Chapter 13: Haunt me if you want

Tomas and Errik disappeared beyond the threshold of trees.

"Let's go," Veretta and Charlotte started in the opposite direction.

They came up the hill till they got into the thick of the forest. By now the fires had been overtaken by the wind and ice leaving only the bare skeletons of the trees, black and mournful in the ash covered snow. There was silence even as they went further and further into the forest. There seemed to be no sign of anyone.

"Do you think they went around the other way instead?" Charlotte glanced around the empty forest.

"It's possible," Veretta answered pensively.

"Then should we go back and join Errik and Tomas?" Charlotte proposed.

"Let's go a little further," Veretta gripped her sword tightly. She couldn't help but feel something was amiss.

Suddenly a whip of daggers hit the tree beside Veretta's face. She fell back startled.

"There!" Charlotte pointed across the way.

A cloak figure flew down from one of the trees. Another round of daggers flew out from under their cloak. Charlotte held up both hands and the wall of earth magic shielded them. Veretta came to her feet with a side. They both leant back against the wall.

"I think it's a dark magic user," Veretta breathed.

"Okay," Charlotte nodded, "then we'll do like the apple tree?"

Veretta smiled, "yes, that's a good idea.

A faint memory of the mage's college took hold as she darted out from the wall of earth. A year ago, they had been playing a game much like this one. Even though their lives were safely guarded by the master's then, it was still the same. It was game of capture the flag: A test of different schools of magic in play combat.

A dark magic senior with a bad temper had run circles around half of Veretta's team. He could pull items out of thin air and launch them at will. Veretta had come around the back and was hiding in an apple tree while Charlotte and Tomas took the front. The look of shear shock on that seniors face had been the stuff of legends.

Now, as Veretta ducked another round of real blades hurtling towards her, she felt that same rush. Just as Veretta launched her own lightning magic at the cloaked figure, he dodged once more. But that was to be expected.

He didn't notice his foot being covered in earth until Charlotte ducked out of the wall and hit him with a strike he couldn't avoid. He hit the ground with a slump as the wall of mud knocked him down.

"It's just like old times," Charlotte giggled.

"Oh Charlotte!" Veretta released a sigh of relief, "I'm so sorry I talked to you that way before. I was horrid,"

"Don't be silly, Veretta," Charlotte smiled warmly, "you couldn't be horrid even if you tried,"

Veretta shook her head weakly, "I don't know what I would do without you,"

Charlotte opened her arms with a smile. Veretta hugged her tightly. It felt good not not to have to be fighting alone. It felt like they could really win...

Suddenly a stray arrow whistled through the leaves. Veretta's eyes opened just as it hit Charlotte in the back. She let out a cry and fell forward.

"Charlotte!" Veretta screamed.

Both women fell back. Veretta cradled Charlotte in her arms, "Charlotte?! Charlotte?!"

Charlotte didn't move. However, Veretta didn't have time to waste as another arrow bolted towards her. She leapt out of the way just in time. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a figure emerging from behind a tree. She threw out her hand vengefully and a bolt of fierce blue lightning flashed with a thunderous clap. The outlier was immediately killed. He fell into the snow a black crisp.

Veretta crawled back to Charlotte. She turned her over slowly. The snow was already seeping with red. With trembling fingers Veretta began to remove the arrow. She started to cast a healing spell. Her magic was already at its limit but she pushed past the pain, even as blood began to drip from her nose. Still Charlotte did not rise.

"Charlotte," Veretta whispered," please wake up. Please, please!"

"She's dead," came a voice.

Veretta's eyes panned up wide and filled with tears. There was a young man standing in front of her. He had dark eyes almost completely black and even darker hair. Veretta spun around. She hadn't so much as heard a footstep nor breath. She laid eyes on the young man who was inspecting the man at his feet apathetically. His eyes came up with a start as Veretta met his gaze. It sent shivers down Veretta's spine. She had never felt such a malevolent energy.

The young stepped towards her. He was tall, tanned and muscular with a childish face but emotionless eyes. Though he looked young, Veretta at once detected the sword on his hip and upon it the Silthus' insignia - the black moon. Veretta rose wildly and thrust out her sword. Even if she didn't have any magic, she could fight with a sword alone just as Errik said.

Veretta lunged forward with the blade. However, with each attack the man dodged with ease.

"Are you a mage?" he asked with a smile still without unsheathing his sword.

"What of it?" Veretta said breathlessly through gritted teeth.

"I thought so," he remarked. With a swift turn, he ducked under Veretta attack and kicked her straight in the gut, "because you're terrible with that sword,"

He smiled darkly as Veretta's knees hit the sharp cold ground. She was temporarily winded cradling and gasping for air. Yet the young man did not attack. Instead he stared down amused as she reached for her sword once more.

He kicked it out of her reach. Veretta recoiled as his foot grazed her fingers cutting through the skin. She inhaled shapely. She would have to use magic, she had no choice. She came to her feet unsteadily.

"Where's Silthus?" Veretta demanded, "You're one of his men aren't you?"

"Silthus?" the young man tilted his head to one side, "he won't get for some time, miss witch,"

"What are you talking about?" Veretta's brow furrowed.

"You don't honestly think he has time to conquer every backwater village that we find himself , do you?" the young man laughed.

"What?" Veretta shook her head slightly.

"No," the man went on, "he sent us instead. The others and I handle the march north, west and east. Silthus comes when he's ready. You'll have to suffice with me instead,"

"And who are you?" Veretta replied bitterly.

"I'm one of his general," the young man gave a mocking bow.

"You look too young to be a general," Veretta scoffed, "Though i'm not surprised Silthus has children fighting in his army,"

"Young?" the man laughed heartily, "It's been some time since i've been called that!"

"I don't want to kill you," Veretta said cautiously, "but I can't let you go any further. Especially if you're one of Silthus' men. If you are what's standing between me and him, I won't have any mercy on you,"

"Is that so?" The young man's expression turned to a cold smile, "I don't want to kill you either miss witch, but look what you've done. You and your friends have killed so many of my men, I had to come here in person. It's quite annoying to be honest with you. Don't you know we give notice of our coming to give people a chance to run or surrender? But you decided to stay and fight, what for?"

"Not everyone will bend the knee to Silthus," Veretta returned.

"But you should," the young man's eyes had a strange compelling darkness, "you should have run. Oh well..."

He lunged forward at such speed Veretta had no chance to block. His hit made her fly back ricocheting over the snow. Veretta let out a gasp. She had never felt such power. It didn't seem like magic. Yet, it was too powerful to be strength alone. Veretta gripped her shoulder. She couldn't move her arm at all.

Even before Veretta could rise, the young man was once more at her side. He stared down with a dark expression.

"Come one, miss witch," he said impatiently without smiling, "get up."

Veretta inhaled and exhaled rapidly. The pain was almost blinding but her blood was pumping. She held up her good hand and shot a bolt of magic. To Veretta's surprise, the man didn't attempt to dodge this time.

Instead he caught her hand with a smile. Suddenly, all her magic seemed to drain. It was like a black hole consuming every last shred of magic. The electric charge that filled the air vanished completely. Veretta's green eyes widened apprehensively.

"How did you do that?" she uttered breathlessly.

"Aren't you a bit too naïve?" he smiled back. " A couple of mages against an entire army, are you that brave or just stupid?"

Veretta couldn't break from his grip. His hand tightened painfully around her wrist. His dark unsympathetic eyes watched like a predator close to devouring his prey. His youthful demeanour couldn't contain the darkness in his eyes.

"Oh I get it," he went with a smile, "people always want to fight change. It's human nature. Fight or flight. Half the continent went running while the other gathered the swords. You're the latter, aren't you? But don't they teach you in magic school when to run from a fight you can't win?"

Veretta glared at him savagely, "They're not fighting change. They're fighting a murder who killed their families, burnt down their homes and tore this world in two."

"And for what reason do you think we're fighting?" the young man returned undeterred, "because that's what this world is. It doesn't have to be Silthus, it could be anyone. The only difference is we're winning. In the end, there'll be peace eventually. Unfortunately that means that some people have to die. But I'm certain everyone will forget about that once there's food in their bellies and roofs over their heads."

"There can never be peace while filth like you remain in this world," Veretta spat.

"True," the young man grinned from ear to ear. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it,"

He unsheathed his sword and held it to Veretta's neck.

"I'm sorry miss witch," he said earnestly, "I hate to kill someone with your talent but I have a job to do too. Haunt me if you want,"