The Writers' Circle

I know it's been a while since I posted the Prologue...all of my work is on an old computer with no internet acess, so I have to retype everything. I appreciate any comments posted.

Chapter 1: Zalark
 
          Zalark drew one last line on the parchment, completing a copy of one of the ancient spells. His dark, brown eyes never left the paper as he looked over his work one last time. Magic was not a skill fit for a prince, but then again, no one knew Igmarius even had an heir. He put away his materials and turned to see Trixie, Igmarius's pet cat, waiting near the door.
          Trixie stretched for a moment and calmly walked over. "Igmarius is still out hunting. I plan to go to Fort Telgar today- you should come." The cat said, turning to the door. Her white fur brushed the wall, and her tail waved slightly, anxious. "There's something else. I'll tell you on the way there."

          "I'll catch up with you at the gate." Zalark said, rising to his feet. What did she have in mind? He grabbed his bow and hurried to the gate. Trixie was there, washing herself calmly. Very little bothered her. The guards opened the gate for them, and the two left the castle.
          Once they were out of hearing range, Trixie led him into a grove of trees.
          "What did you mean before?" Zalark asked her.
          "Do you remember what day it is?"
          "Of course. It's the third of Rainmonth, the first quarteryear." he answered, wondering why she had asked.
          "You spent so much time learning that spell, I'm surprised you still remember. It's your birthday today. You were so busy trying to master the rune that you forgot about yourself." Trixie said.
          "I didn't realize...did it really take that long?"
          "You were up all night."
          "Oh." Zalark replied. So that was why Trixie was taking him there. His father hadn't realized, either. He had forgotten, just like last year and the year before that. Trixie was the only one who remembered him, and tried to make up for his father.

          "There's something at Fort Telgar you need to see. Igmarius received it as a gift from the Za'an."
          "The Za'an? They're not that trustworthy. What is it?" Zalark had met the leader of the Za'an, Zoltagh, last year. He had stared at Zalark the entire time with his red eyes, trying to determine how much of a threat he posed. It wasn't exactly unusual, bu it was definitely unnerving. Zalark left with the impression that the Za'an knew much more than they revealed.
          "He received an orb. I'm sure you'll recognize the name. It's the Red Eye."
          "The one from the legends?" Zalark asked in disbelief. The Red Eye had been mentioned in several of the ancient scrolls, usually the cause of a great war. From what the legends said, anyone who carried it for more than a month went mad. Why would his father accept such a thing? And how did the Za'an come to posses it?

          "The very one." Trixie continued. "The Za'an told Igmarius that it was a portal to another world. He took them seriously."
          "That would explain why he sent so many reinforcements to Fort Telgar. Is it true, about the orb?'
          "How would I know? The Za'an aren't the most reliable source Vorn has. No one else has said anything about it. It's the only information we have." Trixie replied.
          "From what the scrolls say, it doesn't seem likely. It's just a dangerous tool."
          "That's what I suspected. Still, it's best to be careful. There's the Fort. I'll follow you from here." Trixie stopped, letting him take the lead.
          Zalark glanced upward for a moment, spotted something in the distance, and shot it down.