Aaralon reluctantly reached in, careful to avoid pricking his hand on the tiny spikes.
The collar was ice cold. Lifting it out of the pouch, he looked in fascination at the inset rubies and incredible workmanship of the thin leather, wondering what sort of demon magic the collar contained. Aaralon felt a stirring in his hand. Suddenly, the collar began twisting and writhing in his grip like a thornsnake caught by the neck. Taken by surprise, Aaralon threw it down into the bag where it immediately stilled back into a slumber. The thing reeked of demon and blood magic, and Aaralon felt nauseous merely having held it. It had felt, he noted, as though some impatient and malevolent creature were trapped inside.
"Think of it as a ward to protect the princess against danger," Memp said, the corners of his mouth curling up in a sinister-looking smile, "Oh yes, and you will need to convince the princess to put it on by herself. It would be, after all, poor form to force such a bit of jewelry on a princess."
Aaralon pulled the drawstring tightly shut, wondering if it would be necessary to hide the bag from his fellow magic students on account of the suspicious runes that adorned it. He didn't particularly want to guess at what Memp had in mind by giving such a collar to a princess, and he certainly didn't want to risk asking.
"Gather magical ingredients in the mine, and convince princess Elsie to wear that collar. Simple enough tasks," Memp said, "From a student such as yourself, I expect to see results. When you complete your assignment I will ensure that you are properly rewarded for your efforts."
The instructor gestured with his hand and the heavy door unlatched itself and swung open.
"I will procure permission for you to leave the college with the next group of first-year students. They depart on the morrow. You had best pack your things." |