|
"Nothing." I spit the word out almost as a curse, both to answer the taunting voice and chastise myself. I allow myself to collapse to my knees once more, knowing, somehow, that the shadow is already gone, taking my window of opportunity with it. The voice speaks to me, through me, fading into the silence far too slowly for my liking. "The waking world is but a lie. The face of truth is obscured by the myriad colors of light and life; the words of wisdom drowned out by the cacophony of a million voices. Only with our eyes closed can we truly see." The words remained far after the voice had faded, tapping into the sheltered depths of my soul to access dreaded recollection, pulling me back through the miasma of memory to another place and time… I awoke with a start, fighting back the instinct to retch. A soft touch to my stomach registered a numbness in the wake of the pain, though the skin remained tender where the magical radiance had struck me… The radiance. Lhradrul.... Though it took me a moment to find my feet, I was off as quickly as I was able, sprinting through the cavernous halls of the subterranean palace I called home, wasting no time in tracking down my older sister. I found her, just as I expected, deep within the shadowy confines of the study, pouring over voluminous tomes of eldritch lore. That penetrating gaze tore itself from the weathered pages to regard me as I entered, a miniscule smirk signaling that Lhradrul had been anticipating my arrival for some time now. "I'm disappointed, sister," she intoned in her usual condescending manner while waving dexterous fingers across her open mouth as if to disperse an imaginary yawn, "I was hoping you would wake up hours ago, that spell wasn't even my strongest." For a moment I thought to argue on behalf of my bruised pride, but the reminder of her sorcery kept the priorities straight in my mind. "Lhradrul, where did you learn that spell? You know Light Magic is forbidden by the Matriarchs!" Lhradrul's eyes narrowed until only pinpoints of malefic ruby light were visible, her normally haughty expression taking on an air of sudden severity. "I expected more from you, sister. Certainly you realize the Matriarchs themselves wield such enchantments. Why, then, are we forbidden to learn of them?" I watched my elder sister's hand glide almost lovingly across the surface of the enormous libram spread out before her. The conviction in her voice held me rapt, for I had never seen such seriousness displayed by the normally aloof sorceress. "Why should decrepit old hags hold all the power? The way of the drow is not to blindly accept authority, sister… let them earn the right to lord over us, for the first time on a level playing field!" |
|