Sisters of Sartillia

Scene 1

Characters    
 * Lord Feather
 * Lynn Trinkle “Trink”
 * Anke

"Good day Lord feather" she said to him as he walked out his midtown office. As Feather looked up from his keys, He saw a fiery redhead with what could only be witch's garb. She even wore the Symbol of the Sisters on her arm, but as he looked closer something about the symbol seemed wrong. Where it was normally 3 women holding hands, it appeared at a glance that one of the women stood atop the other two and did not touch them."My Name is lynn Trinkle". she said, but before she could continue Feather interrupted  "I do not have time for visitors today Miss" he paused in his speech with a slight smile "Trink was it?" Ignoring what she thought to be deliberate cheek she persisted " I need your help Lord Feather.

   

"You may walk with me, until I reach my destination of course" said Lord Feather " One could not object to such company as you Miss Trink" She matched his pace, and thought for a second that Lord Feather’s golem was studying her, but she knew she was just being nervous." Lord Feather"  She went on " Call me James, Miss Trink" he interrupted with another smile. she found she was honestly surprised at how disarming it was. "Alright then, ‘James’ " she paused saying the name deliberately as she flashed  a well rehearsed smile  “I come here on behalf of" He Broke in again"Sartillian Witches, yes yes. I know this Miss Trink", and as he said it he stopped suddenly on the street and handed a vendor 10 Grondels  out his pocket, and moved on. She looked back puzzled and then realized Lord Feather was getting away. She ran after him.  "So we have an incident within our group as of late” she says catching up to him, " It seems that there has been discovered  a small group among us who think that wizards are to be punished for their crimes against nature." Feather laughed loud and boisterous at this and said " some among you! I thought that was the whole point Miss Trink"  She seemed frustrated at this, and with scorn said" I expected you to know better than a commoner the intricacies of political matters, and you shall refer to me as Miss Trinkle if you do not mind"

   

He paused looking around genuinely interested in something, and said "do hear that Miss Trink?" Startled by his complete obliviousness to her anger she really stopped and listened. Just Then Lord Feather started whispering something under his breath, and he bend down and and scrawled a small mark on the ground. as he rose he snapped his fingers, and the window display next to him burst into flames. "Fire! "he yelled "everyone come help, Fire!" They all ran towards the window, but he kept walking through the crowd that now gathered on the sidewalk. As they reached the corner Lord Feather put his arm out to stop Lynn. She looked forward just in time to stop before walking blindly into his arm. Five unmanned but saddled horses ran with no control through the just recently emptied street in front of her. The horses then found themselves trapped in an alley at the end of the road where the owners were able to quickly round them up.

   

" Did you just?" she stuttered rather confused at what just happened, but he had already started crossing the street, and so she hurried on. "Lord Feather!" She called to him "It's James" he persisted from up ahead of her, rather teasingly "and I fear dear Trink we have come to the end of our walk" he said as she approached him. He then stopped at another door. He bowed, and smiled his disarming smile. He was almost through the door  when she yelled in a sort of desperate voice " It is about the wizards that have been disappearing!"

   

He stopped in the shadow of the doorway, and peaked out. "Why did you not tell me that before Trink? he said now excited, and eyes shining.  He turned to his Golem and said rather kindly "Anke my boy, would you please cancel all my appointments for today"  "Yes sir" he bellowed slowly in a deep voice. " Anke, what did I tell you about the mouth thing." he said jokingly" I can't handle the voice with no movement of the face. It rather disturbs me to be honest"  Anke seemed to concentrate, and after a second repeated the words again. This time, to the amazement of Lynn who stood and watched this strange encounter, his gravel mouth moved as he spoke " yes sir". "Alrighty then"said James as he reached to link arms with Lynn “We have some talking to do." She rejected the arm but smiled for a second, and started walking away knowing to herself that he would follow.

   

Scene 2

Characters    
 * Lord Feather “James”
 * Lynn Trinkle “Trink
 * Short haired witch
 * various other witches

They quickly found themselves at a shop called Endue that sold antiques. she walked in the open door, and straight to the back without hesitation. James followed and as he did he observed that all the women in the store wore the Symbol of the Sisters somewhere on their person, and each  symbol had the same slight barely noticeable modification. He had second thoughts about his choice to follow, and even more about leaving Anke behind now that he had suddenly had walked into a den of witches.

   

He walked through a hanging bead door into a smallish room. Lynn was already seated at a table.”Take a seat” she offered. He took the seat across from her, as two more women from the front of the store  walked in the back. He ignored them, and said “Ok Trink, you have gotten my attention. What about the wizards who have disappeared?”

   

“As I was trying to tell you.” she said with a huff blowing her red curls out of her face. “There are some within our group who are looking to make the wizards pay for their transgressions” She waited for him to interrupt,and after nothing came she continued. “ They have figured something out, made some new strange contract, or found some item that has allowed them to become exponentially more powerful. “You do not know more than that?” James ask. “Well, Lynn answered “ We have seen it in action” she paused for a second as if shaking off a thought “but we do not know the nature of it. It seems the “Shades” as they call themselves never tire, and can do magic on a scale I have never seen. We fought them, but were forced to retreat our home, and come to the city ,in order  to warn the wizards what was coming their way.”

   

Awww, thanks Girls” He said to the room at large. The two women watching gave  forced smiles, but lynn shouted “This is not Funny James!” “Ok then” he said apoligieticly “I get it, I get it, but why are telling me? There are much more powerful wizards than me to help you out.” “We have reached out to the wizards that might be able to help us find the origin of this problem” said Lynn “so that we can solve it properly. “We do not need blustering fire throwers who burn all they see.” She said with scorn, and approving nods from the women. “Besides, as infuriating as you are James, I saw what you did there on the street, and it was a clever minimal use of magic paired with simply paying attention” I have never seen a wizard who could assess the situation so quickly.” James laughed “ It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, trust me” “Can you help us James?” Lynn said in a direct no nonsense kind of way.” “Well” he said “ You did ask nicely, and besides, you called me James!” he said smiling. James saw her face start to scowl, and continued before she could think of anything to say“So where do I start?”

   

“We know that the Shades are amazingly powerful”  said the short haired girl standing to the side, as she pulled a chair up to the table and sat next to him. She sighed to herself “yet somehow we cannot sense them at all unless they are using their power” “I wonder if  they took any artifacts?” James said thinking out loud. “No we tried a tracking spell” Lynn said answering his mumbling “and the artifacts are all still at home, but we cannot be sure if they have created a new item endowed with abilities.” “ah!” said James who loved this sort of thing. “ Is there anything else you can tell me” he said starting to stand up. “oh no you don’t” said Lynn standing and rushing to follow him.”A sensible wizard is still a wizard” Lynn said only half jokingly, but with a smile “ I am coming with you” James remembered his earlier treatment and  just walked out forcing her to follow.

   

Scene 3

Characters    
 * Lynn Trinkle “Trink”
 * Lord Feather “James”
 * John- The Receptionist

Ok “James” Lynn said emphasizing the word with all the venom she could muster? “I have a question for you?” “ Is this really the time?”James said as he walked into magic records building. “Lord Feather!” said a the young man standing at attention when he walked in. “Are you here for official business today?” “Not quite John ”James said embracing the boy. “I just need to see Millicent”. John looked confused as he looked at James, and then at the strange red headed girl “Millicent?” John said trying to convey in a look the question he could not ask? “Which way?” James ask nodding, and acknowledging the boys question with his tone as” if you only knew?”.

   

John, satisfied with this non answer, rushed to his panel where there was a button labeled Millicent. He pressed the button and pulled out a pair of eyeglasses from a box. He handed them to James, and bowed to Lynn, and rushed back to his panel. James felt the tug of the glasses pulling toward the elevator so he gave in and let himself be lead.”Your question Trink?”

   

“Ah yes the question” said Lynn confused by what had just happened. “The golem that follows you around” “Anke” interrupted James matter of factly. as he said this James stepped into the elevator, and shot what appeared to be sparks at a gear that then turned causing them to go upward. “Yes, Anke” she said “He is like no golem I have ever seen. What have you done to him James?” James smiled and said simply “Sic” my dear Trink. He then gave her a second, and seeing she did not get his meaning he went on “As it was written, in other words I have made no changes to him. The creator a Miss Millicent Tumble created him, and I am not sure she even understands what exactly has happened.”

   

“Coincidentally” James continued “I am hoping to see a friend of mine here, a Millicent Mayor, she is the new librarian, and she can help us to see if any new or  largely powerful items have entered the city since the attacks have started.”  Looking visibly flustered at this Lynn ask “ This Millicent, can she be trusted with the information that she finds?” “I trust her above all  people”,”James said “ What we discover will be between us, and there will be no record of our search. Why, are you hiding something Miss Trink?” “There are several witch safe havens that have been set up around town in the last few weeks” Lynn replied “and we brought an item or two that might be traceable, but we were in a hurry.” “Your secret is safe with me Miss Millicent, but I must ask you to remain back a ways as we discuss our business matters. I think Millicent will be more likely to do this search for me if you are not around to make her nervous about it”

   

Just then the elevator door opened and James could feel the tug of the glasses. “browse the shelves for a minute Trink” James said spreading his arms to indicate one the largest rooms of books Lynn had ever seen “and I will find you when I am done. I am sure there is some information here that interest you. It is after all  3rd level security I just marched a witch of Sartillia into. Live a little” She scowled at him, but let him walk into the office, as she started browsing shelves.

   

Scene 4

Characters    
 * Lord Feather “James”
 * Millicent Mayor- Libriarian
 * shapeless shadow creature

As James walked into the room, he had to immediately ducked as books flew past his head at break neck speed. James saw Millicent standing in the center of the swirl. Her flower print dress visibly swaying by the wind she was putting off. Her glasses hung by a string around her neck. she appeared to be  swearing to herself. “Stupid” she growled trailing off, and the next thing he heard was  “ They call this a library! I do not know how the whole damn place has not been burned to ground, and called a lost cause till now!” As she says this, books start flying into shelves and within seconds the room looks perfectly organized. The wind settles and her dress falls to a normal position. James approaches “Enjoying you new job I see” James said chuckling, and immediately embracing her.

   

“ I am still not sure James, why I ever agreed to this job” Millicent said dropping flustered into a chair behind a perfectly organized desk. “Because it is the biggest library. Perhaps because it is full of the most comprehensive knowledge gathered by wizards over centuries.” said James with a smirk “Oh and you were madly in love with the man who ask you to take the job” Millicent smiled broadly at this but retorted “merely a fling” She said with a hand waving gesture as if to dismiss it entirely “Like Eburns says:

‘ But even the trickster admits with a wink

that the price of the dream is to wake

and find that dream as well as the flower

you hold to your heart is a fake’

James stood puzzled for a second,and seeing what she had done smiled. “ Trickster indeed claimed James you are out of context miss Mayor. You have forgotten the best part, and you know it.” He then quoted the last stanza:

‘but calm all your fears for prizes are found

with beauty beyond all compare

to love and be loved with both feet on the ground

with someone with whom you can share’

   

She gets up from her chair quite enjoying this battle and gives him a small kiss on cheek, “thanks for that. You always know how to cheer me up.” she paused breaking their brief embrace “What do you need James? I am clearly very busy” James was left trying not to look sad at her sudden professionalism, but he recovered quickly and said “I need to check our unregistered relic imports over the last two months.” “Relics?, Relics?” she said pausing in mid step “You would ask for something from one of the rooms I have not yet organized. She growled a little at the thought of the Relics department “Still there is a way” she brightened almost instantly.

She pulled out a blank sheet of paper and reached for one of the many pens  off a string where they were tethered in necklace form at her breast.. she then very swiftly wrote a symbol on the paper. She replaced the pen, and walk to her desk and stamped the paper, and as she did, the paper suddenly disintegrated “It will be along shortly. Said Millicent “While we are waiting would you care to explain why you need this, and whether or not this is on the books.” As James went to answer A loud crash occurred, and the door to the room was torn off the hinges. The door then slammed against James knocking him over and stunning him. As he lie on floor. he saw a shadowy shape above him, and a voice that said “ Foolish Wizards will burn for what you have done!” Millicent jumping to his defense instantly turned every book in the room into a missile, but the shadow  just kept coming. The books disintegrated into fire as they touched the shadow giving an all new shape to the being as it became a woman of pure fire approaching Milcent. That was the last thing James saw as he passed out.

   

Scene 5

Lord Feather’s dream

   

James was suddenly standing outside a camp in a forest. There was a tent, and as he approached, some women were chanting something he could not understand, and performing some kind of ritual. He entered but no one seemed to see him, nor did James think much on the fact of his invisibility. He saw now the voices belonged to witches, and one of them was Tanna of the Northern tribe. Each of the seven or so elder witches had a demon behind them, and below them bowing at their feet were what appeared to be apprentices. as the elders ended their chant there was an explosion of energy that transferred from the elder to the younger. One of the Younger witches was Trink. In fact he recognized most of the girls from the shop. The scene shifted as they were back in the camp but now there was a force attacking the The Northern Tribe. At the head of the charge there was seven of shapeless monsters that swirled and burned and destroyed the enemy with no effort. The witches on the other side pumped magic at them from all directions but none of it did any good.. There was a cord or chain or maybe just a string of  energy that linked each one of the destructive shadows  to one of the recently bowing girls. The girls  were walking behind in a daze from what he could tell, as if they had just woken up. The creatures plowed through the field and just kept walking out of camp as if they would never return. The girls stumbling behind like willing prisoners.

   

Scene 6

Characters

    James awoke to find that Millicent was lifting the door off him,and as his vision started to clear He saw Trink in the corner with a large scowl on her face, as she was discussing something to younger wizard who worked for the library. The room was in shambles.
 * Milicent the Librarian
 * Lord Feather- James
 * Lynn Trinkle- Trink

   

“Are you ok” ask Millicent, as she reached to help him up.” A  little groggy” James grumbled dusting ash of his clothes. “I know what might help though” He said. MIllicent looked up rather concerned “what?, what is It? what can I do?” James merely puckered his lips briefly at her,and laughed. “ What a pompous”, she stopped and exhaled deeply before continuing again “Well it seems you're alright then”  she said angrily beginning to dust her own clothes off. “ What happened to that thing?” James said suddenly stern and concerned “Are you alright? How did you fight it off?” “I didn’t fight it off as such” Millicent  said rather puzzled. “It seemed to be after me, but as it reached me it grabbed the necklace around my neck disintegrating it. It said something about the time drawing near for my kind, and then it vanished as if it was never there. The heat from the flame made me pass out and when I woke up, your friend Lynn here was ordering people to help me out the rubble.” She stood weakly against a what remained of a bookshelf, “ and” Millicent paused recalling something “I had the strangest dream” Millicent said more to herself than anyone in the room.

James thought about the necklace being broken for a moment, and placed it in the back of his mind saying instead as he looked around. “I hope we have backed up the works contained in this room somewhere else. “Yes of course but it will take more than a years budget for the recreation of all those text. “Not to mention it attacked two other rooms on this floor.” Millicent said looking visibly distraught as she said it. “Remind me why I took this job again?” she said as she looked him over making sure he was not hurt. It was an easy desk job with no heavy lifting, Climate controlled, and” James stopped talking and pulled her close,and kissed her for a long moment. This time he had the pleasure of ending it prematurely as Lynn approached.

   

“Trink!” he said with smile “I am glad to see you made it” “Yeah, you too.” They sat in silence together for a couple of minutes as the medical examiners checked them over. Millicent excused herself to contact her superiors about the disaster. As their exam was nearing completion, Millicent returned handing them each a drink, and Lynn, suddenly being reminded by Millicent's  presence, said “Did you get anything on those records?”  “I am afraid”said Millicent “that although they are still in the building we would need  to access them by manual means. The attack damaged the only keys to magical summoning This would be fine if the entire history of librarians working here before me did not rely solely on magic as their only means of organizing books.”  “However” she said trying to relax “I am afraid however we are looking at a minimum of at least a hundred years of librarians who tagged each book magically, and then just set them down wherever the hell the felt like, after each use. Until a new set of summoners can be created I am afraid it could take anywhere from ten minutes to a year to find your records. sorry”

   

James remembered the necklace, “that’s it” he said aloud knowing  now what to do. “Trink!” he almost yelled suddenly “forget tracking Items!” “but” she tried to protest “Millicent  do you know when the next Joint Meeting is?”James yelled now in somewhat of a frenzy. “ Are you kidding me?” ask Millicent with a rather disapproving look on her face.” The council of three is tomorrow at five, I take it this means you are not presenting then?” Before he could even hear the last comment, James had already grabbed his now smouldered coat off of the rack that hobbled by the door, and had headed back for the elevator.

   

“If you are going to go you had better run. He doesn’t wait” said Millicent looking at Lynn. “I am learning that” Lynn said as they both smiled knowingly at this apparent truth. Suddenly much to both of their surprise James  ducked back in the room. “Are you coming Trink?” “A sensible wizard, is still a wizard.” Lynn said teasingly. “ oh and Lynn”  Millicent said reaching for something gleaming around her neck. “take this” she reached out her hand “please” Millicent pleaded with her. It was a golden pen that was charred and all that still remained of her necklace that had been destroyed. “I know you are not a fan of the way in which we use magic, but I would be grateful if he came back alive” She pressed it in Lynn’s hand, and much to Lynn’s own surprise she did not shy away from the contact, but ultimately the gesture was useless as the pen passed through her hand, and fell to the ground. Millicent stood stunned for a moment, but Before Millicent could make sense of what had just happened Lynn spoke “ I will keep him safe, do not worry” With that the she ran after James, and everyone was gone. Millicent went out into the hall and called an assistant over. “ I need this file sent to James Feather’s house within the hour” she said as she pulled a note out of her pocket, that James had slipped in during their brief kiss.She tore the file information off the bottom of the personal portion of the note, and handed it to the assistant.. “Right away Miss Mayor. He walk away toward the records department. Millicent having seen to James’s request, retreated back to what was left of the room she had spend all day organizing, As she picked up the first book off the floor she said out loud. “ If I did not love him, I would kill him for this”

   

Scene 7

characters

Lord Feather: James

Lynn Trinkle: Trink

Golem: Anke

As James and Lynn walked out onto the street, Lynn was surprised to see Anke standing patiently waiting. “Ah Anke, I was wondering when you would show up.”said James brightly “A little earlier might have been helpful though" he finished. “Sir?” Anke said in his slow deep voice, but there was more questioning in the tone than Lynn thought was possible for her understanding of golems. It was as if the one word said I am here now reporting for duty, and what has happened while I was gone?. “Trink I fear that for today I may have done all I can,” James said turning to Lynn “but if you will kindly meet me tomorrow noon at Bronte’s I will tell you what I have learned, and how we are to proceed” “Bronte’s?” Lynn said puzzled, “I know little about this city but I think you just ask me to meet you at a dress shop tomorrow at noon” James smiled “ Yes i did, you will not be allowed in the door of the Council tomorrow evening if you are dressed like that. Besides I assumed you were in a hurry to leave your home and had no time to gather clothes.” Lynn looked visibly flustered at this, but reluctantly she said “Till Tomorrow then” Lynn then bowed, and walked away.

“Walk with me Anke” James said starting to speed down the road. “ I fear that blasted girl without even knowing it has finally spelled my end. I want you to call in every favor I am owed, and let no one do to much of the job It must be a secret’.” Anke looked visibly surprised at this as his rocky face contorted  as if in pain. “ Do not argue with me Anke “James said seeing his grim face “It is the time, and we both knew it would come sooner or later. You should be happy after all this means you will be free when it is done.”

Anke spoke up but this time with none of the slowness he reserved for guest “ This is not the way i wish to gain freedom” “I know old chap” said James still trying to be light hearted,” but the world as it is requires there be a bad guy, and it can’t be them. Make the arrangements and then I want you posted outside the witches store when they leave, and they will leave. I want you to go in and find something for me.” “What I am looking for sir” said Anke. “I do not know exactly but it will probably radiate magic like a furnace puts off heat” “Do i need to set up an appointment with Bronte’s?” the golem ask. “That will not be necessary Anke,  all will be settled by tonight, and you be own your own to live as you please”  These are your final orders perform them well. They approached the end of street, and needing to go different ways parted without any more words exchanged.

   

Scene 8

Characters

Lord Feather:James

Lynn Trinkle

Queen of the Northern Tribe

Other assorted witches

Anke

Demon: Solomon

   

James now done arranging his house for whatever may happen the next day had seated himself in a room he had not entered for years. Since the night of his original contract he had not dared enter it, knowing that if he ever was tempted to contract again he would most likely lose everything. He sat in the middle of a circle as four golems made all the appropriate symbols and summoning marks. Along the wall there sat 10 more Golems awaiting orders. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing until the world became fluid, and constantly shifting. He opened his eyes and seeing the shadows trying to form shapes observed the shadows as they were and let them be. He was looking for something that had seemed just out of sight all day. A thought suddenly occurred to him as a name flew into his mind and he gently spoke it aloud. “Tanna” and as soon as he said it there was only darkness.

It suddenly seemed like James  was in a room There was a circle table and at it sat seven women. Tanna sat among them. He saw this tent was makeshift, and the meeting seemed tense as if they were in the middle of an argument “They have agreed to it” a fair skinned blond woman said “what more is there to discuss?”., and James starting to gain focus listened in “Yes they have agreed, but I do not believe they understand what they are agreeing to” Tanna said. “ The tribes are approaching, and they will die if do not become shades.” said the blond. Tanna stood and pressed her hands hard against the table “Do you not think i know this! I am simply saying they cannot become something they cannot fathom! A woman clad in a enormous wolfskin cloak offered in a calm voice “We cannot know either way which is better, but we have given them a choice, and I trust adrianna to make her own decision. I hope the rest of you can do the same.” With that being said the Women in the Wolfskin walked out as did four other women, and Tanna sat alone with one other women. “It seems we have no choice” Tanna said to her companion as Tanna got up and walk out of the tent.

   

The scene faded, and refocused as it was now  the moment James had seen before in his last dream. The elders transferring some strange energy to the seven apprentices. Only this time when the transfer was done The scene continued. The seven girls passed out. The elders stood wondering if they had done the right thing, and waited to see what would happen next. When suddenly a loud noise of metal on stone. The wolfskin woman’s sword had fallen to the ground, and as she kneeled to grab it her hand passed right through. The others started to fall to the ground, and their whole bodies started to fade out of existence. In less than a minute there was nothing but a pile of clothes and weapons where the elders once stood. He could still see them if he looked. They were there, but they were shadows of their former selves. James wondered to himself: If this is what happened to the elder shades? then the who lead the girls out of cam?. Suddenly, As if to answer his question the string of energy he had seen before suddenly starting flowing from each of the sleeping girls, and out of the end a terrible shadow formed. The shadow started to float toward the tent exit. The girls opened their eyes and immediately saw  their masters clothes and weapons on the floor, and as they were too weak to even speak none the less ask questions they followed the shadows out of the tent.

James opened his eyes and found himself back in his own house, only now sometimes he could see the spectral form of Tanna and the six flanking her. They drifted about as if the slightest breeze could destroy what was left of them. Then suddenly gaining all his senses he could tell it had gotten warmer, and that he smelled burning up above on the main floor. He knew his plan had worked although he did not expect some of the finer details. The darker shadows started moving before James’s eyes. The shadows became much more solid, as one of them eventually settled into  a creature like the ones from his dream and the library.

   

One of the figures drew out the shadow and approached James sitting on the floor “foolish wizard” It howled in a deep strong voice “the magic you abuse will destroy all. I have given you a warning, and you did not listen. This will be your end.” He smiled and looked up. “ I have performed no magic here tonight creature, therefore I believe your anger is misplaced. I only observe what is really there. six more shadows became women who were made of shadow. “Lies! They screamed in unison we can feel it!”

Then suddenly James’s head throbbed with pain and he could see for a brief moment the altered symbol of the sisters, and he knew that Tanna was trying to tell him something. He could tell the shadows had seen it too.” “I see now” james said aloud “there was a fight. The Northern Tribe was declared an enemy, for breaking orthodoxy the altered symbol is worn by shades to show your superiority. They are together in weakness, but you are strong in righteousness. Still you were outnumbered, and you had to make a decision that was rushed. It turned out to have dire consequences. “very clever” the creature said, “but you will still die.”  “One more question before I do, just out of curiousity.” James said "what is your name creature?" "I am Tanna the bringer of." the creature began only to be cut off by James. “Wrong” “Fine then James,  what is it? the creature mocked, tell me who I am?. “Aww”, James said you called me James”, and he laughed “I only know one girl who can say my name with that much spite. James paused and said “Trink, is that really you?” and as he did the creature fell to the ground. and the shadow washed away to reveal a small girl with red curls sprawled on the floor. The other shadows looked on, and within seconds each had much more gracefully shed the shadows that had consumed them to reveal the seven apprentices of the northern tribe.

   

Anke who had waited at the side of the room took this opportunity, and silently placed something at his master’s feet. Lynn was quickly helped to her feet by the other girls who rushed to her side. Lynn steadied herself and ask to her sisters  “How? how is this possible?” “I can answer that” James said still sitting crosslegged in the center of the room not daring to move. James knew after all,  as soon as he left this circle he would not have the courage to finish this. “As I said before there was a battle” James started “and Your queen and all the elders did what they thought was best, but they were wrong. They gave you everything but understanding. So you were shades in name but you still harboured all the resentment for those who abuse, and you could not accept the truth of how much anger you had towards the world. So you did what everybody else does, you took what you saw at face value.” “We all need a villain after all, and it can’t be us.” James paused, and Lynn ask “ Ok suppose you are right, then what happened to the elders? The Elders drained themselves almost empty trying to impart the one thing that cannot be forced onto a person. They tried to magically give you wisdom. It wore them thin.”

   

“How do you know all of this” Lynn said. “You came to me Trink” James offered “why was that? “ “Your story did not match the creature I saw in the library. If the elders took no Items from the camp then why would they attack the library and kill noone, but destroy an item. I could think of no reason accept to say it wasn’t them. You were hiding something, but at the same time you were unsure of so many things so you needed an outside perspective. As to why you chose me specifically, well I come highly recommended as someone who can keep a secret.”

   

“Come here” said James suddenly. Lynn Broke away from the others and approached. He reached out for her, and his hand went right through. “ I thought as much, The change being forced on you the way it was, you will probably become shadow and feelings or you will fade before much longer. As for the elders they can never come back either. Not the way they were.

   

So without another word he finished the circle that was in front of him by connecting two lines and suddenly the room was filled with aromas. The smell of flowers, snow, mold, as well as countless others washed over everyone in the room. A creature then appeared to come up from the ground who had a humanesque body but his arms came to points like they were tree branches, and from his head came many points on which leaves seemed to grow and fall away in seconds. His eyes glowed green and his voice was multi toned. “ Hello Feather he declared in a singsong voice as leaves grew from head.

   

Everyone looked on as James unwrapped what Anke had put at his feet, and they all Gasp seeing it was the Gauntlet of the Queen. “What are your terms” The creature said in a voice now that trembled as his color turned from brown to a grey.” I wish to unite this lost tribe into the whole they once were, but not just for their benefit, but so they may share what they have learned.” James turned to Lynn “would you, if you could” He paused and looked her straight in her green eyes”  live a life shared with another? two souls becoming one.” One of the sentinel like golems approached, and stood next to her. Lynn looked over at the golem understanding, and said “I would proudly share my life with another.” “And how about you Tanna?” James ask, and for the first time Lynn saw her and gasp “ I can’t believe it” Tanna Shook her head yes, and in everyones head appeared the altered symbol of the Sisters except now the singular figure of their tribe stood below the others gracefully bowing. As for the rest of you I want you to understand that these golems are not blank” James spoke “they have full rich lives, and they must also agree to accept you. Each golem and each witch then approached to make a circle around the smaller circle, and in doing so each accepted the deal.

“Very well” said the Demon as its voice became harsh, and all the leaves fell to the ground. “The price will be your life” James nodded understanding, but before anything could happen Anke had broken the circle and removed him from it. He bowed before the demon, and said I can pay a greater price. “Go on” said all of the voices of the demon at once. “I can pay with servitude. Servitude to this lost tribe. I will help them on their way until they can do it alone. I will fight for their right to be free in a world that will not accept them. I will live for them until I can no longer do them any good.. I give up my freedom newly gained for imprisonment to this worthy goal.

   

”The demon smiled at this much to the surprise of James who watched on. He waved his hand and as he did the witches vanished, and each golems eyes glowed  green for a second ,before each bowed before the Anke who in turn bowed to them. The Demon then vanished, and with it all the strange and smells, and thoughts that accompanied it. Tanna in her new shared form, retrieved her gauntlet and as she went to hand it to Anke it became a crown upon his head, and something flashed in Anke’s mind. A smiling old man who pointed to the top of a mountain with a stick in his hand. Anke saw a small hut in the woods, and he not only knew where it was, but that he was supposed to go there. Then the images stopped, and Anke stood. He removed the crown, and said "I accept your gift, but It is not mine to keep. We have work to do here before we may leave, but I assure you all: we will all be going to a new home in the north before years end." Each gave a cheer to Anke the new king of shades

   

Scene 9

Milcent Mayor: Librarian

Lynn Trinkle: Shade Golem

   

Millicent walked up to the steps to her building, and mindlessly said hi to John as she walked to the elevator. When the elevator finally opened and a familiar golem appeared in the doorway, It frightened Millicent briefly. She was sure it had been one of James’s before all this mess had been supposedly revealed. She kept hearing about Lord Feather the Golem killer, on the news, and the only thing that made her feel worse than seeing his reputation besmirched like that, was knowing he was not around to set everyone straight. He was gone forever. The villain that the oppressed golem stood up to.

It did not matter to her how much evidence they had. A basement full of smashed golems, evidence of some magic explosion there. Anke’s testimony. she knew something was wrong, but she could not put her finger on it. She reached her office, and slunk down in her chair again, and ask to the world at large. “Remind me why I took this job again?” She started crying, and to distract herself she started sorting the mail. Junk she said as it flew across the room into a paper bin, junk,garbage, no thanks, Then she came across something strange. A letter personally addressed to her from the Terrinovious school of wizardry. She opened it wondering what it could be regarding.

   

Dear, Miss Millicent Mayor

I am writing to you in regards to a position that has opened up in our library in our Northern branch. I had heard about you from a friend of mine passing through a couple of months ago A Lord James Feather, You were all the man could talk about.He would really like to see you put up in a proper library,and we have recently been taken over by a collector of rare things. So while right now we are not as great as your current premises. I do believe we are far more organized, and will be up to snuff in no time. We are in need of someone with your skills. Please right us back as soon as possible.

   

Signed: Eburn Trink:  Adjunct Professor of Magical History, and Development

   

So much for not crying today she thought, as she chucked the letter in the garbage. She was so determined to stay busy, that it was noon before she thought about the letter again It. She was sitting at lunch discussing Eburn with a professor of Lit that had visited the center. When the last day she had seen James came into her mind, and her playful dismissiveness of their relationship. The last lines of the poem came to her now.

   

but calm all your fears for prizes are found

with beauty beyond all compare

to love and be loved with both feet on the ground

with someone with whom you can share

Maybe I should give that job a chance she thought. They at least seem passionate about what they already have. The man’s name escaped her as she thought. Then the poem still fresh in her mind, Eburn that was it. It was Eburn Trink she decided. she would have to write him back, and then she remembered James’s golem had been upstairs. She then got a mysterious letter in which A man Named Eburn of all people wanted to give her a job she never ask for. Then she remembered the last name Trink. She ran out on lunch throwing all the Grondels she had on the table. She ran back to her office finding a  Golem waiting “Everything is Handled Miss Mayor, and Mr Trink is expecting you by noon tomorrow, so we should get going. He said if you had not decided by now to take the job then you were not coming. Mr Trink does not like to wait?” and Milicent swore that the golem smiled when it said this. “What did you say?” Millicent said  really stuck on that last sentence. The Golem just ignored her, and walked out the room, and Milicent yelled wait let me get my coat.