Ahneela supposed she should feel relief.  The drought had shown no signs of respite in the first half of the season. 

It had taken nearly ten weeks just to gather the Burukai-Ashteen.  These Elemental Priests had the power to influence weather, though on a limited scale.  Their secretive nature always made it difficult to find them.  Harder still was convincing them to come forth and render help to a land that held no interest for them. They had come but only after much pleading.

They arrived in a dust halo created by the horse-drawn wagons they rode.  That had been nine days ago.  News of their arrival brought various envoys from neighboring lands.  Each offered what it could in an attempt to bring the priests to their outlying estates and territories, for their plight was just as desperate.  As far as Ahneela could tell, everyone in the Geng-Desche was suffering varying degrees of the drought.

The Geng-Desche had long been one of the most bountiful lands under the ruling family of the Grand Corronne and his forefathers.  Their borders spanned nearly a fourth of the continent, and had been so for nearly sixteen generations.  The Grand Corronne's lineage had been stoic in its just and generous treatment of all those who pledged their servitude and allegiance.  And it was through this strict edict that the Geng-Desche came to be regarded as the ruling influence over the lesser territories.  The Grand Corronne's points of view were highly respected and considered during the meetings of the High Counsel held each year during the summer solstice. This was a time of rejoicing and trade when merchants would meet and bring rare and much desired exotic spices, artifacts, and foreign products from the far reaches of the continent and beyond.

This year the Joining -- as the High Counsel meeting had come to be known -- had been a shadow of its former self: the drought had cost the peasants and land owners dearly.  Very few had enough to spare even the most mundane of crops and craftwork for the celebrations. 

A sad business indeed.

This was a mystery Ahneela had been pondering since her arrival to the capitol of Rene-Cri nearly four months ago.  Strange and unusual things have been occurring.  The appearance of Fire worms, a plague that had descended upon the lands with a viciousness unseen in decades.  The outlying farmers were hard-pressed in their attempt to prevent the inevitable fires these creatures caused with their caustic slime trails.  What the ooze didn’t ignite it destroyed.  Other, lesser threatening incidents were talked about in fearful whispers along the Seller’s Quarter.  Ahneela digested the rumors, analyzed them, and filtered out the heresy.  She was coming to the conclusion that influences other than those found in nature had had a hand in the weather’s lack of rain.  Further, most of the rumors mentioned a new unidentified power bent on subduing all who stood in its way.  This last tidbit of gossip had come from a newly arrived merchant two days ago.  His news spoke of similar troubles in other lands. All of these coincidences began sometime about four or five months' back.  In Ahneela's mind, events were escalating, and this was just the beginning.

The downpour had gone unabated for three days.  Ahneela recalled the series of events as she again attempted to fathom any detail she may have overlooked.  She and others like her had been summoned to escort the priests to the eastern Citadel.. 

Towers as massive as small mountains. These citadels were towers of sanctuary and testing for any person -- or creature -- endowed with magical powers. Their walls seemingly made out of one gargantuan piece of an emerald-like stone.  The rich green glow deep within the rock emanated with an iridescence not seen anywhere else in the known world.  It was impossible to put an age to these monoliths.  Even the oldest texts inferred that they existed from a time unfathomed. 

Ahneela's reverie was broken by a soft knock at the door.  "Yes.  Come in."

The door opened and admitted a young stocky man dressed in garments similar to what Ahneela wore.

"So, Belac, I see you finally found me.  Your purpose must be of some urgency to overcome your lazy nature."  Belac smiled sheepishly.  He and Ahneela had been friends for nearly six years since he had ascended to the ranks of the Gaidin-Ashteel.  It had been Ahneela who had welcomed him into the elite Mage-Guards during the ceremony so many years ago.  In that time, he came to consider Ahneela as an older sister, of sorts, and thus treated her with a familiarity few others shared with him.  "Actually, I do have an urgent purpose.  I have been sent by the Burukai-Ashteen Prime to gather the Guard.  He has told the attendants serving him that we are to assemble immediately in the Grand Hall.”  After a moment Belac said, “It’s not good, ‘Neela.  Three weather monks were found murdered just beyond the Hold’s walls.  I saw them.  They looked as if they had been ripped apart by some beast, for surely no man could have done that to them.” Ahneela straightened upon hearing this, “When did this happen, and why didn't you come find me sooner?”

“This morning.  I was returning from the city with another of the Mage-Guard troops when we came upon the gathering crowd at the main gates.”  Looking pale, Belac swallowed, then added, “There was no blood . . . anywhere.  Only their limbs.  One of the heads had the markings of the Guild.  That’s how I know they were Burukai-Ashteen.”

After a moment, Ahneela turned back to the window and the storm raging outside.  This is not right!  It is not natural.  Someone or something is behind all of this.

 “Belac?  Were any body parts missing?”  It took Belac a moment to respond, “I couldn’t begin to tell you . . ."

Ahneela rounded on him.  “Think!  You said you identified one of the monks by his markings.  Were the other heads there as well?”  Belac frowned in concentration.  Then his head snapped up, “No!  I remember now.  I only saw the one head.  The other bodies were also decapitated, but their heads were nowhere to be seen.”

“Then it was not the work of some beast as you say.  A beast would not attack prey only to eat a part of the body that has so little flesh, and leave the rest behind.  No.  Those monks were murdered by men.”

Upon hearing this Belac’s face turned grim.  “This is not good at all.  That would mean they used one of the Sage Powers.  What would be the reason for killing them, and in that manner?”

After a moment of consideration Ahneela stood, and with an assertive look about her she decided on her next course of action.  Grabbing Belac's arm she made way toward the door.  Once in the hallway she released him and strode toward the eastern wing where the main stairs would be, Belac hurried to follow.  Small torches and sconces filled with oil burned dimly.  The need for brighter light was not required; the luminescence of the stone was more than adequate.  Servants of the Citadel hurried passed them carrying out orders or running errands for the visiting priests or mages residing within the Hold.  Everywhere Ahneela looked there seemed to be a mage or a monk of one Guild or another.  She saw two Chuntaru chiefs arguing quietly with each other, oblivious to their surroundings.  Rounding another corner, she almost ran into a Healer-Killer.  With a surprisingly gruff voice, the little man bowed out of the way.  Ahneela bowed in return.  Healer-Killers are noted to be very fickle about courtesy.  It was best to comply with their attitude -- upsetting them was not in one's best interest.

Ahneela noted that in spite of the many occupants out in the vast hallways, there was a restless quiet that purveyed over everything.  As she and Belac wended their way amid the throngs of people, she spoke, "I tell you, Belac, my suspicions grow stronger every day that something or someone is behind these unusual events.  It is just a matter of time before I make sense of it all.  In the mean time I believe the weather monks owe us some answers.  Come on."

Muttering to himself, Belac hurried to catch up to her.  Falling in step beside her he voiced his questions, "Just what do you think is going on here?  I mean, you've been this way for several weeks yet you won't clarify what it is you are suspicious of, or who it is you suspect.  How about taking this time to share your thoughts with me?"  The two walked in silence down the great hall that stretched from the central hub of the tower.  As they walked, they occasionally heard  mages uttering their cantrips and meditative prayers, each according to the edicts of their branch of magic or learned abilities.

Belac was about to repeat himself when Ahneela turned her green eyes to him.  She spoke haltingly at first.  Then, as her ideas took form, her suspicions spilled forth until she had divulged every detail of her private contemplation.

"Do you recall your knowledge of the lands west of the Geng-Desche?"

"Yes," answered Belac, "What does that have to do with anything?"

Ahneela looked at him in surprise, "Have you listened to a word I've said?  I believe the source of all our troubles is to be found somewhere across the Bloodwind Desert.  It is because of this belief that I will be traveling there after we see the Burukai-Ashteen back to their homeland.  I plan to track down the source that is responsible for all of these events and bring him to justice in the Citadel of Truth."  As Ahneela spoke of her intentions, Belac's face betrayed his astonishment.

"I think the rains have soaked through that skull of yours and affected your reason.  Just how do you propose to cross the Bloodwind Desert?  To even consider such a notion is utter lunacy.  The most adept Mage among us would be hard pressed to fend off the Bloodwind for more than a day.  Two at most.  And yet you plan to make this journey?  Alone?"

Ahneela spoke, her voice like steel, "I am not asking your approval.  I am only telling you this because I trust you like no other."

Then, in an attempt to lighten the grimness of her plans, she changed the subject of their discussion.  "What say you?  Shall we detour to the kitchens for a quick snack before heading to the main assembly room?"

Relieved at the change of subject, Belac eagerly responded, "Are you kidding?  I'm hungry enough to eat one of those Fire worms!"

They continued to the end of the great hall then descended the wide spiral stairs that led to the lower floors.  As they reached each landing, they were joined in their descent by other Gaidin-Ashteel on their way to the general summons of the head weather-priest.  Finally, after several flights of stairs they reached the ground floor.  They were greeted by throngs of people milling about in preparation of the departure.  Ranks of Mage-Guards headed toward the south wing where the assembly room was.  Ahneela and Belac started for the center intersection of the Citadel.  Again Ahneela took notice that apart from the general noise made by the servants carrying sacks and other packages, and their talk of the rains, little else could be heard, especially from the mages or the various monks.  It made Ahneela feel a tickling at the base of her spine.  A tickling she had come to trust in foretelling her of danger.

"You look like you are about to go on a rampage."  Ahneela turned to Belac, "Huh?  Oh.  Don't you feel it?  It's as if we were preparing for war, yet there is nothing to indicate it.  Nothing except my senses, and they are driving me to distraction."

Belac paused for a moment and cocked his head sideways as if attempting to sense what Ahneela described.  "Well, I cannot say I feel that which you say, but I have noticed that every Monk, every Mage, and every  Seeker-Hunter has kept to their sect.  I don't think more than a handful has ventured to talk with each other, and only for 'official reasons'.  Why, just last night I was telling Gorrell . . ."

Ahneela interrupted Belac in mid sentence, "That's it!  No one is sharing knowledge as they normally do when they come to a Citadel.  This one detail had escaped my attention."  Then, more to herself than for Belac's sake, "But why?"

Belac thought it best not to voice an opinion.  If anyone knew the customs and etiquette among the magicians it was she.  It had been Ahneela who had been raised in an outcast village.  This much she had shared with him during long treks as they escorted other Mage groups to do their business of helping ailing cities and villages.  Though she had the inborn abilities required to become a Mage herself, the spark was far too weak within her. Despite this shortcoming, she studied just as fervently as those more capable.  Thus, by the time she had grown into a young woman she had become an authority in every branch of magic that existed throughout the Geng-Desche.  When she was allowed time to herself she would find the local neophytes and acolytes and tutor them as a way of honing all that she knew.

Ahneela also knew that every Mage, Monk, Priest, and student had to come to the Citadels in order to attain the higher rankings within their given circle of magic.  It was within a Citadel's walls that they were tested.  If they succeeded in passing the rites imposed by the Keeper of the Citadel a Mage Scroll would be etched into the Hall of Names.  Every Citadel had such a Hall.  When a student ascended through the testing, a part of his soul's Name would be given unto him or her, and could be invoked only by that Mage when calling upon his powers.  This Name would appear in every other Citadel at the instance of ascension, thus announcing to all that a Mage had attained a higher level of mastery in his particular gifts.   

It was said among the oldest of Mages that, in a time shortly after the Citadels came to be, there existed Mages who had attained six of the seven Scrolls.  These were mages of unimaginable powers.  Their abilities had been almost god-like.  Whether the seventh Scroll was ever attained is not known, but if there had been such a Mage he would have commanded powers that would easily crush the strongest among those living in the present.