Threat of the Shadow Mage

MEANWHILE, THE VILLAGERS WERE BUSTLING ABOUT PREPARING FOR the worst in case the Mages decided to pay another unfriendly visit. They boarded their windows, and placed barricades on their doors, but Dante didn’t take any of these precautions because he knew the Mages wouldn’t thoroughly search the woods. They only wanted to hit the main living areas to set an example; however, he was extremely cautious, and kept his guard up nonetheless. At this point, Aspen was asked to stay with him that evening since the village had been thought to be the next target.

“Dante? Don’t you think we should ask Lillian to come over as well?”

Dante turned to her; seeing the concern in her eyes, he knew that he had to fetch her. He sighed and walked over to her. He gently placed his hands on her soft shoulders. Her skin was smooth and the dress she wore draped elegantly over her contours.

“I’ll go and fetch her, but you must promise me something.”

Aspen was silent, but her expression asked the question.

“Stay here, stay hidden, and keep the fires low. Okay?” he asked kindly.

She nodded and then embraced him in a loving hug.

Dante returned her hug, but then a thought struck him, and he held her tighter as he put his head into the crook of her shoulder. Before he left her standing there, he quietly whispered, “Je t’aime, dame de lumiere.” Aspen grinned and also tightened her hold, and said the same.

“Je t’aime aussi, Dante.”

Without wasting a second, Dante then turned and left to get Lillian. Aspen was left standing there feeling a little lost, and a sense of loneliness began to creep in; but, it wasn’t a few seconds later that he came back in and kissed her. After a moment, he pulled back and grazed her hair with his fingers, gazing into her darkened ice blue eyes. “I’ll return shortly. Wait for me?” he asked, and Aspen nodded. A quick kiss goodbye and he was off again.

The sun seemed to have fallen faster than usual, but then again Dante thought it was because he lost track of time whenever he was with Aspen. Disregarding the thought, he mounted his horse, Firmus, and headed for Lillian’s share of the wood.

Meanwhile, Aspen found an isolated part of the house where a fire was spreading its warmth throughout the room. She found a seat and perched next to the fire as she gazed upon the stars as they began to come out. They twinkled and winked, giving hope to her as she continued her stare into the giant dark blue blanket sprinkled with diamonds.

Dante pulled the reins, causing Firmus to slow and turn ’round. He looked back to the house, which he could barely see at this point, and then looked to the stars. He could feel her stare, and a smile played at the corner of his lips. Looking forward again, they were off.

It wasn’t long before he reached Lillian’s place, so he dismounted and secured Firmus. He knocked three times but she didn’t answer until a little while later.

“Dante? What are you doing up at this hour? You should be home.”

Dante respectfully bowed his head, and said, “I’m sorry to have bothered you, and I know my place should be home, but I had a matter of the upmost importance to deal with first.” Lillian looked at him slyly, wondering what matter would have brought him all the way out here.

“Miss Lillian, Aspen has asked me to retrieve you for fear of your life.”

Lillian’s expression changed quickly, and she listened intently as he continued his story as to why she was being called. After Dante had finished, she understood.

“I see. Would you be a kind lad and help an old woman to get some things together?” she asked him.

Dante just smiled and entered her lovely home.

“You have a horse, yes?” Dante asked as he put something in her satchel.

“Yes, but it’s been years either of us have been out.”

“I think I can fix that,” Dante then told her as he came to hand her the satchel.

They went out to the back, where her stables were, and found her aged mare that had not been out of the pen for over 5 years.

“Oh, the poor dear. I meant well when I bought her, but after my injury, I couldn’t ride her anymore.”

Dante didn’t say a word and just stepped between the split rail fencing. The mare moved her head to acknowledge him, but nothing more. As he stepped closer, however, she made a soft sound as she took a step back.

“Sh, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” Dante put his hands out so that his scent could reach her. Her nostrils flared as she sniffed the air between them. Nothing smelt dangerous, but she still wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

Lillian watched as Dante reached her and started to gently pet her. The mare felt better now; she knew she was in good hands, and then Dante pulled something from his pocket. He held it out as if it was food, and she sniffed it before she started nibbling at it.

Lillian smiled.

Then, as if by magic, which it was, the mare’s strength began to become visible again, and her youth was restored. She was as healthy as, well, a horse and Lillian was overjoyed. She was at a loss for words.

“What’s her name?” Dante asked as he began petting her again.

“Cuore; her name is Cuore.”

Dante looked into Cuore’s eyes as he stroked her muzzle and whispered her name.

“It suits her,” he then told Lillian.

“Well we mustn’t wait; let’s get you ready for the ride over.”

Lillian smiled and nodded as Dante handed her the same thing he had just fed Cuore. She took a bite and she too was restored, but only to a certain amount that her body could take. Handing her Cuore’s reins, he said, “Let’s ride.” As they raced back to Dante’s place, a harsh wind brushed past their ears, and their horse’s hooves gave off thunderous sounds with each gallop. Meanwhile, Aspen waited, fear growing larger, almost swallowing her heart; but then she heard the sound of racing hoof beats, and she went to walk to the door. Just as she was able to see the door, it opened with Dante standing there. Their eyes locked for a moment before he smiled and stepped to the side, revealing Lillian.

Aspen let out a sigh of relief as she entered and went over to her. Lillian welcomed her with open arms.

“I’m so glad that you’re safe.”

“Dear child, why wouldn’t I be?” she teased, and the two of them laughed as they went to take a seat by the fire.

Akoff tried his best to not seem intimidated and act normal as much as possible, but he knew too well the risks he had taken, and his life would be on the line if he messed with things that weren’t meant to be messed with. What he didn’t know, though, was that one of the soldiers had seen his little incident with Orianna. This could be good or bad. He could either keep his mouth shut and keep that to himself, or start rumors and cause conflict between them when there’s nothing to fight over. In this case however, he decided to keep it to himself even though it would be amusing to cause problems.

“Tex!” Akoff called out; his voice echoing off the rock walls.

Tex raised his head and looked in the direction the voice came from. Jenina scrambled back against the wall and curled up as tight as she could to keep her distance from him. Tex slowly looked back her with an evil look in his eye. She whimpered, scared of what he might do next. Then he shot his hand toward her, but instead of grabbing her to go with him, a sort of wall shot from the ground, trapping the poor girl in a cell. Of course she flinched, but when she heard a wisp of wind with nothing happening, she slowly turned her head to look. To her surprise, nothing was there, but when she looked closer, she realized she was imprisoned. She got on her knees and began pounding on the wall, trying to break free, but to no avail. Jenina tried screaming for help, but no one could hear her, and no one there would help her anyway. Seeing it was no use, she stopped with her fist on the wall, and began crying.

“Momma,” she mumbled.

Tex soon arrived at Akoff’s feet, and made himself visible.

“Where is the girl?” Akoff asked.

At this, Tex grew confused and raised his head to make eye contact.

“Safe, sire. She’s safe,” he responded.

Akoff gave a sort of glare, and Tex stood. Akoff was startled but did his best to hide it.

“You said to start taking hostages, so that’s exactly what I did. Don’t tell me that you’re going back on your order because you’re scared.” Tex took a step forward, and Akoff fell for his trick, taking a step back.

“I’m doing as ordered, and I expect for the leader from which my commands come from to not back down because he’s intimidated by another.” Akoff stopped, thinking things over. The wheels began to turn, and then fear became evident in his eyes. There had been a witness, and now he essentially confessed he was not the one in control.

“That’s right Akoff. Now tell me…” he paused for a moment to allow what he was about to say sink in.

“Is my order still active? Or have you discontinued it?”

Akoff was flabbergasted. He could either lie and hope to not get caught, or tell the truth and let the ear of every soldier present find his weak point. The answers and possibilities bounced all through his mind, but he knew he couldn’t stay silent long, for that would be a straight answer of the truth. “Your order…is still active.” Tex backed down as he gave a slight grin, and Akoff gave an unnoticeable sigh.

“You will go out and detain six more children, and then we will make them an offer.”

Tex bowed his head, and then rushed out to do as told.

Akoff looked down in concern, and put a hand to his head. “What have I done?”

Back in the village, all was quiet and still. Not a sound was heard except for the evening breeze rustling through the trees with the harmonized sounds of nature. Though, that quickly came to an end. Tex, along with two other Mages, shot through the boards that blocked the open windows, but did not break them. Blood curdling screams broke the silence of the night, and candles and lanterns were beginning to flicker to life. Each of the Mages took hold of two children, and exited through the chimneys so that the children would not be harmed or get stuck. Mother’s cried out the name of their children as they were taken, and fathers stepped out to try and retrieve them, but they were only hit with a stun spell that would allow the Mages to escape.

Lillian, Dante, and Aspen were all sound asleep when this happened. Lillian had taken Aspen’s bed, and Aspen had fallen asleep lying against Dante on the couch. Without her noticing, Dante had put his arm around behind her and his hand hung at her shoulder as he too fell asleep. When violent gusts of wind sounded, however, Dante woke. He looked down, seeing Aspen had been on his chest, and very carefully moved her so that he could take a look outside. Succeeding, he quietly went over to the window and looked around. Nothing was seen, but he quickly heard the screams that came from the village below. “ Well that can’t be good,” he thought before he headed for the door.

He threw on his coat, but before he left, he stopped and looked back at Aspen. She looked so peaceful, and her beauty would baffle him for the rest of his days. He glanced at the floor, taking a silent breath in, before looking at her again and letting the air back out as he left.

Upon their return, Akoff greeted them with gratitude.

“Take them over to where the other is,” Akoff told them, but Tex said otherwise once they got in the air.

“Take these six over by the dried up falls. I’ll catch up with you.”

They did so, and Tex went back for Jenina.

Jenina had taken her spot where she curled up again, and had her face buried in her knees. When she heard something disturb the silence though, she shot up to see what the matter was. It was Tex. She shuffled back, but as the wall came down, she was grabbed up.

“Sh. You’re okay. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Jenina looked at him with disbelieving tears.

“Do you want to see your family again?” he asked. She hesitated, but nodded.

“Then you’re going to have to cooperate with me, and do exactly what I say. Understood?”

She nodded again.

“Alright. I need you to hold onto my arm real quick. There’s something I want you to see.”

She didn’t want to do it, but if it kept her from being hurt or abused, she’d do it; so she did.

They zoomed off to where the other children were, and stopped abruptly, causing Jenina to stumble forward. Then she noticed the number of kids that were before her. Two of which she recognized.

“Esther? Adrian?” she asked as they made contact with her.

“Jenina?” they asked.

“What are you doing here?” Esther elbowed Adrian giving him the hint that she was also captured. Jenina rushed over to them and gave them each a hug.

“Jenina, what’s going on?” Esther whispered as it was her turn.

“I don’t know, Esther. I don’t know.”

Then another child spoke up as Tex approached. “What do you want with us?”

Jenina turned around and held Esther’s hand. Tex just glanced over each and every one of them in silence. After a moment, he spoke.

“I know you all are scared and confused, but not to worry, little ones. We will not hurt you. If your parents agree to our terms, you will go free and live normal lives.” A child pushed through and exclaimed, “What did our parents ever do to you? Our folk are of peace and serenity. Why attack us when there are plenty other tribes to choose from?” One of the other kids smacked his arm.

“What are you doing?” they whispered, but Tex leaned in causing the boy to face him.

“Your particular tribe is hiding a certain someone that we are trying to get a hold of because she is King Akoff’s heir…skip a generation…but nevertheless, she needs to come home with us. If your parents are wise enough to turn her over without a fuss or use sorcery that makes us think otherwise, then you all will go back to living a normal life; just like I said.” A moment of silence fell, and then Tex gave a stern expression as he said, “Now get back in line.”

The boy did so as he lowered his head, walking backwards. Tex stood, and again looked over them.

“Now listen to me, and listen carefully. If you want to be unharmed and get back to your families, you will need to do the following. You will do as we tell you to without a fuss, and you will stay within the designated area in which you’re placed now. Go against these rules and you will have to face the consequences. For example, you could be slapped or held against the wall.” A gasp was followed by silent murmurs.

“And if the action is bad enough, which I highly doubt any of you will do, you yourself will become one of us; a Shadow Mage.” The murmurs were silenced, and grave ill stares of fear were seen.

“Tex!” Akoff called again, and Tex went as soon as called this time.

“Sire?” he asked as he bowed at the waist.

Akoff held out a scroll tied off with a black ribbon. “Take this, and let no one see you. Read it to the villagers. You’ll know what to do from there.” Tex looked to the scroll, and then to Akoff.

“As you wish.”

As quick as a flash, Tex took off.

It was nearing dawn, and the number of places to hide grew scarce. The villagers were still scattered through the square weeping, and attempting to comfort others. Dante was helping as best he could, but then the thunderous boom of Tex’s arrival stopped them all, and caused them to look all around.

“Now that I have your attention,” Tex began as he threw his disembodied voice in every direction.

“Here are the conditions on which you get to see your beloved children again.”

An older father stood and held his fist to the air as he spoke.

“You tell us where they are right now you monster!”

Out of nowhere, a death bolt came and hit the poor gentleman.

“No!” the wife cried as he shrieked and fell to the ground. She rushed over to his corpse.

“How could you?” she cried as she began to weep once more.

“Monster, I am not. Listen to what terms that must be agreed upon, and you and your kin will live.”

Silence fell.

“Hand over the one who goes by the name of Silvertongue, and your children will be unharmed…and unturned.”

Frightened whispers were heard.

“If you do not agree to these terms, your village will be overturned, and your children will join the legion of the Shadow Mage. Go now and seek out the one called Silvertongue, or be punished under penalty of death. You have until sunset.” Tex left with the speed of sound lacking seconds behind him.