eyes were still unfocused but gradually she became aware of her surroundings, she had an urgent look on her face, "there is danger in the south, we must leave now!".

  Ing came over, his hands beginning to blister already, "would someone like to tell me what happened?".

  Angee saw his hands and realised he must of hurt himself helping her, she turned to Bria, "can you see to my father's hands Bria?". But Bria didn't have to be asked and was already holding one of Ing's hands.

  "Now this won't hurt a bit", a green glow surrounded Bria's hands and Ing noticed that it had stopped hurting, Bria let go and took the other hand, she repeated what she'd just done and looked at Ing, "I've mostly healed your hands but be careful with them for a few days, give them chance to heal fully."

  Ing could only nod and mumble his appreciation, "that was kindly done."

  * * *

  She had timed it perfectly, the Mother Abbess was out taking a walk with Sera and no one was in her office, quietly she opened the door and slipped inside.

  Walking over to the desk she looked through the draws, nothing of consequence, the centre draw was locked however and she chuckled a quiet laugh, only no trace of humour was evident in that awful sound. Holding a hand in front of the draw a black light pulsed and she heard the lock click, opening it, she scanned the documents inside and smiled .

  She left the office as quietly as she'd entered, Riese coming into the corridor only saw the back of a Bard uniform disappearing around the corner.

  Eleven

  Angee and her two friends walked out of the kitchen, "Allia you go pack our things, Bria see to our mounts, I'll see about a messenger, we have to send someone now, and I have the perfect person in mind" she said with a wicked grin .

  Angee walked across to the blacksmith's , she could hear the steady ring on a hammer on metal and realised Master Lewin was already at work and if he was his two prentice's were.

  The door to the Smithy was open and the three men were so busy working they did not hear her enter, she cleared her throat and Master Lewin turned to her, "yes?" he said, no recognition in his eyes,as he'd not bee at the Inn yesterday. "Master Lewin, I need a few minutes with your prentice's." Master Lewin frowned. "Do I know you?,you seem familiar."

  Angee tried not to smile. "You used to Master Lewin I used to be Ang , now I am a Bard as you can see and am short of time, can I talk to Seb and Har?".

  Master Lewin looked dumbstruck, evidently he hadn't heard who fought for the village, he could only nod and waved at his Prentice's who followed Angee behind the Smithy.

  Seb was first to speak. "Well look what we've got here then , a little boy playing girlie."

  Angee had expected this, "I see you've still a foul mouth."

  Seb immediately threw a punch which she blocked and took him full on the chin with a perfect spin kick, Har tried to grab her, but a punch to his abdomen took the wind out of his sail's, Angee looked down at the two men on the floor with her arms folded.

  They weren't easily cowed though, they jumped up and tried to attack Angee again but she forestalled that by using a light web spell which froze them still.

  She thought she'd feel some satisfaction but she decided that would only lower her to their level, she gave them a few minutes to come to some semblance of normality, when she unfolded her arms and channelled just enough power to start making her hands glow with a white ferocity that quickly caught the two bullies attention.

  Now their look was fearful, she could actually see a stain appearing on the front of Har's trews and this time she did smile.

  After a moment she spoke, augmenting her voice with a hint of magic to give it a resonance they had never heard before. "The situation has changed. I am a Bard and I need a messenger to take an urgent message to the Temple of Light, Seb I think you'll do as at least you can control your bladder." Har flushed.

  "You will get a horse from Master Lewin and meet me at the Inn in town minutes, do you understand?" Seb was only too eager to agree with whatever she wanted.

  Angee started to walk back to the Inn when she bumped into Mol coming out of the bakers "Angee!" Mol said, seeing her brought back all the memories of the times the were together as children, Angee felt Mol was the sister she never had.

  "Mol, I'm leaving in a few minutes, something urgent has come up, I'd hoped we could of talked more", Mol started crying, "I hope you come back soon, you're the best friend I ever had."

  Angee could understand that, she was her only friend growing up also.

  'Send her to me' Suse's thought came to her, Angee must have looked startled for Mol asked was there anything wrong, Angee shook her head. How to handle this she thought, "Mol, are you happy here?".

  Mol's face contorted and she started crying, "oh Angee!, father's talking about me marrying Har!".

  Angee hugged her friend and made noises till Mol had calmed down a bit.

  "I can offer you an alternative" Angee told her. Mol looked eager, "what!, anything, are you taking me with you?", Angee shook her head, "No I can't it would be too dangerous, but I am sending Seb with a message to the Temple of Light, I can give you a message as well for a fellow Bard who will know what to do, her name is Sera and she is very kind."

  Mol thought for a moment, "Am I going to be a Bard?", Angee shrugged.

  "I don't know, I just feel your going there is the right thing to do."

  Mol nodded, "the answer is yes then, it will be better than my life would be here."

  "Right, I'll just go buy a horse for you, meet me at the Inn in ten minutes."

  Mol turned and ran off in the direction of home.

  It didn't take long to purchase a horse from Master Lewin she paid more than she'd wanted, but the need outweighed the cost.

  As she approached the Inn she saw Bria had all three mounts all ready outside. Allia was also waiting there, "just a moment while I write the messages", Allia and Bria nodded.

  Angee wrote one to the Abbess detailing all that had happened and one to Sera asking her to take Mol to Suse and tel no one about it.

  She'd just finished and walked outside when Seb came up on an old nag, Mol wasn't far behind. Angee walked over to Seb, "this is the message, it's sealed and cursed, Mol will know if you don't deliver it she's going with you, if I find out you didn't..." she left the threat hanging and watched Seb blanche.

  Angee turned to Mol, "here's a message to Sera,a Blue Bard it will explain everything to her", Mol nodded and gave Angee a kiss on the cheek, she whispered, "thank you, don't worry, I'll make sure he delivers your message" Angee patted Mol on the arm and handing her the reigns of the horse fought hard not to cry.

  Turning towards the Inn she saw her father stood in the door way, she walked over to him, "I have to go father, take care of yourself."

  Ing looked unhappy for a moment, "I've given your friends a pack lunch, you owe nothing for your stay, take care daughter" and before Angee could say anything turned and walked into the Inn.

  Angie turned towards her friends tears running down her cheeks, as she mounted she said in a thick voice, "let's ride."

  They forced a breakneck pace, the countryside seemed flow by, Angee called on them to slow for a minute.

  "Bria, how long did it take you to ride from your home to the temple?". Bria considered for a moment.

  "Well, it was just over four days", Angee sat there trying to work out how much faster a Bards mount was than a normal horse, finally she said , "we should make it in one to two days then , shall we stop for something to eat?, we've been riding five hours now and if we eat now we can ride till dusk."

  Allia answered by climbing out of the saddle, "I am a bit sore, I've never ridden like this before" she said with a rueful grin.

  Towards dusk they were approaching a small grove of trees at the bed in the road when Angee's mount slowed down and almost stopped, her friends mounts d
id the same, she turned to them, "there must be something up ahead", they drew their swords and rode slowly forward, the light was making it hard to see, as they got into the thickest area of trees they saw a horse, no, not a horse a Bards mount standing looking at them in the middle of the road.

  As they approached it turned and took a step forward to one side, Angee said "let's dismount, but be careful."

  The mount took another step forward and looked at them over one shoulder, "I think it wants us to go in there" Allia said, the mount tossed it's head, "I guess you're right."

  "Bria, you stay with the mounts." Bria took their reigns as Angee and Allia walked into the trees.

  They almost fell over the body, the failing light was a lot worse in the dense tree's, Allia took one look and had to turn away to vomit, Angee wasn't much better, from the look of it something very nasty had happened, she could see as well it looked like the corpse had been partially eaten by animals.

  Allia had recovered enough to look herself, "poor thing", pity in her voice, "I wonder who did that?".

  Angee shook her head, "I wonder what did that , well we cannot leave a sister here she must be returned to the Temple for identification and burial", Allia seemed to be getting over the shock, "I think we can use her rain Cape in her saddle pack to wrap her up , I'll go get it."

  While Allia went for the Cape Angee checked the corpse's pockets, not a pleasant duty, someone had beaten her too it though and all that was left was a map of the country.

  It took all three of them to carry the body to her mount and secure it, after they had done that Angee turned to Allia and Bria, "The question is what we do now, She," indicating the body "needs returning to the Temple, but it isn't up to me as it would mean a delay to visiting your families, it's up to you."

  Allia and Bria looked at each other, "I wouldn't want to be left like that" Allia said, "I think we should take her on her final journey home then carry on with what we were doing."

  Bria nodded, "I agree."

  Angee felt relieved, she wanted that too but in this situation the decision had not been hers to make.

  "Right, according to the map I found if we take the road two league's back we'll save nearly two days getting back to the Temple."

  All three of them mounted and set off back the way they had come.

  Mol was wishing heartily that the journey she was on was over, Seb had done nothing but complain.

  He had brought it on himself though, he conveniently seemed to forgotten all the rotten things he had done to Angee and frankly she was surprised Angee had treated both Seb and Har so lightly.

  In the distance she could see a large town and remembered Angee's instruction to turn off at the first lane in sight of the town.

  "We turn here" she said to Seb, but he just scowled , "rubbish, lets go to that town and ask there."

  Mol ignored him and turned down the lane, the light was falling now and if they went to the town and rode back it would be well past dark by the time they reached the Temple.

  "Hey!, wait for me!", Mol looked away and smiled to herself, he was like a big child.

  They reached the Temple just as someone was lighting torches outside the main doors, Mol leading Seb rode up, before she could say anything she heard Seb say in a gruff voice "I carry an important message for the Mother Abbess", that annoyed Mol and she spoke up, "we both have messages that must be delivered."

  The guard looked them over and said "dismount and wait here".

  Mol did as she was told but noticed Seb had stayed in the saddle, a few minutes later a Bard came out with the guard. Mol saw the guard frown at seeing Seb still mounted and smiled."I'll take you too the Mother Abbess, come with me."

  Mol almost burst out laughing as she saw Seb trying to dismount quickly and nearly missing the stirrup, she did hear the guard snigger.

  They followed the Bard down a smoky,torch lit corridor and down some stairs to an office.

  "Wait here" the Bard said, she was but a moment and opened the door.

  "In you come."

  They filed past her and she closed the door on the way out. Standing there was an older woman in a dark full length robe.

  Seb spoke up again before she could speak, "we're here to see the Mother Abbess not some flunky, fetch her now."

  Mol winced and had a terrible premonition of what was about to happen.

  Anger flared in the woman's eyes, "I am the Mother Abbess young man" she said coldly, "I believe you have a message for me?".

  Seb was actually trembling as he handed the scroll at arms length as if he were holding a live snake, the Mother Abbess took it.

  "Thank you, if you go outside I'll see your fed and a bed provided for the night before you go."

  Seb started towards the door, Mol spoke up.

  "Please Mother Abbess, may I have a word with you in private?".

  Seb stopped, the Abbess turned to him, "you may wait outside." He left quickly at the cold tone still in her voice.

  Mol swallowed hard, but another look at the Mother Abbess showed her eyes had softened looking at her.

  "Yes child." she said in a totally different tone.

  "The message is from Angee, we grew up together and she's a good" she paused, "my only friend. She gave me a second message for someone called Sera."

  The Mother Abbess looked surprised, "very well child I'll send for Sera, just sit in that chair there."

  The Abbess popped her head out of the door and spoke to someone, the Bard who brought them she presumed and returned to her desk, she broke the seal on the scroll and read it, Mol noticed a frown appear as she read down the scroll.

  A knock at the door interrupted her and another Bard entered, the Mother Abbess smiled.

  "Ah Sera, this young lady has a message for you from Angee." Sera looked at Mol with an enquiry, Mol held out the scroll she carried. Sera took it and read it there, Mol could see there was something in the message that bothered Sera.

  Sera opened the scroll, I'm sending this message with my friend Mol, take her to Suse, Suse she asked for her,

  Angee

  Sera was finding it hard to keep a straight face, now why did Suse want this child? she thought, she turned to the Mother Abbess.

  "It's nothing of importance Mother, now with your permission I'll see this young lady gets a bed for the night." The Abbess nodded and Sera indicated Mol to follow her.

  Sera led Mol to a small room, "your companion will be found a bed and given something to eat, do you want to see him?".

  Mol shook her head vehemently, Sera smiled, "now, do you know what was in the message?".

  Mol shook her head again, "only that she was sending me to you."

  Sera considered for a moment how much to tell her.

  "Angee wants you to meet one of her teachers, we'll do that at dawn tomorrow."

  Mol smiled gratefully, "now get some sleep young lady" and with that Sera left the room.

  Mol was wakened by a knock on the door, "just a minute", she dressed quickly, berating herself for not being up, she opened the door and Sera was waiting for her, "your friend has been packed on his way, now it's time we go and meet Angee's teacher."

  Sera took her for a quick breakfast then they left the temple, they walked into the countryside. After they had walked for a while Sera spoke up, "we're nearly there, now Angee's teacher is a bit unusual, but don't be frightened."

  They walked into a glade with a single tall stone in the middle, Mol saw no one else there and wondered how long they'd have to wait, "brace yourself" Sera said.

  Mol looked where Sera was looking, the stone was pulsing white, and suddenly , dear god, someone stepping out of it!.

  Mol was scared but not terrified, Sera seemed perfectly calm and she knew Angee would not send her into danger, the figure spoke to Sera.

  "Thank you Sera , you can leave Mol with me, she will be perfectly alright." Sera shrugged, it was no longer any business of hers, she turned and spoke to Mol.

  "I'll
see you later, I hope", and with that turned and left the glade.

  Mol turned towards the figure who was walking towards her, she must be a Bard even though her uniform seem slightly different to the others she'd seen.

  The woman smiled, with such openness.

  Mol felt a lot better. "I'm Suse, I was Angee's main teacher, I am a Bard out of the past."

  Mol wondered what she meant but didn't want to ask, "Hello" was all she said, Suse laughed, "don't worry, I don't bite, I'm here to help you with your future."

  Mol didn't understand what she meant, "my future ?".

  Suse's face took on a serious look, "yes dear , now tell me do you know how Bards are chosen?". Mol looked confused, "they're called by the Goddess aren't they, Bards find them while visiting places."

  Suse nodded, "that is the usual way, someone chosen seems to glow to a Bard." Mol didn't know where Suse was going with this but knew Suse had more to say, "and?",Suse beckoned to her "walk over here Mol and place your hand on the stone." Mol felt a compulsion to walk towards the stone, she placed a hand on the stone and was lost in an all consuming light "my daughter ,

  I have chosen you for a most difficult and lonely task , I name you a Bard , a Bard of stealth, the first Bronze Bard. Know that my love,faith and trust will be with you always , listen to what Suse will tell you."

  The light disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared, Mol was suddenly aware of herself, a great big grin covered her face and Suse walked forward saying nothing and simply hugged her.

  It took a few minutes for both of them to compose themselves and dry their eyes. Suse looked at Mol. "let me look dear."

  Mol didn't know what she meant so Suse walked to her, "Allow me", she unbuttoned the top of Mol's dress and pulled it down, Mol looked and saw a bronze star neatly settled between her breasts, Suse waved her hand over it and it vanished, "what happened !", Mol asked in alarm.

  Suse pulled the dress back up. "As the Goddess said you are a bronze Bard, a Bard of stealth, only you will know who to trust and reveal your identity to, I'm controlling it at the moment, you will learn to make the star appear and disappear at will, now this is important, your sisters will not know you for a Bard unless you allow it, to tell all would mean your death and the failure of your task." Mol gasped , "and what is my task?".