Cassa had slept so long that, when i felt the slightest relief from my headache, i used the healing spell along with the green crystal. as the hours went by, more and more people brought flowers and gifts. It got to be so much that Gro had to reluctantly turn people away as he sat right outside my door as sort of a guard. It was a little after noon when the men arrived and now the sky was turning from the bright blue color to the evening time orange colors.
I was sitting on the floor beside the bed and leaned over it with my arm resting against Cassa. I was woken by the feeling of little fingers running through my hair. My attention snapped to her face and i saw a faint little smile and half lidded eyes staring at me. "Hi." I was so relieved that i started sobbing and sniffling. "Are you ok?" my voice cracked in emotion and Cassas' smile widened a little. She tried to set up and i slid my arm behind her to help. She scrunched her nose when she noticed all the flowers, "Flowers stink." and i laughed. Brinda came running and she just smiled with a sigh at seeing the Goblette. I wiped my ace and nose as I calmed down and slid my other arm under her legs and picked her up from the bed as i stood and hugged her tight.
Gro and Fenta had inspected the dead men outside and even with Alzis' help, couldn't determine anything about them. The only items that were found was three crudely made iron daggers and the bit of parchment that was now torn from the Inns' door frame. "Master. You must continue with increasing your knowledge of spells as soon as possible. More of those men may show up." Alzi aproached and bowed at the door. Cassa shook her head in agreement. 'I will never let my mate be harmed again!" I vowed in my head and smiled to the little Goblette in my arms. She wiggled around in my arms and i set her down on her feet. Cassa shakily took a few steps as she walked out of the room. Alzi gave way to her then took a seat at the table near the door.
I gathered my other books and brought them with me. After i set them down i picked Cassa and place her in my lap as i sat down. She nuzzled against my chest and i saw the title start emitting a red aura, Basic Fire Manipulation, then i opened it to the first page. The same thing happened as previous books and Cassa had started rubbing her eyes from the bright red light. I felt hot inside my body. "I feel like I'm burning from the inside out. Alzi? I worriedly looked at him and he just nodded, then ran to get one of the lit candles from the wall and set it down in front of me.
I reached out towards the candle and held both hands close around the flame, "Please Master. Be careful with this one. Very easy to lose control." I closed my eyes and focused then my hands began to glow the same red aura form the book. I opened my eyes and saw the flame of the candle was now a few feet tall and flickering wildly between my red tinged hands. I gave a very satisfied sigh and slowly removed my hands from the candle as the flame calmed down. Cassa giggled in my lap and Alzi clapped loudly at my accomplishment.
I shocked everyone with what i said next, "I want to see the dead men from earlier," Alzi rose from his chair and cleared his throat, "Very dangerous. I do not recommend that until you are more powerful, Master." Cassa just looked at me with worry in her eyes and stroked her head with a loving smile, "How do i get stronger without practice?" She just nodded and climbed off my lap so i could stand up.
I really wanted to try this, so we all went outside and the bodies were already prepared for burning when we arrived on the outskirts of the town. I leaned down over the bodies to inspect them and noticed the eyes of one the men were moving. I frowned and pointed to him, "He is still alive!" Cassa ran up to him and watched the mans' face for movement. She jumped back when he blinked. I leaned down over the man and put my hands on his throat then closed my eyes. My hands started to glow and i focus on the anatomical information of the human neck and the man started groaning. A few moments later his head moved and shocked everyone who was watching.
"Kill me, boy! I welcome death!" The man yelled at me and i stopped repairing his broken neck. "I should let you burn alive for what you did to her," I pointed at Cassa and she growled at the paralyzed man. "Lord Vexx will bring me back to serve him once again!" I was getting annoyed and i slapped him. He blinked in shock and stared at me. "Now then. I will give you death, but i want answers first." I thought for a few moments before speaking again, "Why claim this town?"
"We require fresh corpses for the Black Dominion. To raise an army against the Araqiel Order." The man spoke in a flat tone. "Lord Vexx commands it and we obey." I sat back and just shook my head. " 'Iv'e heard of the Araqiel Order. 'Spossed to be a bunch of angels or somethin' " Fenta spoke up beside me and some of the other folks nodded. "Who is this, Vexx, person?" Gro asked as he knelt down beside me. "The Lord of Death itself! Any who die are subject to his command!" "Where do we find him?"I asked and the man started laughing at my question, "In the far eastern region of Wightmoore." "You must have a camp near by. Where is it?" Gro demanded and the mans eyes widened, "A days travel. North of here."
"How many there?" Cassa asked when she jumped on the man chest and pointed her little claws at his throat. "There are six of us left," after he finished speaking Cassa dug her nails in the mans throat slowly. Air bubbles began seeping out of the little holes her nails made and after a moment or two his eyes rolled back and his breathing stopped. I picked her up wiped her fingers off with the edge of my shirt and held her close. The towns folk covered up the man and his companions with thin cloth sheets and poured oil on the bodies. "Stand back everyone," i called out as i placed my hands together and they started to glow the same red color as with the candle. As i slowly pulled my hands apart a small ball of fire began swirling between them. When i felt the ball was big enough and turned my hands toward the bodies and extended my arms out toward the dead men. They exploded in flames when the ball flew at them and everyone rejoiced at the sight of evil being vanquished.