Original Post: https://forums.wotmud.info/viewtopic.ph ... as#p106512
A myrddraal strides into the room, dragging a man in a black coat pinned with a silver sword. The myrddraal roughly casts the man into the center of the room before disappearing back into the shadows.
The Asha’man looks around the room at his captors and says, ‘Make it quick, I have nothing left to give you.’
A tall, broad shouldered man steps toward his captive looking him over and gauging his resolve.
Ishamael says, ‘That is where you are wrong, there is so much more for you to give.’
Thirteen myrddraal materialize from the shadows and stand alongside the men and woman in the room.
Ishamael nods slightly and says, ‘It is time.’ as the thirteen dreadlords begin channeling saidar and saidan.
The Asha’man’s eyes go wide in terror before he slumps over.
Ishamael lifts the man’s chin and says, ‘Just as you served Saniago, you now serve the Great Lord.’
Ishamael draws his dagger and opens the man’s mouth. With a quick motion, he scrapes blood and saliva from the man’s inner cheek and deposits the fluids into a cour'souvra.
Ishamael lightly taps the crystal, saying, ‘And this ensures you will obey me.’
Ishamael says, ‘You will now be known as Lokras and your first task will be energizing the hunters and warriors of the horde.’
Shadows Across the Pattern (Ongoing)
Chains of the Shadow
Original Post: https://forums.wotmud.info/viewtopic.ph ... as#p107008
There was a bright flash of light and she immediately threw herself face down on the floor.
A man dressed in black stepped through the gateway, his blue eyes quickly surveying the room.
“G-g-g-great M-m-master, how can I serve?” she managed out in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Suddenly she was upright again, hanging in midair, limbs stretched to the point of being pulled from their sockets.
His piercing blue eyes looked her over as he asked, “Did you think you could hide your failure from me?”
Words came in a rush for her. “Naron is dead. We are discovered in Tear. I did not want to risk- “
She screamed in agony as her right arm snapped at an unnatural angle.
“Continue with your task and do not fail me again.” he spoke sternly as he turned back towards the gateway.
She felt her body flying backwards as she crashed against the wall. The gateway flashing out of existence was the last thing she saw before losing consciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ishamael stepped through the gateway into the citadel and immediately making his way to the vacuole.
“Lokras!” he said speaking as he entered. “The Black Ajah and their darkfriends have failed. It is time for a new tact.”
The new dreadlord nodded and simply saying, “Yes, Master, command me.”
“Send the horde”, Ishamael spoke his voice tinged with fury, “They will cause more chaos and destruction then a few pitiful friends of the dark.”
Ishamael turned and left as quickly as he arrived, returning to his den to contemplate the situation in the southwest.
There was a bright flash of light and she immediately threw herself face down on the floor.
A man dressed in black stepped through the gateway, his blue eyes quickly surveying the room.
“G-g-g-great M-m-master, how can I serve?” she managed out in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Suddenly she was upright again, hanging in midair, limbs stretched to the point of being pulled from their sockets.
His piercing blue eyes looked her over as he asked, “Did you think you could hide your failure from me?”
Words came in a rush for her. “Naron is dead. We are discovered in Tear. I did not want to risk- “
She screamed in agony as her right arm snapped at an unnatural angle.
“Continue with your task and do not fail me again.” he spoke sternly as he turned back towards the gateway.
She felt her body flying backwards as she crashed against the wall. The gateway flashing out of existence was the last thing she saw before losing consciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ishamael stepped through the gateway into the citadel and immediately making his way to the vacuole.
“Lokras!” he said speaking as he entered. “The Black Ajah and their darkfriends have failed. It is time for a new tact.”
The new dreadlord nodded and simply saying, “Yes, Master, command me.”
“Send the horde”, Ishamael spoke his voice tinged with fury, “They will cause more chaos and destruction then a few pitiful friends of the dark.”
Ishamael turned and left as quickly as he arrived, returning to his den to contemplate the situation in the southwest.
Shadows Across the Plains
Original Post: https://forums.wotmud.info/viewtopic.ph ... as#p112586
Lokras stood waiting in the Vacoule, it was unlikely the trollocs would return from their task. The Sharan wilderness was treacherous and killing an Ayyad was a feat they were unlikely to accomplish. He would need to send another contingent if they failed in this task. His gateway to Mayene yielded little beyond a few slain bridgeguards and scouts. It was time to redirect their focus but first he needed an obsidian rod an Ayyad sometimes carried. The rod would extend his range in opening the gateway and bolster his strength to keep it open for longer periods. Maybe it was time to summon another fist of trollocs to the vacuole.
The gateway shimmered slightly, and a muffled snarling echoed in the Vacoule. Battered and bloodied a Dha’vol trolloc stepped through the gateway followed slowly by the rest of the fist. The lead trolloc held out a short rod of black stone. Lokras took the offering, staggering slightly as he struggled to control the surge of Saidin. The nearby gateway flared brightly and suddenly vanished with a loud *CRACK*.
Ishamael strode in from the north. He spoke briskly in Lokras’ direction, “I see you found the angreal, it is time to put it to use.” Ishamael glanced at the fist of trollocs standing nearby. He gestured in their direction, saying “Send them to Ghealdan and Murandy. They will find more targets than they did near Mayene.”
Lokras nodded and spoke quietly, “Master, the Ko’bal succeeded in their task as well.”
“Very well, tell your fade to allow their return passage to Thakan’dar”, Ishamael said speaking as he turned walking back to the citadel.
Lokras clenched the black stone and focused intently. The air shimmered and a bright gateway opened to the plains of Altara.
Lokras stood waiting in the Vacoule, it was unlikely the trollocs would return from their task. The Sharan wilderness was treacherous and killing an Ayyad was a feat they were unlikely to accomplish. He would need to send another contingent if they failed in this task. His gateway to Mayene yielded little beyond a few slain bridgeguards and scouts. It was time to redirect their focus but first he needed an obsidian rod an Ayyad sometimes carried. The rod would extend his range in opening the gateway and bolster his strength to keep it open for longer periods. Maybe it was time to summon another fist of trollocs to the vacuole.
The gateway shimmered slightly, and a muffled snarling echoed in the Vacoule. Battered and bloodied a Dha’vol trolloc stepped through the gateway followed slowly by the rest of the fist. The lead trolloc held out a short rod of black stone. Lokras took the offering, staggering slightly as he struggled to control the surge of Saidin. The nearby gateway flared brightly and suddenly vanished with a loud *CRACK*.
Ishamael strode in from the north. He spoke briskly in Lokras’ direction, “I see you found the angreal, it is time to put it to use.” Ishamael glanced at the fist of trollocs standing nearby. He gestured in their direction, saying “Send them to Ghealdan and Murandy. They will find more targets than they did near Mayene.”
Lokras nodded and spoke quietly, “Master, the Ko’bal succeeded in their task as well.”
“Very well, tell your fade to allow their return passage to Thakan’dar”, Ishamael said speaking as he turned walking back to the citadel.
Lokras clenched the black stone and focused intently. The air shimmered and a bright gateway opened to the plains of Altara.
Threads of Chaos
Original Post: https://forums.wotmud.info/viewtopic.ph ... as#p141992
A raven flew into the den with a fresh report, Lokras had failed in his task. Ishamael glowered, little progress was made in Mayene, Altara was barely successful, and now this a defeat on the Dark Road itself. He quickly rose and strode into the Vacoule. His gaze fixed on the bloodied dreadlord.
‘You have been nothing but a failure’, he seethed at Lokras.
The dreadlords eyes widened as Ishamael removed a cour’sourvra.
‘You would make a useless puppet,’ Ishamael began as he tapped the cour’sourva, ‘But sending you into madness likely will sow chaos in the southlands’
Ishamael whistled loudly.
A guttural snarl echoed through the Vacoule as a deranged trolloc warrior shambled in.
Ishamael dropped the cour’sourvra into a mangled paw of the trolloc, turned and quickly left the Vacoule.
The trolloc looked at the object briefly before clenching its fist, bending the golden wire and crushing the small crystal.
Lokras eyes went blank and he slumped over briefly.
Slowly he lifted his head, his proud glare replaced with a wild eyed look and a twisted snarl.
He began shouting nonsensical gibberish, pulling madly at his hair and tearing his clothes.
He paused as he regained his senses in a moment of clarity.
A bright portal suddenly opened up and Lokras raced through, shouting loudly as he disappeared in a blink.
A raven flew into the den with a fresh report, Lokras had failed in his task. Ishamael glowered, little progress was made in Mayene, Altara was barely successful, and now this a defeat on the Dark Road itself. He quickly rose and strode into the Vacoule. His gaze fixed on the bloodied dreadlord.
‘You have been nothing but a failure’, he seethed at Lokras.
The dreadlords eyes widened as Ishamael removed a cour’sourvra.
‘You would make a useless puppet,’ Ishamael began as he tapped the cour’sourva, ‘But sending you into madness likely will sow chaos in the southlands’
Ishamael whistled loudly.
A guttural snarl echoed through the Vacoule as a deranged trolloc warrior shambled in.
Ishamael dropped the cour’sourvra into a mangled paw of the trolloc, turned and quickly left the Vacoule.
The trolloc looked at the object briefly before clenching its fist, bending the golden wire and crushing the small crystal.
Lokras eyes went blank and he slumped over briefly.
Slowly he lifted his head, his proud glare replaced with a wild eyed look and a twisted snarl.
He began shouting nonsensical gibberish, pulling madly at his hair and tearing his clothes.
He paused as he regained his senses in a moment of clarity.
A bright portal suddenly opened up and Lokras raced through, shouting loudly as he disappeared in a blink.
Whispers in Tel'aran'rhiod
Amys woke with a start and considered what she’d seen: few entered Tel'aran'rhiod intentionally and almost none in the flesh. It troubled her to see this man again but the more pressing matter was the shift in his demeanor. Only days ago, she’d spied the same man on a dusty road moving purposefully, as if tracking an animal or foe. Now he shambled about, wildly swinging a tainted weapon with no regard for where it might land. Had the taint taken him so quickly that he could no longer distinguish between the real and dream worlds? She needed to alert the other Wise Ones, for a new danger lurked in in the World of Dreams. She escaped like a whisper through her tent flaps on her way to find Sorilea.
Reclaiming a Relic
Mitsuo sat admiring the guilds new prize, the legendary sword of Kirukan. The merchant had done well to recover it and more than deserved his promotion to master trader. He turned the blade over in his hands and grasped at the hilt. The balance felt a bit off and the sword looked worn, perhaps the master blacksmith would be able to address. He sat waiting wondering when the smith would arrive to examine the blade.
Suddenly, the greatdoor shook with a loud bang and crack of splintering wood. The guardsman jumped to their feet drawing their blades. Another strike followed as the doors buckled from the impact. The guards quickly rushed to brace the door, trolloc assaults were not uncommon in this area and they were more than prepared to defend. Mistuo was not worried, the Kandori Red Horse would arrive soon and the trollocs would be dealt with.
The room went silent again, the assault on the door had stopped. Mitsuo looked at his secretary and shrugged, it was nothing more than a weak attempt to breach the guild hall.
“Check the warehouse!” Mitsuo shouted to his secretary. This assault felt too easy, maybe they had shifted their focus to breaching a wall. The secretary rushed off to check the Guild’s stores.
A guardsman standing by the door yelped in surprise. “The door is burning!” he yelled out in alarm stepping back from the door.
The elaborate metal handles soon began glowing a bright red and quickly fell to the ground with a loud thunk. The guardsman readied themselves preparing for the continued assault. Mitsuo shouted back to his secretary, “Bring all the guards! The door is being breached!”
A detachment of guards rushed back into the room and surrounded the guild leader. The hammering of metal on wood began again. Where was the Red Horse? thought Mitsuo.
Without warning, the doors were split by a powerful force with smoke and debris filling the guildhall. A hurricane force burst of air buffeted the guards as they were pelted with debris.
A man dressed in black followed by a snarling trolloc stepped through the smoke. His eyes fixated on the sword. The man and trolloc growled in unison as the guards tensed preparing to attack. The man raised his hand, turning the air to fire and sending a torrent of flame through the guildhall. Screams echoed around the hall as the guardsman were burnt to ash.
Mitsuo struggled to move, frozen in fear by the carnage that surrounded him. The trolloc rushed forward bashing Mitsuo to the ground. Mitsuo watched powerlessly as the man picked up the sword and began cackling. The trolloc grunted and the pair left the hall as quickly as they had appeared.
Suddenly, the greatdoor shook with a loud bang and crack of splintering wood. The guardsman jumped to their feet drawing their blades. Another strike followed as the doors buckled from the impact. The guards quickly rushed to brace the door, trolloc assaults were not uncommon in this area and they were more than prepared to defend. Mistuo was not worried, the Kandori Red Horse would arrive soon and the trollocs would be dealt with.
The room went silent again, the assault on the door had stopped. Mitsuo looked at his secretary and shrugged, it was nothing more than a weak attempt to breach the guild hall.
“Check the warehouse!” Mitsuo shouted to his secretary. This assault felt too easy, maybe they had shifted their focus to breaching a wall. The secretary rushed off to check the Guild’s stores.
A guardsman standing by the door yelped in surprise. “The door is burning!” he yelled out in alarm stepping back from the door.
The elaborate metal handles soon began glowing a bright red and quickly fell to the ground with a loud thunk. The guardsman readied themselves preparing for the continued assault. Mitsuo shouted back to his secretary, “Bring all the guards! The door is being breached!”
A detachment of guards rushed back into the room and surrounded the guild leader. The hammering of metal on wood began again. Where was the Red Horse? thought Mitsuo.
Without warning, the doors were split by a powerful force with smoke and debris filling the guildhall. A hurricane force burst of air buffeted the guards as they were pelted with debris.
A man dressed in black followed by a snarling trolloc stepped through the smoke. His eyes fixated on the sword. The man and trolloc growled in unison as the guards tensed preparing to attack. The man raised his hand, turning the air to fire and sending a torrent of flame through the guildhall. Screams echoed around the hall as the guardsman were burnt to ash.
Mitsuo struggled to move, frozen in fear by the carnage that surrounded him. The trolloc rushed forward bashing Mitsuo to the ground. Mitsuo watched powerlessly as the man picked up the sword and began cackling. The trolloc grunted and the pair left the hall as quickly as they had appeared.
Dreams' Convergence
She sat observing intently. This was her domain, only Lanfear came close to her ability in the Tel’aran’rhiod, but this man was here now moving through the dream ways not seen since the Age of Legends. He came in the flesh and not through the dream, sometimes bringing others with him and leaving them to face whatever nightmare was conjured around them.
She knew of his origin from the portal world, a companion of Saniago, but she still could not place some of the faces that appeared in the dream around him. In Caemlyn, a so-called Aes Sedai Queen appeared on the throne. In Tar Valon, the banner of the dragon was prominent and men in black coats sometimes appeared on tower grounds. In Cairhien, a long dead king appeared and faded out as the dream shifted. The man himself often visited a structure she had never seen before, a large compound just south of Caemlyn. It was apparent he was moving the Tel’aran’rhiod with memories of his life from the portal world.
She frowned. He was invading her domain and this would draw attention from the others. She would continue to observe his movements but if he started to attract more attention, she would quickly take action. She could not allow him to get in the way of her carefully laid plans.
She knew of his origin from the portal world, a companion of Saniago, but she still could not place some of the faces that appeared in the dream around him. In Caemlyn, a so-called Aes Sedai Queen appeared on the throne. In Tar Valon, the banner of the dragon was prominent and men in black coats sometimes appeared on tower grounds. In Cairhien, a long dead king appeared and faded out as the dream shifted. The man himself often visited a structure she had never seen before, a large compound just south of Caemlyn. It was apparent he was moving the Tel’aran’rhiod with memories of his life from the portal world.
She frowned. He was invading her domain and this would draw attention from the others. She would continue to observe his movements but if he started to attract more attention, she would quickly take action. She could not allow him to get in the way of her carefully laid plans.
A Broken Heart
She strode through the hallways wondering what news her Eyes and Ears would bring today. It was a dull task usually, but the gathering of Tinkers brought in a new flood of reports. Did they really find the Song and what would it mean if they did? She thought to herself. It was not really her concern today and she was sure a Brown would give a long-winded response if asked. These Tinkers, however, seemed to attract a lot of unsavory types and the list of wanted criminals in the city was on the rise. She would parse through the day's reports and see if they offered any additional information on the various pardon requests.
The cold wind blowing through the garden caused her to pause. Her right arm ached slightly, the cold a stiff reminder of her old injury. It was going to snow again, she thought, before pushing down memories of how she obtained the injury and her lost sisters.
A sudden movement caught her eye and a large black rat emerged from the shrubbery. It looked directly in her eye and squeaked loudly at her. The rat disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
A shiver ran up her spine. It had been years since she had been contacted, in fact since the day of her injury. After her sisters Berylla and Birlen had fallen, she tried to move on with her life and forget the Oath she had sworn. She knew what she needed to do but did not know what to expect. The fact that he was coming now after all this time worried her.
She rushed off to her apartments. If he was kept waiting she would likely be punished; she feared punishment already for not contacting the others or reforming the heart. She opened the door, stepped through, and quickly closed it behind her. She embraced the source and began to….
________________________________________
He picked up the severed head, opened a gateway, and was soon standing on the slopes of Shayol Ghul. His eyes burned with anger--these so-called Aes Sedai knew so little and offered nothing. He turned and looked at the myrddraal with their fists of trollocs.
“Go to the Cold Rocks Hold and recover the stone,” He barked before pausing to give a description of the object. He then finished coldly, “Kill everything in your path.”
He casually tossed the severed head over the horde and shot a weave of air in its direction. The head exploded, showering the horde in brains and blood. The trollocs roared in approval and began their march south.
He turned his attention to the next task: finding the spider and focusing her efforts on a new crop of darkfriends. She had surfaced again he was sure; the large gathering had the marks of her handywork. A needless exercise, he thought, for she needed to be focused in a meaningful way. He would wait for her and catch her in what she believed to be her domain.
The cold wind blowing through the garden caused her to pause. Her right arm ached slightly, the cold a stiff reminder of her old injury. It was going to snow again, she thought, before pushing down memories of how she obtained the injury and her lost sisters.
A sudden movement caught her eye and a large black rat emerged from the shrubbery. It looked directly in her eye and squeaked loudly at her. The rat disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
A shiver ran up her spine. It had been years since she had been contacted, in fact since the day of her injury. After her sisters Berylla and Birlen had fallen, she tried to move on with her life and forget the Oath she had sworn. She knew what she needed to do but did not know what to expect. The fact that he was coming now after all this time worried her.
She rushed off to her apartments. If he was kept waiting she would likely be punished; she feared punishment already for not contacting the others or reforming the heart. She opened the door, stepped through, and quickly closed it behind her. She embraced the source and began to….
________________________________________
He picked up the severed head, opened a gateway, and was soon standing on the slopes of Shayol Ghul. His eyes burned with anger--these so-called Aes Sedai knew so little and offered nothing. He turned and looked at the myrddraal with their fists of trollocs.
“Go to the Cold Rocks Hold and recover the stone,” He barked before pausing to give a description of the object. He then finished coldly, “Kill everything in your path.”
He casually tossed the severed head over the horde and shot a weave of air in its direction. The head exploded, showering the horde in brains and blood. The trollocs roared in approval and began their march south.
He turned his attention to the next task: finding the spider and focusing her efforts on a new crop of darkfriends. She had surfaced again he was sure; the large gathering had the marks of her handywork. A needless exercise, he thought, for she needed to be focused in a meaningful way. He would wait for her and catch her in what she believed to be her domain.
Weaving a Web
She sat quietly waiting in the Tel'aran'rhiod, Lokras was appearing more frequently in her domain. Caemlyn, Cairhien, a ruined keep, and the seanchan continent were his usual locations. But this was new, Tar Valon with the dragon banner prominently displayed.
A tall man flickered and faded into the square soon followed by others wearing black coats. He stood surveying the area as if expecting someone to arrive.
The dream shifted suddenly. The men and the dragon banners vanishing replaced with the symbol of the Aes Sedai and the flame of Tar Valon.
Interesting, she thought. The Tel'aran'rhiod was shifting between fragments of this world and those of a portal world. What else would appear in the world of dreams and how could she use it to her advantage?
Another shift. The flame of Tar Valon fading out and quickly replaced by the dragon banner. This time a group of women wearing shawls of different colors standing opposite the men.
She was careful to hide her presence and watched several iterations of this shift. There was no pattern or purpose, but the shifts appeared to be someone sifting through memories of a different world.
The dream shifted again, this time in a different manner. She was in a great hall, a place that she did not immediately recognize. A voice seethed behind her, "You certainly live up to your name, slinking in the shadows and weaving your webs. You have been summoned, return to Shayol Ghul immediately."
She turned quickly startled by this intrusion in her domain. His eyes burned as bright as the torches in the hall. Startled by this revelation she fled the dream.
She woke in a panic. She had not been summoned to the pit in a long time. How long had Ishamael been watching her? She tried to collect herself but the infernal racket outside kept interrupting her thoughts. "Hot hat Lou and the show" echoed around the camp. She quickly dressed and slipped out of her wagon; she would find a quiet place to head north.
A tall man flickered and faded into the square soon followed by others wearing black coats. He stood surveying the area as if expecting someone to arrive.
The dream shifted suddenly. The men and the dragon banners vanishing replaced with the symbol of the Aes Sedai and the flame of Tar Valon.
Interesting, she thought. The Tel'aran'rhiod was shifting between fragments of this world and those of a portal world. What else would appear in the world of dreams and how could she use it to her advantage?
Another shift. The flame of Tar Valon fading out and quickly replaced by the dragon banner. This time a group of women wearing shawls of different colors standing opposite the men.
She was careful to hide her presence and watched several iterations of this shift. There was no pattern or purpose, but the shifts appeared to be someone sifting through memories of a different world.
The dream shifted again, this time in a different manner. She was in a great hall, a place that she did not immediately recognize. A voice seethed behind her, "You certainly live up to your name, slinking in the shadows and weaving your webs. You have been summoned, return to Shayol Ghul immediately."
She turned quickly startled by this intrusion in her domain. His eyes burned as bright as the torches in the hall. Startled by this revelation she fled the dream.
She woke in a panic. She had not been summoned to the pit in a long time. How long had Ishamael been watching her? She tried to collect herself but the infernal racket outside kept interrupting her thoughts. "Hot hat Lou and the show" echoed around the camp. She quickly dressed and slipped out of her wagon; she would find a quiet place to head north.
A Tangled Web
She stepped through the gateway into Shayol Ghul and released the source immediately. A towering myrddraal awaited her, and she knew from prior experiences not to question the large lurk, only to obey. She pushed aside the fear roiling in her stomach as the myrddraal led her to the Pit. She hand’t made this walk in a long time and found it difficult to dodge the spikes jutting from the ceiling while the myrddraal navigated them easily.
Soon, they arrived at a ledge overlooking the Pit. Her thoughts wandered—why was she alone and Ishamael wasn’t? She
MOGHEDIEN
the booming voice interrupted her thoughts like a hot knife in the butter of her head. She fell to the ground, abasing herself. “H-h-h-how can I serve, Great Lord?”
FIND RECRUITS
RAISE THEM FROM THE SHADOWS
BIND THEM TO ME
A bony finger tapped her shoulder, and she knew better than to second guess an exit from this place. She quickly rose and fled from the cavern, paying less mind to the cruel spikes that tried to grab her, though one pierced the lining of her nondescript black cloak. Ishamael greeted her at the cavern’s mouth. “A fitting task for a spider, rooting for worms and vermin,” he snarled in her direction. “Forget your other project; they’ll be dealt with soon.”
She glared at him but said nothing. She knew what she must do, and no amount of banter would change that. She opened a gateway and stepped through to a forest. Even at this distance, she could hear the racket coming from the camp. She made her way to her wagon as voices sang “Hot Show and Hat Lou” all around her. Stupid children with their toys. She blocked out their puzzled singing and readied for her task.
Soon, they arrived at a ledge overlooking the Pit. Her thoughts wandered—why was she alone and Ishamael wasn’t? She
MOGHEDIEN
the booming voice interrupted her thoughts like a hot knife in the butter of her head. She fell to the ground, abasing herself. “H-h-h-how can I serve, Great Lord?”
FIND RECRUITS
RAISE THEM FROM THE SHADOWS
BIND THEM TO ME
A bony finger tapped her shoulder, and she knew better than to second guess an exit from this place. She quickly rose and fled from the cavern, paying less mind to the cruel spikes that tried to grab her, though one pierced the lining of her nondescript black cloak. Ishamael greeted her at the cavern’s mouth. “A fitting task for a spider, rooting for worms and vermin,” he snarled in her direction. “Forget your other project; they’ll be dealt with soon.”
She glared at him but said nothing. She knew what she must do, and no amount of banter would change that. She opened a gateway and stepped through to a forest. Even at this distance, she could hear the racket coming from the camp. She made her way to her wagon as voices sang “Hot Show and Hat Lou” all around her. Stupid children with their toys. She blocked out their puzzled singing and readied for her task.