Author Games Magi: Eriswen Faervel

Task One: Sponsorship

Ionean banked left, heading towards the village where the others were staying. The wind blew through my hair, throwing it behind me and into Eiridan's face. Riding Ionean was usually fun, but today, my nerves were buzzing, and I suddenly couldn't sit still anymore. I wanted to run and let out some of my nervous energy. I shouldn't waste it, though. I had to be careful about that, because my energy was already lower than I'd like from lack of sleep and if I wasted it, I wouldn't be able to fight.

"Eris, we have to help. There are probably dozens of wounded people down there," Eiridan called over the wind.

"Can you drop Eiri off, Ionean?" I pushed the thought at Ionean.

"Of course... What are you planning, Eris? Don't do anything rash. I can't lose you..." Ionean replied.

"Just make sure you hide really well and conceal those red scales of yours. We don't know what's down there, and I don't want to lose you either. And please don't follow me. If I get caught, I don't want you hurt too."

Ionean circled a clearing while we talked. Eiridan tapped my shoulder. "Eris, what did Ionean say?"

I didn't reply to him right away. "He'll take you down. Go do your thing, Eiri, but don't get hurt, okay? Don't fall off of Ionean either..."

He looked at me quizzically.

"Vaxon's down there, isn't he, Ionean? He came to take us personally didn't he?"

"Yes..." Ionean replied reluctantly.

I looked at the smoke rising from the village and knew that this was my fault. I had to fix it before someone else got hurt because of Vaxon. I jumped off of Ionean's back with practiced ease, chanting the phrase to pull up a shield under my breath and landing lightly on it.

Eiridan looked down at me, his eyes questioning. "What are you doing, Eris?"

"I'm sorry, Eiri, but you're going to have to help them on your own. I have to go fix a mistake that I made years ago. Take care of yourself, okay?"

"Eris, wait!" Eiridan called out, but I didn't listen to him.

Taking off, I headed towards Vaxon's castle. It was a distance, but if I could get above the soldiers for long enough without getting caught, then I could run the rest of the way on the forest floor without exhausting myself.

A familiar meadow passed underneath me, surrounded by a line of soldiers. They were a bit difficult to see in the dim light of the quickly disappearing sun, but I didn't mind, because that meant I would be hidden too. None of them bothered to look up as I passed over them. People rarely did, which usually annoyed me because it was so easy to slip by them that there was no challenge involved. But right now I had a different purpose, and I didn't want them to see me. I wanted them to think they had everyone.

The moon lit up the vivid colors of the spring flowers surrounding the meadow for a moment as I left the sounds of fighting far behind. Then it dipped behind a cloud, disappearing.

I sped up, forcing my weary legs to go faster. I had to do it at the palace, but I had to slip in before Vaxon and his guards got back. I could get in as a servant since they were so overlooked. And then I would find Vaxon's room and wait.

I could stick a knife into his black heart while he slept. It would be the easiest way to do it. No one would find out, and then I could just disappear, a ghost in the night. Maybe I could even kill the whole royal family and avoid having another one of them take over the throne and becoming worse. It would solve everything.

No, it wouldn't solve everything.

Castre would dissolve into chaos while everyone looked for someone else to rule, preferably someone who will care about the people. No one would be able to hunt the magi, but hundreds could die in a civil war for power.