The night had turned cold as an icy wind blew strongly from the north. The heavy clouds that had been threatening rain finally released their burden and the rain was steady and cold. I continued through the night, I was late returning to my studies, my Master probably would not be pleased at my late arrival. The assignment he sent me on should not it taken as long as it did, but there is always one more person that required assistance.
The eerie scream that I heard chill me more than the rain and the wind. It was too short to get anything more than the general direction from where it came. I began heading in that direction facing directly into the wind when a softer cry come to me. The second more muffled, but it spurred me quickly onward.
My Master hated the fact that I would charge toward danger. He said it made me look like a hero, and heroes normally died horribly. I never thought of myself as a hero, but I was no coward and run from the danger either, especially if they were someone my assistance may save.
From the sound, it could not be much further even though I know the wind can carry a softer sound much further than normal. As I crossed the tree line stepping into the wide clearing I saw what had made the scream and why. Face down in the mud was a man about fifty paces from me, a beast, a werewolf ripping at his flesh, from my position I can see another small figure trying to hide but still could not fully muffle her crying.
Anger boiled in me as my magic sore to new heights; instinctually my first attack knocked the werewolf away from the victim. As the beast struggled to regain his footing, a lightning bolt flashed across the distance separating us. The beast howls as lightning burns its flesh for a few seconds. It finally drops to the ground as smoke rises from its body.
I approach the body on the ground and it lies unmoving, even from a few feet away I know he will never rise. I turn and find the girl to check and see that she is hopefully unharmed, even a scratch from the beast could be very bad. My footsteps flushed the crying girl from her hiding spot, and I have to sprint to catch her. Once I do we come to a sliding halt, and I had to step back quickly to avoid her small dagger, I finally brought light into existence and the girl’s eyes widened realizing I was no threat to her. Her hood is down and I cannot truly see her face, but from the way she stands, I can tell she is calm now.
She returned her dagger to its sheath. I bowed to her, rising I say, “I am Julius, apprenticed to the Master Wizard Justin of Benton.”
She takes a deep breath and says, “I am Isabel. Is my manservant alive?”
I shake my head no before I ask, “Are you uninjured Lady Isabel?” Not many people nowadays could afford a manservant so it stood to my reason that this young woman was the child of a noble.
Even in the dim light of my fading spell, I could see her smile. Isabel says, “I am uninjured young wizard, I am also no lady my father is a merchant of some renown. I am Isabel daughter of Jeremiah from the house Morgan.”
I knew Isabel, and of her father Jeremiah Morgan a very wealthy merchant, Jeremiah was leader of clan Morgan. I remember Isabel, a young girl maybe four years younger than I am; she just sprung up over the last few years since last I saw her. Although, his household usually did not remain in any one city for a great deal of time, they have traveled through this area many times. I had always look forward to their passing. For the last few years, I seem to have missed them for one reason or another. That did not explain why she was here by herself with only a single manservant. I ask, “What brings you out in such a dangerous place Isabel?”
Isabel explains, “Julius if you would be so kind to take me to your Master. I bring goods for your Master. He has a long-standing order for rare spices. We did not expect any trouble or father would have sent me with a larger escort.”
