Daylight is Mine to Protect

Seperation

As my head throbs in pain and white noise threatens to overcome my ears, I dimly notice Strickler is also on the floor in pain. The others have raced out to help us, but I can't tell more as a voice suddenly speaks. "My dear followers." The voice is velvety to a fault, so sickly sweet, I almost believe it wants the best for me. But I know Morgana is not as pure as she sounds. "The time has come for you to repay me for the life I have given you. My loyal servant Angor Rot has succeeded in getting Merlin's staff, the Staff of Avalon. My moment of release is soon!

"Help to free me! Come, my army, and we shall take over Troll Market at last! The fool Merlin won't know what hit him. And...." I shiver goes down my spine. "For the one who brings me my apprentice, I will give the highest honor. She has strayed from my shadows and needs someone to guide her home. So go forth, my children, and let our reign begin!"

The pain fades. I gasp for breath and stare at the ground. I still can't hear anything besides my own thoughts. 

A yell. It breaks through the silence. I look up. A purple-pink flash with knives is racing at me. My staff appears in my hands as I am shoved against the wall, my staff the only thing keeping the curved knives from my throat. "Traitor!" Namura hisses, trying to push her knives into my skin.

"Namura! What are you doing?" asks Strickler. 

"She has fooled you all," Namura yells, glaring at me. "But I know who she is."

"Namura," I grunt, trying to push my staff away from my throat. "You know I ran away. Why would I want to go back?"

"You were always so found of Morgana. Why else would she want you back alive?"

"I don't want to go back," I growl. "Why do you think she's telling her changelings to come find me instead of just asking?"

"I'm sure it's all a part of her ploy. Don't think I would believe you would change after so many years!"

"Namura!" It's the Trollhunter. "Put the knives down." I turn my head slightly to look at him. He is in his armor, pointing his sword at the changeling. 

Contrary to the Trollhunter's wonderful suggestion, she pushes the knives closer to me. "Why should I? I bet you all don't even know who she is!"

Jim's sword lowers slightly. "What do you mean?"

"This human--" She pushes her knives even closer, and I gasp trying to keep them away with my staff. "--was Morgana's apprentice."

"Impossible," Strickler retorts. Apparently, he is blind and deaf. "I had a Stalkling finish her off ages ago."

Namura cackles. "Is that what you think? If that were so, Morgana would've already had your head!"

"Wait." Jim seems confused. "Amber was Morgana's apprentice?"

"Is that the name she's going by now," Namura muses.

"I was never Morgana's apprentice," I reply through my panting. It had all been a ruse, I want to shout, but that would only make my situation worse. My limbs start to shake. Namura is stronger than I remember. 

"Why don't we get a gaggletack and see what you say then!"

I smile. For once, Morgana's lies work out in my favor. "Go ahead! See if that has any effect on me!"

"Even if we wanted to use a gaggletack, the nearest one is in Troll Market," Jim says. Wonderful. I almost wish he did have one.

"Well there are other ways to prove who she is," Namura snarls. "After all, Morgana's pets always show their true colors after a little prodding."