Seed of War

g of the Spri

were warded against magic and had a row of iron bars serving as a door. Rhanes heard the sound of Mad Melvin being drug to isolation again. Rhanes

ay. There was 50 days in a span, 2 spans in a season, 4 seasons in a year which resulted in a four-hundred-day

tempting an escape to only drown in the waste. To today, Rhanes would clean, eat, and sleep. He glanced at the privy hole. The hole led directly to a lake of shi

guards here were of two breeds, those who harmed and those who helped. Once

c. This caused the iron collar, shackl

he guard gr

please have a bucket of water

toward his bars, careful not to touch them, "I'll tell you more about Naysel." Soon Stevens returned with a bucket

een Naysel." Stevens spoke his skepticism

eared startled, "Of cours

but you can

be ever so kind to remove my chains, an

with a shake of his head, "You'd

now they'd shove you in here with me, but then y

oner is acting like he doesn't have

se footsteps - but he knew why. Tybalt had masked the sound with

he man, "I was about to tell the guard more about Naysel.

The Constable was beside himself, startled at the sudden appearance of the H

aims he doesn't bel

ybalt leaned in, eyes on Rhanes. The Duke i

ander?" Steve

o Rhanes, "He is from Naysel. He le

agreement, "Somet

tected by the dome. Nothing goe

untouched. That's how we get those pigeons from there on rare occasion. Th

cted Tybalt, "No one enters, but

r, "I trust his knowledge of it.

his scrubbing, "This is the 'Harbinger of War'. The strongest Battle Mage the Council's Army ever knew. The strongest magi

He is bitter that I am in here." Rhanes watched

een locked in magical security, but had not once been an ounce of trouble. Stevens knew the justice s

mistaken. I am beyond bitter. I am s

he situation was funny. Before Tybalt could argue further, Rhanes conso

scoffed. Rhanes watched his

gh Commander recall

and authority could not make his friend move. Tybalt knocked once on the iron bars with his go

ered. He didn't await confirmation and began, "The thing about Naysel, is that

at led to them. Rhanes told them of the people, customs, history, and eventually about the dome. It was called "Zalis' Promise'. Centuries ago, Zalis swore to the citizens that he would protect them, but at a cost. The world was in chaos with war, famine, and disease

ge then projected about them hanging visions of the people. Happy, harmonious, and civilized. No mage, not even one as skilled as Rhanes, could fabricate such visions. Stevens, understood, Rhanes had t

d you eve

ady, so Tybalt explained, "He h

e reassured Stevens, gesturing to his own cell, "This

here, and literally can leave any time he wants. The bars, the sha

tell him about Birthda

ed in my private chambers to wish me a happy birthday. He promised to

your s

tea, and came back." Rhanes and Tybalt watched each other before the Commander ins

ile. Double slop was still double. He tried

ve as silently as he came, "Aradelle says hello." The H

r, stood there unsure what to do. Soon Rhanes settled on the pile of rags s

erged into the busy courtyard as the masses celebrated the spring equinox. Stevens paused at each visage of the gods, as he always had done, but for the first t

flash of light. They left fresh blisters and marks on the man's skin. Soon, all the iron vanished. Every chain, key, lock, hinge, rivet, or screw simply vanished. Each guard, then each prisoner vanished. The Inquisitors and their racks vanished. Even the rats van

his open cell. Rhanes was moved to a stone on stone cell, and could not fathom where he was when he woke much later. He knew Tyba

cleared his throat and informed his dear friend finally, "So you understand why The Council requests

meant he would have to face the Artifact during The Selection. Rhanes also knew it would vaporize him in a moment

n garb, with marks burned into his skin. Rhanes sat, with the other