The Virian Chronicler

Rita stared at Morgan for a few minutes, utterly confused by his reaction.   She had tried to kill him but he had refused to fight back and even offered to help her.   It reminded her of when she had left the nasty messages on Andreas’s voicemail and he had forgiven her.   Also, when she had told him that she hated him, he had responded by vowing to love and protect her always.   None of it made sense to her but she felt far too exhausted to try to fathom it out.   She left the room, closing the door behind her, and made her way back to her quarters. The irritating little mage known as the Trickster was sitting cross-legged on her bed.   He smiled at her.   “Not feeling angry anymore, eh, Chairkiller?” “Ye tricked me!” she accused.   “He ain’t a student.   He be a Master Sorcerer of great power and there be demons lurking within him”. Kvyrt chuckled.   “To an Ascended Master such as my good self, everyone else be a...

Frustration forced Elsa to punch the wall. She grimaced at the pain through her knuckles, but it helped her to focus. She had felt something, and she knew if she could find something even stronger, a more powerful memory, she might break through to Gerald. The only danger was that Ursula might discover what she was doing and put her to sleep again — maybe even move her. But it was worth the danger. Elsa closed her eyes and focused on another horrible memory. It was when her parents were executed, and she hadn’t intended to watch it with herself. She and Elaine had been up on the battlements, trying to think of a way to save their parents. But she hadn’t been able to, and holding her sister in her arms as tightly as she could, she had seen both her parents beheaded. Elaine had cried out as Elsa had held her as tightly as she could, and both girls had sobbed helplessly in each other’s arms. It had been the last time Elsa had willingly cried in front of her twin. ...

“Why, Rita?   Why d’ye kill him?”   Andreas’s voice sounded hurt rather than angry.   Rita shifted awkwardly in her chair, thinking she would prefer him to rage at her.   “To protect River.   She naively thought that this Lord Parmesan wanted to be friends with her.   She seemed to have fallen for his charming banter and wouldn’t hear a bad word said about him”. “So based on nothing but yer prejudices against Varagan traders, ye reduced him to ash, along with half a departure lounge”.   Andreas sighed and shook his head.   “Tis lucky that the spaceport authorities and the owner of the liquor store ye trashed ain’t going after ye for compensation.   I managed to convince them that the damage were caused by an electrical fault in one of the lighting circuits.   That may have placated them, but twon’t do much for Lord Parnamiam’s family.   I’ve had to arrange for his ashes to be transported over to Byzarth. ...