Battling Magick

Character Profiles:

It was a night of nights in the snow-capped isle of Taylashas. The enchanted woodland was aglitter with lights. But it was not the bright lights of merriments. It was the lights of magic. The snow was melted by fireballs leaping from the hands of the most skilled mages. Lightning crackled burning the graceful aspens that stood guard over the island. Energy in various forms threatened to blast the isle off the face of the planet.

Inside the famed Tower of Moons, the royal family exerted all their forces in an effort to restore order over the panic- stricken people. They admitted the populace into the tower, a weak and possibly meaningless effort to protect them from the terrible intensity of the magical battle ongoing just outside the capital city of Cimayenne.

Laura Illyone was not among the elves who poured into the tower, nor was she among the royalty who sought to impose order over the terror-stricken citizenry. She was a princess by all means but she did not mind the work that was supposed to have fallen into her hands.

She was, in fact, running out of the tower. But there were so many people streaming in. The sea of bodies carried her back into the tower. She screamed.

"Let me pass! I must go to him! He needs me now!"

Her ramblings were ignored, drowned out by the wails of the people. She got up once more and surged through the crowds. They paid her no heed, their only thought was safety, escape from the terrible devastation outside.

Pushing, elbowing, squirming and weaving, Laura finally came through. But she was late. Too late.

Lying on the burnt grass was a body, a smoldering heap of bones covered in black robes. To this, Laura ran, she ran fleeter than the winds. She reached the body and collapsed before it. It didn't move of course. Fear-stricken, she lifted the black hood off its face, hoping beyond hope that her instincts proved wrong.

She gasped in horror at the sight as she turned the body over. So burnt was it that only the fine-boned, coldly handsome face of a silver-haired young elf was recognizable. The face was untouched of the raging fire that consumed his body. The eyes were closed in their final peace, the lips slightly blue yet oddly smiling as if from some pleasant dream. She brushed back the thick brown hair. Despair clutched her heart with an iron grip, a grip stronger than even death. Tears began to stream down her pale drawn face as she lovingly caressed her husband's cheek.

"No," she sobbed, feeling his soul slip away from the body. "You cannot leave me here, Parrise!" She shook the cold limp body. "Parrise! Answer me, my love!"

"Parrise!"

Laura bolted upright in her bed, shivering in remembered terror and agony. She could never forget her husband's death. Even as she sat in her room-their room-she could feel the touch of his soul, lingering in the darkness, reaching out to her. Her bed was too wide to be just for her. Now staring at the empty space beside her, she began to cry, cry as she did when he died so many long months ago.

She stretched languidly, now too restless to sleep. Shivering, she got up. Wrapping herself in a worn woolen cloak that once belonged to her husband, she padded softly out of her room. It was an hour past midnight and all the elves living in the Kayani Palace were either asleep or working in the kitchens.

It was just as well. She did not want anyone to see her. Not after her association with her dark elf husband. Parrise had been a necromancer. When he first came to Taylashas, he pretended to be just another elf migrating from Wilina Isle. He was handsome, intelligent and skilled in his magic. Impressed by the young elf's abilities, the king, Laura's father, appointed him as his personal advisor.

And then he met Laura. At the time, Laura was only a century old-about eighteen in human years-and an initiate to the Sisterhood of Aquinal, and just about the most beautiful elfmaiden the dark elf had ever seen. Laura had smooth ivory skin, pale blue eyes the color of the winter sky, incredible fine-boned features and a head of dazzling golden blond hair brighter than the sun itself.

She was young and it had been easy for him to pursue her and make her fall for him before he struck. Because the dark elf was of high personal favor with the king, he was able to obtain his blessing. Laura and he were married the night of a full moon, considered a powerful night of magic to people of his race. And on that fateful night, Laura discovered his secret. Yet she was so much in love with him that the love blinded her and she turned her eyes from his evil. The elves then never knew of the necromancer in their midst.

And then, about a year after their marriage, when Laura was expecting their first child, an old elven cleric making a pilgrimage to the Temple of Stars in Cimayenne, a very rigid man even among his people, smelled Parrise out.That was the night the battle ensued. Parrise had not wanted to spill high elven blood, if only for Laura's sake. He didn't use his magic, as a fact, and he died. In the chaos that followed his death, Laura miscarried their child, though she believed the loss was induced by the elves.

Now, Laura was to stand trial to see if she was influenced by her husband's dark nature. Not even her kingly father could save her from this trial. And she knew well enough what was going to happen. The trial was only a show. She was already guilty of treason. They knew she was dangerous and her punishment would be exile.

So intent was she on her musing that she did not see the tall slender figure roaming the palace nightly. Laura crashed head-on to a dark-haired elf.

In the dim illumination of the light cast by the glowing walls of the palace, she could see an elfwoman, about half a century older than her. The woman wore night blue robes, a black hood cast dark shadows over her face. With Laura's vision though, she was able to see the glittering green eyes hidden from within the depths of the cowl. Laura recognized her instantly.

"Out so late, my dear sister?" The voice was soft, almost purring yet mocking.

"Why are you here, Jemaine?" Laura returned. "Were you not confined to your rooms by our honored sire?"

Jemaine Illyone shrugged disinterestedly. "Walls hold no restrain over us magi." She carefully drew back the hood. Her face was youthful, tan and fine-boned, coldly beautiful. "You dreamed again Laura. It was not a very pleasant dream, I presume, considering the troubled look on your face."

Laura started back. How in all the universe did Jemaine know what was going on in her mind?

"Tomorrow they pass judgement," Jemaine went on. "Are you perhaps having nightmares of that?"

Laura met Jemaine's cool gaze without flinching, her own eyes darkening to steel blue. "You tell me what else is new. The judgement will exile me of the only home I ever knew."

Jemaine gripped her wrist hard, the long bony fingers digging into Laura's flesh. "I'll repeat my offer to you, Laura. This land holds no meaning for both of us. Say the word and I will teleport us elsewhere, saving us the humiliation in store."

"You've asked me that for the upteenth time, sister, when in truth you would not have bothered. State clearly what you want The older elf smiled coldly. "I am making things easy for you, Laura. I do not want my only sister dying in the coming war."

Laura glanced at her sister sharply, dangerously. "What war?"

"The dark elves of Moyoni. They're plotting revenge for their dead kinsman." Jemaine cast her sister a long patient look. "Your husband."

The pale eyes clouded for a moment in serious thought. Then there was laughter. "You sold us out didn't you, Jemaine? Isn't that always your way? Now you want to escape eminent death and destruction."

"I look out for myself and no one else!" Jemaine snarled in return.

Laura begain to laugh again. "Oh you are smart, Jemaine. All right. I will come with you. You are after all my sister..."

Her last word echoed softly in the winter night as Jemaine started to chant arcane words beyond Laura's understanding. Her soft voice mingled with the dying echo of Laura's words. The hallway was spinning...

"Sister..."