Rose's smile spread from ear to ear as she inclined her head towards Kellan. "You are most welcome Lady Kellan. I know this decision will not make some of our number happy, but in the end it is my decision." Rose reached for her cup sipping from her drink "I would also note that this decision has the backing of the the heads of the other two orders as well."

She could see the raised eyebrow of Nol and the questioning look in his eyes. "I have paid close attention to Kellan since she returned on the day of the battle Nol. Her tasks were performed to the letter as I expected but the enthusiasm had disappeared from her. Her time away from the knights has allowed her to approach it with more open eyes allowing her to see the things that I see every day. Her new path could not have stayed in line with the knights forever. I knew that eventually they would be in conflict so I discussed my options with the heads of the Sword and Rose on their last visit a month ago. After what happened yesterday morning I decided that the time had come to grant Kellan her freedom."

Rose sat back in her chair letting out a sigh. "I should have done it some time ago honestly. There will be one less person present in this keep that I can trust implicitly, and thanks to the battles nine months ago there were already to few as it is." Rose managed a smile

"Be thankful you were never put in a formal command position Kellan. The political games that are taking place at any given point in time are mind boggling. There are always people jockeying for promotion and gods only knows what Larrisa and Trystan will dig up for me by the end of the month. Right now I know of two knights attempting to pull strings and acquire favors to be chosen as a rider candidate." Rose sat back rubbing her temples. "The fools have no clue the degree of scrutiny I will place upon them and anyone else who's name comes across my desk."

Keatara was putting the children through their paces, laughing at their antics whenever one would decide to try to overtake her or James. She noticed, however, that Curtis was hanging back which was odd for the boy. He was usually outgoing, rambunctious, and ornery. The past few days though, he was quiet and reserved.

Leaving the children paired up, she walked over to him, not knowing that James was watching closely. Smiling at the boy, she spoke to him, "Curtis...is everything okay? Are ye feeling sickly?" It was a few moments before he answered her and she waited patiently. "Yes, ma'am. I'm okay...just have a lot on my mind, is all." Tara chuckled at him, "And what would possibly be weighing heavily on ye mind? Especially tha' of a thirteen year old lad?" Curtis looked up and saw James' staring at him, the gaze of the man sent chills down the boy's spine. "I'm just worried about my family and whether or not I can protect them when the next attack comes, that is all. You know that my father was injured the last time. I just worry about them and my little sister."

Tara sat down next to Curtis, deciding that he needed for her to speak to him like he was a man instead of a young boy. "Curtis....with all the training I be given ye...there is no guarantee that ye will be able to protect those ye love. If tis their time, then they will be called over to the other side. All ye can do is love them in the here and now. Make sure that they know that ye love them." She thought then of her own family and how she'd lost them, her green eyes filling with sorrow. Curtis' little sister was the little girl she'd nicknamed 'Cherub' and she too worried about the girl, but she also knew that she could only do her best and no more. "Curtis.....how about if we get ye'er little sister in here. The youngest child here is ten....mayhap we should go younger. What do ye think about that?"

Curtis looked over at James then back at Tara and knew that he didn't want his little sister anywhere near the man. "I don't think that is a good idea, Miss Tara. Maybe as young as seven or eight, but four I think is too young." Curtis was sitting up a little straighter now, Tara having treated him like a young man instead of a young boy and asking him for his opinion on this matter. "Okay...mayhap ye'er right, Curtis. Four be too young. But, if ye ever need someone to chat with....about anything, ye know I am here for ye....no matter what it is. Okay?" She patted him on the shoulder as if he were an adult and went back to the group, smiling at James as she did.

"Is the boy okay, Tara?"

"Aye, he be okay, James. Just worrying about things with his own family, tis all."

She then started sparring with the children again, occasionally looking over at Curtis to make sure he was okay, not forcing him just yet to get back into the training routine.

Kellan listened to Rose and knew the decision she made wasn’t an easy one to come to. Just as Kellan’s own decision wasn’t easy. It seemed both women were thinking along the same lines at the same time but had no clue about the other. She glanced over at Nol and saw the look in his eyes and she felt her lips tugging in a small smile before she turned her attention back to Rose.

”You couldn’t be more correct than if you had privilege to my thoughts, Commander. The time I spent away from the Knights HAS opened my eyes to things more prevalent than the Knights and our society. While I know we took an oath to uphold good and defend the defenseless, there are times when I will have to strike first without provocation. But that doesn’t mean the enemy is innocent. It merely means I had the upper hand. And I will use that to my advantage each and every time I can.”

She glanced at Nol then back to Rose.

”Acquiring favors won’t make a hill of beans to become a dragon rider. Nol’s flight can easily weed out any and all potential candidates who won’t be able to hold up to the pressures of the training. And they can do it in a few short hours. It’s ultimately your decision but if they think they can handle the rigors of training, let them try. There will be a pool to select from and the sooner we start weeding out the candidates who can’t handle it, the closer we are to gaining those who can.”

Kellan’s gaze settled on Rose’s then and she spoke in a soft but sincere tone.

”And just because I’m leaving here eventually doesn’t mean I’m unreachable. Whenever you need me, I will come to you. It’s the least I could do considering all you’ve done for me.”






Tanjee slipped into Tara’s training ground quietly, virtually unnoticed by the attention of the students Tara had. She took Gideon’s words to heart and made it her mission, right now, to keep her eyes on James. And to see how Curtis interacted with him.

As Tara worked with the class, Tanje noticed how far the children had come. It was the right decision of getting Tara to work with the kids. She had a natural way about her that made the children feel at ease and eager to learn. Especially when learning from a woman who had as much experience as Tara.

Tanjee saw Tara speaking to Curtis about how he was feeling and Tanjee was thinking perhaps the young man was overworked. She thought about walking over to see for herself but she remained where she was. No one had taken notice of her thus far and she really didn’t want anyone to do so now.

As she watched Curtis talking to Tara, she saw the way he looked at James a few times and the way James looked back to him. Tanjee was no warrior by any stretch of the imagination but she wasn’t born yesterday either. Especially after watching her brother all that time influenced by a dark force. Tanjee knew when there was something amiss.

Perhaps Gideon wasn’t being paranoid. Until she had more proof, though, Tanjee had to make sure her allegations would hold up and to do that, she had to become a ranger like her brother….only….she wouldn’t be in the woods.

Her mind made up, Tanjee sat still and observed the kids as they sparred for the afternoon.

Tara was working alongside James in sparring with the children, her laughter drawing smiles from the children. James kept glancing over at Curtis, as he sparred with them. Finally the day ended, the children were tired but smiling. James walked over to Curtis and sat down next to the boy as if they were old friends, "You are worrying her, you know. I wouldn't think that you would like to see your teacher worry about you. Tomorrow, get back into the training." He patted Curtis on the shoulder in a brotherly fashion, leaning in to whisper into his ear, "We wouldn't want anything to happen to any of your family, now would we, boy?" Curtis sat there, not looking at him...not moving. He just stared at his folded hands in his lap and muttered a 'yes m'lord'. James smiled at him, "Good then...you and I will spar tomorrow and show Tara what you have learned." He left the boy as he headed for his room above the eastern stables.

Keatara had been watching from inside the door to the storage shed, her gaze worried at Curtis' lack of reaction when James sat down next to him. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She liked James....he reminded her of Tynen, before he changed. Before he turned dark. But, she felt that Curtis didn't like him and wondered if he was jealous. She suspected that Curtis had a crush on her and she didn't want to hurt his feelings, knowing how hard it was to be his age, but she also didn't want their to be hard feelings between Curtis and James. She sighed, finishing putting away the wooden weapons when James came over to her.

"Tara", he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes, "I was thinking about heading out tomorrow to do some hunting. What to tag along? The children could possibly use a break as well. Time to help out at their homes....play, be kids instead of training. What do you think?"

She smiled, "That be a sound idea, James. An' I be likin' a bit of huntin'. I be ready at dawn, James and waitin' for ye outside the gates."

"Good....we will help stock the larders at the dining hall with fresh meat for the cooks to cure. And you can also look for fresh herbs if you like for medicinal training for the children."

James walked away from her, the look on his face one of happiness and contentment. But inside his mind, he was thinking about getting work to Tynen. Tomorrow was just one of the first of hunting trips with Tara. Soon, he would deliver her to her brother.

Tanjee made sure she blended in with her surroundings as best she could. It was a natural ability Elves seemed to have. Even when they weren’t in the woods, they adapted as best they could to their environment. And Tanjee was no exception.

As she sat observing the interaction of the children with each other and Tara, she saw the admiration and respect in their eyes as well as the drive to do well under her instruction. Her green eyes flickered to James and Curtis from time to time as she watched them interact with each other in particular.

As they day was drawing to a close, Tanjee sank further back out of the way and observed Curtis and James when James approached Curtis. The best thing about being Elven is that people forget just how remarkable your sight and hearing are. So when James walked over to Curtis, Tanjee made certain she was focused in on the two of them.

She heard everything James spoke to Curtis about, except for when he leaned in closer and spoke to the boy in a whisper. At that point, she could only gather snippets of the conversation. But it didn’t take an alchemist to know there was something very off with the two of them. Especially given Curtis’ reaction to whatever James said to him.

She was just getting ready to go talk to Tara about it when she saw James approaching her friend and decided to stay put. Her eyes narrowed as she watched James. On the surface, he seemed rather…..nice. But Tanjee, more than anyone, knew a wolf could don the hide of a sheep and fool even the best. As she heard what James proposed, Tanjee knew she would insert herself into the hunt, and if she couldn’t, she would make sure to follow along and watch the man even more.

As James turned and walked away, Tanjee emerged from the hiding spot she’d been in for most of the afternoon making it seem as though she’d just arrived. As she approached James, she gave him a small smile and nod of the head as she walked past him on her way to see Tara. After she passed by the man, her smile faded and her brows furrowed. Walking to the storage shed, Tanjee walked in and smiled slightly at her friend.

”How did the training go today, Tara? I just saw James walking away and he looked rather happy about something. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of letting Gideon go. You two make such a wonderful pair…..”

Rose simply smiled and shook her head. “Indeed I am certain that Nol and the others will sort out the weeds quickly, but I would be lacking in my role as leader to not strip away some of the trash first. In the end I know that only the just men worthy of Paladine’s favor will be chosen.” Rose sat back in her seat looking to the window watching the rising sun. The noon hour was approaching and she knew that Trystan and Kali would both be arriving before too long. Letting out a long sigh Rose shook her head looking at Nol and Kellen once more.

“Our other guests will be arriving soon. I am unsure of how the meeting will progress.” Rose looked directly at Nol “Kali… has a proposal to make. We talked briefly about the matter last evening before the battle took place. I would appreciate your opinion on the matter after the meeting if you don’t mind Master Nol. Your knowledge of the world might give you better insight into things. I wish I could say more but I don’t believe we have the time for a full explanation.”

Rose reached for her glass once more and drained the contents. Despite Kali’s words she was certain there was more to this expedition than was being revealed. Mages were complicated and their reasons for their actions equally so. A mage like Kali rarely did things on a whim. She was every bit the thinker that her father was, and that alone was enough to trouble Rose’s thoughts. Rose did her best to keep conversation pleasant while they waited, sharing some of her more embarrassing stories from her days as a squire in the knighthood.



The frigid winds howled as they blew through the snowcapped mountains of the southern lands of Krynn. Piramay listened to the howling winds as she stared out a window into the cold darkness. It was an unpleasant and lifeless place and it brought a smile to her face. Fifth had planned this little retreat well putting it in a place no one would ever think the fire mage would go. Of course it was meant t be a sanctuary for them both but it was funny how things worked out sometimes.

Her eyes lowered to the soul gem that rested in the palm of her hand. It pulsed rhythmically as she watched it before holding it up to the window. “It is a shame you aren’t here in body to appreciate this place Fifth.” The memory of his face when the realization of what she was going to do to him set in was still fresh in her mind. She could not think of a more gratifying look at any point in her life that brought her this much joy. Her hand clasped around the gem and she returned it to her pocket as she spun on her heel stepping from the window.

The place she resided in now had been carved into the side of a mountain. The spot had been chosen do to a volcanic fissure that was nearby and that was where the heat for the tower was drawn from. Piramay could honestly say that despite the weather outside the keep, she was quite comfortable inside the walls around her. The past few months had been spent sorting the place to her liking as well as studying much of the material Fifth had brought here. It was like he had anticipated their failure all along. An amusing thought to say the least of the matter, but unsettling as well.

If he had only listened to her warnings the girl would have never had the chance to turn the tables on them. His own arrogance had blinded him to the truth and had cost them considerably. The one consolation was that Kali had not escaped unscathed. Piramay doubted the girl was dead and because of that she exercised due diligence and had been busy planning and studying.

She had lost access to much of the power she had gained from the towers she was still far stronger then she was before the towers were summoned. In fact her power had nearly consumed her very being, and while Fifth only needed to rest, she had to let her body heal as well. It was a curious feeling as she recalled being wrapped in the tower’s magic as her former abode pieced her together again slowly and purposefully. To her knowledge though it was something Fifth had not expected as there was no mention of it in his notes.

It was an issue for another time though as her thoughts were focused on the need to find a worthwhile aid. With Fifth dead there were few wizards capable of assisting her with her plans and fewer still that would willingly aid her risking the wrath of the Dark One. Piramay entered her study and with wave of her hand brought the candles in the room to life. She walked up to her desk and scanned the various books spread across the top and shook her head. The whistle of a tea kettle drew her attention away from the tomes.

The flame beneath the kettle died away upon her approach. Kali had introduced her to the wonders of tea, and despite her complete and utter disdain for the young woman she could not deny the pleasant aroma and taste of the concoction. It was quite the study aid when she felt like burning a candle into the darkest hours of the night. Taking her cup of tea Piramay sat down at her desk and began pouring over the tomes. Late into the night as the flames flickered in the hallways of her new home a soft chuckle drifted through the halls.

Tynen and his followers were slowly making their way to the keep. He was leaving a bloody path in his wake, his evil growing stronger by day. The Dark Lady had bestowed upon him great strength and speed and no one had been able to best him. Not even the knights dispatched to protect the villages. He was now being called Tynen the Merciless for he killed without mercy, whether it be man, woman or child. He often thought of his sister, Keatara and the elfen woman she called friend. James had sent word to him that Keatara's trust was growing rapidly and they would be starting to hunt together. Time was drawing nearer for when he would have her in his grasp and she would either join him or be a as he sacrifice to the Dark Lady.

On this day, he'd just finished with a large village and had rewarded his men with the spoils.....any woman of their choosing, so long as they were disposed of once they were finished with them. He turned to the dark haired wench laying upon his floor in his tent. Her sightless eyes staring at him as he smiled at her. He called for two of his men, having them remove her body from his tent as he made further plans for when his sister was in his grasp.




Keatara woke early, making sure that word was sent to the children and their families that today there would be no training so that they could have a day of rest. She was anxious for the upcoming hunt with James, eager to be out from behind the protected walls of Heartlund. She made sure everything was ready and in perfect working order, having oiled her bowstring the night before and sharpening her arrow heads. Once everything was readied, she made sure she was dressed for hunting, donning her breeches and tunic instead of her normal armor.

She ate a quick breakfast of bread, cheese and wine and the slung her bow and quiver of arrows over her shoulder. She left her small cabin just as the sun was rising, heading for the main gates where James was waiting for her. "I'm glad you came, Keatara. A short hunting trip is what is needed I believe, to break the monotony of every day training."

Keatara smiled at him as the gate guard, having already been informed the upcoming hunt, opened the gates to allow them out into the forests. "Aye...I agree, James. I be needing a short reprieve and a hunt is perfect. Thank ye for thinking of it."

Nol listened intently as Rose spoke, watching her facial expressions and also watching Kellans. He locked eyes with Rose as she spoke and he smiled when she finished, speaking with a soft tone to his voice, "Commander Rose what brings you honor in your strength is a moon cast shadow compared to the honor brought you by humility and vulnerability. Your apology is accepted with my full heart, and the matter is forgotten. I have sent my flight to their homes for a rest, they have earned it but they will return in three days. I appreciate your words and know that I made a commitment to you that I will not break, even if the air was foul between us my intentions were to stay and see the new wall built. Your men can not move the stones, we still have a months worth to bring, we are willing to do what it takes."

He reached over and took Kellan's hand in his own, the heat coming off his scales was intense, it was the what she always felt and it was part of the paradox of what he was. Though he was a creature that craved and needed cold his skin constantly shed the heat inside his body, the result was a constant warmth to those who touched him. He continued speaking to Rose, "As for your request, I would be happy to stay and listen in on what Kali has to say."

Kellan enjoyed sitting and talking with Rose in an informal setting. It did her heart good to see the woman was not so out of touch with the world around her for all the decisions she had to make and work she did to try and maintain order among her Knights while maintaining peace with the dragons. Not that the dragons would ever harm the Knights, but as things clearly showed earlier, tensions do grow between the two species and sometimes, a separation of the two is needed.

When Nol reached for her hand, she marveled at the warmth she always felt in his touch and gently curled her fingers around his hand. It was something she still was getting used to. Not the warmth he exuded but the fact he was such a contradiction of a creature. He needed the cold to survive yet he gave such warmth to others.

She looked over at him and smiled softly, giving is hand a gentle squeeze. The news Rose gave her releasing her from her Knights duties was more than Kellan could have ever hoped for. While there was a time Kellan would have been appalled at such a thing, now she saw it as a blessing.

Kellan would always and forever be a Solamnic Knight at heart, but her duties now lay with Nol and the other Dragons. And to the High Born. He entrusted her with the knowledge of the Dragons and their riders to find others like her so they could fight against the Dark One.






On the other side of the gates, concealed in the remaining tress the elves occupied prior to the battle, a lone figure crouched and watched the pair of hunters exiting the Keep. It was not unlike Tanjee to be in the trees and forests near Heartlund. But what was unlike her was the fact she wore earth tone colored clothing. And her normally visible amulet of Mishakal was concealed beneath her clothing to prevent it from catching a stray ray of light from the morning sun and reflecting it to the hunters.

She needed to be utterly invisible to the hunters. And as an Elf, she could do so naturally. While she wasn’t the seasoned ranger her brother was, she had spent enough time in her natural environment, as all elves do, to be able to become one with the world around her.

And for some reason Tanjee had a nagging feeling that would not leave her alone until she decided to follow Tara and this James. As a precaution, she had slung around her shoulder the bow Aeolis had taught her to use when she was younger. While she was no crack shot like her brother or Olwa, she was fairly accurate and had brought down several rabbits and deer in her lifetime.

As the hunters moved further away from the Keep, Tanjee used the trees to move and follow them from above. When the time came for her to descend, she would, but until then, she would remain within the foliage the leaves of the trees provided.

Nol suddenly quirked a brow and interrupted the conversation, "It appears as if our final guest has arrived."

Rose and Kellan turned to look at him just as a small knock came to the door. Before Rose could answer the door opened and Kali stepped inside. A chill entered the room as she looked to the three faces greeting her. Lady Rose began to stand and Kali spoke barely above a whisper, "Don't get up, this is your space but there is no need for the formality of the Knighthood, let's keep things simple."

Nol furrowed his brows slightly and glanced to Kellan and then to Rose. Rose seemed completely unaffected by what Kali had just said but Kali's backhanded words always seemed to affect him more than the others. He was doing his best to take it in stride and stay civil as Kali shifted her eyes to his face. Kali sneered slightly seeing that she had gotten the best of Nol yet again and then looked at Lady Rose as she motioned to a third chair against the wall, "May I?"

Rose nodded with a smile and Kali lifted her hand and pointed at the chair. She moved her hand towards the desk and the chair moved across the floor and stopped in front of the desk. Nol tightened his jaw as he watched Kali, this was nothing more than a show of power, there was no need to move a chair magically except to gain the upper hand mentally in a room and he could see right through what Kali was doing. Kali didn't even make eye contact with him as she walked over to the chair and sat with cat like grace. She looked at Rose and spoke again, "Might I trouble you for some hot water Commander?"

Rose nodded again and spoke to one of the guards outside the door to bring some hot water and a mug as Kali gave a slight nod of thanks. She cleared her throat and spoke, "Lady Kellan and Nol, thank you for being here, what I have to say Lady Rose is already aware of but I will need your aid as well so it is serendipitous that you are here." Nol furrowed his brow deeply and interrupted, "We are not here as servants of the Lady of the Black Tower Kali, our purpose is..." Kellan squeezed his hand just enough to snap him out of what was surly to become an explosion of words and he stopped himself.

Kali smirked as she locked eyes with Nol and spoke again, "I beg your forgiveness ancient of ancients, I chose my words poorly. Of course you are free agents and the choice is yours if you wish to accompany Lady Rose and I on our expedition to the south."

Nol quirked a brow and turned to Lady Rose who returned his gaze and gave a slight nod that she was in fact planning on leaving with Kali for some yet to be revealed purpose. Nol looked back at Kali and spoke, "Fine, I'm listening." Kali smiled, this time her facial expression was softer. Roses aid returned with the hot water and Kali looked up at the young woman, "It's Larissa yes?" Larissa nodded and Kali spoke, "Many thanks to you Larissa, I simply can't seem to function anymore without my tea."

Kali removed the pungent smelling bag from within her robes and scooped out a small amount of the shimmering powder into the mug before she poured the hot water in. The smell of whatever she had put into the cup filled the room, it was pleasant yet strangely foul all at the same time. Kali lifted the cup to her face and sipped before looking at Nol and Kellan, "It is for the pain, Ceridwyn was kind enough to mix it for me and give me the recipe." Clearly the scars on her face were only the beginning of her suffering due to the incidents nine months ago.

She cleared her throat softly and looked back to Nol and Kellan, "So where was I... ah yes, the expedition to the south. As you both may be aware Piramay is still a threat to Krynn. Once she finds out that I have claimed the remaining tower and brought it under my control she is sure to seek revenge. The heart of Piramay is one which does not take kindly to defeat and surely she will see my occupation of what she and Fifth created as a slap to the face. In the end however I can assure you that I will make a much more amiable neighbor to Heartlund than she would. That notwithstanding this entire region is not safe, at least not yet. If I know Piramay, and I know her fairly well, she will be back once she has regained her strength and formed a plan, a plan which I am certain will revolve around razing Heartlund to ash. When we were part of the collective mind we learned and adapted to one another, she and I and Fifth. Where this puts us at an advantage is I have a much clearer vision of who she is and what ambitions lie in her heart. The downside is she too has insight into me, and therefore we are truly equals. Fifth's mind was immaterial as I lived among them, he was her puppet all along and it took every ounce of charm I had to keep his attention focused on me instead of her. Fifth's weakness always was women, I am not sure if Piramay knew that, but as I was his student for almost a hundred years I had figured out exactly what to say and how to say it in order to bend him to my will. So in that respect he revealed to me many more secrets than he did to her, which again would put us to an advantage over her."

The three of them seemed to perk up slightly and she took another draw of her tea before continuing, "However...," She glanced at the three of them, "I have strong evidence to suggest that Piramay possesses Fifth's soul." Kellan and Rose looked shocked at this news but Nol only kept his eyes locked on Kali and responded, "The soul wells..."

Kali looked at Nol and nodded, "Yes, the soul wells. What was Fifth's most powerful creation was ironically also what cost him his own body. Fifth is too powerful even without a body to be released from the soul well, I am certain Piramay knows this, she is much more cunning and intelligent than Fifth gave her credit for where he saw her as an enforcer I was able to see through her facade and discern a sharp and cunning sorceress. Having access to my mind and my Father's inherited ability for strategy only made her more powerful, it was a calculated risk I had to take in order to defeat the towers. Unfortunately since she is in possession of Fifth's soul it is only a matter of time before she will be able to unlock more of his secrets and grow in strength, a strength which I assure you is quite considerable already."

"I spoke with Lady Rose last night regarding an artifact which may be in the ruins of Icewall castle in Icereach."

Nol interupted, "The Everwinter?"

Kali turned and looked at Nol with a smile, "I see that the lore of mortals is still on the mind of the ancients."

Rose remained as impassive as stone upon Kali's arrival. The woman's approach to matters was far different than it was many months ago. These little displays of her magic served no purpose and truth be told it annoyed Rose a bit. While she respected Kali for what she was and what she did against the mages it did not excuse her behavior now. The incidents of the final battle had changed her considerably and it saddened Rose slightly to see the woman like this.

When Larissa came with the water for Kali's tea Rose wondered if the mage woman knew that she was looking at her own aunt. The magic disguising Larissa was powerful, but Kali was still a mage of considerable ability. She likely detected the charm if Rose was even partially right, but the matter had never come up. Rose only nodded to Larissa before she vanished from the room once more. Rose's attention returned to the discussion at hand. Most of what Kali had to say she knew so for her it was merely a recap that afforded her some time to think.

When Nol interupted Kali with the name of the object Rose sat forward with a quirked eyebrow "I take it you know something of this particular item Nol."

Nol turned and looked at Commander Rose, his silver eyes flashed softly as he nodded his head, "Yes Lady Rose I am aware of this ancient object, or should I say objects." At this both Kali and Rose leaned forward instinctively. He looked at both of them and continued "The Everwinter was designed by Silver Dragons over 4,000 years ago. It was designed to allow humans to live in the harsh winter climates that we prefer. As you know our inherent 'weakness' is our love for humanity, but we also desire, crave and need the cold. The Everwinter allowed an oasis in the cold. Like an oasis in the desert where life and food flourish the Everwinter allowed us to create a winter like environment anywhere we desired."



Kali looked at Nol with a gaze of interest. She removed a parchment from within her robes and laid it out on the desk. In detail was a drawing of a cylindrical shaped object and in the upper left corner was written the word, 'Everwinter'. She looked up at him after putting weight on the four corners to hold it down, "How does it operate?" Nol looked at her suspiciously and she practically growled in response, "Please Nol'Lore Silentclaw, I have no desire for this object for my own personal gain. What possible use could I have for it?"

Nol narrowed his eyes on her, "To defeat Piramay."

Kali's face showed her amusement at his words and responded, "The defeat of Piramay will require much more than this object. I have already assured and promised Commander Rose that I seek this object only for the defenses of Heartlund. My interests go much, much deeper."

Nol furrowed his eyebrows and looked back at the desk. He studied the object a moment and then spoke, "These lines on the outside, they are seams. The Everwinter consists of eight parts, each containing the scale of an elder silver dragon. When the objects are set equidistant from one another and the activation sequence is initiated through the use of the eight keys a dome shaped barrier is projected outwards and blankets the surrounding area in deep winter conditions thus allowing silver dragons to live outside the walls of the city and remain comfortable while the humans within stay warm. Icewall castle was named as such because over time the barrier will begin to seal itself in a wall of ice. the longer it stays activated, the wider the area of effect."

Kali leaned back in her chair and kept her eyes locked on the parchment for a long period of time, remaining silent. Finally she spoke, "This object is beyond fascinating and would have required more than just dragons to construct." Nol looked up at her and nodded, "Gnomes built the mechanics, Dragons provided the raw materials and the knowledge." She spoke mockingly, "Gnomes... amazing that it worked when deployed."

Nol narrowed his gaze slightly, "As I said, dragons provided the knowledge." Kali looked at him with a smirk, "And my point still stands."

Nol inhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair as Kali's smirk remained, in a sense she was right, Gnomes were notorious tinkers and would have surly made their own 'modifications' unless they were painstakingly watched over during the entire process. Kali looked at the plans again and ran her hand lovingly over them, "So the eight lines on this drawing are seams and each section has it's own key to activate it... sounds simple enough."

Nol nodded in affirmation and Kali looked at Commander Rose, "I suppose all that remains is the items retrieval."

Kellan had learned to read Nol’s body language like a book. Even more so now that she was his rider. So when he quirked his brow and announced Kali had arrived, she sensed a slight tension in him. Glancing at him quickly before turning to see Klai as she arrived, she noted the reaction Nol had to Kali’s use of magic. Like her love, Kellan saw the use of such a thing as nothing more than to assert herself in some way. And like Nol, she didn’t care for it but said nothing to the contrary.

As Kali mixed her tea and announced why the meeting was taking place and Nol’s reaction, she gently squeezed his hand to prevent him from doing anything that would put even more strain to the conversation. When he quieted, Kellan noted the smirk on Kali’s features. She was beginning to understand where it was coming from.

As Kali spoke of Piramay, Kellan felt her own body tense. That fire mage had done so much destruction to this area that she felt her anger rising at just the mere mention of that name. But as Kali explained how the Fire Mage could still have Fifth’s soul and use it to become even stronger than she already was, Kellan felt as though she had been punched in the gut.

Daring to glance at Nol, she saw there was no look of surprise on his fact that her was surely showing. Did he know such a thing may be possible? If so, why didn’t he share this with her? Or was he hoping the truth of this would never come to fruition? Surely he had a very good reason for not sharing his suspicions with her.

As the conversation turned to the Everwinter, Kellan paid very close attention to all of this. Nol’s honest statement about Kali using it to defeat Piramay was exactly where Kellan’s mind had gone, although she didn’t voice her thoughts as plainly as he did. While on the Myst Isle, she read about the Everwinter as well as heard from different Silver’s of its existence but she wasn’t certain it was even true. Until now. Kellan knew it provided the Silvers with the environment they needed to survive while allowing them to remain close to the humans they loved so much. She heard about Icewall as well but this was the first time she heard it talked about as though it was an actual castle. For some reason, her mind could not comprehend it as a real thing.

As she studied the plans and listened to how it worked, Kellan marveled at the ingenious design. So simple yet so complex. After all, one doesn’t come across an elder Silver dragon scale every day and the key for each object had to be unique to that particular one. Knowing what she does about Gnomes, anyway. They would never make each key like the other. It was a way they could put their own little twist on things.

As Kali ended her conversation with retrieving the items, Kellan snapped her head up to look at Kali, then Rose then finally on Nol. As a silence built in the room, Kellan felt as though it was going to suffocate her if she didn’t say something, she spoke up.

”You want us to help you retrieve the items necessary to rebuild the Everwinter? If Piramay returns, as you suspect she will, what are the citizens to do without us? Who will protect Heartlund while we are out scouring Krynn in search of such rare and unique objects?”

She looked at Rose and Nol then back to Kali.

”Do you even know where to start looking?”

Her gaze drifted to Rose and Nol.

”I will do whatever is decided but know I am concerned about leaving Heartlund unprotected.”

Kali looked at Kellan as she spoke. With a nod she responded matter of factly, "I would not be leaving if I did not at least have a direction. My suspicion is that the Everwinter is still in tact and under the ice at Icewall. As for you being concerned over the safety of Heartlund, it is quite noble of you to believe you are capable of securing it against a full attack from Piramay, noble or stupid."

Nol immediately stood and walked over to Kali looking down at her with ferocious eyes, "Don't slander Kellan or you will deal with me!"

Kali didn't even flinch as he made his show of aggression. She looked up at him and smirked, "I remember when that instinctive passion was directed at safeguarding me." She looked over at Kellan and for the briefest moment there was a tone of sincerity in her voice, "You are indeed a lucky woman."

Nol leaned back and gently cleared his throat as he sat down heavily, aware that Kali had yet again drawn out his anger. He inhaled deeply and listened as Kali spoke, "No one is obligated to go, my request was exactly that, a request." She turned and looked Kellan directly in the eyes, "Stay if you want, you are under no obligation to accompany us."

She stood and looked at Lady Rose, "If you will excuse me I need to go to my tower and prepare, send word through your ring when you are ready, I understand there is a great deal you will need to do before we leave."

Kali stood and left without another word. As her presence left the room the tension coming from Nol subsided as well. He growled gently under his breath, "That woman..."

Rose and Kellan both turned to look at him and he gave a look of apology, "I am sorry."

He sat back in his chair heavily and Kellan would be able to see the obvious look of regret on his face over loosing control of his emotions. After a small silence he spoke, "If Piramay does indeed have possession of Fifth's soul this does not bode well for us. Both of them have a vendetta against the other, what might in deed be a private war could spill out across the land and there could be much collateral damage. Though Kali is ambitious in her pursuit of magic her purpose is less dangerous then Piramay's, it is a matter of picking the lesser of two evils as far as I am concerned. My only concern is what will Kali do with all the power if and when Piramay is defeated? With no other considerable power to face off against will she simply fade away or turn on those who aided her? If she is not after the Everwinter for herself she is after something else under the ice. Kali doesn't do anything anymore unless she benefits from the effort. If she could get it herself she would and leave us out of it."

He turned and looked at Commander Rose, "It is clear that you have already committed to go, and I understand and respect that. You see an opportunity to safeguard your people and as that is your number one duty any chance to do so will become your focus. I would caution you however to keep one eye on the prize and one on Kali, once she has what she is after there is a small chance she will remove herself from the equation. She has pledged to go to Icewall and assist in recovering the Everwinter but has she also pledged to help you get it back here? To help you learn to use it? Remember that anything she has not said she would do she might not, don't assume she is implying anything because she doesn't what she says is what she means."

He paused and his voice lowered, "She has changed so much, it is impossible to know her real motives anymore."

”Thus the gap that exists between the Knights and Magic users.”

Kellan looked over at Nol and placed her cool hand gently over his. The instant warmth she felt from that simple touch seemed to seep deep to her soul. She knew Kali had a way of getting under his scales and each time the two of them were in the same room, Kali seemed to know what things to say and do that would cause the Silver to lose his temper, and quickly. It was just another level of the game Kali played.

”Her real motives are whatever she needs to do to gain as much knowledge as she can about her….craft. In doing so she will obtain that knowledge any way possible and use anyone who can help her gain it.”

Kellan looked to Rose then.

”Nol is right. She’s indicated she knows where to start looking but she hasn’t mentioned anything about making sure we make it back to Heartlund….or anywhere else for that matter. And I agree with Nol, there’s something else besides the Everwinter she’s after. If we go into this knowing all of these things, then I am with you both. But just to be safe, I would secure some details before we leave with her. Such as making sure she doesn’t abandon us in OUR time of need when the time comes.”

Shaking her head and furrowing her brows, she sighed heavily.

”For as straight forward as Kali can be, she stills leaves a great bit to be said.”