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's Session 16 Task 8 - Anger: What triggers your OC's temper? Draw them getting angry.

I always refer to Rysta as my Raeg Monster . . . so anger is very normal for her and I had a hard time deciding which moments to depict

The problem is that mages need to control their temper because their magic becomes stronger when they're angry, but it's the same type of thing as an adrenaline rush. Once the mage is no longer angry they'll probably pass out from magic overuse because the anger doesn't allow them to have any restraint or hold anything back. Usually, if Rysta is spell casting while angry she's in danger of draining herself to the point of unconsciousness if she doesn't hold back.

She passes out after the second two events.

Brace yourselves and blame MeganMosier for the info/text dump.

Panel one - This is right after Calaen is rescued and freed of his torque. He's mentally younger due to some memory problems due to the spell being broken so his reaction isn't quite normal Rysta's at the point where his behavior from before and now has finally made her reach her breaking point with his attitude.

*What is going on?* Aardrin’s mind voice was confused as his horse expression read the same.

*He thinks he’s 16! He doesn’t remember anything after that, it must be because I broke the spell on the torque, it mucked about with his memory!* Rysta responded. She then added out loud, “Your Highness, we need to get you to safety and to someone who can help with your lost memories.”

“Who would that be?” Calaen finally looked at her, although his expression was suspicious.

“Wizard-Healer Tiernan.” Rysta responded, hoping the name would maybe stir something in the Raghnall part of the prince.

“He’s real?”

Rysta was so stunned by the question that she couldn’t seem to get words to form.

Yokov took over from her, “Yes. He is very real and very much wishing to meet Your Highness and help you in any way possible to regain what you have lost. Would you please join us? We will be camping soon, but in a more secluded place near water, and it would be nice to get there before the moon goes down.” He bowed respectfully to the prince. “You may ride with me or with the Lady Sorceress, your choice.”

Calaen frowned. “I don’t believe you’re taking me to a Wizard, nor do I believe that this little peasant is a Sorceress. How do I know you’re not kidnappers trying to get ransom from my father?”

“Listen, you stuck up, over sexed, spoiled brat . . .” Rysta snarled at him, grabbing her wand tightly like she was about to unsheathe it.

*No!*

“Do not . . .”

She didn’t listen to either of them as she pulled her wand out and pointed it at the prince, “ . . . we’re taking you to Tiernan, cooperative or not. I suggest you be cooperative.” A bright purple glow enveloped her and she looked fiercely at the prince who took a step back from her in surprise. “Mount up and let’s get going!”

Calaen stared at the glowing woman and then responded, “I’ll ride with you, Westerner.”

“My name is Yokov.”

“Yokov, I will ride with you.” He kept an eye on Rysta the whole time he got mounted up on Snorer, like he didn’t trust her not to blast him.

Panel 2 - They're on their way back to Iolanthe's. Calaen is still recovering from nearly getting killed by Shok'Artel so he's unable to put up any sort of fight. They come across some of the High King's Soldiers and one of them makes some suggestions that really makes Rysta furious. This is the result, although a bit of it is due to Eriantielle's influence.

“We have been ordered to search all travelers on this road. Do you have any papers of identification?” The man glared at Aardrin, annoyed at having to talk so close to the side of the road.

“Nah, sirra, jest gettin’ home from tradin’. Had t’use all m’money buyin’ this stubborn beast t’git home after th’horse changed t’human.” Aardrin grumbled in an annoyed accent he’d learned from Rysta.

“If y’please, sir. M’brother’s sick an’ we need t’git home, unless y’know where a healer is located?” Rysta added, looking as pathetic and concerned as she could manage and trying to firmly bury the urge to blast through the men now blocking their way to Iolanthe’s.

Calaen made sure to groan in pain to make Rysta’s story more believable, lying on the bottom of the cart like he was in extreme discomfort.

“Is that right, little lady?” The commander leered at Rysta. “Perhaps you’d be willing to stay behind while your family turns around and heads back down the road toward Rydrean, I’ve heard they’ve got a healer there.”

“Do they now, didn’ know that.” Aardrin tried not to show his skepticism at this statement since he knew better. Guess they weren’t the only ones lying through their teeth in this situation. “If it’s all th’same t’ya, we’ll jest keep goin’ th’direction we’re headed.”

“Not without payment you won’t.” The man sneered. “So, pay up, and leave the female here as well.”

Aardrin looked back at Rysta, she seemed to be fighting off anger with little success. “I dun think so.” He quickly pulled the ox around, not worrying if the beast’s horns hit any of the soldiers, not willing to let that look on Rysta’s face become action. Any magical action on her part would make it impossible for them to keep a low profile. He wanted the ox to move faster than a slow lope, suddenly wishing he was a horse again so he could pull the thing himself.

“HEY! Get back here!” Orders were barked to give chase and bows and arrows made an appearance.

Calaen watched from under his hood, wondering if he was capable of fighting anyone off in his condition. Rysta’s purple glow was his only warning that something was about to happen, then there was a massive explosion and screams of pain and anguish coming from behind them as the cart amazingly sped up.

“Rysta! Stop!” Aardrin yelled out. “They’re not going to follow us now!”

Calaen sat up to see what was happening. Rysta was standing up in the back of the cart, glowing brightly and looking livid. Bolts of power were shooting out of her hands and hitting the soldiers, leaving a mass of smoldering men in their wake.

“No, they aren’t!” She asserted, her voice sounding deeper than normal. Then the very road seemed to rise up against their pursuers, breaking and cracking and leaving a wide and deep rock ditch as the remaining rocks flew toward the military men. There was more screaming and a full-blown retreat as Aardrin continued to urge the ox to run as fast as it could.

She looked about to do more when Calaen grabbed her hand, “Stop. Please. They can’t get to us now.”

Rysta glared down at him, then whatever it was that had seized her vanished, “Calaen? What?”

“Sit before you fall.” He requested quietly. “We’re safe for now.”

“Oh. All right.” She sat down carefully and then slumped like she’d passed out.

“Aardrin!” Calaen shifted toward her to make sure she hadn’t hurt herself.

“I’ll stop when the ox decides to stop! The noise scared the beast so bad it’s not stopping anytime soon!” Aardrin yelled back. “Just make sure she’s not bleeding anywhere and make her comfortable, that was a huge surge of magic that probably wiped her out.”

Calaen pulled the unconscious sorceress toward him, wondering what had made her do something so violent. “What now Aardrin? We can’t go back that way, even if it weren’t for the troops!”

“I’ve got an idea, but the road is going to take us a very long way out of our way. I think there’s another road east, but we have to go west and then south a bit.” Aardrin answered, trying not to fall off the cart after hitting a rather large bump. “Hang on back there, the road isn’t exactly designed for fast moving carts.”

Panel 3 - This happens in Doumerlas, right after Calaen becomes King. There is an assassination attempt that is stopped by Rysta and Aardrin, but the result is Rysta absolutely losing it because someone tried to kill Calaen (whom she's in love with at this point but isn't admitting it). If there's one thing that can make Rysta lose her temper beyond measure, it's someone trying to harm anyone she loves. Cameo by Captain Pyrs, from OC Training session 9 - www.deviantart.com/dragondoodl…

The captain stopped next to the sorceress, trying to decide how to proceed. On the one hand he had no trust in mages, on the other, this one obviously wanted to protect their new King. He was about to say something when she interrupted.

“Captain. Hand me that bolt on the ground.” Her voice was far more fearsome than he remembered from before and he decided to obey her for the time being.

“Certainly, Lady Sorceress. What are you needing it for?” He picked it up and handed it to her.

She nodded in thanks and met his eyes as she took the bolt and held it tightly. Her eyes were glowing much like the shield she had put up and the captain was stunned by the power it implied. “I’m going to use it to find the attempted assassin. Let no one leave until I get back, because I’m also going to find out who hired him.” She bared her teeth like a feral canine, “No one tries to kill His Majesty while I’m around.”

The captain stepped back a pace, hoping she didn’t suspect him of such a thing, “You can trust me.”

“I hope so. You swore your loyalty to His Majesty.” She snarled at him, her eyes glowing even brighter, “If you break that vow you have much more to fear from me than from him.”

He gave her more space, remembering why he didn’t trust mages, and watched as she used her dagger-like wand to quickly cut off the long sleeves of her gown and a good chunk of her skirts. The action only took a few seconds and then she was speeding out the entrance to the dining room and toward the stairs to the second level. He ran after her, not wanting to let her out of his sight, trusting his men to keep His Majesty safe as he kept a close eye on the sorceress. He could have sworn he heard her mutter something like “Gotcha, you’re mine.”, as she ran but he couldn’t be sure. She was remarkably fast.

She must have noticed that he was following and turned, “Captain! Look to His Majesty! He needs your help more than I need you following me!”

He stopped and looked behind him, seeing to his horror that the Lord Healer and His Majesty were fighting off attackers, some of them his own men! The Princess was in between the two men, being protected by them as they defended themselves. The captain snarled, turning with his sword drawn, realizing where his priority was at the moment. “Fine. Be careful, Lady Sorceress.”

There was no answer but her quick footsteps up the stairs. He ran back into the dining room and the doors slammed loudly behind him. The noise briefly startled him, but he was more focused on keeping his king alive than why the doors would have closed so violently without his touching them.

Rysta gripped the crossbow bolt tightly as she ran, following the red trail her magic wound around, tying the bolt to the shooter. She finally spotted the man about to attempt to leap out a window. She growled under her breath and grabbed him with her magic and pulled him back through the window and to the ground violently.

The man turned to see what happened and then stopped in shock and fear at what was facing him, the reflection of Rysta’s purple magic showing in his own eyes.

The assassin tried to scoot away but she held him still with her magic as she leaned down and menacingly announced, “Be very grateful that I’m going to let His Majesty decide what to do with you. If I had my way, I’d disintegrate you from the inside out as slowly and painfully as possible. You best pray to The Gods that he’s still alive.”

********

The captain looked up toward the stairs as everything had gotten sorted out. They had managed to either kill or restrain those of his men who had betrayed them. The King was no longer bleeding, the bolt had been removed and he was healed. Luckily, the kitchen staff and servants were all on the side of the new king and had made things difficult for those trying to help the attackers. Food, serving plates, and bowls once full of hot soup were littering the floor. The doors that the Lady Sorceress had taken were unopenable, as were the other means of escape. The only unlocked door was through the kitchen but he kitchen staff wasn’t allowing anyone to go out that way. About half of the people still in the room had given up trying to escape and sat back down to see what might happen when the door to the stairs burst open in a magical blast that knocked all of those attempting to go out that way to the floor.

Rysta emerged pushing a man in front of her as the doors slammed shut behind her. She was glowing even brighter than she had been when she left, and her expression had gone from angry to livid. There was a sudden flash, and seven figures froze in place surrounded by a purple glow, five lords and two soldiers. Everyone stopped and looked at the sorceress and her captive, their eyes wide at Rysta’s demonstration of her power. She stood in the middle of the room, obviously waiting for direction.

Aardrin had been back-to-back with Calaen during the battle but now that everyone had stopped, he relaxed but didn’t sheath his sword as he gasped out, “Well, that was interesting. Are you all right, Your Majesty?” He turned to look at Calaen with concern.

The King rubbed his shoulder like it was still aching, “I’ll live. It still hurts a bit but there’s no other injury.” He scanned the crowd, “Do we know who did it?”

The healer took advantage of his superior height and scanned the dining room. He immediately spotted Rysta glowing with the restrained man in front of her. He also took note of the seven others who were glowing but not moving, “Looks like Rysta might have figured it out and identified the still living conspirators.” He looked with disgust at the men they had already dispatched as the captain was attempting to get everyone who could be moved out of the way so that the King could get a good sense of the situation.

Calaen, however, seemed more concerned about the princess huddled under the table, “Evaenia? Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

The Princess answered in a small voice, her eyes big and terrified as Calaen helped her out to stand next to him, “I’m fine, no injuries.”

“Captain!” As soon as the man turned toward Calaen’s bellow the King continued, “Have someone you trust take Princess Evaenia to safety, preferably to her rooms.”

The captain approached and bowed, “I will make sure she is guarded, but you will need to talk to Lady Eachen about letting her out, the doors are closed tight despite there being no locks on them.” There was an accusing look on the captain’s face, obviously not happy about this obvious show of power and blaming the king for this lack of control over the sorceress.

Calaen ignored the silent rebuke and looked toward Rysta, obviously still waiting. He took a deep breath, “Right. At least have someone trustworthy look after the princess while I sort this all out.” He started toward Rysta but was stopped by Aardrin’s large hand on his shoulder.

“Wait. Let me heal what you probably undid during the fight.” There was a faint green glow from the healer’s hand and Calaen sighed with relief as the pain disappeared. The Sword was useful, but Aardrin was better. “There you go. The sword did some of the work for me, but it’s completely healed now.”

“Thank you.” The King nodded, sheathed his sword, then walked carefully toward Rysta so that he didn’t trip or slip on the stone tiled floor that was now covered with blood, smeared food, and other remnants of the fight.

Calaen approached Rysta, his own anger starting to fade as he saw how furious she was. She also seemed very distracted by those she was holding captive, especially focused on the one that was kneeling in front of her. Truth be told she looked like she would like to murder the man then dance on his corpse.

“Lady Sorceress Rysta Eachen,” he said loudly as he bowed. He wanted to make sure to break through her distraction and get her attention fully on him, “We thank you and Lord Healer Aardrin Radbourne for saving our life again.”

Much to his relief the glow around her diminished and she seemed to be more aware of her surroundings. In one hand she had her wand, clenched in the other was a crossbow bolt, proof that the attempt was thwarted after the first shot. She curtsied, something he didn’t know she knew how to do, and then answered, “Your Majesty is quite welcome. I have identified the culprits that have not already been dealt with.” She motioned to the people surrounded by her glow, like she was directing them to approach. They walked toward the king and stood in an orderly line to the left of Calaen. “They await your judgment.”

One of them men, a Lord by the name of Rankin who was closest to Calaen spoke up, looking outraged at the accusation against him, “Your Majesty! The Sorceress is mistaken! We had nothing to do with this! I was your father’s most trusted advisor! I would do nothing . . .”

“SILENCE!” Calaen barked out angrily. “We trust the Lady Sorceress with our life and will not hear any disparaging of her abilities. If she believes you are responsible, then we must believe her.” He turned to the man on the ground who he realized was the one who shot at him, as evidenced by the crossbow that he still held. “But let us see what the assassin has to say.”

The man stayed where he was, looking down and not meeting Calaen’s eyes. The King looked at Rysta and noted that she was glaring at the man who had spoken, her eyes narrowed as the Lord in question simply smirked. Calaen cleared his throat to get her attention and when she looked at him, he allowed a brief smirk to appear on his face before he spoke, “Lady Sorceress? Do you know a spell that will loosen men’s tongues and have them tell the absolute truth?” He raised an eyebrow, hoping she’d understand what he was getting at and not take him literally.

At first, she looked confused, like she was trying to go through her list of spells and wasn’t finding anything that fit that description, then her face changed to one of comprehension and a decidedly evil grin appeared briefly as she answered him, “Why, yes, Your Majesty, but I’m afraid it’s not a very pleasant spell. It can be excruciating if someone continues to lie while it’s cast.” Her grin widened as Calaen nodded at her to continue, trying not to chuckle at her response, “I’ve even known grown men to cry like infants when under that particular spell. But, if that’s what you wish me to do, I’ll start with the assassin.”

Rysta’s hands started to glow in a threatening manner on both sides of the man’s face. Suddenly, the assassin was spilling his guts about who had hired him and what the plot was and how it was a sudden decision that occurred after King Ordell had died and how he wasn’t really a trained assassin, he had just been promised a great deal of money and land if he accomplished the goal of killing the newly crowned king.

The Lords were looking more and more nervous as the recitation continued, but one of the two traitor guards found himself free of Rysta’s spell due to her starting to become tired and focusing on the assassin. The man pulled a knife and ran quickly toward the sorceress as Calaen drew his sword to stop him.

Rysta, however, was still powerful enough and angry enough to turn her magic on her attacker. Before he even got close enough to see it coming, she moved her hand slightly and the man was hit with a full force blast that made him fly through the air, burning as he went, until he hit the wall and disintegrated into ash. Aardrin had run to finish him off but stopped when he realized there was no point.

There was a collective gasp of amazement at this obvious demonstration of Rysta's power, then an even louder silence as every witness went quiet, suddenly aware that they were in the presence of a very terrifying mage. Even the lords looked petrified and afraid for their lives.

Rysta’s voice echoed in the silent dining room, making the unsaid fear more palatable as her eyes glowed brightly, “Trust me when I say that much stronger people have tried to kill me with no success, and all of my power is at the disposal of King Calaen. My loyalty is to him; I will not allow any harm to come to him and will be ruthless with those who make any attempts on his life.”

She held up the crossbow bolt for everyone to see, then disintegrated it with her magic as she looked at the assembled traitors, “Just be thankful that His Majesty will probably not hand you over to me for punishment, if you confess your crimes and repent your actions.”

The threat caused four more of them, including the remaining guard, to confess and beg for mercy.

Background for Panel 3 by almudena-stock

Rysta and everyone else mentioned in here belong to me dragondoodle aka girl-n-herhorse

Description

's Session 16 Task 8 - Anger: What triggers your OC's temper? Draw them getting angry.

I always refer to Rysta as my Raeg Monster . . . so anger is very normal for her and I had a hard time deciding which moments to depict

The problem is that mages need to control their temper because their magic becomes stronger when they're angry, but it's the same type of thing as an adrenaline rush. Once the mage is no longer angry they'll probably pass out from magic overuse because the anger doesn't allow them to have any restraint or hold anything back. Usually, if Rysta is spell casting while angry she's in danger of draining herself to the point of unconsciousness if she doesn't hold back.

She passes out after the second two events.

Brace yourselves and blame MeganMosier for the info/text dump.

Panel one - This is right after Calaen is rescued and freed of his torque. He's mentally younger due to some memory problems due to the spell being broken so his reaction isn't quite normal Rysta's at the point where his behavior from before and now has finally made her reach her breaking point with his attitude.

*What is going on?* Aardrin’s mind voice was confused as his horse expression read the same.

*He thinks he’s 16! He doesn’t remember anything after that, it must be because I broke the spell on the torque, it mucked about with his memory!* Rysta responded. She then added out loud, “Your Highness, we need to get you to safety and to someone who can help with your lost memories.”

“Who would that be?” Calaen finally looked at her, although his expression was suspicious.

“Wizard-Healer Tiernan.” Rysta responded, hoping the name would maybe stir something in the Raghnall part of the prince.

“He’s real?”

Rysta was so stunned by the question that she couldn’t seem to get words to form.

Yokov took over from her, “Yes. He is very real and very much wishing to meet Your Highness and help you in any way possible to regain what you have lost. Would you please join us? We will be camping soon, but in a more secluded place near water, and it would be nice to get there before the moon goes down.” He bowed respectfully to the prince. “You may ride with me or with the Lady Sorceress, your choice.”

Calaen frowned. “I don’t believe you’re taking me to a Wizard, nor do I believe that this little peasant is a Sorceress. How do I know you’re not kidnappers trying to get ransom from my father?”

“Listen, you stuck up, over sexed, spoiled brat . . .” Rysta snarled at him, grabbing her wand tightly like she was about to unsheathe it.

*No!*

“Do not . . .”

She didn’t listen to either of them as she pulled her wand out and pointed it at the prince, “ . . . we’re taking you to Tiernan, cooperative or not. I suggest you be cooperative.” A bright purple glow enveloped her and she looked fiercely at the prince who took a step back from her in surprise. “Mount up and let’s get going!”

Calaen stared at the glowing woman and then responded, “I’ll ride with you, Westerner.”

“My name is Yokov.”

“Yokov, I will ride with you.” He kept an eye on Rysta the whole time he got mounted up on Snorer, like he didn’t trust her not to blast him.

Panel 2 - They're on their way back to Iolanthe's. Calaen is still recovering from nearly getting killed by Shok'Artel so he's unable to put up any sort of fight. They come across some of the High King's Soldiers and one of them makes some suggestions that really makes Rysta furious. This is the result, although a bit of it is due to Eriantielle's influence.

“We have been ordered to search all travelers on this road. Do you have any papers of identification?” The man glared at Aardrin, annoyed at having to talk so close to the side of the road.

“Nah, sirra, jest gettin’ home from tradin’. Had t’use all m’money buyin’ this stubborn beast t’git home after th’horse changed t’human.” Aardrin grumbled in an annoyed accent he’d learned from Rysta.

“If y’please, sir. M’brother’s sick an’ we need t’git home, unless y’know where a healer is located?” Rysta added, looking as pathetic and concerned as she could manage and trying to firmly bury the urge to blast through the men now blocking their way to Iolanthe’s.

Calaen made sure to groan in pain to make Rysta’s story more believable, lying on the bottom of the cart like he was in extreme discomfort.

“Is that right, little lady?” The commander leered at Rysta. “Perhaps you’d be willing to stay behind while your family turns around and heads back down the road toward Rydrean, I’ve heard they’ve got a healer there.”

“Do they now, didn’ know that.” Aardrin tried not to show his skepticism at this statement since he knew better. Guess they weren’t the only ones lying through their teeth in this situation. “If it’s all th’same t’ya, we’ll jest keep goin’ th’direction we’re headed.”

“Not without payment you won’t.” The man sneered. “So, pay up, and leave the female here as well.”

Aardrin looked back at Rysta, she seemed to be fighting off anger with little success. “I dun think so.” He quickly pulled the ox around, not worrying if the beast’s horns hit any of the soldiers, not willing to let that look on Rysta’s face become action. Any magical action on her part would make it impossible for them to keep a low profile. He wanted the ox to move faster than a slow lope, suddenly wishing he was a horse again so he could pull the thing himself.

“HEY! Get back here!” Orders were barked to give chase and bows and arrows made an appearance.

Calaen watched from under his hood, wondering if he was capable of fighting anyone off in his condition. Rysta’s purple glow was his only warning that something was about to happen, then there was a massive explosion and screams of pain and anguish coming from behind them as the cart amazingly sped up.

“Rysta! Stop!” Aardrin yelled out. “They’re not going to follow us now!”

Calaen sat up to see what was happening. Rysta was standing up in the back of the cart, glowing brightly and looking livid. Bolts of power were shooting out of her hands and hitting the soldiers, leaving a mass of smoldering men in their wake.

“No, they aren’t!” She asserted, her voice sounding deeper than normal. Then the very road seemed to rise up against their pursuers, breaking and cracking and leaving a wide and deep rock ditch as the remaining rocks flew toward the military men. There was more screaming and a full-blown retreat as Aardrin continued to urge the ox to run as fast as it could.

She looked about to do more when Calaen grabbed her hand, “Stop. Please. They can’t get to us now.”

Rysta glared down at him, then whatever it was that had seized her vanished, “Calaen? What?”

“Sit before you fall.” He requested quietly. “We’re safe for now.”

“Oh. All right.” She sat down carefully and then slumped like she’d passed out.

“Aardrin!” Calaen shifted toward her to make sure she hadn’t hurt herself.

“I’ll stop when the ox decides to stop! The noise scared the beast so bad it’s not stopping anytime soon!” Aardrin yelled back. “Just make sure she’s not bleeding anywhere and make her comfortable, that was a huge surge of magic that probably wiped her out.”

Calaen pulled the unconscious sorceress toward him, wondering what had made her do something so violent. “What now Aardrin? We can’t go back that way, even if it weren’t for the troops!”

“I’ve got an idea, but the road is going to take us a very long way out of our way. I think there’s another road east, but we have to go west and then south a bit.” Aardrin answered, trying not to fall off the cart after hitting a rather large bump. “Hang on back there, the road isn’t exactly designed for fast moving carts.”

Panel 3 - This happens in Doumerlas, right after Calaen becomes King. There is an assassination attempt that is stopped by Rysta and Aardrin, but the result is Rysta absolutely losing it because someone tried to kill Calaen (whom she's in love with at this point but isn't admitting it). If there's one thing that can make Rysta lose her temper beyond measure, it's someone trying to harm anyone she loves. Cameo by Captain Pyrs, from OC Training session 9 - www.deviantart.com/dragondoodl…

The captain stopped next to the sorceress, trying to decide how to proceed. On the one hand he had no trust in mages, on the other, this one obviously wanted to protect their new King. He was about to say something when she interrupted.

“Captain. Hand me that bolt on the ground.” Her voice was far more fearsome than he remembered from before and he decided to obey her for the time being.

“Certainly, Lady Sorceress. What are you needing it for?” He picked it up and handed it to her.

She nodded in thanks and met his eyes as she took the bolt and held it tightly. Her eyes were glowing much like the shield she had put up and the captain was stunned by the power it implied. “I’m going to use it to find the attempted assassin. Let no one leave until I get back, because I’m also going to find out who hired him.” She bared her teeth like a feral canine, “No one tries to kill His Majesty while I’m around.”

The captain stepped back a pace, hoping she didn’t suspect him of such a thing, “You can trust me.”

“I hope so. You swore your loyalty to His Majesty.” She snarled at him, her eyes glowing even brighter, “If you break that vow you have much more to fear from me than from him.”

He gave her more space, remembering why he didn’t trust mages, and watched as she used her dagger-like wand to quickly cut off the long sleeves of her gown and a good chunk of her skirts. The action only took a few seconds and then she was speeding out the entrance to the dining room and toward the stairs to the second level. He ran after her, not wanting to let her out of his sight, trusting his men to keep His Majesty safe as he kept a close eye on the sorceress. He could have sworn he heard her mutter something like “Gotcha, you’re mine.”, as she ran but he couldn’t be sure. She was remarkably fast.

She must have noticed that he was following and turned, “Captain! Look to His Majesty! He needs your help more than I need you following me!”

He stopped and looked behind him, seeing to his horror that the Lord Healer and His Majesty were fighting off attackers, some of them his own men! The Princess was in between the two men, being protected by them as they defended themselves. The captain snarled, turning with his sword drawn, realizing where his priority was at the moment. “Fine. Be careful, Lady Sorceress.”

There was no answer but her quick footsteps up the stairs. He ran back into the dining room and the doors slammed loudly behind him. The noise briefly startled him, but he was more focused on keeping his king alive than why the doors would have closed so violently without his touching them.

Rysta gripped the crossbow bolt tightly as she ran, following the red trail her magic wound around, tying the bolt to the shooter. She finally spotted the man about to attempt to leap out a window. She growled under her breath and grabbed him with her magic and pulled him back through the window and to the ground violently.

The man turned to see what happened and then stopped in shock and fear at what was facing him, the reflection of Rysta’s purple magic showing in his own eyes.

The assassin tried to scoot away but she held him still with her magic as she leaned down and menacingly announced, “Be very grateful that I’m going to let His Majesty decide what to do with you. If I had my way, I’d disintegrate you from the inside out as slowly and painfully as possible. You best pray to The Gods that he’s still alive.”

********

The captain looked up toward the stairs as everything had gotten sorted out. They had managed to either kill or restrain those of his men who had betrayed them. The King was no longer bleeding, the bolt had been removed and he was healed. Luckily, the kitchen staff and servants were all on the side of the new king and had made things difficult for those trying to help the attackers. Food, serving plates, and bowls once full of hot soup were littering the floor. The doors that the Lady Sorceress had taken were unopenable, as were the other means of escape. The only unlocked door was through the kitchen but he kitchen staff wasn’t allowing anyone to go out that way. About half of the people still in the room had given up trying to escape and sat back down to see what might happen when the door to the stairs burst open in a magical blast that knocked all of those attempting to go out that way to the floor.

Rysta emerged pushing a man in front of her as the doors slammed shut behind her. She was glowing even brighter than she had been when she left, and her expression had gone from angry to livid. There was a sudden flash, and seven figures froze in place surrounded by a purple glow, five lords and two soldiers. Everyone stopped and looked at the sorceress and her captive, their eyes wide at Rysta’s demonstration of her power. She stood in the middle of the room, obviously waiting for direction.

Aardrin had been back-to-back with Calaen during the battle but now that everyone had stopped, he relaxed but didn’t sheath his sword as he gasped out, “Well, that was interesting. Are you all right, Your Majesty?” He turned to look at Calaen with concern.

The King rubbed his shoulder like it was still aching, “I’ll live. It still hurts a bit but there’s no other injury.” He scanned the crowd, “Do we know who did it?”

The healer took advantage of his superior height and scanned the dining room. He immediately spotted Rysta glowing with the restrained man in front of her. He also took note of the seven others who were glowing but not moving, “Looks like Rysta might have figured it out and identified the still living conspirators.” He looked with disgust at the men they had already dispatched as the captain was attempting to get everyone who could be moved out of the way so that the King could get a good sense of the situation.

Calaen, however, seemed more concerned about the princess huddled under the table, “Evaenia? Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

The Princess answered in a small voice, her eyes big and terrified as Calaen helped her out to stand next to him, “I’m fine, no injuries.”

“Captain!” As soon as the man turned toward Calaen’s bellow the King continued, “Have someone you trust take Princess Evaenia to safety, preferably to her rooms.”

The captain approached and bowed, “I will make sure she is guarded, but you will need to talk to Lady Eachen about letting her out, the doors are closed tight despite there being no locks on them.” There was an accusing look on the captain’s face, obviously not happy about this obvious show of power and blaming the king for this lack of control over the sorceress.

Calaen ignored the silent rebuke and looked toward Rysta, obviously still waiting. He took a deep breath, “Right. At least have someone trustworthy look after the princess while I sort this all out.” He started toward Rysta but was stopped by Aardrin’s large hand on his shoulder.

“Wait. Let me heal what you probably undid during the fight.” There was a faint green glow from the healer’s hand and Calaen sighed with relief as the pain disappeared. The Sword was useful, but Aardrin was better. “There you go. The sword did some of the work for me, but it’s completely healed now.”

“Thank you.” The King nodded, sheathed his sword, then walked carefully toward Rysta so that he didn’t trip or slip on the stone tiled floor that was now covered with blood, smeared food, and other remnants of the fight.

Calaen approached Rysta, his own anger starting to fade as he saw how furious she was. She also seemed very distracted by those she was holding captive, especially focused on the one that was kneeling in front of her. Truth be told she looked like she would like to murder the man then dance on his corpse.

“Lady Sorceress Rysta Eachen,” he said loudly as he bowed. He wanted to make sure to break through her distraction and get her attention fully on him, “We thank you and Lord Healer Aardrin Radbourne for saving our life again.”

Much to his relief the glow around her diminished and she seemed to be more aware of her surroundings. In one hand she had her wand, clenched in the other was a crossbow bolt, proof that the attempt was thwarted after the first shot. She curtsied, something he didn’t know she knew how to do, and then answered, “Your Majesty is quite welcome. I have identified the culprits that have not already been dealt with.” She motioned to the people surrounded by her glow, like she was directing them to approach. They walked toward the king and stood in an orderly line to the left of Calaen. “They await your judgment.”

One of them men, a Lord by the name of Rankin who was closest to Calaen spoke up, looking outraged at the accusation against him, “Your Majesty! The Sorceress is mistaken! We had nothing to do with this! I was your father’s most trusted advisor! I would do nothing . . .”

“SILENCE!” Calaen barked out angrily. “We trust the Lady Sorceress with our life and will not hear any disparaging of her abilities. If she believes you are responsible, then we must believe her.” He turned to the man on the ground who he realized was the one who shot at him, as evidenced by the crossbow that he still held. “But let us see what the assassin has to say.”

The man stayed where he was, looking down and not meeting Calaen’s eyes. The King looked at Rysta and noted that she was glaring at the man who had spoken, her eyes narrowed as the Lord in question simply smirked. Calaen cleared his throat to get her attention and when she looked at him, he allowed a brief smirk to appear on his face before he spoke, “Lady Sorceress? Do you know a spell that will loosen men’s tongues and have them tell the absolute truth?” He raised an eyebrow, hoping she’d understand what he was getting at and not take him literally.

At first, she looked confused, like she was trying to go through her list of spells and wasn’t finding anything that fit that description, then her face changed to one of comprehension and a decidedly evil grin appeared briefly as she answered him, “Why, yes, Your Majesty, but I’m afraid it’s not a very pleasant spell. It can be excruciating if someone continues to lie while it’s cast.” Her grin widened as Calaen nodded at her to continue, trying not to chuckle at her response, “I’ve even known grown men to cry like infants when under that particular spell. But, if that’s what you wish me to do, I’ll start with the assassin.”

Rysta’s hands started to glow in a threatening manner on both sides of the man’s face. Suddenly, the assassin was spilling his guts about who had hired him and what the plot was and how it was a sudden decision that occurred after King Ordell had died and how he wasn’t really a trained assassin, he had just been promised a great deal of money and land if he accomplished the goal of killing the newly crowned king.

The Lords were looking more and more nervous as the recitation continued, but one of the two traitor guards found himself free of Rysta’s spell due to her starting to become tired and focusing on the assassin. The man pulled a knife and ran quickly toward the sorceress as Calaen drew his sword to stop him.

Rysta, however, was still powerful enough and angry enough to turn her magic on her attacker. Before he even got close enough to see it coming, she moved her hand slightly and the man was hit with a full force blast that made him fly through the air, burning as he went, until he hit the wall and disintegrated into ash. Aardrin had run to finish him off but stopped when he realized there was no point.

There was a collective gasp of amazement at this obvious demonstration of Rysta's power, then an even louder silence as every witness went quiet, suddenly aware that they were in the presence of a very terrifying mage. Even the lords looked petrified and afraid for their lives.

Rysta’s voice echoed in the silent dining room, making the unsaid fear more palatable as her eyes glowed brightly, “Trust me when I say that much stronger people have tried to kill me with no success, and all of my power is at the disposal of King Calaen. My loyalty is to him; I will not allow any harm to come to him and will be ruthless with those who make any attempts on his life.”

She held up the crossbow bolt for everyone to see, then disintegrated it with her magic as she looked at the assembled traitors, “Just be thankful that His Majesty will probably not hand you over to me for punishment, if you confess your crimes and repent your actions.”

The threat caused four more of them, including the remaining guard, to confess and beg for mercy.

Background for Panel 3 by almudena-stock

Rysta and everyone else mentioned in here belong to me dragondoodle aka girl-n-herhorse