You enter a small chamber, much like a solar, in the east wing. There, a young woman, dressed in a green gown, sits near the fire. She rises when you enter. "Please, come in." Near her sits a small group of children. "I was just about to tell the children the story of how Lady Poca came to be here among us. Come, listen..."

"Bring her on deck. And be quick about it. I long to see the end of this..." Morgan Reinheiser looked to his first mate. The man nodded and went below-decks. Moments later he returned, dragging behind him a bedraggled woman. Golden hair fell over her back and face, and her once white gown was in rags. She fought his hold on her, adding to the bruises on her arms. Upon reaching Morgan, he forced her to her knees.
"Here she is, Captain." The woman looked up at Morgan, her look one of revulsion.
"Do you bring me here to torture me once more? To make yourself feel more the man?"
"Nay, wench. I bring you here to dispose of the burden you put upon me these months. Litaco has not come. He will not come. He obviously sees the merit in being rid of you." He laughed and drew his sword. He raised it high and swung it in an arch just above her head. He then raised his voice. "See here, Litaco. You are too late! Wherever you are, the death of your beloved is on your head!" He raised his sword once again, but before he could strike her, a blinding white light flashed, and his sword went flying into the sea. A bellow of outrage escaped his throat, but it was cut short when a man dressed in golden robes appeared before him.
"I'm sorry, Morgan Reinheiser, but you cannot kill this lady." A gasp came from the lady behind him, and the golden man stepped back. He looked down at the lady, and took her hand in his to assist her in rising. "Come, my dear. It is time you left this ship. Good day, gentlemen." The man lifted the bruised and battered lady into his arms.
"Stop!" Morgan bellowed. "She is mine! Who are you to come on my ship and take my prisoner?"
"Morgan Reinheiser, I am Rolan, the Mage of Light. This lady belongs to me, and the people of Gaultheria." As he spoke, both he and the lady were enveloped in a bright white light, and before them opened a portal into the realm of the Light Mage. Morgan stepped forward and tried to reach through the light to grab the lady. As he did so, his eyes widened and he fell to the deck, dead. Rolan merely shook his head and disappeared into the opening.

Days later, Lady Poca awoke, but she was unsure if she was really awake. What she saw must certainly be a dream. She was lying in a soft bed, covered by a golden coverlet. The bed was surrounded by filmy white curtains. She pushed back a curtain and saw a room of white and gold, straight out of a dream. As she let the curtain fall back into place, one on the other side of the bed opened. There stood the golden man.
"Do not be afraid, my lady. My name is Rolan, and I brought you here to help you. Reinheisar is dead, and you, you've been chosen for a great destiny."
She looked up at him, her face clouded over with emotions. She spoke only one word, "Litaco?"
Rolan lowered his gaze for a moment. "I'm sorry, my lady. A fortnight ago he was betrothed to the Princess Catherine."
Her face fell, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. A moment later, she looked up at Rolan, her look one of firm resolution. "What do you want from me?"
Rolan sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands in his. "Lady Poca, I've saved you in order to give you a gift. There's a castle in need of a mistress, and a people in need of a leader. I'm giving you charge of Gaultheria Castle and all her people..."

"Lady Poca stayed with Rolan in the realm of the Light Mage for a couple of months while we prepared Gaultheria for her arrival. In that time, the mage fell deeply in love with his guest. However, Lady Poca's heart was so completely broken by Litaco, that she could not return his love. She swore she'd save herself the pain and never love again. Rolan understood this, so he never told her of his feelings. Instead, he cared for her and gave her everything she could desire, until it was time to bring her to us. Now, he watches over her from his realm. And some people say that late at night, when everyone is asleep, he'll visit Gaultheria. They say he is always near by the Lady, but you can't see him." The girl smiles at the group. "Ah, but I've told you enough for today. Run along, children." Then she looks to you. "Why don't you join us in the Great Hall. Lady Poca should be there now, and I'm sure she'd like to meet you."

You follow her out of the room.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page