The Mage

Chapter Ten

She had let the horse go, the bridle and reigns lay discarded on the ground. She wasn't sure how bad the mountain passes would be, she felt her journey would be quicker on foot. That morning as she was about to enter the mountain pass a great bear  appeared. Taking shelter in the rocks she hoped it hadn't caught her scent. It was still spring and the bear would be hungry, maybe it found the horse's scent before her's. She watched as it lumbered by. There was something strange on its back. A broken spear from some disgruntled farmer? No, it's too wide. 

She was surprised to see a weasel standing on its back. It wasn't looking her way but out on the foothills where she had been earlier. This is too weird, she thought. Were they spies belonging to Regnash, as they passed near she felt a strange feeling of power. Deciding to risk it she followed behind as she wove her way through the rocks. 

At midday the bear stopped, it waited for the weasel to jump down before standing up to stretch. The bear idly scratched its belly and went off to do its business behind some rocks. She watched the weasel scramble up on some rocks to resume its lookout. When the bear finished it and the weasel traded places, before it climbed on the bear's back to resume their march south.

She struggled over the decision to follow them southward or go into the mountain pass. There has to be some explanation to this. Curiosity finally won out as she began her weave once more.

Ratheke beat his wings in haste. The Master would not be pleased with this news. Bask had ordered him to take flight as soon as he had dispatched Olan. If he saw Dagan and Loth he was to inform them of the situation and to let them know that they would be close behind to aid in the search for the blood mage.

His wings were swore, too much flying in these past few days. He thought about the long break he would take once they had completed their task. Maybe a month's stay at his favorite whore house in Toth would do the trick.

Nearing the mountains of Silva he continued his scan for Dagan and Loth. Since he passed the spot where they parted, Ratheke had flown low in order to spot them. It was late in the afternoon when he saw a weasel jumping up and down on a very annoyed bear. Ratheke swept into land, watching Dagan let Loth tumble to the ground as he stood up. 




What is going on here, she wondered as a raven swooped into land. Seeing the weasel jump with excitement had thrown her for a loop. What are these creatures? Her eye's widen as she watched all three transform to men before her.

There was a flurry of lively conversation. She could hear raised voices in anger. She cursed Agmae for being too far away to hear what they were talking about. The man who had come as a raven changed back, she ducked down as he flew over her and into the mountains. He must be going to Regnash, he is too quick for me to follow him on foot. I could use a tracking spell. She looked at where they had been meeting. The bear and weasel were on the move again. The weasel would be the easiest one to use for the spell. Marking the spot where the pass was she set off after them. She hoped they stopped to rest come nightfall. Praying they would stay in their animal forms, for it would make the capture easier. 




Landing in the tower Ratheke hopped down and changed his form. The Master was reading the parts of Lascraith, and was annoyed at being disturbed.

"Well, Ratheke. Did you find it?"

He coughed, trying to cover his fear. "I'm sorry Master. Olan did not have it." He watched as the Master stiffened.