Prologue part III

“So, today it begins.”

Lee’s whispered words were punctuated by an explosion so sudden it rocked the sleepy dawn.

The northern guard tower was engulfed with a blast of flame. The light was intense, sun like in the near darkness. Screams of fear and pain echoed in the streets below. Stones and debris, along with dying men, rained down upon the cobbles and houses even as a second ball of flame engulfed the southern tower. Pain and fear echoed across the city as people began to flood into the streets.

“Run. Save yourselves.” Lee whispered to those who were too far to hear her, knowing it wouldn’t matter in the end. They would be the first civilians to fall to the blades and axes of the murders who were coming, to the magic and mayhem which would ensue well into the evening. She knew for she had seen. She knew she couldn’t have saved them all, but she hoped some would live to see tomorrow’s sunrise.

A third explosion sent splinters of wood and metal screaming down the road and into the massing crowds. Destruction and death seemed to spur the citizens to life, their flight of terror becoming more frantic, many running by Lee without even seeing her.

Lee smiled despite the death which awaited her. Some would live. Some would see Devonshire set free once more by the defenders of freedom.

Through the scorched and broken gates marched death itself, the body minotaurs and mercenaries, weapons in hand. The head a Black Wizard wrapped in the shrouded black robes of her order. From the distance Lee watched the man who was at the Wizard’s side. His hood was up, his features indiscernible, but it meant little to her. She knew who he was.

Her neighbors fled for the western gates as fire and death began to spread. Lee remained where she was. Stoic upon her stoop, the wind playing with her grey hair and worn clothes, the sun began to crest over the very mountains which had just been breeched. She watched a contingent of mercenaries rushing into buildings and slaughtering any who stood in there way. Others of death’s hand were so focused on their prey they rushed past her as if they did not see her.

The Wizard and the cloaked man quickly made their way toward Lee. They would have sensed her aura of magical powers and would find her a great threat, despite the fact she would offer little resistance. She reminded herself to be brave, that Targon was with her, and all this was about to end. She had only to endure so little to protect so much.

The minotaurs’ shod hooves rang on the stones as they raced toward her at the command of the Wizard. Weapons in hand, they surrounded her, as if one old woman would prove a problem for twelve full grown bull-men. But they knew what she was, knew Lee might have magic to aid her. It was unfortunate her power lay in seeing the future not throwing around spells of destruction. She might not have had to stand so idly by and await her death if she was capable of such feats.
Lee paid them no mind, keeping her face steady, staring past the swords and the Black Wizard to the cloaked man who stood just feet away from her.

He glanced first at the building behind her, at the symbol of some one who predicted the future. Her husband proudly put the sign there forty years early, though she doubted it would be there for much longer. His gaze turned from Lee’s business to her, though it was hard to read his face swallowed by the depths of the hood. It mattered little. He belonged to a Black Wizard, Tridon’s enemy. She didn’t really care what he felt.

“So, Seer, are you the only magic user this pitiful city holds?”

The female Black Wizard’s voice was soothing, gentle in a noble sort of way, with an air of authority. An authority which should not be ignored. But Lee planned on ignoring the Wizard.
Lee drew herself up straight, taking strength in the knowledge she needed to give Margaret enough time to reach the inn, to hide herself and the scroll away.

“Do you not speak? Perhaps you write your prophecies down for all to see, hmm?” The cloaked man began to inspect his fingernails for specks of dirt, seemingly bored with their conversation, the chaos continuing around them.

Lee noted the Black Wizard did not look pleased by the man speaking, but neither did the Wizard stop him. She was not surprised the Black Wizard appeared to fear the cloaked man. After all, even Black Wizards feared the man’s master.

Lee kept herself steady as her neighbor, a woman of middle years, was pulled out into the street screaming in fear. Lee wished she could give the woman strength, but there was little which could be said to stop what was about to occur. Lee turned her attention back to the cloaked man, abruptly speaking.

“The sword of the High King will reach out from obscurity and find you and Marius, Vandalar. They will find you and send you to your dead God. I only regret I will not be there when they do so.”

The cloaked man took a step back, visibly shaken by Lee’s words. The Black Wizard’s face turned white, her fear clearly written on her face. Lee knew they weren’t seeing an old woman giving empty threats, but a sorceress giving them prophecy. It wasn’t something any, even a Black Wizard, would take lightly.

The Black Wizard glanced at the cloaked man in askance, but he said nothing.

Vandalar took a step back toward Lee as more explosions ripped through Devonshire’s western section, the smell of burnt wood and flesh reaching her nose. Her stomach turned, but she knew her suffering would soon be over.

“Who? Who are they?”

“Do you think I would tell you? Do you think I would smash the hopes of all Tridon just so I could breathe a few more lonely breaths?”

Lee tried to meet his gaze, but she could not catch his eye. From what she had seen of the man, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to, but she had to buy time. Margaret had to get to Joseph’s.

“I will kill you in the most painful of ways if you don’t tell me. I’m quite capable of such efforts.”

Lee was sure he could, a man of his depravity would most likely be very creative. An explosion close to them rained down small stones and dust, many of the minotaurs ducking reflexively, though none ran in fear.

“I am old and it is time for me to return to Targon, Lord of Magic. I will not break my vows to him simply to give into your false promises of life or an easy death.”

And I will not trade my life for Margaret’s. She tightly clutched her shawl, steadying herself with that one small action and thoughts of her granddaughter.

“Perhaps Targon’s mages aren’t all cowards, after all. But it matters little. I will see to the destruction of your kingdom, of your world, and bring my master back from the dead. All you have done, woman, is point out a danger Marius didn’t know existed. I thank you. Marius thanks you.”

“I didn’t tell you to warn you. I told you so you will cower in fear.”

Vandalar chuckled darkly, his hand straying to the saber at his side. “I fear nothing, not even death. What will you give me so I kill you quickly?”

Lee glared at the man, wondering how long the Black Wizard would allow Vandalar to continue to take charge.

“You will die in a way most foul. By both magic and sword.” Lee’s words were steady, strong, taking heart from the fact she was giving Margaret time.

Vandalar reached forward, his breath sour as he placed one gloved hand about her neck. “Why do you taunt me like this? The more you infuriate me the more I will take great pleasure in personally killing you.”

Lee gasped for air, focusing on Margaret’s face in her mind’s eye to feel no pain. The girl would be to Joseph’s by now, especially if she heard the explosions. The child would not have turned back. Gods, she hoped she hadn’t. Margaret would have run all the way to Joseph’s. It was alright to give in to the pain and return to Targon.

“Stop! Van, we need to know if there are any other mages here! You can’t kill her just yet.”

The pressure on Lee’s throat eased, Vandalar releasing her at the Black Wizard’s fearful words, and he stepped back. He rubbed his face in irritation, glaring at the woman Wizard. She took small satisfaction the Wizard cowered slightly at his attention.

Lee moistened her mouth, spitting at Vandalar’s feet, her eyes narrowed upon him. “I would give fear to those who think they are masters of such things.”

The clash of weapons further into the city rang in Lee’s ears, the Black Wizard’s puppet watching her intently for a few moments. She felt relief Margaret didn’t have the spark of magic in her yet. The Black Wizards would pass her over when they searched for those who could use magic. She feared the black hearted man before her would have fun revenging himself upon Margaret if she had the spark.

“I ask again, are there any other mages?”

Vandalar’s voice was quiet, but filled with anger, the emotion not lost despite the noise of death and destruction swirling around them.

“If I won’t tell you about those in my prophecy why do you think I would give away my colleagues? Just kill me, you will get no more of use out of me and I tire of this conversation.”
Vandalar stood watching her for a moment. His inaction made Lee unsure of what he might do next and that scared her more then her death. The man seemed unpredictable even in her visions. Abruptly Vandalar turned from her to continue further into the city, his hand flashing in the air over his shoulder.

As the Black Wizard and the mass of minotaurs moved to follow, one of the minotaurs stepped forward, closer to Lee, a heated look upon his face, though not for her. He nodded respectfully to her, but raised his axe. She did not flinch, she knew it was time. She pictured Margaret and the life she was giving her granddaughter, knowing the sacrifice was worth the gift.

As the sun finally crested the mountains an axe swung unerringly through the morning air to fulfill its purpose.
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Monday: Kredoc Bloodhelm