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 Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:40 am
Richard sheparded everyone inside the room, slammed the door shut, and glanced at it to be sure the magical barriers were still in place. They were. "Alright then..." He said cheerfully, as if they were all on a picnic or something. Clearly, he didn't want to frighten the girls. "We'll just pop right back to the Muffin, right here..." He set Ellen down, moving into the study to lift the trap door open again. He dropped down to help the two girls down, then waited to help Corinne.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:48 am
Corinne gave one last glance back to the closed and warded door before taking Richard's hand and following after the two girls. Quietly she wondered if they would ever be able to return to Richard's homeland, and if they did if it would be a more pleasant visit or not.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:50 am
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:56 pm
Hisses and jeers were resolutely ignored by Richard, who had to go slow to avoid trampling anyone with his horse. He kept his eyes straight ahead, unfazed by the reaction of the people, though he resented being in his homeland again. Someone threw a rotted cabbage at him, and it struck his broad back with a Thrack[/i Richard felt his face color slightly, but he continued on, acting as if nothing had happened. He was glad Corinne was not here to see him now. The thought of his fiancée made him feel better. He would return to her soon, he had promised. Richard kept his mind on her rather than the fruit and vegetables flying at him, comforting his horse with a pat. “Easy, easy…they are not angry with you.” He said softly in Silvian, the horse calming again, no longer tense.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:58 pm
After forty minutes of being struck with rotting fruit, Richard reached the castle town itself. He stopped in an inn, ignoring the flat out stares of it’s patrons as he agreed to pay a rather…steep price for a room. The whole inn was not worth what he was charged, but he didn’t argue it. Eyes followed him as he climbed the stairs, and Richard was glad when he finally shut the door to his rented room. He was exhausted. Not from riding for the past few days, but from the strain of being back in his homeland openly, from repressing his own magic. Peeling his stained shirt off and dropping his tie, Richard climbed into the shower. Once clean again, he walked to the bed and collapsed upon it. It was too small for his size, the middle slumping beneath him. Richard stared up at the ceiling, missing Corinne.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:29 am
He woke with a start, frost grey blue eyes blinking at the ceiling. Sitting up, Richard ran a hand through his hair. He had so much to do, and little time to do it correctly. With a sigh, he wandered into the small bathroom to shower and dress, replacing everything in his pack and leaving. A note was stuck to the door with a dagger, and Richard sighed again. He didn't read the death threat, just crumpled it up and stuffed it in his bag, leaving the knife in the door. Fighting off the depression that was settling over his heart like a brick, Richard was on his way once again.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:35 am
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:19 pm
((*Chases after poker to extract revenge*))
Richard in a rather uncomfortable chair at the end of a small room, waiting. Next to the door, as if guarding it, stood Alexander Giller, a former student of his. He avoided Richard’s gaze, staring at the floor. Richard knew why. The minute he’d entered the room, he had felt the suppression of magic, so strong he’d nearly turned and left. After a long pause, Richard spoke. “Alex…you drew a silent spell around this room.” It was a statement, not a question. The younger wizard’s eyes finally rose to meet Richard’s. “Yes.” He said cautiously, his face coloring slightly in embarrassment. Richard gazed back at him calmly. “Whatever for?” Richard was still perfectly calm, as if nothing in the world was wrong, and it seemed to unnerve the younger man. There was silence as they watched each other. Finally, Richard’s silent urging broke the other. “It’s a trap Teacher, it’s a trap. They seek to imprison you.” Alex blurted, his face red, eyes panicky. Richard remained calm. “They?” “The Council of Wizards. They plot against the people. All the novices are being forced to conduct investigations of the peasants, which the Council twist into crimes punishable by death.” Alex said in a rush, pressing his hand over his mouth, trying to stop the words from escaping. He couldn’t break eye contact with Richard though, who still sat impassively, seemingly doing nothing, while doing everything.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:27 pm
((A-a-a-a-and several hours later....))
Fial was still as they dragged the large man in, watching quietly. He was beat to hell, cuts running all over his shoulders and chest, blood soaking through his yellow dress shirt. He was unconscious, which she supposed was a good thing, at least for the guards. He was much bigger than they were, broad and strong muscled. Still, he didn’t look like a warrior. Her eyes flickered to his hands, which were encased in iron, and, she knew, filled with ionized sand. Wizard. Fial nearly hissed, but she stayed quiet, stayed still, stayed unnoticeable. They dragged the man into the cell next to hers, depositing him like a bag of grain. The iron bars clanged closed, and the guards left with a slam of the heavy wooden door. Fial took a breath of relief. She was glad they had left, but not happy about the wizard now in the cell next to her.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:36 pm
Richard groaned as he woke, his head feeling like it would split, spitting out a broken tooth, along with blood. His entire body hurt, ravaged with both magic and fists. One eye flickered open, the other swollen shut. He was in a cell. Cursing mentally, Richard tried to sit up, breath a hiss as the movement caused more pain. Slumping against the cold wall of his cell, Richard’s one good eye gazed into the cell next to his, and was surprised to see somebody looking back at him. He couldn’t see them in the dark. Out of habit, Richard reached to pull his glasses from his pocket, blinking at the iron encasing his hand. He couldn’t cast any additive magic. Richard remembered his glasses had been smashed, and put the useless hand down again. He sighed heavily. She was still watching him, though he couldn’t tell much about her except that her hair was brown. “Hello Ma’m.” He managed to say past his dry and pained throat. He’d cast spell after spell until he was hoarse. She said nothing. Perhaps she was foreign. Richard tried a range of other languages, his eyelid heavier and heavier, until he was asleep.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:37 pm
Fial continued to watch him, thoughtful. He had tried speaking to her. Interesting. She spoke English, but hadn’t wanted to answer him. She sighed, inching closer to the bars, studying him closer. “Corinne…” He whispered in his sleep, as if the name was a ward against anything that might harm him. Her heart softened. Wizard, but not heartless. She set her back against the bars, hazel eyes rising to look at the dark ceiling. She wondered what he had done. A thought pricked her mind. He was a wizard. Turning her head slightly, she looked him over from the corner of her eye. She knew who this man was. He was the deserter Saverell wasn’t he? She thought so. That explained why he was locked up. But…why had he come back? Was he mad? He didn’t look mad. He looked beat up and tired.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:48 pm
Richard came to again, his one eye opening. The brown haired woman was watching him, sitting closer to the bars. She was young, maybe 17 or 18. He could barely speak the words that sprang to his lips. “Who are you?” He asked, surprised by the raspiness of his own voice. Her head tilted slightly, as if she were debating whether or not to answer. He repeated the question in a few other languages, but she rose a hand to stop him. Richard fell silent. “…my name is Fial.” She said with strength, as if she expected him to contest it. “Fial.” Richard repeated, trying to nod, but stopped when a bolt of pain went through his spine. “I’m Richard.” He managed. He couldn’t imagine why someone so young would be in this place. “Why…” He couldn’t speak past that, eye closing, head tilting back.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:50 pm
Fial thought he’d fallen asleep again, but no. His mouth moved soundlessly as he tried to speak. It was hurting him she realized. She wouldn’t make him ask. “Why am I here?” Richard nodded, eye open again. “I killed a man.” Richard’s face showed shock. Fial didn’t look at him. She knew the question he wanted to ask though. “He was trying to hurt me.” Fial looked at him suddenly, practically glaring at him. “Badly.” She could see he understood, and was sorry for her. Fial looked away again. “The new laws state that a woman, no matter what, cannot defy a man’s order.” Richard shook his head, grimaced, then managed a “No.” Fial’s gaze flew back to him angrily. “No? Why do I face execution then? Don’t state what isn’t so. Believe what you will, but don’t put it over fact.” She rested her forehead against the cool bars, blinking at nothing. “How many did you get?” She asked, meaning the other wizards. “Four.” He struggled out. “That leaves only three. Good work. Why not the other three?” Fial looked up at him again, watching his face. “…summoned…creatures…against…me.” Each word seemed to be causing him more and more pain. “Don’t talk anymore.” Fial said, sighing again. She was quiet for a while, hoping he had killed the wizard Tristan, who had sentenced her. “Is Corinne your wife?” She asked, and Richard shook his head. “Soon.” He said, eye roaming over his cell. Fial wondered if he was thinking of a way to escape.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:51 pm
Richard’s mind was rapidly clearing, allowing him to take the pain and set it aside. He couldn’t bear the thought of Fial getting beheaded just for defending herself, and his heart rallied against the new ‘Wizard’s Council’ that had taken the place of a monarch. She was too young to be murdered. And that’s what it would be. Murder. He lifted his left arm, slamming it down on the hard rock. Fial jumped. “What are doing?!” She hissed, eyes narrowed. “You’ll wake the guards!” Richard replied, voice still a whisper to avoid hurting his throat, but stronger. “That’s what I want. One has the key to these blasted things.” Fial stared at him. “And how are you going to get it?” She asked, apparently convinced he’d lost his mind. “I’m not. You are.” He replied, banging the hand again. “Me? Why would I steal? For a wizard?” She said, huffing a little. “Because if you help me, I can help you.” He said, looking at her again. She seemed suspicious. “What have you to lose?” He asked calmly. She didn’t respond, just gave a nod. Nothing. She had nothing to lose.
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