Half an hour later, with two small packages of food clutched tightly in her invisible hands, Phae hurried through the lower hallways of the Citadel. Though for now at least she remained concealed under a veil of magic, she stuck to the shadows as best she could. She could sense already it was only a few hours until dawn, and if she wasn't quick, she might miss her chance to escape through the portal. She arrived at the council chamber and looked down the stone staircase revealed at its centre. Discovered by her parents long before she was born, the stairway led into a secret sanctum that had once been used by the 'Isle's previous rulers, a corrupt group of mages known as the Inner Circle. Though they had for the most part now been defeated, and their few surviving members scattered across the land, their sanctum still remained, and in it, her planned means of escape.When they had first opened up the hidden sanctum, her parents had discovered, among other curiosities, an ancient por
The night was still dark and the city streets still thick with fog by the time Callum descended from his tower to hurry to the far side of the city, right by the city wall, to the small place his two dear friends called home.In any other city in the whole Kingdom, to walk the streets alone at this hour would be asking for trouble, but here in Asturia, things weren't quite the same as they were on the mainland. People came to the Magical Isle voluntarily of their own free will and in so doing, agreed to abide by the charter that had been set in place in order to keep the city streets safe. Of course, after all that had happened with the treachery of the Inner Circle, Callum had had to have the charter amended somewhat from its old, authoritarian style, but the principle was still the same; Asturia would be a safe-haven for all who wanted to keep it that way, and if you didn't like it, you were asked to leave. Naturally, there were still patrols that watched the streets and patroll
With the coming of dawn, the fog that enveloped the city finally began to fade, and the streets gradually warm to the light of the new day. As the hour approached something like respectable, Callum and his two friends ate a quick breakfast and headed out to the Citadel where they knew the Seer would already be hard at work. Crossing the wide stone bridge that led up to the Citadel's entrance they hurried on through reception to the spacious chamber that the Seer had turned into his personal office. As they arrived they found their old friend standing outside waiting patiently for them. "Ah there you are, I've been waiting long enough for the three of you. Good morning Callum, Lena Aaron."The three companions greeted the Seer warmly, though Aaron slightly less so as he watched for sign of reproach from the Seer for their previous falling out. Even after the many years they had known Elidor, none of them could quite get used to his unnatural ability to know when they wanted to see hi
Phae ran for her life. She didn't even know if any mages had followed her through the portal, but a deep, primal force told her to keep on running.She followed a path heading roughly eastwards before it came to an end and she continued her journey cross-country. Every so often a sharp pain would take her by surprise and she would find herself disappearing, or perhaps running twice as fast, or even at times not even running at all but floating in the direction she wished to head. Her magics were out of control and there was no knowing when they might change again and increase the chances of her capture. At least she wasn't a shining beacon of light anymore. Reaching a small copse of trees, Phae stopped at the first tree she reach and leaned against it, panting hard. Far in the distance to the east she could just make out the first rays of dawn breaking on the horizon which meant it wouldn't be long before her father learnt of her disappearance and started on her trail. She looked
In the land of her dreams, Phae screamed.Every way she turned fire blazed around her, encircling her and keeping her pinned to the spot. In the distance she could hear a faint voice crying from somewhere amidst the flame. She wanted to help but she couldn't. The fire just wouldn't let her.Voices swirled around her, faces forming in the thick smoke that billowed from the flames and tried to choke her."It's all your fault!" Master Kulgrim spat at her. "I am dead because of you!""It's all your fault Phae." The face of her mother took form now, circling her alongside Kulgrim taunting her, urging her to throw herself upon the flames."I didn't mean to hurt anyone!" she cried."You never do though do you." The face of her father now materialised in the smoke. The heat of the flames was getting intense now. She could barely muster the strength to stand. "Admit it child: you're a failure!""Yes child a failure!" her mother agreed. "All you do is bring pain and suffering wherever y
It had been a long time since he had last used the portal to the mainland. He had almost forgotten just how strange it could feel stepping from one world into another. Indeed, the sudden shock of the transition caused Callum to take a step backwards as he appeared on the rise overlooking the farmland of the coast. As he did so he was nearly knocked over by Aaron who followed close behind."Oi, watch it would you!"Callum turned to apologise and then quickly pulled his friend aside as Lena followed them through last of all. Unlike the two men, she emerged from the portal completely unflustered. She took a look around her. "Well I must say it's been a long time since I've been here," she said. "I must have used the portal only a handful of times since we discovered it."Callum nodded. He knew all too well how Lena preferred to travel by sea. He couldn't see it himself he never did get on with boats.He clapped his hand on Aaron's shoulder as his friend narrowed his eyes and scanne
Though they had never intended to rely upon the hospitality of the good people of Keln, Callum, Aaron and Lena had a most refreshing evening after their long day on the road. Aaron especially was delighted when the barmaid offered up desert as well "on the house", though Callum remained reserved and solemn throughout. While he and his two friends ate heartily and rested in the best rooms the tavern had to offer, his thoughts were constantly drawn back to Phae and the misery she was likely suffering in some field or wood somewhere, cold and alone.While Aaron and Lena retired for the night, Callum lay for hours on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, mulling over all that had happened and the path that now lay before him. Was Elidor right was there really a major shift in the world of magic? If there was, it certainly explained a lot of things, but where did this leave him? And what of Phae? It couldn't be coincidence surely, that she had run away at such a crucial moment as this?Cal
Phae opened her eyes and found that she floated in a world of grey. The mysterious robed figure who had saved her from the awful nightmare still held her by the hand, and led her firmly on towards the sanctuary of Lake Forever.He had promised a great many things when he had first taken her by the hand, and foremost amongst his promises was to take her to the Lake. He said he knew a way to make the pain go away completely. If there was even the slightest truth in what the strange man said, he was worth following, Phae thought to herself, realising as she did that even if she did want to leave him, he wouldn't be letting go of her any time soon. His voice was just so alluring, so captivating, and if his promises weren't enough, the vice-like grip he exerted upon her small hand was far, far stronger than she had strength to escape from. She was, for the time being at least, trapped in his control.He turned and scowled at her as she threatened to lag behind."Come on girl there's not