The Necromancer's Wand: Rise of the Phoenix

I took the rest of that day to empty out the enchanted bags and to categorize our new potion supplies. The next morning, I had everyone gathered in my tent. I had them grab a potion’s book, spell book, mini cauldron, and a couple of flasks.

“Before you, you shall find potions and spells that can help you infiltrate our enemies,” I stated. “You will learn them, master them, for our first target has become known to me. The great Wynonna Wiccen is starting her council reelection campaign.

After a week, most of you will assume your new identities. Then, you will apply for careers that can provide us with intel on our enemies. When we find an opening, we take it. With Wynonna, we can infiltrate her campaign...as campaign aids, security detail, and for support...we could even have a few posed as citizens in the crowd.

Now, I impure you to try your hardest to learn these things. From here on out, we have no room for error. A mistake will surely cost us in lives...So, study and brew at your best potential.

If you need a potion’s ingredient, they can be found categorized on shelves I’ve conjured.” I pointed over to the shelves for all to know exactly where everything was. “Take what you need, back to your tents, for we have plenty.”

Lucky for them, we had dozens of different sized containers. So, they could take their potion ingredients and supplies to their own tents to practice brewing. I watched as they jarred a bit of everything, from Amarok Wolf’s Fang to refined Unicorn Horn, and headed off to study.

Over the couple following days, those who were gifted came to show their results. As expected, it was my royal blood house members that showed talent for learning new spells and brewing unfamiliar potions. “Dark Lord,” called out a unfamiliar feminine voice.

I looked up from my meditation, at a blonde headed girl standing in my tent. “Are you new here, Miss?” I asked in confusion, standing up to greet her.

“Don’t you recognize me?”

“Um...” I stumbled.

“Oh drat, it must be my new hair color. I hope Damien likes it...”

“Micah...”

“Hello, my Lord, ” she grinned. “This lovely new face was the result of the Chameleon’s Potion.”

“How does it work?”

“It has it’s basic ingredients, Chameleon Skin, tail of the Leaf-Tailed Gecko, pincher’s of a Ghost Mantis...but, the last few ingredients are exchangeable. You select the last ingredients by the appearance you want. For example, Bee’s Wax will produce blonde hair but Rose Thorns, instead, will produce crimson hair.”

“Well done,” I complimented. “Show the others and help them.”

“Of course, there is one more thing.” She took some papers out of her pocket and handed them to me. They were forged documents for her current look.

“They were made by Damien,” she stated. “He used a Forgery Spell that he found in a spell book. However, they retain the caster’s ‘watermark’ to prove they are fakes.”

“They look real,” I flattered. I handed them back to her. “Can the watermark be hidden? Like maybe with a Concealment Enchantment.”

“That is genius sir...” she spoke in surprise. “I will have Damien try a few out and see which has the best effect.”

“Excellent...soon, we will have men stationed all throughout the land. Then, we strike when are enemies are most vulnerable.”

“To bringing chaos to order,” she toasted cheerfully. “I will return to the others. Good day, my lord.” She did a light curtsy before leaving.

When Micah left, I returned to my meditation. The men continued to study and practice, up until the night of the sixth day. On the morning of the seventh day, I walked out of my tent, surprised at all the unfamiliar faces I looked upon.

“Wonderful,” I said proudly. “What of the forged documents?”

“Flawless, the Incognitus Concealment cloaked my watermark, making it nonvisible,” said a male from the crowd.

“Damien, I assume?”

“I am, sir.”

“Good, then...it is time! You will take the rest of the day to prepare you new identities with proper documents, identification cards, résumés, traveling papers...for tomorrow your new looks make their debut.

So, go and prepare. I will let you know, by tomorrow, what city some of you will been assigned to. Let’s...make history!”

They cheered before returning to their tents. They practiced and perfected their forged documents for the day, while I thought on our long term plan. The next morning we regrouped, once more, in the center of the warehouse.

They were all dressed in normal, casual, clothing. In hand, they held their forged documents. “These are to be your assignments,” I started. “Micah and Damien, along with twenty of our best, will be stationed in Spellbound for it is the largest city and headquarters of the council.

Ben, with ten men, will settle in East Wich for the constant customer flow brings chatter and news from all over. Hector will take the same amount of men to Wicked City. This is the second largest city that houses a lot of witch and wizard families.

Currently, our target is Wynonna Wiccen. Your objective is to learn what you can about her, including her reelection campaign. Maybe that could be your way in, infiltrating it...become someone who hands out fliers for the campaign or an aid of some sort.

Under no circumstance do you make a move against a council member. Bring me the intel that I need and I will strike them down when the time is ready. The rest of you, couple dozen or so, will wait here with me. As our brothers report their findings, we will find an opening. Is your objective clear?”

“Yes,” they all agreed.

“Then...why are you still here? Micah, Damien, Ben, and Hector chose those who are going with you and be on your way to your new lives.”

“Of course, Dark Lord,” my royal house members replied.

I walked away as Micah and Damien started choosing men for Spellbound. I returned to my tent, unrealizing that Gemma had followed me in. “My lord,” she greeted.

I turned around, “Gemma,” I uttered in surprise.

“With time on our hands, I thought you could train me some more.”

“Of course...we will start once everyone has cleared away from the warehouse.”

“Perfect, I’ll go grab a few things from my tent...”

~Over the following week, everyone successful integrated into our enemies’ territory. I set up a chain of command for reporting intel. The common men are to report all findings to their royal blood superior. Then, twice a week the royal members are to give me an overall summarized report.

Gemma and I have grown closer in this time, as I taught her all that I knew. She was just as gifted as my other royal members, if not better. I could tell I really was starting to like her, the first to ever gain my affection...

As a few more weeks went by, we started getting useable intel on Wynonna Wiccen. Micah had managed to become her campaign manager, gaining her trust for the last couple of weeks. She knows Wynonna’s exact campaign schedule for she wrote it herself.

“I know when we can strike my lord,” claimed Micah excitedly. Micah was a mere copy of herself, using a minor teleportation spell. The real one was in Spellbound.

I stood up from my meditation to face her. “When?” I asked.

“She will speak to the civilians of Wicked City next Monday at the town hall. It will be a simple press conference, held at noon, just for reporters asking questions about the reelection.”

“Will there be an escort accompanying her?”

“Yes, but only a standard security detail of six guards and I know where they all will be stationed.”

“Then...Monday at noon it is. We will use only our men in Wicked City, with Hector, and you along with ten of your men from Spellbound. The rest, including Ben and Damien, needn’t blow their cover yet.

Spread the word to the others and inform them of where the guards will be. I will give a signal during the conference, using the Aura Spell. That is how they will know to attack. You, and the others, will only deal with the guards. I will engage Wynonna, myself.”

“Let your will be done, Dark Lord...” Micah cackled as she vanished from my tent.