Scenes From : The Blackout

Scenes from The Black Out started off as a prompted writing from Daily Writing Practice. I had so much fun with it that whenever the subject of the days prompt would allow it, I added to the story.


** PART ONE **

On a small outcropping of rock the three stood looking down at the fires below.

Darien, the smallest among them spoke first. “By count there appears to be twelve, brother. Give or take a few. That’s thirty humans if they have a full camp.”

Kaelan sighed, “Do you see no way around them?”

Darien scanned the encampments surroundings once more before replying, “Nay brother, the rivers waters run too swift to carry us along unharmed. Changing course would put us behind; we must be in Darslan by the next full moon.”

Seeing no other option the two turned to look at the third. Kaelan raised an eyebrow. “Any help you can of offer mage?” he spat in disgust.

Oliana pulled back the hood of her cloak. Her pale face and dark hair were instantly illuminated by her piercing green eyes. The side of her mouth twitched a mocking smile before she answered. “Poison?” she mused, “How about a fire? Anyone for roasted human?” she said cocking her head to the side questioningly before giggling to herself.

“Oliana!” Kaelan barked, “Enough! Should we fail in our quest death be upon your head as well. Black out the moon and provide us cover so we may pass the humans without incident, then join us ahead.”

Her confidence shaken by the boldness of Kaelan’s words, Oliana began the task at hand. Chanting in soft whispers she caused a dark mist to come forth and cover the moon in inky blackness.

The Cu Sith padded quietly down the shale embankment into the lush grass of the plain below. Their green coats hidden in the gloom of the now moonless night. Moving swiftly they traced the outskirts of the circle of tents casting huge shadows away from the firelight.

Oliana roared with maniacal laughter as she caused the mist to fade leaving the enormous hounds exposed. Men leapt from their tents at the sound, weapons in hand, they stood at the ready. As three terrifying barks reverberated through the air, Oliana disappeared.

The fight was on, the men hadn’t a chance, the harbingers of death were upon them.


** PART TWO **


Tossing and turning Oliana fitfully slept. The foliage of the Caledonian Forest she had tucked around her held her warmth and would provide some protection from the morning dew but offered little else. Visions of the past haunted her dreams. They flicked in her mind, jumping from one event to another. She saw her mother and father, both mages, had been well received by the people of Giffnock when they entered the settlement. And her subconscious knew that in return they had elected to stay and provide their services as healers to the town’s people and their livestock.


She was so little when they had come, barely eight, but still she remembered. These were happy times. In the year and a half she had spent within the small village she had learned how to tend to their afflictions and became a skillful healer. She had a unique affinity for animals and although she knew little of the magical arts, she had gained enough knowledge to be self-reliant.


The scene shifted. She was picking herbs in the garden when she heard the first sounds of the stampede. Looking out into the distance she saw a black mass moving toward her, encompassed in a cloud of dust, with colored flags flying high above. Its presence did not bode well. The rogue warriors came ever closer knocking down fences and trampling those who got in the way. The villagers were screaming and running for the safety of their homes. Laundry was pulled to the ground, while crates and baskets lay overturned their contents scattered through the streets.


She still held the half empty pannier of meadowsweet and her arms ached to put it down. But Oliana stood frozen, unable to do anything but watch as her parents bolted from their small cottage. She saw them work together to combat the raiders, drawing upon nature to thwart their advances. Few of the towns folk had weapons to aid in their own defense and so it was not long before her parents were singled out as the opposers.


A gesture from the leader of the barbaric horde was all that was needed; arrows sailed through the air and found their targets. Her parents slumped forward and fell to the earth one after the other. The trance was broken. Oliana screamed and dropped the pannier in mid run, desperately trying to reach her parents through the chaos.


It was too late, although they had time to console each other; both were dead before she made it to their side. Carefully she took her father’s ring from his finger and stashed it away in her shoe. Then after looking around again, she removed her mother’s necklace and tucked it deep within the confines of her bodice. Moments passed, denial came first, acceptance later, and then anger. The emotions flooded her mind and clouded her judgment.


She rose and concentrated all her efforts on the leader, intent on killing him. However all she managed was to pelt him with small hailstones. Amused by her antics he motioned again. The soldier to his right rounded his horse and rode toward Oliana. He wound his fingers through her thick black hair, jerked her up and laid her small frame across the front of his saddle.


She screamed again and again but this time her sleeping self screamed with her. None of the other villagers tried to help. They wouldn’t risk themselves for a burdensome orphan girl. They pacified themselves with the knowledge that she was an outsider, a mage, not of their kind, and just watched as she was stolen away.


Crying Oliana woke. These humans, they were her friends. They knew what fate awaited her and yet they did nothing. They had betrayed her, and she hated them for it. Years of torment had twisted her now broken mind. She soothingly twirled a dark curl between her fingers, smiled sinisterly and thought aloud. “Almost dawn, the Cu Sith should be along shortly.”

** PART THREE **

Lysandra sat low in her saddle, leaning forward she urged Zamira to gain speed and continue to follow the road way beneath them. The countryside was picturesque; covered in lush green grass and pink and white wild flowers. She closed her eyes and felt the suns warmth upon her face. The wind rushing past set her long white hair dancing in rhythm to the twist and turns of its currents. She had always loved flying; it made her feel limitless and free. “There is no time for reverie today.” She chastised herself, knowing that her current flight was one of great importance.

Clouds quickly rolled by and she scanned the terrain below, looking for any signs of life. The Highland Plains held few obstacles. From a proper altitude the pair could see all the way from Madhuk Lake to the mountain city of Darslan; which they were quickly approaching.

“Zamira, the courtyard ought to be big enough for a proper landing.” Lysandra yelled to her mighty friend.

Zamira nodded and slowed as she entered the mist that canopied Darslan. The city was nestled among the clouds and visibility was nil. The air was heavy, thick and wet making it hard to breathe. They flew on and dived left as the first of the towns spires abruptly came into view. Zamira circled twice before locating the courtyard and starting her decent. Her pale blue wings fluttered just enough to keep them upright as she lowered the bulk of her massive purple body and prepared for landing. Steam loosed from her nostrils and she touched down without incident.

Lysandra slid out of the saddle careful to avoid the barbs of Zamira’s scales and spoke quickly, “Zamira, remain here. I shall bring news from His Majesty and will require your counsel.”

“I shall await your return.” came Zamira’s telepathic reply.

Her flowing skirts, trailing in her wake Lysandra ran down the garden walk, up the castle stairs and pushed past the guards who bowed as she entered into the Great Hall.

Upon seeing her each member of the crowd turned quiet and watched with awe as she walked purposefully down the aisle to the head table. When she reached the dais she bowed respectfully and much to the amazement of the courtiers present, Seth, the Lord of Darslan, rose, spoke her name, and bowed in return.

Upon straightening, his booming voice resonated off the walls of the now silent hall, “Why have you come, Dragon Rider?”


** PART FOUR **

“The Cu Sith are coming!” Lysandra exclaimed.

Seth, the Lord of Darslan went pale and the once silent hall erupted with angry protests from the courtiers within. “The Cu Sith, hhhhere?” he stammered, but quickly recovered. “Guards! Ready your ...”

Lysandra cut him off in an instant. “My Lord, there is more. The Cu Sith are traveling with Oliana the Mage.”

Numerous gasps escaped the mouths of the unsuspecting crowd. A woman at one of the tables to the right of Seth screamed and then promptly fainted.

Annunciating each word as though it gave him great pains Seth bellowed “Oliana coming here!” He pounded his fist upon the table. “With the Cu Sith no less.”

Though somewhat amused by his tantrum, Lysandra continued on without hesitation. “The alliance between them would certainly be unstable given their history. Yet, there must be a justifiable reason why they would enter into such an agreement. The cause must be one they both deem important enough to put aside their differences. If that is the case and you threaten Oliana’s existence Kaelan and Darien will cut your men down.”

“Kaelan and Darien! Kaelan and Darien!” Seth laughed, as though the whole conversation had been a joke at his expense. “The Alpha would never leave his pack behind without his brothers guidance, you must be mistaken Lysandra.”

Lysandra’s voice became intense. “The High Priest, Orion La Geor, sought me out in Dumbarton and insisted I meet with him. He commanded me to arrive in Darslan before the next full moon, to inform you of their arrival.”

Seth stared at her unblinking, his mind racing with a wide range of defensive strategies. At last he shouted “Lower the gates, Scouts to the rooftops, Archers at the ready.”

But it was already too late, Kaelan, the largest of the two hounds swiftly shot through the hall’s arched entrance. With astounding agility he leapt deftly between the guards and jumped from table to table spilling platters of food and steins of ale onto the hall’s unfortunate attendants. With Darien not more than a few strides behind, Kaelan sprang up onto the Dias. He immediately launched himself at Seth knocking him backward and causing him to sprawl across the floor. Kaelan then stood, paw pressed firmly into Seth’s chest, mouth menacing and dripping saliva “Hold still foolish human.” he whispered so only Seth could hear.

The shocked crowd was stunned into silence. Then maniacal laughter suddenly filled the air, the crowd turned in the direction of the din, to see Oliana floating low to the floor on a cloud of mist. She tilted her head quizzically and looked toward the disgraced Seth. “Naughty, Naughty pet, didn’t your mum ever teach you not to play with your food?”

** PART FIVE **

A deep rumble grew in Darien’s chest. His face was contorted by fury and fire burned in his ever vigilant eyes. Curling lips displayed two rows of enormous yellow teeth only seconds before he turned on Oliana.

“Insolent Human! You will pay dearly for your arrogance.” Darien howled.

Oliana shrieked, “I am a Mage, a Mage! You over grown, mangy, green, flea-bag!

Kaelan saw her right hand dive into her cloak and begin its desperate search for the wand she kept hidden within. He growled angrily allowing bulbous drops of saliva to fall from his lips, shaming the now drenched Lord Darslan even further.

Momentarily forgetting Seth Kaelan attempted to move; intent on assisting his brother in his upcoming battle. But Seth allowed the delight of his new found freedom to cloud his judgment; his flurry of movements attracted Kaelan’s attention. A huge paw shot out and smacked the fleeing Seth into the nearby stone wall, where he crumpled and unceremoniously fell in a heap on the floor.

Lysandra came to his aid, he was alive. Quick painful breaths escaped Seth’s mouth and nose and a steady stream of blood leaked from where his head made contact with the wall. The air was knocked out of him certainly, but he would live, the damage was not as bad as she’d expected.

Hearing the commotion from the courtyard, Zamira sent out a tendril of empathic power. The Great Hall was in chaos, a mixture of despair, fear, anger and immense hatred. With out taking down the walls and possibly crushing them all to death there was little she could do. She opted for the one thing she thought might help.

Zamira entered their minds and roared. Those in the Great Hall covered their ears to no avail and fell to their knees willing the sound to cease. She scolded them for their prejudices, but she soon fell silent.
When they rose to their feet the courtiers noticed the transparent form of Orion La Geor floating in the center of the room.

“The Eternal Life Belt has been dismantled and the Elemental Stones it once contained have been stolen. Without the stones, the abbey is helpless. We can not control the forces of this world. Soon the elements will turn their wrath upon the lands and once all life is decimated, our tiny planet will simply blink out and cease to exist.” Orion continued in his emotionless monotone voice.

“The Elemental Stones are strongest in their place of origin. The first, The Earth Stone is believed to be hidden in the underground caverns of the Traligill Caves. You must save our world. You have been summoned here to complete that task. You must put aside your differences. Each of you has a unique ability, not possessed by the others. You will require them all if you wish to be successful. Throughout your journey to restore the Elemental Stones others will seek to join your cause, be mindful of your decisions.”

Orion turned to face Lysandra. “The Cu Sith know the way to the Traligill Caves. They will act as your guide. You must ask Zamira to carry them to the cave entrance. Then once inside use their ability to see in the dark to your advantage. Allow them to freely navigate the tunnels of the underground but stay together or all is lost.” With his instructions given the ghostly form of the High Priest vanished before their eyes.

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