"Ok, ladies. Here we go," Devigwen whispered to her traveling companions.

The wagon slowed to a halt, and the sound of footsteps and the rattle of armor approached the door at the end. Sunlight streamed into the wagon where Devigwen and her companions lay as if they were unconscious. They were supposed to be drugged, but the guards were simple soldiers and easy to fool. They had simply poured any drugged water out bit-by-bit or tossed drugged food out of sight whenever they weren't looking every evening.

Rough hands grabbed her ankles and drug her, unceremoniously, out of wagon. Silently, Devigwen thanked whatever deity guarded this place, if there were any, that the floor of the wagon had been covered in rough burlap. While she was sure she had a scrape or two, at least there wouldn't be splinters to pick out of herself later. Her world spun for a moment as she was swung upwards, and a meaty shoulder impacted her stomach driving what little breath she had out. It was all she could do to maintain her drugged appearance. The man who had picked her up smelled of sweat and onions, and it was so strong that it brought tears to her eyes as it filled her nostrils. Thankfully, she wasn't carried far. Again her world spun as she was literally tossed into some sort of cart.

"Have a care, ya stupid oaf!" a man yelled from the direction of the wagon, "Capt'n says that 'ees is s'posed to come in not damaged."

"Well what 'e donna see, 'e cannna get mad for," the man who had carried her replied.

"I don' care! I see it and I'll get mad if ya don take more care," the first man hollered back.

By that point the men had made their way back around the wagon and Devi could no longer hear what they were saying. Before long footsteps approached again, and the stench of person in much need of a bath threatened to overwhelm her again. Just as the smell nearly overwhelmed her, Devi felt the cart shift under the added weight of a new body. Cracking an eye open she spotted Anatahti's prone body a scant finger length away and Shula's was being set on the opposite side of it. Again the footsteps and voices faded and returned and blankets were tossed over their bodies not only to protect against chill but to hide the fact that they were transporting three unconscious women into the capital. Before long the cart jerked into motion. They were on the final leg of their journey into the heart of enemy territory.

"I still can't believe they jailed us together," Anatahti said incredulously.

"It makes sense to me," Shula replied from a dark corner of their cell, "We're mages remember. It's easier to magically seal one cell three times over than it is to seal three cells individually."

Anatahti flung her blond curls over her shoulder and placed her hands on her hips. She looked over at Devi begging wordlessly with her liquid blue eyes for support against the red-head. Beads chinked as Ana shifted her weight waiting for a response. The sound was uncannily like the trickle of water upon stone, but that made sense give that Anatahti's magic was all water related. The girl may not have the best of understandings about magic as a whole, but when it came to any magics dealing with water, she was second to none, breaking rules that masters and adepts had been teaching for generations. Everything about Ana reminded one of the water she controlled. Her movements were as liquid and graceful as a trickling stream along a bed of rocks. Her curves held the same promise of life that a skin of water promised the parched traveler. Yet her attention was as flitting as that same stream but when focused had the tremendous power of the mighty waterfalls that were scattered throughout the world.

Devi chuckled, "Yet again, Shula's right. By sealing one cell three times, each seal feeds the next, reducing the amount of energy needed to keep them in place. Plus, now the mages who placed them can take shifts. Sorry, dear."

"Well at least those guards were too intimidated by us 'evil mag'kers' to do more than haul us in here," Shula commented from her corner while cleaning her nails with a small knife, "They just took what weapons were obvious and didn't even bother with looking for any amulets or other enchanted items."

Devigwen walked to the door of their cell. It wasn't much, just a wooden door with a tiny barred window and a hinged slit where a guard could pass food through. Water came from a bucket next to the door, hastily shoved in as they were "recovering". The cell itself wasn't much larger than the wagon they had traveled in. Each wall was made of stout stone including the ceiling. Other than the door the only break in the stone was a small slit in the wall opposite the door to allow some fresh air in or, so Devi thought, to allow some of the stench out. Well that 'window' isn't going to do us any good, Devi thought as she paced around the room. Coming to a stop before the door, she bent slightly to examine the joints of it. They looked simple enough, but she wasn't the one who was the escape artist. Hissing to get Anatahti's attention, she mimed breaking the door's joints. No sense in letting any guard on their door know what they were planning. Anatahti grinned and sauntered towards the door. She poked and prodded for a moment before her grin widened.

Fools! Ha! I could dismantle these in the dark with my hands tied behind my back. The pin just slides up and out. The door itself is heavy enough that it won't fall unexpectedly, and after that, a good shove will knock it clean off. Anatahti spoke into Devigwen's mind.

Devigwen allowed herself a small smirk and leaned back against the wall as Anatahti went to inform Shula of her findings. Now they just had to find a way to take care of the guard and they would be home free. For now there was nothing to do but wait and plan. Their mission was going far smoother than she had ever expected

§

Ryanna loved to watch the sunset from a balcony not far from her room. She would sit on the stone bench and watch the sun's disc deepen in hue to a vibrant scarlet as it sank beneath the horizon. The sky, mourning the loss of the sun, mimicked her colors for as long as possible until they were washed away by the sadness ruled by darkness. Slowly, the stars would light as the sky cried his tears for his missing beloved. Each softly twinkling as more and more filled the sky until it seemed that they were bound to collect and fall. Once, long ago in her forest home, the sky had actually cried. Brilliant streaks of white fell from the sky. So many that Rhyanna couldn't count them; she had just stared, amazed at the awesome beauty playing out before her.

Rhyanna had just finished her arms practice with Tygres. While her whole body ached, it was her fingers that had hurt the most. Over the course of the past several moons, Tygres had her try every weapon imaginable from knives, to swords, to the axe and bow. Most of these weapons had been dismissed after a single session. Rhyanna was particularly happy to see the axe go. The thing was large and quite clumsy, but some weapons had stayed. The knife was the first thing she had learned. While her hand-to-hand techniques could use a little more work, she was remarkable at throwing. After practice, Tygres was even hard put to best her. From there she had moved on to the sword. Rhyanna had not enjoyed the larger versions, but the smaller were ok. They often reminded of a large knife. A few moons ago Tygres began teaching her to the bow. Now this was a weapon Rhyanna truly was in tune with. From the moment she had picked one up and caressed the smoothed wood and felt the tension in the string she knew that this was hers. It did not take her long at all to properly learn to hold and fire and arrow. After only a week she was already hitting the targets with deadly accuracy. Since then, Tygres had been making her learn to string, fire, and even care for, every type of bow there was. From the simple shortbow to the powerful crossbow, Rhyanna could hit just about any target from any distance. After today's practice, Tygres had brought out one of the most beautiful bows she had seen. It stood almost to her waist and made of a wood so deep in color as to be black. At first she had thought the tips were in silver, but Tygres soon corrected her. The metal was quite unknown. It did have the gleam of silver but it was ten times stronger. Upon closer inspection, every inch of this bow had been ornately carved. Vines lovingly wrapped their way around the wood, flowers and leaves took up any remaining space, and Rhyanna could swear that in certain places she could see eyes peeking out from among the foliage. All in all, it was one of the most magificant pieces of artwork she had seen, and one of the best bows she had ever laid hands on. Rhyanna had lovingly hung the bow on a small rack in her room that had "magically" appeared when she returned to her rooms this evening. She suspected Ella had something to do with that, but she was content to leave matters as they were.

This particular evening a few clouds lined the horizon, slowly turning a soft pink as the sun began to sink. Below her was a small garden. Although tended well, this garden wasn't visited too often so when a pair of figures exited the door beneath her, Rhyanna froze, sunset forgotten.

"Soon now, brother. Her training is almost completed. Not as much as she could learn, but more than enough to suffice. The rest she can learn as she goes," a familiar voice wafted from below.

"Good. I would see her made a proper wife and noble. Her lessons are lacking there although. She still treats the maid as if she's an equal. You must teach her the order of things, lest she find herself in an…awkward, situation" a second, more condescending voice said.

"Rydan, she was living in a forest! Considering the fact that she hasn't horribly offended anyone is a major victory. She has so much potential as a mage," the second voice held true regard for his pupil as he said that, "and she could do so much more than I could teach her. Look at what she did a few moons ago. She rocked the very foundations of this castle despite it protections! Power like that is second to none, Rydan, and if not trained, could create havoc if it goes wild again. There's no telling what would set her off even though it took an assassin last time"

The sound of metal scraping on leather tickled Rhyanna's ear, "I will see to her so called abilities, Kyrahm. But you will see to her social education. She is not your pet, nor is she anything you can have let alone touch. She is mine, and I will be the one who dictates what she does and does not need, and I say that she does not need any further training of these so-called talents. She has enough to keep her powers under control and that is all that is necessary. When you bring her before the altar I expect her to be the perfect lady. I expect her to obey me without question. I do not care how you do it, but if you don't, I will see to it myself. Gladly. Then I will see to it that your name is so fouled that you would never dare to set foot from you suite again! Remember, brother mine, who is the stronger mage." Rydan roared.

Again, metal scraped leather, and the slam of the door below jump started Ryanna's mind again. They were talking about me! I knew that there was something wrong, but not this, never this! Rydan is…is…horribleUnwittingly, the mind voice she'd heard advice from flitted into her memory. Trust Kyrahm it had said. Well after this little scene I may have little choice. Kyrahm has been kind, if gruff, and well male, but he has offered me no real harm. Yet. I need to get out of here! I cannot be attached to Rydan; I will not be attached to him. That is more like a death sentence. But how…how do I get out of here when I don't even truly know where here is? Thoughts whirled through Rhyanna's mind. Numbly, Rhyanna sat there, on the stone bench as sunset came and went. The stars came out and Rhyanna didn't even notice she was so deep in thought.

"Miss?" a soft voice called from beside her, "Miss? Are you well?"

Rhyanna shook her head and looked at the young maid standing beside her, "I'm fine. I was just lost in thought."

Ella giggled, "You must have been deeply lost then, madam, because it's nearly an hour past sunset and you're still sitting here. Come on, let us get you undressed and into bed."

§

Anatahti giggled again. She had been teasing the guard outside their door for the past hour. The sun was nearly set. They had to get moving soon. Ana hurry up! The sun is nearly down and we need what little light is left to find out way out of this dungeon. After that we'll be fine, but if it gets dark and we're still down here things are going to get a lot more interesting

You worry too much Devi! He's open enough now for my casting so no more bugging me. We'll be out of here in a giffy

"No wife to go home to? Aww, you poor thing," Anatahti sung sweetly, "Don't you have anyone to warm your bed during the nights?"

Devi could hear the guard shifting his feet, "No." he replied uneasily.

"Oh what a pity," Anatahti purred, "I fail to see how any woman could resist your charms. I could just imagine myself wrapped in your strong arms, and tumbled into your bed."

The guard sucked in a sharp breath. Anatahti was getting to him. As uncomfortable as it seemed, Anatahti truly enjoyed this. Water whittled its way into any crack, and Ana could whittle her way through any man's defenses. Granted, taking one look at her would tell why. Soft and almost doll like, Ana was every man's dream. Glossy blonde fell to her waist gently curling along the way. Even now, braided and pinned, soft whisps framed a beautiful heart-shaped face. Large, vibrant blue eyes gazed up through long lashes. A dainty nose sat above lovely, pouting, lips. Devi had to laugh at that. If there was one then Anatahti could do it was simper. Full breasts, a dainty waist, long legs, and skin the color of cream free of blemishes completed any man's dream, and she knew it. She had no shame in using her wiles to weaken defenses in order or work her magic. Not as flamboyant, but certainly just as effective.

"Well I'm sure you sleep more alone. It will be hard sleeping alone on this dirt floor in here. There's nothing like a feather bed to sink into. Just laying back, relaxing, sinking into a soft pillow, and just drifting away." Anatahti sung.

As she finished, they heard the thump of the guard hitting the floor. Ana grinned wickedly turning back to her cellmates. In each hand she held a pair of simple iron pins, and just as she planned it the door behind her slowly tilted and fell against the wall with a crack loud enough to be heard from several floors.

"Comon, they will have definitely heard that!" Devi called as she strode by Ana and out the door.

Shula was next, "Next time a little quieter maybe," she said as she passed by loosing the few knives the guards had missed.

"Aww," Ana pouted, "what would be the fun in that?"

They followed Devi out into the hall. This is where Devigwen showed some of her skills. Somehow she knew the exact route they had taken to their cell and the most likely path to their original weapons. And sure as the sunrise, within a few minutes Shula had nearly all of her confiscated knives back and Anahati had her bladed staff back. Devigwen was the only one of the three who carried no weapon. She was the only one of the three with any formal mage training and thus, had no weapons training at all. She didn't wear armor either, but then again she had no need. Her element was air, and like the air she could spin herself into and out of it. It was amazing to watch not to mention very handy in a battle. Armed and ready the headed into the castle proper, using old service halls and servant stairwells.

§

A knock came from the door, and Ella stood to answer it. The servant at the doorway whispered a message then left once more. Ella returned to her duties as if nothing was amiss. Intrigued by the encounter Rhyanna asked, "What was that about?"

"Nothing you need worry about, Miss. Now off to bed with you," the maid admonished as if Rhyanna was an unruly child.

Rhyanna slipped under the covers of her bed and no sooner had her head touched the pillow, she fell fast asleep.

Grey mists swirled around her ankles. From the distance, the battle cry of a hawk reached her ears. For lack of anything else to look for or at, Rhyanna cast her eyes skyward. There, in the distance, was an unusually large hawk. It looked much like the red-tailed ones from her forest, but he was far too large to have ever come from her home. The hawk glided through the air above her as a fish would glide through water, drifting slowing down towards her. A tree materialized itself from the mist and the hawk settled itself upon its lowest branch, putting itself right at eye level with her.

See what stories make you past with hopes that you will make the future the now familiar voice said into her mind.

Suddenly the gray mists that surrounded her were gone and she stood in the Great Hall of the castle. Only it wasn't quite so foreboding or cold. Warm carpets lined the floors, banners from allies decorated the walls, and candles cast their light over a small entourage of people. Two were obviously rulers, king and queen, and with them a small child bundled in the queen's arms.

The woman who stands to the right of the queen is the Arch Mage. She regulates and reports upon the activities of mages within the country. She is also in charge of overseeing the education of future mages as well as their discipline. Next to her is the senchal. He basically oversees the inner workings of the castle. Servants and such, so that their majesties may concentrate their attentions to their people. Behind the king stands the Lord Admiral. He is the Arch Mage's counter. He oversees the military and it's training much the same as the Arch Mage oversees the mages. Beside him is the Chancellor. He is the king's confidant. He is a member of the nobility here to speak on behalf of people in places too far away to reach by conventional means. Among them is a traitor. Watch and learn. the voice faded from her mind.

They were discussing something that seemed to have the group fully submerged in conversation. Around her she could see archers lining the balcony. Hidden in shadow they were unseen by the party below. Sensing the strangers, the child began to wail and would not be comforted. So the queen called for a servant to take the young one away. Not a moment after the child had left, the Senshal stood and excused himself for a reason Rhyanna could not hear. He had gotten but a few paces from the group when the whole room erupted in the song of the bow. Rhyanna watched in horror as the party below was slaughtered in their seats.

Tears filled Rhyanna's eyes. She had stood exactly where those people had died the day she first arrived here. The Chancellor looked up then, right at Rhyanna and suddenly she found herself before this vile man. Something was so very familiar about him, but Rhyanna couldn't place her finger on it. Slowly the Chancellor's face changed in to that of the man who now sat upon the throne.

A voice inttrupted her thoughts, Corez is the great-grandson of this man. They took the throne in blood and have held it that way ever since

Next she was thrown to what must have been a nursery. In it were four children, all girls, ranging in age from about five down to the royal infant. Two servants talked in hushed tones behind the door before they came through. Without a word they gathered the children, telling them of a grand game to be played outside. Excited the children followed the servants into a small passageway hidden within a cupboard full of toys. No sooner had the children left then men dressed in the same attire as the archers from the throne room burst into the room. They turned the room inside out. Destroying toys, dolls, and even the furniture.

The scene changed once more. Now she was deep in a forest. A young, haggard woman carrying a babe struggled to make her way down a small, dirt path. In the distance there was a light from a small cottage. Rhyanna wanted to reach out and take the woman's hand to help her, but her hand passed through the poor creature as if she was nothing more that a ghost. At last, she made it to the doorway and collapsed to her knees upon the entryway. With nothing left, it was all she could do to softly knock at the door. Within a moment the door opened to reveal a plump woman simply garbed. She gasped at the girl on her doorstep, and relieved her of the infant. It was only then you could see the wound that had nearly cut her in half. The woman shook the girl's shoulder, and the girl's eyes opened just a hair.

"Oh, I thank you for opening your door to us," she whispered, "Thank you. Keep her safe please. She is the daughter of our departed queen Ardura d'Anhline. Keep her safe. Please, keep her safe"

The girl closed her eyes once more, and she was gone. The woman in the door was stuck dumb. She just stood there, kneeling next to the body until the baby started to wail. She called for her husband.

Suddenly the people were gone, but the cottage remained. Rhyanna blinked at the suddenness of it, and finally looked at the cottage itself. It only took a moment for her to recognize her childhood home. She grasped the handle and pushed the door open. Everything was just as she remembered it the night she fled. She ran from room to room calling for her mother with no answer…

"Mother!" Rhyanna yelled sitting bolt upright in her bed.

It was just a dream, she told herself over and over, but it had all seemed so real. Where had she gotten crazy ideas like that?

I'm afraid that was no dream child. I am sorry for the shock, but it could not be helped. Your allies are here for you. The mage, warrior, and chancellor are here for you. You need them as they need you. her mysterious benefactor said.