Written by Khairra
* * *
Shivering, Khairra knelt in the mucky water, catching a brief glimpse of her distorted reflection. Her robe was in tatters, her hair all in disarray, but none of that mattered in the least right now.
When she had heard what was to be done, fear and awe of the magnitude of the danger had gripped her, and when the archmagi had lead her to the outskirts of the city, heading towards Sheeroe Hills, she had made a foolish and desperate attempt at escape.
Glancing over her shoulder quickly, she cupped her hands and scooped up a bit of the turbid water, holding it near her face. But she did not drink of it. Instead she tried to pull her wits about her and focus with every ounce of energy left in her. The ability to use what glamour she possessed was far less developed than in some, but of all the things she could do, it seemed reaching out to someone came the most easily. And so she had to at least try.
Fighting to keep her hands steady, Khairra trembled visibly as in her mind she formed the image of the person she wished to contact, and as she stared hard at the cloudy liquid in her hands the wavering image formed. Suilebhain.
"Lord Suilebhain.. Lord Suilebhain.." Her trembling voice implored him to hear her across the distance. Time was desperately short.
"Lord Suilebhain.. if you can hear me, you must listen.. please.." She paused only a second to throw a backwards glance again.
"You must tell Sadoma and those supporting the resistance what is about to happen. I know that you and many in the clan do not feel the same and wish not to go to war with the Siabra. If, in your heart, you are against it, then I plead with you to indeed do as you feel is right."
Again a cautious glance and a shaky sigh. "The queen.. ..she is planning to use the Glimmer King!" The thought caused a shudder to run through her and she almost spilled the water from her hands. "Aye, Cuuldurach, the great dragon.. she wishes to charm the beast and use him to-" Her voice faltered and almost cracked, but she forced herself on. "-to devastate Hibernia.. to prove the Siabra domination once and for all. This is why they have kept me alive... They will use me to.. test their methods.. Should the dragon break his bonds and attack, there is no loss in one little underhill.."
Khairra’s breathing still had not returned to normal. It had not been the running alone that caused the quickened pace. There was imminent danger – to her, to her friends and family, to all of Hibernia.
"Lord Suilebhain.." Her voice was soft now as if she wished to convey the emotion of her plea. "I contact you not to tell you of my state but to tell you of the danger to Hibernia.. Time is so short, please, you must let Sadoma know all of this.. But I beg you, tell the clan that they are not to come if they do so only with thoughts of rescuing me. They would not listen to me if I were to tell them, but they will listen to you.. You are their lord.."
For a moment, Khairra seemed to straighten up a bit and perhaps grow a bit stronger. "I chose to come here on my own. I regret the hurt my actions have caused but I accept the consequences. And you must know, that whatever happens I..."
But on both ends of the ethereal, mental connection the image was shattered into a thousand droplets of water.
Khairra toppled backwards and when her vision cleared, she stared up at the Siabra who had delivered the blow, standing above her. Achingly turning her head aside, she saw more following. In a routine that was fast becoming familiar, the girl was hauled to her feet and dragged back.
Back to the siabra city.
Back to the Queen.
Back to the archmagi.
Back to be an unwilling tool in gaining the Siabra a weapon to be used in a war that no one wanted to face... the destruction of Hibernia from within...
The End