Shadow of the Avatar

Chapter 11 -- Eyes of Ebony

I've always been leery of magic. My ability to see ward spells and bend them only increases my caution. Honestly, I don't think mages really understand what they're doing. Trial and error doesn't seem the right method to explore the powers of creation and destruction...

--Wren

Hanging inverted, her leg gripped by an invisible hand, Wren stared down the side of the wizard's tower fighting a panic. The phoenix necklace burned against her skin, the chain slapped against her face as she dangled in the cold night breeze. A wrong word or motion and she'd plunge to the stone courtyard below. From up here, the ring of pace-wide tower anchor stones looked the size of toy blocks. Heart racing, her stomach tried to crawl up her throat. What did the woman on the couch say? Something about damage.

"Milady," Wren's voice shook so hard the word came out garbled. She swallowed and tried again. "Milady, I meant no harm or theft. My oath to Ishtar, I swear it!"

"You swear do you? What good is a thief's oath?" The woman spoke with a mage's rolling clarity. The tonal quality often indicated the wizard's skill. Wren found this voice mesmerizing; commanding.

She located the source of the sound in the center of the room that appeared to be a library. A woman reclined on a couch facing away from her. Wren saw the corners of a book laying in her lap. The mage held one gold-skinned hand up as if dangling a mouse by its tail. Icy fear went through Wren. When the woman's fingers flexed, Wren felt the pressure on her leg tense and loosen. One gesture and she would fall.

Wren fought for calm. Her head pounded. Hanging upside down alone made it hard to think. Summed with being precariously suspended high above the ground, it took every iota of control to stay coherent. "Milady, the guards wouldn't let me in. I have urgent news for Mistress Desiray. The Corwin Guild is being destroyed. People are dying."

"How did you get up here?"

"Milady, I climbed!"

"Climbed?" She sounded as if she'd never heard of someone climbing. "You presume the wizard knows Desiray's whereabouts?"

"I don't know," Wren cried. "I only know I have to find her!" Despair welled up in her. A sense of how utterly alone she was. She lived to do Grahm's last request, find Desiray and make the Dagger pay for what they did. If she couldn't save what remained of the guild, what was left? Nothing. Everyone dead, Grahm, Vulcindra, Tarmagal, how many others? "We need her, the avatar will sacrifice them all. She has to help. If she doesn't I--I--" she couldn't finish. She didn't know what she'd do. Her vision went blurry.

"An avatar?" The woman beckoned with the upraised hand. The invisible force around Wren's legs tightened to the point of pain as she floated across the small chamber and hovered inverted in front of the mage.

Beautiful in an alien way, plush body draped in orange robes, the mage appeared like no person Wren had ever seen. A wave of silky brown hair tumbled into her lap, contrasting ochre-gold skin. The moment Wren's eyes met hers, she felt paralyzed. Like gems cut from obsidian, the entirety of the mage's eyes were space black. In their depths, Wren saw what looked like stars. Unlike the black-eyed man, the woman's expression looked stern, but not cruel.

The stars in the mage's dark eyes grew brighter and her brow furrowed. Wren felt a queasy sensation, as if ghostly fingers probed her insides. "Interesting," the woman lifted the phoenix symbol in her palm. "This is composed of Shael Dal. It is not what assisted your climb. Where did you acquire this?"

Wren choked. "Would you believe a dream? Mistress, it's not important now. We must find Desiray, the Brethren are dying!"

The sorceress twisted a strand of hair around her finger. "Desiray's ability to enthrall is amazing. Instants from perishing and you keep chattering about her and that horde of ruffians. Incredible."