Ghyreian sneered at this. "And I suppose you care so much for my health that you went out of your way to heal something that would have healed perfectly by itself?" She paused, then added brusquely, "I intend to find more about this Verminaard."

_________________

Edwin smiled finnishing his quith-pa.

" Yes , but the knights would have found us anyway and you would have been so stubborn, that you would have killed yourself and them with a final spell, because you wouldn` t have accepted to be imprisoned by them...." Edwin got up and took his horse keeping his staff near.

"If you wish to know more about Verminaad I supposed we have to towards north..." Edwin looked in the horizon. "And I` m coming with you wether you like it or not Ghyreian, but please call me Edwin not human."

_________________

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 we have to can we change that Ghyreian and Edwin killed Verminaard instead of the nine companions?

Ghyreian's lip curled in another sneer. The respect Edwin had earned himself in her eyes had vanished as quickly as it had come. "If you're coming with me you best learn to keep up, human. Your health seems fragile as it is."

She spurred her horse onward, heading south, not waiting to see if Edwin could catch up or not. She heard the pounding of hooves behind her, and didn't need to turn to see his horse racing at Nightshadow's heels.

Ghyreian jerked hard on the reins. Nightshadow balked, having nearly run into a bush. A bush that had not been there mere seconds before. She looked around in bewilderment and saw a dense forest of towering trees. A forest that had not been there mere seconds before. A forest she recognized immediately, having studied here for twenty years.

Why would Par-Salian send for them now? And why should the forest admit both her and the Red Robe? Were they now somehow paired? A likely pair, Ghyreian caught herself thinking sardonically. A dark elf and a Red Robe who wields a medallion of Nuitari. Both not trusting the other. Both not hesitating to kill the other if the time should come.

Just their luck.

_________________

*I think we could do the following...what if we kinda stole the kill of verminaad? or just even try it to kill him*

The forest came in front of them and Edwin smiled from pure irony, par salian had noticed them and decided to throw the forest in front of them. Edwin galloped next to Ghyreian and smiled at her then going slowly forwards. He remembered the tree`s and the out look of the forest, but what mostly remained was the tower that after a while of going forwards appearred before him. It was like he remembered it and saw it in his dreams where he had heard the voice of... He looked up where the black moon should have been and smiled slightly thanking the dark one, but still remembering his alligiance to the red one. They arrived at the courtyard of the tower and Edwin stopped, he looked at the towers and then at Ghyreian.

"Tell me elf....what does it look like? the dark one`s moon, the black moon? is it like I have heard it is? does it remind you of cold and silent power, lust and destruction."

Suddenly they were interrupted when a white robed man appearred on top of the stairs, that lead to the tower and Edwin shrugged jumping down from the horse.

_________________

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!

*maybe we should try and fail and then barely escape with out lives. or even meet the companions and help them?*

Ghyreian was not surprised at Edwin's question. It was only to be expected of the short-lived, easily swayed human.

"Greetings," Par-Salian intoned softly. Their surroundings dissolved. Ghyreian blinked to find herself in the vast, dimly lit chamber she had come to know as the Hall of Mages. Par-Salian stood at the front of the hall, Justarius and Ladonna at his side.

Ghyreian lowered her gaze as was proper. To do otherwise would have invoked the anger of her superiors.

"I apologize for our lack of hospitality," Par-Salian amended. "But matters are pressing. Can you not guess why we have brought you here?"

Ghyreian could very well guess, but she kept the thought to herself and said nothing.

"Please... be seated." Two chairs appeared out of thin air. She lowered herself onto one and waited for the Master to speak.

"Have you heard of the fortress of Pax Tharkas? (spelling?)" Par-Salian continued smoothly.

"Yes, my lord.

"Excellent. Your task concerns a dark cleric called Highlord Verminaard."

_________________

*yea...works for me...but at the fortress yeah...*

Edwin sat down and listened, then he talked joining the converstaion.

"May I guess...to kill this Highlord Verminaad? You white robed could only sacrifice 1 red one & 1 black one to eliminate verminaad or something like that?" Edwin smiles.

"Not quite because together you 2 can defeat him, his armies will be away from pax tharkas from time to time because he wars humans & elves burning down their homes."

Edwin smiles "hmph...fine by me then...this Verminaad besides got us into trouble before so I wouldn`t be sorry if I blasted him away myself...but I need supplies before I leave and access to the libraries..." Edwin had a normal look, but a certain glance in his eyes and he nervously touched his amulet.

_________________

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!

Justarius watched Edwin thoughtfully, then murmured something in Par-Salian's ear. Par-Salian sighed. "Very well. Name your terms." He turned to Ghyreian.

"My terms..." Ghyreian stood tall but closed her eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. When her eyes opened she had regained her composure. "The dream lifted from Silvanesti," she said softly.

Par-Salian seemed taken aback by this, but Ladonna smiled - a knowing smile. The Head of the Black Robes rose. "Agreed," she returned. "There is no guarantee of success, but we will we do all we can to banish Lorac's dream. The elves of course, will know nothing of our assistance...."

Ghyreian, her pale and grave but satisfied, sat back down.

"And your terms?" Par-Salian turned to Edwin.

Postscript: Curunir, nice banner!

_________________

Edwn looked at the head mages.

" two terms" he whispered slowly "first you give me the books I couldn`t have when I had passed my trial, I mean those 2 books...one on neutral magic and that second... on...well...you know why I was coming here actually anyway...so the black book with the blood red signs...from your libraries..."

Edwin coughed smiling getting an slight angry look from Par Salian and Jutarius, but accepting one from Ladonna

"The second is that my family will be guided without their knowledge somewhere safe...."

Edwin crosses his arms getting a understanding look from Jutarius and Par Salian, but Ladonna mostly was moking him with his look. Par Salian rose up and rised his hands.

"Your demands shall be met and you can rest here before you leave on your mission, but prepare well for the trip..."

_________________

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!

"Thinking of switching robe colors, are you?" Ghyreian said, raising an eyebrow.

They were in the luxuriously furnished Par-Salian had provided them with. Bowls of fruit, bread, and wine stood on the table. Their pouches were filled with steel for the journey, and their Heads had given them a refill of spell components.

"I take it that Lunitari is not as pleased with you as she used to be," she continued with a laugh. She settled herself on one of the many couches and leaned back on the silk cushions comfortably.

_________________

Edwin ate well and was happy for the good food only to be interrupted by Ghryreian, he coughed and swalloed the rest of the food to speak properly at her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.

"My alligiance belongs still to Lunitari Ghyreian...but yes you are correct" Edwin sighed "I am not in her favour these days...but that change of robes has crossed my mind once or twice, but..." Edwin shrugged slightly "I prefer to take no sides and my god knows, that because balance is needed and I am to upkeep it one way or another without any elf questioning my methods alltough they might be dark ways."

Edwin eats quickly and drinks the glass empty to make his way towards the library where he would recieve the books so that he coul add them into his own, which hanged on his belt. It was a red book with grey signs, but when had in time turned slightly silver for some reason. Edwin left the room and arrived soon at the library where Jutarius waited him handing the books over. Edwin took them with a glance in his eyes and a smile on his face. Jutarius grabbed Edwin`s hand and gripped it hard, Edwin looked back straight in Jutariuses eyes.

Jutarius spoke with a causious voice " You play a dangerous game Edwin....that amulet is your first step to be one of the black one`s, I ask you to throw it away before you are too blind to understand that."

Edwin looked back and got away from Jutarius. "My path is my own, but you know I don`t ever take sides in these things...my heart and mind is divided to black and white. You know that I would never betray this brotherhood, but I only see this as a way to get stronger than any red mage and perhaps in time takeover your position."

Edwin smiled and left the corridor with his robe touching the floor behind him. He arrived in a space, that had few beds and sat down on it taking the books out, he looked at both of them. He put them on the table near the bed`s and took his own out beginning to take the spell as his own from these books.

_________________

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!

Once Edwin had left, Ghyreian opened her own spellbooks. She had felt her power growing ever since her many years of studying at this tower. Indeed, she had more years of practice than most young humans - a gift from her elven heritage. Her books were black and, though she tended to them carefully, worn from use. Soon.... Her eyes alighted eagerly on the pile of new spellbooks Ladonna had left her. Very soon.... With weary sigh she stretched her patience and turned once more to her own spellbooks....

_________________

Edwin prepared well writing in the light of lunitari, that came out from the window and learned all that he could before he slept about six hours leaning on the table to wake finding, that the sun is rising. He got up and put his books away in his bags, he was slightly tired, but felt new power running trough his veins. His fingers tingled and were ready to unleash deadly forces upon those who would dare to confort him. He walked out of the tower and found his horse well taken care of in the courtyard, he put his gear in order and restored his supplies of goods. He happily sat down on a stone chair burning his pipe after he had found new stuff to burn in his saddle bag. Now he waited for the elf to appear and he wished er to come soon because, if Par Salian would come and preach Edwin couldn`t stand it.

_________________

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!

Ghyreian, in turn, had spent a sleepless night absorbed in her spellbooks. She neglected the food that magically appeared on her table. When she did rest, it was to murmur spells in her sleep and dream of falling into a bottomless chasm, from which she'd wake breathless.

It was no wonder that in the morning she was pale and exhausted, with dozens of new spells chasing themselves around in her head and making absolutely no sense whatsoever. But she didn't worry herself over this. When the time came, the spells always flocked to her like eager lovers.

She took up her spell pouches and a set of new gold-hemmed robes, again a gift from Ladonna, and spent some time combing and rebraiding her hair.

She was just about to rise and teleport herself out to the courtyard when she saw in her mirror a Red Robed figure standing behind her. She turned slowly around and made a slight bow. "My lord Justarius," she greeted formally.

Justarius drew back his hood. "I have come to ask you about your friend."

"He is not my friend," Ghyreian replied, her voice taut. "In the meantime we just happen to share the same cause."

Justarius waved this aside. "What do you know of him?"

Ghyreian raised a doubting eyebrow. The Head of the Red Robes could have found out everything he would have liked to know about Edwin, plus a few things he wouldn't have like to know, in the blink of an eye. Yet here he was, seeking her counsel.

"I know very little," she replied blandly. "He has not told me much."

The other frowned. "You know nothing? No secret weapons? Nothing?"

Suddenly Ghyreian understood. She smiled - a secret smile, cruel and mirthless. "Let's say that he carries something Lunitari would not favor." Her eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you are thinking that a mage so torn between neutrality and evil could bring disaster to your Order."

Again, Justarius frowned, not liking that she had read his mind so easily. "He was the youngest to take the Test...." he mused. "Perhaps he was ill prepared...."

Ghyreian laughed. "Oh, my lord, I have no doubt that he in fact was more prepared for it than you would like to think."

Scowling, Justarius spoke a word and vanished.

Ghyreian, still laughing silently to herself, spoke the same spell and appeared seconds later in the courtyard, where she met the Red Robe in question with twisted amusement.

_________________

(if something my char said didn`t happen then let ot be and rp onwards, but i really didn`t make a char with a bad health as your char did once think at least...)

Edwin looked at Ghryreian when she showed up.

"So you decided to show up finally elf and I want to make few things clear from now on, even tough I carry this part of evil doesn`t make me one of you. Oh by the way.... Ever heard of Raistlin Majere? The youngest one to go trough the test, I was only a month older when i passed it in the near days like him. Once I remember you saying something about by bad health.." Edwin begins to laugh ironicly "You should see him, I am the highest point of endurance compared to him so don`t you call me weak.."

Edwin put his pipe away and jumped on his horse, he kept his staff in his hand and his hood down because he wanted the sunshine to hit his face. He looked at Ghyreian.

"Shall we?" Edwin pointed the forest with his open and as offering the path before them.

_________________

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!

(pretend like I never said that. if you're talking about my last post just pretend like Justarius never showed up.)

"All humans are weak," Ghyreian said with her familiar touch of scorn as she mounted her horse. She turned back to the tower, with its walls of black obsidian that absorbed the sun's light and turned it to darkness. She hesitated, then continued, "So. Do we travel south... Edwin?"

_________________

Edwin smiled and jumped on his horse.

"Which ever road leads closer to kill Verminaad elf...."

Edwin spoke with a cold tone of voice.

_________________

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!