CoS4-1d: Love at First Fight (Part 4) by zaqxsw
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
His reverie disrupted for the night, Caerden settled into the comfortable chair behind his desk and paged through his spell books to find the ones he would prepare that day. The arcane formulas that harness the power of the Weave and wrought magic at a wizard’s command are complex and demanding, requiring that they be memorized every day, even if not cast.
“I take it Saer Anane’s trap was successful and another sweet young thing has fallen to his charms.” He looked over to Imizael perched on the pedestal in the corner; a skull wreathed in cold blue flame. She’d been left abandoned by their family, just as he was, when they fled to Evermeet in the Retreat… locked away in a vault under their villa until he stumbled upon her. He still didn’t know what magic bond her spirit to the skull, which was clearly not hers but carved from crystal. She would only tell him that when he had the power to release her she would tell him what he needed to know. Until then, in exchange for his oath to do so when he could, she served as his mentor in the Art, teaching him ancient lore and spells as his skill progressed.
“It was indeed… and so did she,” he chirped glibly as he turned back to his studies, but then added in a more serious tone; “But this one will be around for a while… He plans to recruit her.”
Caerden understood Daeron’s attraction to Raven; she was a stunning beauty, but so were all the women who passed through his bed. However, this time was different. He’d stalked her for months, watching her from the shadows, and even devised tonight’s test to be sure she was trustworthy… at least as trustworthy as any thief could be. Although she could be an asset to the Tel Teukiira, it was a risk revealing their affiliation. A risk that could not only put Daeron’s life in danger… but his as well!
“Your charade is your life,” Imizael cautioned somehow managing to look concerned while nothing but skull and flame. “The wrong word in the right ear and you could both be worse off than I am!”
“I’m aware of that,” he sighed with a taint of frustration. “But she passed all his tests, so he believes she can be trusted, and he is determined to do so… with or without my consent.”
“And did you consent?” Imizael demanded her blue flame flaring as she realized that Daeron had too much respect for their friendship to risk it over a woman, no matter how captivating.
“Yes,” Caerden confessed as he turned back to her and let his nonchalant façade drop, leaving her facing the same hurt and abandoned young man who had first found her; “Why should we have to sacrifice every chance for happiness to do what should be expected of everyone?”
“Because you chose to do so under the guise of the very scoundrels you oppose, and if the truth becomes known to them, they will hunt you to the ends of Faerun,” she professed with clear concern and affection. As his grandmother’s sister she knew the shame of his linage, and that no matter how many great deeds he did not just their family but most elves would never accept him for the simple reason that his father had been sired by a drow; a fact evident by his fiery eyes.
“So, our masquerade must go on,” he accepted with a resigned tone, “but who says we have to continue alone.”
Comments (9)
Awesome Story.
Thanks again for all your kind comments... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
another great chapter. I love all the intregue you weave into your stories.
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well! I've never been the "blood and guts" type... I'd rather get into the minds of my characters than hack them to pieces... I think its more interesting to explore someone's motives than a dark dank dungeon.
Thank you for this beautiful image and story, it cheers me immediately up, I wish you and your loved ones a reasonably good new week and take good care of yourself!
Thanks for your kind comment... I'm glad it lightened your mood... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
Very interesting image and words !!
Thanks for your kind comment... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
Great render and intriguing installment in the story!
Excellent work - stay safe!
Thanks for your kind comment... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well!
Fascinating tale - looks like this could become pretty intense very quickly. Excellent render of Caerden as well.
Thanks again for all your kind comments... Things are going to get a little complicated. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
Intriguing background for this character and the story!
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well! Just planting story seeds that will bloom in future installments (assuming I get them written).
Very cool character and interesting and intriguing story. I admit though that I haven't understood everything, because some words were unknown to me. ^^
Thank you for your kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well! I apologize for the Forgotten Realms terminology... I added a primer to todays upload for one of the terms anyone not familiar with the setting won't know, but I noticed some more here and in pervious posts, so here's a little reference guide:
Blackstaff tower - the home of a powerful and renowned wizard, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, his wife, also a famous spellcaster, Lauerel Silverhand Arunsun (who will figure in future installments) and a small group of students.
Evermeet - the island home of elves in the Forgotten Realms. It is off-limits to most non-elves.
Retreat - a compulsion most elves felt to return to Evermeet which left most of the known world nearly devoid of elves, it ended years before the time of these adventures.
Reverie - a trance that elves enter daily instead of sleeping. They relive memories very vividly while in reverie.
Saer - a term used for minor nobles or people of great stature who are not of noble blood.
Selune and her tears - Selune is both the goddess of the moon and the name used for the moon itself. Her tears refer to smaller satellites that orbit in the moon's wake.
Sun Elf - the Forgotten Realms' version of high elves. They consider themselves superior to even other elves,
Tel Teukiira - a secret organization that promotes the greater good (explained further in today's post).
Walterdeep - the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the Forgotten Realms.
Totally cool!
Thank you for your kind comment... I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well!