Rowida rode her horse away from the ruins of the Green city, tailing her army as the magic defenses of the walls started to gain power again, possibly killing anyone who is not a green in a five mile radius.
As she reached the very spot where the effect of the magic ended she stopped, dismounted, and gazed forlornly at the destroyed city.
Her handmaid and emissary to the Order of purification, came at her from the farthest lines of the army, now deep in the forest surrounding the city.
“My lady, you are too close to the reach of the magic,” said the handmaid. “Please, step some paces back.”
“They all died, Gertrude,” Rowida said wretchedly. “He followed on his promise, he didn’t even hesitate.”
“My lady, please come with me,” Gertrude insisted. “We can discuss how to follow through with the plan at the new camp site.”
“I told him I needed at least one of the greens.” Rowida turned viciously on her handmaid, “How could he have done that? How could he ignore my need so?”
“I beg you my lady, please move back.” Gertrude reached to pull Rowida towards her, “We can plan a payback for his careless behavior at the camp.”
Rowida pulled the arm of Gertrude which she tried to pull her back with and said with ice tainting every word, “You are his emissary, you betrayed me as much as he did, you deserve worth fate even than his.”
“But I am your handmaid, even before I became his emissary to you,” Gertrude said desperately as she squirmed in the steel grip of Rowida.
The air sizzled, and on strand of hair from Rowida was pulled towards the ruined city, for a moment it glowed bright, then it turned to dust, the magic of the walls was in full effect.
“You were his spy from the beginning.” Rowida pulled Gertrude’s arm towards the place where here hair was turned to dust as she said, “Who ever heard of a red maid, liars, all of are liars.”
Gertrude jerked backwards, as she pulled on her Vrill for strength, certain of her Vrill and its power, she pulled with her other arm on Rowida’s.
Terror covered the face of Gertrude with its shade, she couldn’t move the other woman at all.
“I am the Dragon Lady, you fool.” Rowida threw her head back to give a long throaty laugh, then she said, “You think controlling all those dragons and magical creatures just happens? I am not fully human anymore, I am much more.” As she said the last words she hurled Gertrude towards the magic barrier.
Gertrude didn’t even have the chance to scream, she glowed for a moment, and was instantly turned to dust.
Standing with her back to the city, Rowida looked at her feet and said, “He used me, and I believed him, he has a lot to answer for.” She looked back where the dust pile which was her handmaid started o blow with the night’s air, and said, “He will have to pay for your death Gertrude, I loved you so much, you were my best friend.”
Then she walked slowly towards her army, thinking that today was lost, but she will always have tomorrow.
Characters From Agartha