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The Twenty-Seventh of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Early the next morning, Sarah awakens to find her room dark, save for the diminishing light of a nearly full moon as it sets in the west. The celestial orb has an orange tinge to it giving it the impression of an angry eye frowning down upon on the world. For a moment, fear threatens to take hold of the young mage's heart perhaps in remembrance of her encounters with those who worship the evil goddess of darkness.
-----Sarah turns to the sound of stirring and glancing at her bedpost, she quickly makes out the small form of Chessie. The tiny owl ruffles his feathers and shakes his head as if shivering from the hint of dread from his mistress. He emits a small, confused squeak, which accompanies the sensations of warmth Sarah detects from her familiar.
-----Smiling, Sarah glances back at the window to see the moon lower still while in the east the first hints of violet and pinkish dawn light begin. Out there, among the fading stars, she suddenly sees it! A bright small streak of light that one might miss if the eyes were blinked at the wrong time flashes to the horizon. In the next instant, it is gone! A shooting star! What could this one portend?
-----Strangely, Sarah drifts back to a dreamless sleep. When she rises a bit later on, the sky outside is partly cloudy and the day's activities in the town are heard below the window. She knows that within the tower, the Lord Wizard and Veil are preparing for the departure . . .
-----She then rises to study her spells.
-----"Are we ready?" Zepharon asks as his family gathers with him in one of his workrooms. Veil nods silently as she approaches him and she seems a bit sad with her eyes downcast. She quietly takes Sarah's hand and leads her forward.
-----"Doesn't she look beautiful?" Veil asks quietly.
-----"Sarah, you look very beautiful and very enchanting," the Lord Wizard says in agreement as he looks at her dressed in the gown of red and gold. Sarah's hair also catches the bright warm rays of the sun and Zepharon smiles proudly at her.
-----He takes hold of their hands completing a circle in the chamber. "A new start," he begins to say, before adding, "or at least a new beginning." With that, the Lord Wizard speaks a few mystic words and the room begins to fade.
-----Within a few heartbeats, Sarah's vision clears and she sees once more the faces of Zepharon and Veil still holding hands with her. The surroundings have once again changed. Now they stand within a large waiting chamber adorned with the banners and colors of the fief of Rushfen in Silvergard.
-----Sarah is aware of movement out of the corners of her eyes. Turning, she sees guards standing near the doors leading outside and also at two large wooden doors leading further into this building. The guards dressed in chain armor take defensive stances as the mages' arrival has taken them by surprise.
-----Quickly a man from the side steps forward and his manner identifies him as one in authority. "Lord Wizard Zepharon," he says calmly but sternly, "I hereby place you under arrest in the name of the Estate of Silvergard." The man looks to be in his late thirties and has shoulder length black hair and a trimmed beard about his chin.
-----"Lord Marshall Lone," Zepharon says with a somewhat irritated tone, "I thought this matter had been cleared up by now."
-----"You are a fugitive who is wanted for questioning," Lord Marshall Lone replies. "You refused to surrender yourself when you were here last."
-----Veil's jaw drops open visibly stunned by this turn of events. For a moment, Sarah can feel that the diviner seems unsteady on her feet.
-----The Lord Wizard quickly reaches for Veil and holds her. He then gathers Sarah in his other arm and looks at the guards standing by the doors to the audience chamber. With a commanding voice, he says, "You will tell Lady Evalyn that we are here to see her."
-----Something in the Lord Wizard's face motivates the guards because in the next few seconds one scrambles to enter the chamber beyond and announces the arrival. The other guard simply holds the door and nervously remains alert.
-----"This will not change things," the Lord Marshall of Rushfen says as he raises an eyebrow. "You still have our laws to answer to."
-----"Don't be a fool, man," Zepharon says lowly, "You will have other things to be concerned about in the coming days."
-----Looking down at Sarah, he nods toward the next chamber and asks, "Are you ready, my daughter?"
-----Sarah takes a deep breath and calms herself. She is not worried about her father, she knows he can handle himself and she doubts there is a prison in the world that can hold him. She appreciates his embrace, but feels as though the first meeting is something she should do alone. "Father, I wish to see Lady Evalyn alone. May I?" She asks rather timidly. Although she appreciates her family's support, she does not want to feel as though she is relying on them.
-----A look of surprise comes across the Lord Wizard's face. He looks down into Sarah's face with a slack jaw and then his expression lightens. A prideful smile brightens his face and he says softly, "Yes, . . . yes you may. Veil and I will wait here. We will be here if you need us."
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