Fatima's Diary

reflections for the lost

27. Candy from the cradle

My head reels with all the planning and running we have done in the last two days. My Instructor would be proud that his lessons have come to such bloom in me. I believe that he would have seen some faults, either in planning or execution. But the plan as I devised it could not have been executed by my fellow Defenders and I. It would not have so easy had we been unable to purchase a potion of Invisibility, and a few scrolls of Fly and Invisibility. They cost us dearly, but their value was well worth the price. After almost a day and a half of arguing about the details of the plan I created, it was the cool of night that blanketed us as we struck.

Labrinnon and I had scouted out the area where Whit discovered that Lord Tolmadrin Quickblade, the regent that Toran had left in charge, was being held. We knew that there was a front and back door to the small two-storied building where he was held. Here is how the events unfolded, exactly to plan:

Lobar, Malakon, Whit, Labrinnon and I all flew in, all under the cloak of invisibility. I had Bull Strength cast upon me, so that I could carry Grayn in, and hopefully Tolmadrin out. Whit, Labrinnon, and I carrying Grayn flew to the backdoor, which did not have a ward cast upon it, but was solidly boarded up with wood.

Lobar and Malakon flew in and settled themselves within easy striking range of the two House Sharillius mages, who were under Abrantier sway, and were guarding the door. The two Air elementals which we were told were also guarding the door were nowhere in sight. Malakon and Lobar waited for the signal.

Grayn whispered some magical phrases that seemed to slip through my mind, and a moment later he was quietly shaping and bending the wood binding the door into a hole large enough to step or fly through. He then headed around to the side where Lobar and Malakon were eagerly watching their prey.

I and Whit flew into the doorway, Whit first, and Labrinnon standing ready around a corner inside, near the exit.

Whit and I flew quickly through the building, which seemed to be some small, decently furnished house. In the corner were stairs that we both swooped up. I am glad now that we did not run into each other, considering we were both invisible and in the second story was a House Sharillius mage and two guards. Lord Tolmadrin was bound in silvery cord, placed upon his bed near the stairwell.