Chapter 1: The Heiress of Rushfen!
The Twenty-Sixth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Within the tower, the past week had been calm and somewhat peaceful. Outside the tower, the Town of Hearthorn had seemed restless. Inside the family of mages enjoyed the time they spent together as if something foreboding could take their happiness away in the blink of an eye. Outside, more people from faraway places arrived in the hope of a safer place to dwell.
-----The Lord Wizard Zepharon looked out the window at the busy streets with a concerned frown. More details of the town watch could be seen riding through the streets pushing through the masses of people. Thefts had suddenly risen in the town and many businesses had closed earlier than usual these past few days. Many merchants were now also raising their prices adding to the frustration of the original townspeople as well as the newcomers.
-----Veil sits in a cushioned chair with her eyes closed; her consciousness drifting elsewhere. Sarah stands just behind her chair watching the man she has known as her father. Only six days ago, he had announced that they would venture back to Rushfen in a week. The week's time would be up tomorrow. The next day the three of them would magically teleport to that estate south of the Altor River; back where her true mother lives. Sarah would meet the Lady Evalyn for the first time, . . . no, not for the first time. There were those bits of dreams and shade of memories of a young woman and a gallant young man very much in love. In those shadows of the past, Sarah saw that they had a tiny daughter, very beautiful with hair of gold . . .
-----Suddenly, Zepharon looks up and straightens. His demeanor reveals his senses receiving a call of some sort. He turns and begins moving toward the door where Sarah knew that he would be retreating to the workroom. There someone would be contacting the Lord Wizard through a crystal or other magical device. He pauses slightly and casts a weary smile toward his daughter. Softly, he whispers, "Tomorrow, we take our leave." Then he is gone.
-----"What do you wish to wear tomorrow?" Veil suddenly asks as the diviner opens her eyes.
-----Sarah pauses and considers the question. "Well, I want to look dignified, but I don't want to appear like I'm trying to outdo her. I should look demure but principled...innocent yet wise." She ponders a few more moments. "And of course it has to be mostly some shade of yellow." She adds in as an afterthought.
-----"I think I have it." Sarah walks to the nearby wardrobe where her and her mother's good dresses are kept together. She searches through the beautiful gowns until she comes across an evening gown with a tight bodice and flowing skirt, with a sewn in corset. Along the outside of the gown's waist are well-embroidered red spirals made to look like fire. The gown puffs out somewhat at the chest to disguise the shape of the woman's breasts, and the sleeves are tight at the shoulder but flare out down to the arms. The sleeves bear the same red spiral pattern that resembles a soft fire.
-----The skirt of the dress has a golden thread woven into it vertically so that with every step the woman takes the skirt shimmers attractively.
-----"The red should complement the black cloak." Sarah reasons. "I think it would look good. What do you think mother?" Sarah holds the dress up to herself. "It makes me seem impressive but not overly so...beautiful but not in a showy sort of way. I think a mother would approve." Sarah pauses and glances at Veil, "So, do you?" Sarah phrases it to remind Veil that despite who gave birth to her, Sarah considers the Diviner her mother and always will.
-----Veil pauses and smiles. Sniffling, she says, "I do approve, . . . and thank you. I do love you so, my little angel."
-----As to the issue of the hairstyle, Veil clears her throat and asks, "How would you feel about wearing your hair up? It is nearly summer. Would it be more comfortable for you that way?"
-----"That would be wonderful." Sarah says beaming. "Let me try this on and then we can experiment." Sarah strips off her normal yellow dress, not at all embarrassed at being in front of her mother in only a slip, and then slowly pulls on the beautiful gown. Veil helps her lace it up and pulls the corset as tight as is reasonable, but nowhere near as tight as it could go.
-----Sarah sits down in a chair in front of a large mirror and Veil stands over her. "What sort of style did you have in mind?" Sarah asks, as her mother begins to comb her hair in preparation.
-----Waving her hand in front of the mirror, Veil conjures an illusion of Sarah. "Your hair has such beautiful curls to it," the diviner whispers, before continuing. "Let's see, if we draw the length back so that your neck is exposed and then we bring your hair up we could do this in different ways."
-----In the first illusionary reflection, Veil shows Sarah with her hair pulled up into a long thick braid, which curls and is pinned up over her crown. Two curly strands fall to each side of her face.
-----The second illusion shows a similar fashion but the braided hair is curled up more on the back of her head.
-----A third illusion shows Sarah's hair unbraided but brought up high in the back with a golden comb and her long golden curls fall down her back.
-----In all of these, Sarah looks very beautiful with an air of the regal.
-----"Are any of these to your liking or do you see another way that would be better or more comfortable?" Veil asks.
-----"The second one!" Sarah says instantly as she marvels at her mother's illusions. "You are so talented." She muses as Veil begins to braid her hair. "Thank you so much for helping me."
-----Veil laughs happily as she begins to work. Soon the Lord Wizard returns and smiles as he sees Sarah and Veil together. He then casts a serious eye toward the window before addressing Sarah.
-----"Tomorrow will be a big day," he says before he smiles and looks at his daughter again. "No doubt you will be anxious to see Sol once more. You will need to make sure you have your traveling clothes with you as well. It could be a few weeks before you return here."
-----Sarah nods, already aware of all of this. She spends the rest of the evening alone, preparing herself for the trials ahead. Although she will miss her family, she cannot wait to leave the tower and begin adventuring again!
-----That night as Chessie circles the ceiling of Sarah's room excitedly, a knock comes upon Sarah's door. Upon answering, Sarah finds her father standing there. With a smile, he asks to speak with her for a moment.
-----"Sarah," he begins, "within a short time you have made me very proud. Not only because Veil and I love you very much but also because you have become quite a learned and formidable mage."
-----"Tomorrow, we begin a great healing process. First we meet with Lady Evalyn and restore what we can there. Then, you will wish to venture with Sol once more. Perhaps, by doing so, you will ease the suffering such as those who you saw through Destine's grace."
-----"For your ability and what you set out to do, the mightiest mage must realize that she needs those around her who she can trust."
-----Pausing, he then asks, "Have you thought of perhaps employing a person to compliment your own abilities?"
-----Sarah sat on her bed next to her father as they spoke. She did not quite understand the meaning of his words, "What do you mean daddy? An apprentice? A bodyguard?" She thinks for a moment, wondering what exactly the wise old wizard meant by complimenting her abilities. She is hesitant about acquiring an apprentice, due to the risk she would be exposed to, and as for bodyguards, she never really thought of the need for one with Sol around. And maybe hiring one would hurt his feelings. She pauses, waiting for her father to answer.
-----Zepharon simply smiles and replies, "Not an apprentice or a bodyguard. I was thinking of . . . Caranip."
-----Sarah grins widely, "That would be wonderful! Does Caranip have any desire to travel?" She wonders. "Do you think it best for her to come with me when I leave?" She asks, not really knowing how ready Caranip is for adventuring yet.
-----"Oh, I would say she is very much for traveling," the Lord Wizard says with a huge smile. "Plus I think that having the added benefit of helping you care for Marlexana will be very appealing to her."
-----Standing up, Zepharon adds, "Well, in the next few days you will need to speak with her about her employment. As for now, we face an important day ahead of us. Are you about ready to turn in, my dear?"
-----"Yes, father." Sarah said, and she changed for bed and settled into her huge comfortable bed, realizing this was the last time she might get a chance to sleep in it for quite a while. She would miss the comfort and luxury, but leaving the lonely empty halls behind would not be too hard.