His eyes smiled softly as he watched the silver image of the girl shimmering before him as it repeated her words. It had been too long since he last heard her voice. The beauty of the message was only marred by the tone of her words, as if she begged for justice.Justice she would have. He decided turning his eyes to the soul in front of him. The pure black shadow around the redish blackened light quivered in fear as The Master reached out and took the orb spinning it between his hand like the stones.
The shadow was expelled forcefully from the orb, dragging with it the light inside the orb. It quickly shaped the poacher, and fell to its knees at feet of the desk. Cold eyes like ice pinned him down.
"You dare defile my children with your bows, arrows, and vicious traps?" he spat the words with enough frost to nearly materialize as ice daggers in the air. The creature trembled on the floor of the study unable to form words. Patience was in short supply however as the sound of the nails clicking one after another on the hardwood desk made the hairs on their spines stand on end. The sense of oppression and anger coating the room thickly like a layer of frozen water on their shoulders. "state your plea." he demanded, voice softer than a whisper but edged with ice.
"Guilty only of following orders." the man"s voice shook as the Master toyed with the orb in his hands. Slowly he spun it tapping a nail on the surface, and the man cried out in pain as if a knife had torn through his shoulder.
"Then we will see how well you follow mine." The Master"s words brought hope to the souls eyes buy Keric seemed less enthusiastic. He couldn"t help but think of the man as a cruel fool.
Keric took Ping"s hand and spun him to face away both wolf and fox turning their back on what was to come.
"oh thank you Shadow King… thank you." the man said unaware of the fire lighting in the Master"s hand. The screaming began moments before the Master gave his first and file order.
"Burn."
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Thirteen Men on Horseback Part 1
In the Royal Village on the outskirts of the Forests named Tiger"s Keep
Kyera walked the streets of the human Village, dressed as a wealthy merchant. She sold the cloth and string made of shedded fur and poultices created from the forest harvest. Even though they hardly visited the village, money was good to have for situations such as these.
The tiger healer Kaynam, and his sister Kaleema had none of rosewood b.a.l.l.s they needed to finish the antidote. Now there was only one true chance to find what she needed. Moving through the crowd, dressed human in her flowing hunter green gown with its deep brown detailing she almost pa.s.sed as human. A tiger could sense her, as could any of the animals who kept their fair distance from her. However meer humans saw a ravishing beauty, nothing more.
Alone among the stalls, and yet surrounded by the people going about their lives she felt ill at ease. A familiar face, an older woman who had once been a stunning fair haired bride waved her hand to draw Kyera closer. The woman was known as Aggie. She brought potions and things to trade. The subtle scent of a leopard wafting from her skin.
"Wise Aggie, pleasant to see you." Kyera smiled and kissed the woman"s cheek as was customary for the pair. The older woman chuckled.
"Same to you, Fair Kyera. I hear you seek some things for an antidote. I fear the poachers are using poison more these days. Cruel fools." she said the words as thought they were discussing the price of herbs, only her eyes revealing her anger. Kyera nodded, frowning.
"That I am, Wise One. Can you help me?" Kyera asked clearly concerned. The old woman touched the side of her nose as if in acknowledgement. A smile spread across Kyera"s lips as she sniffed the air.