Role

Chapter 16

'Let this day mourn the passing of Burtrand and Jacintha, the loving couple
who have lived their life in service to Voralia and the Light. In life,
they have served the Mages of this fair city and have contributed their
research to worthy causes. They have left behind a legacy of compassion,
and for that we shall always honour their memory...'

The crowd listened to the speech. A few guests had come to satisfy their
curiosity about an awful rumour that had been floating on the winds... that
this couple once had a daughter, and their daughter's name was Charine...
Charine, Chancellor of the Eternal Night, one of the elder Conjurers of the
Scions, and loathed and feared for a multitude of unspeakable crimes. Hers
was a life of crimes against the Light. The complete absence of any mention
of offspring of the deceased couple seemed to fuel the veracity of that
rumour.

The rest of the crowd comprised of friends, relatives and members of the
Voralian public. Jacintha and Burtrand were good Mages who had rendered
significant service to the city, and enjoyed a minor degree of fame among
the citizenry. They were otherwise mediocre mages, content to fade into the
background, to serve and to live quietly in the name of the Light.

Standing a distance apart from the crowd was a lady, old but still robust,
possessed of a severe gravitas and no minor degree of grace. Upon seeing
her, the Priest paused. The blessings of his Lady Voralia granted his eyes
the ability to sense the souls of people, and this lady exuded a blazing
aura of red.

'The lady over there. This is a holy event, sanctifying the passing of two
virtuous people. Who are you, and what gives you the right to intrude upon
our solemnity?'

The lady smiled wanly, and bowed her head. Without a word, she stepped up
before the caskets containing the corpses, and knelt for a minute. The
congregation watched her in silence - wild susurrations rippled through the
crowd, as outlandish speculation filled the minds of those present.

The lady bowed slightly, elegantly. 'I am the daughter of Burtrand and
Jacintha. Would you deny me my final farewell to my parents, dear Priest?'

The Priest hummed urgently, the congregation was bathed in a white aura.
'Charine! If we must die here to you and your foul magic, then let us die in
service to the Light. You may crush our bodies, but NEVER crush our souls!'

Admirable as the Priest's intents may have been, his fortitude was not
shared by the ordinary members of the congregation. 'Spare us, Chancellor!
We will leave!'

Charine regarded all that with a slight smile, and replied in a magically
amplified voice, 'Be calm, people. I have no need to slay you all. At any
rate, my pets only need that much feeding...'

The Priest cried, 'You are without your pets, foolish Chancellor! Guards!!'