Merlin tuned out Zanie's ramblings about some new things she wanted to construct, humming occasionally when she heard her name being called. The only thing going through her mind was the newest vision. What did it mean? What was the sword of candour? It wasn't the first time she had had a vision mentioning a sword, the sword of faith, the sword of valour and a few others, she'd tell hammie later to note down what she saw. Most importantly, who did she have a duty towards? Indris? After all the vision came immedietly after he introduced himself. Her headache though still there had started to ebb allowing her to think more clearly.
It had been ages since she had felt this powerless, no, vulnerable...anxiety coiled itself tight around her stomach, a mage without her magic was like a snake without its venom.
Merlin had taken her magic for granted, the way it flowed through her hands, incantations and magic circles were second nature and yet, without them she was handicapped. She feared that the disguise she had put so much effort into, the disguise which the world now knew as her would fade and she would be left standing bear, the truth of her out for anyone to see.
No...no that couldn't be she had to get out of Sal'Thorin as quickly as possible and never return.
She brought her hand to her face, swirling it in the air before trying to summon a flame, the easiest of tricks, they taught this to children, warmth rushed to her hand, palm going red before blue flames licked the top of her skin. That was but the spectacle of the second as the fire went out with a pop, and no matter how hard she tried it would not come back. The remnants of the heat warmed her hand as she curled up tighter in herself, shivering despite the thick clothes she always wore.
A voice boomed across to them, from one side of the chasm to the other.
"Indris, Captain of the Sal'Thoris Guard, unfurl the bridge Thyron"
As she looked on, purple and blue materialized, joining the two sides in what resembled a bridge, strings of starlight weaving into the air, sparkling as though the sky itself had decided to wrap its arms around it. It did not look like one could stand on it, let alone walk across a fissure this big.
Indris stepped onto the platform, clearly intending to cross it.
"Uh Indris, this does not look secure enough to carry even your weight"
Not breaking his apparent vow of silence, he started walking across the bridge, with no hesitation in sight. In no time at all they were on the the other side, walking through grandiose gates adorned with numerous braziers holding an odd sort of fire, almost aquamarine in color, it seemed to burn out of nothing, as far as Merlin could see. On either side of the entrance stood on huge stone pedestals, were two identical knights poised as though they were about to shoot someone down, bow raised and arrow pulled taut, they would make for some excellent guardians, thought Merlin, if one were able to enchant them.
As Indris talked to the guards, Merlin had time to look at the huge semicircular structure right in front of them, richly decorated in vines and more braziers, though this time something was gleaming at the bottom of the bowl. Mushrooms crept in through every crack in the ground, and the more she looked at the building the more her thoughts scrambled, the structure, why had it started looking so beautiful, with the swoop of the vines and the curves of the stone, every detail mesmerised her more and more, she wanted to stare at it forever and ever, as if staring at it would maybe make more of these beautiful details pop out. Just as she was ready to jump out of Indris's grip and crawl towards the building, she became aware of someone pinching her arm, quite painfully too. She snapped out of her reverent admiration of the building to look at Zanie, there was a warning in her eyes, a simple message written in her stare.
That was enough for Merlin to realise there was something enchanted going on, something that was powerful enough to bewitch even her, her inability to perform magic did not mean she was any less a mage, it wasn't petty magic that she just experienced. She blocked out the thoughts invading her mind and instead tried putting her attention on something else, but before she had the chance to do that, she felt Indris sigh deeply and start walking towards the building.
She looked quizzically towards Zanie, why was Indris walking towards the clear death trap?
Zanie shrugged but didn't do anything else. Well if she had to have the second rendezvous with death today she might as well be on her feet.
"I - I think I can walk now..."
"No need, we're almost there-"
"No really, it's fine, trust me I can stand now, besides" she chuckled humorlessly, "My legs are cramping up, you've carried me long enough, I do not wish to bother you any longer"
"Very well" Indris sighed and slowly lowered her onto the ground. Merlin's legs trembled as they carried the weight of her body, even though Indris was still mostly holding her up. Her eyes screwed shut as the burning sensation returned to accompany her again.
"At least allow me to support you" Merlin nodded slowly as he pulled her hand across his shoulders and wrapped his arm around her torso. Not that she didn't want to be carried by this handsome knight in shining armour, but she needed that split second of advantage to make a run for it, if it turned out the knight was a part of an evil cult, it wouldn't be the first time.
