Corla woke to darkness.  Not the darkness of a room without light; it was the utter blackness of space.  She knew there was people around her because they had each touched her.

This was it she thought to herself.  Death had finally won and embraced her in its lasting arms.  They had been dancing for so long she had grown to think of death as inevitable.

"Child, you need to come back."  A aged voice talked to her from the darkness.  "There's so much left to do, and the Child Mage needs you."

Then a raspy but very feminine voice added, right into her mind, "Master Lynn and Runner need your wisdom to get through the coming times.  I need you to teach them how to combat the blood magics.  Your life will be painful from now on, but the reward will be great!"

Light began to enter Corla's vision.  Far away and distant at first, but the very light of life it was.  The aged male voice was speaking to her again.

"Child Corla, I had to merge the blood magic soul with yours.  I'm so sorry but it was the only way."

Lynn took one of her hands, "I tried everything but the Elder Mage had the only spell that seemed to work.  Oh, I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to do more, High Mage Corla."

"You did more than any other Walking Mage has in my life time, Child."  The Elder Mage said from Corla's feet.

"If you hadn't have had the forethought to have a party here we all would have lost a friend this night."  Alton said.  High Mage Mira was at his side.

Gual walked over and gave Corla an appraising look before saying, "You've managed to survive this one, but only because of this Walker.  You may want to consider a lucky charm of some sort."

"I don't believe in luck, you arrogant peacock."  Corla said in a tired voice.  "I believe in the grace of the Great Maker."

"Huh?  Thought you hated the Maker for not allowing you to, uh...love whomever you wanted to love."  Gual responded, trying to keep up the act that he did not care.

"I love what I love, fool. The Great Maker puts people in our lives for a grandeur purpose then base lust."  Corla was sounding stronger, but Lynn could hear pain in her words.

"This is fun, but High Mage...you really need to rest.  You did just come back from the edge of death!"  Lynn said while shooing the rest out.  Only the Elder stayed.

"Your the coughing Mage, aren't you?"  Corla asked when the door closed.

He laughed slightly.  Then took a necklace out of his pocket, held it up to the light and started speaking, "Magic is a strange thing, child.  It's all around but only some can truly touch it.  Why is that, do you think?"

"Only those blessed with knowledge can use it, I think."  Corla was trying to ignore the searing pain in her mid section.  She was failing horribly.

"The physical pain will abate in time, but I feel that the spiritual wound  will last the rest of your days."  He spoke with a gentleness not usually seen from Elder Mages.

"So you think only a select few can use magic, huh?  What would you say if I told you that love is a kind of magic?  Or hate, an equally powerful spell that consumes so many."

"Those are emotions.  As such, they can be controlled."  She tried to shift but nothing would make her more comfortable.

"I'm keeping you awake to have this conversation.  I will not be able to speak to you directly again for some time.  So sorry, child, but bare the pain for just a bit longer, please."

Corla could only nod her head slightly.   Not understanding his meaning was frustrating her, for she could tell that he was trying to convey an important lesson.

"Love and hate are part of life.  One happens without our control and the other will take us if we do not control it."  His hands glowed a pale blue and some of the burning pain subsided. "Love allowed to burn out of control can burn the very one that we love.  Hate can be fueled to drive a person to greatness.  Two sides of the same coin.  Both can be used and both can be controlled."

"What does this have to do with magic?"

"Everything."  He said with a tone of finality.

Lynn slid up closely next to the Elder and said, "I think what he is trying to teach you is that your filled with a raging and dark magic that wants to take you over.  If you let it, it will consume you whole."

"Wisdom from one so young, I see now why you were sent out against your will, young Walker."  He placed his hand on her shoulder.  "Corla, you have been infected.  Infected by a magic that was ment to kill with a great amount of pain and suffering.  To keep you alive I had to bind your living and loving spirit with the hatred and death of the thing that was the Mist Lurker."

"They have a name?"  Lynn asked while hugging herself. 

"This is not the first creation of such as that.  The Blood Mages delite in creating beings that are no longer human in anyway."

Corla could see deeper meaning into what he was teaching, "So all people's of this world have access to magic?"

"Yes, child.  All."

"So that means that a Blood Mage can tap anyone and anything to fuel their power?"  She asked quickly.

This got Lynn's attention, and she asked, "Can the weakest of them become stronger?  Since all that is needed is the life energy of others?"

"And there it is."  He spoke in a saddened voice.  "The realization that your up against a foe that can grow stronger in a cycle, while you need half a life of experience and study to do the same.  Tempting isn't it?"

"At what cost?"  Lynn asked and then repeated, "at what cost does this power come?"

It was Corla that answered, "The cost is the life and energy of those around you.  The very being of the ones we have sworn to protect and serve, my daughter."

"Now that you both understand, you will sleep.  As for you Walker, I have a mission for you."  As he spoke he waved a hand at Corla and pulled Lynn away.

That was all Corla heard before sweet sleep took her.  It was not an easy sleep, for dreams of pain and torture came to her from time to time.  Yet it was sleep and a break from the pain.

#####

Lynn escorted the Elder Mage into the main room, where Madam Luna and Master Awl could be seen dancing to a romantic melody.  It was a wordless tune that was being played by several low ranking Ladies.

It was the most relaxed that Lynn had ever seen the Master.  Madam Luna had a ear to ear smile that brightened the whole room. 

"So they made up."  The Eldar said with a small sigh, "They both need this."

Pulling Lynn along he went right up to the dancing couple.  When they noticed him they spun to a holt.  Both looked hesitant, then the Elder Mage spoke loud enough for all to hear.

"The union between Johan Awl of House Boar's Tusk and Madam Luna Dell of the Dell lordship is granted by the Mages.  If any wish to petition against this union, a hearing can be held two moon cycles from this day.  Otherwise, these two will merge their properties and assets in one moon cycles time.  Thank you!"

Somehow his words had covered the music.  A trick or spell Lynn assumed, but the workings of it had been hidden from her.  She would love to learn it one day.

As for the words themselves, she had heard of such in story books and tales by a fire.  That the Elder made it so public, and seemed to dare someone to file a petition was remarkable.  It stunned the Master Awl and Madam Luna.  They must have thought that things were going to go differently.

Going to the two, the Elder said into their ears, "Now we will see greatness return to this corner of Farth.  I expect you two to continue you good works here and throughout this City of ours."

Luna could only nod silently, but Johan took the Elders hand and pumped it hard while saying thank you's over and over.

The mood of the party changed then.  From just a gathering to a grand celebration.  The merging of a House and a lordship was a big to-do.  The wedding would be one to write about and to be invited could launch new live's for some.

As soon as Lynn was led away by the Elder she could see the bootlicks and the attention seekers all swarming in.  Luna was graceful and told them all that she wanted to finish her dance with her future husband.

"Whispering Dark?  Must Mages always play games from the corners of people's imagination?  I am sorry Elder Mage, I just have a hard time dealing with the politics of city life."  Lynn said to his ear only.

With a laugh he patted her hand that was wrapped in his arm.  "It is why so many go to the other forms of magic.  We have boxed ourselves into a place where if we do not control the numerous spider strings and webs, that most never see, the whole system will fail."

"Did you say that there is more than two forms of magic, Elder?"

"Now we see just how smart you really are, Child."  As he spoke he took her to a deserted balcony that over looked a loud fountain.  It was a place she and Jile liked to go whenever they could get away.  "Ours and Blood Magic you know about.  Others use alternative ways to fuel the power within.  Some are inherently evil while others are ignorant and weak."

"So the Mage Wars never really ended did they?"  Lynn asked.

"And there it is.  The sigh of fustration that all true Mages feel, when you realize that the fight of right verses wrong will go on as long as their is magic."

"Rid the world of magic?"  She knew the answer but it seemed right to say.

"Then rid the world of love, to remove the hate in men's heart's.  Seems easy enough, right?"

"Oh, Elder, I never ment to fall into such a mess."

"No.  Magic chose you.  The Grand Maker chose you, for this small job.  It is a small job ya know?  A part of a larger story, that you may never get to read.  Try to enjoy the adventure, even when your in pain.  Remember that it's only for a season, a short while and then your adventure will end."

She knew he was right but her young mind was rebelling against the idea that she was not in the thick of things and if she messed it all up it would spell doom for all.

Jile walked out onto the porch then.  Dressed in his finest Guards uniform.  Lynn loved to see his serious face.  The way he moved gave her a small shiver.

"I see that a piece of Your heart has found you, Child."  The old Mage said with happiness in voice.   "Take it from one like me, take the adventure offered and live it fully."

Lynn's heart sank.  She felt that there was no time for love, no time for entanglement.  Not that her heart was not willing, and Jile was a great man.

"You have my permission, Children.  Just know that I'm powerless to proclaim it in a full room.  You are still a Walking Mage who still has much time to wander still.  What I grant is for you two to promise yourselves to each other and for you to wait till her Walk is through."

They both nodded and Lynn even bowed at the waist.  The Elder excused himself.  Wordlessly Jile went to Lynn and took her up into his arms.  They kissed there by the fountain that they had spent so much time talking by.

#####

If there was one thing Head man Jan hated, it was a traitor.  A spy he could respect, and a assassin was simply following an order.  A traitor betrayed all that they claimed to follow for some coin or power.

The two guards loyal to him drug the unconscious maid into the secret room that the Head had deep in the bowels of the Tusk.  Knocking her out and getting her away had been easy, now he would have to make her disappear without anyone asking too many questions.

Jan's real concern was to find out exactly what it was this girl had been up to while pretending to be Lynn's friend and handmaid.

Another late one, sorry.  Life and writers block is my only excuse.  Thank you to the ones still reading this.  Bless you everyone!  Near and far so many of you have lifted and enriched my life and writing.