The Golden Scepter - Prologue

But the cool mist diffused any smell, and also the sounds of the night. Holding the bundle to her heart like a child wrapped in swathing clothes, she continued forth. A rustle before her made her stop once more. Her heart leaped into her throat. Her legs were hurting her even more. She forced herself from thinking what it was she had heard. Not wasting any time she turned left and ran.

Blinding orange light struck up before her. The event made her stumble backwards, helplessly, onto her back. She made as if to stand, but a tendril of fire leapt out and tied her wrists. She screamed, thinking that she might be burned, but the fire was as cool as the mists around her, but strong as iron. She screamed as she saw someone appear from the light.

It was a man, thankful not the Head Priest. The acrimonious hue of his magic lit his face into an angry grimace, and his robes appeared as if they were fashioned from the fires of hell. He held a hand before him, ready to strike her down as soon as he received what he'd come for.

" What is your name?" He asked in a voice that sounded more like thunder than the speech of a human. She turned her eyes away from him, but his magic made them shoot back to his fiery image.

" What...does it matter..."

" What is your name!" His voice rose in threat. She saw from the corners of her eyes that the bundle lay right beside her. All he had to do was take it and kill her. Her name at a time like this was of least importance.

" Mariyn el-Gardte."

He rolled the syllables of her name against his tongue, conflicting it with the dialect of his native tongue.

" You must be one of the elfin?"

" No."

" No?" He sounded oddly amused. Her brain roamed for and explanation as to what was about to happen for her. But she found none.

" I am from the same place as you, the city of Crest." She could see him shake his head in consideration. Then suddenly his eyes flickered to the bundle beside her. His arm swayed in its direction. The bundle rose on a cushion of air to hover before him. With a swift gesture of his hand the cloth fell away, revealing the gold of the scepter once more. A smile came across his face. A smile that would have been far more suitable on the face of a snake. He held his hands out and caught the scepter from the air. He was locked in a trance, almost oblivious that Mariyn was before him. Covetously, he wrapped the scepter into the folds of his cloak and shot his eyes to her once more.

" Rise up and come with me. If you wish to live a day in this world any longer, you will come with me right now." He made as if to leave.

" I will go no where with you. I would rather die than face life in prison."

" Prison? That's where you think I'm taking you?"

Mariyn was speechless.

" I am a priest for the Gods' sake. Taking people to prison is not a matter I deal with. I save people, and that is what I wish to do. Save you."

" Save me from what?" Mariyn hissed. She tried to force herself up, but found it helpless. He was silent for a moment, as if though he was searching for an explanation.

" The others, those who came with me, are not like myself. They wish only for personal gain. They would take this scepter and then live you tied for the wolves and crows. They are older than me, and live by edicts that are not followed by my kind."