"Aeronwyn, Biort asks for you and the other mages to come, quickly!" A young man, almost breathless, panted the message as he pointed towards the village below. The mages had been working for months to try and perfect their abilities to use their mage crafts automatically. The young man was holding his side from running to find them because they had quickly realized how dangerous some of these patterns could be, the first time one of Aeronwyn's flying stones had been deflected by Moiril into a nearby tree and almost cut it in half. He saw only three mages and wondered briefly where the other two were. Not my concern.
"What is it, do you know?" Aeronwyn was moving to obey the summons as she spoke.
"Islanders. Three vessels sighted, one flying the black flag."
"Parley? They want to meet? That is cause for concern. We are on our way." Aeronwyn called out to the others and then began walking down the hill. "How long before they dock?"
"An hour, Biort said. She will meet with them with an honour guard and asked you to join them as soon as you arrive." The young man called out.
The practice had been going well. Aeronwyn could now build a stone wall supported by her magic and throw stones the size of horses, although not very far. Jerrill suggested that it might be a useful crafting for building but not for much else. Smaller stones she could toss with a lot of power but a fireball could do as much damage and more. Still, it was almost effortless, proving Moiril's thoughts on the matter.
Jerrill's experiments with ice had proven more fruitful. They had laughed but rejoiced the day that Jerrill thoughtlessly was washing his hands while musing about the day's practice and had frozen the wash water. When he held up the water like a large ice cube, Keri had melted it off. Still that was progress.
Moiril's use of air was much more interesting. She had discovered that she could craft the air while practicing her deadly dance of blades. Since both required a mixture of complete focus without thought, she was able to marry the two in unique ways. Today's practice had been firing arrows at Moiril's unprotected back while she danced with the blades. It had been exhilarating to see them stop in midair and get tossed aside by an invisible hand.
Keri had expanded her use of fire as well. She was now able to craft and sustain, although not for very long, a bubble of fire that encased her entire body. They had tried the fire in water experiment that had blown up in the mountains again, although with a much reduced flame and a small amount of water. It had the same result. There was simply something about the substance of water that eluded them.
Still, Aeronwyn was pleased with their progress. While they didn't know much more about the patterns of magic, they knew how to control what they did know. As they made their way down the hill, they chatted about the progress.
When they arrived at the Council House, Biort and the Council were inside with the Islanders. Thugard was absent as the Nereus was taking Cadeyrn and Moiril to the colony. Aeronwyn was concerned that Cha'rai's time was near so she had sent them off to insure her birthing went smoothly and to check the progress of the Skyfolk.
When the three mages walked in, they saw Biort and the council sitting with four men. Biort nodded as she saw Aeronwyn and waved the three mages to take seats beside her. One of the men was speaking.
"As I was saying, honoured War Leader, our King has no issue with the Sessailaine protecting themselves against the rogue actions of Lord Sor-Arhan and his small fleet. We understand that you would expect to keep his vessels as punishment for his actions and wish you well of them" Aeronwyn's mage craft allowed her to know truth from falsehood, which is why Biort wanted her here, she supposed. Oddly, this man was speaking what he understood to be the truth. Biort looked at her and she nodded slightly. Biort raised one eyebrow in surprise.
