Two

Sleep came to Nadala in dribs and drabs. The drunk’s loud snores disrupting her when she was just about to drift off. She became anxious what if he kept her up all night? Would she be capable of her task in the morrow? If this kept up she strongly doubted it. When she was killed Yaga would laugh at her, Nadala’s heart sunk at the thought.

She closed her eyes and moaned, was this moron ever going to leave? Didn’t he even have a room of his own? She paused in her thoughts the room had suddenly gone quiet. It felt stuffy; heat seemed to course its way up her spine and into her neck. The heated sensation made her feel feeble her body tingled her mind a haze. She opened her eyes they felt raw and unprotected. In the air she smelt incense heavy its smell airy feminine touched with citrus. Upon walls poked out of the structure dozens of incense sticks burnt long red sticks coated with a brown brittle substance small red embers glinted at there ends. She stood in ore and confusion when had her room changed had she moved in her sleep.

“Don’t be alarmed child, everything is as I desire it to be.” A voice said from the depths of the room.  The sound of shoes echoed upon bare stone. Nadala’s breath caught within her. There was someone here with her. She had not noticed until the feeling of an aura so vast it covered the entire room. Where the Aura began light in a small pinpoint that grew larger as the feet drew closer to her. A man presented himself to her. His eyes coal black and hair a shock of vibrant red. Nadala had never seen such a shade before. With a foolish lack of fear she reached out to touch his hair. He ducked his head allowing her pale hands to touch and she felt his hair without shame. Just so her mind could understand this was reality, that this man was truly real. She widened her eyes in fascination. She felt as if she had seen this man before. When he was bored of her humble hands they were removed with his own large hand. They made a fist around her wrists but held gently. He stared for several moments his hard face softened.

“It should not surprise me that my most wonderful creation, would not know what I am. Even if she was raised by priests that knew me well. She meant little to my people. I am ashamed that I have dealt with you in such a harsh manner but such is my way.” The man said.

Nadala held up a hand and frowned, “hold on, I don’t understand what am I to you? You speak of me as though you know me well. But I have seen you not. Not in my entire existence.”

He grinned pleased by such a simple response, “You are doubting me? I expected as much from you. You’ll grow stronger soon. I’ve chosen you Nadala,” he took several steps across the room his long black cloak flailing behind him. When he stopped he stood by a wall brightly illuminated by light mage kept in oblong shaped glass. Small parchments where hung most with red tassels at the their ends and a summoners hair piece woven in thread at its end decorated with glinting jewels.

She looked along the wall. The parchments stretched as far as her eye could. On each an ornate picture of summoners dressed in well-crafted gowns. The pictures were so detailed Nadala’s hand ached just thinking of the time the artists must have spent drawing them.

“These were all summoners,” he said casting his hand outwards along the wall. “They were chosen and brought into this world by choice of the divine council. I never once intervened until I realized what they created could not get the task I desired done. So when the last was done and laid dying on Calandria’s shore, I told the council to no longer intervene that it was time a true god took the task.”

She paused her pulse increasing was this man trying to be cruel to her? “Please do not daunt this little one with trickery. You are no god and I am little more then a small and meaningless piece in a vast army. I know what it is you wish to tell me and I care little for your lies. I’m not high summoner. You can stop the charade right now.”

The man smiled his face looked down upon her with love.

“I can prove to you what you are. If you are willing to take a chance.”

“How?”

“I’m going to give you a stone when you wake. This stone will be beneath the flesh of the drunk that lies on your bed it will be made of his blood. You must cut this stone from his flesh without causing his demise. Then you must find a way to stop him from telling anyone of what you’ve done. This act must not result in his death. When you see the stone glow beneath his flesh then you will know I speak truth,” the man replied.

The room began to fade with his final words.

“Wait,” Nadala said. She tried to run towards him but the room turned to black and her eyelids dropped as she felt sudden exhaustion.

“Wait,” she said again forcing her eyes open. The room had changed back to its original state. She looked about there was a strange red glow emanating from the bed where the man slept. Her heart pounded in her chest was it on fire? She paused as she recalled the gods promise. After several moments of pause she ventured towards the bed. The drunk slept well his pale features peaceful a harsh frown upon his handsome face. Beneath the light sheet red glowed as was promised to her. She turned to her bag and retrieved a small sleek silver dagger. The piece she was expected to kill the Calandrian queen with. She stopped thoughtful what if he was to jump. She ran the blade across fingertip blood blossomed upon it. He wouldn’t feel it until the air touched at the wound making it sting. She sat carefully upon the bed and he turned to lie upon his back. She held a hand over his mouth and his blue eyes flew open. She stared for several moments. He took her wrist and squeezed it tightly until the pain was so great she dropped the dagger. With the sound of metal hitting the ground he struck her across the side of the face and she tumbled from the bed onto the floor. The dagger next to her she took it as he got up and lunged at her. He seemed oblivious to the light and she wondered if he realized at all what was within him.

“You bitch,” he roared what the hell are you doing in my room. Angered she glared at him.

“You complete idiot this is my room. You in your drunken state came in here and laid upon my bed,” she snarled.

He shook his head suddenly consumed with thought. Nadala took the chance and rose.

“There now you see I have every right to attack a strange man within my room. For all I know you could be a thief a murderer a rapist even.” She smiled, as he seemed to withdraw deeper into thought, now was the time. She stepped forwards as she had been taught. Using two pointed fingers she jabbed him beneath his collarbone where his pressure points would be. He dropped to his knees and she stood at his front moving her fingers to press deeper she pushed him down and straddled him. Taking knife from mouth and into hand she cut his shirt and with one hand tore it open. Moving the knife again she cut the top layer of flesh. He stared at her grimacing but refusing to cry out. She placed the blade back in her mouth blood marring her lips and dribbling upon her chin. With her fingers she caressed the flesh to wipe the blood away then slide her fingers with in it. The stone was down deeper may haps right next to his heart or over it.

“The bastard,” she cursed. Taking the knife once again she slide it into the wound until she heard the clink of metal against stone. She gave a grin and pried the stone out. He panted staring at the stone in awe. Its color so red it appeared almost black.

“What the hell, how did that get in me?” he questioned.

She smiled, “its made of your bad blood and now it is my power.”

There was a final clip within her gauntlet the stone fit with some force. She smiled as the knowledge of its power filled her.

“Now” she uttered. “Lets keep you from talking.”  She removed her fingers from his collarbone and lent close to him on impulse and yet unsure of what she was going to do with him. His lips parted and she brushed hers against his. She blew within him with her breath intertwined with mage and grinned with satisfaction as he inhaled it. His eyes became glazed as her mage drugged him. By morning he would be unable to tell if this was truth or a dream. As long as she never saw him again it all would be well.