| |
The Green Mage, Teoni, poured over the book she had stolen from the Arsenal of the Way. Surrounding her were her beloved plants. Vines of green and gold snaked up into the corners of her bedchamber. The ceiling opened up to let the sunshine in and provide light for both her plants and her reading endeavors. Other, more dangerous, plants writhed in the corner and there were even smaller plants lurking in the corners on shelves.
Teoni was engrossed in her reading when one of the vines reached down from above the window to touch her shoulder. She started upright and caressed the vine, “What do you sense out there?” She crossed the room to peer out the window. Although the path was well lit, it was still difficult to see through the thick plant life. She raised her hands and commanded the plants to give her a clear view of the pathway to her abode. She flinched when she saw the darkened figure of a man or woman hidden in the shade behind one of her bushes. She blinked, and the shadow was gone.
She whispered to the vine closest to her, “Better prepare for the worst. I think we have a visitor.” The plant made a low humming noise. “I know the Blue Mage isn’t afraid of the light. What are you saying?” The plant hummed again. “Ah, the creature stays in the shadows. Well, that is good news. It must be bringing word from the Black Mage, then.” The plant hummed again. “No, it doesn’t matter. The Black Mage and her minions always exude darkness and danger. It’s common. Don’t worry about it. I know she is traditionally our enemy.” The vine’s humming intensified. “All right, if it makes you feel better, go ahead with the precautions.” The vine rippled back. Teoni craned her head to see the position of the sun. “There are still about six hours of sunlight left. As long as we have the sun, we have power.” She looked at her lunar calendar, “And the moon is full tonight. The lunar plants are at their zenith too. We are perfectly fine.” The vines recoiled back into their position on the window seal.
Teoni went back to her book. She felt the pang of regret at her betrayal of her sister Marlee. She reread the passage where it stated Marlee would take her place as the Tourney Master apprentice while she took over the mantle of the Green Mage. “I hope this passage is correct. I must find a way to see if Marlee is indeed Ephaltus’s apprentice.” She said. She gazed at one of her golden vines as it twisted to get a better position under the sunlight. “I just don’t have the courage to confront either of them yet. Of course, I’m sure Marlee is watching me through the Ocularius Magnus.” She closed the book. “Do you suppose one of your plants can find a way into the arena and find out if she is the apprentice for me?” The plants hummed. “Yes, I don’t know why I didn’t ask before. Thank you, my friends!” She sat back in her chair, somewhat relieved. “I suppose we can have the midday meal.” She said.
The plants brought in fruits and berries from the outside into the room. Teoni fed insects and small rodents to the flesh-eating plants still writhing in the corner before she sat down to partake of the bounty the plants had given her. “Thank you, my friends, for the abundance you give me. We feast upon the flesh of plants and the fruits of our labor to make us strong.” She began to eat.
After the midday meal, she watered her plants and retired out into the garden. Vines from various plants were always near her, no matter where she went on the grounds. She liked to go to the garden to train with her abilities, shapeshifting into bunnies and foxes in order to frolic amongst the hedges and bushes. But today she just wanted to enjoy the sanctuary and oversee the preparations for the intruder. She was not worried about the creature stalking her. She received no ill feelings from it. Until, at last, she felt the presence of something behind her. The sun was set low on the horizon and the shadows of the garden were growing longer. The hair on the back of her neck began to stand up, and she turned to see who or what approached. In the garden, which was still drenched in sunlight, stood a tall man wearing all black. His hair was jet black and his complexion a deep olive. She noticed his ears protruding out from under his hair were slightly long and pointed. He was an elf.
“Hello? Who might you be?” She asked.
“I am called Tanyth, Green Mage.” The elf stated flatly.
“Is it you who has been skulking about my gardens?”
“Yes.”
“Has the Black Mage sent you?”
“No.”
“Well then, out with it, what do you want?”
“You are not the one the goddess wants.”
Teoni was amused, “Oh, is that so? Which goddess do you speak for, then?”
“My goddess, Cassany.”
“Cassany, oh? I thought you were not sent by the Black Mage.”
“I have not been. The goddess and Black Mage are not one and the same.”
“Then why would Cassany send you here to me?”
“How dare you question her!” The elf made a step forward and the plant life surrounding both of them moved in closer. Tanyth stopped and stared at the plants in surprise.
“Careful, you are in my garden and my friends do not like irrational elves. Your response tells me you are a zealot of Cassany. Okay, I am currently going against tradition being allied with the Blue Mage, Arran. Surely you know that. I have not taken any steps against the Black Mage, and she should also be an ally of Arran.”
“Yes.” He said. “She is.”
“What manner of elf are you? I have never seen one with your skin tone before.”
“I am a dark elf.”
“A dark elf. Yes, I should have realized, knowing how Cassany is the mistress of dark places. You still have not answered my question. What do you want of me?”
“Cassany is thinking ahead to the tournament, and she tells me you are not the one.” The vegetation moved in closer.
“Not the one for what? Are you referring to my sister, Marlee? Yes, I took her power and switched places with her. I was only trying to protect her. She is better off now with the Tourney Master.”
“No lies!” The dark elf was examining the surrounding plants carefully.
“It is no lie. I love my sister and I wanted to see her safe. Who are you?” Teoni was becoming a bit alarmed now, and the plants responded to her feelings of dread by moving in closer.
Tanyth drew a dagger, and the plants went wild, moving in to wrap Teoni up in vines so that no blade would penetrate them to get to her.
“What is your plan? You want to kill me and take my place as the Green Mage?”
“No.” Tanyth said. He remained still. “I cannot do that.”
“If you kill me, elf, that’s what will happen. You will become the Green Mage.”
“No, I won’t. You have to be one among the living for that to happen and I am... am something else. If I were to kill a mage, I will not take their place.”
“Then why are you here with a dagger threatening me?”
“I will not kill you even though I am able to if I want.”
“How can you kill a mage then if you would not take the mage’s place? You are acting strange. Are you here for medicines? Do you need one of my cures? Is that it?”
“I have a way.”
“A way to what? Kill a mage?”
“Yes.”
“I think you had better leave, elf. I don’t think I like this conversation. I think if Cassany has created someone who can assassinate the mages for her own gain? The other gods and goddesses will not let that stand for long.”
“Perhaps, but for now, they don’t know about me.” He took a step closer to the Green Mage, who was continuing to be wrapped in strong vines.
Tanyth smirked, hesitated, and then put away his dagger. He turned and took at a leaf between his fingers, rubbing the soft leaf absently as if nothing had occurred.
“What are you doing?” Teoni asked. “I said you should leave this place.”
“I am not here to kill you, Green Mage. I am here; however, to show you that I am able to kill you. Cassany requires a favor of you.”
“Cassany can go to the two hells for all I care. How dare you come here and threaten me!”
Tanyth stiffened at Teoni’s blasphemy. “If not you, there will be another. You will grant my goddess her favor or I will end you with a replacement who will. It’s up to you, but I suggest you heed my warning. It is not a threat I make to you. I am prepared to follow though with my words.”
Teoni allowed the vines surrounding her to loosen and subside, “What favor?”
Tanyth turned to face her with a growing grin on his lips. “A poison. Cassany wishes you to make me a strong poison. Once that can kill rapidly. You can make such a poison from plants, can you not?”
“Yes, I can, but the question is will I. What purpose does a god have for a poison?”
“I will pay you handsomely for the poison.” Tanyth said.
“Is it to kill a mage?”
“No, I don’t need a poison for that. The poison will not be used to kill anyone.”
“I’m confused. You want me to make a strong poison and then you are not going to use it to kill. Are you using it to threaten?”
“No, If you must know, it is for someone with a god-like constitution. It will only make him sick. No poison is strong enough to kill him. He will live on after the effects wear off.”
“Well, I suppose it would do no harm but no, I will not make you a poison no matter what your intentions may be or for any price. I want you to turn around and leave this place, now!”
“Are you certain? You may come to regret this decision.”
“Will you leave on your own or do I have to force you out?” The plants began to move in again.
“I will go, green witch, but know that you have made an enemy of the winged goddess this day.”
“I think she is already my enemy, but I will keep in mind how not making you a poison might have made her more of an enemy then she is already.”
“Sarcasm?”
“You are brilliant. Now leave this place, strange elf, and don’t return or it will not be pleasant for you. In fact, if I see you come back, I will have my plants use you as fertilizer.”
Tanyth bowed, “As you wish.” He eyed her with a gaze that made her blood run cold before he turned and left.