The pet magician (open)

[kinok]

Kinok sat at a old table in a dimly lit room with only a few candles casting there glow. KiNok had once dreamt of serving noble lords in highborn courts surrounded by gentlemen and ladies of class. But this was not what the magician had expected. There existed small lands ruled by a lesser lord. He ruled over a small village from his estate that over watched it from a hill right in the middle.

Lord Cain was once a kind and fair ruler. But ever since his only son and heir was killed in the war by dark magicians the lord had fell into madness. And in his madness he outlawed all magic and anything to do with it. Even being suspected of dabbling in the arcane arts was enough to get you burned alive at the stake among other things. The very trees alongside the roads in his lands even had the bodies of the dead hanging on display with a notice nailed to the tree saying. "Guilty of magic use".

The young KiNok was spared that fate for reason unknown to him. He was captured at the lands boarders and taken as a pet as far as he could figure. He entertained the lord in his court and was made of mockery of on many an occasion. While he was not on good terms with the rider order because of his dabbling in dangerous magic. Right about now KiNok would have preferred dealing with angry riders and there dragons. KiNok suspected it would not be long before riders did show up. Word of Lord Cains madness had no doubt spread along with the atrocities and suffering happening.

The door cracked open and one of the lords soldiers came in and took up the chain off the ground. KiNok sighed but did not resist. He only just pulled the hood of his robe over his head to preserve some modesty from the fruit and vegetables that would be thrown at him as soon as he entered the lord of madness's court. In truth he could have escaped using his powers. But he feared what would happen if he did. There were to many variables and it made him uncomfortable.

[Tismri]

A pair of female elves strode down the road, taking in the grotesque sight that marred the once beautiful woods that surrounded the land. The rotting corpses gave a stench that was overly foul, and the only living creatures to be seen along the way were the birds of prey feasting on the meal provided to them.

The raven-haired elf brushed one of her dark locks over her shoulder, playing with it absently. Her normally cheerful demeanor was overcast by a grim expression, a frown solidly on her face. Her starlit cousin only looked on somberly, her gaze moving to the large estate ahead of them.

"It appears the rumors are true," Kali commented, still horrified by the display before her. Even in the war, they had rarely seen such brutality openly displayed.

"So it seems," Mari agreed. "I do wish Queen Nasuada was more capable of keeping her subjects in line with her laws. This is not the first case we've seen of her nobility up to illegal activities."

"Keep in mind that she has just as much land and many more people under her rule as Queen Arya has," Kali reminded her. "I think she has been an exceptionally fair ruler, especially for not being royal by birth. It is simply impossible for her to weed out every corrupt individual under her rule."

"I suppose that's true. Still, do you really think it wise for us to entangle ourselves in this affair? Nasuada should send her own people to deal with this." The two reached the door of the manor. Kali knocked firmly.

"We're already here," she insisted. "At the very least, we can observe the situation here and report it to the queen on our way back to the forest. She can then send in soldiers to make a proper arrest."

"Since when have you ever done the very least?" Mari asked crossing her arms as the door opened. A stately butler eyed the two, taking in their elven features suspiciously.

"May I help you?" he asked stiffly. Kali flashed him a disarming smile.

"Why, yes! I certainly hope so. We are two travelling singers, and were hoping for the honor of performing in your lord's court."

"Certainly you have heard of us," Mari added. "We have been visiting many of the towns and nobility throughout the Empire for some years."

The butler gave them a doubtful look, but let them in. "You may make your request before Lord Cain. However, if he requests you leave, I suggest you do so immediately. Please follow me." The pair followed him through a few short halls. Although it was the largest building for miles, the house was rather modest for a noble. It was not long before they arrived in the great hall, where the lord and his guests were gathered. To one side of the room, the girls noticed a hooded figure with a chain held by nearby guards. Kali's eyebrows connected for a brief moment at the sight while Mari kept her face expressionless.

A slave? Kali asked her cousin. Slavery had been outlawed in the land since Galbatorix was overthrown. They both knew that some noble had kept theirs in secret. Once discovered, they were arrested and their slaves were freed and brought back into society as equal citizens.

Perhaps. Something feels a little different, though. Not lingering too long on the chained figure, the two turned their attention to the lord of the house, giving him and his guests a polite bow.

"Lord Cain," Mari said, "We are travelling singers who have performed in many noble courts throughout the Empire."

"We were hoping for the chance to sing for yours this day," Kali added, giving him another of her bright smiles.

[kinok]

The air and atmosphere was different this time then the other occasions he was taken into the court. No vegetables laughs or sneers. Even the mad lord seemed composed as he sat on his throne. As was the other times KiNok was taken to stand by the lords side. Not even moments later the great double doors of the hall creaked open and two elven ladies came in. One with hair like a ravens and the other with hair resembling quicksilver. They were fair on the eyes as most females of there race.

Lord Cain sat on his throne and listened to them. His hair was unkempt and white like fresh fallen snow. His eyes already showing the white of nearing blindness were heavy and tired. The lines on his face showed the many winters he had experienced and the stress of it.

The lord rested his chin in a hand and tapped a boot in silent thought before waving a hand without any spoken words. It was a gesture to proceed. He did not look very interested though and the singers being allowed to stay was more for his guests then him. Looking to the guard with the magician the lord nodded his head and KiNok felt heavy strong hands come down on his shoulder forcing him onto his knees roughly. All the magician did was keep his head low and in visible submission while looking at the shackles holding the wrists of his dragon like hands.

KiNok would have been more interested in the singers that now had the open floor in front of the lord of madness. But the lord spoke lowly to the kneeled magician as he watched the elven ladies. "Do you know why I spared you? Word has reached my ears of your bringing the dead back to life. Your kind robbed my son of breath. It is only fitting your kind return him to me. Bring my son back to life"

The young KiNok felt pity for the lord. So that was what all this was about. The actions of a few bad magicians and all seemed to suffer. Common folk and there ignorance of magic. "My lord....." KiNok said lowly as he kept his head down. "That boy I saved had only just died minutes before I came. He was at deaths door with a small time window for me to help. There is dead, and then there is dead dead. Your son cannot be brought back to life. I could reanimate the body. But when you look in your sons eyes he will not be there. The body would only be a empty vessel, a shell. I would not even be able to maintain it for long either. I'm sorry"

If the lord cared he did not show it. His attention was on the two lass's standing before him.

[Tismri]

The two elven ladies began their song, their voices sweetly rising in the hall. Mari guided the melody along its well known path, while Kali complimented it with a harmony. Even without the use of magic, their songs were entrancing, and nearly all in attendance visibly relaxed, some closing their eyes as they took in the music.

All the while, the two were paying keen attention to the conversation the lord of the house was having with the chained figure. Their sensitive hearing picked up every word despite their voices and the sounds the guests were making.

So it is sorrow that has driven him to madness, Mari observed. Such is often the case; Galbatorix lost his dragon and blamed the Riders. This man lost his son and blames...magicians, it seems.

Still, that does not give him the right to murder and enslave others, Kali commented. Everyone experiences loss. That does not allow them to childishly blame the rest of the world.

I agree, cousin. I was merely making an observation. The two finished one song and rested their voices for a few moments before beginning anew.

We should rescue him,

Kali, Mari warned, although she knew Kali was already determined. There would be not talking her out of it.

See how mistreated he has been, she continued heedlessly. If we were to leave and merely report it to Nasuada, there is no guarantee that he will still be alive when they return. Did you not once say that every life lost is a tragedy?

And every life saved is a victory, Mari completed, resigning herself. It seemed Kali was dragging her into yet another hairbrained scheme. Very well, but only the rescue. We have not the authority to arrest or kill this Lord Cain. Continuing their song, the two began to plot between themselves how to save the mistreated prisoner.

[kinok]

"I have had enough of this nonsense." The magician said and spoke a spell that caused the shackles along his wrists to fall free and hit the ground with a heavy thud. Standing up he darted between the two singing ladies and leapt onto the long banquet table all the nobles were seated at and started to run down it in his heavy boots kicking food and goblets aside his tail swinging behind him all the way.

Ignoring the cries of surprise the young magican finally reached the end of the table and snatched a wine goblet from the hands of a shocked noble woman. "Thank you my lady." He exclaimed and down the freshly poured wine and tossed it aside to the ground with a clatter. Putting a hand to her head the noble woman swooned and fell from her chair to the ground in almost a comical manner expected of a lady in distress who had never known strife a day in her life.

Turning around to face the lord who had by this time stood up and pointed with a hand to bark orders the magician took a bow. "While I have enjoyed your company my lord I fear I have other matters to attend to." With a hand he had extended in a bow the magician took hold of a chain that supported a chandelier of candles above the dining hall and without speaking a word blew out the chain support from his hand with a flash of bright blue fire. The chain lifted the young magician off the ground to the wooden rafters above with the chandelier crashing hard into the middle of the long banquet table casting food, plates, and goblets in all directions.

Not wasting any time the young man darted out a open window onto the roof and out of sight. "Kill him!" the lord barked and jumped up and down in a childish temper tantrum. "Kill him!" As if on queue alarm bells could be heard from outside. KiNok was making his escape. But there were many guards and archers in the estate and its walls to bring a end to him now that the alarm was sounded.