Scintilla

The bead of sweat that runs down her brow does nothing to cool her in the middle of her nightmare. The horror hits her hard as the knife is slowly used to slice Amelia from one side of her naked stomach to the other leaving a paper thin opening in her belly. She tries to call for her and fight for her but she can do nothing but watch in fear and anger as visions of Amelia being raped and tortured pass through her mind again and again. The faces of the people hurting Amelia burn into her memory as the leader appears before her eyes with a sinister smile. The woman says something that she can’t make out to Amelia and anger appears on Amelia’s face as she responds to the woman then is suddenly replaced by a smile as Amelia responds to the woman making the woman angry. Then suddenly the unknown woman slices Amelia’s throat clean from one side to the other. Amelia looks at her and smiles as she says something and then Amelia’s eyes go dark. The fear has now bloomed in her chest making it so she has a hard time breathing through the tears as the unknown woman turns to her and gives her a wicked smile. She closes her eyes and suddenly she wakes in her room shooting up in bed and covered in sweat.

She is having a hard time catching her breath as she feels a cold nose nudging her arm. She turns and sees Ragna with a worried look in his eyes. He nudges her again and whispers, “what did you see Rowan?” Rowan stills her breathing after taking a few moments to calm herself then looks at her shaking hands, “I saw…I saw Amelia…I…I need to talk to you master now.” She jumps out of bed and throws on a shirt and some pants and runs out of the room with Ragna hot on her heels. She runs for what seems like hours through the halls and up the last flight of stairs. She gets to the end of the hall on the top floor and bangs on the door. When no one answers she bangs on the door again and shouts, “I know your there grams I can smell you! Now open the door! It’s an emergency!” Rowan stays still and quiet as she hears rustling noises and steps coming to the door. The heavy oak door swings open and in it stands a man with only pants on and messy white hair. He looks at Rowan with sleepy eyes but before he can say anything a grumpy voice from deep in the room rings out, “someone better be dead or there will be hell to pay.” The man shakes his head and looks at Rowan who is now shuffling from foot to foot, “what's wrong little one?” Rowan looks at the man, he is tall and has ash grey skin with snow white hair that stands out against his ruby red eyes. His muscular build fills the 7 foot doorway and the body length tribal tattoos that cover most of his body. He silently waits while Rowan finds her voice again, “Cordon I saw…it was…she was…so much pain and blood…” Rowan slumps to the floor and lands on her knees. Ragna rubs his head against her shoulder as Cordon now crouches in front of Rowan with his hands on her shoulders.

Ragna rests his head against her arm as he speaks since Rowan can no longer find the words as the adrenaline leaves her body, “she had a nightmare. I could feel the fear and anger boiling up in her. I tried to wake her and called to her but nothing I did worked.” Cordon nods, picks Rowan up bridal style and carries her to a dark brown leather oversized arm chair that is sitting next to an oak fireplace. He snaps his fingers and the fireplace ignites, which in mere seconds has a roaring flame raging in the hearth. Cordon sits Rowan down in the chair and covers her with a blanket that is nearby then he goes over to the grand wooden desk and grabs her some water. He kneels in front of her and offers her the water but she refuses to drink. The rustling of silk bed sheets behind Cordon tells him that Morgana has gotten up. Morgana comes to kneel next to Cordon who by far is much smaller than he is. Her long silver hair falls in waves around her and her soft smooth skin glows in the fire light. Her appearance never stops amazing him since she looks like she is in her early 30s but is truly past 1000 years old. Morgana is wearing a black silk robe that does nothing to hide the slender but curvy body that she has. Her beauty is matched by the power that she wields. As Morgana kneels next to Cordon she grabs Rowan’s hand and strokes it gently before saying, “come on my little fire dragon show me what you saw.” Rowan looks up for the first time since she spoke and has tears in her eyes as she mumbles, “Amelia…” Morgana nods and closes her eyes for a few moments then opens them and anger contorts her beautiful face as she says, “gather the everyone we are going hunting. I will have blood as payment for hurting my children.” Cordon looks at her but holds off on his questions and goes to wake the others. Morgana scouts Rowan over a bit and sits on the edge of the chair as she wraps her arms around her.

She holds her tight and rocks her slightly as tears fall from Rowan’s eyes and she sobs silently. Morgana lets her cry it out for a few moments until Rowan is able to compose herself again. Rowan wipes her face and takes a deep breath to steady her broken heart. She looks at the fire, “it was like I was there watching what was happening but I couldn't fight them off.” Morgana nods and gives her a sad smile, “we will figure this out don’t worry. Now we have to meet with the others.” Morgana, Rowan, and Ragna all head to the first floor of the 3 floor guild. The guild hall is filled with grand oak tables and chairs of a light brown color and a grand oak bar with glass shelves lining the back wall full of liquor bottles. Another grand oak fireplace on the opposite side of the room with couches of dark red leather fill the rest of the space. The stairs are carved out of the oak tree that serves as a base and wall for the guild and empties out into one side of the room. Morgana takes Rowan over to the bar and sits her down on one of the wooden and cushioned stools that lines the outside of the bar. Morgana goes behind the bar and pours amber liquor into a glass and then chugs the contents of the glass. Pouring another she hands the glass to Rowan who follows suit with Morgana. The liquor calms Rowan's nerves and she is able to steady herself more. Morgana waits for her to calm before asking, “Now tell me what was your point of view when you were watching all of this happen?” Rowan closes her eyes, “I was watching from a third person point of view. Master I was watching the leader as Amelia died. I just knew this woman was the leader and I don't know how I knew.” Morgana pours her another drink and Rowan takes a drink and continues, “The woman said something to her but I couldn’t make it out and it made Amelia angry and the woman started to laugh and…now that I think about it the woman said something else and Amelia answered her and smirked and that made the woman angry. I swear she said dragon, master.” Morgana stays quiet for a moment before answering, “we are going to take care of this I promise.” Others start to enter the guild hall and sit at the tables while all looking half asleep.

A man that looks identical to Cordon except for his dark blue eyes yawns and asks as everyone sits down, “whaaaaat is it master?” Morgana takes a breath and responds, “I know its late but please Gordon and the rest of you bear with me. Rowan has had a vision of Amelia being tortured and killed.” That seems to peak everyone's interest as Morgana goes on, “I will figure out who is behind this but for now I want to bring back her body and lay her to rest.” One man that is muscular like a prize winning bodybuilder stands, “How do we know that the fire brain didn’t just have a nightmare?” Rowan turns and before she can speak up Morgana says to the man, “I felt the magic coming off of her when I got near her. It was residual magic, a very old form of magic that I know of and it happens when someone casts a forbidden protection spell on another soul. The soul takes a piece of your soul and engulfs the object of your protection with it so that they or it has a first line of defense. This spell is forbidden for obvious reasons but also because it is very hard and takes almost all your magic power to do it, leaving you with almost nothing and shortening your lifespan. I only know of 3 others besides myself that know this spell and Amelia was one of them.” The man looks at Morgana confused, “Axel, that means that if the caster is killed it will send out residual magic waves and if anyone is sensitive enough to pick it up then they will radiate the waves themselves. Rowan has had visions before and that mixed with the magic waves that I felt coming off of her, telling me that Amelia was killed and Rowan saw who it was.” Axel sits up straight now as Morgana addresses everyone else, “one of my children and your guild mates has been killed. We are going to get her body back and lay her to rest. The ones who have done this have made an enemy out of Dragan Dreegh and now we go to war! Prepare yourselves we are going to get her back.”

The rest of the people in the hall all nod in agreement and go back up the second floor where the rooms are for the guild members to get ready. Morgana pulls Axel aside, “Axel I have a special mission for you. Leave the destruction to Rowan and you take Demitir and Yuri to retrieve a pair of very special children. They are Amelia’s and last of her bloodline they will have a home here. I have a very bad feeling.” Axel who is seven foot tall and built like a bear with no fur nods under his messy mop of shoulder length hair then smiles, “don’t worry master we will get them back no matter what. Oh and sorry about earlier.” Morgana smiles, “don’t worry, just finish your mission and we will call it even with me. Rowan, however will be in a bad mood for a bit so she will probably want to fight you when the mission is over.” Axel nods and hangs his head then runs up the oak staircase. Morgana lingers behind for a bit and then says to herself, “I smell darkness and blood in the air, change is coming.” She runs upstairs and gets dressed. Meanwhile Rowan is in her room getting dressed and the feeling of sadness has changed to a feeling of anger. She dresses in her black leather pants and black leather boots as Ragna waits patiently by the door. She pulls her black shirt on and pulls back her long black waist length hair putting it in a quick braid. She throws on her black cloak and pulls up the hood and face mask leaving only her silver eyes on display under long black eyelashes and perfect eyebrows. She straps some silver knives to her leg and a small brown leather pouch to her pants then heads out the door with Ragna on her heels. They make it back to the guild hall as the rest of the guild waits for Morgana to give them orders. Morgana stays on the steps to the stairs and gives out orders, “Cam, Lilly, Ragna, and Rowan you will go to find Amelia's body and bring her home. Axle, Demitir, and Yuri you have a special mission to tend to. Axel you will be the only other one going onto the battlefield. Demitir and Yuri, you two will be providing cover and giving me the details of what is going on around you. I expect to welcome all my children home and only have to prepare one pyre. Am I understood?” The group all nod in agreement and Morgana smiles, “good now remember if you hurt one of our family members you make an enemy out of dragan dreegh and we will show everyone why its not a good idea to make an enemy out of our guild. Now go!”

The group sets out to the village that Morgana was able to pinpoint following the residual magic left by Amelia. The group is silent the whole way there and the air is teaming with bloodlust and death. As they reach the forest that surrounds the village, Rowan and her group take their leave in the cover of shadows as Demitir and Yuri position themselves in trees to hide in the shadows. Rowan leads the way to the building that she remembers from her vision and the rage builds in her again. They make their way through the shadows and the quiet of the entire village even though it is the middle of the night still has Rowan on edge. There is a tension in the air that isn’t coming from Rowan’s group and it sits as a worry in her mind; one which she quickly pushes to the back of her mind so she can stay focused. She makes a hand gesture to the group as they come to a back entrance that is covered in darkness. The group remains alert as Axel watches their surroundings closely. The tension is sensed by Axel and he taps Rowan’s shoulder and nods to the forest that surrounds the end of the village where the building lies and she nods acknowledging his thoughts. They can both smell that something isn’t right and they both conjure a magic circle and heighten their dragon senses. Rowan finds a way in through her sense of smell. She smells the rotting of fresh flesh and blood dying. She follows the scent to a further back part of the building and comes to a trap door leading to what seems like an underground passage from what Rowan can tell. They manage to get to the door open with no problem since it isn’t being guarded and when they get into the passage Rowan and Axel both notice the air smells like rotting flesh mixed with stale air like there is no fresh air flow suddenly. The smell makes Axel want to gag but he holds it together and follows Rowan. Rowan leads the group down a dark and grimy stone passage lit dimly by candles that are almost burnt out. She follows her nose listening with her heightened hearing for sounds of movement. They get to the end of the passage with no problem as they come to a door. Rowan can hear heavy breathing from a few different people and the smell of sex and liquor hits her nose hard, almost making her wretch when she gets right up against the door. She waits and motions to the others to get ready as she slowly opens the wooden door. The room is even more dimly lit but with her sight Rowan can make out people laying on the floor and tables all drunk and sleeping heavily. Rowan stands straight up and stares at the bodies confused as to why they are all sleeping so heavily and starts to walk over to a heavy man that is asleep at a table. She pokes his face with her finger. As it sinks into his fat cheek she catches the smell of Valerian mixed with Lavender coming from the mug in his hand. It is diluted but since she can still smell it she figures it was a hefty dose. She walks over to Axel and brings the mug for him to smell. He takes a whiff and pulls back quickly confirming what Rowan smelled then she looks at Cam, “they seemed to have been drugged. No, wonder it was so easy to get in here. My question is when do I get to knock someone's head in?” Cam rolls her golden brown eyes that contrast against her light caramel skin tone and long black braided hair that cascades down her toned and curvy body. She shakes her head, “Row this is a recovery not an excuse for you to destroy a whole village again. The master will get mad and,” Cam looks around almost as if Morgana can hear them and whispers, “and she will punish us again.” Cam shivers and so does Rowan, “the old lady gives out the worst punishments. I couldn’t move my arms for 3 days at full motion after the last punishment.”

Suddenly they hear a muffled scream and the entire group turns on their heels ready to fight. Rowan heads to where the scream came from down another dark passage that has a door at the end of it. The smell of rotting flesh hits her nose like a brick wall and she stops mid stride to fix her face mask to try to stop some of the smell from making her vomit. She comes to a door and hears muffled voices mixed with screams. A scent comes to Rowan, one she knows very well and the confusion she felt before is now gone along with everything else except rage. Rowan whispers to the group, “Amelia is in there.” She points to the heavy wooden door that is old but sturdy. Rowan hears another muffled scream and a wicked smile crosses her face, “well grams is always saying we should help when needed let's knock and see who's home.” Before the group can protest Rowan kicks in the door with her magic and rushes into a well lit room made of stone like the rest of the underground structure. The walls are covered in dried blood, feces, and urine which gives off a rancid smell that hits Rowan hard. She looks around at the people in the room and sees a man and two women torturing another man hanging from the ceiling from bulky silver chains with lots of cuts and dried blood running down the length of his body. As she looks at them something catches her attention out of the corner of her eye and she sees two children chained to the wall. The children are covered in dirt and look like they are being starved. They look like copies of each other so Rowan figures they are twins or at least siblings. Their red hair is matted down and their light skin is stained with dried blood that looks like it isn’t theirs but from holding something instead. Then she sees the one they have come for, Amelia. Her lifeless body is lying close to the children. Her body is broken and battered, covered in blood and dirt. The rattling of chains drags Rowan back to reality and she turns to face the man and two women. The man is tall with light brown hair and a sickly thin body. His face is sunken in and hollow then she sees his pitch black eyes. She knows those eyes from a distant memory that she can’t recall very well at all, except for a feeling of tension, which puts her on her toes and ready to fight.

The man smiles a wicked and evil smile and when Rowan looks at him closer she can see the children’s resemblance to him. She puts that aside for the time being and looks at the two women. One of them is tall and fit with white hair and pitch black eyes and an evil aura around her while the other woman is short and fat with light brown hair like the man hanging from the ceiling. Her round face does nothing to instill fear when you look at her. Rowan feels like if she tipped her over the woman would roll down a hill and never stop. The man chained to the ceiling moves again and looks at Rowan. Rowan sees that he has been beaten badly with a black eye that is bruised and swollen and a broken nose that is bleeding down his face and neck and bruising all over his body. He is wearing a ripped up pair of pants and no shoes and it looks to Rowan that his toes have been broken one by one and the same with his fingers. He tries to say something and is slapped by the woman with white hair angering Rowan even further. The man is simply hanging there and slightly swings from the impact. The white haired woman looks at Rowan and says to the man with her, “kill them.” The man nods, “with pleasure.” He comes towards Rowan and tries to lunge at her but misses her when she jumps over him. She kicks him in the back and sends him flying and crashing into the wall with a satisfying crack of his head knocking him to the ground. Rowan turns to the woman with the white hair who is not amused or concerned as she says, “get the job done already or I promise you things will not end well for you newton.” Newton gets up and replies, “yes of course Senna.” Senna turns to the other woman and says, “continue the interrogation your son is not exempt from punishment patty.” Patty nods and whips her son with a leather nine tails that has 3 knots on each end of the tails. Newton gets up and goes after Rowan again but is intercepted by Cam and Lilly. Axel has also moved to the children and is unchaining them. Rowan looks at Senna and smiles, “you are going to die for what you did to Amelia and for making an enemy out of dragons!” Senna turns and sees that Newton is fighting with Cam and Lilly and the children and the body are gone. Senna becomes angry with the turn of events, “keep going!” She barks at Patty who nods. She charges at Rowan with a dagger that she pulls from her pants. Rowan dodges the first slice as Senna keeps coming after her. Rowan can tell that she has been trained in combat and casts a spell to engulf herself in flames. The dagger melts as soon as it hits her flames this time when Senna comes toward her and that makes Senna pull back as her hand gets singed. She pulls her hand to her chest and glares at Rowan, “dragon mage. I thought you troublesome lot were killed off centuries ago.” She backs up past Patty who is now shaking in fear and Senna gets behind her as Rowan is slowly approaching her like an animal stalking its prey. Senna looks at Rowan with a sneer, “don’t worry little fire dragon we will meet again soon but for now have this traitorous bitch and her offspring.” As she says that Senna disappears into a black cloud of smoke and throws Patty at Rowan. Patty is using the nine tails as she goes straight at Rowan and before she can land a hit Rowan catches Patty’s hand and burns her skin so that she drops the whip. Rowan looks at her and asks, “is this really your son?” Patty spits on Rowan’s shoes, “not anymore! Not after helping one of you filthy mages. Now he is nothing but trash to be butchered like the bitch mage from before.” That is all Rowan needs to hear. She casts a spell and pulls all the fire to her fist as she hits Patty in the face, burning her flesh, making Patty scream. Rowan continued to hit her until she’s bashed in and burned Patty’s face to nothing but a mass of skin on what looks like a stump of flesh. Rowan finally drops the body of the woman and goes over to the man.

She looks at him. Looking into his eyes she feels almost like a spark in her soul pulls at her and she can smell magic coming off of him but it smells stale. Rowan slices the chains so that he drops to the floor in a heap. Cam and Lilly now walk over to Rowan as Lilly crouches down and pokes the man on the floor with her thin graceful long fingers. She looks up at Rowan with her lavender eyes, “are we going to bring home a stray?” Rowan nods, “there is something weird about this one, maybe master can figure it out. Welcome back Axel you missed nothing.” Axel walks up to the three women and looks at the man then at Rowan, “what's with this one?” Rowan walks up to him, “thanks Axel you are the best and try not to toss him around he is hurt pretty bad. Alright, let's go.” Axel goes to say something but is stopped by a stern look from Cam. He shakes his head and picks up the stranger. The group then makes their way back through the passageways and sees that Axel killed all the drunk passed out people in the other rooms. Once they make their way out Rowan lights the entire place on fire as they run into the woods. Deep in the darkness of the woods Rowan hears a loud and sad howl fill the air. It is so strong that the air itself shakes and the sadness pierces her heart. They make their way back to the guild and when they feel the familiar magic lifting their heavy hearts they can all breathe a little easier. They reach the entrance with Amelia’s body, her children, and the sleeping stranger in hand. Morgana motions for the children to be taken inside by Susanne who just gives the sad and tired children a warm smile and hugs them tight. Rowan watches the small figures of the children disappear into the guild as Morgana waves her hand and Amelia’s body disappears in a flash of warm light. Rowan is about to go over to Axel who has been carrying the stranger and shrugs, “he smells funny to me like he has magical build up or something. I figured you could figure out what's wrong with him and I think he might know the whole story.” Morgana shrugs and lets out a sigh, “I am always picking up strays. Alright take him to the back Kai will have a look at him. Now you should all go and get some rest. We have a big send off tomorrow.” Rowan nods, “come on Ragna let's get to those kids and say goodnight.” Morgana stops them and gives them a stern look to which Rowan rolls her eyes, “fine I will see them in the morning.” Everyone goes to bed.

As the light of the next morning comes pouring into the windows of the guild hall Rowan walks in to see that Susanne is already behind the bar with the two children sitting at a small wooden round table with Gordon. Rowan walks up to the bar with Ragna hot on her heels. She watches Susanne move around the bar effortlessly as her long dark wavy hair bounces with each movement. Her small frame is suited to her average height and her beauty is beyond compare to any other human that she has ever seen which also goes for Susanne’s magic. Rowan smiles at her as Susanne walks over to her, “well you are up early my little spit fire.” Rowan smiles, “well it was hard to get back to sleep last night but I did and now I'm starving! What's for breakfast?” Susanne smirks and shrugs her shoulders, “all right just relax and sit down without scaring the kids.” Rowan smirks back and heads over to the table where the kids are with Gordon. Both the kids look like small versions of Amelia with their soft red wavy hair and milky white skin but they both have golden brown eyes, deep like amber jewels. She sits down and the children don’t look at her instead they are looking at the floor as not responding to Gordon or her. Rowan wrinkles her brows for a moment before nodding at Ragna who uses his fire to make little figures of woodland creatures dance. This catches the kids attention and despite themselves the kids both start to smile again. The children sit and enjoy the little figures for a while before the little girl starts to cry shortly followed by the little boy. Gordon picks them both up in his big arms and hugs them tight as they let out all their sorrow. They cry for a long time and end up both falling asleep in his arms. Gordon finally looks at Rowan who is now sitting across from him with an angry look on her face and asks, “what’s wrong little fireball?” Rowan is looking at both the children again, “those bastards are going to pay for this. I promise you that I will make them…ow!” Susanne puts a plate down full of meat and veggies in front of Rowan after smacking her, “WE are going to make them pay for this, but for now I think we are getting two new guild mates added to our family.” Rowan grumbles and starts to eat her food as the same strange scent hits her nose from the night before which makes her turn with a mouth full of food mid chew. When she turns she sees the strange man from the night before at the entrance to the guild hall. He locks eyes with Rowan and starts walking toward her which makes her swallow hard, making her choke on her food and forcing Susanne to hit her back a couple of times. When the man get right in front of her he says only one thing which takes them all by surprise, “I'm so sorry for not being able to stop her.” He hits the ground and his sobs can be heard in the entire hall. The kids start to stir so Gordon gets up with a confused look on his face and takes the still sleepy kids to their bedroom. Rowan stands there awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot when Lilly smacks her arm, “Rowan what did you say?” Rowan rubs her arm, “I didn’t do anything and why does everyone keep smacking me today?” Lilly rolls her eyes and kneels down, “don’t worry she is our resident hot head but she is the best, you’ll see.” The man looks up at them and laughs a sound that brings joy to Rowan’s soul and says, “she didn’t do anything I was just so relieved and was able to let out all my frustrations over everything that has happened.” “And what has happened human,” comes Morgnana’s stern voice from behind the group, “tell me what has happened because I have a dead child and two orphans and now a human that smells strange in my home with my children.” She sits down with a jug of beer at the table and motions for the man to sit with her which he does as she goes on, “now tell me everything.”

She slides him the jug across the table, “liquid courage.” The man looks at her confused so she smiles, “if I don’t like your answer I will not be kind. Keep in mind that everyone at the hideout was killed last night and if it weren’t for one of my children you would be dead right now too.” The man nods as the feeling of bloodlust, rage, and strong magic fills the air. He chugs the beer and slams the jug on the table, “my name is Jax Rain and my mother is part of a small group of hunters that is working to bring about the end of mages all around the world. She was also the second in command to a woman named Senna and a man named Newton. The group killed and tortured your friend and was going to do the same to the kids until I intervened.” Morgana nods for Jax to keep going so he takes a deep breath which is ragged to Rowan’s ears and goes on, “where would you like me to start?” Morgana looks out the window now and simply stares out of it as everyone else stands in place around the table, “I suppose how Newton was willing to kill the love of his life.” Jax shakes his head, “the man was not with your friend he was sleeping with Senna. I caught them a couple of times.” Morgana doesn’t take her eyes off the window, “they were married. I married them myself 6 years ago. His big brown eyes looked bigger because of all the water works.” Jax looks at her sideways, “the man had pitch black eyes with no irises.” Morgana finally looks at Jax, “what did you say?” Jax repeats himself, “the man Newton had pitch black orbs for eyes.” Morgana smirks, “well you have done enough for now to save your own skin at the moment. Now tell me about the woman, Senna?” Jax nods slowly, “she had long white hair and pale white skin with eyes like Newton and they both always smelled like something was rotting away around them.” Morgana nods, “what happened to Amelia?” Jax closes his mouth and looks down as he folds his hands on the table, “She was dragged in a few days ago with her two children. They were all chained up in that room since they were brought in. I tried to get them out but wasn’t able to get past the guards. I could hear her children screaming in terror as the whips would sound and at one point I saw Newton raping her as she told her children close their eyes and cover their ears. That was when I was able to get in and drug the guards and others that were there to watch all of this happen.” Morgana nods, “I saw Amelia telling the woman Senna something that made her angry and made her slice Amelia’s throat in a vision. What was that?” Jax nods, “that was when I got in to try to get them out. I heard something about a golden dragon and when Senna asked about it and Amelia wouldn’t answer she would beat her and break a couple bones. I got a dagger and killed a guard who was watching the door when I heard Amelia finally answer saying that the Reaper dragon would never let her win. That was when Senna was about to slice her throat and I burst in. Senna blew me into a wall knocking me out and then sliced Amelia’s throat. That was the last thing I saw and then I was chained where Amelia was and her body was when I came too and next to the children who were crying against her beaten and battered body. Senna started to torture me and break bones while demanding to know who I was working with. I think that went on for a few hours before I saw them burst through the door and was slapped and knocked out for trying to yell for them to run. I’m sorry that’s all I can remember.”

Morgana remains quiet for a while before answering, “well then I owe you thanks. The children were spared thanks to your intervention. Even though you couldn’t save Amelia, at least they are safe. Now I have to say this. There is something going on with that woman Senna and until I can figure it out you should probably stay here for your own protection. What do you think?” Jax nods slowly, “I guess that makes sense seeing as how I have nowhere else to go.” Morgana nods, “you are safe here and so are those children. I promise. Now if you don’t mind we have a burial to perform.” Morgana gets up from the table and her clothes change from a black shirt and pants to a flowing white dress with a band of white roses in the white silvery hair. Jax gets up and asks, “would it be okay if I came? I would like to say sorry to her and pay my respects.” Morgana smiles sadly, “that would be kind of you. Thank you. Susanne would you mind bringing down the children. They need a chance to say goodbye to their mother.” Susanne nods and leaves the room as the rest of the group follows Morgana to the middle of the forest where there is a clearing with a wooden pyer that is covered in roses and lilies with Amelia's body cleaned and fixed. Her body is draped with a beautiful cream silk dress that compliments her skin tone and red hair that is brushed and laid around her beautifully. She looks peaceful and almost like she is sleeping. When the children finally get to the group they begin to weep in Gordon and Susanne’s arms as they say their goodbyes to their loving mother. Morgana’s heart breaks a little more hearing their cries of pain and sorrow.

Morgana ignites the fire that engulfs the pyre and is silent with everyone else for a while as the fire burns. The fire doesn’t burn the body to a crisp but instead turns Amelia into stardust making it a beautiful sight for the guild and her children to say goodbye to. After a while the rest of the guild head back to the guild hall for supper and then head to bed as Morgana remains. She watches as the last embers start to show. “You missed a beautiful burial, Blossom,” Morgana says to a red fox with blue flames flashing all around her body who is now sitting next to her. Blossom lowers her big body which is as big as an extra large dog breed to the ground and sighs, “yes, I know but I went to investigate the village once more.” Morgana nods, “and?” Blossom goes to sitting up, “the stench of dying magic was all around. You were right to be worried about what the boy said. They are dark elves.” Morgana lets out a long sigh, “well that isn’t good for us.” Blossom nods, “what do we do now?” Morgana looks at the stars that are starting to appear, “we tell the other two and we start looking for them. The hunters are involved so that is where we will start.” Blossom looks up at the stars as well, “what will you do about the child and the scent of the boy? The elves are looking for the golden dragon.” Morgana nods absently, “yes, but for now let the child know more freedom. Soon enough that freedom and peace will come to an end and the final battle to end this long war will come to pass. As for the boy I will have Sutton look into that for us.” Blossom shakes her head, “you play a dangerous game Morgana. You always have.” Morgana smiles sadly, “yes but I always have a plan and I never give up. Blossom, we have had worse odds against us and we knew this was coming. We have been preparing all this time.” Blossom sighs, “yes we have. I wish the children could know nothing but peace and freedom.” Morgana nods, “yes so do I but the children will all have to fight soon and now all we can do is hope that the lessons that we have taught them about our bonds as a family keep them together and keep them safe. Things will only get more complicated from this point forward.” Blossom nods, “yes they will and with the golden dragon emerging I fear what may happen.” Morgana blows out a deep breath, “well all we can do is try to protect our children as best we can…the golden dragon will soon awaken and may the gods show their enemies mercy because the dragon will not.” Morgana turns and heads back to the guild with Blossom next to her all the while feeling the threat of war that lingers in the air around them. Morgana says to herself mostly, “war and death are here. We must survive the darkness together.”