Erlem & Daisy

As the group came into view they could see flags on the sides of the caravans, these were merchant families, the banners on their convoys said which family. The more powerful families would have banner-men and armed guards, the less powerful or less wealthy would travel with multiple merchants to help fight off bandits.

Daisy felt a little better now that she could see the banners, a lion and a Phoenix intertwined in a battle. The lion was in gold and the Phoenix was in red, both were poised to attack. "Those are just merchants, we should be able to walk right by them." Daisy was still cautious, there was also another banner present, it was a yellow banner with a gold eagle holding a snake in its claws, and those caravans were full of soldiers, some were wounded and being cared for as the caravan moved down the road, " that must be a medic caravan taking the wounded home." She though to herself, " don't talk to anyone, stay close to me" This told Daisy there were more battles across the realm between the Magestrate and the crown, she was unaware as most of the kingdom was at this point, that there was no longer a royal family, or a capitol, just a crater and the Magestrate.

The two kept their heads down as they passed the caravans, some of the men were playing music, flutes and bongos, a couple men had managed to buy some lutes and began singing some old songs. Other men groaned as the wagons bounced over every stone and hole in the road. Some men were celebrating the victory they had just won.

Erlem watched the soldiers as he passed, their armor all carried the royal crest, which was a blue Wolf under a crescent moon. One of the merchants had children about his age and they were enjoying a game a monster arena, a game which Erlem had gotten to play two or three times when he went to see the grand Magestrate. It involved a large game board with 6 slots on each side for each player. There was a large deck which had various monsters displayed on the front. A player would draw 6 cards from the top each and place a card in each slot, the board would then build a monster based on what monsters you placed in what slot. Knowing what a monster would be best suited in what slot and what your monster would gain from it took a lot of studying. After the slots were chosen the monsters would appear and the battle would start.

He watched the game as the boy and girl cheered their creations on in battle, one looked like a dragon with two giant crab claws and two extra heads where its legs should have been, the other was a chimera with tentacle that came from its back as well as multiple scorpion tails. Erlem wanted to go watch the battle and maybe get a game in himself but he knew Daisy wouldnt allow him to. He sighed and looked forawd, the end of the caravan was in sight and the Monsters were quickly becoming farther and farther away.

Daisy tried to overhear any news she could about Autumnveil and the Magestrate, anything that would let her know if it was safe to try and go to the citadel or back to Autumnveil. Nothing, just that there was a great battle in the basin of Wizards the pass and apparent the Magestrate retreated deep into the mountains.

She pulled Erlem along and licked up sped, once they were far from these people she'd feel a lot better. She realized the men were singing song about burning witches, and the caravans occupants were starting to chime in. " magic so foul they tickle temptation, they'll leave you burn with the breeze, you're better to behead them and set them to the pyre and let their ashes blow in the breeze.." Erlem pulled his hood around him making sure his red hair was well hidden, he didn't want to be a dead Autumn witch. There was no way to hide him being magical if his red hair stuck out, and he wasn't sure if they'd kill a boy on sight but he didn't want to find out.

Something didn't feel quite right all of a sudden, like electricity filled the air around them, Daisy's eyes widened and her lip trembled, " Run!" Daisy took off pulling Erlem off his feet barely able to keep up. Erlem was confused, what was happening? Then he felt it, like lave and lightning mixed, the magical energy of a thousand angry mages were b-lining it straight the convoy. What was strange was it wasn't coming from in front of them, rather behind, from the direction of the capitol.

Daisy jumped into the closest shadow dragging a confused Erlem behind her, he almost didnt have time to shift into the shadow himself. The shadow of the small tree was barely large enough for them both to occupy at the same time, the caravan reach the top of the hill and Daisy just watched nervously she knew something tragic was about to happen. The clouds over the caravan began to turn from a beautiful white to a dark purple, lightning began to crackle and the wind began to blow. Even at the distance they were the storm was strong, the little tree started to sway violently and The pair were thrown from its shadow.

Daisy grabbed Erlem, who was brushing of his pants and began sprinting as fast as she could towards their woods.

*crack*

The ground rumbled as the clouds let loose their lightning bolts to the caravan below. Screams started filling the air as well as the smell of burnt flesh and wood. Daisy didnt look back, she knew what was happening. The Mages from

The Magestrate was getting revenge for Autumnveil, and it didnt matter that the caravan was filled with children and innocent people, they wanted blood and they were getting it. The edge of their forest came into view, and the screams had began to soften behind them, it was almost over, the clouds were clearing and the lightning was settling down. Daisy stopped at the treeline and looked back, nothing but a crater remained where the road at the hill had been. The clouds headed towards the Magestrate swirling with rainbows of colors. Erlem looked in a mixture of awe and terror, he had never seen such a thing, it felt worse than the Autumnveil attack, at least people got away.

They looked sadly at where the caravan used to be, " should we go check for survivors?" Daisy looked unblinking into the distance, " no, there were none."