Koji gave a sigh of releif, he really had not wanted to go knocking on doors after all.

Terra nodded with a grin at Erde, "It could have indeed, there are many ways Koji does not fit your typical Fire Mage, but his temper is a perfect match, quick to go up, but just as quick to go down. He is also like a sleeping Volcano, waiting to erupt, you can feel it as he lets his power loose, it's like there is so much anger behind it, but I know Koji would never intentionaly hurt any one." Terra said softly as they waited, Koji was pacing, again like most fire Mages he did not sit still well most of the time.
He already knew he would not be able to sleep until he had gotten Jess out of Dartmoor. Once the Secretary was ready to go he followed after, close behind the young man's heels.

The secretary lead them through the streets every few moments looking back to make sure they were still there. There was fear in the way he moved yet he worked hard not to show that fear to them. his voice had been steady the whole time he had been talking but now it was clear that some of his actions at the desk had been to try to work off the nervous energy.

“how would he have reacted only a few weeks ago if he had had to face something like this?” Erde said as they followed him down the streets to the more affluent neighborhood. A little part of him wondered where they were going and how powerful their Justice was that he lived in this area. “I only hope that jess being so slow to anger will be the perfect balance for him when they finely are able to get together. Not that I understand how that is going to happen.”

Terra smiled, Koji oblivious while he followed the secretary though at the same time he was keeping an eye out, it was starting to get dark after all.

"The entire building would have been up in flames and we would have had to put hte full supressant abilities of the binds on him to get him back in control. I was only expecting him to get rid of one bind today, not all five. He is doing remarkably well seeing as how he has only had a trickle of his power for seventeen years, and yet even with just that tiny amount he would easily cause devistation. When he was younger other Fire Mages were scared of him, several had gotten burned and had never had a problem with anyone's fire before, or any fire for that matter. The town is scared of him, they may try to not show it, but they are afraid to set him off." Terra shrugged, "I was told I was insane because I am of Earth and if he lost control...well there I would go, ash on the wind." Terra's fingers fluttered. "He is a good boy though, even through all the trouble he has had in his life." Terra looked at Koji's back sadly, "He was the oldest person to be bound in three hundred years, He turns Twenty Summers in a month...an unusual time for a Fire Mage to be born I think...More Fire Mages are born in the dead of winter." Terra murmured softly.

“they actually said that you would die if he lost control?” Erde sounded surprised at what she said. “from all my reading I have found that Earth is one of the best elements to teach the other elements. There are spells designed for a low level earth to deflect a high powered fire, ice, or water mage. Air is the only one that seems to be able to do more damage than the spell can deflect. I have not had a chance to test it but I would trust the author of the book that spoke of the spell.” He took in a sharp intake of breath as they turned on to a privet drive. The Privet drive of the Head Justice of the kingdom. He was the nephew of the king. “Koji are you sure you wish to invade this Justices home on this night?” there seemed to be a party going on inside the building, there were carriages lined up outside the home waiting to take their wealthy owners home at the end of the night.

Koji saw the sight before his eyes and his jaw tightened as he squared his shoulders. "I will not let Jess sit in Dartmoor for a crime he did not commit, all I need is his signature." He took a ragged breath and drew his flame coated cloak around him tighter. "I will do what I must to make this right." He said softly, now wishing that he had changed from the testing gear, he was as good as naked in the red cloth.
Terra smiled at Koji, "I will wait out here Koji, do what you feel you must, but you know how those in higher society do not like to be bothered at home. Master Erde, will you be going with Koji or stay out here with me?" Terra asked and smiled lightly, "We can talk more about that book while we wait."
Koji nervously followed the secretary, his mark quivering as he muted his flames, he would be like a beacon in the dark otherwise.

Erde nodded as he listed to what Koji had to say. When Terra told him that she would stay outside he was a bit shocked that she would leave a pup to the affluent law makers. “I will go with you Koji, I would not want Jess’s chance of freedom suffer because only a pup went in to deal with the Justice.” He shrugged, his eyes closing slightly. “there is not much they can do to me other then put me in the cages. And even that might be better then when I have been the last twenty years.” Looking back at Terra he fallowed Koji into the building.

((discribe the building as you see fit. there is a party going on to celebrate the princesses birthday, but she is not there.))

People and lights everywhere, and noise is what greeted the trio, Terra having decided to not stand outside alone in the dark though she did close her flowers that grew in her hair, though the color green would certainly attract attention. Lords and Lady's in big dresses, servents wandering around with trays of food and drink. Koji did his best to hide in his cloak, though being rather brightly colored in the dark meant he stood out as he followed the Secretary into the large building. Every smoke stack on the top had smoke billowing out of it. The building was easy to see, several lower grade Fire Mages were working to keep lights up so people could see and several Mages were in the yard putting on a show. It certainly intrigued him what the Mages were doing. He shook his head and continued to follow the secretary as he refocused on his task. He still tried to hide in his cloak, but he stood tall as he held the front of it closed to not reveal his testing garb. They were finally able to stop when they were brought to the library in the building, Koji would never consider this mammoth building a home, where the Justice and a few other men were sitting in leather high backed chairs sipping whiskey and smoking cigars.

Erde strod through the guests as if he too belonged there. It had been a long time since the last fancy party he had attended yet he still remembered the paces of each of the dances he had danced. He could not remember the names of the women he had danced with or the hosts name but he remembered the dances.
The host at this party looked up as the four entered the room. "Ah Jiles there you are. I was beginning to wounded if you had gotten lost or..." His voice trailed off as he saw the others three. "Friends of yours?" He did not seem as upset as Erde thought he would be. "Have they come to join the party? I can not invite them to dine with us but they are welcome to the festivity's until then."

Koji took a deep breath, "I am afraid not sir. I only need a moment of your time and a signature. There is a wrongly accused Mage sitting in Dartmoor and I am requesting you sign the release papers so I may get them out at dawn. They should not have been placed there in the first place." Koji looked at the other gentlemen in the room and fell silent, he would not give anymore information than that with so many people in the room. Telling to many would spread the word rather quickly.
Koji fought his nerves and kept his face blank, but the fire rippling across his flesh and cloak was not still, neither was his mark, the blue Phoenix quivering his feathers as Koji looked at the Justice.

Leaning forward to get a better look at Koji the Justice raised an eyebrow and then looked to one of the other men in the room. The other who had until that moment been hidden by the chair looked Koji up and down. Any mage worth his salt would have recognized him on sight as the leader of the mage council. “So a pup comes hunting the halls of your home Eldon.” His voice was high and airy.

Stepping forward enough to see some of the other men Erde swore softly to himself. Not only was the head mage here but also the head of the Hounds was. If there was a group of men that could get Jess out of Dartmoor quickly it was this group.

“and how did this mage end up in Dartmoor that you are so rushed to get this mage out?” the Master of the Hounds asked, his gruff voice was low but in the silence of the room clear. “it is not often a Pup comes looking to free one from that places. Usually it is the pups trying to get people in there.” A few of the others snickered at that.

“I think that is a fair question.” The Justice said as he looked at the Master of the Hounds, then he looked back at Koji. “so tell me, who and why do you need the signature?”

Erde rested his hand on Koji’s shoulder as he whispered in his ear. “be careful lad, these are the most powerful people in the realm. Short of the king they are rulers here.” He did not want to be the next to be locked up in Dartmoor, yet with these people one wrong move would end them up there.

Koji stiffened and his fire pulsed across his skin. He bowed deeply to the Head Mage and the Kennel Master and took a deep breath as he allowed his cloak to fall open and run his hand through his hair, revealing the pale skin the binds had left behind and showing his garb. The Kennel Master knew he was supposed to test today.
"Jess is a Marked Ice Mage, he works as entertainment at the tavern I nearly burned down two weeks ago, He came to visit the next day and Jingo's opinion on his lifestyle clashed with my own and I had a rather large altercation with him. That..." Koji bit back the name he wanted to use and took a deep breath, "He should never have been a teacher, but he was the only one willing to take me nine years ago after I damaged my Master at the time. Jess helped Jingo and I confront the Manic Ice Mage that is killing women and save what would have been another victim the first night I met her. The Killer has been in hiding for two weeks until he struck again today. Jess was supposed to come to my testing," His voice got quiet as he said "I was going to ask that he hold my cloak." Testing Mages were to have someone they cared for to hold their cloak, it was a big deal to be given a Mage's cloak, it was a big part of who they were after all. "I had another altercation with Jingo after one of Jess' Sylphs brought he-his cloak to me, I went to the kennel to find out what had happened and found his name in the log book for transfer to Dartmoor. He has not had a trial and according to the laws he was supposed to be on hold in the cells under the Kennel, but Jingo pulled strings to get him put in Dartmoor completely bound. It is wrong that a Hound would do that to an innocent person just for a personal vendetta against me." Koji growled. "I attacked again when the Judge unbound me and he tried to grab hold of her yelling that she had doomed us all."
The last was said in a softer voice, and it was well known what Koji had done to Jingo on the testing ground, it was difficult for one Fire Mage to burn another. The Head Mage and Kennel Master would have been informed of the Judge's decision to unbind Koji and how much he had been unbound. The Kennel Master would also know that the killer had struck again and left a new message. Koji took a calming breath and looked over the three men as he folded his hands in front of him.

The Head mage bowed his head back at the three while the other two looked on in mild interest. “the boy dose seem to have some manners.” The voice was female and came from the doorway. Turning to look back at the door Erde raised his eyebrows even higher in surprise as the woman walked from the door to stand behind the seat of the Justice. She was tall and slender, her skin pale as new fallen snow, her hair fell to below her bottom was frost white but not with age. And her eyes, to Erde they were the most hunting part of her, were the blue of a deep lake locked in ice. She wore a dress made of gossamer silk that was pale blue over a white under dress. There was power to her, she wore it like any of the others in the room might wear a robe. Something about her struck a spark of recognition with Erde but then it was gone.

“I heard about your altercation with your master a few weeks ago. Though it seems that he had a different idea of why you attacked him and your right to bear the mark of a pup let along a hound.” The master of the hounds spoke up as Koji took a breath before continuing the story. “I will have to speak to you and this jess later on that matter.” The Justice shushed the master of the hounds as he wanted to hear the rest of the tale.

“had you told this Jess person that you wished for them to hold your cloak?” this was from the head mage, the lady in white nodded in agreement with the question. A few of the other men that were sitting there also nodded with looks of interested. All but the lady seemed to lean forward with every word that he said. A few times a few of them looked at each other with knowing looks. As he came to the end of his tale a few of the men excused themselves and stepped from the room. The lady then took one of the open seats as far from the fire as was possible.

“and to think my lords you were just having a discussion of this matter before this songbird entered the room.” The white lady spoke again her voice seemed to chime like crystals’ of ice falling upon the ground. “so now you have one you can ask all that you wish to of without sending out a hound.” Though she smiled it was cold, and unfeeling.

“tell me young hound, what use would this ice mage Jess be to you in your hunt?” the Kennel Master asked as he leaned forward to look Koji in the face. “would she aid you or do you just wish to continue a dalance with her?”

***

With the closing of the gates of Dartmoor prisons the bells on the guard house chimed the hour. They had not chimed all day so it was with a scream that Jess woke. He had not even known that there was a bell tower at Dartmoor having tried to avoid going near it since she had arrived in the city. The lady acrossed the way snickered and then clanked the bars with her food dish. “you need not worry dear, those just be the bells to tell all is safe here at Dartmoor.” She cackled again setting jess’s nerves on edge. He had been dreaming of something that he really did not want to think about. Even as he thought that the dreams faded. But then the torches in the hall dimmed and a few of them died all together.

In the darkness he could hear his attacker once again, moving slowly acrossed the moldy straw in his cell. He knew that if he cried out she would find him and come for him but if he did not fight back in some way he was going to suffer more pain then he had the frist time. Fire and ice raged beneath his skin as he screamed with pain. It did not take the guards long to come find out what was happening to their new prisoner. They watched dumbfounded as he twisted and cried, burns appearing and disappearing upon his skin. One of the older guards cursed and took off running into the darkened halls of the building. He had only seen something like this happen once and it had been a spirit attack by an outside mage wanting to kill of the one who had killed his love. The mage outside the walls had spent his life blood to complete the spell and the prisoner had only barely survived.

Reaching the Mind mages room he quickly signed out what was going on. Their mind healer was one of the few in all the known worlds. She had been a healer until an accident had taken her hearing from her as well as her ability to move. Trying to fix her self she had twisted her gift to one that was suited to healing damage to the mind but not the body. Few thought her gives were helpful but the prison found her ability to block memories useful with some of their prisoners. Standing she grabbed her bag and followed him back to the cell. There they found the other guards holding jess down trying to keep him from hurting himself. After a few moments of silent signing the guards let jess up and say aside as she took jess’s head in her hands to try to calm the troubled soul. After a few moments she sigh and shook her head. Her fingers flew quickly in signs. “I know you say all we can do is wait but I don’t like to wait with matters like this.” The guard said to the healer.

the woman entered the room as Koji removed his cloak and placed it on the table, he was easily getting over warm in the room with so many bodies in it. A pleasant feel of cold entered with her and Koji breathed a little easier, bowing to the woman in respect and gratefully. He did not mind now that he was still in his testing garb.
"No I had not asked her." Koji blushed lightly, "I was trying to get the courage to go through with asking once she had arrived when her Sylph came with her cloak." After the woman took a seat Koji could not take the heat and extinguished the fire in the fire place. He fed his flames into one of the empty crystals glasses on the table, it did not give off heat but easily gave off light, he did the same to several other items, one being a glass paper weight on the desk and once he was done the room was well lit and each person who needed it was surrounded in their own heat.
Koji turned his face to the Kennel Master, his face now flushed with anger though his voice was cold as he spoke, "I have had no dalliances with any one but my own hand. Jess was the first person to give me a way to control my self and open the door to me getting a teacher who would benefit me. If She is unable to help with the case she would be able to help me with maintaining control and give me company while I am forced north during the summer heat. If all she is willing to give me is her friendship then I shall take it gladly, she is the first person to not look at me with fear or pity." Koji crossed his arms across his chest and held his head high, the pale skin where the five binds had sat for seventeen years easily seen in the light.

A few of the men there covered up laughter as Koji spoke of having a Dalliances with only his hand while the Kennel Master just sat there with a straight face. “I see so she is more of a partner then lover.” His voice was low as he looked at the Justice. The Justice in turn had picked up one of the glasses from the table that was giving off light. “a new trick I see you have learned, Hound.” Erde tried not to gasp as he realized that twice now the Hound master had not called Koji a Pup but a hound. Never had he heard of a pup being promoted in such a privet location other than in the middle of a hunt in the wild where a Hound was needed. But this sounded to much like he was promoting him.

“excuse me sir, I do not mean to interrupt but did you not mean pup? Koji is not a hound, at least not as I am aware of.” The hound master smiled at Erde’s comment, then he waves his hand in dismissal of it.

“he is more a Hound in the last few days from what I have heard then the hound he was given to was a teacher.” The justice finely looked up at them from the glowing glasses. “I think he has a valid point of why this mage jess should be let out. Do the rest of you agree with me?” he looked around at the Master mage and the Justice. Both of them nodded their heads.

“would you… could you make more of these at some time of your conveyance?” the Justice held up the cup. “I would much love to have them for a party I am to hold in a month’s time.” Holding out his hand he waited for Koji to give him the paper to sign.

Koji looked at the Kennel Master his eyes wide for a moment before his attention was brought back to the Justice as he spoke.
He quickly handed over the paper, Terra smiled lightly, it seemed today was a very big day for Koji, being unbound and then promoted. "I beleive I could...this is only the second time I have done this, crystal seems to work the best with the pockets it has, and if the glass item has a bubble in it...smooth things are...I will not say impossible, but at the moment beyond my skill set to give light, heat on the other hand is easy for those." Koji flushed as he realized he was babbling a little and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I am experimenting, trying to find way to get rid of excess energy." He said softly, his cheeks a light pink. "I-I may be able to teach it to other Fire Mages once I have it perfected."
Terra's grin broadened, she was glad now that she had not stayed outside after all. "I do have one question at the moment though...For you Mistress..." Koji gave another bow, "May I know your name?" He asked softly. He could feel the strength and presence of her Magic, the coolness washing over him pleasantly even as he knew the damage she could cause so easily.

Holding out his hand to his secretary he took the pen the man had ready for him. “then would it be agreeable if I were to send over to your home a case of these goblets so that you could light them?” he said as he quickly looked over the paper, made a few corrections and signed it. Holding it out the koji he smiled. “may haps when you learn how to control this better you might make a good profit. Also if you can remove this monster from our street quickly I might have a place for you and your friend at my table at the next party.”

“I would like you to keep a record of all that you try to get rid of excess energy, even if it is not successful. “ the Master Mage spoke up for one of the first times. “it may not be helpful to you but it might help a later generation.”

“you can ask that question all you want young man, but I will ask in return,” she smiled sweetly. “why do you wish to know my name?”

"Of course Justice." Koji said softly and happily took his release papers before he turned to the Head Mage and nodded. "Yes I will keep a record. I would like to help others who have similar problems to mine." He said softly.
when the woman spoke her own question he smiled lightly, "Your presence is a comphort...I can feel the strength and potential danger easily and yet that does not bother me." Koji frowned lightly before his face took a sad turn. "I...you remind me of the presence of my parents, it's a faint memory but a comforting one all the same." He murmured softly as his gaze locked onto the cold fireplace and he wrapped his arms around himself. It was hard to remember his parents, he had been so young after all.

Terra placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and Koji stiffened for just a moment before he shook his head and moved to his cloak. he put the paper in one of the inside pockets and put it on, he would have to get a new cloak pin if the Kennel Master was truly promoting him.

"Child of the fire I am but a humble keeper of the sacred knowlage. What your father did and who I am may be tighed up in each other, yet I was not there when he entombed himself and your mother. Though I have heard the story's and I have seen them." While her voce and words convaied a sadness to the actions his father had taken there was no sadness in her eyes. As a matter of fact there was almost a joy at the thought of what he had done.

Erde shivered as the room around them seemed to cool more then it should without the fire. "Come Koji, we will have a bit of a treck before dawn if we are to reach the gates of Dartmoor by dawn." Something about the way the woman spoke reminded him of an old wives tale from around Jess's home town. Something about her was unnatural, and what ever it was he did not want it to touch Koji.

Koji nodded as he put his cloak around his shoulders. "You may keep your secrets Mistress, and I thank you for the cold." He bowed again and turned, his cloak flaring as he relit the fireplace and left. Something about the woman reminded him of his father's presence. He did not remember much other than how they had felt, he had heard the tone but was not fooled by the false showing of sadness.
Terra followed after the pair after giving her own bow and once outside she let go of a deep shudder, "that woman was not pleasent to be around." She murmured and shook her head.

She smiled, a cold smile as she bowed her head ever so slightly. "You are most welcome, child." Erde shivered as he bowed to the masters and also took his leave of the room.

"I agree with you, Terra. There is something not right with that woman, yet for the life of me I can not place it." He shivered trying to shake the feeling of bealy avoiding death. "I would keep my eye on her next time I was in the room with her and others. She wears power as we might wear our robes." Reaching out he gently patted Koji. "You did well in there my lad, very well indeed. Now we must find horses that will carry us to Dartmoor before the new reaches the owners and they hide up all their fine horses. I for one will not be ridding a donkey again." He said as he rubbed his backside thinking of the trip long ago when he was sent in disgrace from the council and the city.

Koji looked to the pair and smiled lightly, "Do not take things for face value, my heat was cooled by her presene, but I also felt the potential danger...I am not fool to bother her again with the answers that she gave...while she felt dangerous she also felt familiar...like my father did. I am sure she is capable of affection, just not likely to show it in public." Koji shrugged, he may have liked her power, but he would not want to be alone in the same room as her, and if he could he would avoid her. "Now, what about those horses?" He asked and looked to Terra, Master Erde had after all been out of the city for quite some time.

Terra grinned at Koji as she loosened her blouse strings just a little, "I know a stable near here." She said and led them to the edge of the rich part of town and the nearest stable. She was not ashamed to use her 'assets' to get what she wanted wtih a discount, and having a naturally curvy figure and ample bosom helped them rent horses to take to Dartmoor.
Koji found a black stallion with a white mane and pointed to him. "Is he available for purchase?" He asked and the stable hand nodded but blanched. "He has a terrible temperament if you go near him." The hand warned Koji as the Fire Mage moved near the horse. The stallion snorted and stared at the Fire Mage, Koji staring right back.

The stable hand looked nervous, the black and white horse had bitten every one who had come near it and had even kicked the guy who had put it's shoes on it, granted it had been after it had been done.
Koji held out a hand, the fire rippling underneath his skin flared for a moment as his hand came in contact with the horse's nose. The young Fire Mage grinned at his companions as he stroked the stallion's nose gently. "I'll take this one."
The Stable Master came into the stable and huffed, "Take the beast, and keep him. That creature is to much trouble to keep here or at any other stable in the city, if he likes you take him and good luck." He turned to the boy, "Get them saddled and on their way, it's late." He grumbled as he left again, the stable hand got the horses saddled, Koji had to do the Stallion, the horse not letting any one else near it.
Once on their way Koji's happy mood bubble burst, Dartmoor...Jess was in Dartmoor with only the God knew what happening to her...if they even cared enough to look. He had seen the damage Dartmoor could do to a person.

“I would never take her at face value, if I were to guess I would say her whole color was her mark of what element she was.” He frowned slightly as he thought back to what she had been wearing. “yet I do not recall her wearing a robe or anything to mark her as a mage.” Erde tried to smile but now that feeling of dread was growing stronger. What Master Mage would allow another mage to walk around without their robes. Was it not the only way the ordinary folk could tell who they were and trust that no mage was hiding what they were and what they could do for dangerous reasons?

Shaking his head as if he tried to shake the thought from his mind he looked over at Terra and his eyes grew wide. He would not blame any man that did not fall before her charms with how she was Endowed. Walking along side of her he had a hard time not looking at her ample chest. “do you not think that it is unfair.” He said as they entered the stable. His eyes seconds later looked passed her into the full stable and the horses that looked out sleepily at them. seeing a fine sturdy looking pony he walked up to her and held out his hand slowly. She was cream with hints of darker colors in her mane.

He did not noticed koji’s choice of mount until the stable master told him to keep the beast. Looking up his eyes seem to grow wide before he blinked. “where did you get that horse Master?” he said as he walked the pony out of her stall.

"No it is not unfair, I was born this way, it is not my fault that I have built in distracters Master Erde." She said and laughed lightly she could tell he was not staring by sheer will.

"Some noble brought him here then abandoned him, said he was un-trainable." The Stable Master grunted and shook his head, "Why do you ask? That thing has a mean streak wider than the skyand so far that boy is the only one who has gotten near it and is still in tact." The man said and shook his head as Koji giggled, the stallion was sniffing at him and pawing to get out of the stall.
"I need you to not bite or kick any one right now got it?" Koji told the horse and grinned as it looked at him and huffed before giving what looked to be a reluctant nod. Koji looked over at Master Erde and tilted his head to the side, "Is there something the matter Master Erde?" He asked and looked at the man as he stroked the horse's nose.
Terra picked a dark brown mare who looked sturdy and looked between the people and the horse Koji had picked out, that thing sure was huge. Her eyes widened, "Y-you...huge." The horse easily towered over Koji as the Fire Mage dug through the inner pockets of his cloak, he knew he had some coins in it somewhere, and if he did not he would be coming back, they would be loosing a profit after all, he had no idea what they had found in the large stallion.

“you know you have such a beautiful body and you use it to get things you want. Some might say that it is unfair.” He was enjoying the view of her that he really did not care if she thought him a bit rude. He planed that once this was over he would ask her if she had a romantic partner.

“your telling me a noble brought that beautiful creature was just left here by some noble.” Watching the horse he shook his head. “If I am seeing that creature correctly it may not be something that any person but a fire master could deal with. There was a creature in some of the old texts that was spoken of. It was said that a fire master could call it forward. It was called a fire horse. This creature looks like one of those.”

Terra grinned at Master Erde, "I can not help it if I was made this way, and if it helps me get what I want then so be it." Her eyes widened as Master Erde's thought and she looked over the large horse again.

Koji's eyes widened and he looked up at Master Erde before looking back at the horse, who just looked at every one with his head held high and stomped a large hoof on the ground.
The Stable Master scoffed, "I have had several Mages in here before, a few of them with those red cloaks, he bit them too, just take the temperamental beast off my hands and i'll be happy, i'll finally have that stall open so I can get another that won't bite every one." Koji wrapped his arm around the Horse's chest (Which really meant that he was just leaning against the horse with his arms spread out) just as it leaned forward and snapped the air near the Stable Master. Terra barely managed to stifle a giggle and instead coughed.