Mage's Spire

[thatcynicalguy]

((pic of spire images.uesp.net/0/0e/OB-place-Frostcrag_Planets.jpg

Inao: fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/071/c/8/c858da0ecbc3d439395cce16fb4756a7.jpg ))

The Mage's Spire always had an ominous blue glow within it's rooms. It housed the Castle Mage, Inao and her apprentice. It was odd that she had one at such an early age, but no one decided to bring it up. It had many levels; it contained many books stacked upon each other, altars used to create many things in their own place, the middle floor contained a marble portal on the floor. There was a garden for rare ingredients, a watchtower, two bedrooms. In the main room was an alchemy table, a cauldron and a still. There was also candles all over the place.

Most of these were buzzing with excitement, as a lone female mage worked with the still, bubbling and hissing noises and glows of different colors where heard and seen. But this was just another day studying for young Apprentice avian Amity, as she watched the day go by from the watch tower. "Nnnnnghyaaah!" She stretched and yawned, her wings in sync with her arms. "Amity! Come down here, you lazy avian! You're supposed to be learning this!." "Aw come on Aunty Inao! I've nothing to do tonight, why can't I learn it then?" Inao huffed an angry huff. "Impossible child." She muttered and continued her work.

Amity sighed, her cheek resting on her hand as she sat crossed legged watching day grind along slowly. "What I'd do for a little excitement..." It was then that a dragon flew over Amitys' head. The roar of sudden wind couldn't muffle Amity when suddenly frightened "YEEEEEEEEK!!!" She squealed, her feathered wings ruffled. Inao span around and looked up "Amity What? What happened?" "A bi- a big d-d-d-dragon flew right above me!" "Well, where is it now." Inao called to her again, now gathering their staffs.

"It's, oh no! It's entering the Queens Chambers!" "Come, child were away." Amity headed down and grabbed her staff from her Aunt. "Remember, you are not trained with this yet, so don't use it unless you are pressed to, understood." "Yes, Auntie. Shouldn't we hurry." "Only a little, the Queen is still powerful enough to protect herself." They left for the queens room.

((The Spire is somewhat connected to Astri's tower))

[thatcynicalguy]

"Rial must have been behind this, the overzealous idiot." Inao hissed as she returned to the spires aura and domain. She is a powerful and well educated mage, Rial is a politician to say the least. Guess which Inao believed the Queen should let be lead blindly by. "The kingdom on brink of war, and he's got us chasing our own tails. No matter, my orders are clear. But yours, my child, I give to you here." "What do you need, Aunt Inao?" Amity was more than happy to be at her aunts beck and call. She was preachy now and then, but when she asks Amity of a task not brought to her by those higher up, it was always an interesting task, and that pleased the avian to no end.

"You must intercept this message for me. It is unwise to shut ourselves out of the world around us, even if The Queen insists. I must know the news from the fire kingdom." Amity understood, but was a little worried. "That could be dangerous. I'll just have to be quick and inconspicuous about it." "Very much so. Best you wait for the safest opportunity to talk to the messenger. Tell him that the castle mage is his best bet thus far for a point of contact. Hurry child." She took the staff from the avian and gestured her to the window.

Amity grabbed a bag to sling over her shoulder, and leapt out the window with great faith. After free falling for a while her graceful wings folded open, and she glided about the castle before making a b-line to the kingdom's entrance.

[thatcynicalguy]

"Me? deliver messages to the King of Fire?" Amity was stammering. The Fire Kingdom messengers looked ruthless and scary, she could only imagine what their king would be like. Her master huffed at the girls hesitance, while scouring the spire for things for Amity's trip. "Everyone else is on Rial's payroll, you are the only one who can carry out my deeds, no matter what it is. It is important to at the least keep the fire nation from turning or a war is inevitable."

Amity had very rarely been to the outside world, it was only there in the watchtower of the spire that she saw the world roll on from her reach. It was her birdcage, and had been longing to be let out now and then since she came to her aunt on her first birthday. But now as a task loomed, her birdcage felt more like a sanctuary. "I haven't been that far away from home on my own before." She admitted as she looked towards her path from the window. Finally Inao took hold of Amity's staff. "Which is why your going to need this." Amity looks over and gasps. "Really? I can use it? Aw mah Gawds, Aunt!" "Yes, pity you don't know how to use it though, which is why I packed you a jar. When you think your ready to learn, open it. Be forewarned, once you open it you cannot trap it again, and if your like me, you'll wish you could."

This seemingly ominous threat bugged Amity a little but had no time to question as Rial knocked on the door. "Castle mage, are you free?" Amity needed no instructions to hide as she shot up to the watchtower, Rial's far too seedy for her taste. Inao calmly opens the door. "Pardon the intrusion, colleague, but it's sounds as if your sending your apprentice somewhere far. That's never happened before." "Yes, well I have tasks need done here and elsewhere, what with the Queen still incapacitated. This one task sends me further than can comfortably go, so I'm sending her instead." "I see. Anyhow, the Queen has decided that she will meet the next messenger personally. I believe you'd best be aware of that."

When he left, Inao was silent for a while. *That was important information to tell me. He's either careless, or feels to be in the right position to be lenient...* "Amity, you're going to have to walk..." "What?! Oi..." Amity slumped.