I was led into a tastefully decorated room that had chairs around one end and a desk at the far side next to some bay windows that led to a balcony overlooking a large garden. In the desk was a woman dressed in a dress as dark as coal with dark accents of makeup across her eyes highlighting the cruel and beautiful look to the utmost.
When we approached the castellan moved his hand from my shoulder to the back of my head forcing me to bow before the beautiful woman.
"I have brought the boy as directed My lady." the castellan said while he also bowed at his words.
"Excellent work Rodgric, please have some tea brought up," she said as the castellan nodded and left me standing in front of the desk. "So you are the boy that managed to kill one of my 'sons' she said as she glared at me waiting for a response.
"Y-yes my Lady," was all I managed to say while stuttering slightly. She really was intimidating, she looked like she could kill with looks alone.
At this, she let out a bark of laughter, "Bold too, it's refreshing but alas it doesn't fit our situation." she said as quick as lightning, she had flashed in front of me and was now holding me by the throat.
I struggled a little and tried to grab her hand to ease off my throat, her hand didn't even budge no matter how hard I struggled. Just before I was going to blackout from lack of air she released me before calmly walking back to the other side of the desk as the castellan arrived with tea.
I coughed and fell to my knees as she dropped me breathing hard, "You will address me as Master from now on, do you understand boy?''
Quickly I nodded before replying, "Yes master" When I looked up her frown became more severe so I wisely averted my eyes.
The castellan was undisturbed by my state as he had seen her do far worse for far less, he walked over and poured her a cup before serving it to her.
"I hear you have great talent for one so young, is it true that you awoke when gale killed your mother in front of you?" she asked callously as she sipped her tea all while looking at me.
At this, I looked up and glared right back into her eyes as my eye got a small amount of color in it.
she cocked an eyebrow up at me before smiling, " it does seem you have some 'fire' left in you," she chuckled at her wordplay before she continued, "Even the collar cant stop at least residual mana from entering your eye it seems that you are more than a little talented."
I looked away at those words, I knew I shouldn't get angry but I just felt so helpless, not even my anger could save me this time.
The woman looked at me critically before she spoke again to the castellan, "bring him to Master Hanz, I want this boys compliance as soon as possible," she said with a menacing look in her eyes before Rodgeric grabbed me by my shoulder and started to guide me from the room.
As soon as I left the room A figure detached itself from a chair that was in the far corner that I hadn't seen during my introduction.
"That boy is definitely talented, I could feel his mana even though the collar, that has never happened before." the man said intrigued.
The woman just smirked before responding, "Yes we got quite the gift from the Kingdom this time, can you tame him, Hanz?" Lady Dark asked the Master.
"He should be trainable but how can I train him with magic, the collar will prevent any and all casting that we need him to learn in order to be useful," he responded with wariness
"He is yours to do with as you will, but I want him trained to obey all our orders by the time you are done," she demanded from the man as he bowed and left the room without another word.
Many leagues to the east a meeting were being held between Sergeant Kace and Sergeant Volk, "Staff Sergeant Kevin has informed us that the group has escaped into the Southlands through a pass long thought to be filled from a landslide, it must have been cleared up over the last few years" Kace said to Volk as they sat at a small table.
"So they have been planning to cut down our future magical core for many years then?" Volk asked. That bodes ill form the kingdom, the Empire has been planning this war for many years and we found out their intentions for war what, 3 years?" he said in frustration.
Kace just nodded before looking at Volks's tired and saddened face before asking "You have been informed as to what Bruni is?" he asked with a little trepidation.
Volk nodded solemnly before looking up at Kace and asking, "So what's the plan, I have been officially assigned under you for this venture, do we have any info nation on the boy other than that they took him through the south lands?" he asked
Kace just shook his head before he looked back up at Volk, "Commander Harriot has assigned me his whole group to join us in this venture, we are to train them as best we can, they will help us free Bruni when the time comes.
"She assigned her own daughter to this quest as well ?" Volk asked in surprise.
"Yes she did, after the recent attack against our Sparks we have very few left so a whole training regimen is no longer needed, not only that but she doesn't have any spare mages to send us so she is having us train our own help for this mission," he said with a resigned sigh as both men just shook their heads. "We have to get the Envoy back, he could severely hurt our armies if they manage to get him to cooperate?' Kace said as he downed the rest of the beer he had bin sipping this entire time, "Time to go Volk we have Sparks to train." Kace snorted out as he got up and left the sitting room that the meeting had taken place in.
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