“Yes, I am the mother of lies, but ask yourself. What would telling you about your mother do for me? She would hunt for you, find you, and explain it to you. That oaf, the Grey Mage, will back up her story and you will forgive her. I have just cut all that nonsense away. Now you can forgive her, get all that worry and grief out of the way of your learning, so we may start building your power instead of going through all that drama.”
“Fine, but I still need Sarren.”
“Why? She has done nothing but betray you.”
“And she must pay for all that betrayal.”
“Ah, I like that,” Cassany waved her arm and Sarren reappeared as an apparition. “You can command her this way. Only you may see her. It will make it easier for you to learn.”
“A cat, goddess. I have always wanted a cat.”
“You wish for me to give you… a cat?”
“Sarren, Sarren can be my cat.”
“Oh no, goddess, please do not make me into a cat. I hate cats.” Sarren pleaded. She looked into the face of Cassany then gasped, “I mean, I love cats.”
“A cat, goddess, and you know she actually hates cats. It will be a perfect punishment.” Thessa said.
“I shall consider your request.” Cassany said.
“Also, where is Fia?” Thessa inquired. “She was in the travel spell with us.”
“Back where she belongs. I have no intention of interfering with another god’s champion yet. The White Mage is an ally for the time being. In fact, your ally is why I am here before you. You will have certain duties to perform in addition to your training. You will have to make certain sacrifices in order to gain power and keep my favor.”
“If you mean I have to kill people like I did as a blood feeder, I won’t do it!” Thessa knew the goddess needed her.
Cassany fumed at the words but regained her composure, “Then you will like the first task I give you. It is resurrection. I want to to bring someone back from my realm. He isn’t supposed to die as yet, and I can’t send him back directly. I need my Black Mage.”
“There’s no trick? The person won’t become some horrible blight on humanity or something?”
“No, of course not.” She said sweetly. “He is the son of the king. It will save your allies from the king’s wrath if his son returns alive rather than the way he is now.”
“I don’t care for your tone. You’re lying.”
Cassany fumed again, “See for yourself. Go back to your allies, the Blue Mage and the White Mage. They are already regretting killing the young prince. Resurrect him and send him home. I will do the rest. Since you do not like my tone, I am now commanding you.” She raised her hand and Thessa fell to the ground, pinned under an unseen force. “I know you believe you are somehow protected from my wrath, but know this. There are ways for me to punish you and ultimately replace you. Look at your cat for example.”
Sarren was horrified, “What? No wait.” With the wave of a hand, Sarren had become a cat with black and white mixed fur.
Cassany let Thessa up and faced her. “Sarren will instruct you. You will hear her thoughts in your mind. I have little time for you now, but I will be in touch. Go to your allies and resurrect Sir Danton!” With that, Cassany flowed back into the ground, “Tell her of the gold, Sarren.” She said before she was completely gone.
Sarren hissed. Thessa could hear her in her mind. You angered her. You stupid girl.
“Shut up cat and tell me how to get out of here?”
This is the clearing. It doesn’t really have a name other than that. Cassany loves to bring her servants here to talk, maim, or kill them. She would have told you much more had you not disrespected her.
“Disrespect her?” Thessa was on the verge of shouting, “I don’t know what that even means. I don’t serve her.”
Oh, you serve her now. You are the Black Mage. Sarren looked off into the distance, I wonder if it was Cassany who helped you with that. It must be the case. Someone like you could never have defeated me so easily otherwise.
“What would she have told me?”
The ins and outs of being the Black Mage. Remember when I told you that you would have to offer sacrifices? Well, you just sealed your fate with that. This resurrection may be easy for you, but you will have to do much worse later.
“I won’t kill people for her.”
Oh, you will. She told me to show you the gold. You are rich for a reason. You will… you know what? I am tired of trying to explain it to you. I think I will let you discover that for yourself. The only advice I will give you is you should go find a city to start off in and when you get good at disguise, you can move into smaller cities the way I did.
“Disguise?”
Yes, look at you. Your mother and becoming the Black Mage may have cured you from the beast you had inside of you, but you still look like a blood feeder. Here, pick me up. Thessa reached down and took the cat into her arms. Sarren pawed at a strand of Thessa’s hair. You can change your appearance. I chose to look like a man for the respect factor, but you can look however you want. It’s part of the Black Mage power skill set. The best infiltrator is the one no one can identify. It allows you to do the unspeakable things you are going to do for Cassany.
“I already told you. I am not going to kill people for the pleasure of a twisted goddess.”
Sarren looked at her with bewilderment, Really, what do you
