:+: Chapter I :+:

She wandered through the deserted town. Lonely, wet from the rain, cold from the wind and weary from many miles of travel. As she pulled her tattered cloak about her, she thought bitterly, "I wish I wasn't a sorceress, then I wouldn't have been given this hopeless task." But she was a sorceress, a powerful one, and beautiful too. Her name was Iaura.

Iaura turned and headed towards the stables where she had left her horse, a great chestnut beast. After patting Lycoris she went to the nearby inn to seek a room for the night.

* * *

Later that night she was sitting in the inn waiting for her elected companions to appear. The one who sent her had said they would be there too.

She waited... After a while an elf approached her.

"You think your quest is a secret. Fool! We already know exactly what you're doing." he said, then slipped away into the crowded inn.

The inn started to empty, and still there was now sign of Iaura's companions. "Where have they got to? What's kept them?" she wondered as she went to her room to watch for any sign of her comrades. She closed all the curtains but one, lit a solitary candle, huddled inside her cloak and waited.

She woke suddenly. It was cold and it was dark. The candle had burned down and drowned itself in molten wax. What had disturbed her? The candle dying? No. That was impossible. Iaura stood up slowly and looked around. She felt unaccountably uneasy. She laid one hand on the hilt of her sword, it reassured her. "Magic is all very well," she thought, "but if something goes wrong� A sword makes me feel safer, somehow."

Iaura moved slowly, cautiously, about the room. There was no sign of anything that may have disturbed her. Then she checked the corridor outside her door. Lying on the floor, a few feet away, was a crumpled figure. She rushed over to it. A silvery glow began to surround her, enough to see clearly. The figure was a young man, badly injured. She lifted the unconscious form and carried him to the safety of the room. His slight, limp, frame was no burden to her superior strength.

Iaura had just settled the lad when there was a loud knock at the door. With one hand on her sword, she answered it. Standing before her were a male human warrior and two female elven warriors.

"You have the other of our company?" asked the human.

Iaura nodded, her long dark hair swinging forward. "If you are my appointed comrades, enter."

"We are," replied one of the elves as she approached the unconscious figure.

"I an Aireros," said the human, "these are Eruien and Lemredir," he motioned towards his companions, "and he," Aireros indicated the young man, "is Finduitar. We already know who you are."

Iaura moved slowly over to Finduitar and laid her long hands upon his brow. He felt cold. "He was left too long," she muttered, then sighed. As she chanted the healing spell a glow began to flow from her hands to him. To all it seemed that time halted. She once more felt his brow and stared hard at him. She moved to sit by the window. "He will live."

:+: Chapter II :+:

The next morning they left before it was light. The humans rode great black stallions and the elves graceful white and grey mares.

By nightfall they were many miles from civilisation, heading for the distant mountains which lay beyond the deserted wilderness through which they had raced and now slowly paced. For a while Iaura had sensed a growing danger. As if something were following them, closing in, waiting to pounce. She looked about her uneasily. Lycoris snorted, as though he sensed his rider's unrest.

Suddenly Lycoris reared up and pawed at the air with powerful hooves. Iaura's guard stopped in their tracks as Lycoris leapt forward, turned and charged back through the group, challenging the unseen danger. A huge shape loomed into view. It was a troll. Eight foot at the shoulder. Lycoris skidded to a halt, but stood firm and proud as the troll tapped his club thoughtfully.

Then Iaura's companions were at her side, swords unsheathed and gleaming, mounts snorting, only the slightest tinge of fear on their stern faces. She looked around, drew her sword and held it high, a signal for her comrades to advance. All at once they swarmed around the troll, distracting it while Iaura sheathed her sword, stood in her stirrups, raised her hands and cast the spell.

The troll collapsed as the riders scattered to avoid the falling bulk. A split second later Iaura sat back down heavily and slumped forward in the saddle, leaning against her horse's neck. Instinctively Eruien sped towards the collapsed sorceress, the others hard on her heels, worried about their friend, companion and life-saver.

"She has pushed herself too far in the last few days," announced Eruien. "She's worn out."

Finduitar spoke next, "Let's get out of here."

Carefully propping Iaura in her saddle they journeyed on. Lemredir had suggested that Lycoris be led, but her would not have it. He led the group as normal, seeming to know his mistress's intended route. About on hour later they halted. Lycoris had led them to a large cave.

First watch passed uneventfully. And second seemed to following suit until shapes appeared on the moonlit horizon. Finduitar woke his companions, all except Iaura who still could not be roused.

"It looks like our 'friend' back there had friends of his own," announced Lemredir, the long sighted elf.

"He did?" said a voice behind them. It was Iaura.

Aireros nodded.

"Well, let's show then what he saw!" With that she leapt effortlessly onto her mount and charged out of the cave, closely followed by the others.

They stood once more in formation, moonlit this time. But now all eyes, thought and strength were turned to the sorceress as she raised her arms once more...