The waves crashed against the shore as a young woman of sixteen walked along the beaches, her long ebony colored hair blowing in the sea breeze. A plain violet dress clung tightly to the curves-curves that caught male attention. Beside the girl an abnormally large wolf trotted occasionally glancing her way. Suddenly she felt the pull of her master’s magic drawing her away from the shore and closer to the endless meadow. As she approached the small cottage she noticed her master standing outside creating spells near the fire that glowed blue. He wore his normal attire which was a thin brown robe tied at the waist by a white rope. His normally light brown hair was streaked with the gray that he tried so hard to hide and his smooth face adorned with wrinkles of time. Time could be seen upon his every feature and that worried her. “master why have you summoned me into your presence?” the girl asked. Casually she sat down on a stump hopping it wouldn’t move out from beneath her. unfortunately it didn’t matter, the stump scuttled away from her before she was even close to sitting down. The girl landed in the dirt with a slight plop creating a dust cloud that hung suspended in mid air. Something close to a laugh came from the jowls of the wolf as he took hold of the girls dress and pulled her to her feet. “ Dear Samantha you need to calm the wood sprite first.. I thought I taught you better then that,” Master Halgrith stated. Embarrassed Samantha looked down at her hands that were still covered in dirt. “ don’t worry dear friend it was an honest mistake….that I’m sure wont happen again” the wolf whispered. Samantha slowly ran her fingers over her friends soft fur. “it wont happen again I promise you that Samuel,” Samantha stated. Suddenly a small ground nymph came running up to the cottage breathing heavy. Samantha watched as Master Halgrith took the young nymph in his arms and listened to every word that was spoken. “ Child the nymph has just informed me that in a few minutes soldiers from the royal palace will be arriving carrying what is to be a formal invitation…and we all know those aren’t pretty.” Just as the nymph had said riders bearing the royal crest upon their armor came riding up from the forest. Samuel got on his hunches with his teeth bared and a low growl just coming from his throat. The first soldier stopped his steed and pulled out a roll of parchment before clearing his throat. “ Master Halgrith and Lady Samantha, King Agamemnon requests your presence at his wedding.. if you resist you will be taken by force,” he stated. Samantha watched as her master tensed and then relaxed a bit as he contemplated his options. “alright let us pack and we will be on our way….are you to accompany us to the castle?” Master Halgrith asked. The guards that had approached behind the captain seemed annoyed that they had to spend their time rounding up a few meaningless peasants. “yes we must accompany you to the castle…orders of his majesty himself.. he don’t want anything happening to you.” sure the king don’t want anything happening to us…more like he doesn’t want to take the chance of us running away. Why must he always make everything a lie? “ child go pack your belongings and hurry up about it as I ready our horses,” master ordered. Without having told twice she dashed into the hut and gathered what little belongings she had into a sac. When she emerged a long emerald cloak hung over her shoulders hiding her hair from view. “hurry child the men grow anxious as do the horses,” Samuel howled. Without thinking to hard on it Samantha swung herself up upon the horses bare back and carefully situated herself. “all ready?” the captain asked. Both her and her master nodded to acknowledge the captain’s question. Without another word the guards took their positions and led Samantha and Master Halgrith onto the road to Livandra. The sprites and spirits danced around the traveling group smiles upon their finely crafted faces. The magic was strong here but she knew that once they reached Livandra the magic would tarnish. child don’t worry you will still be able to weave your magic it is just that the sprites and spirits wont be there to help you. Samantha looked down at her side to see Samuel looking up at her with sympathy in his beautiful eyes. I know that but my magic wont do much good inside of those castle walls and besides I hear that the princess the king intends to marry is dark sorceress. something close to a chuckle came from Samuel as he looked forward at the Captain. Samantha you shouldn’t believe everything those fanciful creatures tell you but it is possible that she is. Samantha hung her head and sighed. Master even told me that she is a sorceress…or a black witch I cannot remember. “ what the…?” the sound of the captains voice startled her back into reality making her look up to see a pack of hungry rapid wolves standing in the center of the road.
