Monday, November 4, 2013

The Bond

What? This isn't a piece of a novel, it's just some short story! What's going on here?

Once, there was a great and powerful Sorceress.  As was her Fate, she led the armies of Fae and Humans in a desperate effort to stave off the warlike Brutes, dangerous Undead, and consuming Kobolds.  She led the armies not to change Reality, but to preserve it in a balance.  Such was her nature.

The Great Sorceress, before being forced to lead her armies in desperate battle, had a consort, once, called the Child of Light.  He had led the armies and she had cared for the people.  She had taught them of Magic and of Fate, giving them moral guidance.

Amd then the Child of Light died.  His enemies had isolated him and he fell beneath the desert sun.  And so the Great Sorceress was alone.  Her forces, demoralized and outnumbered, appeared in dire straights.

A prince from a great Human kingdom came to her, seeking to offer his services in leading her armies.  He was from a long lineage, trained in magic and war.  All he sought, he promised, was the Great Sorceress' hand, just as the Child of Light had.  She declined.

Spurned, he launched his campaign in her behalf without her consent.  The Human nations rallied and their Fae allies surged to their support.  The Prince was a great leader, and sure that soon he would win the hand of his intended.

Still she would not have him.  He raged at the thought.  He grew determined to supplant her claim on the changes to reality which lay ahead.  Determined to be the leader who ended the cycle of conflict forever.

He saw the cycle which had been caused by the conflict between Formed and that which was Unformed.  Saw that Magic had been bound into Fate by the Formed.  And he grew angry.  They had risked his world for their battle.  A plan formed in his mind: if Magic was gone from Creation, the war could not return.  Surely then none could question his wisdom.

He announced his plan to those who had rallied behind him.  The majority roared their approval.  He had rallied them and they tired of war.  Only those who had always served the Great Sorceress and the Child of Light dissented.  The Fae grew concerned aware that the loss of Magic could cripple or destroy them.  These forces drew back, determined to defend the Sorceress so she could complete her task.

The Prince challenged her to a duel.  Wanting to spare her people from firther bloodshed, the Sorceress agreed.  Some of her people would go to an isolated island, to create a redoubt against the changes the Prince sought.  Others would guard her against treachery.

The Prince had no magical strength of his own, but he had found a solution.  He had struck a bargain with the forces of that which was Unformed.  They would neutralize the strength of the Great Sorceress.  He was certain that he could affect the changes he intended and escape his deal with that which was Unformed through the severing of Magic from Creation.

Some from his forces learned of his deal and attempted to warn the Sorceress, but she could not go back on her word.  The duel was set and bound to go forward.  Her powers blocked by that which was Unformed, the Great Sorceress was no match for the fighting skill of the Prince.  She was defeated.

The Prince's changes were bound to the loom of Fate.  He did not escape his deal, though, and was snatched away by that which was Unformed.  Dying and knowing her world was ending, the Great Sorceress called upon her allies, the Fae, Humans, and other folk who would stay beyond the changes wrought by the Prince.

With her last breaths she bound them to the souls of her followers.  When they were reborn, this bond would connect them to those they lost.  In time the Bond might grow strong and what was lost might be relearned.  And the harm the Prince had brought might be healed.  The Bond is the key, the last bastion against the fall of Creation.  The Bond is the last hope for what was lost to return.

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