~~~~
Sand swirled around her in a playful whirlwind. It was midday and the heat reflecting off of the dry shifting grains made it almost unbearable even for her. The sun beat down upon her traveling clothes but she walked on toward her goal. Underneath she wore the robe Rahknand himself had worn but she had retailored it to fit her body. Together Liostro, Nina and Rose had long since passed the borders of the red fever. All manner of monstrosities greeted the three of them but strangely enough ignored their presence as she and her companion stalked among the dunes wearing clothing attuned to desert travel. The going had been hard for Rose; her newly acquired arcane malady was wearing upon her system quite heavily.
As they crested the last dune Rose could finally see the mountains that had been closing in on close up. Both sides leveled out before her and gave way to a series of ruined buildings seemingly carved from the surrounding stone. Their approach to the skeleton of a city was marked only by the footprints they all left in the sand. It was almost surprising for them to walk into the city unmolested. Her assessment that the buildings surrounding them were carved from the mountain was right, the small border town was a part of the stone barrier itself. Every one of the structures was almost the same but a little different from the last. No person or thing remained from the years of sand and weather. As they approached the largest building, which was subsequently near the edge of the continent itself, they were met by a pair of open double doors.
As they entered all three travelers took in the sights of the interior stonework of this citadel. It had been grand in its day but it and its furnishings had all been weathered down to nothing. The grand entrance hall gave way to an old assembly chamber with a large table in the center that was made of stone and rotten wood. Each chair held the skeleton, complete with belongings, of the former residents of the keep. At the head of the table under a large stone emblem signifying house Nalfys sat and old naarabi male wearing a long robe and other trappings that identified him as a wizard.
“I was wondering when you would finally show up, little sister.” The old man said through a grin and a long bearded chin hanging from his grey-furred muzzle. “It warms my heart to see you well and alive after your tangle with Rahknand. Come closer, I wish to see you.”
“I’m glad I finally get to meet the last living member of my family.” Rose smiled at him and walked around the table of corpses. Once she reached the old wizard he turned his chair and stood then enveloped her in a long-armed hug that surprised her. He stood over six feet tall and though his robe was voluminous underneath he was frail. Once they parted he sat down she pulled a stone chair from the nearby wall, sitting next to him. “This is my husband Liostro.”
“Husband? I was never asked for your hand!” Xyroxxys quipped with a grin as he shook hands with the half-elven warrior. “But none-the-less I approve, treat my sister well.”
Liostro could not help but share the infectious grin of the aged wizard. “You have no worries there.”
“And you, my sun-haired elf-ling, must be Ninanthia Sunmane.” The old man smiled and kissed her hand. “You are as beautiful as your grandmother was.”
After the pleasantries Rose was the next to speak. Though she hated to talk business before pleasure the question was burning. “Why does the red fever still burn?”
“Down to the point I see.” He chuckled and smiled through his beard. “It slowly wanes and with the power fades life. Now that the last of the sorcerer lords is dead I no longer have the need to sustain it. I must warn you my sister, though Rahknand is dead the ones who taught the sorcerer lords how to use the Spellrage still live.”
“The Nypthian Empire?” Rose queried curiously.
“Yes, the rat men of the far wastes.” Xyroxxys nodded somberly. “If you think this land is harsh and unforgiving their lands are spawned of the hells themselves. They began draining the world, albeit slowly, before they taught us old fools how to use the rage. They walk the world still so exercise caution if you travel beyond the boundaries of our home.”
“How long do you have?” She asked quietly, approaching the subject with a regretful tone to her voice.
Once again her older brother chuckled. “I do believe it will be long enough to converse with you about our family and people if you wish.”
“I would hate for you to spend your last breaths talking with me about the past, I’m sure there are other things you would wish to do.” She replied with a shrug and looked down at the stone disc that was the table.
He grinned at her and waved his hand dismissively. “I would love nothing more than to sit talk to you; family is the most important thing we have. Besides that there has been no one here to listen to the ramblings of an old man for generations. I’ve been around so long I do believe I’ve done everything I can do anyway!”
~~~~
On the second day, while Liostro was out exploring the city, Rose asked the single question that had been burning in her mind. Once they had left the confines of the city Rose had told Nina about her problem so the short elf girl was by her side. “When I merged with Rahknand I began to feel a pain in my body though I know not what it is. Can you tell me?”
“Curious, I can certainly try.” When his bony but warm hand came to rest on her stomach she looked down and watched it glow a soft blue color. Tingling and a gentle heat began to circulate through her torso. His eyes were closed as he concentrated on the spell and on her.
When he pulled back looking surprised she arched her brows. “What is it?”
“I know what ails you.” He said in wonderment and apprehension. “Though I believe it not.”
“Do not leave me in suspense.” Rose said flatly, expecting the worst.
“Your issue is twofold. The first is Rahknand was linked to a being that sustained him for a long time. Subsequently what essence you absorbed is expecting that kind of magical bond. Since you do not have it you’re suffering from a magical withdrawal after a fashion.” Xyroxxys put a hand on her shoulder and whispered the words of another spell, one she did not recognize. “Your body now craves the drain of magic but luckily for you I can craft a temporary solution.”
“How do I fix it? The pain is growing with each day.” Rose replied desperately. “I cannot live like this.”
“Therein lies your next problem. Normally I would just say ride it out and deal with the pain that comes until you are weaned off of the hunger.” Her brother paused for a moment looking down at the floor. “But I cannot recommend that right now for fear of your other condition. Either method could be potentially dangerous but less dangerous would be to feed the beast that claws within you and slowly try to wean yourself off of the bond it so hungers for.”
“What other condition?” Rose asked, cocking her head to the side.
Though he knew not if the news would be good or bad he could not keep it from her. “My sister, you are pregnant.”
Her jaw could not have dropped lower if it had fallen off and hit the floor like the skeletal remains that sat in the room around her. She looked from Nina to her brother and Tears entered her eyes as she realized how much she had used magic since the last time she had been with Liostro. “A baby?”
“Two of them.” Xyroxxys corrected while simultaneously pulling her against him and holding her close. “They do not seem to be affected by the magic you used little Rose but it is too early to know for sure. I would advise against using excessive amounts of magic but spells will not harm them.”
“How do you know? The elves said they had never tested it.” Rose replied and sniffed a little and attempting not to dampen his robe with her tears.
“The elves did not command magic as long as our people did.” He smiled down at her. “When my wife was pregnant with our child she used magic on a daily basis. Your mother would have done the same I suspect. Magic is a part of our people; it permeates our very being so regardless your children will be exposed to it.”
“What about the rage? I used it so many times.�
�� Rose lamented.
Xyroxxys pushed her out to arm’s length with his hands on her shoulders. “Do not use it again if you can help it.”
Rose nodded almost dumbly and met eyes with Nina. “Not a word.”
~~~~
Their stay was long and pleasant save the news Rose had received about Rahknand’s essence. She had opted not to tell Liostro of her other ‘condition’ just yet because she knew he would become overprotective of her. Using what time they had together she and her older brother had crafted a necklace that would slowly seep magical energy into her system. It would be a long term solution for a long-standing problem like he had said but the talisman could be recharged under certain conditions. The temptation to drain the item was there and she fought with it constantly for the sake of her unborn children. Though her brother was ancient he was animated and energetic until the last day. His death was quick and painless but startling; they said their goodbyes and his body just faded from existence leaving a pile of belongings sitting at the head of the table; and a familiar sensation crept into Rose as she merged with the last trace essence of the old wizard.
Before he had died Rose and Liostro had both been given gifts by the powerful old sorcerer. Liostro wore an amulet that would protect him from harmful magic. To Rose he had gifted a family ring and imparted the knowledge that their family lived on beyond the next continent. Though it was going to be a perilous journey she had already decided to pass through the swamps of Cali’na. As they stepped down onto the intricate root-and-water system that connected her desert home with the swampy continent she felt that same sense of wonder she had felt the night Merek had released her from her servitude.
From the journal of Alethia Rose Nalfys
As I sit here upon a root of a land-bridge connecting my home to our swamp-covered destination I cannot help but marvel at my newfound knowledge. Pregnant, I have twins growing inside of me and I fear telling Liostro about it. I do not know what his reaction will be. Not that I think it will be unfavorable; I just don’t want him attempting to stop me from carrying on because of my condition.
Let me rephrase that, it is not a condition. I do not want our fear for our children to stop us in our tracks. I am afraid, more afraid than I have ever been but I will not let that keep me from pursuing what I know is right. But what am I going to do when they are born? I cannot bring them with me on my travels but I cannot leave them without knowing their mother and father either. I hope that a solution presents itself before they are born; I hesitate to think about trying to battle a powerful foe while my newborn children are strapped to my back.
If my family does indeed live on beyond the swamps I may be able to seek refuge with them for a time. Let us hope they are as friendly and forthcoming as my late brother. Xyroxxys, wherever you are, thank you.
~~~~
About the Author:
Chris Williams is an IT Project Manager in Jacksonville, NC. He is also a husband, father, dungeonmaster, and avid reader. When not writing he is most-likely crafting elaborate, and often deadly, scenarios for roleplaying games.
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/lordnightwinter
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My Shared Blog: http://dmsrus.wordpress.com
Table of Contents
Part I: The Journey
Chapter 1: Trapped
Chapter 2: Escape
Chapter 3: The Price of Freedom
Chapter 4: Deadly Game
Chapter 5: The Quest
Chapter 6: Into The Maw
Chapter 7: Lost
Chapter 8: Journey
Chapter 9: Prisoner
Part II: The Reckoning
Chapter 10: The City of Blood
Chapter 11: Lost and Found
Chapter 12: The Dark Beyond
Chapter 13: Three if by Sea
Chapter 14: Out to Sea
Chapter 15: Old Gods New Rules
Chapter 16: Astral Journey
Part III: The Wrath
Chapter 17: Betrayal
Chapter 18: Vengeance
Chapter 19: Confrontation
Chapter 20: Epilogue
Demiourgos Page 46