CoS4-1j: Love at First Fight (Part 10) by zaqxsw
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
“So, even the great Lady Mage of Waterdeep herself is befuddled by the magic worked upon Saer Anane’s latest distraction,” Imizael mocked, her dancing sapphire flames presenting the distinct impression of an arrogant smirk.
“She did discern that it’s some form of runic magic concealed under the tattoo,” Caerden countered, taking note that his grandaunt found such amusement in the limits of the revelation lady Arunsun had provided; especially since no other spellcaster had discovered nearly as much. “I’ve never heard of that type of magic being cast on a living being… have you?”
“No,” the disembodied wizardess confessed. “But I have been a bit out of touch with the world for the last few centuries… as you well know.”
Caerden gave an audible groan at her droll reference to her incorporeal condition, as he continued to thumb through the arcane research books and scrolls he discovered in the crypt below his family’s abandoned villa from which he’d rescued her. They’d both been left behind when the other Alastrarras answered the call of the Retreat and sailed for Evermeet; two embarrassments their own kin had chosen to forget.
“It’s obviously similar to the effect of a nondetection spell or an amulet of proof against detection and location. However, there seems to an additional element that conceals all memory of the subject prior to the casting as well,” he mused absently. When Daeron and Raven reported what Laeral had discovered, he’d been struck by the thought that a clearly powerful spellcaster had devised what appeared to be a unique form of runic spell to hide her, which implied that who or what ever she’d ben hidden from was likely just as formidable… and with the magic faltering, could be arriving on their doorstep at any time.
Giving up hope that he could find any further enlightenment from arcane study, he knelt before the small shrine to Mystra, Mother of All Magic, that occupied an honored place in his chambers and prayed for guidance, ignoring Imizael’s huff of distain. While most wizards fell from their faith in deities, viewing the Art as a religion unto itself, he found a balance between the arcane and the divine, being both a mage and a priest. However, the Lady of Mysteries chose to keep this one to herself, leaving him with no greater insight than his arcane research had.
He knew that Daeron saw Raven as far more than just another dalliance. In the nearly half a dozen years they had secretly served first the Harpers and now the Tel Teukiira they had been extremely cautious about who they revealed their affiliation too, knowing that the façade of being nothing more than the scoundrels and rogues that they associated with not only provided them with easy access to Waterdeep’s dark underbelly but was all that kept them safe from brutal retribution by some of the city’s worst villains. The fact that he had exposed that secret put them both at risk, but it was a risk Daeron clearly thought was worth-while… as did he.
Being branded as undesirable due to the circumstance of his birth, his grandmother having borne the child of a drow, he knew how it felt to face life alone. So, if his friend had found someone trustworthy and willing to share that burden, then why shouldn’t he be allowed that simple pleasure… and he found that he was only slightly jealousy.
Comments (16)
I love her expression and the story.
Thanks for your kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well! I guess I made him a bit to effeminate, even for an elf.
Just another quick Forgotten Realms primer for those unfamiliar with the setting:
Evermeet - the island hone nation of elves in the Forgotten Realms. Non-elves are generally not allowed there.
Mystra - the goddess of magic.
The Retreat - a compulsion felt by most elves to return to Evermeet, which left the world largely devoid f elves. It ended several years before this adventure and elves are slowly returning to the world.
The Tel Teukiira - elven for "moonstars". A secret society dedicated to the greater good.
This is the last installment in this "book". I am working on the next one, but it could be awhile. Thanks for you kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
another great job. I hadn't considered Raven might have been hidden from someone. I would hope looking into her past doesn't bring back the trouble, but where's the fun in that? Will have to wait and see what comes.
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
I wanted to leave this as a "clif-hanger"... I have a couple of ideas as to who or what she was hidden from... But I'm not sure which way I will go yet.
Cool character
Thanks for your kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
Beautiful image, but I am sorry : I cannot read so long a text in english.
Thanks for your kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
I'm sorry I can't translate the text... My old english teachers would say I can barely write in one language!
greatly done all around.
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
wonderfully done!
Thanks again for your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain sage and well!
As always your writing and art are exquisite! Looking forward to the next installment.
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
Excellent work again!
Stay safe!
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope one and your loved ones are safe and well!
Interesting story as it unfolds!
Thanks again for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
It will be a little while before I start posting the next "book"... but I'm working on it.
As a guy who never read stories about Forgotten Realms and Elves...I'm a bit lost but I nervertheless can say your images are great.
Thanks for your kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
It was pointed out to me that my use of Forgotten Realms specific terms made it hard for people not familiar with the setting to follow my story because I used them so liberally... that's why I tried to add a "primer" in the comments. I'm sorry that I didn't explain things clearly enough for you to enjoy the text.
Great story (as usual) zaq :) The figure and pose and expression make me think of Loki :) Excellent!
Thanks for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
I wanted to give him a mischievous look.
it may be the set of the lips, but there is some Emily Watson there :) a fine character and expression
Thank you for the kind comment and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
I do see the similarities... I wanted to make him a bit feminine, but I obviously went to far.
Well written! Great image!
Thanks again for your kind comments an interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
Very good story. I'll keep reading when the next installment while be there.
Thank you for all your kind comments and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well.
I seem to have the attention span of a gnat... while working on the second "book" for this series I got distracted by something else... I hope to have new images to post soon, but they will likely be for a different series.
He reminds me or Legalos. Thank you for the wonderful journey through such a rich fantasy world. You are a fine story teller, as well as an excellent renderer.
Thank you so much for your very kind words and interest... I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well!
I wanted to give him that "classic" elven look. I hope to get back to this series at some point in the future... but unfortunately I have the attention span of a gnat.