Slave to the Empire: Sorcerer 4
A memory of seasons past...Savren only caught glimpses of Lady Trelyana
during that period. It seemed to him that She was avoiding him after each
lesson. It hurt him to think such, but he did not know what to do. Then it all
changed. He managed to wait for Her outside her chambers one night and stood
silently as she approached. Her lips were compressed in a thin line as she
spotted him. She opened her door and paused, then snagged one of his ears and
launched him into her room.
"I trust there is some reason for this apprentice." Her voice could
freeze water.
"I...I wanted to see You Mistress."
She slapped him. Hard. His eyes lost focus at the blow for the moment.
She kissed him.
"You should not be here." She whispered, stroking his face where her
blow landed. "It is not proper, not like this."
"I love you."
Her pale skin seemed to flush pale pink for the briefest moment. Her
hand fumbled in one of her pouches. She withdrew a small jewel and clipped it
to his collar.
"I have spoken to your mother."
"Oh."
"I will meet her mate-price." She ran her hand through his hair, an
almost gentle gesture. "You must go now. I have to leave for a few days on a
mission for the Empress. We will have a formal betrothal when I return."
Savren took her hand in his and kissed it gently, then withdrew. He
threw himself into his work, gathering in both magickal strength and knowledge.
Lady Trelyana never returned to the Tower, and he grew worried. Something was
amiss, but even his Master said nothing about it. Investigations on his own
turned up nothing. It was a cold autumn day when his Master called him to her
presence.
"Savren, a situation has developed to which your unique skills will be
of great asset."
"Yes Master?"
"A four man team will be going north into Iceholme to take care of some
business."
"Man? You mean four men Master?"
"Yes. You are at a level where your abilities will allow for the
success of this mission." She opened a small case on her desk and withdrew a
silver pendant.
"This is a binding charm. If you accept this mission, you must be bound
to the Empire. Both for our protection and yours." Her tone was serious. "Do
you accept this?"
"May I ask a question Master?"
"You may."
"Does this in anyway relate to the disappearance of Lady Trelyana."
Her eyes softened. "Yes."
"I accept."
Esmerelda attached the pendant to his collar and spoke the words of the
charm. Savren shuddered as he felt a wave of magick flash over him.
"Gather your robes and your staff. We must be off."
"Where to Master?"
"Your home. The others will be gathering shortly in the Hall of the
Dragonriders."
Homecoming proved to be bittersweet for Savren. He was only allowed a
brief embrace of his mother before everything was brought into the open.
"Now that we are all here," Syrena spoke. "We can get down to
business." A half-elf stood behind her in armor with a pack at his feet. He
saw that there were two other men along side the two newcomers.
"This is the mission that you have all been prepared for." Syrena looked
them over. "Successful completion of this mission will mean that the threat of
Iceholme will be neutralized for a long time. Failure will mean a long, drawn
out war. Each of you is masters of your chosen fields, and we have added to
your training the best we have been able. I know it will be difficult on you
all having to work together in this, but it has been for the best that you were
all trained separately. Aerick, former mercenary commander, will lead you to
your destination." She nodded at the half-elf. "Kieron, former thief, yours it
to get the party into the heavily guarded Castile Torment." She nodded at the
human beside the High Inquisitor. "Savren, sorcerer born, you are to provide
magickal support." Savren nodded to himself. "And finally, Sir Toril, Paladin
of Sioban Morning Star, to you will fall the harsh task of warrior to guard and
protect your fellows."
Hallia looked at the assembled four. "There is a crystal inside that
castle. It must be destroyed."
"What does it do?" Savren inquired.
"It has the power to detect and render Inquisitors incapable of using
their gifts. Had such a crystal not been created, we would not have needed your
assistance in this matter."
Esmerelda leaned on her staff. "The castle is shielded from hostile
magicks. It is relatively open to the mental disciplines of the Inquisition. A
team of sorceresses, Inquisitors, and Assassins was sent in when we first
learned of the possible existence of the crystal, but they were killed. Their
deaths must be avenged." Savren paled, his hand white on his staff.
Finally, Murelle turned her gaze on the four. "They were killed by
Cymra the Black, once Lady Cymra, second daughter of Empress Corrine IV. As per
Imperial law, the daughters of the Empress are to be trained in all of the main
houses. She was a brilliant student, but flawed with ambition and pride. She
sought to master skills and knowledge that had been forbidden since the first
Empress. She was exiled four hundred and seventy two years ago. She traveled
far, and learned much, including the dark rites of resurrection. She cannot be
killed by mortal means. She has aligned with the Lich King of Iceholme and
seeks to avenger herself upon us. She must be destroyed. She is an abomination
to everything we hold dear and sacred."
"Now you know." Syrena leaned on her spear. "You are to penetrate the
interior of Iceholme, steal into the Castle, destroy the Dark Crystal, and
escape. With the crystal destroyed, the Lich King will not support Cymra, and
we will be able to restore peace to the border. The appropriate gear has been
prepared for you all, and you will all leave immediately. Are there any
questions?"
Syrena nodded slowly. "Then may the Goddess keep you all safe."
Savren took several deep breaths to cleanse and calm himself. His
Master stood apart, speaking softly with the High Inquisitor and the Vampire.
The Dark Lady of the Assassins slowly turned her head to stare at him. He
blinked as if something leapt between them.
All four bowed formally to their respective owners, then filed out
silently to the portal that would take them to a special site along the border.
"Remember," Syrena said in parting. "You have until the next full moon
to complete your task."
And the four stepped through the portal to the northlands.
Cold artic air flowed around him, but he did not feel it. The bleak
landscape of Iceholme mirrored his heart, and provided no comfort for his weary
soul. Many long years brought him to this point. His renewed training brought
him many hardships and suffering, but he persevered and completed his training.
His robes provided him with some shield against the endless winter, and he
peered from beneath his hood to the three others that traveled with him. The
Ranger and the Rogue knelt side by side and spoke in low tones, motioning in the
snow, planning their course. The warrior stood apart like Savren, ignoring the
elements as he watched the horizon. His hand strayed to his throat, to the
collar he wore. Beneath it dangled a silver medallion that served as both his
rank and prison, for it held the geas that bound him to the Empire's service.
He held the staff close to his body as the others approached.
"We have much ground to cover today." The Ranger spoke. "Getting past
he border patrols will be no problem, nor will any wandering tribes we
encounter. We have a fortnight to reach the Castile."
"I assume that you have means to get us there undetected?" Savren
asked.
"Yes." The Ranger replied. He pulled out several white canvas suits.
"We each wear these to help us blend in with the environment. They are lined
with good wool to keep us warm."
"No magick?"
"Magick would just signal our position to the Arch-Lich's wizards." The
Rogue spoke. "We have a short time to complete our mission. I would not have
to fight my way through a horde of orks and undead to reach the Castile and have
to face Cymra the Black exhausted."
"Ah." Savren replied. As part of his training he was taught the tale
of the fallen heir.
"Don't you just love targets of opportunity." The Rogue spoke.
"Hmm." Savren accepted the canvas clothing. He dressed quickly and
secured any loose belongings. He remained apart from the others, isolated in
his own private pain. She was dead.
"I'm Kieron." The Rogue spoke.
"Savren." Savren replied.
Kieron studied him for the moment. "Who was she?"
"Excuse me?"
"The one you loved."
Savren's eyes flashed. "I would thank you to keep to yourself. My
thoughts are my own."
Kieron raised his hands in supplication. "I meant no offense. I would
gage that all of us present have been affected in someway by the actions of
Iceholme."
"It might be a fair assessment." The Ranger spoke. "I am Aerick
Se'trask, former captain of the Ghost Wood mercenaries."
"I have heard of you." Savren replied. "Your tactics against the
Lich-King were masterful."
Aerick shook his head. "We were overmatched from the start. It was a
fool's errant."
"Perhaps." Savren replied, surveying the landscape.
The fourth member of their company remained silent and apart. Savren
noted the arms and armor of the Paladin, but it seemed diminished. Dimmed of
the normal radiance that was the inner light of warrior. Savren turned away
from the warrior and examined the view. It only took minutes for the foursome
to be on their way across the ice plains. From his studies he noted that they
were not exactly south of the Castile, but more to the north west of it. Most
of the defenses of the fortress were directed to the south, where attacks were
most likely to occur. He extended his senses to feel the currents of magickal
energy around him. There was a massive concentration located around the
Castile, dark and oily. There was an over abundance of death energy around that
place, and Savren shuddered slightly.
"Everything alright?" Kieron asked.
"I'm fine." Savren shook off the feelings.
"Is it the currents of magick?"
Savren stared at the young man. "You understand such things?"
"In my line of work you have to." Kieron wrapped the camouflage tightly
about him. "I used to be a thief."
"And now a slave to the Empire."
Kieron shrugged. "Are we not all slaves?"
"In some ways. I was born to it, you have embraced it, Aerick works
with it, and the warrior...I feel it just ran over him."
Kieron smiled wryly. "Perhaps you could enlighten me."
"Oh?"
"Why is it that the Lich-King wants the Empire?"
"I'm not too sure. There are a few legends that surround what may be
the truth."
"And they are?"
"According to the more obscure legends, to the west of the Imperial
Capital there is a Gate of Worlds. A portal that leads to other worlds."
"Any truth to the legend?"
"There is a massive fortress at the supposed location. The First
Imperial Army is stationed there permanently. Draw your own conclusions."
"And where does this 'gate' lead?"
"No clue. I don't even know if it exists."
"Any other tales about our would be conquerors?"
"There is the old standby...rape, pillage...make slaves of the women..."
"Why make his fortress in the north?"
"The cold acts as a kind of preservative. The dead don't rot as bad in
the cold."
"I should have known." Kieron spoke. Aerick dropped to the ground and
motioned for everyone to follow. Savren reached forth with his senses and
searched. There was no magick present, so it must be a mundane threat. Beside
him, Kieron motioned to the east. A line of black dots moved towards the south.
"Ork patrol." Kieron explained.
Aerick crawled back to the rest of the group.
"We'll make for shelter for the night. Follow me."
The four moved slowly to the northwest. Four hours later they reached a
small grotto that would serve as a primitive shelter, and a casual glance
indicated that it had in the past.
"We'll wait here until nightfall." Aerick explained. "We have about a
three day trip to reach the Castile, and I want us all rested for the trip."
They split up watches to wait out the night. Aerick used some Nature
Magick to ward the grotto and keep the four warm.
"Why is it that you can use magick whereas I cannot?" Savren frowned.
"I use a form of Druidic magick, the kind of which our adversaries do
not use. The nature of the magick will mimic that of Ork shamans. We will be
safe." Aerick responded.
"Very well." Savren wrapped the canvas tighter about him. "I know
little of the Druidic path, but I will trust you in this."
"Thanks." Aerick grinned.
Savren watched Kieron pull a small pendant out of his armor. It was
similar to the one that Lady Trelyana gave him.
"You have been chosen?" Savren asked.
Kieron quickly tucked the jewel back into his armor.
"A...gift."
"More like a promise jewel." Savren replied. "You are to be mated?"
"Yes."
"Be sure in your heart that this is what you want." Savren replied,
thinking of his own pain. "Take the joys that come...and prepare for the
heartache of loss."
"As you have lost?" Kieron asked.
"Yes."
The two men huddled together for warmth as the Ranger stood watch. They
would all be in the thick of it soon.
