The pillars of creation

The soldier on the other side of Sebastian grunted. His sword clattered to the marble floor as he clutched his chest. He toppled, like a tree that had been felled, and crashed to the floor. Another soldier, then another, then another fell. Thump, thump, thump they hit the floor. Je

The room exploded with a blinding flash of lightning. The sizzling arc twisted through the air, yet it unfailingly found its mark, raking down the line of men ru

The Sister cast out her hands, Je

With all the soldiers down-all but Sebastian dead-the old sorceress turned her full attention on the attacking Sister. With weathered hands, the old woman warded the attack, sending the thrumming light back on the Sister.

"You know you have but to swear allegiance, Sister," the old woman said in a raspy voice, "and you will be free of the dream walker."

Je

"If that be your choice," the old woman rasped, "then so be it."

The younger woman started to cast her magic again, but fell to the floor with a sudden cry. She clawed at the smooth marble, trying to whisper prayers between grunts of terrible agony. She left a smear of blood on the marble, but before getting far, she stilled. Her head sank to the floor as she expelled one long last rattling breath.

Knife in hand, Je

"No! Sebastian!" Je

Je

The sorceress wasn't looking at her, but instead had an ear turned to her. Being a little closer, now, Je

"Adie?" she breathed, not having intended to say it aloud.

Startled, the woman cocked her head the other way, listening with her other ear. "Who be there?" the raspy voice demanded. "Who be there?"

Je

Je

The old woman's head turned to the sound. "Child? Do you be a sister of Richard? Why would you be with the Order?"

"Maybe because I want to live!"

"No." The woman shook her head with stem disapproval. "No. If you be with the Order, then you have chosen death, not life."

"You're the only one intent on bringing death!"

"That be a lie. All of you came to me with weapons and murderous intent," she said. "I did not come to you."

"Of course! Because you defile the world with your taint of magic!" Sebastian called from behind. "You would smother mankind-enslave us all-with your wicked ancient ways!"

"Ah," Adie said, nodding to herself. "It be you, then, who has deluded this child."

"He's saved my life! Without Sebastian I would be nothing! I would have nothing! I would be dead! Just like my mother!"

"Child," Adie said in a quiet rasp, "that, too, be a lie. Come away from them. Come with me."

"You'd love that, wouldn't you!" Je

Adie shook her head. "Child, I don't know what lies be filling your head, but I do not have the time for this. You must come away with me, or I ca

As the woman spoke, Je

"Je

Je

"If that be your choice," Adie rasped at hearing the whisper of the footstep, "then so be it."

When the sorceress lifted her hand out toward Sebastian, Je