Alone in the library an hour later, Ghyreian pondered her next move. She could not openly tell Ariakas about the dragonorbs, that much was apparent. But he would soon find out anyway and would blame her. The Conclave did not know the current location of them either, or Justarius wouldn't have asked. If the Conclave itself didn't know, how could Ghyreian be blamed for ignorance?

She leafed through the tome before her, coming to a stop on the article about the dragonorbs, and began to read.

"It was said that Fistandantilus, the greatest of our order, used the dragonorb as he sought godhood."

Ghyreian looked up sharply and met the eyes of a hooded blackrobed man. She nodded curtly in greeting, then returned to her reading. Ignoring the hint, her colleague helped himself to a seat.

"But you aren't seeking godhood are you, Ghyreian Nightsong?"

She sucked in her breath and inclined her head. "Who are you?"

"An old friend," he said, pulling back the hood of his robe.

The next thing Ghyreian knew, an intense pain burst inside her head. Then nothing.

_________________

(I am going to do a small twist here as I had corrected the one post from before again...)

Edwin sat down on his chair and then quickly looked at the box that he had locked magically, he stepped to it suddenly wanting to open the chest and ran his hand on it with a doubting face.

Could he? What would the item grant him? His very own destruction or salvation?

Edwin quickly dispelled the magics and opened the heavy lock, he tookout a brown blanket that had something wrapped in it and took it out. He held it in his both hands with a sad look on his face and seemed to inspect it as he ran his fingers along it`s surface. Edwin raised on the level of his eyes and then whispered with a dry voice.

"What did you show her? What did you do to change it all?"

Edwin said with a demanding voice and the dragonorb answered with a green light that was like a heartbeat.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

A throbbing pain shattered in her head as she opened her eyes. The chamber was stone-bare and dimly lit with torches. She lay on the floor, crudely shackled to the wall. The Black Robe stood a few feet away with another of her order. Her accoster approached, leaving the second mage in shadow.

Ghyreian's glare penetrated with such animosity that the man paused. Sneering, he advanced again and stood looking down at her.

"Well, Nightsong. It looks like the dragon didn't kill you after all." Tanreal kicked her in the chest, hard. She collapsed, gasping for breath. "Remember our last encounter? Not very pleasant for you, I recall. You renounced us for your Red Robed friend. But I was a fool for assuming he still had the necromancy talisman." He kicked her again, harder.

Ghyreian tasted blood on her tongue from stifling her moans. Baleful enmity crackled from her silver eyes. "Simpleton! Did you think you could pick a fight in Wayreth Tower, where by law all mages dwell in harmony? When our Head finds out - "

"Finds out about what?" a cool, feminine voice said from the shadows. The second mage stepped out, pulling back her hood to reveal -

Ladonna. Ghyreian gaped in shock and disbelief at the woman. Ladonna assumed a cool smile. "I think there's something you need to tell us, Ghyreian."

_________________

Edwin was interrupted by a knock on the door and he heard Justarius`s voice.

"Edwin are you there? I have to talk to you about something.."

The door opened and Edwin jumped up keeping the dragonorb out on the open between his hands or what was left of the other. Justarius seemed very confused, but his eyes widened as he saw the dragonorb.

"The dragonorb! You lied about it, you said that it was burried under the collapsing wall!"

Edwin sighed slightly and blew his hair off his face, but had a somewhat cold determination in his eyes.

"Yes I did, but it was never yours nor the councils, but ours!"

"Ours? Who are us? You mean you and Ghyreian?"

"Yes... or it was until she betrayed me..."

Edwin added with sad voice letting his head fall slightly.

"But.. but.. perhaps I will understand her after I have seen what it offered her, what it was going to show her and give her. I had that dark place within me always, I have been too blind to see it and what do you think I have been offered already?"

"Raw power? Edwn this is madness, you know as well as I know that you might not be strong enough to go trough all that just like..."

"My test?"

Edwin said now with anger in his voice.

"Sadly... yes.."

"Then I am willing to take another test, she was everything I had left and then she betrayed me, I should have been wiser and stronger to see that... I won`t let it happen again..."

"Edwin put the crystal down right now and calm down yourself!"

Justarius commanded with anger and determination in his voice as he stepped forwards.

"Or you are going to kill me old man? I have been ordered around enough now by you and Par Salian, you knew that we would be lead to this treasure because Ghyreian was always after power and she knew that it was in her reach. That is why you put us together and ordered me to spy on her!"

Edwin shouted in rage and then said few words looking at the crystal, there was a flash and Edwin was gone to somewhere hat even Justarius didn`t want to think about.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"About Ariakas?" Ghyreian demanded. "Surely you would know - "

"Don't act dim, Ghyreian," Ladonna snapped, her eyes flashing. "You know where the dragonorb is and you are hiding it from the Conclave. Tell us - "

Suddenly she spasmed, staggering back and clutching her robes. Tanreal stared in appalled consternation.

"The dragonorb," Ladonna breathed, pulling herself upright. "I have placed scryings on it. It was here, in Wayreth...." She stared at Ghyreian. "The Red Robe has it."

This revelation hit Ghyreian with all the force of a warhammer. "What a fool I've been," she exclaimed. "He lied to me! The sniveling hypocrite...."

Ladonna paused, deep in thought. "Go after him," she said at last. "I will bring this matter before the Conclave. Meanwhile..." She strode briskly towards the door. "You and Tanreal both. Go after him, and bring him back to me alive. You are not to speak of this to Par-Salian or Justarius."

_________________

Edwin had travelled far away into a huge library of knowledge, it held numerous magical books and Edwin had taken many for himself. He was very aware of his surroundings thanks to the dragonorb, but didn`t let his guard or his senses down as he read a book about illusions. He adapted a spell that he had yet not know, but he needed a test subject for it and for mant other spells that he had began to read. The library had been abandoned for centuries in the heart palanthas, he wondered why, but as he had looked out of the window he understood.

He had a cold chill as he saw the tower stand in guard and the tree`s around it like a wall that you could pass trough, but it was so thick and dangerous that not many living beings could pass trough it. Edwin had found many books of necromancy and was hesitant to open a page to extend his skills in the knowledge about the dead, but as he got into speed he couldn`t help looking for more. Perhaps now he began to understand her, this was what she had been after and it the lust of knowledge that drove her onwards. Edwin continued his search trough the library with greedy eyes and the candle melted as the time passed.

-----

Justarius walked trough the hallway with a concerned face and ran into Ghyreian, he looked at her quietly, but then opened his mouth since he knew that she knew very well.

"Ghyreian, you knew about it didn`t you, but you never said a word of it did you?!"

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"If you meant the dragonorb, no I didn't think Edwin had the capacity in him for such ambition," she snapped, all facade of courtesy gone.

"Let us pass, Justarius," Tanreal said quietly. Ghyreian threw him a disgusted look. "We are the vassals of Ladonna. If you want more information, ask her."

They passed by him without a word.

Pain erupted in both of their minds, a searing heat where only Justarius's enraged face filled their vision.

"Justarius!" Ladonna clutched his arm. The pain passed. Ghyreian staggered into the wall, panting for breath. Ladonna eyed him coldly. "This matter will be brought before the Conclave. Do you deny it?"

Ghyreian and her reluctant ally slipped away into the shadows.

--------------

"He could be anywhere on the face of Krynn," Tanreal growled as their horses plodded onward. "Icewall, Solamnia, Sanction....."

"Ladonna was just trying to get rid of me," Ghyreian agreed without looking at him. Hostility crackled once more between them. "We could scry him, but that would take days. He has the power of the dragonorb to shield him."

_________________

"Not the whole conclave or there will be a search for Edwin and the dragonorb across Kryn by the greediest of us, but the council shall be informed, but before that you know very well whom should be informed..."

Justarius said with a serious face.

-----

Meanwhile Edwin was pondering as days passed and his search went on in the library, why would someone have abandoned them all and left them there? This troubled him, but didn`t want to even think about it, but was sure that someone great had owned them and knew that the orb had given him this all. Edwin heard voices few times and then sighed as he finnished reading few spells, he was exhausted and needed rest, but was going to find about what those voices were. He walked past the lines of shelfs, then he stopped as he saw an old man reading a book one of the ways.

Edwin coughed getting his attention, he looked at him and Edwin was suddenly terrified by the man`s presence. Edwin stepped back as he got a judgemental, but somewhat pitying look from the old man and Edwin shook his head with a desperate face. He felt like he was nothing at that moment, but didn`t walk away as much as he wanted.

"Who are you?"

Edwin demanded.

"Oh me? I am no one or I would be someone if I could remember my name... what was it again..."

The old man said as he scrathed his head after taking off his hat and Edwin shook his head.

"Leave it as it may, but I have work to do and I have no time for you old fool.. leave and let me concentrate..."

"On what?"

Edwin turned away, but felt the eyes in his back and turned to look again, but there was no one there or he thought seeing a grey robe disappear into the shadows. He knew what he saw, but wasn`t sure, if this was just away of feeling guilty, but why would be imagine Fizban? Edwin slapped himself telling himself to keep focus as he looked for a place to sleep in, he trapped the room entraces and then began to sleep with the dragonorb resting between his hands.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Palanthas," Ghyreian said that morning. Tanreal was upright in moments, the sleep gone from his face.

"Are you certain?"

"Of course I'm certain," Ghyreian said disdainfully. "He could have used the dragonorb to mask his progress, but I doubt he would have gotten that far with it."

"Palanthas is a two days' ride from here," Tanreal said as he began packing their things.

"That's why we're not riding. A teleport spell takes a day to prepare for the likes of us. With all luck, we should be there by tonight."

_________________

Edwin woke up and began his search once more, he made sure that he studied mostly, but at times he would gather books to travel away with them to a safer place. The orb had given him a small breather, but he knew too well that he would be searched and it wouldn`t take too long for them to arrive. Edwin needed a safe place, the safest place as he could get upon krynn, but where and what would be the price?

Edwin still kept on looking for few hours, but then stopped at a dangerous, but brilliant idea that hadn`t stroke hm before and few words began to ring in his head. Edwin walked up to the window as the moon`s rose, the silver, the red and the black unvisible to him.

My offer still stands Edwin, if you ever find it necessarry to join us and you have betrayed your own colour and god then I am more than pleased to take you among us..

Edwin looked at the red moon with a sad smile and placed his hand against the window for a long goodbye as the dragonorb, the books and his staff layed next to him ready for a long journey.

"I never thought I would see this day come, but I have been told to follow my heart and what my heart desires is something that you cannot grant me, but I`ll remember you..."

Edwin let his hand slip down as he bit his cheek and let tear fall, but quickly brushed it away and turned to look at two black robes entering the room. Edwin slightly smiled

"Ghyreian and Tanreal.... you don`t know how expectable it is that you come for me, Ladonna must appriciate you to capture or kill me all tough I am nothing as they all say. They all talk about Edwin who could have had it all, but never took it!"

Edwin said raising his voice and took the dragonorb in his hands, he ran his rigth hand finger across it`s surface.

"Well... no more.. no more...."

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"I cast fire and you cast ice," Tanreal whispered. "On the count of three. One - two - "

"No," Ghyreian said with a note of finality as she eyed Edwin. "Our orders were to bring him back alive."

Tanreal looked exasperated. "The Conclave will no longer have the nerve to order us about if we kill Edwin and obtain possession of the dragonorb, will it?"

Ghyreian hesitated, reminded of she and Edwin's last encounter in Ergoth. The promise of power was tempting. Seeing her resolve weakening, Tanreal opened his mouth to say more before Ghyreian cut him off again. "Speak no more of treachery, or I'll personally hand you over to Ladonna."

Tanreal snorted in disgust. "And I thought your ambition went further, Nightsong. Very well. Sleep spells, then."

_________________

Edwin hmped at them as he heard few of their words.

"Ladies I am afraid that I must be going since I have an important appointment, so goodbye..."

Edwin picked up his staff and books that were in a bag, he held the crystal in his hands as he stared at them.

"You many chase me, but where ever you follow me then I will escape again until I have enough power to defeat you or perhaps I could do that now, but it would be too uncertain now wouldn`t it?"

Edwin concentrated beginning to say few words as the crystal began to beat again like a heart with it`s green glow.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

[eh... Tanreal's a man... unless Edwin was deliberately insulting him ]

He must not be allowed to escape.

Tanreal hurled a wall of force to shatter Edwin's concentration as Ghyreian lunged for the dragonorb. Propelled by a haste spell, she slammed into Edwin.

_________________

Edwin cursed as he fell down, but pushed her off himself and took his staff. He aimed a quick hit towards Ghyreian with rage burning in his eyes and then he turned towards Tanreal, but didn`t attack and concentrated again to escape.

The spell was almost ready and he could feel himself leaving the room soon with his equipment.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Tanreal shouted something, but through the roar in Ghyreian's ears she didn't take note. With both hands she seized hold of the dragonorb just as Edwin finished the spell.

_________________

They both travelled aong with the dragonorb and then they were smacked agains the ground, Edwin looked around quickly as they struggled and then quickly threw his head towards Ghyreians face. He knocked Ghyerian down and began running along the narrow tunnel that they had arrived in. Edwin quickly ran into a room, he slammed the door shut and locked it to delay her.

He looked at a man in the room, he was without a doubt amazed, but quickly recovered and Edwin stepped confidently forward.

"Well well if it isn`t the red mageling... but I have been understood that you aren`t that in favour of your order?"

Edwin smiled slightly as he heard Ghyreian arrive at the door.

"I have brought you a gift lord Ariakas and I shall of course give you my services since my order has abandoned me..."

Edwin said as he held out the dragonob with his right hand towards Ariakas.

_________________

Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!