| Disturbing News |
| Evil Wizard Keenan Series - Ten |
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| 1992
Snape heard a sharp tap on the windowpane and looked up from the book he�d been reading. Perched just outside the window was a small owl. He opened the window to allow the owl entry; then took the letter it carried. He could tell by the neat handwriting just who it was from. Smiling slightly to himself, he pulled a rat�s tail out of a nearby jar and fed it to the owl as a reward. �Thank you,� he intoned, settling at his desk once again. The owl chirped once before it flew away to the owlery. As soon as he was once again alone, Snape opened the letter and began to read. �Severus, I hope this letter finds you well. I also wish that I could tell you that I was well. Unfortunately, I�m not. For some years now, as you know well, I�ve spied on Elayne and the other members of the council. Gaining information and warning Phillip of any dark deeds they may have planned. �Well, the other night, I left directly after the meeting to warn Phillip of their latest plot. Elayne managed to catch me right after I�d sent out the message� something she�s never managed before.� ** �Elayne, I can explain,� Keenan stated softly, shaking his head slightly and leaning back against Rusty. He knew she wouldn�t kill him � he counted on it, in fact. However, he also knew there was no way for him to escape some sort of retribution for his actions. The woman glared darkly at him. �Please do,� she invited. �I�� Keenan began. Glancing around nervously, he said, �I was just going to� I needed to ask someone about a certain tea I�ve been taking� because of my� condition.� Looking down and hoping she�d believe the lie, he added, �I think I�ve been having side-effects from it and Phillip is an expert on medicinal teas.� He looked up at her hopefully. Elayne frowned and shook her head. �We employ a healer because of your condition, sweeting. For several months now,� she began. �The good mages have seemed able to anticipate our plans. I suspected that we had a spy in our midst and you had no other reason to call Phillip, except to warn him.� Keenan sighed and looked down again. Nodding sadly, he said, �I�m sorry if that hurts, Elayne. It was never my intention�� �Of course not,� she stated. �I�ve suspected for some time now that you weren�t truly an evil mage any longer, if you ever were to begin with. Being a good mage meant you had to take every chance you could to stop us. Unfortunately, I don�t have a choice in this either.� Locking eyes with Rusty, she said, �Take him to your forest, Rusty. A night there should be punishment enough.� Keenan�s eyes widened in alarm and he shook his head. Elayne was the only person on the council who knew why he was afraid of Rusty�s forest. She was the only person he trusted enough to relate the story of his master�s death. �Elayne, please,� he whispered desperately. �You can�t!� �I have to, sweeting,� she countered. �But � but, I�ll go mad!� he exclaimed, close to tears. Elayne sighed deeply and stepped forward to touch his cheek. �Be strong, my pet,� she whispered. ** Snape paused in his reading and sighed. As much as Keenan loved and trusted Elayne, the woman was an evil wizardess and she had a reputation to uphold. She may not be as evil as Voldemort, but she certainly was sweet and innocent either. Looking back at the paper, Snape continued reading. �I was completely hysterical at first,� the letter went on. �I think I screamed for a few hours at least. My voice is hoarse, that much is certain. I�m sure I passed out for a little while. Now though� now, I think I�m numb. As I sat here, moving as little as possible so Rusty�s plants would ignore me, I couldn�t help but wonder if there was anyone who could understand what I�m feeling, what I�ve gone through, what I�ll continue to go through to ensure that whatever plans Elayne might make are never successful. �Suddenly, I found myself thinking of you and I remembered what you�d told me about the Death Eaters and You-know-who� how you�d spied on them. I realized that you might be the only person in the world who would understand, who might have felt this way. I realized that you survived a situation that was actually far more dangerous. If they�d ever found you out, they wouldn�t have hesitated in killing you. If you did it, then I can too. �The sky is starting to brighten, which means that Elayne will send Rusty soon to bring me to our room. I�ll close by saying this� Thank you, Severus, for being a part of my life, for being a true friend to me. Without you in my thoughts, I really would have gone mad with fear. Your quiet strength and determination to do the right thing gave me the strength I needed to survive this night of terror. You are truly a dear friend. Sincerely, Keenan.� Snape set the letter aside and sighed. Keenan was probably right in a lot of things. Severus was probably the only person who could understand the determination and bravery it took to hide among the enemy and pretend to agree with ideas that go against you very principles. He was the only person who could know how it felt to try to get information to your allies, hoping it would be enough to save even one life and praying that you�d never be caught. He scowled darkly at the dark memories the thoughts brought up inside him. Determinedly, he pushed the thoughts aside and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. �Keenan,� he wrote, pausing thoughtfully to collect his scattered thoughts. �I know nothing I say can stop you from your course. I know this because, as you said, I understand the force that drives you to action. I will only say this: Elayne may not be as cold and ruthless as The Dark Lord, but she�s still someone you need to take care with. Please be more cautious in the future and keep in touch. As always, you will be continually in my thoughts. Sincerely, Severus. End |
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