The Sorceress

Chapter 2

Erydite stared glumly at the chessboard, wishing with all her might that she was somewhere else, doing something productive. Something that was actually going to benefit her, which this pointless game wasn't.

A movement from the other side of the board made her raise her head, and look straight at the face of Linda, her eight year old opponent. Who, sadly, was winning. Linda looked right back at her and produced a massive, crooked tooth smile, which made her whole face look contorted. Erydite could not return the sentiment in her current frame of mind.

'Come on Ery finish your turn, I feel like I've been waiting for hours.' Linda complained, toying with a piece of her platinum hair. Erydite balled her fist up in annoyance, trying not snap at the whiny child. She hated the nickname Ery, and she had told Linda that numerous amounts of times. 

'My apologies little miss.' She replied calmly, shifting one of her knights in an un-strategical move. Linda giggled, and Erydite couldn't tell if it was at her abysmal chess skills or at her use of 'little miss'. Then Linda had her go, and it took the child all of two seconds to figure out the best course of action.

She muttered under her breath, and the chess piece slid of its own accord across the board, coming and taking the knight which had been foolishly situated in the pieces path. Then she murmured again, and the defeated knight hovered in the air, eventually coming to a rest on her tiny palm.

Every time Linda did these little bits of magic, jealousy would rage through Erydite like a tidal wave. The girl was almost sixteen years her junior, yet her magic was about tenfold more powerful than Erydite's, who had not produced a wisp of magic in her life. But she would, eventually. Hopefully.

'Goodness Ery, what is wrong with you today?' Linda inquired innocently, creating a gentle breeze with her magic. The breeze tickled and taunted Erydite's face, causing slight irritation to well up inside her. 'I will tell mother that you have become dreary to be around, maybe she will make Henrietta play with me. But she has become too busy with her magic studies, so maybe Alanna instead.'

Erydite flicked a pawn one space forward, not even bothering to acknowledge Linda's threat.

'Your turn.' She said bluntly, gesturing to the board with her left hand.

'I was wondering Ery why you don't you just move the pieces with magic, it would make life so much easier,' Linda stated, talking like she was the older one. 'My mother told me you were useless because you had no power, but I don't believe her. You must have some power, I mean you are the daughter of a Prime Sorceress after all. Just like me.'

Erydite clamped her mouth shut, trying with all her energy not to grab the girl and shake her. To yell at her that she was powerless, despite being descended from incredibly talented magic wielders.

'Can we not talk about this now please? I wish to just finish this game.' Linda nodded innocently, her jovial smile never leaving her face. Brat, that what was what Linda was, a stuck up brat. The girl knew that Erydite was powerless, but still liked to rub it in that she was already wielding magic.

They went through a few more tedious rounds of chess, where Erydite was losing badly, until finally the game was over, with a checkmate on Linda's part. Erydite couldn't help feeling anything but relief when Linda announced that she was board of playing the game.

She went to stand up and ask if Linda wanted to play something a little more exciting, when the door leading into the room burst open, and a disgruntled messenger ran in. He stead there panting, sweat pouring a river down his red face.

'Are you Mistress Erydite? Mistress Tamora's daughter?' He gasped, looking slightly ill. Erydite forgot all about Linda as she stood up quickly and strode to the messenger, feeling slightly fearful.

'Yes.' She said hesitantly, voice mercifully steady. The messenger looked like he was going to pass out with relief.

'The Prime Sorceress's have called a meeting, at the Arch Sorceress's request.' Erydite froze, mouth open in shock. Something must be wrong, really, really wrong. The Arch Sorceress never called meetings. Now powerful fear boiled inside her, and she felt slightly nauseous.

'W-where is the meeting being held?' She stuttered, her hands shaking.

'The Prime Sorceresses are in the north tower, along with a few others. I advise you to hurry, they have already started the meeting.' He replied. Erydite nodded her head in understanding, grabbed her cloak from its location on a stand, and sprinted to the door. She looked back quickly and saw Linda still sitting at the chess board, looking confused and terrified.

'You look after her until someone else comes by,' she commanded, pointing at the messenger, who nodded his head.' I don't know when I'll be back so make sure she eats something.' Then with a spin of her foot, she turned around and marched out the door, quavering slightly as she did so.