Ben's NaNoWriMo Log

Chapter 4 added Sep 23, 2005
Sarah tried to pull her hand away, but the man's grip was tight. "I thought you were asleep." The man raised an eyebrow. "And you thought it was acceptable to steal from a sleeping man?" "Well, I..." Sarah lowered her eyes. "I was hungry, that's all." "Hmm." He ran his free hand through his short black hair. "You don't look much like a thief. At least not like I would expect a thief to look; we don't really have any around here." "Oh?" He grinned. "Most thieves know better than to mess with wizards." He laughed at the expression on Sarah's face. "Don't you know where you are? Stormwatch is a wizards' college." "I... I didn't know." The clean streets and well maintained buildings made more sense now. She looked up at her captor. "What are you going to do with me?" "I should turn you in to the Masters," he said sternly. His brow furrowed, then he stood and opened the cottage door. He gestured and the crystal floated through the air and into his hand. "Come inside." Sarah could see no other option. She figured that a well placed kick might incapacitate even a wizard long enough for her to escape, but it was more of a risk than she was willing to take. The inside of the small cottage was dark, but another wave of the wizard's hand summoned a globe of white light that floated near the ceiling. The one room house was filled with books, scrolls, crystals, and a variety of objects and vessels that were not immediately identifiable. The man closed the door and released his hold on Sarah's wrist. He sat on the edge of the narrow bed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So what are you doing in Stormwatch?" When Sarah hesitated, he sighed. "If I was going to turn you in, I would have done it already. I'm just curious." He gestured to a chair next to Sarah. "Have a seat. My name's Syphar." "That's an, uh, unsusal name," said Sarah as she sat in the chair. Her legs felt like lead after the day's long hike. Syphar smiled. "It's a wizard's name. It's traditional for a wizard to take a new name when they join the Cabal. It represents the severing of ties to our former lives. It's meant to keep wizards out of politics." "Oh?" Suddenly Sarah had a glimmer of hope. Perhaps she had found safe haven after all. "So you wizards are completely independent?" "Well, not quite. The Cabal owes its allegiance to the Crown, no matter whose head it sits on. We are bound to defend the kingdom against enemies from without, and stay out of internal struggles." Sarah felt the bottom drop out of her stomach. Her safe haven had become the dragon's lair. She dropped her head in her hands and moaned. "What's wrong?" asked Syphar. Sarah's head snapped up. The days and nights of running in fear had worn her down. If she was going to die, she would not go silently. "Would you serve the Crown if it were worn by a monster? For it soon will be." Syphar sat up straight at the unexpected outburst. "What do you mean?" "King Stephen is dead, betrayed by his William Arden and his thrice damned Inquisitor. You will be serving a traitor and a murderer." The wizard's mouth opened and closed several times before he could get any words out. When he spoke, his voice was a low whisper. "It can't be true! How could you know this?" "I saw it with my own eyes. They killed everyone in the King's household, but they didn't count on any visitors." She struck her fist on her chest. "It's my blood they want to cover their black deeds. Will you be the one to give it to them?" Syphar shook his head. "I can't believe it. But..." He looked at Sarah as if seeing her for the first time. "I heard some of the Masters talking this morning. They had received an order to watch the border for a fugitive. You never would have made it out alive." Sarah's head dropped into her hands. "It's over then. I have nowhere left to go." "Perhaps you do." Sarah looked up, confusion on her tear streaked face. Syphar smiled. "I think I know a way to get you out."
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