StoryIdeas2

Epilogue

Out into the night she saw the soldiers approaching steadily by the twinkling of their torches upon the night’s darkness. All she could think of was the look it gave of the stars coming down from the skies and settling themselves onto the planet.
She knew what was coming, and she wasn’t able to understand it. The people around the palace had been whispering it for weeks now. From across the city where the soldiers began their slow, but short trek though the streets and the peasants.
Turning around she stared at the door. Her brother’s room was across from hers, but yet she couldn’t do anything about any of this mess.
The whispers that came from the mouth of just about everyone was the news of the King requesting, or rather telling, anyone proficient in the art of magic to go to the Royal Palace where they would be received. The truth of it was that even if someone choose not to go to meet the king that they would come to take the person any way they had to.
Pateal, her brother, was the last in the city to refuse to go.
She herself knew very little magic. Her abilities were so miniscule that she rarely even thought of it. But then again, her skills were about average considering that everyone had the use of magic, just she was on the lower end of the scale.
As she turned back to the window she saw that the dancing starlights of the King’s men had already reached the palace’s door and the leader was waiting patiently for someone to greet him and a handful of men that would assist him if there was any need of force.
Some of the men below looked decidedly shaky. Every other man it seemed was rocking back and forth on the heels of their boots or glancing side to side trying to make sure no one came upon them as a surprise. Most of these men didn’t enjoy to be around people who could use magic in such large quantities. At least, they didn’t like to know when people were so adept at using magic. More than likely every handful of men down there was able to use magic almost as well as her brother could, but he wouldn’t ever let any of his friend’s down there know, just as well as they’d never let their friend’s know if they could use magic with as much efficiently.
She grew increasing curiously why the king was gathering men and women who could use magic with as so much skill. The only thing that would make any sense would be if there was a shortage of wizards, and that couldn’t possibly be, especially in a city so large.
It was almost that one out of every ten people were born with enough power in magic to be classified as a wizard, though not all of the people strong enough choose to become so.
The leader and his men were finally allowed to enter as she watched them slip into a small sidedoor next to the main entrance to the palace. They slowly entered single file, all men staring straight ahead with not a waver of eyes or twitch of arm. Seasoned men, most likely the same men that have been doing this since the King’s decree to magic users.
Some time passed but she eventually heard the boots of the soldiers upon the tiled hallway ouside her door, all moving in unison to the same silent beat. Her throat grew tighter as she suddenly realized what was happening.
She’s been hearing about how none of the people taken in by the King’s men have been seen again, inside or out of the palace. She thought of how she was most likely never going to see her brother again.
Gruff voices sounded from outside and then one of the men knocked on the door to her brother’s bedroom, probably one of the lesser officers.
It had to be at just about the same time that the men knocked that there was screaming coming from those very men. A loud crash came from out in the corridor which made the ceiling rain dust down on her. Most likely her brother sent the door flying which easily killed a man or two out there. As soon as the screams subsided to a dull whimpering the men gathered on the courage to venture forth to retrieve Pateal. The flickering of fire next came from under the door and the sound of more of the men screaming before the leader could finally gain control and stopped Pateal’s last hope.
If Pateal could have killed the leader of the group he may have been able to run away hoping they’d never find him. The leader always had the ability to stop magic from other men, it was a necessity to not die when they had tasks like this one. Though with how the talks been going, the king wants Pateal so bad now that he has everyone else that this whole group could probably stop magic. Only, they were caught by surprise.
She leaned against the wall next to her door. Silently she sobbed into her hands. The king didn’t take it too lightly when any of his men were killed, and especially didn’t like it when several were. Pateal may not live past tonight now. She decided that she had to do something!
In her head she pictured her younger brother running with her through the corridors trying to hide the pies that they stole from the cook. She remembered back to when he told her that he’d protect her any way he could, every day that she was alive. She remembered all his promises to her and the fierceness in his eyes when he heard of anyone treating her unjustly. She couldn’t just let her brother, her favorite brother, get taken away. He was the only person in the world that still showed that he cared for her. Even their own parents had stopped showing any signs of love towards her or him. That had all ended when they reached about thirteen years of their lives, when they were starting to grow up and actually see how the world was. But even all through that her brother had cared for her and swore that he would protect her so she could become queen and rule the land how it should be.
As memories of her brother flashed through her head, sights of him smiling, seeing him cry, and all the time in between, she gathered up her things she needed.
Settling her hooded cloak around her shoulders she picked up her sack full of supplies and a change of clothing. Lastly she gathered several daggers and went on her way.
Though the dead men were still out in the hall, and the servants were already cleaning up the place, she quickly went on her way down the hall seeming to act as if she didn’t notice a thing that went on.
As she reached the corner of the hallway she ran through the rest of the palace to leave before news of her leaving could reach her father. Behind her she heard many gasps as she rushed by as the servants realized who was running by them. She didn’t care, she just wanted to get out.
Finally she reached the palace doors and left through the same side door that the soldiers went through just earlier that evening.
More memories flooded her mind as she went through the door. The realization on her decision to actually do something brought up all the memories of the palace where she grew up. All the times she ran up and down the very same corridors as a child. She began to wonder if she would ever return.
Reaching the streets she slowed down to a slow stroll as she continued her way to the Royal Palace. Most people looked at her askance. That’s when she realized how odd it must look for a lady in fine cut clothing going around the city at night. Needing to find somewhere to watch for Pateal made her hurry quicker.
Looking through the doors of many inns and taverns as occupants entered or left she was shocked at what she saw. Half the sweaty men laughing raucously pinched the serving maids, while the other half raised their mugs so they could be served by those same poor serving maids. Why did those women allow that? If she were in there working she would make sure those men knew that she couldn’t be prodded like that. She gasped at the sight of one of the serving maids laughing herself when one of the men yelled a rude comment to her. No wonder she always stayed in the palace, people just aren’t civilized out here.
Without another glance she decided it’d be best to keep looking forward and going straight to the Royal Palace. She decided that she couldn’t stay at one of the inns tonight, though. If there was the chance that her brother would be escorted to somewhere else while she lay in bed sleeping, she wasn’t going to take it. Besides, there was no way that a lady like herself could ever go through one of those common rooms.
The Royal Palace itself was set back a little from the city. Along the main road that ran through the city it was possible to come up to the entrance of the Royal Palace. Not many people went to the palace this late at night though, since they would have to walk through the Rief Forest to get there. But she wanted to reach the palace so she went on at the beginning of the forest at the edge of the city.
Walking along the hard dirt road she considered her options. She wasn’t positive how she planned to save her brother. She could try to force a way in just by herself, though that would surely fail. She could try to sneak in past the guards, though they seemed to watch like hawks the one time she came to the palace previously. She continued to think as she walked.
With a start she stopped her and stared at the Royal Palace that seemingly just appeared to the side of her. To her right the path to the palace doors was lit and guarded by numerous soldiers, which she watched from the dark road for some time. She knew she wouldn’t be able to force her way through the front.
She quickly doubled back up the path and wondered how she was going to be able to save Pateal. Without the soldiers watching she snuck into the depths of the forest to get around to the side of the palace where they wouldn’t expect her.
She grunted in exasperation at the branches that sent her hair in disarray no matter how many times she tried to smooth it out. Out of the corner of her eye as she walked she could see the palace lights shining bright. She finally reached the edge of the palace where she could watch the main doors right now and still get a look at any other possible paths that could be taken. If they were going to go through any of the doors in the back they’d have to go by the trees where she was hidden.
Tiredly she pushed back all the pine needles and as much loose dirt as she could. Folding her legs underneath her she sat back against the tree. Not until her head had rested against the tree did she realize how tired she was. She stiffled a yawn with her hand.
Several times through the night she saw groups of men leave the palace, but never returning. Luckily none of them came in her direction. It seemed that most were heading back towards the city.
There she sat for an hour, two hours, maybe more, she lost track of time. A snap of branches behind her brought her head around. She couldn’t see anything that would have made a branch snap after a thorough investigation with her eyes. She turned back and once again started to watch the palace. Memories sprang back to her mind as she blinked tiredly.
Looking up she silently wished to herself that the trees hadn’t hidden where the moon lay in the night sky. This time when she yawned she let it all out and grumbled tiredly to herself, “I’ll save....you...Pateal...mark my....words....”
Last she remembered that night was the sound of a branch breaking behind her and someone whispering. Likely her own muttering, but she was too tired to notice.

Pateal quietly waited from the inside of his room. A glance out the window showed him nothing but moonlit trees and tiny lights from cottages and farms intertwined with the trees.
There was nothing left for him to do though he couldn’t let them get him and find out the truth of the matter. Pacing across the room was the only thing left for him to do. And think, he couldn’t stop thinking.
If they found out about him, they may go for the rest of his family. They coudn’t do that, he wouldn’t allow it. He had to stop them. Somehow, but he didn’t know how. No matter what he came up with, none of them would help anymore. Not with the soldiers down below and with them soon outside his door ready to roust him out.
Before he could think any further he heard the men coming down the corridor. The sound of theirs boots all in unison as they ventured closer and closer to him. The sound was almost deafening to him as he readied himself. He had to do something, but doing nothing seemed to be the only option. That and one other thing. If they brought him his own death he could save everything. That could be the only way. But how to get them to actually kill him. How could he get them to do it when he knew their orders were to keep him alive. If he were to die by his own hand, he knew that far worse would happen to everyone, not just his family.
The knock on the door rang loud through his door as he made up his mind. The time for action had to be now, if he waited any longer they would come for him instead of him coming to them. He grinned. He was coming.
With a grunt he pushed a gust of wind at the door. The force had to be more than any natural wind could ever be. The impact of it brought a loud screech as the door tore off backwards and ripped free of its hinges. This was the beginning.
Before they could counteract with anything he set a wall of fire to burn the rest in the hall. He knew it was too late and the men out in the hall were too ready for this. Amidst the screams out in the hall he could hear curses from the men that we’re extinguishing his flames he wished to burn before he could set them. They sent more men than he expected, there was no way he could hold off so many.
“NOOOO!!!! You will not take me!” That was all he could get out before he felt the power of his magic being seized from within. Ten soldiers walked in all with faces of grim determination to hold him out of reach of his own self, what it was that made him his. But who he stared at with a set face of pure tranquility was their leader.
Their leader walked in ahead of the ten men. She took one look around the room and smirked. After one quick glance out the window she took Pateal in with her eyes.
“Salise, why are you doing this?” Pateal walked to his window and looked longingly at the night sky. To be away from all this, he only wished. “Is this worth a promotion, Salise? You don’t even understand what you’re doing.”
Salise tossed her head in annoyance, “I know exactly what I’m doing, Pateal.” Suddenly he felt his own body being taken over, and he couldn’t even do a thing! They blocked him from magic, and without that he was defenseless. Slowly, with what felt like hundreds of hands pushing his limbs, me moved closer to Salise until he stood in front of her. The twist of her lips when he glanced at her told him that she was the one moving him. Besides, ever since the time when they played as children, she had the gift of being able to move things. “Pateal, under order of the king, you are to come to the palace until further notice.”
She gave him back the freedom of moving on his own, but not being able to use magic was tearing at him.Only one other time had he been held back from the usage of magic, and he nearly cried as soon as it was taken from him. He would shed no tears on this night, he promised himself that.
Led out of of the palace to the air outside was nice. He enjoyed the breeze that blew past during the autumn days. He never did get out enough to appreciate that. Trees with only half their leaves, and those brown and yellow, looked down at him from their heights. A gust of wind rustled the layer of leaves that had fallen ahead of them and continued on it’s path to some other land. Maybe it would come by again next autumn to greet them with its same rustle of greeting. Pateal wondered what next autumn would be like. He wondered how his family would be without him.
They finally came upon where the path to the palace split off to the right. The soldiers continued on though pushing him onward. Salise looked confused also and she was talking sternly with one of the men holding the magic out of Pateal’s grasp. Clearly orders were being given, and were equally being ignored. The men pushed on.
This had to be the time. Pateal knew that he couldn’t allow this to go on any longer. With a roar he turned and tackled the first man that was in sight. As he tumbled over the man, knocking the wind out of the soldier, he could see most the others look at him in surprise and many of those who were only there for force of arms gasped in fright. Most men didn’t like to be near someone with strong magic capabilities, and they were smart to be weary. This was one of those times they were best to be scared.
When he hit that man he felt a hole open to where the man had been holding him back. Before the others could realize that the man let go of the holding he went through it and felt his magic all rush back to him. He grinned as he saw several men faint away at the sight of him standing tall.
With a cry of rage he ripped trees out from their roots and sent them hurtling towards all the men. It sounded like the end of the world was beginning, there in the middle of their path. What those men didn’t know is that it would come if they weren’t careful. Pateal was ready to bring the end of the world upon those ignorant men, thinking they knew what was going on. If they only knew the extent of what was really happening.
Some of the soldiers were no longer afraid of harming Pateal and several shot bolts from their crossbows towards him. Most, as he expected, flew by without a worry and hit the trees behind. One struck him in the side though. He grunted once in pain, but other than that he didn’t feel it more than just a dull pain. When he looked down though he saw that the shaft went through his side. Wincing. he surveyed the scene.
Groans from the mangled trees were just the background to the pained screeches of the more than mangled men. Hoping that most were slain with the attack he made, he found that he had hoped wrong. Men were entwined hideously between trunks of trees. All he could do was avert his eyes, though that didn’t create silence. He could still hear them.
But when he turned away from the mass it wasn’t the sounds that made him jump, it was Salise. She stood there wide-eyed, not sure of what to do. Though it seemed to be a trigger when he looked at her. Salise’s eyes snapped to Pateal’s face. She quickly put on a face consisting of a friendly grin, but her eyes were full of sorrow.
“Pateal...I’m so sorry....I really didn’t know this was planned until we were nearly here. I promise that I never would have hurt....hurt...” She suddenly looked past him in horror. “Pateal, watch out!”
He bounded away from where he was standing to see the ground turn in on itself. Looking back at the men he could see that one was loose from the trees, and hobbling on his one good leg. That was all he saw of him before the man was incinerated by Pateal’s flames.
Pateal looked back at Salise to see her looking at him once more with that same look of friendship, yet deep sorrow. Going by instinct he disabled her ability to use magic.
She looked at him a little more grim, but nodded to herself as if she expected it. She might as well have expected that much in the least.
He wavered on his feet and put out his hands to balance him. It wasn’t enough. Before he knew it, the ground had suddenly risen up to meet him. Weakly he raised his head to see Salise rush over to him.
All she did was really the best that she could do, she took out a handkerchief from somewhere behind the belt of her dress and put pressure on the wound in his side. He clamped his teeth down as a sudden jolt of pain spread out from his side.
“Pateal, release the Holding on me you fool, I could do my best to help you if I could reach my magic.” She pleaded to him, “Please Pateal, you need to, or you’ll surely die!”
He took her hand gently, “Salise my old friend, you already did your best.” She felt the Hold let go. “But please Salise, let me go alone, I should be fine.” The last he said behind clenched teeth.
He pushed himself up and made his legs as sturdy as possible. He still wavered a bit, but he was able to walk on his own, though his pain was agony. Pain traveled through his breath at every breath, but he hid it as best as possible. “I must go Salise, I have to get away.” When he saw her lift her head up to look at him he saw a tear roll down a cheek. He walked tenderly up to her and gave her a ginger hug. Just doing that made him loose his breath as more pain racked his body. He let go as quickly as his side would allow. “I must leave, but you will see me again, I promise you that.”
Without looking back he stepped out of the forest and walked along the path. As he continued he began to feel very weak again, but he told himself he had to continue on. While walking he would stop to spit up more blood that had risen up in his throat. He seemed to be spitting blood more often as he trudged up the path back to the city.
After going past the path that lead to the Royal Palace, he lifted his head cautiously at the sound of someone ahead, though they hadn’t seen him yet. He noticed that the person was walking away from him, but walking very slow. As the person turned to go into the forest the moonlight ran across her face. He could see his sister quietly sneak into the forest.
He tried to call out, but nothing would come out, so he used the rest of his strength and shuffled after he as quick as he could. He reached the spot where she entered and looked in to see her a distance ahead of him and slowly going father away. He pushed himself to go faster but his body wouldn’t listen and went at a grudgingly slow pace. He was able to follow her most the times with his eyes, though after a while he lost sight of her. The trail was easily laid out for him though as his sister went carelessly through the forest seeming to break every branch she went by.
Nearly when he thought he couldn’t go any longer he saw his sister leaning against a tree with her head falling, but suddenly coming back up, as she fought drowsiness.. Those last fifty paces to her seemed like an always increasing gap, but he finally found himself standing next to her. When he came there she had finally fallen asleep.
But he didn’t care, he had finally reached her.

She raised her head sleepily. Looking around she wondered where she was until she remembered her hopes of saving her brother. He couldn’t have been brought out in the short time that she was asleep. The moon had barely moved since the last time she saw it through the branches overhead. A rasping sound made her turn her head.
There lay Pateal, catching his breath, only about one pace from her.
“Sister, you must listen to me...”
“Pateal, what has happened? How did you get out here?” She looked at him and saw the dark stain covering his exposed side. “Oh no! You’re injured Pateal! We need to get you taken care of.”
“No, you must listen to me.” He took another few breaths and got control of himself. His eyes darted around blindly though. “I can’t explain everything, but one thing I must-” He spat more blood. “I must tell you this one thing. With the ending of my life, there will be an ending to all life if I don’t release what I’ve gotten inside. Doing so will consequently kill me as it is. Dear sister, I am going to give you my magic.”
She gasped, in shock and in fright. She’s heard stories since she was young of the powerful magicians that used to be able to do many things that now haven’t been done in thousands of years. One of those stories told of passing magic to others. She couldn’t comprehend how Pateal could have possibly learned the magic.
“Please, don’t speak,” he rasped. “I must hurry before I die and it is left out in the open where the wrong person can get it. Listen to me closely, for reasons unknown to me I was born as a Master Magician. But even though there hasn’t been one in a long while, I’m not just an ordinary Master, they made me more than that. They made me all of them. Now, all-”
“Pateal, what are you saying? They? Them? Who are you talking about?” She questioned in a near panic. This had to be certainly all lies that he was thinking of as he died! There was no way any of this could be true.
“They are the ones who used to protect this land, this whole planet that we live on. I’m speaking of the Only.” He looked at her with eyes unwavering, though she couldn’t tell if he could still see her, he may just be guessing where her face may be. She began crying.
He put up a hand and stroked his finger along her cheek, “Thank you, you helped me make your decision.” She replied with a questioning sob. “This is the last thing I will tell you, the most important thing. As you know, there were six of the Only long ago. But they disappeared as the need for them slowly went away. They were still here, but they weren’t in physical form, they were just the spirits. They were to wait till a time came when they were needed. The day I was born is when they sensed it was needed. The Only used my body as a carrier. They were all born that day, born into me. It was planned for this day to come, for me to pass them on to six others that will be them again, in essence. I cannot possibly give you all of them, but I will send one of their spirits to you, while the remaining five will be given to others. You will have to find these others. I am almost dead, I must begin.”
As he reached for her, she jerked away. She wiped her tears away and said, “This is all madness! But...but....if you speak the truth, I believe you brother. But just tell me the names of the others. I will try my best to find the five others and help, but if you could just tell me who the others are it would help me. Please tell me brother.” Grabbing his hand in hers she watched his face with a face of fear, though attempting to hide it.
“I have to be able to see the people to appoint them with a spirit. With you here I can give you the spirit knowing that you’ll get it. But sister, you will know they are out there. You will know.” Suddenly he shut his eyes tight and bellowed, “I can’t hold them in any longer! They must go before I perish!”
Pateal flew up and stood in the air with his feet level with her head. Standing spread eagle his head turned up to the night sky. A tendril of white mist streaked out of his opened mouth. The mist built up till it formed the outline of a person. Mist sprayed out of Pateal’s skin, out of every pore, all gathering into the shadow of a person that formed above Pateal.
“I, the Knight of Light, have been born again.” Pateal’s voice came out of the body of mist. Each word making the mist glow brighter. “From the life and blood I have been brought forth out of this planet to protect all. With the knowledge that I know, and have yet to gain, I will protect this planet using the powers of light and holiness. I am alive!” Near the end the person had become a glowing ball, nearly too bright to look at, but it suddenly shot off into the sky. Somewhere the spirit was reborn.
Pateal still stood in the air, but it was hard to make out his outline with all the light from the mist gone. Awestruck she continued to stare up at him. It took her a moment to notice that another mist was springing forth out of him, forming into another smooth body. She gasped as she realized that it was all black mist this time.
Somehow this time when it spoke, the black became more intense. It didn’t seem possible that a black fog could glow, but it was giving off a bright light, which got brighter with each following word. “I, the Knight of Dark, have been born again. From the death and rot I have been brought forth out of this planet to protect all. With the knowledge that I know, and have yet to gain, I will protect this planet using the powers of dark and decay. I am alive!” With that, it too shot into the air and vanished.