From the great hallway, an uproar announced the arrival of the castle's mistress. With her entourage, Voravia burst into the room; her underlings following her back into the room.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? Who are these two?" she was shouting at Rab'k. A number of her creatures, heavily armed, entered the room behind her.
"Rab'k, at your service," he gave a terse bow, only lowering his head slightly. He stood and smirked at Voravia.
"The great Lord Rab'k. So you have come at last. Where have you been?" she shouted, walking up to him and staring at him eye to eye. She obviously wasn't afraid of him.
"And what are you doing here?" she snapped, tired of waiting for his answer, "Why do I have to repeat myself?"
"I can tell you're pleased to see me," he laughed, backing away just a bit at the audacity of this woman, sorceress or not.
"I brought you a surprise. Some young captives from your caverns who seem disposed to take a bit of information they thought valuable. Also, I pursued another until I lost him near here. But I came because Rena'x told me I should."
"You idiot. Of course, he told you to come to me. As you probably know, I am technically your sister," she huffed at him, turned sharply and walked to look out her window, still open.
"Who opened this?" she reached and slammed it shut, turning back to attack Rab'k again.
"You fool, we are now near the time when we must began our great war. Where have you been? Chasing some other idiot across the desert and mountains? Why are you wasting so much time?"
Rab'k straightened but casually approached her.
"Because, dear sister -- if that is what you are -- I suspect this person possesses some powers we do not need in our lives. And I was intent on killing him before he could bring us harm," he growled at her.
He pushed his face close to hers, a burning anger showing from his eyes. She reached up her hand, pushed against his chest and walked around him.
"Get out of my face! You have wasted precious time. I have your quarry imprisoned below. I knew he was near. He is dangerous. Also, you haven't performed the task Rena'x told you to – you still don't possess the Ahar'n," she said arrogantly, "and, I repeat, who are these two?”
Anisah, swinging herself about slowly, turned to look at Voravia. Voravia was walking back across the room fuming, but suddenly she stopped and stared at the girl.
"Well, what do we have here?" she said with very subdued tones, turning away from Rab'k for lack of interest and walked to the edge of the table on which Anisah and Geth'n stood.
Anisah's eyes widened at the sight of Voravia; a gasp escaped her.
The dream.
She stared, open mouthed. Voravia circled the table, staring back at her. Voravia begin to smile, then sneered.
Spinning about, Voravia snapped at Rab'k, "Are you so busy being important you have failed to notice who you have as a captive? It seems obvious the girl has noticed something you haven't."
Rab'k turned casually to look at Anisah who couldn't take her eyes off Voravia. He looked back at Voravia, then back at the girl. The resemblance was remarkable; he looked at each again.
"This girl looks like you," Rab'k responded.
"Very good," Voravia hissed at him. "And to what do we owe this visit, young lady?" she turned and spoke to Anisah in a syrupy voice. "It is very gratifying to have family visit occasionally."
"I am not part of your family," Anisah retorted in defiance.
"I believe you are wrong, my dear," Voravia almost shouted.
She was becoming irritated with this new turn of events.
She glanced at Geth'n, frowned, "Who is this? Never mind. Kill him."
She flipped her hand in Geth'n's direction and turned to look out the window. Two of her creatures quickly jumped onto the table and, taking the rope from Geth'n's wrist, made a loop in it, dropped it over his head, and tightened it.
"Wait! What are you doing? This is my friend." Anisah shouted at Voravia.
Her voice was suddenly so strong Voravia's men hesitated and loosened the rope a bit. Geth'n gasped for breath.
"I forbid you to do this thing."
Voravia turned slowly, her eyes gleaming with ferocity. "Listen to me, my young niece! You do not command here! You would be dying too were it not for who you are."
"Just who do you think I am?" Anisah quickly responded. She suddenly realized she was not afraid of these people.
"What is your name?" Voravia asked, almost ignoring Anisah's question.
"Anisah!" Anisah shouted again.
"Anisah, how enchanting and lovely a name that is. Be not too dubious, young one, for I believe I know your history very well. Obviously better than you," Voravia spoke sharply, almost hissing. "You see, I believe you are the daughter of our,” she explained, pointing at Rab'k, "brother, Mano'n, in fact, our long-lost brother."
"I know nothing of this Mano'n. My father was a good man, a trusted man who could never have been related to the likes of you." Anisah said icily, able now to control her first reactions and openly defy this woman who was making such ludicrous statements.
Geth'n stood on his toes, his neck twisted and his head pushed to one side by the rope. He was trying desperately to snatch breaths, but also to listen to this unbelievable argument between the two women.
Rab'k, his arms folded, stood across the room watching the banter with amusement. He hadn't noticed the girl resembled his family before, partly because he had only seen Voravia once before she came bursting into the room earlier.
He hadn't suddenly acquired any reason to like his sister, especially considering her rude and obnoxious entry into the room -- they shared a common goal, and a father, but at the moment there was no love lost between them -- he found this whole proceeding enlightening as well as humorous.
"That fool could not have been your father. You shall see," Voravia smoldered. Had it not been for the girl's heritage she would have executed her already. "You then, if this is your friend, must stand by him while he dies. Let her down immediately!"
The creatures both released the line holding Anisah aloft; she fell to the table. They bumped against Geth'n while he gasped for breath, reached the line above Anisah, and cut it free. Her arms, still tied at the wrist, dropped in front of her. The two creatures stood looking at her as though expecting her to command them. The resemblance of the two women seemed much too strong to ignore the possibility they were in trouble from either, or both.
"You idiots. Kill him!" Voravia shouted, pointing at Geth'n. They almost leaped across the table they jumped so vigorously, but turned and fought each other for the rope to swing Geth'n over the table. Geth'n's face reddened as he gasped for breath; he grimaced.
"No! No! You can't do this!" Anisah screamed, reaching past the creatures and trying to hold Geth'n up to relieve the pressure.
"I believe we can, my dear," Voravia answered, looking at Rab'k and smiling, "possibly this will be your first lesson of obedience."
She laughed.
FIRST BATTLE