They kept a distance from me as we trekked deeper into the obscure areas of The Zone. Every time Kalia’s eyes met mine, she’d turn away and I’d catch her lips twisted in one of those pouts she used to give the dirty floors she had to clean. I could imagine it [...]

The Seriphyn Knight Chronicles is a series focused on the self discovery of a young girl and her involvement with dark magic, ancient legends and myths. More information can be sourced on other pages and within the scenes themselves. Season One The year is the 167th reign of the Great Emperor Leinard. You have stepped into a [...]

Numoir. The word plagued my mind as we traveled the jasper path toward the southern caves of The Zone. I was worried for Edde and Kalia. Damn them for being martyrs. If anything happened to them, I would never forgive myself. What would I do if something should happen, the question came to mind. I felt sick in the stomach at the possibilities involving magic. I snorted back my thoughts and focused on the master's shadowy figure.

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Numoir. The word plagued my mind as we traveled the jasper path toward the southern caves of The Zone. I was worried for Edde and Kalia. Damn them for being martyrs. If anything happened to them, I would never forgive myself. What would I do if something should happen, the question came to mind. I [...]

I fell asleep on the futon and woke in the heart of night. The master's room took on a sleepy quiet. I pushed off the blankets and swung my legs over the edge to sit up.

'Yah feel better?'

I glanced at the master's desk and saw Edde sitting in the chair.

'Edde,' I breathed out and rushed to her with a hug.

'Okay – okay,' she brushed off and pushed me back to take a good look at me. She checked my forehead and cupped my cheeks in her hands. 'Yah look tired.'

'Nah – been sleeping all day.'

'Not what I mean.'

I sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. 'What happened Edde?'

'With meh or yah?'

'Both of us.'

Edde released me with a smile, 'some how Branwyn found out about my help with yah girls. She threatened evidence - took it to the sisters. Her that Sister Malia are close, so didn't take much to convince the head-sister to punish meh. They've always wanted an excuse.'

She inclined her head to one side and peered at my face for a long time before speaking. 'Yah give them a big surprise. Not expectin anything from yah – least magic.'

'Kalia.' I leaned forward. 'She's okay?'

'Yep. She got her sight back – they all did.'

Edde went to futon and busied herself with tidying-up. I watched her face, noticing the changes of expression behind her eyes, as if folding blankets and straightening cushions was helping her sort out her mind.

'Why this happening?'

She paused and faced me. 'Trouble I guess.'

'Right.'

Edde sighed and sat down, her weariness revealed on her face. I can't believe I brought this to her. Wolf was right – I was stupid.

'I'm sorry Edde.' I sat on the edge of the futon.

She stared me in the eye and unexpectedly told me her story of her arrival to The Zone. She was born into a family of horse-breeders who raised the infamous Western Rangers. While most horses were good for cart pulling and the odd travel, the Western Rangers were revered for being steadfast in battle and hardy travelers. The Emperor, himself, favored the gallant steeds amongst all others and ensured his knights rode no other. The families who bred the horses were respected and given a status of grand importance. Edde's young life saw visiting nobles, dinner parties and the finest of everything including education. Life was a pleasure until the year she turned eight when a whole herd of stock fell victims to a foot and mouth disease carried into the High Plains of Nordia by common Tempra horses. Four healthy stallions were the first to lose their lives,. Within a full moon cycle, all of the stock had died. Her parents were unable to fulfill orders. They had to return lein and favors received as pre-payments. Their home was seized upon by Merchant Huntsmen who repossessed furniture, slaves and all manner of personal items then the house itself. After loosing all they had ever known and treasured there was still one final tax her parents needed to pay. Her parents had no choice but agree to the Empire’s conditions of payment by slavery. Edde and her brothers were handed into an imperial office to clear the last dishonor from the family name.

'Bane, meh brother, and I were taken here. I never saw the others again.'

'Where's Bane now?'

'He was taken to the South Hold to be a henchman. Dunno after that.'

'Thanks Edde,' I whispered, not really sure how to take what she told me but grateful she had.

She flashed a weak smile then resumed her tidy-up of the master's room. I helped her clean up the bench and master's desk.

Footsteps entered. We faced the door and saw Master Asuras.

'Good you're both here. Gather things for a journey girls. You'll find a knapsack near the cot and all items required in this room. When you're ready meet me in the library.'

'We going somewhere now?'

'Yes Neven – now.' The master turned and left the room.

We did as he ordered, picking up things, putting them down or in the sack Edde carried. My eyes touched the titles of the books on his shelve and saw a common theme amongst all of them – tsazcuths.

'Master's life work.' Edde came up behind me.

'What are tsazcuths?'

'Who knows – who cares,' she brushed off and gave me a nudge toward the door.

I followed her into the library where the Master waited for us near the desks. Torch light flickered across the Master’s face, highlighting a sober expression.

Shuffles came up behind us. I turned and saw Kalia. I wanted to pull her into a hug and tell her I was sorry but caught an awkward look in her eyes and refrained.

'You, er, okay?' I whispered.

She nodded her head and fiddled with the ties of the gray robe around her neck.

'Here.' The master threw Edde and I a gray bundle. I unraveled a long woolly robe, the same as Kalia's, and a pair of sackcloth boots. I felt horrible Edde and Kalia had to leave this way.

'Master – surely Edde and Kalia don't have to leave for my crime?'

Master Asuras regarded me for a while before answering. 'They have the choice to stay but have decided to journey with us.'

I flashed Edde and Kalia a look then frowned and shook my head.

'Please don't do this, especially you Kalia.'

Kalia smiled. 'It's my choice.'

'No,' I shook my head harder. 'You have a safe life here.'

'Exactly,' Kalia butted in. 'Besides – I think I'll drive Cora and Les crazy after awhile.'

'Edde?'

'Meh time here's ended. Time for change.'

'Master?' I faced the master and was taken-back by the sternness in his eyes. Was he expecting them to tag-a-long?

'We need to leave now. Master Vega is expecting us at the Temple of Equala by noon-light in two days.' He turned and headed for the opposite archway.

I sighed and placed on my cloak and boots. We followed him down the marble corridor to the end statue door of Anwar. The master stopped at the door and glanced at our robes and the knapsack on Edde's shoulders.

'I trust you'll keep the girls inline with the laws of The Zone Edde?'

Edde nodded her head.

'It's a long trek I take you on girls. Make sure your cloak is on tight.'

Edde did a final check of the knapsack.

The master place his hand over a glimmering rosebud resting between Anwar’s breasts and gave it a good push. The statue gave way to a night sky and a sleeping courtyard. We followed him through.

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I fell asleep on the futon and woke in the heart of night. The master’s room took on a sleepy quiet. I pushed off the blankets and swung my legs over the edge to sit up. ‘Yah feel better?’ I glanced at the master’s desk and saw Edde sitting in the chair. ‘Edde,’ I breathed out and [...]

Gotta be here – gotta be here. A voice broke through my consciousness and woke me up.

'Where that stinky cheese old two-legs keep it.'

Two-legs? I sat up from the futon I had been sleeping on and glanced around Master Asuras's room; my eyes touching the crowded bench, master's desk, cot and the shelves at the back of the room.

'What's that? That you two-legs? Drats.'

'Hello?' I called out, searching the room some more although not quite sure who or what I was looking for. I suspected the lazareth from my thoughts yet this voice was different. It was tiny.

'You ate the cheese two-legs?' The question came into my ears. I felt a short breath to my neck and tickles to my skin. I tensed, slowly turned and came eye to eye with a furry thing.

'Ugh!' I jumped off the futon and took a few steps back. I searched the bench for something to whack the moving mound in my blanket and settled for a glass tube.

'What you gonna do, pickle me for lunch?' A furry black and white rat (the size of a kitten) crawled out from underneath my blankets and sat bravely before me with its green orb-like eyes regarding me carefully.

'You can talk!' I raised the tube.

'Ei-ya-yi, throw the two-legs some cheese. Actually, throw me the cheese you have those filthy anchovies that old one tries to give me.'

'Ancho – what?'

'Born stupid were we? You couldn't whack me with that thing if you tried.'

'I – um, hey! You're a rat I don't have to talk to you. Now stand still so I can whack you.'

'RAT! Insult. I'm a skirrat – not some stupid insect. You whack me, I bite your ankle.'

'Bite my ankle? Why you, fluffy, furry, thing -'

'Save the bumbles stupid. Where's the cheese.'

'Wait,' I shook my head and lowered the tube. 'What I'm doing arguing with a rat?'

'SKIRRAT!'

'Whatever.'

'Cheese – two-legs, read my snout – where's the cheese? And don't make me repeat that in stupid talk.'

'Why should I tell you?'

The skirrat jumped off the futon and scurried toward my feet. As quick as lightening, it nipped me in the ankle.

'Youch!' I cursed and hopped to the futon, slumped down and rubbed the sting better. I glared at the fluff-ball sitting smug on the ground.

'If I was mean, I'd clobber you into mince meat.'

'Yes – yes, very threatening. I'm scared. Now where's the cheese.'

'What makes you think I have some old stinky cheese?'

It sighed and looked at me with a mixture of impatience and expectancy, as if two-legged creatures only existed to give it cheese.

'Its not where the old one leaves it. Your here.'

'The master gives you cheese?'

'Every day, same time, same place, here,' it gestured to the bench. 'I like the blue ones the best. They so stinky.'

'I didn't know cheese was blue.'

'You wouldn't – you're stupid,' it answered in a matter-of-fact manner. 'There are all sorts of cheese: pink – yellow – orange...'

I frowned as it rabbited on about the different texture and colors of cheese, like I cared to know.

'And why I'm listening to this drivel?'

The skirrat grr'd. I sighed, got up and searched the bench to see if the master had, indeed, left something for the creature. I pushed aside a set of tubes and saw a plate of cheddar sitting like a prize amongst testing equipment. The cheddar had two tubes feeding liquid in and out of vials, gradually changing its color from normal yellow to lime and its smell into a sweet-pungent stink. I was surprised I wasn't aware it was there before.

'Ah – there it is,' the skirrat declared. It scurried around a mess of tubes toward the plate. I disconnected the tubes and removed the cheddar just as it was about to jump on top of it.

'Give me the cheese two-legs' It arched its back and bared its fangs.

'Cheddar shouldn't be lime. I fear this isn't good for you.'
'Who cares. It taste good.'

I looked at the cheese then at the angry skirrat. I could give the creature its meal and think nothing of it. After all it had survived the last meals. Yet, knowing what I knew of the master, I couldn't allow the creature to be a test-rat under my eyes. It didn't feel ethical.

'No – this has been tampered with. You know what tamper means?' I gave the fluff-ball a smug look.

It grr'd and pounced on my legs. I wriggled and cursed as its clawed feet scampered up my body towards the cheese I held in the air.

'Get off me you fluff-ball!' I wriggled and twisted about to shake the vermin off but it wasn't budging, too focused on getting the cheese.

Amongst our struggles, a few more of its kind entered the room sniffing around for food. They saw us and hurried over to join the fight for the cheese.

'Vermin!' I cried out and threw the cheese toward the far wall. An earth-red skirrat got to the cheddar first. It sunk its fangs in and started dragging it toward a hole in the corner architrave. The others were almost upon it when the earth-red skirrat cried out with pain then fell to the ground - ifeless.

The skirrats sniffed the cheese, their fallen comrade then ran off through the hole.

I picked up the fallen, dead, skirrat and cheese and searched the master's desk for something to wrap it in.

'Place him in the hole. The others will take him from there.'

I turned and faced the black and white skirrat on the futon. I nodded my head and did as it suggested. I went back to the bench and drowned the cheese in a fat vial of black liquid; never to cause death to any tiny creature again.

'Thanks two-legs,' the skirrat whispered. It hopped off the futon toward my legs.

I took a step back. 'No more bites.'

'Stupid two-legs,' it breathed out and started licking the wounds it and its kind had given me.

As icky as it felt, oddly enough, my scratches seemed better. They didn't sting at least.

'I'm Wolf,' it said.

I almost chuckled at its name; hard to imagine a fluff-ball named Wolf. I was able to compose myself in time.

'Um, er, Neven.'
'Not stupid then,' it said lightly.

'Not stupid.' I smiled.

'Well, er, look at the time. I must hurry two-legs,' it flashed me a funny look. 'Neven.'

It scurried toward the hole in the wall, paused and turned around. 'If you need help – just call.'

'Um – okay,' I said politely and waved goodbye. I think the skirrat took it as a gesture of sarcasm because it hissed and went on its way mumbling about the stupidity of two-leg females and how dumb we all were.

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Gotta be here – gotta be here. A voice broke through my consciousness and woke me up. ‘Where that stinky cheese old two-legs keep it.’ Two-legs? I sat up from the futon I had been sleeping on and glanced around Master Asuras’s room; my eyes touching the crowded bench, master’s desk, cot and the shelves [...]

Neven wake!

I came too gasping and spluttering and shivered. Memories rushed into my mind, returning my senses and my pain. I attempted to walk but found myself swallowing water and splashes stinging my eyes.

'You're not going to drown if you keep still.'

I stilled my body and felt water ease around my face. I blinked in a view of oily water and myself shoulder-deep in a rock pool, which occupied the center of a rose quartz cavern. Glaring torches spotlighted imperial banners and those of Anwar performing rites of justice. Navy robe sisters sat on benches, which ringed the pool’s rim. Light from a night-blue crystal sky poured over them through tiny window openings, covering their skin a light purple. One sister stood on the rim before me. It was Head-Sister Emorgen.

'Neven belonging to no man of no land, you have defiled the name of Anwar with your reckless crime,' her voice rang around me.

Crime? What did I do to warrant imperial justice? I glanced at the amber stone around the head-sister's neck and wondered if it had been placed into my mouth.

'We have heard the crime confessed by the accused. There is only one punishment fit and that is death.'

DEATH! Surely, it couldn't have been that bad whatever I did. I tried to think back of the moment I was in the holding room with Kalia. We were bound for a whipping by Sister Malia. She was cracking her whip, I was cracking sarcasm and... nothing but images of black nasty snakes whirled through my mind.

I wanted to shout out my side of the story, plead for my life but realized any form of attempt would seem pathetic and, quite possibly, hurry my sentence. Exactly how were they going to kill me anyway? I gulped down the question.

'By order of the fair and just Lord Equala, sanctioned under the blessings of the Goddess Anwar and God Dan, I Head Sister Emorgen, sentence Neven to de -'

'Wait!' A voice broke in. I sighed with relief and searched for who it was.

The head-sister spun around and boomed out her annoyance. 'Who dares interfere with the order of the sisterhood!'

'Not interfere as such but request a chance to trial this slave.' Master Asuras stepped onto the rim next to the frumpy sister.

The head-sister glared at the magician. 'The slave used magic against our sisters. We have the proof in the healing ward. What is there to trial?'

Healing ward – magic? Kalia's words on slaves using magic circled my brain. I realized the predicament I was in. 'Here I go again,' I breathed out and sunk lower into the cold – oily water.

'Under the laws of this temple and our government, intentional harm to a sister or mistress and ill use of magic by a slave are offenses punishable by death under section 37a of the imperial magic code of practice; authorized in the name of our great god of law and order Equala. I do so witness testament through the power of this umin.' Head-Sister Emorgen rose the amber stone before the sisters and master.

'You are correct sister but you have also not considered Section 37b which states “ magic incited with no intention to harm and no awareness of casting will deem the subject under influence.” I have been made aware Neven was unaware of the harm she caused therefore request the other punishment take place of the one you propose.'

'Unintentional! She blinded the sisters and her cot-mate with magic. How is that unintentional?'

'Self defense. An instinctive reaction.'

Head-sister Emorgen shook her head. 'She muttered foulness and turned them blind! That is as any good reason to sentence death.'

Aggressive spits and splashes at the corner of the pool caught my attention. Something awaited me in the water. I instinctively trided to swim away but found myself struggling on the spot and my ankles gripped tight. I glanced at the master with hope.

'Is it? I agree if the slave knew what she was doing. I do believe she didn't and the evidence of the victims' injures suggest it wasn't. Need I remind you sisters that her own cot-mate was a victim. Someone most dear to her. I don't see the punishment of death as fitting as the punishment of imprisonment.'

'Surely you wouldn't mean here?'

'Of course not. I would refer her to the Temple of Equala and the care of Master Vega.'

The head sister paused, weighing up his offer with heavy consideration. 'No, Master Asuras, the punishment of death must stand otherwise slaves all over can think they'd get away with using magic.'

Before the master could answer, she announced that the punishment begin. Spits and splashes of water aggravated my face, stung my eyes and blocked my ears. I heard the master muffle protests over the splashes but couldn't see what else was happening on the rim. More water thrashed and foamed at my face. My vision blurred into one big mess. I swallowed an awful metallic taste and tried to throw-up but the water continued its assault. Drowning again. This time I was to drown with a party to witness.

Some of water moved away from my face. My heart paused with hope. Hope turned to concern as I spied a dirty silver head racing for me. It raised its bulging eyes to my direction and opened its mouth showing me tiny dagger-like teeth. Out of the blue, concern changed to an urge to rip and taste flesh. Destroy and savor. Eat flesh – eat flesh – eat flesh – EAT - EAT - EAT!

'Not me!' I gargled and shook off the feelings. I struggled hard to lift my feet, it only served to drag me further into the water. I glanced more silver heads with hungry mouths racing for me. Anwar! My heart pounded so fast it threatened to shatter my ribs. My breaths burned at my throat. Pain banged the back of my head. I tried to call up magic, to save myself. Nothing happened. The teeth kept coming – wanting to bite, taste, rip and savor me. I panicked as something whipped my ankles and tried to shake them away. A sucking feeling gripped my stomach. I was lifted out of the water at the moment teeth snapped to a close on the spot where my head had been.

I landed to the rim coughing and spluttering next to Master Asuras’s feet. Pins and needles aggravated my naked body. I whimpered and coughed some more. A few minutes later, I felt the burning around my throat and chest ease and was able to breathe evenly.

The master helped me to my feet. A woolly robe wrapped my body. I faced the pool, which had become a dusky rose color under the morning light. The water was animated with angry splashes and a chorus of wails. I yelped with fright as a silver head leaped up to the rim and snapped at my feet. It's teeth chattered on the edge near my toes for a moment before it slid back into the pool. I turned away and faced the master.

We stayed on the rim until all the sisters left the cavern and the wailing stopped. I faced the pool again and sighed at its glossy surface and illusion of peace.

'I thought I was fish food.'

'You almost were,' the mastered said soberly. 'You're too special for that.'

I wanted to ask questions but sighed them away. The master ordered me to follow him back to his den.

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Neven wake! I came too gasping and spluttering and shivered. Memories rushed into my mind, returning my senses and my pain. I attempted to walk but found myself swallowing water and splashes stinging my eyes. ‘You’re not going to drown if you keep still.’ I stilled my body and felt water ease around my face. [...]

I faced a small window. Moonlight struggled through the pane's fine cracks; patterning my face with silver threads. Darkness was everywhere else.

'Please tell me I'm not dying again,' I complained.

'Ifs only that easy. Ish make sure.'

I peered into the darkness and watched the moonlight thread together an image of a black snake. Its beady red eyes met my stare.

'Ish didn't think to meet yousee soon. Here weese are.'

'Who – what are you?'

'What ams Ish?' The snake snorted, threw back its head and blew flames from its nostrils briefly revealing the truth of its world and the other snakes sleeping behind it. Rows and rows of other snakes.

'This is your den?'

The snake shot its head before my face so its scaly nose was inches from mine.

'Den – you cruel wretchsee.'

'Why?'

The snake reared its head with laughter that shook the core of my body and sent my ears clanging. I tapped my ears and pressed against them until the noise faded to silence and I felt calm.

'What's dis pathetic act? Huh!'

'Why you hate me so? What'd I do to you!'

'EVERYTHING!' It roared and spat out fire so I was able to see its dwelling clearly. We appeared to be in a cavern that stretched beyond my line of sight, yet the walls smoked and buzzed with ethereal light and the floor was so dark it gave an impression of not existing. On either side of the walls were the rows of winged snakes, curled up asleep.

'See dis place? Its prison. Only Ish awake. Only Ish see – feel – think... only.' It blew out the flames. For a moment, I glimpsed a sadness in its eyes.

'I'm stuck here with you aren't I?'

The snake chuckled and cocked its head to one side. The sadness was replaced with small satisfaction. 'Itsee seems the cleverish Waybearer stumbles into own trap.'

'Why you call me waybearer?'

It hissed and bared its fangs with annoyance. 'Why yousee ask these stupid questions! Yousee are waybearer – Ish lazareth. Stop with dis games – now.'

'Games? Hmm, I don't think I can do that,' I said levelly.

'Aah – so yousee play huh? Not surprised.' It stared me in the eye for a long while before it moved away and turned toward the darkness. Before I had time to figure out what it was about to do, it faced me again and blew orange flames into my face. Heat and a fowl stink of sulphar overwhelmed my senses. I writhed and fell to the ground, feeling the raw pain across my body. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to move. If only there was such a thing as death.

'No feeling – no wanting.' The lazareth finished off the thought for me. It blew out the flames and covered my body with coldness.

'You read my thoughts?' I breathed out.

'Weese connected waybearer. Weese live and die together.' It faced me again. 'Ish your darkness.'

'Or a thorn in my side – lazareth.'

'Yesee thorrns. Nasty – painful – stubborn wesee are. I prick yousee waybearer – I prick yousee...'

I closed my eyes and thought of Kalia and the time she named me Neven. My mind reeled back to the day I woke up in the old man's cabin. Was it so long ago I found myself here? Chatter and the sound of water breaking entered my mind. The cold seeped further into my skin so it became numb. My mind switched to the moment of the river. I was struggling to live but yet I felt nothing of it, and someone called me daughter of Marsilien...

Waybearer no! the lazareth cried out. Its voice was swept away on a great tide, along with the image of its prison.

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