The Writers' Circle

Jesse awoke suddenly, her head thumping remembering the same dream that she had been having now every night for the last ten days, she jumped to her feet scowling, regaining her bearings she ran to the edge of the roof top and peered over into the street below.
It was still dark and there was only a small amount of noise coming from the local tavern along with the strong smell of sewerage, sweat and beer.

Every night she had dreamt she had seen a man in the street dressed in a long black cloak, although it was always dark and the man seemed to be slightly bent over she could swear, although she could not see the mans face, that his eyes shimmered emerald green and then "BANG" like a punch to the head a flash of white light had emanated from the mans hand straight towards her causing her to grip her head in her hands with severe pain.

Although it was the middle of summer there was an unseasonal mist and her breath seemed to freeze in the open night air.
Jesse's head hurt as she strained to remember the recurring dream she had been having.  Who was the strange man? and why was he there in her dreams every night?

She laid back down upon the cold damp roof and peered into the mist, just as it had happened every night prior, the mist filled the streets with a strange blanket of silence and darkness which was hardly broken by the dim lights of the houses or tavern.  Jesse closed her eyes and returned to pondering her dreams.
A strange man dressed in a long black cloak, his face covered by the shadow of his hood, but he did not stand where he should be.  Straning Jesse focused clawing at every scrap of detail she could but shapes and colours mixed with sounds and giggling? Jesse jumped, startled she glared into the mist realising she had dropped off.  The cold air hung around her like an unwelcome blanket and she shuddered pulling her tattered patch worked cloak tighter around her neck.

Sitting on a ledge, of in my opinion a very high building, is a very strange place to be, especially at one in the morning but it is the best place to be to see most of the city and streets below at least when the mist permitted and also very useful for seeing when Savic, the tavern owner, throws out the scraps of food for the night into the ally behind, oh and for keeping an eye on the competition by which I mean the others, well the others like me in any case, kids mainly without families or places to go and even some with families to poor to buy enough food for themselves.  
We are not to be confused with the street rats though and must be very careful of them, although they are the weakest of the magicians to possess any kind of power they still know a trick or two and its often enough to warn someone off in any case but in this part of the city they are very few and rarely seen, they prefer to stay closer to the inner city where pickings are better, but the closer to the palace and the main parts of the city you go the greater the number of guards and black magicians you'll find.  I'm told things never used to be this way but it has been for as long as I can remember and certainly since the Circle of Order. 
I prefer it here in the northern outskirts, there is plenty of places to hide n sleep, never any guards or magicians, they would never be seen here and of course from here I can always get a good view.

Jesse jumped and ran to the edge of the roof slipping off onto the ledge below, she had heard the tavern door close and sure enough there lay some bread and part eaten meat along with what looked to be, no it cant be, it is, its pie, normally meat, potatoes and vegetables but a meal in its self and something rarely ever discarded.
Quickly dropping from pipe to pipe and along a low roof Jesse dropped into the alley.  It was quiet and dimly lit and with no one around this would be a feast tonight.  Her stomach gave a loud rumble as the smell of the food filled her nostrils, she could not remember the last time she had eaten and just the thought of what was to come made her mouth water.  She quickly ran down the alley and stopped to glance around before starting to lift the food from the cobbles, taking a mouthful of bread as she gathered it up.
A scuff of a shoe made her stomach churn, resisting the urge to freeze she span quickly around preparing to fend off any attacker but a small boy jumped back against the wall in fright, cowering looking up towards Jesse and then down at the food, his pleading eyes were almost tearful as he stared.  Jesse looked, the boy looked starving and another person a lady with a dirty face, matted hair and ripped clothes stepped out of the shadows putting her hands on the boys shoulders.  They took a step backwards and Jesse spoke startling them both, 'wait, please, here' she stretched out an arm handing some bread to the boy who stared before snatching it from her and retreating to his mother, she glanced at Jesse with a look of thanks and they both disappeared into the shadows.
Jesse made to turn to gather the remained of the food before retreating herself back to the safety of the roof top but as she did her blood froze in horror, a man stood right in front of her leaning on a staff slightly bent over and wearing a black hooded cloak.
Her heart beat loudly in her ears and before she could even consider a thought the man spoke softly but with a slightly croaky voice 'do not fear girl for I am just an old, old man in search of some nourishment, I will not harm you'
Jesse looked, sighed and offered the remainder of the bread, 'you are very kind' said the man accepting it, Jesse turned to gather what was left of the food, 'do you have a place to sleep?' but as she turned back the man had vanished without a sound.  Jesse squinted into the darkness, maybe she could not see him but she should have at least heard him leaving, his footsteps or his staff hitting to floor and how did he manage to be gone so quickly? Surly he could not move very quickly looking as old as he did, but sure enough he was gone and Jesse decided she best had too.

She sat on the ledge with what remained of the food and started to eat, it was not bad, not bad at all and although there wasn't all that much left a part of her felt warmth in sharing with the others she had met but that man still played on her thoughts, so familiar and so strange for him to appear and be gone without a sound, all very strange but there was something there a memory, a smell, something but she could just not quite place a finger on it, maybe a story she had heard or maybe she had seen him before? There were many like him scattered throughout the city , 'yes that must be it' Jesse thought 'I've seen him before in one of the city streets and with that comforting thought she brushed the crumbs from her clothes and stretched, the place never felt as cold after you had a full stomach.

The mist eased over the next few nights and the streets below started to buzz with the sounds of many new comers, from a distance the docks could be viewed and sure enough four new ships had appeared bringing fish and meat, clothing and of course mead from neighbouring cities on the west side.
The inns started to fill all over the city with men and women looking for a warm place to stay and some food whilst they passed through selling, buying or trading, although most stayed in the outer quarters where food and lodgings were cheapest and others because they did not dare to venture to deeply into the city for fear of crossing black magicians. 

As the tavern filled steadily over the course a few hours Jesse looked on watching as people came and went.  Men stumbled out through the doors as night began to fall and staggered off loudly but the scariest sight of all was one of the seven hurrying silently searching for something or someone, 'no that was stupid' thought Jesse, 'one of the circle of order would never be this far out of the main city', but Jesse inhaled sharply, the cold air freezing her lungs as the man swiftly passed below her, she was unable to move her glazed eyes fixed on him as he stopped in the street and turned.  It was one of the seven.  Holding her breath as if this would make her invisible in case his gaze was directed at her, she pressed her back firmly against the wall and continued to watch.

Glancing around for the reason he had stopped she searched with her eyes trying her hardest not to move and attract attention to herself.  Her eyes focused upon another man who had just turned a corner into the street. The circle of order would surly never run from anyone unless, and as Jesse looked on she saw sure enough a second order member.
He turned into the street and walked with an air of confidence, a blue light flickered into existence around him like a shimmering barrier.  He strode forward continuing towards the first man, his boots impacting lightly on the floor, his face covered in shadow by his hood and his cloak barely moving as he did.
The first mans head rose and the same light blue barrier appeared around him.
Both men raised their hands simultaneously, as a misty ball of blue light materialising in their palms distorting the air.  Both men stood contemplating, the blue light glowing brighter and edging white and then so quickly that Jesse nearly missed it, they propelled the light towards each other with such force that even at a distance Jesse felt the power rippling through the air, goose bumps appearing upon her arms as the hairs on the back of her neck raised as if a cold chill had blown down her collar.

The battle that continued was like nothing Jesse had ever seen before, she never knew magicians light could be so powerful yet she had never before witnessed two of the members of the circle of order battling before, she wondered if it was a play for power or to control the seven? She had only ever witnessed them pressing their magic upon others that never had much chance of ever fighting back, either to weak or to scared they never challenged them.  Even the best magicians of Yantaree never dared challenge one of the seven even when they were on their own although most often than not they were always certainly accompanied by black magicians, followers from their own city. 
Jesse's focus returned to the fight in front of her as hundreds of fine blue threads of energy rippled outwards in a half circle as each strike hit his opponents shield.  The air vibrated and flashed as an assortment of strikes battered each of the men.  As the first man dodged one of the blast and deflected another it struck parts of the wall below where Jesse was perched, she heard the smashing of the stone as bits flew outward from the wall followed by dust and splintering wood, the strike vibrated up threw the wall and Jesse slipped.
Although she was sure she was plummeting to the ground at an alarming rate her decent seemed to slow, all manners of thoughts flashed quickly threw her mind, she had never slipped of the roof before and with it  being a long way down she quickly realised that it would not end good.  This all passed through her mind in a second of course but as she fell she realised that surly a person never actually fell in slow motion, did they?  The air below her started to warm and inches away from the ground she felt cushioned and her body halted, an invisible barrier underneath her pressing up against her, she felt constricted.
It vanished in a mere second leaving Jesse sprawled on the floor but quite unharmed, she turned her head to see the first mans hand pointing towards her, he turned his attention back to his attacker and she noticed his shields light was flickering. It wavered for a mere second more before turning back to the see through but solid form that it had previously been.
'Why did he help me?' questioned Jesse in a mumbled to herself, 'they don't normally care about anyone getting hurt who is in their way'
As she continued to look on she started to realise that he was losing strength, 'he used some of his light to save me', she thought as her stomach sank.
More exchanges followed and the air hummed with power, crackling as though electricity was passing through it.  As the first man took a step back his shields light started flickering but he continued to strike although Jesse noticed each strike appeared to be weaker than the last.
She could do nothing but watch the battle and the sheer force of the magic being expelled from the two men.
The second man started to advance, paying no attention to Jesse all his focus upon the first with his hand still out stretched light continued to emanate and flow towards the firsts shield seemingly at continued strength wearing down his opponent.   More dust and stones swirled into the air as strikes went array or were deflected before hitting the shields.  The assault continued with a ferocious attack from the second man as he continued to advance.  The first man face, Jesse saw, turned from dismay and anger to a slight grin, he held his ground but stopped his attack, 'he was faking it' she said to herself, to draw him away from me.  

Without a split seconds notice she threw up her arms covering her eyes with her hands to protect them against the shockwave of light that had just come from the first mans entire body.  The wave rippled through the air like an expanding barrier, expelling heat and dust.  Buildings creaked as timber broke, glass shattered from the closest buildings and the ground shook.  The second man was blasted backward, his shield failing in the instant the wave struck him and he landed flat on his back several feet from where he had stood.
The first man looked at him laid upon the floor checking for the slightest sign of movement before he to fell laying unmoving upon his back.

He used all his power thought Jesse quickly, he's exhausted himself to beat the other, this was something well a few things never witnessed or believed by Jesse before.  Exhausting all your power was dangerous, it left you defenceless and weak, but also seeing one of the sevens power faultier must be unheard of? Jesse had often pondered about how much power they had and if it could be exhausted but how much power had they used? Could a normal magician withstand three of the blasts from one of them?, or two? or even one? 

She sat on the ground, the battle still ringing in her ears, dust settling and silence restored she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dark once again before getting to her feet and cautiously walking towards the first man.  He had after all risked so much to save her when she fell and she felt she owed him some thing for that at least.
She crossed over the street uncovering his face by moving back his hood.  She glanced and jumped at the slightest noise, everything appeared to be amplified in the now quite air.  She looked at the second man who was still quite still upon the floor and then back at her saviour.  His face was sharply featured with stubble and dark brown eyes, he lay quite still looking quite normal and still breathing Jesse noticed as his chest moved up and down.

She sat contemplating what to do, she could not stay here for long nor could she leave him laying there for others to find.  If he really was being hunted by the rest of the Circle of Order they surly would not be far behind.
Heat rising in her face her hands began to sweat as she wondered what to do, with the ever increasing thought that others would soon be upon them. 
Turning at the sound of foot steps all her nightmares came true in the blink of an eye, another, tall, black cloaked and hooded man peered into the street.  His figure slowly coming into sight so that his rough face was visible as he edged forward.   Wrapping his dark cloak around himself he stared grinning as he saw the two men on the floor and that the rest of the street was deserted apart from the young girl kneeing next to the first man.  As he began walking quickly towards them Jesse turned back, another one of the seven she though and she quickly began to shake the mans body in a feeble attempt to awake him, be he did not stir, she thought quick, thinking of running, of hiding in the shadows but before she had chance to decide to do either she turned once more to see the man only ten paces away.
Casting up her arm as if in defence, light struck the man in the chest like a bolt of lightening throwing him backward off his feet and to the ground.  
Jesse's vision blurred and her head went very light as though she was unable to get enough air.  She struggled to get up but was unable to move her muscles feeling heavy like weights.  She saw the man getting straight to his feet uninjured.  He looked around before dusting himself off and picking his moment carefully he looked at Jesse, a sly smirk of bemusement crossed his face and he stepped forward before kneeing next to them both.  He placed his right hand upon the mans head and closed his eyes, concentrating hard with a stern look upon his face he remained still and focused whilst Jesse just lay there still unable to move and intrigued by the mans actions.  A sudden bang from the tavern door opening forced the man to look up defensively, and with one glance from the man leaving the tavern he hurriedly stumbled off in the other direction.  
Jesse noticed the sly smirk appear again on the mans face but only for a split second before he was once again thrown backwards to the ground by another strike of energy, of blue light.  
The man whom he had been attending for want of a better word, had raised his head off the floor and lifted his hand defensively as a reaction before fully comprehending his surroundings.  
With his head still spinning and his vision blurred he slowly started to focus.  

The other man started to rise dusting himself down for the second time.  'Well that's twice in the space of five minutes' Jerek said as he stretched out his hand to help the other up from the ground, his smirk returned as he lifted his friend. 'This should make for an interesting day if this is anything to go by,' 
'I see your timing hasn't improved', smiled West, now dusting himself down too, 'and what do you mean twice in five minutes?' 'Well your little friend here struck me with light, she has exhausted herself and I do not believe she knew she was capable, it was more a defensive reaction, but not a bad shot none the less.' replied Jerek.  They both began to smile as they turned to look at the still unconscious cloaked man upon the floor, "Ah its Sillon, so that's why you didn't try to kill him" said Jerek "he never could beat you in a duel though" "Well he came close that time ill tell you, he's become a lot stronger" said West 
They both stared down at Jesse who felt a blanket of darkness fall in front of her eyes and heard the fading voice from Jerek saying 'come my friend, you need to rest.'