The Mage

Chapter Two

It was a large room beneath the foundations of the ruined temple which stood as the last remnants of a great city of old in the ever encroaching desert. Shadows lined the outer walls while the light gathered around them in the center of the room. He stood in the middle of the transmutation circle, the outer ring lined with lesser men chanting in the old tongue. They would serve their purpose without second thought to their safety. Two of the trusted brethren stood at their anointed spots. A scream of pain rang out through the room. 

He gave no thought to the cry of pain as he concentrated on the task at hand. Behind a thin sheet screen a woman lay covered only by a sheet. Sweat drenched her body as she clenched her hands and pushed. She wanted it to end, for the baby to be born. Summoning all her strength she put it all into this last push. The cry of a newborn was her reward as her heart was elated with joy. Closing her eyes she laid back to rest only for them to snap open as the blade slit her throat. As she gasped for breath they rolled her on her side, a bowl was quickly placed beneath the cut to gather her blood. The one holding the baby dipped his finger in the mothers blood, and drew on the babe's head and stomach. 

Exiting the screen he carried the child to the man in the center of the room. Kneeling before the man he presented the girl to the man. The man did not look up as he raised his hand over the child, he spoke in the old tongue before guiding the child down. They laid her in a small basket, from the screen the two other brethren emerged with the bowl. They carried it to the man, stopping behind him they lifted it up before tipping it over the master. 

Blood powered over his body, he welcomed it into his mouth tasting the iron. Setting the bowl done the last three brethren moved to their spots in the transmutation circle. The master spoke sharply, flames leapt from the basket engulfing the infant. Its cries were muted by the spells woven over it. It is almost complete, the Master thought, this power will allow me to rule the world.




***




He had shed the snake's skin a day's march from the village. A growl from his stomach told him he had not satiated his appetite. The animals of the forest only provided so much nutrients, he longed for the flesh of man. When darkness fell he made his way towards the center of the village. Stopping outside of the house Ratheke and his brethren had described, he cast a spell over the village. 

Knocking gently on the door he waited.

"Its open, please come in."

He smiled to himself. The old man was bent over his books, setting down his pen he turned to see who his visitor was. The shock sent him reeling backwards.

"Its you!" He cried.

Regnash smiled, "Your too kind, lore master." He moved towards the old man, he stopped inches from him. Opening his mouth the fork tongue snaked out and licked the side of the lore master's face. The lore master clenched his eyes as his body shook uncontrollably

"Your fear tastes lovely. Now tell me where it's at."

The lore master struggled to control his nerves. "Never."

Stepping back, Regnash sighed, why are they always stubborn?' "You know what I've become. You know the hunger I have. I think I'll eat this whole village, then just take what I want."

The lore master's head sagged, "Its behind the rectangle stone on the left side of the hearth."

Regnash moved to the fireplace as the lore master crumpled to the ground. He pulled out the rectangle block. In the hole behind the thin block he found what he was seeking. The brick clattered to the ground as he pulled out the bound bundle of pages. Flipping through them, he smirked.