An Alter

Keritha sat in her high-backed chair, the queen that she was. Her yellow eyes glowed in the semi darkness, the only light a fire that burned in the hearth behind her, casting long dark shadows against the opposite wall. She gave the creature before her a cold disdainful look she wore most perpetually; a slight shift of those pupils that scarcely moved the only indication she had use of the eyes.

As a child, she was teased a lot by her siblings. She had hated her eyes, they only earned her stares, and whispers, and people who turned away from her in fear when she approached them. Once she had attempted to carve out one of those eyes so she could fit in with every one else. A servant had found her with the knife in her hand and blood gushing down one side of her face. Even the healer had confessed he had considered the eye lost. From then onwards, her mother never ceased to remind her that she loved her; he father was indifferent- the lose of an eye or otherwise did not threaten his kingdom and it was enough to not disturb him.

As she grew older, she had come to accept her eyes showed the depths of her soul. They would never have looked better - cold, daring and disdainful.

At the moment, she fixed the old hag, Bardne, with that look of an animal that has its sights on prey.

"I think the old man knows something. He went to look for the woman."

"I had told you to get rid of her." Her voice was cool and unbothered, her lazy eyes wandering to the floor as she found it more interesting than the hag with her loose hanging robes of black.

"Well I did."

Any other person would quiver, not the old thing. She had seen darker souls and far more emotionless eyes to flinch from what she considered the eyes of a child.

"He got there before your man..," she cast a glance in the direction of the huge mass of a human standing sentry behind the queen. "... moved his bulk to clear the mess. I barely had time to clean up after myself even."

"So you are here to report your failure?"

The sorceress' lips drew into a taut line. "I came to let you know what you ought to know, to make you understand the need for caution."

"You will need to be more careful than I have to be, and that is a no brainer. You killed a woman. Sorcery. It is clear to me where all eyes will look." A dark look crossed the sorceress' eyes. "You wouldn't dare."

Those cold eyes settled on her and she involuntarily looked away. "I dare."

Keritha leaned forward in her chair. "Now you will summon me the creature, whatever his name is. I'm not sure I should get involved." The sorceress opened her mouth and shut it. One eye twitched violently. She moved to the small tub holding water on Keritha's right, and touched the water's surface. Keritha watched her like a hawk watching prey.

Extracting a tiny vial from her robe which had no visible pockets, she proceeded to unscrew it.

"Hand it over," Keritha said. The sorceress glared at the outstretched hand with its long fingers, reluctant to hand over her summoning powder. It cost a lot to make, and she knew once she handed it over, the Queen would likely not have much use for her.

"Let me help," Keritha urged, a deadly smile curving her lips.

"As you wish." She stepped aside.

"You said he is good."

"Yes."

"You know, I was thinking why you would decide to send my stepdaughter away without informing me first."

Bardne averted her eyes before she could think, saw the slight glint in Keritha's eyes and the slight raise of her chin, and knew she had given herself away. "They were at my place like I informed you earlier. Believe me, although it looks like it is all to my benefit but ultimately we all want her dead."

"I am glad you understand the whole idea benefits you. What else are you planning, Bardne?"

Bardne looked offended. "What do you mean by that?"

"I am saying I may have no more use of you."

"But I have done as you have asked."

"Don't you see how everything links to you, and then to me?"

Bardne stood looking at Keritha, the look of defiance slightly being replaced by a feeling of fear she hated to admit. She had seen only a few like her. With her coaching, she was realising the full potential of her power and even Bardne, a sorceress who had killed many rival sorcerers felt fear. For a while she had been thinking what she would do when the student realised she no longer needed the teacher. She had dreaded it hoping it would not come so soon. Her best bet was to make her believe she could not do it on her own.

"You know you can trust me to do what benefits us both. I taught you all you know, and you know you need me for this to end well."

"Do I?"

"Yes you do," Bardne said, hoping her voice sounded as confident as she intended it. Keritha said nothing, rising from her chair.

"I think I do, after all. I think your business 'ere is done at the moment, only stay out of the old man's sight. I need not stress the importance of you staying low, do I?"

With a subtle nod of her head, the burly guard was behind the sorceress who had turned to leave. As though she had an inclination of what was imminent, she stiffened. Keritha favoured her with a smile.

"It gives me no pleasure, but it won't take long to trace it back to you. Not so many sorcerers are left in Lhoark. It will only be a matter of time. I will make sure the boy inherits your hut, if he returns."

The hag only felt the rope tighten around her neck, restricting airflow as it bit into her skin. She groped with her fingers searching for a gap to slip her fingers in between. A knee to the back sent her to her knees; the rope tightened. Keritha was haunched gracefully in front of her.

Prying aside her robes to expose bare skin, she placed a hand on her chest and felt the beat of her heart. Bardne struggled weakly, then her body hung limp.

Yarli let her body slip to the floor as his mistress moved back to her earlier position.

"Take her out when it's safe and bury her. Everyone should think she ran away when they come looking."

Yarli heaved the body unto his shoulders. When he had left, Keritha ran her fingers over the water surface.

"aephe," she called softly, repeating the name twice.

The ripples on the water surface smoothened and two large eyes from a long face with a dome forehead stared at her as she dashed some of the powder from the vial over the surface. The image grew bigger such that she could almost touch it then it vanished.

"It is her majesty, the second queen of Lhoark. Most beautiful, most feared," a low voice announced Haephe. Keritha wheeled around.

"You have taken form, I see."

The figure made a show of a bow. "Haephe is a wizard of the first generation. You summoned, I came. What is the good of communicating through a medium when you can see whom you speak to in the flesh."

"Perfect!" Keritha said, not nearly as impressed to have this creature in her quarters as she made it sound. "And how do you know who I might be?"

"It is Haephe's duty to know of all people important. It does come in handy." His eyes darted from one item to another in the room. "What does Her Majesty request seeing she did not summon me for a chit-chat."

Keritha gave him a lopsided smile, her eyes taking in his mousy features. "I will need to create an Alter."

For a split second Haephe's eyes had a jolted look, but slowly his lips widened into a smile. Still, his eyes had a look of disbelief, unsure if it was a bait or a test.

"I take it you have a Switch then?" he said, his voice flat.

"Can you make an Alter or not?"

"That is complicated work as you can understand," he paused, looking around once more. "It gets messy quite easily."

"Can you make an Alter or not?"

"I could if I did make a Switch. The maker of the switch fashion's the weapon to destroy it too, you must understand. Did you make a Switch?" he asked again, knowing that not many sorcerers could make a Switch.

"I take that for a yes, and you will provide me with an alter."

There was a finality in that voice that was not lost on Haephe. He was a shrewd creature, and taking note of subtle hints as this had kept him so far.

"The Queen shall have what the Queen wants. It is the whole essence of being queen," he bowed. "Your majesty knows how these things take some time." Bowing again. "I will need to make purchases, only the very best will do the job."

A pouch was tossed his way and he caught it.

"Ninety gold pieces," Keritha said.

He undid the twine holding its mouth close and fingered the oval shaped coins, holding one to the light.

"I feel slighted," Keritha said tersely.

Haephe smiled amiably. "Forgive Haephe's behaviour, Your Highness."

His fingers did not keep from turning over the gold piece in the light. "It is only an old habit that dies hard. Once a sorcerer handed Haephe gold in compensation for a job. Haephe takes it home and what does Haephe find? Magical gold pieces that depreciated with time. Since then, Haephe inspects his gold. Still, I would be a fool to cast doubt on your magnanimity." He added when he was done with his examination, satisfied.

"Ten more gold pieces would have sealed the deal excellently, " he said, replacing the gold piece. Keritha's face had the look of mild irritation

"You take what you get."

Haephe yawned. "A mouth usually shuts when the belly is full." He stared at her, unblinking.

Suddenly remembering her throne was right behind her, Keritha's went to sit down, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I 'ear a few children 'ave disappeared lately, wandering never to return. It bothers me as a mother. You live at Axtek?"

Haephe nodded unsure of speaking. "Axtek is a little less tolerant of creatures like you these days. It's the reason why the 'all of Judges is situated in Axtek in the first place. Not that I need tell you these bits of information, but sometimes, a blood-sucker as yourself needs a little reminder so they don't lose a head. For that reason, I am more than 'appy to do it," she looked at him now, the half smile returning to her lips.

"It will be a shame. A real shame. What do you think, 'aephe, want more gold bursting your pockets?"

The little man gave a grin. She had him, and he knew better than to tighten the noose around his neck by putting up a fight.

"I think this will be enough," he added hastily. "What must I have been thinking?" He lowered his head placatingly. "By whose hand was this creature formed?"

"By my own 'and, why?" Keritha cast him a look that seemed to search his very soul. Heaphe cast his eyes down diminutuvely. He had not lived so long by wearing his thoughts on his dry, crinkled forehead. As of yet, he did not know what he was dealing with, if she could pass his eyes to his soul. He did not want to find out.

"All the better," he muttered as he moved towards Keritha who stopped him with a stare.

"I, l," Haephe struggled with words. For a moment he thought he had the misfortune of staring upon the eyes of the King snake itself and he would turn stone. His eyes had darted all over the place, estimating the price value of keritha's room: the looking glass with its gold stand, the rings on her finger; if he could cart away her chair by any chance- a vision that made even him chuckle at its absurdity. He had thought the single man standing sentinel behind her was the threat, and had taken for granted an important detail. He regained his composure quickly, reminding himself to pamper himself for it when he got back.

"I wanted you to hold onto this a while." He produced a piece of an old handkerchief and held it out to her. The quiet look of repulsion on Keritha's face was likely to send another man into a feat of apologies, Haephe tried hard not to flinch.

"You want a signature." She half rose from her chair. "You and I cannot start off this way," she said gently. "I think you would like to return my gold? I may try to forget we never crossed paths, or that I know what you are."

"It is not as Your Majesty thinks. A connection between the two is what we want, how else do you set a dog on someone when it has no lead? You only hold it a while. I could take a finger ring if the cloth is not to your royal taste." He inched closer willing her to take it, or hand him one of her rings, which he knew had an even paler chance than the first request.

"One more step and it shall be your last," she snarled. Haephe flicked the handkerchief and it caught the hem of her long tunic. He stepped back and bowed.

"I shall work with what I get. But you have to understand that this is not the way it is done and it may not be as effective, and may take time."

"I do not have patience for failures. Make it quick."

Haephe folded the handkerchief and tucked it away. Bowing slightly, he gathered his robe about him, wheeled and vanished as though he had not just been standing there.