The+private+meeting+with+Raven+in+Lyrabar

Inali hugged on to Wren comfortingly, "Are you sure you want to go in there alone?" Wren pushed her doubtful thoughts aside in her mind and nodded to Inali, "I think she might be really mad this time... I'm not sure... I can never tell how she's going to react until I'm in the moment with her. She's had too much practice... but Loch isn't here to come rescue me, so if I don't show up in a couple of hours... I'm going to need you to come looking for me." She hugged on to Inali.

Inali nodded to her and then looked around curiously, "Where is your sister? I haven't seen her all day... Is she still hiding from everyone because of what happened with Yuki?" Wren thought about it, "I... I don't know... I haven't seen her either... I thought she was going to talk to Mother today too..." She suddenly paled. Inali hugged on to her, "Try to breathe. You'll be okay... she likes you better anyway." She smiled at her encouragingly... but Wren only gave her a half-hearted smile, and she turned to walk through the gates of the embassy.

Wren walked through the hall toward the room where Raven was staying. The hall was too quiet... Wren looked around, but no guards seemed to be walking in this hallway. In fact, it seemed that no one else at all was around... She suddenly felt very alone. Maybe leaving Inali behind was a bad idea... She stilled her trembling hands and knocked on her mother's door. Despite her light knock, the thump echoed into the quiet hall.

The door opened seemingly by itself, and she could see Raven sitting across the room, writing in a book. Raven looked up, and smiled warmly, "Wren... I'm so glad you finally found me worthy of your time to come pay me a personal visit."

Wren smiled a little nervously in the doorway and bowed low before Raven. She stepped in, and the door closed behind her. The room was dim, with curtains drawn. She glanced behind her at the door, and then turned back toward Raven, "Mother... forgive me for being late...You are, of course, always the **most** worthy of my time."

She noticed a petite black cat with big blue eyes lying on the desk, flipping her tail back and forth and staring downward. Wren followed her gaze to the fluffy white sheep standing beside the desk with pretty violet eyes. //Oh! Crowe!!!// Wren trembled.

"Why do you stand there so distant and formal? ...Do you have a **reason** to fear your own mother?" Raven stood up from her chair, and walked around the desk.

"N-no, of course not!" Wren walked quickly to Raven's side and embraced her warmly as Raven stroked her daughter's hair. It had been months since she had last felt her mother's embrace, and for the briefest moment she felt like she was home.

Raven took her hands, and led her over to the side of the bed where they could sit. Wren glanced again at the sheep on the other side of the desk. Raven followed her gaze and waved her hand dismissively toward the sheep, "Pay no attention to her... she's fine. She thinks when I tell her to follow someone's lead that it means to follow it blindly and without thought like an ignorant sheep... I'll finish dealing with her later... for now, let's talk about you..."

Raven sat down and patted the spot next to her on the side of the bed, and took both of Wren's hands in hers, "Tell me, my daughter, do you know how to write?"

Wren sat down with eyes like saucers, "Of... Of course... I... I wrote you a letter..."

Raven nodded, speaking cheerfully, "Yes, yes... your letter... I sent you and Lochlian to Lyrabar in the care of Kale, Erevindal, and a couple of others to be present for a wedding... months later, it was so thoughtful of you to send me your ONE letter... so vague and short... something about how you had run into trouble and it was still going to be some time before you would be coming home... so I sent Crowe immediately to aid you." She smiled charmingly, "And then imagine my delight as I receive a distress call from the palace by Lady Lionspaw that we are needed in Lyrabar at once... and after we go there with an extreme lack of knowledge to the situation or what sort of dangers our children may be in, we push through a parade of undead, losing several elves to the battle... only to find out that you have gone off to THAY... I believe your letter said something about going to a library... I don't recall the mention of your little group heading off alone into Thay..." She paused, seeming to wait for an explanation...

"I... I'm sure I wrote one..." Wren smiled sweetly, "I must've just forgotten to s..." Raven's hands still held Wren's and suddenly Wren's voice was gone and her words cut out.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Let me stop you there, so you can choose your words more carefully... if you continue to lie to me, you're going to be missing that voice for a week. I suggest you think real clearly on what you'd like to say to me," Raven looked at her daughter with warning in her eyes.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren swallowed and tried to speak, but her voice was still gone. Raven raised an eyebrow at her, "I believe I told you to take time to think... a rather generous gift to a **liar**... of course I could leave you gifted with silence for the rest of the day if you need some time to remember the truth...?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren shook her head quickly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Wonderful! I knew I could count on you... Now..." Raven draped an arm around Wren's shoulders, "I know that you're young and you have all of these wild ideas... and you want to experience life, and all that it has to offer... and believe me, my dear, I want all of those things for you. I treasure you, and I wish for nothing more than your happiness." she kissed her on the forehead.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"But there is a difference between being young and foolish... and being deliberately deceitful and reckless... Do you understand the difference?" Raven spoke patiently, and looked at Wren waiting for her answer. Wren tried to speak, but still no voice came out, so she just nodded her head.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm glad we have an understanding then. Now... I'm a very understanding mother... and I don't need to hear all of the details... but tell me... why were you in Thay?" Raven gestured and released her curse, so Wren could speak.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"We needed a book... We've been gathering them... there are four. We need them to control the ship, so we can travel to other spheres to try and find Loch and all of our missing companions... and one of the books we needed was in Thay," Wren looked at Raven, hoping that somehow that was the right answer.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Spheres?!" Raven's eyes look a bit skeptically at her daughter "That's....interesting...worlds outside are own. That's a concept spewed most frequently by...well...mad wizards and cultists. It's never been...proven that such things exist...just whispers...rumors...innuendos." The older witch shook her head "What have you gotten into little one...and Loch as well. I do not like it...if this is as you say...it is dangerous...very dangerous. You will be travelling to...places I cannot see...and cannot reach."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven shook her head. "I may be....upset with you for hiding so much from me but I don't wish to lose my daughters. There is no other way to rescue Loch?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked towards the door, then back at Wren smiling "And you can tell...Inali that she might as well come inside...I smell a strange...magic upon her..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren frowned and shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry, Mother... I didn't want to worry you. I had hoped that I would be able to send you a letter with some good news. Its taken us a lot to get this far... as far as we have been able to tell this is our best lead... there doesn't seem to be any other way. We've been trying to gather the books to learn as much control as we can to try and make the travelling as safe as possible." She smiled sweetly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm so sorry to have disappointed you or given you any reason to be mad... I... I did get your gift... from the library," she hugged Raven warmly, "Thank you."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren grinned at Raven. It was so hard to keep secrets around her. She always seemed to know everything. Wren walked back to the door, opened it, and peered out into the hall.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven heard Inali exclaim, "You live!" and had to hold back a laugh. She was a master of intimidation. It didn't normally take much to remind them of their place... just give them enough of a reason to believe they should be afraid. She glanced down at the sheep next to her... Crowe always seemed to need reminding much more frequently than the others.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren shh'd Inali, and waved her to come in, "She knows you're here." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Wait! What?! You got me in trouble too? Nice job..." Inali pouted at her. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"No I didn't! You were hanging out here like a hall rug... she probably heard you breathing under the door! Hurry up!" Wren motioned for her to come in. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Like this?" Inali asked her surprised.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven finally spoke up, "Come in, Inali..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The adorable little fox girl poked her head around the door frame, a little shyly. Raven raised an eyebrow and extended her hand toward her, motioning with one finger to come closer. She slipped in, wearing a little green dress with long, draping, thin sleeves. She went up close and nuzzled Raven's arm with her cheek.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven's eyes widened slightly as she saw the most cutest...adorable fox girl ever. "W - what in the name of wisdom...happened to...you Inali?" There was no doubt in the older witches mind that this was indeed Wren's familiar...she could see it in her eyes. "How...did this happen...why is Inali...in that form?"

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali hugged herself, "Isn't it pretty?" She looked at Wren and then back to Raven, "W-wait... you're not going to take it away, are you?" She ducked behind Wren.

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren patted Inali reassuringly and turned back to Raven, "Well... it's a long story... but the short version is we met a wizard of some experience who helped us out with some information, and I don't know if he just got tired of talking to her through me... or if he just took a liking to her, but he gifted Inali with two forms... when she sneezes, she changes between what she was and how you see her now and back again... it's fascinating, really... and Inali seems happy... she can talk to everyone when she looks like this." Inali nodded happily, and spun around, so Raven could see her... and then ducked back behind Wren.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yes...very pretty...and...amazing. The magic laid upon her is so subtle...and so powerful. I should think I should like to meet this wizard of...'some' experience. I'd like to see how much 'experience' he...indeed...has..." The predatory gleam in her mother's eye led her to believe that perhaps she wasn't just talking about magical experience. She smiled, "Maybe now...you'll heed her advice more often...I often thought she was the wiser of you two sometimes...really...going into Thay..."

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blushed pink at Raven and hung her head a little, but offered no more excuses.

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali beamed, "Yes! You see!" she nudged Wren, and then looked back to Raven, "She almost never listens to me! Thank you!" She bounced over and hugged onto Raven, "Oh! You're going to love him! and I'll bet he'll just love you! He's crafty! If he liked you at all Wren... just think of how much he'll enjoy a witch of real experience..."

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Inali..." Wren looked agitatedly at her, and Inali folded her arms and fell silent. Wren sighed and looked back to Raven, "He's not here at the moment... very busy and kind of recluse, but I'll be sure to mention you're interest when I see him..." Wren smiled knowingly, quickly changing the subject back to the library.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Gift from the library...Ahhh....that was so long ago I'd almost forgotten! I'm glad you found it...I hope you put it to good use!" Her eyes...twinkled merrily and yet still held so many secrets. Secrets about her old friends...and perhaps lovers. Secrets about her time as an adventurer. And yet Wren knew...that prying out those secrets would be almost impossible. Her mother was a vexing...woman.

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Of course, I've already used it. It's a very nice gift," Wren smiled and nodded. //Her and her secrets!//

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"The library was an interesting place... I've heard a little about your involvement... it seems you were secretive even back then... and they all say that you knew the most about a book there, with some deep, dark secret that you all were guarding... but no one guards it anymore..." Wren raised an eyebrow at her mother, "and... there was a strange... very large sarcophagus there... but it was empty... you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Maybe something long since gone... or something we should be worried about?" Wren tilted her head.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven shook her head "That's...not possible. The Mindbreaker...the Devourer of Souls couldn't be free. I'd know it...everyone in this country would know it. Wherever it...goes insanity and death follow." She looked closely into Wren's eyes, but saw only the truth. "Dire...news indeed...that...warding was supposed to be…well very hard to break. I can't say impossible because...well, there's always a way. The cult of Ghaunadaur...the Many Eyes...must be...regaining it's strength. Mmm..." The older witch turned away, not saying any more.

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mindbreaker? ...Devourer of Souls? ...insanity and death? ...cult of Ghaunadaur? Oh no... why did you have to use THAT name..." Wren shuddered, "That's the one with the tentacle masks... and the big eye right?" Wren sighed.

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You better sit back down, Mother, if that sarcophagus is dire news... you're probably not going to like the rest of it," Wren started pacing, "We've been seeing these symbols in multiple places... they attacked a leading actress with the Carnival of Masks... strange octopus masks that took over people's minds and a man in a purple robe with a big eye... the poor girl was on a box that had tentacles trying to pull her in...we rescued her, but he got away."

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She continued to pace back and forth, "and we were all attacked coming back to Lyrabar after the library... by 3 drow and their group of orcs... they were wearing symbols... which we later found out were for gods named Ghaunadaur, Kiaransalee, and Vhaeraun... but they were all grouped together..."

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She added a little more as a thought out loud to herself, "and there's the cursed mage..."

<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stopped her pacing and looked at Raven, "And now... you tell me they have something to do with that sarcophagus? The Devourer of Souls? The Mindbreaker? ...that would certainly explain the mind-control they seem to have..." Wren shuddered, "but... what does it all mean? ...What is this... mind-breaking devourer of souls? ...and ...do you know how to stop it?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'd...better....sit back down?" Raven's eyes flashed dangerously. "Apparently...you've gotten a little too… independent if you think you can talk to me that way now." She stood up...and Wren could feel ancient...powerful magic flowing through the older witch. The young elf's life...flashed through her mind in that brief instant. She could feel her hair standing on end.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You don't need to know anything more about it fledgling....concentrate on finding your sister, my daughter. I...see to it that the Mindbreaker is taken care of. That's far...far to dangerous for the likes of you." Raven fumed "Given the damage that you've already caused I shudder to think...what might happen were you involve yourself further in this..."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"B..but..." Wren wanted to know...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"No…buts. Be thankful I don't turn your into a cat and take you back with me to the Nest for the next twenty years until you learn better manners." Raven tried to master her emotions, remembering...those awful days and brought back such...memories. "I will speak with you later...there are things I must now do."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Go..." And the elder witch dismissed her...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren knew better than to stay when her mother was this angry...and she had seemed to so calm before. Until she'd mentioned the sarcophagus. Whatever it was....it seemed to almost make her mother...irrational. She fled outside into the hall, the door slamming behind her, with her and Inali breathing heavily.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well..that didn't go well..." Inali whispered.