5 The Scribe (1)

My eyes followed a trail of black ash to find a small translucent beast the size of my hands. I half-expected a gruesome creature of the dark, but contrary to my imaginings, his horns aren't sharp and his wings don't envelope the room.

I'm supposed to be surprised. A few days ago, I probably would've been, but as it swirls and swings in the air, in this moment, I'm relieved that I haven't lost it.

'Seems like their coming for you,' he snickers, before turning into dust.

As the sun fades into the ground, pits of red and orange pull from one of the other cloaked woman's hands, it floats in the dark room and expands. For a while, I can't look away.

*Magic! It's beautiful*

This was nothing like Hildegard's writings, nothing at all like it.

The woman pecked her small glasses upwards. "Do you always have it hanging like that."

"Forgive me Elder, but that's protocol," Kjorn said, her calm demeanor back.

"Forget protocol, my scriber can't work like this."

Sighing, Kjorn signaled for Iya, who was standing somewhere in the dimly lit room. She hurried over, picked out a small dagger and cut the rope, and in doing so she also released my full weight to the floor. I could feel bristles of wood cement into my face. On the floor there was nothing much to celebrate, everything hurt just as much when I was bounded to the wall, maybe even more.

A KnightBarrow entered, with a handle of iron masks. I waited for Hildegard to make an appearance behind the door but instead a young girl stepped into the light, no more than twelve years. She wore a red colored robe, and had scars collecting her forehead, it was different to Hildegard's.

She stuck her chubby fingers out to me.

They would even have a child do this?

"Hurry up Gilden, we don't have all the time in the world."

Another sword was unsheathed, and reluctantly I placed my hand into hers?

The girls eyes narrowed.

One…Two…Three…Four…Five? I braced myself for the pain, but there was nothing. For a couple minutes she held my hand, and every progressive minute the harder she tried to squeeze.

"It isn't working," she finally said, going red in the face.

The Elder's mouth fell open, and whispers took the room in chaos. Kjorn and the other KnightBarrow were already in position.

"How could it be? She's a royal scriber," someone said.

"It's a user," another accused.

'Look at that. I've haven't even been gone some time and you've already landed yourself in trouble," the creature was back. It flew behind my ear, and scattered atop my tangled hair.

"Put her in her restraints!"

I backed away. "I don't know what messed up organization ya'll are running, but you got the wrong person here. Come on guys, I don't even look like a woman!"

Their glances morphed, and if they were contemplating before, they weren't anymore.