Bottom of the Bottle

"I am suggesting sir, that there is no one on this planet that can even match my abilities. I would remember that if you don't want to end up a chicken," she glared at the rude man.

"You! You would threaten King Wizzen?" the King puffed up and looked quite outraged.

"I would threaten anyone I like, thank-you!" Em shot back.

The King stared at this short, pudgy woman in front of him. He could not believe his ears! Who was she that she would dare talk to him like that. As he glared at her he was suddenly struck by her delicate stature despite the little bit of extra weight. It seemed like the formerly pudgy woman he had been infuriated at was now a shapely beauty. He couldn't get passed her ash colored eyes. That light smoky gray was simply hypnotizing. Wizzen wasn't quite sure but he thought the woman's appearance was changing. He brushed it off as his fault for not looking at her properly when she appeared. The King waved her away, forgiving her for speaking to him in that tone, and smiled wistfully as she walked away. If only his wife was that beautiful was all he could think.

Nate paced back and forth in his library nervously awaiting word that Emhaia had arrived. He didn't understand his apprehension, they had parted on amicable terms those many years ago. He had hardly thought about her more than twice a day since then. He couldn't understand exactly why they had parted ways except to remember that it had been his idea. They had been best friends once, maybe a little more. The two of them had attended Sorcerer Amblaidh's School for Gifted Children until they were 16 years old. Nate never really thought much of the fact that it took them almost 150 years to reach the age of 16. Amblaidh had merely explained that as a witch/wizard or whatever you wanted to call them, they would age much slower than regular people. Nate found that until the age of 10 a magically skilled person would age normally. When their 'powers' kicked in they would start aging once every ten years. He found that while they were not actually immortal it would take an awfully long time for them to get around to aging. This explained that 230 he still looked about 23. He liked it, so did Em.

"Sorry to break into your thoughts, oh wise mage," Jez bumped his head against Nate's leg and let Nate almost taste the sarcasm in his words.

"What is it Jez? Is she here?" Nate felt his heart flutter.

"Yes, shall I go get her or are you going to pull yourself together long enough to call her down here?" Jez jeered.

"I'll go. You could be happier, you know," Nate frowned down at his familiar.

"I will be happier when I see she hasn't brought that damn house cat," Jez sneered.

Nate smiled lightly and headed towards the throne room. He walked, to merely arrive at the right moment. As Nate neared the throne room he broke out into a run. It seemed that Nate should have just appeared in the room. He could hear the King and Em yelling at each other.

"I would threaten anyone I like, thank-you!" Nate could hear Em's voice declaring.