The Loyals

Alaura stepped forward and talked fast to try and get through to Eliera before she decided to leave. The woman had not moved since she had seen Eliera do magic.

'We have both found out things tonight that we probably want to forget. I have found my answers. I just need to visit an old friend and then my past is behind me'

'What are you trying to tell me?' Eliera retorted moving away from Alaura and the woman.

'I am trying to say that if you need help or...anything! I will help'

Eliera pausd for a moment and looked at Alaura, unmoving.

"What makes you think i would need your help?" Eliera asked.

"I never said you needed it. You may want it, though." Alaura replied, taking another step forward.

"And why would i WANT it? I am older, more experienced in life, and a better mage than you." Eliera retorted, turning away again.

"Eliera..." Alaura pleaded.

"Eliera? Eliera of Nozox, right?" the woman asked hesitantly. She instantly regretted it, for a strong force pinned her arms and legs in place.

"How did you know? How do you know me" Eliera demanded.

"I-I..." the woman stammered. She was interupted by a guard, unheard until the last moment, appeared in the doorway of the Temple.

"Halt! You're all under arrest for breaking and entering. Surrened or die!" he shouted, drawing his sword. Eliera sighed. She scooped up the cub and grabbed both of the women by the wrists. Instantly, they were gone.

They reappeared again in a samll clearing on the outskirts of Jamerli. Eliera collapsed to her knees.

"Whats wrong?" Alaura asked, concern clear in her voice. Eliera glared up at her and Alaura backed away. Eliera put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath. When she could speak, she asked the woman again, "How...did...you...know...me?"

"I-I met your father once. He came to see the oracle when i was very young. I remeber my father telling me that he was one of the most powerful mages alive, besides the head mages. You look alot like him." the woman answered. Hesitantly, she asked, "How did he die, if you dont mind me asking."

"My father was killed my Scilder, the head mage. He stole my father's life blood and life force." Eliera said. She dimly heard Alaura gasp, and the woman stepped back a pace, clearly horrified.

"That spell cost me much energy and strength. I must rest." Eliera said. She carefully spread out her bedroll and lay down on it. The last thing she remembered before she fell asleep, were her fathers wild, frightened eyes and his agnoized screams, echoing in her mind.

*Sorry i could not write before*

Zander was very surprised when the women disappeared. He had been watching everything as a lizard on the roof. Zander jumped down and turned into a guard.
"Where are the witches?" He asked
"you need not worry about them. Our commander sent some mages to follow them" smiled a guard
"How many?" asked Zander
"Ten maybe. They went to the outskirts of Jamerli" replied the guard then added "I hope their bones are broken and eyes removed"
"I hate to do this but you should learn to talk good about young women" said Zander and stabbed him with a knife. then he cast a spell on him so he would turn to dust in a few minutes.

Zander looked around. He had teleported to the outskirts of Jamerli. Zander spotted a some figures talking. He ran towards them. He could feel magic, strong magic around him, but he dint care. He could not n=be bound by magic.
Zander ran straight until he reached them.
The women turned and looked at him, ready to cast spells.
"Your in danger!" shouted Zander ignoring them.

The oldest woman, still very young, laughed.

"You expect us to believe you? The people these days...i swear..." she trailed off. Her head lifted slowly. Her face contracted with pain for a split second, then she was scooping up the wolf cub, getting ready to teleport away. She glared at the strange young man.

"Ok, so NOW i believe you. What do you want? Actually, ignore that question. I dont really want to know." she said. She turned to another one of the women. "Can you teleport yet?"

"Erm...not really..." the young woman said. The older woman turned back to the stranger.

"Thsi is Alaura. My name isnt important, and i dont know her name." Eliera said, gesturing to the other woman.

"Hendrea. My name is Hendrea." she said.

"Ok, we've really got to get out of here." Eliera said, looking around. "Who's after us?"

"The guard at the Temple said about ten mages." the young man said.

"Who are you?" Alaura asked curiously.

"Zander. I'm a shapeshifter." the young man replied.

"Thanks for the help, but i cant teleport you. You're on your own." Eliera said, taking hold of Hendrea and Alaura's wrists.

"Thats fine." Zander said. He shifted into a teleporter and nodded his head. "I just need to know where you are going."

"Follow us." was all Eliera said. She vanished, Hendrea and Alaura going with her. Zander quickly followed. Just as he left, the ten mages broke into the clearing and cursed.

Eliera stopped them after about seven seconds. They were back at her house, or what was left. She couldnt think of anywhere else to go. While she didnt want to come here, it was the safest place she could think of.

Eliera collapsed to the ground again. Teleporting three people and the cub once a month was a strech. Twice in one day was too much.

She dimly saw Zander appear and heard him talking to Hendrea. Eliera needed to rest. She felt the cub crawl onto her chest and curl up. Alaura was kneeling next to her.

"I really need to teach you how to teleport." she said, and blacked out.

"so what are you all exactly after?" asked Zander
He waited for an answer.

Alaura got a blanket from the ruins of the house and gently covered Eliera and turned to Zander.

'I'm not sure' she lied. She couldn't tell him, not without Eliera's permission.

Zander sat on the ground and stayed quiet, looking around with only mild interest. Hendrea had sat near Eliera and seemed to be in a trance, unmoving, staring into the empty space before her.

Alaura sighed and collected some wood and set it a light using a simple spell. Hendrea eyes jumped and she trned to Alaura.

'So you are a mage'

'I suppose i am.' Alaura replied. There was no point lieing now.

Alaura turned to Zander. She extended her senses like her father had taught her, trying to sense if he was an enemy. One problem was, if he was really a shapeshifter then he would be imune to her magic and she wasn't sure if he could be trusted. When she couldn't sense any sign that he was an enemy she walked over to him and sat down.

'I will tell you what we are after when Eliera wakes. Untill then will you be able to see if we are safe here?'

He shrugged and got to his feet. 'Sure i don't see why not'

Alaura walked back to Eliera and sat by her side. Hendrea came beside her and wispered to her.

'What are you going to do?'

'I know a spell that will give Eliera some of my magical life force. It should give her just enough power so we can move. IT won't give her much, i am not as strong as her'

With that she placed her hand on Eliera's forehead and began searching for her power. She just hoped her power would be enough.

Zander turned into a falcon and flew up to look for enemy's. His sharp eyesight sighted the mages far away walking towards them.
"Mages!" shouted Zander landing on the floor and turning back to a human.
"Where are they and when will they reach us" asked Alaura
" the will reach us in... one day. They're just entering this part of the forest" replied Zander

Eliera kept stil for a moment, assesing her situation. She was laying on the ground, where she had blacked out. She could hear someone, most likly Zander, going out into the forest. A cold hand touched her forehead, and Alaura wispered words of magic. Before she could finish, Eliera reached up and lifted her hand off her. She opened her eyes.

"I dont need it." she said weakly.

Alaura started. "That was quick. After teleporting all of us, i thought you would be out for days, even with my magic."

"And since when do you know so much?" Eliera asked. Alaura blushed a bit and stepped back to allow Eliera some room.

Eliera sighed and propped herself up on one elbow. She looked around her and saw the blackened remains of the house. The cub was asleep next to her, and Hendrea sat a few feet away. Zander was no where to be seen.

"Where is Zander?" Eliera asked. If he was going to betray them, this was bad news. Eliera could barely move as it was. She woud not be able to work magic for at least another day.

"Scouting." Alaura said.

"And you let him go off by himself? What if he's going to betray us?"

"He wont. He's not an enemy."

"What makes you so sure?" Eliera asked, looking at Alaura intently.

"I-" Alaura couldnt think of a way to explain what she had done.

"You sensed it?" Eliera asked.

"Yes." Alaura said, a bit startled.

Eliera nodded absently. The she turned to Hendrea.

"Hendrea." she said.

Hendrea spun around. She had ben lost in her thoughts and was not aware of Eliera being awake.

"Erm...yes?" she asked.

"Go after Zander. Do you have a weapon?" Eliera asked. Hendrea shook her head. Eliera sighed and handed her a dagger. "You know how to use it?"

Hendrea nodded and went off after Zander. Eliera turned back to Alaura.

"You passed the first test, good for you. But, there are many more and you have to find them for yourself. But for now, i can teach you some minor magiks."

Zander walked on. As he did he felt a friendly presence.
Zander teleported behind it.
"What are you doing Hendrea?" Zander asked
"Oh eh.. following you" replied Hendrea
"Well what are you waiting for come on" said Zander and ran forward towards the mages again.

Eliera worked to teach Alaura magic. It was not easy, and she didnt have a lot of patience or strength. She did manage to teach one or two simple shielding spells to her.

"Where are Zander and Hendrea?" Eliera asked. She didnt expect an answer. "They should be back by now."

"I agree-" Alaura started, but Eliera hushed her.

"Stay here. Dont go anywhere. If anone other than Zander or Hendrea come here, trap them like i showed you." Eliera said.

"But you're not strong enough to go anywhere!" Alaura protested.

"I never said i was going anywhere physically." Eliera replied. All of the sudden she got a far away look in her eyes. Alaur realized she was searching for them, like she had searched for evil within Zander.

Eliera searched the forest for Zander and Hendrea. When she finally found them, she sent a mental note to them, commanding them to come back. Only moments later, they reapeared at the house. Eliera still held the far away look in her eyes.

"Whats she doing?" Znder asked.

"Searching." Alaura replied.

Eliera flew through the forest with her mind. She passed through trees and animals alike. Finally, she found what she was looking for.

The ten mages were just emerging into a clearing, near the edge of the forest. They were making better progress than Eliera had thought. She cursed and returned to her body.

"We are going to have to kill them, or else they will follow us everywhere." Eliera said.

"She is right." Zander said.

"What are we going to do?" Alaura asked.

"We are going to give them a little surprise. I am still unable to use magic, but you arent." Eliera said, turning to Alaura. "And you can help too." she turned now to Zander.

"What would you have us do?" Zander asked. He had an excited glint in his eyes.

"Well, first i need to teach Alaura here how to teleport. It will take a while, but we will have time. The mages are making camp right now. Zander, you can turn into a dragon, correct?"

Zander nodded.

"Well, you can fly me and Hendrea, im sure you're strong enough. Alaura can teleport there, and we can kill them all before they have a chance to lift their heads from their books. I will be strong enough to work small magiks, but nothing fancy." Eliera said.

"An good plan." Hendrea said. The others agreed. Eliera turned to Alaura.

"Now, to teach you hoe to teleport."

Alaura slumped to the floor as she failed, yet again, to teleport. Eliera had asked her to teleport to just near the house. Alaura had tryed but she couldn't do it.

'Stand up' Eliera ordered, her voice sharp but not nasty.

Alaura stormed to her feet and stood once again facing Eliera.

'Now close your eyes, empty your mind. Reach out with your senses, like you do when sensing peoples intentions and find the place where you want to go'

Alaura did as she asked and slowed her breathing, closing her eyes. Eliera started to pace around Alaura her voice rising and fallen in a hypnotic rhythm.

'Now concentrate on that spot , slowly release your power and visualise yourself moving to that spot...'

Aluara felt something change and the air suddenly whirled as she spun through the air. She slowly opened her eyes to see Eliera beaming at her.

'Well done' she praised walking to the group and sitting down. Alaura walked over and sat down next to Zander by the fire.

'Now, lets take care of those mages'

Eliera stood and flexed her arms. She scooped up the pup and told it to stay here. She set it down and it went into the bushes, looking for something to eat. She turned to the others.

"Alright Zander, time to prove yourself."

"But havent i already? I warned you of those mages!" Zander protested.

"Yes, you did. You proved yourself to the group, but you still need to prove yourself in my eyes." Eliera said.

Zander huffed and grumpily turned into a large blue dragon. Eliera grabbed hold of Hendrea and helped her onto Zander's back. She turned to Alaura.

"Stay close. If you lose us, i will not be able to teleport to you for a while, so go back to the camp if you get lost. If you dont feel confident in this, you can ride on Zanders back. I'm sure theres room for one more." Eliera said, smiling slightly.

"I'll keep up." Alaura said.

Eliera jumped onto Zanders back and he took off, soaring ionto the air. She glanced back to see Alaura disappear, only to reappear a couple hundred feet in front of them. She turned around and smiled at them, and disappeared again.

"Zander, i will be able to use some magic, but nothing fancy! You're going to have to use your fire!" Eliera called above the rush of the wind. Zander nodded his scaled head in understanding.

Eliera concentrated on a small, easy spell she could use to silence a few of the mages, so they could not cast their spells. But her strength would not last forever, and Eliera feared that would be the only spell she would be able to use. She glanced ahead of her and saw the mages fast approaching. They lifted their hands, preparing to cast their spells.

Alaura appeared behind the mages, and raised her dagger, thrusting it into one of the mages back. Eliera cast her spell and four of the mages fell back slightly, tugging at their mouths that would not open.

Zander swooped down and sprayed a stream of fire on the mages, killing six more. Only two or three remained. They cast each other an uneasy glance and turned and ran. One stopped and threw a spell at them, aiming for Alaura. Eliera was ready, and cast a small reflection shield in front of the girl. The mage crumpled, writhing on the ground in agony.

Eliera slumped forward on Zanders neck. Weakly, she supported herself with her arm to keep from falling to the forest below.

**Hooray YWS is working again**




Zander turned back to human form all lay Eliera on the ground.
"I know you used all of your strengh, but dont you know how to sommon majic from your soal, heart and the surroundings?" asked Zander

*woohoo! YWS is back on! I have been checking it for a week and i have just tried and it is working!*

Alaura waited in the clearing as Zander circled and then lowered to the ground. When he hd curled i his wings she ran over and helped Hendrea and Eliera off of his back.

Zander turned back into his human form and they all moved away from the bodies.

Zander and Eliera looked at each other and everyone slowly sat down. Alaura loooked from one to the other.

'What is goinjg on?'