Chapter 3

"A Treatise of Runes and Runic Theory.  Booooring!"

I roll my eyes but keep reading, "That's what you said last week."  I flick my eyes over to Saelmyra, "Did teacher Norna give you a break?"

I was a little surprised since teacher Norna is a slave driver when it comes to her lessons, practical or academic.  Luckily I only have to participate in the academic portion, though I'm still a little bitter about the reason for that.

"Yeah, I melted the training dummy so I'm on break until they get a few more set up."

She flops down next to me in the shade of the tree I'm leaning against.  She's wearing a sleeveless cloth shirt, skirt, leggings and leather boots.  Her hair is tied tight in a bun at the back of her head, held with a decorative comb and an attached hair needle.  Both auntie Eslyn and teacher Norna managed to convince her not to wear anything big or too decorative during the practical lessons, though I think teacher Norna is the one that really convinced her when she held Saelmyra in place by pinning her by her 'training dress' with ice lances.

Saelmyra groans, "Why are you so boring?  You should learn to play an instrument so you can entertain me during practice instead of sitting here like a toad and staring at that stupid book."

I ignore her whining.  We've had this conversation nearly every week for the last five months.  Apparently it's 'fashionable' for a guy to know an instrument.  Really she's just trying to get me a hobby that isn't related to runic arrays.  Practically everyone looks down on people who study runic arrays.  Arrays require a spell to activate.  Since the user would have to be a mage to cast the spell in the first place, and arrays are just pre-built spells, it's better to just cast a spell directly and not have to carry around a rune orb.

When she realizes I'm not paying attention to her she mutters something under her breath.  By reflex I turn and put the book between the two of us.  It's a rather large book, so makes for a decent shield.  I even managed to block the finger that was stabbing at my side.  Sadly, I missed the finger heading for my face.

As soon as I feel the pressure of the girl's finger on my forehead, my vision turns black.  Saelmyra has gotten into the habit of hexing me when she gets annoyed.  I don't really have any resistance to magic so they last a long time, much to my annoyance and her amusement.

I slump back against the tree and huff, "You're mean."

I can hear the gloating in her voice, "That's what you get for ignoring me."

I offer a sweet smile to the side she's on, even though I can't see her, "At least I don't have to be tortured by teacher Norna."

Before the spell took effect, I managed to catch sight of the last of three training dummies being set up, meaning her lesson was about to begin again.

She groans , but stands up and starts to walk away, "Wish me luck!"

I scowl after her, or at least in her general direction, "No!  You blinded me!"

I hear her giggling at my misfortune before there's a satisfying *Crackle-Zap!* followed by Saelmyra yelping and teacher Norna scolding her for not paying attention.

I put Saelmyra's lesson out of my mind.  Since I can't read while blind, this is a good chance for me to practice.

I turn my focus to the mana I keep circling around me.  I've gotten even better at keeping my focus, even when surprised.  It's almost an unconscious act now.  I focus down to a point, and instead of sweeping it around me, I try to drag the point I'm focusing on out of the 'pool' of mana and draw it into a string.  It's like trying to draw with a stick in a lake, and I end up just sort of making a tall wave instead of my goal.

I grin.  It wasn't what I wanted, but it was thinner than last time!  I'm not dumb, as much as Saelmyra insists that I am.  I know things are going to be slow, just like Saelmyra isn't suddenly an archmage after a few months of training, I know it'll take time for me to pull this off...  Well... If it even works...

I sigh to myself.  I'm relying on something I learned from the book.  In chapter four it talks about the difference between monsters and beasts.  The main difference, is that beasts have mana cores.  They can't use magic, but like non-mages, beasts grow quickly and are really strong, though they don't have the focus to augment their body with mana for a burst of power.  Monsters, however, don't have a mana core... but they still have special abilities.  There's a bird that can breathe fire, a horned bear that can blast its prey with lightning, a flying eel, etc.

The book discusses a theory; that monsters are able to instinctively create a runic array out of pure mana.  I tried to ask about it, but there's no proof and  everyone seems to think it's a stupid idea...  Uncle Mikdar even said that arrays are far too complex for a monster to be able to make, especially as quickly as they use their abilities.

Even if it may not work, I decided to keep trying, at least until I start to attend school.  By then I figure I'll know if it's doing anything.  I continue practicing my mana control for a long while, until I'm suddenly drawn out of my thoughts when I get kicked by what I assume is an irritated Saelmyra.

"Wake up, dummy."

I scowl at her voice and cross my arms, "I am awake!  You blinded me so there's no reason to keep my eyes open."

There's silence for a moment, and I start to think she just left me to wander around the back yard blind, before I feel her grab my wrist.

"Come on, we need to get cleaned up, your mom is going to be back for dinner."

I gape in shock.  I haven't heard anything from her since she got to the Vrasta Empire and suddenly she's going to be back tonight?

Saelmyra tugs on my wrist and almost throws me off balance, "Come on!"

I'm in a bit of a daze as I follow her for a moment, but a grin plasters on my face.  I can't wait to tell mom about everything I've learned.  I wonder how she'll look when I tell her I'm going to be a runemaster?  I can even build a simple light array!...  That is, if uncle Mikdar would let me have any of his runic thread...  It's pretty expensive since it's a special wire mixed with ground up beast cores, so it can channel mana, and when it's heated it hardens to hold its shape.  Even so, he could have at least given me a little...

Saelmyra doesn't warn me about the steps up to the patio before the back door, but I was listening for it.  She's a little demon and likes tormenting me so I've learned to expect the worst from her.  I'm just glad she didn't lead me into the pond.  When I hear the wooden sound of her boot hitting the step I slow down and carefully make my way up with a smug grin.  I hear her grumble a little when I make my way up the steps properly.

Saelmyra brings me to uncle Mikdar to dispel the hex, since she never bothered to learn the incantation for it.  He, as always, finds the little conflict we have amusing, but he dispels the hex.  When I can suddenly see again, I have to blink a few times for my eyes to adjust.  By the time I can properly see again, Saelmyra has already left, and uncle Mikdar seems busy laying out clothes and grumbling.

I decide to leave him to whatever chore auntie Eslyn gave him and dash to my room to clean up and change into some nicer clothes.  Mom had told me to wear a white cloth shirt with black pants and my green vest if I ever needed to dress up, unless I have someone to pick my clothes for me.  I have no sense of fashion after all and  can't match colors in the slightest.  I don't understand why some colors go together and others don't, it makes no sense.

Once dressed, I grab my pocket journal, I wanted to show it to mom.  I know she'll be impressed!  Uncle Mikdar said that every runemaster needed one, since they all learn different things about runes, sigils and arrays.  He even let me read through a really old one he managed to get at an auction.  It had sigils, which are combinations of runes for specific effects, that were different than the ones described in the treatise I've been reading.

Once I'm ready, I dash out the door... only to realize it would likely be another hour before mom got here.  That dulled my excitement a bit, but only a little.  Instead of just waiting, I decided to put my energy to use.  I had a mostly-finished sigil in my journal I had traced from the runic orb beside my doorway.  The orb is actually the mana-void array that keeps all the mana out of my room, though now that I've tested it, it only seems to work on 'loose' mana.  The array looks like an intricately decorated orb, but looking closely, it's made entirely out of incredibly thin runic thread.

When a runic array is made, it starts from the basic runes.  Runes on their own aren't very well understood.  They seem to only get any meaning when they're part of a series of runes in various orders, almost like letters in an alphabet.  They're also three dimensional, so can't be easily 'written'.  A sigil is a series of runes that have a known effect.  They're made by overlapping and rotating the runes so it makes a fairly compact shape.  Technically a sigil doesn't have to be written that way, but it's a method that's been used for the last thousand years and it keeps the array compact and sturdy.  Finally, an array is made by layering each sigil over the previous until the array is complete.  At certain intervals the project is heated to bind the connection points and harden the material so the runes can't deform and ruin the array.

Because of how they're made, the complexity of an array can be determined by the number of layers.  The mana-void array has so many, it just looks like a solid orb set into the wall.  I've been tracing out what sigils I can make out and trying to compare them between the treatise and the journal, but most of it doesn't make sense to me yet.

Eventually I manage to map out the rest of a sigil I had started on this morning.  My nervous energy has calmed down and I'm no longer as jittery as I was, though I'm still excited.  I take a deep breath, snap my journal shut, along with the small cloth-wrapped charcoal stick, before placing it into my vest pocket.

Belatedly I check my fingers to make sure I didn't manage to dirty my hands with charcoal.  A bit of spit, and gratefulness for having black pants, and I'm clean once more.  I grin again and head up to the dining room, ready to see mom!  I want to tell her so much, and I want to hear what she was doing in the Vrasta Empire for so long!  And she promised to bring me back something good, so I should be getting a present!

When I get to the kitchen I realize something isn't quite right.  The table isn't set and the servants aren't busy in the kitchen.  I look around in confusion for a few minutes before one of the servants bows to me.

"Young master Sidel, the carriage is out front.  I'm sure the others will be there soon."

I still don't really get it... Why do I need a carriage for dinner?  But the servant gives me a gentle push in the proper direction.  I find myself just agreeing and walking out the front door to see auntie Eslyn's best carriage, the one she uses for official business, ready outside.  Her attendant is in the driver's seat and the carriage raptors are well groomed and prepared.

After a couple of minutes of staring, I seem to have gotten the attention of auntie Eslyn's attendant.

I take advantage of having her attention, "Um... why is the carriage ready?  Saelmyra said mom would be here for dinner, so why would we be leaving?"

The attendant frowns for a moment before giggling, "Ah, she was teasing you a little.  Your mother will be arriving for dinner tonight...  At the celebratory ball in the matriarch's mansion."

"Um... a ball... Right."

Inside I begin to panic!  I've never been to a ball before!  I've had lessons, but I'm terrible at dancing, I can't play an instrument, If my conversations with Saelmyra are any way to judge then I'm bad at small talk... Maybe I can hide until it's over?  Or maybe I could just stay home and play in uncle Mikdar's workshop, going over his half finished runic arrays.  Yeah, that's a good plan.  I'll do-

"Ah, there you are Sidel."

Auntie Eslyn is being escorted by uncle Mikdar, both dressed beautifully.  I don't know how they managed to hide uncle Mikdar's gut, but whoever did it is amazing.  Auntie Eslyn has her soft green hair done up in a braid that hangs over her right shoulder.  She's wearing a sleek green silk gown with a slit up the side to the top of her hip.  Based on teacher Norna's lessons, it's a sign that she is battle ready in the outfit and it is common for any mid level mage and higher to wear a similar style.  It's also a sign of position and power.  If someone that would be useless in a fight were to wear a similar style they would be scorned.

Uncle Mikdar has his hair slicked back, which must have required some major hair treatment with how curly it normally is, and is wearing an outfit similar to mine, though his shirt is the same color blue as his eyes instead of white, with the green vest symbolizing he belongs to clan Lethera and a black suit coat and slacks.  He also has a pin on the vest, a green viper with grey eyes curled in a circle with the head in the middle, looking straight.  It's the symbol for the Lethera clan, and only really used on property, or as a symbol for those without the signature green hair of the Letheras.

They take a couple of steps, which reveals Saelmyra behind them.  She looks odd to me.  She has her bright green hair done up tightly in a bun, one of the only ways she can wear it since it's so wavy, with her decorative hair comb and linked hair needle holding it in place.  She's wearing a full silver ball gown, similar to her grey eyes, with a dark green, nearly black, sash around the waist, separating the top from the bottom.  Other than wearing a nice dress, she looks just like normal... The thought makes me cringe a little and I see her eyes narrow slightly.  I'm going to get hexed before the ball... I'm sure of it.

I wait for auntie Eslyn and uncle Mikdar to get in the carriage first.  They're the heads of the household after all.  As Saelmyra is walking up to the carriage she holds out her hand to me.  It takes me a moment to realize she's 'asking for assistance' like she would do with an escort... I promptly look over at the raptors.  They sure are pretty tonight.

I hear an almost-whisper behind me, "Treat me properly or you will be attending the ball blind."

I turn slightly back to her, considering my options, "If I were blind, would I still have to dance?"

"Yes."

I try to keep the scowl off my face as I bow slightly and take her hand to guide her up the step into the carriage.  There's a slight rocking and I hear a sort of gasp-laugh sound, followed by auntie Eslyn scolding uncle Mikdar, something about how something might rip if he laughs.

Resigned to my fate, I enter the carriage last.

...

The trip through town was actually fairly exciting since it was my first time seeing it.  Although it wasn't a long trip, I got to see all kinds of different people.  Based on books and lessons, I knew the people of Lienevrion weren't just colubrias, there were also aemulus, the people with monkey tails, lacertians, the people with rough scales and tails along with slightly elongated faces, and some hircans, who have fur from their knees and elbows down, hooves, floppy ears and horns.

The excitement died quickly when I got jabbed in the side by Saelmyra for 'gawking' and told to act my station.  I'm apparently supposed to act like an escort to the main branch of our clan, since I'm in the carriage with auntie Eslyn's family and she's the matriarch's second daughter.

I sit back in the seat and act like an escort, which for the trip means ignoring all the stuff outside...

It doesn't take long after that for us to reach the gates to the matriarch's mansion.  There are a lot of carriages, and it looks like many of them don't have the Lethera viper on them, so there are more clans here than just the Letheras.  In fact I see symbols for the Sulzira and Resnaril clans too.

My attention is forcibly diverted with another jab to my side and I scowl at Saelmyra, who gives me a gloating grin when she holds her hand out again.  I narrow my eyes at her, I don't like feeling like I'm being treated like some sort of pet, and it's starting to get on my nerves.  Uncle Mikdar seems to be a little sympathetic, but auntie Eslyn just looks impatient.

I hold back a sigh and lightly grip her hand.  As soon as the carriage stops at the entryway and the door opens, I keep my back straight and exit the carriage, leading Saelmyra out, and 'assisting' her down, though it's just lightly holding her hand as she takes the two steps down from the carriage.  As instructed in our lessons, I fold my left arm at my side so she can rest her hand outside my arm and over the middle of my forearm to show that I'm her escort.  Supposedly it also makes the man look more guarded and difficult to approach, while the woman remains open and slightly ahead of the man, so the first one to be approached.  I think it's silly.  If someone wants to talk, then having an arm slightly bent isn't going to stop them.

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Once Saelmyra and I are off to the side, uncle Mikdar leads auntie Eslyn out of the carriage and they perform similarly to Saelmyra and I, though much more easily and natural.  I'm guessing they've had more practice than we have.

Auntie Eslyn takes the lead and heads toward the large double front doors, guiding our little group into the main hall, which expands out into a very large ballroom.  An attendant takes uncle Mikdar's dresscoat, but I didn't bother bringing one.

We are guided down into the main ballroom without any fuss.  If this were a birthday or a royal ball, then any attendees entering would have their name and position called out, as a sign that they are important enough to attend, when they arrived.  Arriving early would be a sign of respect, while arriving too late would be an insult and could even interrupt the celebration.  Luckily this was just some sort of celebration, so we could just enter quietly.

As soon as we reach the ballroom, auntie Eslyn gives us a glance and nods over to where some of the younger generation are gathered, then she drags a bored-looking uncle Mikdar along behind her, though he does turn and give us a wink on the way.

Now that we're not being watched I let out a deep breath, "Thank the gods."

Saelmyra just raises an eyebrow questioningly.

I shrug, "Auntie Eslyn isn't watching anymore so we don't have to act all stiff."  I then pointedly look down to her hand, still resting on my forearm.

Saelmyra rolls her eyes, but lets me go and heads over to a group of girls.  She's looking at one of them and grinning so I guess she knows her.  I... am a little lost and definitely not in my element, so I head to one of the tables that has snacks.  Oddly, I only see one other guy eating any of the snacks, though he's huge.  Not fat, but his muscles make him look like he's related to a giant.  About half the girls have some snack though.  I ignore the oddity.  It's most likely that the guys already got what they wanted while the girls are pretending to be dainty and pick at their food.

I grab a sweetcake and take a big bite, then wander a little, though not far, from the snack table.  I manage to get close enough to the groups to hear a couple of conversations.  One group of girls is looking at me with a disapproval, and I overhear some slightly louder whispers.

"Isn't he worried his physique is going to explode?"

"He's obviously a Lethera, but he's acting like a Sulzira."

And several others like that.  Apparently it's looked down on for guys to snack.  I wonder why that wasn't in the lessons.  I ignore it and quickly finish my snack.  So far it's the only redeeming thing about this ball.

I catch sight of Saelmyra who is staring at me with disbelief among a group of giggling girls.  She crosses her arms and glares at them saying something, which apparently surprises some of them.  Eh, if eating snacks causes problems for Saelmyra, then I'm just going to have to do my duty on behalf of the men since no other guys seem to be eating any.

I grin to myself and head back toward the snack table, but a tall girl with long, slightly curly,  brown hair, gold eyes and wearing a red dress, is standing in my way and eyeing me critically.  I give her a polite nod and attempt to walk around her, only for her to move into my way again.

"You're that cripple, right?"

It takes me a moment to understand what she means and when I do my face heats a little.  It's... an uncomfortable statement, but it is true.  I don't really mind her being blunt about it, it's just a little awkward.

"I... Don't have a mana core, if that's what you're asking."

She's still eyeing me, like she's judging my worth, "But you were named by the Lethera matriarch.  You got her blessing."

I'm not sure where she's going with this, "... Yes?"

She nods, apparently satisfied.  I go to move around her agai-

"You'll do."

Suddenly I find myself being dragged away from the safety of the snack table.  And the snacks.  The snack table didn't only house safety after all.  It takes only a couple of moments to recover, but by the time I do, I'm already being gripped tightly by this strange girl, as if to keep me from running away, while in the dance area.

When she starts to pull me along and turn with the proper steps of the dance I stumble for a moment, but then place my feet properly, just to keep from falling.  She doesn't seem to care if I can keep up.  Luckily, because I'm terrible at dancing, the more common dances were drilled into me thoroughly.  I still mess up a lot, but I do best when I can't stop to think about what I'm doing.

"You're not very good at this."

I give her a scowl, which is a little odd.  I'm not used to scowling at people taller than me when we're this close.  She's probably a few years older than I am, nine or ten.

"You could just-" I recover from a minor stumble, " -go and find someone else.  In fact, I'd appreciate it."

She grins slightly, "Ah... no, I think I've found the one I want."

I end up being dragged, unwillingly, through three dances in a row.  I'm starting to think she was using a physical augment spell on herself to keep me from escaping, because between each dance I tried, but her grip was like iron.  However, at the end of the third dance, someone in a silver dress somehow managed cut between us and forcibly removed the stubborn girl from me.

Saelmyra was giving me an angry stare as she dragged me away from the brown-haired girl and her voice reflected her mood, "May I have this dance?"

She didn't give me a chance to answer as she initiated the dance.  The brown haired girl just slipped back into the crowd at the edge of the dance area, but I could feel her eyes on us.

Saelmyra's voice is low as she speaks to me, "You're making the clan look bad.  As my escort you can't be dancing with other people!"

I frown, "It's not like she asked."  And, although Saelmyra technically asked, I'm pretty sure it doesn't count since she didn't give me a chance to answer.

"She's only interested in you because you have mage blood."

There's not really anything to say about it.  So what if I have mage blood?  It's just a dance.  Or maybe it was an obscure hostage negotiation?

As that dance finishes, I forcefully pull the two of us out of the dance area, "I didn't want to dance at all, you know how terrible I am.  I think I nearly broke your foot when we practiced!"

When I see her considering something I narrow my eyes, "Don't even think about it.  You already got revenge for that."

She grins as she remembers, "Oh yeah..."

I drag us back to the treat table, only for brown haired girl to confront us.  ...Well, she confronts Saelmyra since apparently I don't get a say about dancing.

"You stole my prey."

"He was my escort before he was... oh, you're a Sulzira."  Saelmyra shakes her head, "He's technically a Lethera clan mage.  You can't stake a claim like some sort of beast."

The girl from the Sulzira clan nods, "Then I'll defeat you and remove your claim."

I give both of them a flat gaze, then proceed to leave them to bicker.  I'm not some pet or prey.  I grab a treat off the table and when I look up I see one of the guys watching me jealously.  I keep eye contact as I cram the entire sweet cake in mouth at once.  It's really helpful to have a jaw that can unhinge.  I hear a few giggles, but I'm annoyed at girls in general right now so I don't pay any attention to them.

Suddenly I hear a woman's shout, the volume booms in the ballroom causing everyone to freeze, even the music stops, "I call dibs on the cute one!"

Before I can look up to see who managed to interrupt the entire celebration, I find myself flying through the air, only to be stopped by a strong grip on both my wrists, my feet fly outward as I spin.  I have to laugh as I see mom holding my wrists and she gives me a wink.  Let's see Saelmyra complain about me dancing with her!

...

*Nathalia Lethera*

Originally I was excited to be on the trip back to Lienevrion, back to my baby.  He's growing so fast though, so I guess he won't be my 'baby' for much longer... I haven't even been able to send him any letters since I had arrived in Vrasta.  Eslyn had informed me of his new hobby and I wanted to hear all about it!

I had to sneak out of the Vrasta Empire and back to the lands of Aravia.  There's only a land-bridge connecting the two countries, which makes traveling unnoticed a little difficult, but I managed it.

When I arrived at Barad I was slightly late, so the caravan had already been waiting most of the day.  There were some fines to pay for keeping the caravan from moving, but the matriarch was covering all the expenses of this expedition.

My excitement due to returning home withered instantly when I noticed the other person in the small carriage.  Sinnera Lethera, the woman who crippled my baby before he had even taken his first breath.  The matriarch had explained it.  The woman had delivered him improperly and it had caused the accident.

It had taken all of my willpower to keep from tearing the bitch apart right then and there, but it wouldn't restore Sidel's core... Besides... I had a month to make sure she 'disappeared' without any link to me.

The woman's eyes widened when she saw me, and I forced a polite smile to my face, though I could do nothing to hide the pure rage in my eyes.

"Good evening Sinnera.  It's been a while... Just over six years?"

She gives a hesitant smile, "... Nathalia... yes, it's been a while... The matriarch had me assist the Eara clan here."

She seemed to hesitate to say anything more, likely worried she may set me off.  She had nothing to worry about, I was already a controlled explosion, just waiting for the right moment.

There's venom laced in my voice as I snipe at her, "For the sake of the Eara clan, I hope your skills have improved."

She lowers her eyes in shame, but shame won't fix what she had done.  Her eyes catch on my necklace... I slide it under my shirt.  To most people it just looked like a small uncut gem with silver filigree, but Sinnera had seen that gem before.

"That's a little morbid."

I shoot her a glare, she has no right to judge me!  I hiss my anger, daring her to even make a sound.

She instantly cringes in on herself, but remains silent.

...

My opportunity came on day fourteen.  We were camped at the Bear's Wood Lake, a lake surrounded by forest, fed by a large underground river.  There's a river from the lake that runs into Maelstrom Sea, about seventy miles to the east.

Sinnera had laced the food with some sort of sleeping agent.  It was obvious since I had been watching her every move.  I pretended to fall into a deep sleep along with the others.  I actually expected her to attempt to remove me as a threat, so I had prepared to take her by surprise, but when I 'collapsed', she simply checked a few people, put out the fire, then walked off into the night.

I growl low to myself, "She couldn't make this easy..."  I wait only a few moments to ensure she wasn't watching, then stalked out of camp after her, following her trail.  She was just a doctor and had no knowledge on how to hide her route, so she was easy to follow.  Magically enhanced senses helped too.

I almost gave away my position when I saw her examining some plants in a hidden alcove on the other side of the lake from where the path takes travelers.  She seriously drugged everyone, just so she could pick flowers!?

I shake my head and focus my mind.  I fold out my fangs and collect a dose of venom, then hold out my hand as I feel my blood start to hum, telling me my mana core has completed the spell.  One last thought, and the venom solidifies into several needles, which soundlessly fly at the unsuspecting doctor.

Colubrias are highly resistant to our venoms, though there are slight differences between each individual.  If used on any other race or beast, something like this would be near fatal, or at least induce a strong paralysis and likely damage the body severely.  But Sinnera would only be paralyzed for a few moments, plenty of time for me to make her pay for what she had done.  I wasn't going to go hunt the bitch down, but with her being dangled right in front of me...

A small enhancement to my legs and I launch out of the forest, catching Sinnera's limp body, though her eyes are absolutely terrified and wide with disbelief.  I give her a soft smile, then wordlessly draw my dagger and slit her shirt to reveal the right side of her chest.  I position the knife over her mana core, I would cripple her as she crippled my son, then hold her here, constantly infusing her with mana until she died from it corrupting her flesh.  It would mean I'd be a few days late getting back to Sidel, but for this I could spare a little time.

The fear drains from her eyes and all that's left is shame.  She starts to try to speak, but I don't want to hear her beg for her life.  My dagger sinks quickly into the flesh between her ribs and taps something hard.  The paralysis is letting up quickly and she manages to howl in pain, but she cuts herself off, managing to yell a few words.

"Before you kill me let me tell you the truth!"

I was a little shocked.  This sort of thing is normally 'don't kill me, I'll tell you everything!'... not 'kill me after I tell you everything'.  Still, I'm a little spiteful, so I sink the dagger further into her core and twist until I feel a satisfying crack, and she starts to scream in pain.  Lucky for me she drugged the camp.

I leave the dagger in and don a soft smile, "And what truth would that be?"

...

I had let Sinnera live.  Her mana core would heal, given time.  What she had said was unbelievable... but...  I lift my necklace and look closely at the fracture in the gem.  At the base I could see a tiny, near-invisible circular hole.  It could have naturally formed, but what Sinnera had said made a strange sort of sense.

I clear my mind of those thoughts and watch from the side of the room with a grin as Eslyn's little girl and the heir of the Sulzira fight over Sidel.  He promptly ignores them and I can't help but laugh as he stares one of the non-mage children in the eyes as he shoves a cake into his mouth whole.  He doesn't seem to realize it, but he's got the attention of some of the adults and their children, who they probably instructed to make connections with him.

It's okay, mom's here to protect you.

I augment my body and take a deep breath, preparing to yell as loud as I can.