Karielle And The Return Of Magic

“There is someone coming from the south,” he said, trying to quiet his winded horse. We spotted her from the guard tower near the southern wall. She waits there now for your pleasure. We weren’t sure we should let her through.” “Why is that?” Jasper asked. “Well, er, she looks kinda like a warrior, sort of,” Tanner said. . Expanding her sight, Kari looked into the distance where the southern gate was located and gasped. Now she knew why Ethra had cautioned her and Jasper. Jasper had Tanner take his winded mount to the picket line, while he picked two fresh horses. He then ordered the guard to hurry back to the southern gate and personally bring the visitor to them. “As you will,” Tanner said, “But you’d best pick a bigger horse. She’s a tall one, the woman is.” A much larger horse was selected and the guard galloped off. The pair watched as eventually two horses appeared in the distance. Tanner could be recognized because of the helmet he wore, but the other figure, even at a distance, appeared to be extremely tall on the horse she was upon as they rode towards them. When the pair finally got to where Kari and Jasper stood, they could see why Ethra had told them not to be surprised. At first glance, it was difficult to tell whether it was a man or a woman. The figure was at least six feet four or more in height, lean and long legged. The feet on those legs nearly brushed the ground as they straddled the horse’s midriff. Her body was sturdy and muscular yet feminine at the same time. The closer she came, Kari and Jasper began to see more detail. The woman wore a brightly colored tunic-like dress, but with slits up both sides for easy walking, or in this case, riding. Around her neck were several necklaces of either beads or seeds. At one ankle tiny bells jangled as the woman moved. She carried a long walking staff that had a string of feathers hanging from the top end and more bells. Where the final surprise came was to see that although her shiny black hair was extremely long, the sides of the woman’s head were shaved just above the ears. Around her head, the woman wore a beaded band with symbols depicted upon it. What was more, the woman’s skin was so black, it gleamed. The couple had never seen anyone quite as dark before. When the visitor’s horse came to where Kari and Jasper stood waiting, she smiled. Her teeth gleamed in the sunlight, straight and beautiful. “The day brightens with your presence,” she smiled. “Well met, friend,” Jasper held out his hand. “We are Karielle and Jasper Barhaven of Rolgrin City. Welcome.” The woman dismounted gracefully, kneeled and bowed her head to the ground, placing her palms downward in front of the couple. “I am Yahmenemn of Cos, Dacada of my people, come to this land over great waters.” Stepping into the room, Kari was shocked to see a beautiful woman sitting upon a gilded and jeweled throne at the end. “Well, it’s about time you got here,” the woman’s voice was silky, yet filled with venom. “I’d just about given up hope that you’d come.” Kari kept her wits about her. Somehow this woman had been aware of her arrival. Perhaps she was gifted with a form of magic of her own? “I’m here now. Please do me the pleasure of your name?” “How is it that I know your name, Karielle Hawke Barhaven, and you do not know mine?” Cautiously, Kari realized she was going to be involved in a game. “As you may also know, I’ve been a bit busy lately. Powerful I may be, but I have no need to be aware of the name of every unimportant sorcerer in the land.” Her words were meant to be a bit of barb that struck a nerve. It worked. The woman bristled. “My name should be known to you, Karielle. I am not one of your lesser wizards.” Calmly appearing to flick a crumb from her sleeve, the woman continued. “My name is Mordana. I’m sure if you look back far enough, you’ll find me.” This was going to be fun, Kari decided. She liked games. In the past there had been the occasional woman who tried to outwit her in the arts of female tongue bashing, but Time had helped Kari to become an expert. “Mordana? Sorry, I have never heard of you. Your foul deeds obviously have totally escaped me. However, as I understand it, there are three of you residing in the area. Where are the others? And do they also claim to be someone important?” From a curtained hallway just behind Mordana, two men entered to stand beside the woman’s chair. One was almost skeletal in appearance. His face was nothing more than chiseled planes and hollows. There was no smile gracing his lips and he held his tongue as he stood quietly beside Mordana’s chair. The second sorcerer was more human in appearance, at least more flesh graced his bones. His handsome face was clean shaven and his thick wavy hair hung just below his shoulders. In another setting Kari would have thought him quite a catch for a woman. She could feel the evil emanating from him, though, and that spoiled his looks. “You are aware, are you not, that an edict was sent throughout the land long ago that the practice of the dark arts is forbidden?” Kari tried to appear nonchalant and relaxed even though every fiber of her being was tensed and ready for anything. “Oh? And just who thinks they have the authority to dictate to one and all what can be practiced? You? A mere woman who is purported to be the greatest mage of all time? What pomposity.!” Mordana moved slightly and yet Kari was prepared for the flash that was meant to pin her to where she stood. “Sorry,” Mordana sighed sarcastically as she shifted her weight once again upon her throne. “That just slipped out.” “If you try another ‘slip’, Mordana,” Kari said, acidly, “I’m afraid you’ll find I can match your power with some of my own. And it won’t be a slip!”