1 Chapter 1: Born Again

Song recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rETGJHkZyhs

A field of ice.

Stones marked in blood.

Ruins of language forgotten.

Now to wait for the final piece...

A long field covered in ice sat surrounded by trees painted in snow. At the center was a circle of stones. A young woman with long dark hair knelt beside placing each stone with a steady and cautious hand. Her pale skin was turning blue under the ferocity of the northern wind but she did not stop. She could not stop.

Once they all learnt what she had done, she would surely be expelled from the world of magic. Necromancy is a wicked sin. It was a forbidden school of magic for a reason. It was a practice that was seeped in death and stories of terrible retributions.

Not that it matters. There was no turning back now.

Veretta stared at the altar of stones with intensity. Each was marked with a tiny bloody inscription. Her bright green eyes inspected every aspect. It had to be perfect. There would be no second chance.

Finally, her eyes panned up from white snow to grey sky. The sun was in it's apex. Then the shadow began to creep across it. The red eclipse that only came once every hundred years closed off the light. Veretta's eyes came back to the large tome she had opened in front of her and began to read the words.

"Death to life. I summon you. My life to yours."

She took the blade from under her cloak and dragged it across her palm. Red drops of blood fell on the white snow. Then the blood began to quiver. It spread like wildfire, coating the entire circle in a dizzying spiral of symbols. Veretta clasped her hands together and prayed. If there were any gods of mercy still listening, she would give them her earnest plea: Please let it work. Please.

When next Veretta's eyes opened, the white field's ice had been coated a dark and malevolent red. The blood moon had completely overtaken the sun. The circle of stones began to rattle. There was unearthly silence. Not even a bird in the sky. Black smoke began to rise, thick and strangely opaque.

Veretta stared into the depths of the spiralling miasma with her heart beating rapidly. Her entire body felt numb, as if her soul had been raptured away. She could not run. She felt a chill to the bone against her cold flesh doubled over in the shroud of snow.

Within the eye of this small hurricane, there came a voice...

"Am I...alive?"

Veretta's eyes widened in disbelief. It worked...

The red moon disappeared beyond the pale sun. Once more everything was exceedingly white. At that moment, the grey clouds allowed light to shine through on the forest below. Veretta stared up at the eyes of the man standing before her. His eyes glittered like gold. Veretta had never seen anything quite so beautiful and yet incomparably cruel.

"Are you the black wizard?" Veretta whispered.

He titled his head to one side regarding her with a blood thirsty aura so heavy Veretta could feel it from beyond the confines of the protective circle. Veretta swallowed, not breaking her gaze.

"Are you the first second grand wizard of the Empire?" Veretta asked with more authority.

Again he did not answer. However, the hostile energy abated. His eyes went from her to their surroundings. He cast an inspecting over the long white fields of ice.

"It's so bright," he uttered, " it burns my eyes."

He was not how she imagined at all. She had expected an old man, raggedy and wise. The man before her was young, perhaps only a few years older than her. He was dressed entirely in black with armour and a long dark cloak that reached the floor. He wasn't at all like the retiring mages of her college. He carried a sword still speckled with blood.

Veretta licked her lips. Her throat felt dry from fear. She quickly foraged the book from under her and held it up to him.

"This is you, is it not?" she stared up eagerly.

He glanced down uninterested. He seemed far more preoccupied with their surroundings. He spun around looking at the forest beyond. For a moment Veretta was able to furtively take a better look at him. She hadn't yet dared break from his gaze.

He had wavy dark hair that was tied back. He was tan and well built though not overly muscular. He might have been called exceedingly handsome if not for the savage look in his eyes. He had exceptionally cunning eyes that turned brown when the light left them.

He abruptly turned back with a look wild with impatience. Veretta tried not to recoil. She could show a man like him no fear.

"You're nothing but a child," he said in a low voice, "A child like you performed such a spell?"

"Yes," Veretta nodded. "Well, I am not a child..."she added.

"No, but you are a necromancer," he said with a certain distaste. "You have brought me back from death,"

"I.." Veretta clenched her fist, "Yes, I have,"

She couldn't deny it now.

"For what purpose have you returned me to life?" his hazel eyes narrowed.

"I wish to offer you a deal," Veretta inhaled deeply.

The corner's of the black wizard's lips curled up into a grin, "A deal?" he smirked.

"Yes," Veretta went on, "If we form a blood contract, you will have life anew. You were dead. Presently, you cannot step outside of this circle or you will cease to be. But if you make a contract with me, you will be able to walk the earth again,"

"But my life will be tied to yours," he replied flatly. "And you will be able to command me as you will?"

"That is true,"Veretta returned, "but I have been researching and there is a possibility..."

"I don't deal with possibilities," he interceeded. "I only care about what is."

"I cannot force you to accept," Veretta said quietly.

"Then I will ask you again," the wizard's sharp eyes narrowed, "For what purpose have you brought me back?"

"I...I need your help," Veretta's voice trembled, "there is a terrible army led by a savage warlord who is forcing his way across the continent. His men will reach our borders in less than a month. I am the only magic user left in our village. Our king will not send aid. We will all be killed,"

"Why do you not run?"

"All the men in our village have already been conscripted. All that remains are the elderly and young. We have no money so no one will accept us. They have left us to die,"

"So, you want me to be your sword?" he smirked, "To cut through your enemies?"

"No, I want you to be our shield."Veretta met his gaze with wide unwavering eyes. " Protect us and I will give you whatever you ask. I beg of you,"

Veretta lowered her head to a bow, her clenched fists trembling as she did so. The wizard stared down with an impenetrable glare. His eyes cut into Veretta without mercy. His features were so pristinely cut as if from stone, Veretta imagined he might be made of ice. Why would such a man help her? In truth, she had nothing to offer but her own blood. But if that's what he asked...

"I accept,"

Veretta's mouth dropped open. She blinked rapidly. The wizard's hand was outstretched before her. For a moment she just continued to stare up at him breathless. Eventually, she took his hand and came to her feet. His touch was warmer than she expected.

"You agree?" Veretta questioned.

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" he stared down with an inscrutable expression.

"No," Veretta shook her head, regaining composure, "tell me what you want in return. I will do everything in my power to give it to you,"

The wizard titled his head to one side, "I'll tell once I decide,"

Veretta glanced up at him apprehensively. An open ended deal? Surely it would be a mistake. But she had no room to argue. She clasped her hands together as she often did when nervous. She had come this far, she couldn't turn back now. The wizard had become quiet once more. His eyes were cast up to the sky. There was a long silence.

"Then I accept too,"

Veretta knelt down to the protective circle once more. Her hand hesitated over the boundary. Once it was broken, there would be nothing to stop him from killing her. She had heard such stories of summonings gone wrong. If he did not wish to be bound, he could kill her at any time to break the spell.

At that moment, Veretta felt eyes upon her. She knew he was watching. She quickly drew her knife and scratched out one of the ruins upon the circle. She slowly stood up. As she had guessed, the wizards' snakish eyes were upon her.

Veretta stepped back apprehensively. He stepped over the boundary, towering over her. His eyes never leaving her.

"What shall I call you?" he asked.

"Ah...my name is Veretta," Veretta answered nervously and averted her eyes.

For a moment, the black wizard just looked at her with a blank expression. Veretta hoped he would break his gaze soon. Instead he leaned in so close Veretta could feel his breath on her neck. She was frozen with fear. The terrible tales of death came to her mind with a vengeance. Would he kill her? Veretta's blood turned cold. She could not turn away. The wizard smiled ever so slightly.

"Lead the way," he whispered into her ear, " Veretta."