Chapter 3

Riasen rubbed her temples sliding her hand over the cloth. It wasn't the most beautiful thing, but it would do. The gown was like silk, falling to the ground with a high waist. It had long flowing sleeves. Riasen smiled fingering the dress lightly. She was almost sure you could fit it in a nutshell, the cloth was so thin. She glanced over at Chain, who watched her with almost glowing golden eyes.

<Midday strikes.> Chain slowly got to his feet, nudging Midnight with his nose. <Wake up little pup, it is time for us to play.>

"Play?" Riasen snorted, pulling the dress over her head, leaving her breeches and shirt wadded up on the floor. Her own midnight hued locks sliding down her back to her waist. She rubbed her arms, wishing they weren't so bony.

"Mommy!" Midnight bounced up and clamored to her feet, arms outstretched. He squealed as Riasen picked him up and did a spin on her toes. "Mommy!"

Riasen laughed, settling him on her hip, glancing at Chain. Chain padded to her side just as the door opened. Draconis, for his part, didn't show his surprise as he bowed slightly. Riasen swept out around him, her fingers clasped tightly around Midnight. This wasn't going to be easy.

"Nervous?" Draconis actually sounding remotely concerned. Riasen scowled, tilting her chin up as much as she dared. "I'll take that as a no." He smirked, his boots hitting dully against the stones under their feet. They were polished, you could see your face in them, if you stood long enough to look. Riasen glanced absently around.

Huge tapestries hung low along the walls. Small bobbing lights glowed along the halls, shimmering with different colors. Riasen stopped a moment to look up at a unicorn tapestry. It was beautiful, the unicorn looked like a regular mare, only with the golden horn. Blood streaked down her white flesh, the knight dressed in black armor.

"That's my favorite." Draconis's fingers clenched tightly around Riasen's elbow, leading her deeper and faster down the hall into the heart of the castle. He didn't know why he said it, he actually preferred the one of the green dragons horde in the dining hall. Riasen's face had tightened into a stubborn line. Then again, maybe he did know why he said it...

"Captain." The guards saluted, the hall had spilt leaving a T sectioned way. Inside was the royal audience chamber. A floor up was the Mage counsel's. Riasen forced her hands not to shake as she stumbled at Draconis's side. Did he have to hold her elbow so tight?

The golden wrought doors swung open on well oiled hinges. Riasen's black blue orbs blinked back the sudden on rush of light. Where the halls, with all the multicolored mage lights, were dim. The audience chamber was bright as the sun it's self.

A page, dressed in the royal colors stuck his staff against the stones, sending the murmuring crowd into hushed whispers. The crowd, standing, sitting or leaning, did it on either side of the golden embroidered walkway. The royal family sat in large ordinate thrones on a raised platform. The king and queen on the highest, the first prince and his wife, and their three children on the next, and the other assorted family on the final platform.

Midnight clung to her throat, as his wide golden eyes glanced around the room. It was easily one of the biggest rooms of all the kingdom. Unfortunately, even here, the Church was present, in the form of one Archbishop, standing in crimson and white.

"The Captain of the Royal Guards, Draconis, accompanied by Riasen and Midnight of the Unicorn Clan." The page spoke after a whisper from one of the mage appearances. Riasen double blinked, since when did the unicorns claim her kinship? The page spoke up again. "And Chain, of the werewolves." Chain woofed softly, staying by Riasen's side, his fur glimmering like her dress in the light.

The mage's, scattered about the room, whispered to each other. It sounded like a very large snake had somehow slithered into the room. Riasen shivered, feeling many sets of eyes land on her at once. She looked around, sure enough, there was DreamWeaver and Lisette closer to the throne. Malea, the head of the North, stood next to them. The lady healer too, who often didn't come to such meetings, stood there as well.

"Wow..." Riasen whispered, hefting Midnight higher on her hip. She squared her shoulders, some little voice in the back of her head urging her to straighten up and act regal. "Come on Midnight.. Mommy won't let anything happen to you."

Midnight sniffled, his arms threading closer along her neck. His cheek was almost feverishly warm against her cold neck. Riasen shivered and moved forward slowly, and as regally, as possible. She won't let them see her fear. Even though her dress was the only thing keeping the crowd's eyes from her shaking knees.

The murmurs only grew as she stopped and bowed, not curtsied, to the king and queen. Riasen shifted uneasily in her fine dress. She felt stupid, bowing and scrapping to a family who didn't care really if she lived or died. Her midnight hues shifted toward DreamWeaver and her sister. Their hands were clasped gently together. Riasen forced her nose not to crinkle in anger.

"I am happy to see the mystical healer we hear so much about..." Her majesty spoke up from under her layers and layers of silk, and embroidered cloth. Riasen wondered how she felt, under all that mess, she was old, her hair was white and flaxen. Her son was well and able to take his parents place. But with the magic they remained on the throne.

"I am Honored to be here Majesty." Riasen lowered her gaze, fingering Midnight's tunic. She was about to run screaming from the castle like a wild harlot. The only thing keeping her nailed to the spot was the sympathetic looks of the Lady Healer and another female mage. They both were plenty older then her, but they watched with emerald and silver gazes mixed with compassion.

"However, working magic without the counsel's training or permission is forbidden in our land." The king's voice was rough with aging vocal cords, and it rasped over every word like it was his last. Riasen found her gaze drifting more and more to the two women and their counterparts.

The lady healer was every bit the same as the myths running around the market place. It was said that with her fiery hair came a fiery temper. She was the best healer in the city, and with her mate Malea at the head of the mage counsel, one of the most influential as well.

The other mage, Riasen only knew by the way the air spirits darted around her. She was dressed in tight black leathers with a sword laced at her side. The man at her side, towered only slightly over the tall Amazon. The black leathers accented the blond streaked red hair and daring silver gaze. She was more foreign then meek little Riasen.

The man was dressed in comfortable black robes, but well worn leather flashed if he settled on his feet just so. As well as a sword. Who were these two mysterious people? Riasen forced herself to turn back to the royal couple, seeing as they were waiting for an answer and the crowd was murmuring up a storm.

Riasen blinked as a sudden thought came her, as if from a long past dream. She bowed like a courtier, producing a bouquet of fresh roses. And in the middle of spring, when most of the roses had plucked for the sweethearts, this was quite a feat. "Your majesty..." Riasen murmured, the roses floating from her hand to shower rose petals over the grandchildren and old couple. "I am in perfect control of my magic."

"Then you would grace us with your explanation of the Unicorn?" Malea's soft tenor rose from his lean relaxed self. Long locks of ebony fell into his doe like brown eyes. Riasen shivered under his cool peaceful gaze.

"Midnight was a mixing of magic, but all accounts he should of passed on." Riasen brushed her fingers along Midnight's leg. "What I did was nothing short of a god sent miracle." She lowered her gaze. What she said was true, it took at least 4 healer-mages to try something like that. To walk away with just a headache was a true blessing. And Riasen wasn't about to correct them in their thinking.

Malea smiled to himself, his fingers clasping lightly around the lady healer's waist. Riasen shifted her gaze back to the top platform. "Very well.. I shall leave it up to the Counsel to desire your fate. I only hope they can think of a fitting punishment." The King motioned her away with a flick of his wrist.

He must of been a mage... For just then the crowd vanished out the doors. Like rats escaping a sinking ship, the courtiers and diplomats scattered. Riasen gathered her flailing nerves and looked around. The royal family had scattered like leaves in a winters blizzard, not a one was about. The only people left were the strange couple, Malea, and his lady.

Riasen shifted on her feet, setting Midnight down to clasp his legs around her leg. The pale woman in black leathers raised a slender brow and smiled. She pointed absently at Riasen's bony calf, showing easily now through the cloth. Riasen blushed and tried to pluck Midnight off her leg. "I see you do have good control over your gifts.." She spoke with a strange accent, the trade tongue wasn't bad, but it was odd.

"And Imagination..." The Lady healer smiled and her fingers moved, the dress becoming a good five pounds heavier, but no longer showing flesh. "That's a very good spell... I don't suppose anyone taught you..?" Her emeralds raked over Riasen with a good once over. "No.. You don't have the look of someone officially trained. Your still wild..."

"She's very much like a Skeleton." The other woman chuckled softly, stepping closer and clasping Riasen's chin, raising her face to the light. Then she laughed and caressed her cheek. "I'm sorry childe... You looked so panic stricken... Don't worry, we won't bite your head off..."

Riasen smiled back, brightly almost, the two women were so familiar in a way. She shook her head and looked at the two silent men. They looked perfectly happy to let the women have their once overs. Were they so relaxed with them? "I know Malea..." Riasen tilted her head to the side, looking over at the others. "But..."

"Names?" The tall dark man murmured. His voice was deep, echoing from a thin frame. He looked almost like a stork, his hair was long, almost to his waist, and braided in a thousand tiny braids. "Call me Windblade. I'm afraid you'd trip up anything else I gave you, Sone't."

"He calls you little bird..." His mate laughed, kissing Riasen's forehead. "I agree Sone't... You look like a little curious bird... I am Blaize." She smiled, her pale skin wrinkling only enough to let her do it, then she stepped back wrapping her arms gently around Windblade.

Riasen grinned, she normally didn't like nicknames. But for some reason the two calling her Sone't didn't harm her pride. In fact, in felt rather warm, like they meant it like an older sibling or a fond aunt and uncle. "And I'm Kaele." The lady healer smiled tilting her head slightly. "You've past the test Riasen... "

"I try.." Riasen curtsied slowly, careful not to disturb Midnight. "This is Midnight, and Chain." She motioned behind her slightly. Chain bowed on his forepaws. "He apologizes that he can not greet you in human form, but he's currently unable."

"That is quite all right..." Malea smiled, offering a hand to Midnight. "You are to officially start training today. This afternoon in fact." Midnight sniffed Malea's hand, before sliding his hand into the man's. Riasen shifted Midnight slightly, trying to hide her trembling fingers.

"So Sone't.." Windblade's sullen orbs burned into Riasen's as she turned to face him. "You shall meet My mate and I on the practice grounds..."

Riasen nodded slowly, then she looked back at Kaele, Riasen couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. "I am grateful for what your doing for me..." Riasen lowered her eyes, glancing to Blaize, questions darted to and fro in her mind as she looked upon her.

"But you rather be doing something else ey?" Blaize smiled glancing up at Windblade, then back to Riasen. "Don't worry, we'll keep you so busy you will nary have time to be concerned over minor things..."

"But..." Riasen snapped her jaw shut, what was she doing? Questioning the people who would be her teachers like an equal. She must of gotten idle wits with the headache. She dropped her gaze, shifting her fingers around Midnights shoulders she bowed from the waist to her teachers then moved away.

"She's so.. stubborn." Kaele's voice purred out, as if she was looking forward to the challenge. "I do hope she shows some gift for healing." She smiled as Malea brushed his lips against her temple. "Don't you?" The question was directed to Blaize, who was caressing the hilt of her sword.

"I think... Life is going to get very interesting with her around..." Blaize's lips curled into a tight smile before she turned on her heel and stalked out. Windblade bowed slightly to Malea, before he trailed Blaize out. Malea chuckled, taking Kaele's hand and leading her out.

The throne room was empty, but for a shifting shadow, that slowly became forth. The man was tall, with long silver locks and slightly pointed ears marking him as Elven. In his left hand was a silver colored staff. Sharp golden eyes glanced from one side of the room, to the other. The thin lips curled slowly into a smile before he murmured a word and vanished.

The throne room glowed softly under the mage orbs. Then it was as if someone slammed a hand over the flame. The room was plunged into darkness, not even the sunlight could filter through. The laughter that softly echoed through the halls was soft and cold.

Riasen shivered, she was standing in a large open area, the dirt was the only thing that could be seen besides the four walls. The scowl she wore was classic. Ice was built up at her feet, and slowly enclosing her into a sphere of cold. "Hurry Sone't.. You'll be frozen through soon..."

Riasen didn't' bother to respond. After three hours of similar torture, this couldn't be training, she was to tired to bother being a smartass. And where she was exhausted, her teacher was fresh. They had been trading off, keeping her on her own, while she had no one to switch with, they had each other. They were professionals. Windblade, while he's grasp of magic wasn't as good as Blaize, had a different way of attacking, making his magic just as dangerous.

Riasen closed her eyes, extending her other senses to keep herself from another sneak attack. They were two professionals, against her, she wasn't even that great of a mage. Not like Lisette, who was god's gift to mages everywhere. She had a grasp that would take it and run. Riasen had to twist and mame it before it would remotely work.

"Ahhia!" Windblade's sword sliced where Riasen had been. Riasen panted, now crouched about three feet away from the duo. She was on her feet and running before Windblade had pulled his sword from the ground. Her hands clasped about chest level, light already escaping from the black orb between them.

Riasen flung it into Windblade's face, twisting on her heel to block Blaize's whip with her sword blade. "Your getting better." Blaize was actually short of breathe as she snapped the whip back, snapping a emotional spell at Riasen.

Riasen slammed into the ground, her senses on fire. Everything hurt, her toes, her hair, her fingers... Everything. This was besides the point that she had been keeping Chain and Midnight from flying to her rescue. Riasen slowly unraveled the spell, only to find Windblade's sword at her throat. "You were good." Simple praise was all that he said as he slid his sword from her throat to the sheath on his hip.

"Thanks... I had enough brawls to keep people away until help could come..." Riasen panted, her butt was firmly planted on the ground and she wasn't going to move soon. She hurt, and that was an understatement. She slowly forced herself to her feet. She wasn't going to fail. Sand fell from her flesh as she rubbed her palms on her thighs.

She had changed back into soft leather breeches and an old shirt. A lot of good it did her. The shirt and pants both were stained with sweat and dirt. Not to mention misfired spells. She brushed her midnight locks back toward her braid. Dark blue orbs riveted on Blaize.

"Now, you go wash up, then you meet Kaele for healer training." Blaize actually smiled at Riasen's horrified look. "Don't' worry girl.. It won't be any worse then this..." And as usual, statements like those, were understatements of the year.

It was horrible. Riasen was already battered and bruised, not to mention exhausted physically, mentally and magically. Kaele had not pity for her either. Riasen mused as she sipped her mulled apple cider. She now understood why so few people where healer-mages. Healing was some of the most complicated spell weaving... Riasen winced as she cupped the mug closer. And as normal Riasen behavior, she had found twisting not working.

The other part was, the whole city was in serious need of Healer mages... And She had the gift. Which means.. More training. Riasen sighed, to tired to do anything but sit there on the hard bench of the food hall and mope.

Midnight was as fresh as a Daisy. Chain was his teacher when it came to mastering the small talents he had available to him. Riasen only could smile and shake her head. The little boy didn't need to see his Mommy all bent out of shape.

"Mommy!" Speak of the devil... Riasen looked up to see midnight riding Chain into the food hall. "Mommy!" Still the only word anyone could get out of him without mind speech, and slowly that as fading. "Mommy!" The chorus brought out laughs from the guards. Riasen lowered her chin slightly, so...tired...

Woof! Chain barked right in her ear, sending cider spilling everywhere. Riasen scowled, licking the sweet tart nectar from her fingers. "Thanks Chain..." She grumbled, lifting Midnight off his back and setting him on the bench next to her. "I'll get you tomorrow..."

"Mommy!" Midnight clung to her side as Riasen snagged a servant. After she whispered an order, the servant took off to get the food. Midnight hummed happily, rocking side to side. He was so...awake... Riasen forced her eyes open.

It was probably just as well she wasn't really awake, because the men in the room were whispering about her. And Riasen had quite a temper when it came to things like that. But then, so did a certain Captain...

Draconis's fist slammed into more faces that night then ever in recorded history. Chain had enough presence of mind to get Riasen out of the room, before heading into play with the boys. Riasen found her way to bed with little trouble. Midnight, however, had enough engery to go down and throw small light spells at the drunkards as they brawled into the wee hours of the morning.

Chapter 4

Riasen swung her feet out of bed. The bells annoucing the classes ringing with terrible talent. Even after a year of simlaur training, she still found herself almost exhausted every day. Of course, having a son and training would exhaust the best. Riasen snagged her fighting gear off the rack and started pulling them on. Her little monster chose that moment to bound in. "MOMMY!" He screamed, pitching her eardrums to a new high.

"Morning Midnight..." Riasen leaned over and brushed her lips across his forehead. "I don't suppose Chain told you to come in here... Did he?"

"Yes mommy! Unkul Chain said to tell yew that I was supposed to come wif yew to morning practice, because he had to run on a very im...im..." Midnight pursed his lips, deep golden lakes crinkling under his normally dark skin.

"Important?" Riasen muttered through her shirt as she yanked it over her head.

"Yesh! important! message." Midnight bobbed his head up and down, sending his long dark locks spilling everywhere. "Maybe Auntie Blaize teaches me magic?"

Riasen chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. "You be a good boy, I'm sure she'll teach you something..." Riasen snagged her sword, sliding it over her shoulder. She was alot shorter then most people, and her practice sword scrapped againest the ground when she wore it on her hip. "Come on Munchkin. Lets get breakfast."

"Yes Mommy!" He snagged her hand and trotted just ahead of her footsteps. Raisen wiggled a finger or two at passing guards. She had taken to taking shifts of their watches at night. She liked being busy, and the night air was always peaceful. "Mommy!" Midnight cried his warning to late as Riasen slammed into a opening door.

Riasen bit back the curse and rubbed her nose, looking up at the offender. "You should of watched where you were going..." Windblade chuckled as he reached out a hand to help her up. "You alright Sone't?"

"Yeah... Just lovely." Riasen rubbed her nose once more then looked at her son, who was laughing, but trying to stop the noise by stuffing his hands in his mouth. "I'm just happy my dearest love is finding this funny.."

Windblade's lips curled into a smile. Riasen and her small family, besides Blaize, were the only known people to coax a smile out of him. "I too, find it slighly amusing." He plucked her sword from her shoulder and carried it like it was a toy to the dinning hall.

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