stepped closer to the Wizard.
"I am warning you. Leave now, while you still can, or face the wrath of Ran." Sulrad held out his hand and a fireball like the one that Rotiaqua had witnessed before materialized. It floated just above his outstretched palm. The ball turned a deep violet, spinning and spitting sparks. It was soon so bright, she could not look directly at it.
Power emanated from Sulrad. A violet haze seemed to enfold him in its embrace, extending out from the Wizard to the men on horseback. Rotiaqua felt the surge of power as Sulrad let the fireball loose. It flew straight and struck the lead rider. The man, horse and attendant equipment vanished in a bright sparkle of light, to be replaced by a shiny cloud of ash that quickly floated away in the afternoon breeze.
The next horseman didn't wait for a challenge; he raised his sword and charged Sulrad. The soldier flashed through the dissipating cloud of ash that had been his comrade as he bore down on the Wizard.
The soldier swung his sword.
Rotiaqua felt the power as the sword impacted the violet light surrounding the Wizard. It was almost as if the sword had hit her flesh, so forceful was the impact, but it was blunt and turned away easily. Sulrad followed the attack with another fireball. This one materialized in the air half way between his outstretched hand and the soldier, who vanished in a flash of light and a cloud of ash, just as his commander had.
Sulrad dispatched several more soldiers before the remnants turned and galloped off the way they had arrived. Sulrad approached the farmers and spoke to them, but his words were soft and they did not carry to her perch on the hill. The farmers all bowed their heads to the ground in front of the Wizard as he held his arms outstretched towards them.
Rotiaqua and Sulrad rode back to the castle at a hurried pace. Rotiaqua tried to avoid the Wizard as much as possible. There was something about him that made her uncomfortable. He spent most of his time preaching to the soldiers about his god Ran.
Rotiaqua had little interest in religion. Her father said it was a waste of time; that the gods had died out well before the time of the dragons, and had been gone for a millennium. She didn't think this new god, Ran, was real; it seemed to her that he was just a story the Wizard made up to try and impress ignorant folk.
She felt his Wizard’s power though, even when he wasn't using magic. It emanated from him as a slight violet light that constantly surrounded him.
When they reached the castle, Sulrad proceeded immediately to the audience chamber. Rotiaqua headed to her quarters and ordered her maid to draw a bath. She'd spent more time out in the dusty, dirty countryside than she wanted and couldn't wait to get cleaned up.
"Did he really do magic?" Oadry asked as she helped Rotiaqua out of her dusty travel clothes and into the bath.
"Yes, he did. He raised a fireball and vaporized several soldiers before the rest of them turned tail and ran for home. I'm sure the King has heard of it by now."
Oadry helped her wash off the worst of the dirt and grime but was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Rotiaqua, your father wants you in the audience chamber immediately."
"Go tell him I am making myself decent and will be along as soon as I am presentable."
Oadry rushed to the door. The Guard insisted that Rotiaqua was to come immediately, no excuses.
Rotiaqua rose from the tub, splashing water all around. She grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around herself. She twisted her long hair to squeeze the water out and let it fall down her back. She stepped into her slippers and headed off to the audience chamber.
When the Baron saw her, he scowled the way he usually did when she displeased him.
"You said immediately," Rotiaqua quipped. "I wouldn't think of making you wait when such a summons is issued." She sat on her chair beside him, water still dripping from her hair and onto the rich velvet
"I am warning you. Leave now, while you still can, or face the wrath of Ran." Sulrad held out his hand and a fireball like the one that Rotiaqua had witnessed before materialized. It floated just above his outstretched palm. The ball turned a deep violet, spinning and spitting sparks. It was soon so bright, she could not look directly at it.
Power emanated from Sulrad. A violet haze seemed to enfold him in its embrace, extending out from the Wizard to the men on horseback. Rotiaqua felt the surge of power as Sulrad let the fireball loose. It flew straight and struck the lead rider. The man, horse and attendant equipment vanished in a bright sparkle of light, to be replaced by a shiny cloud of ash that quickly floated away in the afternoon breeze.
The next horseman didn't wait for a challenge; he raised his sword and charged Sulrad. The soldier flashed through the dissipating cloud of ash that had been his comrade as he bore down on the Wizard.
The soldier swung his sword.
Rotiaqua felt the power as the sword impacted the violet light surrounding the Wizard. It was almost as if the sword had hit her flesh, so forceful was the impact, but it was blunt and turned away easily. Sulrad followed the attack with another fireball. This one materialized in the air half way between his outstretched hand and the soldier, who vanished in a flash of light and a cloud of ash, just as his commander had.
Sulrad dispatched several more soldiers before the remnants turned and galloped off the way they had arrived. Sulrad approached the farmers and spoke to them, but his words were soft and they did not carry to her perch on the hill. The farmers all bowed their heads to the ground in front of the Wizard as he held his arms outstretched towards them.
Rotiaqua and Sulrad rode back to the castle at a hurried pace. Rotiaqua tried to avoid the Wizard as much as possible. There was something about him that made her uncomfortable. He spent most of his time preaching to the soldiers about his god Ran.
Rotiaqua had little interest in religion. Her father said it was a waste of time; that the gods had died out well before the time of the dragons, and had been gone for a millennium. She didn't think this new god, Ran, was real; it seemed to her that he was just a story the Wizard made up to try and impress ignorant folk.
She felt his Wizard’s power though, even when he wasn't using magic. It emanated from him as a slight violet light that constantly surrounded him.
When they reached the castle, Sulrad proceeded immediately to the audience chamber. Rotiaqua headed to her quarters and ordered her maid to draw a bath. She'd spent more time out in the dusty, dirty countryside than she wanted and couldn't wait to get cleaned up.
"Did he really do magic?" Oadry asked as she helped Rotiaqua out of her dusty travel clothes and into the bath.
"Yes, he did. He raised a fireball and vaporized several soldiers before the rest of them turned tail and ran for home. I'm sure the King has heard of it by now."
Oadry helped her wash off the worst of the dirt and grime but was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Rotiaqua, your father wants you in the audience chamber immediately."
"Go tell him I am making myself decent and will be along as soon as I am presentable."
Oadry rushed to the door. The Guard insisted that Rotiaqua was to come immediately, no excuses.
Rotiaqua rose from the tub, splashing water all around. She grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around herself. She twisted her long hair to squeeze the water out and let it fall down her back. She stepped into her slippers and headed off to the audience chamber.
When the Baron saw her, he scowled the way he usually did when she displeased him.
"You said immediately," Rotiaqua quipped. "I wouldn't think of making you wait when such a summons is issued." She sat on her chair beside him, water still dripping from her hair and onto the rich velvet
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