Circles, Chapter 1.3

(Author's Note: I realized I made a mistake on my approach to Circles. I had chosen the First Person viewpoint, but have realized that I need to use Third Person because the story is larger than I realized. It's always a joy when the Story takes hold and leads you to new unexplored places. The first three entries will be converted to Third Person soon, but here's today's entry. Enjoy! Oh, tomorrow is my birthday, and I may give myself off. We'll see. But if so, Circles will return Sunday. One last thing: our viewpoint character is Thomas, who's been talking to you himself until now.)

Circles
Chapter 1.3
Maze of Madness


Thomas would have questioned Alissa and Derry further, demanding answers to the questions they had raised even though he knew they had no answers. His world had shifted, and he felt like he teetered on the edge of abyss. But movement caught his eye.

"Look!" Thomas said, pointing below.

Mage Argent ran across the courtyard, his black robes billowing behind him. Mages White and Verdant ran after him.

"What the gods?" Derry said.

A low rumble filled the air. Alissa jerked her head to look to the sky.

"It can't be," she breathed. "What would they..." She bit her lip.

"What's happening?" Thomas asked, his voice quivering despite his best efforts to steady it.

The three Mages below reached the Testing building. Argent stopped and talked to the other two Mages, but Thomas couldn't make out the words.

The rumbling grew louder.

Argent clasped hands with White. He looked at Verdant for a moment and then swept her into an embrace and kiss that would have delighted all the Aspirants who had privately talked about the possibility of a romance between the Head Mage and his Second.

A silver streak flashed through the air and buried itself in the courtyard, throwing bricks and dirt into the air. Aspirants and Mages ran out of the halls and gaped at the huge metal spike that had embedded itself in the ground. Thomas's gaze followed the chain that was attached to the spike that led to the lowering clouds.

Argent entered the Testing building. Verdant watched him go. She spoke to White. They turned to face the metal spike. Other Mages joined them: Red, Cinnamon, Sandollar, Blanc, Rose, and Oak.

But Forrest, Violet, and Midnight stood across the courtyard from the other Mages. A protection shield shimmered around them. Forrest stood in front of the other two.

"What's going on?" Jasonne ran out onto the balcony and nearly knocked Derry over the edge. Thomas grabbed Derry's shoulder.

"They're coming!" Glemma shouted. "They're coming!" She stepped out and looked to the sky. A vast shadow descended steadily toward the Circle.

"You know nothing," Glemma shouted. "Nothing! No matter what they ask, you know nothing! It's our only chance!"

Thomas gripped the iron railing. "Nothing about what? What? WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

The rumbling shook the building. A bright light stabbed from the sky and focused on Verdant and the Mages gathered around her.

The clouds parted, rolling away as if the gods descended to earth.

A huge cylinder hanging in the air suddenly lit up, revealing a crossed dragon crest. The rumbling began to wane as the four engines to its sides powered down. Lines dropped from it, and men in blue and gold battle-gear slid down.

"It's an Imperial dirigible," Glemma said. "Gods help us all. Gods help us all."

Copyright 2011 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved. No copying in any way without express prior written permission by the author and publisher.

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