Desert Life

[Kale Allerion]

We spent the night in the Valley of Dalovea, a few miles outside of Estermoor. This dark, threatening place was the last place I wanted to sleep in, but both of the Sky Guards and Gaius agreed that it would be better to camp there than inside Estermoor - at least, until we had become more familiar with the place.

A crecent moon hung high in the sky, seeming to smile upon we four we four weary warriors. Was it a smile of encouragement, or one that mocked our misfortunes?

Either way, I couldn't stand to look at it. I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

____________________

"NO!"

I awoke with a start at the sound of my brother's panicked voice. He was sitting up, hand clutched to his heart as he breathed heavily. Again, he shook wildly and his skin took on a fearful pale complexion.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

Gaius shook his head. "Nothing," he replied. "Bad dream."

I wasn't convinced. "A-are you sure?" I stammered, analyzing his condition. Something was terribly wrong. I could sense it.

"I'm fine!" he hissed. "Just go back to sleep."

I scowled. "Fine," I retorted. "Good night."

_______________________

After Gaius' second "episode", I found it impossible to sleep. I could sense that my brother wasn't sleeping either, but I was too angry and confused to talk to him. My restless mind raced until the purple-pink break of dawn.

Those Sky Guards know something, I thought. I don't know why they're not telling me, but when they wake up I had better get a good explanation.

[Apollo]

We walked the sands following the little we remembered of the ancient wizards. They were the ones to trap us.
I know. . .and it was I that let you out. . .wasn't I once. . .We feared him remembering the way he once was so we began walking again. . .But our thoughts wandered back to the man that had let us out, reading an ancient scripture reading he should have kept quiet. . .But for us it was good he didn't. . .
What?
We said nothing. . . let us continue. . . He could not fight us all but an unwilling host at this point could never be good. . .And we don't need that. . .

[Kale Allerion]

Bristan, Akasa, and I walked ahead of my brother, who seemed to be in a trance. He said nothing upon waking up that morning, and my fear for him increased with every passing second.

"I know you know something," I said in low tones to Bristan and Akasa. We were almost through the Valley of Delovea and into Estermoor, but I was getting impatient. "What is going on with Gaius, and why aren't you telling me?"

Bristan rolled his eyes. "Because," he said. "We could be wrong. It could be nothing."

"Besides," Akasa added, a wry smile on her face. "I doubt you'd believe us if we told you."

"Try me," I challenged.

Akasa's face took on a compassionate expression. Gaius shook his head and sighed.

"We think..." he began. "We think he might be a mage."

My eyes widened. "A mage?" I echoed. "No. Not Gaius."

Akasa giggled slightly. "Told you that you wouldn't believe us."

I turned to look at my brother, who didn't seem to know we were talking about him. "What makes you think he's a mage?!" I demanded, a little too loud.

"Ssh!" Bristan and Akasa hissed simultaneously.

"Sorry," I whispered. "But..."

Bristan held up a hand. "Let's not discuss it anymore," he suggested. "There are people in Estermoor who can explain it better - confirm our suspicions."

I nodded.

My brother...a mage?

[Apollo]

Valley of Delovea lay before us and the small amount left, though we disliked it, was not far behind. The dragon came to us again during sunset and gave us their direction.
"Their still going the same way sir. . .sirs. . .but there is something else. . ."
"What?" we asked.
"It seems two of the warriors we are follwoing belive one of the twins, what your. . .uh. . .apprentice wants. . .to be a mage. . ." We placed a pinky under his chin, lifting him in the air. "What!" we yelled, our thousands upon thousands of voices yelled together
"He's wounded though, so I belive me and a few drags may be able to catch him and if we do. . .we stand a better chance sirs." he gritted his teeth, trying to not feel the pain.
"No. . .no no no no no no. . . that's what they will expect it. No, we must wait until a better opening shows it self to us. . ." We let him down and tried to focus. "Takes another. . .drag. . .and take Rapier with you." With that he looked up at us smiling.
"yes sirs. . ." and they went off.

[Kale Allerion]

After what seemed like ages we made it out of Delovea and into Estermoor. No sooner than I crossed the little brook that divided the wasteland from the valley did I begin to feel the magic thick in the air.

Gaius was right, I admitted, twirling a strand of hair uncomfortably. Even if the stories are tall tales, this place still is magical. I can feel it.

The magic in this place was so strong and overwhelmed us all - all except Gaius, oddly enough - that we had to stop and rest a bit after less than half an hour after crossing into Estermoor.

___________________

"Shall I go search for some food?" Gaius offered, smiling brightly as the rest of us sat, drained. "Or maybe some firewood?"

I looked at Bristan questioningly.

"He's starting to get used to his unknown powers. The magic in this place is strengthening Gaius as it weakens us," he explained, smiling slightly. "He is a mage, no doubt."

Imagine that, I thought in wonderment.

"We'll need to find a good Archmage who'd be willing to train him," Bristan continued. "Once he knows how to wield the power within himself, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. In fact, we all will."

"Well?" Gaius said impatiently. "What do you want me to do? I can't just sit around doing nothing!"

"Go hunting, then," Bristan suggested. "I could use some fresh meat."

"Same here," Akasa said, putting a hand over her stomach.

"Will do!" my brother said before transforming into his panther form and running off.

I smiled proudly as Gaius vanished into the horizon.

"A force to be reckoned with," he said...my brother. A mage!

_____________________

It wasn't long after Gaius went hunting that the three of us fell asleep. Yes, we knew that we needed to be on the alert in a place like this. Yes, we knew that there could be evil mages or goblins just waiting for us to lose our guard so they could steal from us - or worse.

But...we were tired! I put up a good fight to keep my eyelids open, but eventually fell asleep with my back against one of the few trees in this wasteland, the sound of crickets ringing in my ears as I drifted off into unconsciousness.

______________________

I don't know what exactly woke me up. I know I felt something on my leg. A bug? A rodent? Some small animal had been crawling on my leg and woke me with a start, but by the time I opened my eyes it was gone.

It was then that I realized that my cape was missing. It had been crumpled between my head and the tree, and now it was gone. I stood, checking to see if it had slipped to the ground. No.

Strange...

I heard a giggle, like that of a young boy. A gust of wind flew by me and the dagger that had been laying on the grass next to Akasa disappeared.

"Wh-who's there?" I asked to the air.

Bristan's sword vanished.

Ghosts?

There was a rustling in the high grass and suddenly I saw a small child laying crumpled in heap not far from where we were. He had my cape tied around his neck, Akasa's dagger in one hand, and Bristan's sword in the other.

"Hey!" I shouted, running after the little thief.

"Aw, crap," I heard him mutter, awkwardly rising to his feet. Once he was up, he tried to run, but I got there first and knocked him to the ground - um...with a little more force than I had originally intended.

"Ow!" the kid cried. "What'd ya do that for?"

"What'd you steal our stuff for?" I asked, mocking his tone. "Who do you think you are?!"

"For your information," the boy said, dark brown eyes arrogant. "I happen to be a high-ranking apprentice of Fenrirr, the Archmage."

Just then I heard footsteps behind me. Bristan and Akasa ran to my side.

"Fenrirr, eh?" Akasa echoed.

Bristan smiled wryly at the mage-kid. "Sounds like you dropped by just in time," he said.

[Apollo]

We were told the report many times over, the apprentice and his master were still alive . . .after our many attempts to kill them they had survived. We have tried everything to rid ourselves of those pesky mages for centuries! How do they still live?
Ancient magic. . .but we have some now masters. . .see? any army is useful when it isn't on it's stomach.
True. . . we thought to ourselves. "Raise the army, we move at sundown." We yelled, our many hands prepared our many weapons. "We will march through this valley with speed that will give us our enemies!" We yelled, our army yellig in response.

[Kale Allerion]

"Take you to my master?" the kid echoed our demands. "Hah! You can't make me do anything! I posses great powers that you outsiders couldn't even begin to imagine!"

By now, Gaius had returned. He'd had no success hunting game, but we'd caught someone that could prove far more helpful.

That is...if he decided to cooperate.

"Oh, really?" I challenged, arching an eyebrow. "Let's see about that."

I nodded to Gaius, and he smiled slyly. In a blur, we simultaneously took on our feline forms. The mage-apprentice's eyes widened and he took a few fearful steps backward. We closed in on him, growling, until we had him backed up against the tree.

"Aah...um..." the brat stammered. "Ok-kay! I'll take you to Master Fenrirr, but I cannot guarantee he'll want to see you!"

Satisfied, I transformed back into a human and Gaius followed suit. "I'm sure he'll find what we have to say very interesting," Gaius said. "Just lead the way."

[Apollo]

Halfway through the valley we could now hear whispers in the air. . .I knew who was the cause of making them. Master Fenrirr. . .the coward always took flight before fight. . .not like us my borthers and sisters. . . We trecked on, wanting his blood in our hands.

[Kale Allerion]

The Archmage's apprentice's name was Tuk, we found out. He looked like he was about twelve years old, although he wasn't sure of his age.

"Ya see," he began as he lead us across a sea of quicksand that he had solidified with a wave of his hand. "I was abandoned as a baby. One of my master's servants found me all alone in a broken-down house and took me. I've been living with Master Fenrirr ever since."

"Wow," Gaius said in response.

"So you gained your magical powers from Master Fenrirr, then," I assumed.

"Oh, no!" An arrogant grin crossed Tuk's face. "I was born with my magical powers. They just weren't realized until I was about...um...nine years old, maybe? Eight? I don't remember."

"So...you've always had magic in you?" Gaius asked, seeming both bewildered and amazed at the same time.

Tuk nodded. "That's what separates us mages from the others," he explained. "They have to learn spells and rituals. We don't."

"The others," I thought. What a little snob.

"If you don't have to learn spells and rituals," Gaius said, obviously more interested in this topic than any of the party. "How do you do your magic?"

"I already told you!" Tuk groaned, exasparated. "We just can!"

"Can what?!" Gaius demanded, stepping in front of the child-mage and blocking his path. "Stop being so secretive!"

"Pssh..." said Tuk. "No need to get so bent out of shape!"

Rage crossed Gaius' features. Oh...no, I thought.

"LISTEN, KID!" he shouted. He grabbed Tuk by the cuff of his shirt and lifted him ungently off the solid quicksand. "Tell me what is going on RIGHT NOW!"

Tuk began to quake with fear.

"Let him down, Gaius," I said, trying to soothe my enraged brother. "He's just a kid."

"Shut up!" he ordered. "He's just a kid who is trying to keep secrets from me! Weird things are happening to me, and he knows what is going on!"

"I don't know anything!" Tuk cried, kicking his legs in the thin air. "I swear, I don't! I hardly even know you!"

Gaius' eyes turned into firey slits. He turned to Bristan and Akasa.

"You," he whispered with deadly passion. "You are hiding things from me."

"Gaius..." Bristan trailed off. "It was...for your own good."

Gaius cast Tuk's small form a few feet away. The child cried out in pain. In the blink of an eye, my seething brother was at Bristan's side, in his feline form and ready to pounce. Stunned, Bristan drew his dagger.

"GAIUS! NO!" I shouted as he leapt into the thin air.

Bristan held his knife high in the air. Gaius was above him, claws sharp and ready to tear through the Sky Guard's flesh.

And then all of a sudden...he wasn't. He had vanished.

Too stunned to speak, I turned to Tuk for an explanation. He let out a sigh of relief before vanishing.

"What's hap-" Akasa's question was cut short when she, too, vanished into thin air.

Then Bristan was gone.

Terror overtook me, and I did the only thing that seemed logical at the time - I ran. Running is pointless in a place as full of magic as Estermoor. I felt something like a great gust of wind overpower me. I fell. The sand, the gray skies, the few trees - everything faded into shadows.

[Apollo]

"There it is. . ." we said to ourselves. We kept moving, this close and we were not going to lose the trail. Our soldiers all seemed fine which meant no one here was a mage. . .Though a mage on our side would be nice to have.
Silence! Malek's mind seemed to move away from us. It is not about magic here, enough souls who can do the spells and such can be just as effective. . .we have learned this. We showed Malek our fights against such mages, sucking in parts of their souls.
Only parts?
They were able to destroy their connection to the great magic, the human connection we could take but we have never recieved a whole mage. . .and if we did. . .
I know what you all can do now. . .More power than that is hard to think possible.
But we want it. . .for our true goal. . . We smiled at the very thought of it.