In hindsight he might have done things very differently. In his defense, he could hardly have known the extent of the power he dealt with.
However, it might be assumed that the five years he spent coming to know the children and their families were his finest. He grew in his skills of illusion in those five years and improved upon his manipulating. He even learned to curb his temper - to a point. It took a great deal of effort on his part but getting into the minds of the children as well as their parents gave him a greater understanding of those he would one day enslave - that is to say the general population of the world.
He boldly made himself known in the royal courts of Rainescove where he easily convinced Brenna's family he a mere magician able to pull rabbits out of hats, and roses and toys out of a child's hair. He scheduled his visits to entertain at the family's many celebrations. Each celebration drew him closer to Brenna and she closer to him.
He discovered the knight's wife a lonely vain woman left to spend many a night alone with naught but the dark to keep her company. He played the part of the wooing beau to perfection - holding her attention with his words of praise for her beauty while insulting the lackluster husband of hers who would rather defend his country than stay by her side admiring her. With a little spell or two here and there by Aislinn's fifth birthday he'd convinced her mother to sell the child to him. All he had to do was show up and take her away. It was a good thing too because Aislinn was so shy she'd hide from him, Without her mother's help he'd never be able to find her.
Ailen's mother died in child birth so it was the father who needed persuading. It was not too hard as the fool had fallen deeply in love with his wife - foolish man! Could he not see the delicate pastries surrounding him in the shape of beautiful women just waiting for his kneading hands to mold them to his will? This love thing was a waste really. It did serve his purpose, however. A few visits, some observations, some careful words whispered at just the right time and he hardly needed any magic at all to convince the baker the best thing for his son was to send him away to someone who could raise him the way a healthy boy should be raised.
Ardor might have been born at sea but her father was not entirely convinced it was the best place to raise a child. He'd a mansion by the sea in a small port city. It was there he left his wife and child protected from the evil he feared. If only he knew how much easier it was for the warlock, he might have thought differently. The child was fearless and constantly sneaking out onto the streets surrounding the mansion. A simple beggar man was quickly turned into a hero when he returned the child to their home. This simple beggar was invited in, eventually given a position, and served as a butler receiving the family's full devotion. Putty in his hand.
Orrin might well have been the easiest of the five. He need not even come up with a plan to draw the lad away from his parents. So often were farm children left to their own vices while their parents slaved away in the hot sun. The boy was free to do as he would, exploring the wild with only a sheep dog to protect him. He didn't even bother with a disguise for Orrin. he wouldn't need one when the time came to carry him home.
Five years past and it was time to collect the children. Brenna first. He was the entertainment for her birthday party and for his final act he made the little princess disappear. He disappeared too. They reappeared in the town of the baker, here to collect Ailen. He locked Brenna in a storage room and told her this was part of the game while he went to retrieve Ailen.
Ailen's father packed him a small bag and teary eyed though he was sent him with the warlock to 'better his life'. Two down - three to go.
As he led Ailen to the storage room in the center of the village, the warlock began to feel strange. He looked down at Ailen and knew the boy felt it too. It was the feeling of impending disaster. And the instant he opened the door to the storage room and Ailen's eyes met those of Brenna he realized he should have thought this through.
Two points of a star should never be made to touch, such a refraction of light can cause unlimited possibilities and one of such is destruction.
The village had no warning. The children had no warning. He had the warning but he had not the knowledge to know that this was what he was being warned about.
When it was over, not one board remained of the village. Not one brick remained of the homes. Naught but charred grass.
Raw!
Their power was still raw and as such uncontainable.
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