A Scripta

 

The sorcerer who had been his lookout was slated to be punished.  He was already shackled to a post outside, and he would be put in the well later.  Icy Rage went over to the man.

 

His topknot was undone and hung loosely down his back.  He wore only his hakama, his socks and sandals lost.  The soon-to-be-ex sorcerer looked up at Icy Rage. "What happened, dog?" Icy Rage demanded.

 

"The Traitor was there, too, with the Crystal Boy - and a woman with an army!"

 

Rage narrrowed his eyes.  "Oh, really." 

 

"They came from out of nowhere.  I did everything I could, Master, I used every power I had.  They defeated me first, but Master Li was still fighting."

 

Rage glanced at the body.  "So how many were there?"

 

"The Crystal Boy - he was in black armor and he used black magic that terrified us.  The Traitor, he had different magic than the Tsoo, Master Li said so.  And the woman was all white, with ghosts who attacked us and disappeared."

 

Icy Rage tapped his finger against his chin in thought.  "Did the Traitor seem to protect the woman?"

 

"I did not notice, Master."

 

Rage had heard this Copper Serpent was difficult morally and they had to break him, as happened to most boys at his age.  Could it be that after leaving the compound, he had found a woman to attach himself to?  Rage nodded to himself, kicked mud on the sorcerer and walked away.  Now there were two people they could use against this Traitor.

 

Icy Rage reported to Tub Ci, and waited outside his office for two hours before being seen.  He had not gotten to be the best in his abilities by being impatient.  Tub Ci looked at him with lidded eyes.  "Is the Traitor dead?"

 

"No, Master," Icy Rage said with a bow, "though I have new information.  I would like to take some of your men and direct them against another person that assisted the Traitor."

 

"So the Crystal Boy did not kill Master Li?"

 

"He did not, Master.  The Traitor did, with the assistance of a woman who summoned spirits."

 

Tub Ci tilted his head.  "Really."

 

"That is what the Failed Sorcerer outside said."

 

"Have Herald Chi Kang tear the image of the woman from his mind and show you all, and then throw him in the well."

 

"Yes, Master," he said, bowing.  He found the Herald in the mess hall, and brought him to the failed sorcerer.  Kang looked the man over and gave him a predatory grin.  Rage said, "He saw a woman who assisted a traitor of ours.  Show him me she is."

 

The Herald nodded, and put a finger on the sorcerer's temple.  The sorcerer tried not to scream, but his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell backwards.  Then the Herald turned to Icy Rage and placed his finger on his temple.  He got a vision of a woman in revealing costume, with white hair, partially visible, fading in and out of view.  Icy Rage didn't really want him to show everyone else, not yet. 

 

Not until he had his moment with her.