Kadnor: Tails of the Comet War

Coming of the Comet - Ch.1

Onthe great globe of Kadnor spinning eternally through the cosmos, onthe huge lone continent in the midst of the endless ocean, in theKingdom of Grinmolden wedged between the Bearded Peaks and theKingdom of Malhaven, atop a forested mountain that cast a shadowacross the farmlands below, beneath a starry sky and a full moon, onthe highest tower of an ancient castle, Elizabeth Fairweatheradjusted her spectacles. Peering at the pages of her book, she saw toher dismay that it was not The Beginner's Guide to AstrologyVolume 3 but rather one of her erotic novels that had somehowfound its way into her curriculum material. Trying not to think ofJax Beefjaw and his slab-like abs, she cleared her throat and lookeddown at the dozen young wizards sitting before her. They were a mixedbunch, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-three, ranging inheight from four-foot-one to six-foot-seven, and ranging inintelligence from 5 to 18.

"We'regoing to skip today's chapter," she said authoritatively. "Idon't want to keep you young ones out here on a night like this."

Herstudents, who were visibly shivering in the cold night air, lookedrelieved.

"Whowants the first turn with the telescope?" Elizabeth asked,gesturing to the large instrument set up beside her.

"Ooh,me! Me!" piped up Roxie, a young lady with dark curly hair and ablack leather jacket embroidered with orange flames.

"I'mgood. Can I just go now?" asked Olga, a large format woman withblue woolen robes and an exceptionally large wizard hat.

"Youmay not," Elizabeth retorted. "We'll not have that attitudearound here."

Olgagroaned. Elizabeth smiled as Roxie put her eye to the telescope,gently moving it up and down.

"Startby finding the Big Spoon."

"Foundit, Ms Fairweather."

"Thenfind the Great Celestial Cereal Bowl. Those two constellations arecrucial for navigating the heavens."

"Oh!"Roxie said excitedly. "A shooting star!"

"Ah!"Elizabeth gave the class an eager grin, hoping this mildly excitingoccurrence would be enough to get them involved. "A trulyauspicious omen that can foreshadow all manner of portents."

"Thisone doesn't seem to be burning up like they usually do," Roxie saidcuriously.

"MayI have a look?" Elizabeth asked.

"Ofcourse, ma'am, absolutely!" Roxie obediently stepped aside.Elizabeth peered through the telescope, frowning as she followed thecomet in its path across the sky.

"Trulyfascinating," she said eventually before turning back to herstudents. "I can see you're all shivering, so unless anyone else isdying for a look through the scope, class is dismissed."

Thestudents rose immediately and headed for the stairs. Elizabeth sighedbefore shivering herself. She had thought the outdoor lessons wouldbe a good change of scenery, but so far they seemed about as popularas Arthur the druid's wildlife field trips.

"Kidsthese days," she muttered with pure Boomer energy. She looked backup at the comet once more before following her students.

* * *

Thestudents filed through the castle's drafty corridors to theirrespective bedrooms.

"Wotchadoing tonight?" Olga asked, walking together with Roxie. The two ofthem, now twenty-years-old, had been friends since they had firstcome to the castle fifteen years ago.