How The Soothsaying Started

Magic has it's ways

Meanwhile at Eisen, the rest were shopping for more supplies, even though they had restocked two days ago. Rose remembered something Nicklaus told her to pick up for him. A sapphire ring, and she was to tell no one else. Nicklaus said that he read that you can store magic in gemstones like sapphires, and Eisen had amazing sapphires for holding vast amounts of magic.

    Rose walked up to a small general store. The building in itself was very rustic, obviously meant to attract the more masculine sort. She pushed the wooden door, and small bell gave a ring as it opened . A rather tall, broad man stood behind the light wood counter, ten feet away. She gave light stride and was soon face to face with the man whom she dwarfed.

“Excuse me, but do you happen to sell sapphires?” She asked boldly. The man gave her a quick look before his deep voice responded. “Yes, we carry them, but why would a little lady like you have any interest in one?” He replied. Rose wasn’t expecting such a question, and had to answer quickly. “Oh well… don’t you think.. the, um,  color.. is rather, um, lovely?” She felt like she couldn’t come up with any better excuse, she has to play the part.

“I suppose so… It’s just that not many  people are interested in them.” He spoke, while opening a small door that allowed him out from behind the counter.

    The man looked even more menacing the closer he stepped toward her. He was obviously trying to intimidate her, every step toward her he took, another step she took away. Rose’s small stature made her only chest height to the giant man.

“Look. Why don’t you just get the sapphire, I’ll pay you, and then I’ll be out of your way?... That sounds reasonable... doesn’t it?” Her voice cracked mid-sentence. Her back finally hit the wall, she couldn’t move any further, but he kept moving toward her until they were mere inches apart.

“You’re a magician aren’t you?” He whispered. This question threw her off a bit.

“Wait... what?” Her breathing getting heavier. He slammed his palm onto the wall, centimeters away from the left side of her face.

“Don’t play dumb with me!” He bellowed

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about!” She stammered, trying not to let her nervousness show.

“We’ll see about that…”

    He quickly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out of the building. Villagers took notice rather quickly and started to huddle around the scene. An older man on a walking cane stepped forward and spoke with authority. “Transel! What by the Damned Lord Horanus is the meaning of all this?!” Rose could only deduce that that name belonged to her captor, as he tugged at the handful of hair.

“She’s of magic, sir!” The enlarging group gave a gasp and began to murmur.

“Has she admitted to this?” The elder asked in surprise.

Transel: “NO! The little whore won’t even speak up! But I caught her trying to buy a sapphire!”

Rose:“Please! Just leave me alone, I’ve done nothing!” She cried.

    Transel threw her to the ground, and she landed face down in the dirt. Rose tried to crawl away, but Transel quickly stepped on her and forced her to stay pinned to the ground. Everyone of her friends were away getting supplies, so no one could rescue Rose now. That was all true until, out of nowhere, an amplified voice cried out “Levitare la ragazza nel mezzo del gruppo di uomini fino a me!” Suddenly, Rose was lifted into the air to the roof a building with Nicklaus and Kaza.

“Nicklaus! Kaza! How did you two get here!?”

“Nicklaus wasn’t sleeping really, just trying. Anyway he said he thought something of the sorts might happen to you.” She said, carefully wiping the mud and dirt off Rose’s face.
“It’s true.” He sighed. “It was selfish for me to ask and get you involved in this. This town’s history said it was once ruled by ones who are of magic. It was truly one of the most terrifying incidents ever. Anyway, I’ll tell you all about it later if you want.”

“So the girl WAS innocent, but we got ourselves a wizard to kill!” The shopkeeper called from below them.

    Nicklaus wasn’t intent on running, but on getting a sapphire. Rose and Kaza tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t budge. Nicklaus told them return to the caravan, he was going to take a sapphire ring. The girls nodded, but they went to get the rest of the group in the western side of the giant city.

Nicklaus said “Fammi sparire”, which made him vanish from sight. He ran between the cluster of men to confuse them and into the shop, but somehow unnoticed. Inside, he took a ring that had a dragon design and two sapphires in the eyes. He quickly ran back outside to see that the gang was gone, and went to the center of the town.

    Nicklaus tried to find the group with little success. He ran west saying “Fammi correre più veloce!” He started to speed up.

Nicklaus came upon a horrendous sight. His friends were tied to long wooden poles, about to be burned alive for traveling with him.

It was all his fault, and he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t have enough energy to use a spell big enough to save them. There was only one way,it was dangerous, but the time demanded it.

    Nicklaus started drawing energy from the men trying to kill his friends. He took almost all of the men’s energy, but stopped when they were close to death.

Nicklaus shouted; “ I sei persone sui pali di legno fuori i poli e metterli accanto a me!” and followed with “ Trasportare le sei persone intorno a me per la carovana nel deserto che è nascosto!”

    Suddenly, they were all in the caravan. For a moment, they all just sat and listened to each other breathe. It was late at night, but they got the hell out of there like no tomorrow.