|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:56 am
Darken lead the two horses, poking at the mud ahead of him with a stick as he picked his way through. The road had disappeared into the muck, and with the heavy rainfall, it was possible for a hole to look like part of the mud.
If one of the horse should fall into one and break a leg, his progress would be slowed greatly, as well as creating an inconvenience when he switched steeds at the waystation.
This particular stretch of road was out in the relative wilderness. Aydindril's position of being a neutral city-state within what had once been the Midlands had created pockets like this that were bigger than in most nations, especially with neighboring countries not wishing to develop too close to the city, making it seem as if they were trying to impinge on the city's autonomy.
If only there was a way for the ungifted to travel over such large distances with speed, as Lord Rahl could use the Slyph. Then again, Darken thought, such travel would probably need magic to work, and magic was dangerous enough when left to the Lord Rahl, and the First Wizard.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:20 am
Calintz nodded with a smiled as he watched the Mother Confessor’s excitement at holding Shadow. “I’m glad you enjoy hold her, she seems to agree to.” He said as he reached over and stroked the back of Shadow’s head. “Ask anytime want to see her, just ask. I’m sure she’d like to see you again too.” He grinned friendly as he said this, stroking Shadow’s head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:19 am
Amara nodded, smiling warmly in silent, but sincere thanks after Calintz had spoken, then reached over to stroke the back of Shadow's head. Amara nodded then, assuring Calintz that she would ask him anytime she should desire to see Shadow. Amara smiled softly as she gently stroked Shadow's feathers.
It hit her then. What was she doing?. Why was she simply standing around.....talking and petting Shadow?. Not that she wasn't happy at the opportunity to be up close and personal with one of the Creator's most magnificent creatures, but the pang of guilt she so suddenly felt, felt like a knife, stabbing into her heart.
Here she was, wasting time away, seemingly without a care in the world, while Hack, Zedd, and her brother were at the Keep, tending to business concerning magic, and Darken was on his way to gather a batallion of troops and a handful of the gifted to send off to take care of the issue Hack had come presenting.
Amara frowned slightly, still stroking Shadow's feathers as she suddenly felt a wave of sorrow and guilt wash over her.
She hated it when there was nothing she could do to be of use to those she cared for. Amara hated not being able to help. Amara had the feeling that if, at that very moment she had decided to rush off and meet Darken and help him with the tasks assigned to him, Lophus and Zedd would be disappointed in her, and probably worry about her. But she hated just sitting here, and not being able to do anything at all.
Not only that, Amara worried for Darken's safety. She knew to, that this day weighed heavily upon his heart as well.
Without warning, a loud rumble of thunder resounded in the sky overhead, and it began to pour down rain once more.
Amara shared a singular look with Calintz, holding out her arm for him to take Shadow so that they could both run back inside to remain dry.
" Looks like rain again,"Amara smiled slightly, as she began to be splattered by heavy droplets of rain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:09 pm
Calintz held his arm out for Shadow to walk back to him, as he turned to the now depressed Mother Confessor. He nodded as she said it looked as if it was going to rain again. He gave her a questionable look as they ran back inside trying to stay out of the rain as it began to off.
Calintz turned to the Mother Confessor, as Shadow moved to his shoulder. “Mother Confessor, what’s wrong? You suddenly look depressed. Is there anything I can do to help?” He stood waiting for the Mother Confessor as he stroked the back of Shadow’s head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:25 pm
Once within the safety and dryness of the Confessor's Palace, Amara sighed lightly, as she gazed out to where she had just been within the courtyard, where now, the rain came down, unrelenting, from the heavens.
Frowning, Amara listened to the distant rumbles of thunder resounding in the valley. As the rain's pace quickened, the sky darkened, and lightning began to arch through the sky.
Turning at the sound of Calintz's voice, Amara smiled reassuringly, lifting a hand and waving it back and forth before herself, to dismiss his concern for her.
" It's nothing...,"Amara spoke in a firm tone as she turned to face Calintz entirely, turning from the sight of the strengthening storm.
Amara smiled firmly at Calintz to dismiss his worries as she noted the way he was stroking Shadow's head. Casually, Amara reached out to stroke the bird's feathers for a moment, smiling softly to herself.
Then, turning her gaze back upon Calintz, Amara smiled sympathetically. " I don't believe it's anything that anyone can help really...., and it's....hard to explain,"Amara sighed heavily, as she dropped her hand back to her side and then began walking off down the corridor, pausing only to motion Calintz to follow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:21 am
Zedd eyed Lophus for a moment. The boy was beyond amazement at what magic had done with his mind. The thrill in his eyes matched the same amazement and excitement that Richard had shown whenn he had first stepped up onto the rock back in Westland. Unfortunately, this time was different than when Richard had used the rock before. This time, it wasn't for the refreshing and clearing of a troubled mind, it was a lesson. Zedd had to show Lophus what he had come to see and understand about the world of magic.
"That was the thrilling part. What i am about to show you is the amazing part, the truth of the world of magic."
Zedd felt the weightlessness of this place as he hung suspended in darkness. He let a tingle of his gift leach out into the inky blackness. Suddenly, a white dot appeared before him. Then others at varying distances so it resembled something like the night sky. Then lines started forming connecting the dots, some frming shapes while others simply exitsed, having no part of anything else. Some lines were left hanging, showing the ends of magics or even lives of gifted.
The lines and dots were eveywhere. Zedd wondered if this is how the term 'webs' originated when talking about certain types of magic spells.
Zedd looked around him, looking for something familiar about the last time he was here. He pointed to the middle of the entirety of the lines, where they came out like a vortex in all directions.
"See that? That shows the source of magic. The beginning of all magic from the Creator himself. But see this?" Zedd traced a series of lines that, while at first wasn't obvious, it slowly became recognizable as he pointed it out. It was like a flame. "This is one of the chimes. They are all there, but dificult to see. This is the corruption the chimes have left. It is slowly getting closer to the source of magic, which then will destroy magic entirely." Zedd pointed out how any lines that passed through or near the flame were strangely bent or curved out of there original path--some more than others. This is what Richard had seen when they had put Nicci up into the internal perspective. The chimes had almost resulted in her death without them ever knowing. The Chimes were disaster to anything magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Wizard Zorander Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:42 pm
Calintz watched closely as the Mother Confessor said it was nothing, and tried to wave it off as if it was nothing. He knew on the other hand it wasn’t and something was bothering her. But he could only nod as she dismissed it. He sighed heavily, knowing that there was nothing he could do to help her at the moment, but would help her when the moment presented itself.
He stroked Shadow’s head as he watched the Mother Confessor turn and walk away. He followed behind her, as she motioned for him to follow. He wondered for a moment where they were going but only for a moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:09 am
Darken hobbled the horses, and sat back inside his hastilly made shelter. More rain. It would do no good to try and continue on now. He'd only make things worse. The weather today was horrible, the earlier storms already soaking through the available wood, leaving little chance of being able to strike up a fire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:33 am
Amara led Calintz down a series of connect corridors and hallways and into a more bustling section of the Confessor's Palace. Servants and maids bustled about doing their duties. They paused only long enough to acknowledge their Mother Confessor with a polite nod or a few words of greeting and how-do-you-do's. Amara in turn would greet them with a soft smile and a bow of her head, and perhaps a few words of assurance that was well.
Eventually, they came to a passage that led into the kitchens. Amara pushed open the oaken doors and walked straight into the kitchen and to a small, back corner, where there was a small table and two chairs.
Amara sat in one chair, and motioned for Calintz to seat himself in the other.
Immediately, an older woman who Amara was quite close to came up to her and smiled, hugging Amara tenderly. Amara smiled and hugged the older woman in return. With a gentle smile, Amara spoke to the old woman.
" Two cups of tea please, mine with honey,"Amara smiled gently as the older woman nodded before responding.
" Of course dearie...,and who's this you've brought with you?, a friend?,the elderly woman smiled at Amara, noting Calintz and Shadow as well.
" Dear Spirits!,"the woman exclaimed, " Well if it isn't one of the Creator's most noble creatures,the elderly woman smiled at Calintz before then bustling off to make their tea.
When she at last returned with the tea, she had also brought honey, sugar, and milk. Smiling at Calintz as she sat the things on the table before them, Amara smiled at Calintz.
Before scurrying off to the rest of her duties, the older woman smiled gently at Amara and hugged her once more and whispered something in her ear, which made Amara smile, and then shuffled off. Amara then guestured to all that lay before Calintz. " I hope you like tea...on a rainy day such as this...well, it's just a good day for a warm drink,"Amara smiled reassuringly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:58 pm
Calintz smiled friendly at the elderly woman, as she smiled at Shadow and him. He sat waiting with the Mother Confessor, stroking Shadow’s head. When the woman returned with tea, as well as honey, sugar, and milk, she smiled. He returned the smile the woman and to the Mother Confessor, when he noticed the she was smiling too.
Calintz took a cup while the elderly woman spoke something to the Mother Confessor. He nodded as she spoke to him. “Yes, I like tea, thank you. Can you pass the sugar?” He took the sugar as the Mother Confessor handed it to him. Shadow looked around the room, while Calintz spooned some sugar into his cup and mixed it. He was thinking about what could be wrong, why had she suddenly frowned back there. He was worried that there was nothing he could do, he could only wait until there was a time to help came. He looked back at the Mother Confessor as he took a sip of the tea, then smiled.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:53 pm
Amara, smiling calmly, passed the sugar to Calintz before adding some honey and sugar to her own tea and stirring it up. With patience, Amara gently brought the delicate little tea cup to her lips and blew gently upon the piping hot tea before taking a small, silent sip of tea. She then took a few more sips, before setting her cup down upon the table and glancing around the kitchens. Amara liked to come here often to simply smell the savory smells of meats being cooked, or soups being made, or simply to visit with the men and women who worked within the kitchens. They to, were not only her people, but her friends, her family as well. She had grown up knowing these people. The older woman who had brought Calintz and Amara tea had always been like a grandmother to Amara, and had been the one who had taught Amara how to bake delicious cookies and sweets for her mother, father, and brother, and even Zedd. Amara even taught herself how to make soup and biscuits for her great-grandfather.
Amara had been so proud of herself the first time her family members had praised her on her cooking. Amara had always enjoyed being in the kitchens, learning to make new, savory dishes and such.
Sighing reluctantly as she came out of her memories, Amara glanced up at Calintz, and smiling calmly.
" This place holds so many memories for me....,"Amara smiled gently, as a memory replayed over in her mind of the time her mother had taught her how to make a special kind cake that her father simply adored.
Amara had been so proud when even her big brother had praised her for doing so well in her baking.
Amara smiled at the memory, before sipping more of her tea, and then setting it down to smile at Calintz.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:37 pm
Calintz grinned friendly as the Mother Confessor looked as if she was recalling old happy memories. Along as she was happy was all that really matter. He thought she looked better with a happy face instead of a depressed one. He took another sip of tea as he watched her happily recall her memories. He nodded as she told me that this placed hold so many memories for her, he’d figured because of how happy she had looked when she looked around the room. “I’m guessing they are good memories, you’ve been smiling the whole time.” He said as he grinned at her, while taking a sip of his tea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:55 pm
Amara nodded as she smiled thoughtfully, draining the last of her tea as she quietly watched Calintz drain the last of his. And then, it hit her, realization washed over her. Immediately, she stood. Something her mother had once told her when she was young suddenly flooded back into her mind. In a quiet whisper, Amara repeated those same words.
" There is always hope, when you feel hopeless, take matters into your own hands,it was just the same thing as her father had always told her and her brother as well. Amara whispered that saying as well, quoting her father. " Think of the solution, not the problem,Amara smiled slightly, remembering how comforting her father's advice had always been.
Amara glanced to Calintz. She knew that if she made this final decision to go after Darken and help he, and his battallion out, as well as the handful of the gifted, she'd be leaving behind Zedd, and her brother as well as Hack. She would also miss the festivities of later this evening, though she knew that those events could usually carry on with just her brother present.
Amara would upset her family members if she left now. But she just couldn't sit here any longer, she simply had to do something. She was a grown woman, she could care for herself. And besides, she could take Calintz with her. With his Doppleganger ability, she would be more than protected.
Nora would protest as well, but knew that if it was Amara's final decision, than Amara would hear no arguments about it.
Flashing a calm smile at Calintz, Amara turned and gazed out a door that led into a small yard outside the kitchen, gazing up at the darkened sky.
The conditions for traveling were horrendous, but it couldn't be helped.
Amara had chosen her course of action, she was the Mother Confessor, a symbol of power, authority, nobility, and freedom, as had been her mother and father.
" Calintz...let's go for a horseback ride...,"Amara smiled defiantly up at the sky as she spoke to him, still glancing out the door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:53 pm
As Calintz watched as the Mother Confessor talked to herself, trying to some up with a solution. She was finding thinking about what to do, instead of worrying about it. He gave her a friendly grin as he followed her gaze into the yard outside. “A house ride you say?” He gave her another knowing grin. “You know, I’ll need my things first.” He said as he pulled the book out. “We’ll need to leave this though, somewhere where Zedd or your brother can find it.”
Calintz stood as he stroked the back of Shadow’s head. He looked back at the Mother Confessor, as he handed the book toward her. “Are we going horseback riding tonight?” He said while grinning friendly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:09 pm
Amara glanced back to Calintz when at last he had spoken, breaking the silence and bringing her out of her thoughts. Her smiled widened as she nodded, noting Calintz's friendly grin. Whilest his grin was friendly, Amara's grin was more...mischevious than anything.
She nodded absently after a moment, acknowledging the fact that Calintz would have to gather his things from his quarters. Amara to would have to prepare a bag or two as well, as well as gathering up a few good horses.
When Calintz mentioned the book, Amara nodded knowingly, her smile fading momentarily. Such a book should not be left to lay about. Amara sighed as she thought of the most safe, and secure place for the book, some place both Zedd or Lophus would easily find, and take it.
Not really coming up with anything, Amara sighed in frustration. She would have to give the book to one of them herself. In order for her to do so, she would need to see one of them.
As it was, Amara was not foolish enough to ride out to her destination in the pouring rain, but she had the distinct feeling that by evening, the rain would have long ago dispersed, or so she hoped.
As Amara studied Calintz, stroking the back of Shadow's head, she took the book as he handed it to her, and rested it in the crook of her right arm.
When he again spoke, grinning, Amara nodded solemnly.
" Yes, we will be going horseback riding this eve...if the rain goes away, as I suspect it shall...then yes...but it will be a long...difficult ride...but if we leave in time, we will catch up to him......,"Amara smiled distantly as she turned back to gaze outside. The rain had already begun to let up, at least a little.
" After the ceremonies tonight...I must be here for them.....I owe it to my people.....and to my parents...," a deep frown creased her exquisite features as she gazed outside.
" My brother shall not like what I have chosen to do, nor will my great-grandfather," Amara turned back to Calintz, managing a slight, even if sad smile. " But they both believe in me as I do them...yes they will attempt to talk me out of it....but I shall not be persuaded.....I cannot just sit idly by while people suffer, while whole villages are being raped, pillaged, and plundered!," Amara slammed her fist down upon the table as tears formed in the corners of her emerald optics. She could stand it no more. She was the Mother Confessor, it was her duty to protect her people, and what was she doing.....sitting around...doing nothing but feeling sorry for herself, and issuing out orders instead of actually doing something about it herself. Amara knew her brother must feel the same way, at least in a sense. After all, he was helping more than she, but he was the one born with not only their father's gift, with both Additive and Subtractive magic, but also with their mother's confessor's power.
Amara took a purging breath as she went and stood at the entrance leading out into that small courtyard from the kitchens.
Sighing reluctantly, she turned back to Calintz, her form illuminated by the faint, grey light of the outside.
" I don't know.....what more....I can do.....I must do something more than I am now....my people depend on me and my brother.....brother helps with issues of magic and war.....I have considerably less to offer.....most times....I fell as if I am the inferior leader.....as if.......," Amara dismissed the rest of her thoughts with a wave of her hand, not wanting to continue.
" Nevermind....,"Amara forced a smile, returning to the table to glance at Calintz.
" Well...it seems the rain is letting up....it's merely sprinkling now...and I'd rather get this book to my brother and Zedd as soon as possible....shall we deliver it to them?,"Amara smiled lightly as she headed back the way she had led Calintz into the kitchens, knowing he would follow after her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
