Aeolis woke up with a throbbing head and looked around. Furrowing his brows, he was completely confused as to why he was in a holding cell, with his hands restrained. As he sat up, the throbbing in his head increased and he groaned and he closed his eyes trying to make the pain go away.

Finally he stood up and half walked, half stumbled across the floor to the door. Glancing in both directions, he frowned even more then called out for someone to come to where he was.

”Will somebody please tell me what the hell is going on? Why am I being restrained while in a holding cell?”

After a few seconds, one of his fellow Home Guards walked over to him and looked as confused as Aeolis did.

“Commander? You do not remember?”

Aeolis snapped at the guard.

”No, fool. If I did do you think I would be asking these questions. Now….unlock these wrist shackles and let me out of here.”

The guard took a small step back and blinked.

“I cannot sir.”

Aeolis was growing impatient and snapped again.

”What do you mean you cannot? Have you gone mad? Quit playing games and get me out of here.”

The guard shook his head.

“I am not playing games, sir and I cannot let you out. You honestly do not remember anything?”

Aeolis glared at the man.

”What part of the word ‘no’ do you not understand? It is a simple answer to which there should be no explanation needed.”

The guard was truly perplexed now.

“You attached Ceridwyn. You almost killed her. And you are to remain locked up until your fate is decided?”

Aeolis blinked and looked astonished then glared again.

”Now who is playing games? I demand you release me. By whose order am I to be held like a common prisoner?”

The guard blinked again.

“Prince Myth’Alas’ word, sir.”

Aeolis felt that strange buzzing in his head once more and clenched his jaw. Her reached forward with his shackled wrists and grabbed the bars.

”Then get the Prince down here so I can tell him he i…..”

Aeolis stopped in mid sentence and blinked then stared, mortified at his hands. They were covered in dried blood. Slowly releasing the bars, he stepped away from the door and stared dumbfounded at his hands. The guard said something but he couldn’t hear what he was saying. All Aeolis knew was that there was dried blood on his hands and it wasn’t his own.

Turning his back to the door, he went over to sit down and ponder what on earth happened. The more he tried to think about it the more that buzzing sound would return and the more his head would pain him. Over and over again he kept hearing a voice in the buzzing sound whispering to him telling him how stupid these Elves were and how killing all of them would be the best thing that could happen to them and then HE could be Speaker of the Stars.

Kwinn stood at the balcony of Tanjee's home, the city was calm again and Rayann had left, followed shortly by Myth. There seemed to be a lull in the action for now but Kwinn felt that the threat was not gone. The ranger was thinking of the Sylvan elves, they were connected to the magic of Krynn, a magic that resided in everything. Magic was everywhere in Krynn, and the elves knew best how to use it.

Kwinn was happy to help them defend their home, he admired the Sylvan people and wanted to be of use. Kwinn thought of Tanjee, most of all he wanted her to be safe and happy. He looked inside the dwelling, she was sitting inside, the ranger could see her but she could not see him. She had become the most important thing to him now and he searched himself for answers.

How could he find the strength to continue to protect her and her kind? His skills as a warrior were fair and his love for Tanjee was strong but the ranger knew that might not be enough. To stand against the dark queen and her ilk the ranger would need new skills. It was time for Kwinn to walk a new path. The ranger had always felt that his time as a ranger was leading him somewhere else, leading him to something greater.

Kwinn had made up his mind, soon he would seek out Ceridwyn and ask her to consider teaching him the magic of the white robes. It was possible that Kwinn would be denied, but he had a feeling that Ceridwyn would give his request some good thought, she would not turn him away just because of mere rules and regulations. It was also entirely possible that she simply could not teach him, perhaps she was busy or not interested, perhaps she did not deal with humans.

Kwinn looked again to Tanjee, how would she take his decision?, it was not a easy one. Kwinn knew in his heart that it was the right thing.

Kwinn walked into the home and faced Tanjee.
"I have given it a lot of thought, I have decided to ask Ceridwyn to teach me the ways of magic. I seek to have the strength to help you and your people, I wish to learn to use the magic that is all around us. Please know that I do this with an open heart, I do this for me as well as the other reasons I've mentioned."

Kwinn smiled at Tanjee.

"I care for you deeply, I will not stand by while you and your people are threatened."

Kwinn walked to the balcony again. Ceridwyn had said that if she was needed to simply speak her name to the wind and she would soon come.

Kwinn walked to edge of the balcony and did just that.
"Ceridwyn..."

Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around her domicile. She reached down, remembering the wound but where the knife had gone in there was smooth flesh. She looked around curiously, and she remembered the warmth that entered her right at the point of unconsciousness, she didn’t know how, or who, but she had been healed of the wound Aeolis had inflicted on her, and ultimately she knew it was Mishikal that was responsible.

She looked down, her robes were still covered in the stain of blood. She frowned and sat up, staring at the torn fabric, and she felt a sadness that was beyond simply losing a favorite garment. These were her beloved robes and as all wizards, she prided them. She placed her feet on the ground and stood, walking over to a mirror and staring, the blood stain went up just above her bossom and all the way down to the hem at her feet, covering a good forty percent of the front of her robes. She felt a ting of anger that Aeolis would attack her like this, so viciously and with such hatred. She had felt the darkness around him, and she knew ultimately the Elf wasn’t responsible, but the Elf is the one who would pay the consequences.

Going to her bureau she removed some fresh clothes. After removing her robes and placing them on their stand she dressed in the pristine white clothes that looked exactly like the Silvanesti fashion of the day, only pure white. Though she was wearing clothing obviously made by Elves and caused her to fit in she refused to give up the white which symbolized the connection to her god. She was getting ready to go to the kitchen and make herself some honey tea when she heard Kwinn call her on the winds. She smiled and set the kettle down instead of placing it on the hearth wire and concentrated, blinking to his location. From behind he would suddenly hear her voice, “Kwinn, the Ranger, how can I help you?”

She looked different in her Elven dress, even more petite and fragile than she did when surrounded by acres of fabric. As he looked at her she smiled warmly and stared with her sharp, deep chestnut brown eyes.

Kwinn had only just said her name when her voice could be heard behind him.
"Hello Ceridwyn, I would like to ask you something important. I wish to learn the ways of magic, I would like to learn the ways of the white robes."

Kwinn kept it short and sweet, he figured that there was no sense in hinting around. Kwinn looked Ceridwyn over, she was not wearing her robes, she was wearing common clothes but they were bright white. She seemed more girl like without her robes, she seemed smaller and younger.

"I know this is not asked lightly, I have given it a lot of thought and this is what I want."

Tanjee was near Ceridwyn, Kwinn looked to her and back to Ceridwyn as he spoke.

Ceridwyn was slightly surprised by his request, and her curiosity was obvious in her face. She turned and looked at Tanjee, studying her a moment, and then back to Kwinn.

“Kwinn, this certainly takes me by surprise. I have a few questions that you need to ask yourself before you embark on this path. For starters, you are much older than the average novice, and as such you will be at an incredible disadvantage, or at least some will see it that way. The first question I would ask you is what is your motivation for doing this? The path of magic is not one lightly tread. If you make this decision it will require constant study, night and day, and to be honest it will be ten or more years before you are ready to even consider taking the trials.”

She paused and looked at Tanjee, it was obvious that these two were in love with one another, and her heart was torn as to what to say next. Turning she looked back at Kwinn and spoke again.

“You won’t have much time for a relationship, with any woman, and this is something to strongly consider. I know you and Tanjee, well, I know you are involved. I know you have attempted to keep it at a low level but it is obvious in the way you look at one another, and you may end up having to choose which path you wish to walk one day that of magic, or that of love. I would also like to give you a snapshot of the ultimate destination you will walk to should you become a student of magic. The trials are necessary before you can wear the robes of a wizard, and failure in those trials means, death. There is no exception, it is the way of magic that those who can’t pass the test must die to keep the Art pure and free of those who are incapable. This has been the way of magic since the beginning of its introduction on Krynn, even Solinari, the patron of the White Robes agrees to this outcome for those who can’t pass the trials. You need to strongly consider this before you step on the path for once you walk into the use of magic it will always be a part of you.”

She looked at the Ranger carefully, her face was kind and full of warmth, “Kwinn, I am not trying to discourage you, and if you truly want to learn magic I am willing to teach you, at least at first. Have you ever cast a spell?”

It hadn’t been easy for Tanjee after she discovered the treachery her brother had done. To her it seemed as though she were stared at and whispered about where ever she ventured in the Elven city. For the first time in her life, Tanjee felt utterly and totally alone. Had it not been for Kwinn’s presence in her life, she wasn’t sure how she would be able to handle it all. So Kwinn’s announcement that he wanted to learn magic and particularly from Ceridwyn took Tanjee by complete surprise. She knew the Ranger was doing all he could to help the Elves of Silvanost and he had done a fine job by putting his back into some intense manual labor, but she also knew the Ranger felt as though he weren’t doing enough.

Before she could say anything to him, he called for Ceridwyn and true to her word, Ceridwyn appeared in Tanjee’s mother’s house. Ashamed of what her brother had done to the beautiful, petite Magi, Tanjee looked at her feet unable to bring herself to look into Ceridwyn’s eyes for fear of the disgust she would see in their depths. As Tanjee listened intently to the conversation between Kwinn and Ceridwyn, the Elf felt as though the floor was being pulled out from under her little by little and she was helpless to stop the inevitable outcome.

Her gold/green eyes flickered from Ceridwyn to Kwinn and back again. She admired Kwinn for even considering the task of becoming a wizard, but at the same time she wanted to be selfish and keep him here with her. When Ceridwyn stated she knew they were involved, Tanjee’s cheeks colored slightly and she shifted her weight on her feet nervously.

Listening to Ceridwyn explain the commitment Kwinn would need to accept for his studies, Tanjee felt a lump form in her throat and tears sting her eyes. She’d gotten so used to the human being with her day and night now she couldn’t imagine him not being there. When Ceridwyn spoke about the trials, Tanjee closed her eyes and felt a stray tear slip down her face.

She wanted to scream out at Kwinn not to do this that she’d help him find a way to be more productive if that’s what he wanted but Tanjee was mature enough to know a man had to make his own way in life. Regardless of what she wanted. And while Tanjee wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of Kwinn’s natural life with him, she had to let him live a life he was happy with,

Her smaller hand slipped into his and she held it loosely letting him know she was there and would support what ever decision he made. If fate saw to guide him down the path of the wizard, then she would let him go, reluctantly, and hope he would return to her again one day. If he failed his trials….well….she didn’t want to think that.

Slowly lifting her head, she tried her best to keep her emotions in check and let Kwinn choose his own path in this life.

Myth's eyes focused on the dragon's in the distance and a small smile crept up to his lips. When Myth and Jerrin where younger they were often left in the company of an friend of their father's. The man's name was Arvandor Goldmane and later in their lives the two would learn that Arvandor was a gold dragon in disguise. There was a long history between the family and Arvandor's particular brood. Some deed in the distant past had ensured a bond between the brood and the royal family. Myth remembered the tales Arvandor had of a particular island often described with reverence and Myth was certain this was that place. The brief thought of Arvandor and subsequently Jerrin dulled Myth's mood for a time until food was served.

The meal had been exemplary compared to the last couple days. Myth had barely eaten anything at all after he had seen his father and made the arrangements to leave Silvanost. He had told his father that a matter of great personal importance needed his attention. The Speaker gave Myth that knowing nod and let Myth be on his way. Myth knew that his father was most likely in the know about Kali and knew what it was Myth was going to do. It still did not make the decision to leave Silvanost so soon any easier. As the remains of the meal vanished Myth could only watch with a quirked eyebrow and shake his head. Such are things in a place watched over by gods of magic.

After the meal Myth tried to let himself relax as he and Rayann sat staring into the distance from there place on the balcony. The peace of this place was soothing, but Rayann's presence made it more so. A small smile appeared as their hands interlaced and he let his worries go for the moment.

"It was certainly not what I was expecting either, but welcome none the less. Some things went remarkably better than others but I can assure you this has been the most chaotic week of my entire life, and that is truly an exceptional feat."

His eyes followed a golden shape on the horizon for a time before it vanished. His thoughts shifting once more to Jerrin and Arvandor. If Jerrin had perished while on campaign Myth wondered what had happened to his golden companion. Arvandor and Jerrin had made a bond as most of the crown princes in ages past had done with members of the golden brood. While Myth knew Jerrin's fate he was curious about the golden dragon as well. Perhaps this would be the best place to inquire about the matter.

Myth took in a deep breath and tightened his hold on Rayann closing his eyes. When the tower shook Myth's muscles instantly tightened as his eyes opened and shifted skyward. As he saw the silver dragon take flight he relaxed noting the fluttering red robe and blond hair he smiled. He knew by feeling alone whom he was seeing but said nothing. She was being awarded a rare honor by a dragon.

"Wonders never cease to amaze me..." He relaxed himself knowing Rayann saw what he did.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any to get caught up on recent events."

The air against her face was ice cold, but she didn’t shiver. The sound of the wind whipping by her ears was deafening and she didn’t care. She wanted to scream her freedom to the stars but the speed she was experiencing caused her to hold her breath.

Nol circled the multiple islands of the Dragon Isles, and it took all the strength Kali had to hold on so she could look and take in the scenery. Finally she spoke to him in missive; he could only smile as he felt her voice enter his mind. ~I have never seen anything so beautiful. Truly this is one of the most magnificent places on all of Krynn.~

He hesitated to answer but felt it might be alright since she had initiated the conversation. ~It is pleasant to hear your voice in my mind Kali. I hope you don’t mind me speaking back.~ she blushed slightly, and responded, ~No Nol, when we first met there was just too much stimulation all around me, and I am not used to those sorts of displays. Mind speaks was always uncomfortable to me because I knew it could be easily turned against you, but with you and Rayann I feel…. safe. Truly I am embarrassed about what happened the other day, but you need to know there are a lot of shadows in my past, and I am only newly blessed with this new life.~

He continued flying, saying nothing in response. Kali was a little disappointed; she was missing his voice after only a few seconds. Finally he circled high and came to land atop a white peaked mountain. It towered over the capital city and Kali could clearly see the tall Inn of Luminescence. She smiled knowing that was where her mother was. She almost wished again that she had her dragon sight so she could zoom in and see her mother, but she also didn’t regret in the least that she had her half Elven eyes again, for they contained advantages of their own.

Nol turned and looked at her, his massive dragon head turning to a smile as he morphed back to his human form. He walked over to her and gently grabbed her arms, looking deeply into her eyes. She swallowed hard and felt herself withdrawing mentally, but her body wanted to move closer. She stood frozen, staring back at him. His voice came forth, gentle and full of kindness. “You have a new life now, and that is what matters right now. It is only under extremely rare circumstances that a god will directly interact with a mortal, and you have experienced that very thing. It is unfortunate that the gods are at war, Tahkisis has started a battle for everything in the universe, and she is not going to stop.”

Kali nodded, in her mind the flood of memories she still had concerning the Dark Queen of Chaos. The days she sat in the war room, listening to the battle plan as Tahkisis laid out her vision to the Dragon Lords and the Generals of her armies. She even remembered Myth; he was always close at hand, but never obvious. She remembered having conversations about him with her Uncle Rorie, and he never seemed to speak too highly of the man. As such she also held contempt for Myth, knowing he was close to the queen, a position she wanted for herself. Never had it even remotely occurred to her that he was her father, and now that she knew, the guilt in her was intense.

Almost as if he knew her thoughts, Nol touched her with his index finger beneath her chin and gently lifted her face to look back into his eyes. His smile was infectious and she couldn’t help but return one of her own. “It will take time to rebuild, but at least you are starting with a solid foundation, and you are with your family, which is where you belong.” She looked at him curiously, not one hundred percent that he was referring just to Myth and Rayann, but she let it go. She was about to say something when she suddenly felt the warmth of Nil’s lips against her own. She didn’t hesitate as she pressed herself into him, feeling electricity run down her spin and felt his arm around the small of her back tighten as her knees went weak and gave way. His scent was beyond anything she had ever experienced. He gently let her put her weight back on her feet and he leaned back slightly, smiling softly. “Perhaps it’s time to get you home.”

Rayann felt the tension melt away from Myth the more time he was with her. While it had only been a little while, already she could see the difference in him. The deep lines that creased his forehead were hardly noticeable now and the chaotic frenzy his mind was in had calmed significantly. Happy to be nothing more than a shore to his stormy sea, Rayann sat relaxed with her head on Myth’s shoulder as they looked out over the darkened island and the occasional object flying in the distance.

Like Myth, when she felt the shaking of the tower she sat up quickly but when she saw what had caused the trembling, Rayann merely smiled and settled back with Myth and placed her head on his shoulder once more. When he said he was finally ready to know what had happened, Rayann took a deep breath and remained silent for a few moments. Myth would know Rayann was trying to get her thoughts in order so she didn’t give him a chaotic blend of things. Finally, she began to relay everything that took place since she and Kali left Silvanost.

~I thought Glen Durel would be the place Kali and I needed to go so she could be safe and have time to figure things out for herself. I was sadly mistaken. It seems Rorie has even tainted our childhood home.~

She paused as she felt the sadness of the fact she would most likely never be able to return there again.

~While we were there, it seems as though the Dark Queen could reach Kali when ever she wished and tormented our daughter mercilessly. And there was nothing I was able to do to protect her from this torture. It was when that…..Dark…..Demon….planned on taking Kali from us forever in a way no soul should be Lunitari intervened. Kali was cleansed of Takhisis’ grasp and granted a new life under the guidance of the Veiled Maiden herself. When I rushed in to the room Kali was in to help her Lunitari said my oath to the Gods had been accepted. Solinari gave his blessing for me as did Nuitari for Kali to be accepted into the fold of the Veiled Maiden.~

~You see, mel’amin, I realized it’s not one side or the other that will maintain balance. It’s those who straddle the middle who are truly in charge of maintaining the balance. True neutrality is the only sure way to make sure one side or the other doesn’t gain too much power tipping the scales. But it’s also those who stand in the middle, practicing the true magic of Krynn, that will bring the magic back to the land. The perverse raping Takhisis has done to the world cannot be allowed to continue. Ambient magic is nothing more than common thievery and only through restoring the natural magic in this world will we be able to defeat those who are using magic in an unnatural way.~

~After Lunitari gave us our robes, she brought us here, to the Myst Isle where we were greeted by Nol’Lore Silentclaw who is, as you have already seen, a silver dragon. Of course our greeting was a bit….over the top and Kali and I realized we weren’t quite ready for public appearances. Well, at least not the sort we found ourselves in. We were given the top two floors of the Inn of Luminescence as well as the meeting hall on the upper most level of the Inn. Things were difficult and tense between Kali and I, to say the least. I tried to explain to her that no matter what, she was our daughter and we loved her. But she couldn’t understand what I was talking about.~

Rayann closed her eyes and swallowed hard.

~Rorie used her love as a weapon against her. There’s no doubt he loved her, but it wasn’t the sort of love we would have shown and given her. And the training she received from one of Takhisis’ minions…a man with a nasty scar on his face…..was nothing short of mind shredding. He tortured and tormented her with his mind against her own.~

Rayann opened her eyes and furrowed her brow.

~I have never hated anyone but I can honestly say I am about as close as I can be to hating someone when I think of this man who did these things to Kali. And what Rorie did is unforgivable.~

Myth cold tell she was conflicted when it came to Rorie but ultimately she knew what he did could never go unpunished.

~It wasn’t until Kali spent some time with Nol that she began to see that while she will never be able to forget what she did in the past, she had a future ahead of her that was limitless and filled with so much more than anything she could have had before. And she will appreciate things more knowing she gained them honestly and not through spite or anger but through knowing what it is to truly love and be loved. Unconditionally.~

Tilting her head back so she could look at Myth’s face, Rayann smiled softly.

~The way her parents love each other.~

A strange sensation came over Rayann then and she gasped softly. Without realizing it again, Kali had left herself open to her mother and recognizing that sensation, Rayann quickly put the blocks in place so she left her daughter to her own privacy. As she sat next to Myth her cheeks flushed and she felt her heart beat just a little faster as she felt the same weakness in her knees Kali had felt. Thankful she was sitting down Rayann glanced up at Myth knowing his curious gaze was upon her. Quickly playing her reaction off, she smiled coyly at the Elf Prince.

~I don't think I will ever get used to the way I feel when I'm close to you, mel'amin.~

Kali regretted his last words, but she knew he was right. It was late and she needed sleep. She had allowed herself a day off of study, real study, and tomorrow she needed to begin walking her new path. She nodded softly and he morphed back into his dragon form. Kali rubbed his iron hard scales softly with her slender fingers and climbed up onto his back once again. His muscles rippled under legs and she felt the butterflies in her stomach again as he leapt into the air, his massive wings beating hard against the air.

Myth and Rayann would see the silver dragon approaching from the distance, closing the gap with unfathomable speed. His scales reflected the moon light and atop they would see their daughter, grasping the dragons neck, a huge smile on her face. As they approached Kali stood on Nol’s back and with a leap she flew through the air, coming down towards the tower with mind bending speed. Suddenly Rayann would feel the movement of magic and see Kali releasing a handful of feathers into the air. The reagents sparkled and disappeared with a hiss as she cast “Feather Fall” and she landed gracefully on the balcony, right beside Rayann and Myth.

Nol tipped his wing and disappeared around the towering building. Myth and Rayann might see a slight wink as he moved out of sight. Kali turned and looked at her parents standing in the pink light of the two moons. With no hesitation she walked over and wrapped her arms around Myth, squeezing him tightly, resting her head on his chest and whispering to his mind, ~ ‘You know not why, but I apologize to you Father. All will be revealed in time, but know that I held you in contempt while we served Tahkisis. As you know, the constant power grasp in her palace is palpable, and I, like many others, plotted to get as close to the queen as possible. I want us to start a new, and I want to build with no hurdles.’ ~

She released her grasp and walked over to Rayann, embracing her now, but she remained silent. Rayann would be able to feel in Kali’s embrace the sensation of a girl who was seeing the world with new eyes.

Rayann saw the approaching dragon and recognized the red robes and blond hair of Kali as she sat at the base of the dragon’s neck. When Kali leapt off the dragon’s neck, Rayann’s eyes grew wide and she couldn’t help but gasp hoping like mad her daughter quickly remembered the Feather Fall spell. When she saw the feathers disappear with the sparkle of light, Rayann let the breath she had been holding go and smiled as she saw Kali descend gracefully to the balcony she and Myth occupied.

When Kali walked up and embraced her father, Rayann felt her heart jump to her throat and stay there. Desperately trying to swallow down the lump that suddenly appeared, Rayann blinked away tears that stun her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks. SHe’d done enough crying over the past few days and she didn’t need to do anymore. It was time for healing. Time for nurturing her daughter the way she should have been nurtured. A time to become a true family. A time for new discoveries and a time for letting go of the past.

When Kali hugged her, Rayann held her daughter close and closed her eyes and felt the change in her daughter. Silently sending a prayer of thanks to Lunitari for her wisdom and insight, Rayann reluctantly released her daughter and smiled as she tucked an errant lock of hair behind her daughters ear.

”You look like a tempest, tinu. A wild, beautiful tempest. I take it your flight with Nol was quite amazing.”

Kali stepped back and looked at Rayann with bright eyes, her cheeks went flush a moment and she turned to look outside, but Nol was nowhere in sight. Turning back she nodded and spoke, “Yes Mother, he took me around the whole of the Dragon Isles, it is amazing to see from the air.”

She looked at both of them and there was a small silence, she simply inhaled deeply and spoke again. “I don’t want to interrupt you, I know it has been days since you last saw one another. I will…, I will go to the kitchen and get myself a snack before I go to bed.” She smiled and gave them both a quick look again before shuffling out of the room, the changes in her was obvious to both of them.

She gathered up a small plate of berries and rye bread before heading to her room where she got herself in to her night clothes, ate her snack and laid in bed. Unconciousness surrounded her swiftly, she was asleep almost immediately after placing her head on the pillow.
--
Rayann would wake feeling a massive pull on the magic field around her, and then a release like a sonic boom, followed by a massive explosion. The sound was coming from above. Then there was calm, quiet, as if nothing in all of Krynn was moving. A second pull on the magic field began, like a vortex gathering everything into it, sucking whatever was within its grasp to a pin point location, and then a massive release, sending shockwaves to whomever could tap into magic, and then another massive explosion. Then there was the silence again, like the calm in the eye of the storm, it seemed as if even the molecules in the air were frozen.

Kali stood, concentrating, the target dummy racing across the room, held in place by a magical force. It whipped around the room at about the same rate an Elf could sprint and she focused on it. Two incinerated targets laid in hundreds of pieces, and Kali zeroed in with all her power, pulling magic into herself once again she hissed and chanted the spell as she watched the target come straight at her as if to attack, “BRACKCALISTITIOUS GRELISHLA MALATORSI”! A chaotic beam of writhing, yellow and red energy erupted from her hands and the target exploded into shards, smoldering and falling at her feet. She reached up and wiped the sweat from her brow with a small handkerchief and exhaled deeply… it had been too long since she channeled powerful magic through herself, and her broad smile echoed the way she was feeling.

As Rayann watched Kali and couldn’t help but smile. While she missed the youngest years with her daughter, there was something special about having a daughter who could also be your friend as well. Something told Rayann she would become very good friends with her daughter the more they got to know each other.

When Kali excused herself then retired to her room, Rayann sat with Myth for while longer enjoying the quiet comfort they gave to each other. The hour had grown quite late when they finally made it to bed themselves and unlike their daughter, they did not fall to sleep right away.

-------

All too soon Rayann was awakened to the feel of the magical current being pulled followed by the sudden release of that pull and an explosion on the heels of that. Practically jumping out of bed at the same time Myth did, Rayann barely had the chance to throw on her red robes to cover the oversized shirt of Myth’s she wore to bed before she quickly blinked out of the room and into Kali’s quarters.

Rayann was instantly ready to cast a spell of her own when she blinked and saw what was taking place. It seemed as though her daughter was up well before her parents and ready to get started. As Rayann observed the destruction of the unfortunate target dummies that littered the area, she watched as Kali concentrated and cast a spell to target the last one. As Kali wiped her brow to wipe the sweat away caused by the exertion of channeling the magic through her, Rayann smiled and reached her hand out to keep Myth from rushing forward ready to defend his daughter from what ever he needed to protect her from.

~I’m so glad to see you practicing already this morning, Kali. Next time we’ll be sure not to sleep quite so late.~

When Kali whirled around to see both of her parents standing behind her, Rayann was smiling brightly and Myth was looking…well….like Myth. But, the one thing Kali would see right away was the dishelved look both parents had indicating they had literally run to her aid as soon as they were awakened. Rayann’s white hair had quite the unruly look to it while Myth’s red mane was falling around his bare shoulders.

~Have you eaten already? I’ll send for some breakfast to be sent up for you when I send for ours.~

Without realizing it, Rayann had spoken to her daughter using her mind again. For so long Rayann had not used this form of communication unless she needed to convey something to Myth without letting others know. But now that she had spent some time with Ceridwyn and now with Myth again, she easily reverted to this form of communication as her preferred way of conversing with others.

Kali whipped around as Rayann spoke to her mind. She smiled and responded through missive as well, it was still not the most comfortable for her, not physically of course, but the process of letting trust sink in was not something that happened overnight. She did however, know in her conscious mind that she could trust Rayann and Myth, so she accepted that time would allow her to become more and more comfortable with speaking in missives.

~ ‘Good morning Mother, it is almost 10:30, I waited as long as I could.’ ~

She winked and tucked the handkerchief back into her sleeve and walked over to her parents. She smile brightly and spoke aloud in response to Rayann’s question, “Yes, I have eaten and couldn’t wait anymore to practice. It feels good to be channeling again.

She smiled and it was obvious to Rayann and Myth that she was a battle caster at heart, taught and trained outside the formalities of wizard life. She was like a Gnomish Machine, complex and with a purpose, ultimate magic wielding in the shortest amount of time possible. It was a system developed by Wizards for those who would be in the thick of battle, where instant decisions were necessary and the ability to cast almost on a whim was the difference between life and death. She truly had the gift of magic from her mother’s side, and the heart of a warrior given to her by the genes of her father.

Her breathing was slowing again and she spoke to her parents with her mesmerizing smile, “Why don’t you go eat, I’ll practice some smaller spells and when you come back we can train together, I think it might be a good test of our mind link if we start practicing as a threesome.”