Wren+and+Yuki+meet+Silvermane+and+discuss+the+portraits+from+Thay

Wren practically danced up beside Yuki walking along the dirt pathway between homes in Heroes' Rest, "Oh, Yuki!" She hugged her friend warmly in greeting, "I'm so glad I found you. I'm a little nervous. Will you come help me?"

She guided Yuki over to the room she had picked out as her own. There were candles everywhere. Shelves with a few favorite books and little potions, lotions, and cosmetics lined the corner above two oversized, soft, black leather chairs with a small round wooden table between them. A couple of small bags and Wren's backpack sat on the table as though she had just dropped them off. Shiny little baubles were placed in strange places about the room, likely by Inali. The room was neat and quiet and looked rather unfinished and untouched.. It was obvious she hadn't spent any time in this room since before they left for Thay. Crowe had chosen the room next door, and since they got back... Yuki could only guess that Wren was likely spending her nights in Kale's room.

Wren pulled out a nice scroll case and flopped into one of the soft chairs. She set the scroll case on the table, and opened her backpack. She pulled out the rolled paintings from the top. Everything Wren pulled out of her bag always seemed to be at the top... so convenient.

Wren handed one end of one of the paintings to Yuki and stepped back, unrolling it, so they could see the portrait on the canvas while she spoke her thoughts to the lovely priestess... "We need to get these to someone who can help us with them... with Axton not getting the map or our letter to Rosche... I... I don't even know if he knows we tried to send it to him. I don't know if he's even here... Axton never found him, but he found Samira. I don't know if he knows that we're the ones who caused the undead to come here... I don't really know if he or Samira or Shandra or Argent or Melanie would be willing to help us if they knew... I'm pretty nervous. I don't want to take them to Ars Salience, because if Rosche said he would destroy the ship if he knew of the danger of it being here... then I don't really want to take the paintings to him. Who do you think we should talk to first?" Wren tilted her head at Yuki.

But Yuki seemed not to be listening to her good friend's heartfelt concerns... Her gaze was on the portrait unfurled between them and a little dreamy smile played across her beautiful lips, "...wow...Wren... He's GORGEOUS! Well...in that old, 'I'm so powerful I could eat you alive' sort of way!" She glanced up at the witch, "Oops! Sorry...! I...just got sort of lost in it for a moment. You know...? I mean LOOK AT HIM! He's...remarkable!"

Wren giggled at Yuki and actually took in the painting, wondering who it was. Long black hair, intense eyes... such arrogance, such power... and yet he seemed troubled, tired... she reached out to the painting and gently touched his face, and his pointed ears. He was painted with gems and fine clothes... "He really is quite breathtaking... who do you suppose it is? ...How long do you think he's been like this?" Wren suddenly shivered as a chill ran up her spine.

Yuki shrugged, "I wonder... Is he one of your people, Wren? He doesn't look very...er...Thayan. NOT WITH ALL THAT SHINY HAIR! I mean...doesn't he look Elven? You don't know of any stories of someone powerful going missing, do you? From Myth Coramanth?"

Wren shook her head, "I'm sure there are more tales than I'm familiar with... Erevin would know more than I, but I don't recognize him from Myth Coramanth... though there's something about him..." Wren looked closer. Inali leapt on to her shoulders and glanced at the painting, "Don't touch that Wren... what if he can feel you touch him? ...he's creepy. He makes my fur stand up more than Yuki's creepy priest friend." Wren didn't have to ask her to know she referred to The Harbinger. Wren looked over at Inali and then looked at the painting again. "But who do you think we should talk to first?" She kept her hands on the edge of the painting now, and glanced up to Yuki circling back to her question of doubts.

"Mmmm... Mm... Mmmmmm!" Yuki pondered the paintings. "WELL! It's kind of weird to say it but Rosche would have been my first choice. He's such a pervert and a REAL bully but...well... He was right about Szass Tam's summer home and he seems to be an expert on all things related to that Lichey Zulkir so... Yeah. But since he's not around then...well...maybe High Priest Alain! Or your mother. Though... er...do you think she'd be interested in something like this or just burn the portraits to a crisp in a coven bonfire?" Obviously Raven had made a HUGE impression on the young priestess... If anything her sympathies for Wren had only increased. What a formidable mother to have... Yuki hoped their "talk" had gone well...

Wren nodded to Yuki, "he was mine as well... that was my whole plan... we would go to talk to him when we returned, taking the paintings and discussing the map... and of course, things got a little skewed. I didn't say he's not around... just that I wasn't sure if he was... since Samira and Axton hadn't found him. Of course... he might be mad at us and not want to talk to us at all... or if he's here... and he's mad... the entrance to get to him might be much worse than last time... of course... since he never received the letter we wrote... he might not be mad... yet." Wren's thoughts seemed to tumble from her lips.

"My mother would probably be a little hesitant ... since she likely doesn't know any of the people in these paintings... I would probably have to hear about how dangerous it is to play with things that I know little about... we could be releasing bad people into the world, you know." Wren grinned. Her mother was usually instructing her to be careful and wise... and as much as she tried to listen and darn it if her mother wasn't always right... sometimes she just had to play with the fire.

"So I guess... we should go see if Rosche is even here?" she blinked at Yuki.

"OH YES! And we can go SHOPPING!!! I was thinking...I REALLY want a bag like yours but in...er... PINK! Can we go now? Do you have time? Should we...er...take a body guard?" <span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(And by bodyguard, Wren gets the distinct impression Yuki means "parcel carrier".) *tee*

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laughed softly, "Yes, we can go now. There's a few things I need from the shop as well."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She pondered for a moment, "Hmm... Who did you have in mind? We can ask Kale if he wants to go... I should probably at least leave him a note. He worries... but he usually doesn't mind helping me carry things," Wren winked at her, "... or would you rather ask Erevin or Axton maybe?" She smiled innocently.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Of course... if you're simply looking for someone to help carry your stuff... you always seem to acquire a parade of happy helpers just fine." Wren giggled.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki pouted, "But never as many as Amynta! She's really and truly so gifted!!!" The young priestess laughed, her love for Amynta obvious and warm...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She leaned back and sighed, helping Wren re-roll the gorgeous portrait of the powerful, mysterious man... "Axton?! Carry things for us?!" Yuki laughed shaking her head, "...there's no way! Anyway, he's still restricted to the Temple grounds til the council makes their decision or whatever... And Erevin..." She frowned slightly, her eyes...suddenly confused and...a little sad, "...I don't think...Erevin is my friend anymore, Wren... He's been...busy a lot...maybe..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren carefully slid the rolled paintings into the scroll case and laughed with Yuki as she imagined Axton carrying the priestess's bags for her. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Really? You don't think... they're not going to kill him are they? ...this is all far more my fault than his," Wren blinked at her.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Your fault?" Yuki shook her head and squeezed her friend tight, "No. No Silly....my thoughts were going that way too. Azarius too! We all agreed that sending the map with him was the best thing to do. All of us." The priestess leaned back and smiled, thoughtfully, "I'm not sure what will happen next...but... Axton has Alain's trust. That much I'm SURE of. And...the Temple of Sune was already short-handed before this new attack....let alone now... To let someone as talented and as gifted as Axton face serious consequences...?" Yuki shook her head again, "He's too important to the church, Wren... He always has been..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded to Yuki, but guilt still weighed heavily on her shoulders.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki smiled, "You know...He resurrected me when Alain and Helena could not... Do you have any idea how...gifted that makes him? At his age... THAT spell.... Even I'm a little in awe of him... There's no way...they'll let anything happen to him. They won't...and Sune won't.”

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked at her in shock, "Axton resurrected you when Alain and Helena could not?" She blinked at her. She pondered it and tried to recall what her mother mentioned about the spell... //Why? More of a personal connection perhaps?//

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded... "Helena said...they both tried but I wouldn't respond to their voices. She said it wasn't uncommon for priestesses, who once experienced the joys of Sune's celestial gardens, to wish to stay... They had all but decided to bow to the will of our goddess when Axton...demanded...to be given the chance to try... The spell is so difficult and he had never cast it before... But Helena said he convinced them...and...I came back... Why...would he do that? Put himself and his precious reputation on the line like that... If he had failed..." Yuki shook her head... "He's...so confusing... But I'm...grateful. I'm very grateful..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Me too! I really don't know what I would do without you!" Wren hugged her close, "I shall have to thank him again when I see him."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Anyway...he's already a legend! 'The HANDSOME Prince of Sune who Fought Off 3 Demi-Liches SINGLE-HANDEDLY!' Can you believe that?! It's spreading throughout the city! He's going to be IMPOSSIBLE to live with now! AND HELENA TOOK BACK MY 'SCROLL OF POWER'!!! So unfair... It was the only thing keeping him in check! NOW WHAT WILL I DO?!!?!?! He must NEVER know."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What?! ...but there were so many who fought..." Wren suddenly laughed, "Surely even Axton wouldn't think to take credit for all of that." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren pondered for a moment, "I guess we should have tried to make you a copy of it before you gave it back..." Wren giggled.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki pulled out a paper scroll from her bosom that 'seemed' similar to the scroll she had carried into Thay...IF you didn't look too close and her eyes sparkled mischievously! "I've got this! Well....for a little while til I can convince Helena to give me another one!!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laughed, wondering if he'd actually fall for her trick or... if maybe he would play along. She nodded to Yuki and giggled again.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And Wait! Not your friend?? ...What happened between you and Erevin?" Wren scooted closer and held Yuki's hand in both of hers, looking her over concerned.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I...I don't know... He's just...different. He's just DIFFERENT, Wren! He's...different..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren hugged her, "Aww... it's probably just going to take him a little time. You know... when we lost you... he took it the hardest out of all of us... we all shed our own tears, but Erevin... he barely left your side, Yuki... I was starting to worry... maybe he just needs a little extra time, to know that you're really okay... you're really back here with us, and alive." She smiled at Yuki, "Maybe you just need to show him that you're okay... You're still you... and you're not going to break if he touches you..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The priestess...seemed genuinely surprised by Wren's revelation... It was the first time anyone had told her...what had happened while she was dead... And that Erevin...Erevin had barely left her side... "...ah...that's..." ...that's...impossible...? Emotions flickered across the young priestess's face and she seemed lost in thought..."...is that...so..." She murmured, her cheeks growing pinker...and pinker...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She patted Yuki's hand, "I don't think I'd mention that Helena and Alain couldn't bring you back to Erevin any time soon though..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki shook her head! "...I...won't! I won't Wren. Thank you. Thank you, Wren. Ah! We should get going! Let's...find someone who can free these...people! Or...at least...tell us who they are... Shopping! Shopping... And on the way! You can tell me all about Kale and your newfound Bliss!" Her eyes shone like two big blue hearts... "What's it like, Wren? To be so madly in LOVE?!"

//<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Madly in LOVE? //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Her heart skipped a beat, she felt a little lighter, and then she felt the familiar battle arguing within her. Her heart says she loves him... but love always seems like such a big word... and she still hadn't said it out loud. "Umm" Wren blushed at Yuki and giggled. She slid the scroll case over her shoulder and penned a quick note to Kale just in case she missed him on their way out, and he came looking for her... to let him know that she and Yuki had gone to the House of Wonders. "I told him that I would..." she explained as she set the note on the table, blushing again, recalling their conversation on the pirate ship on her way to find the poisoned darts, "he worries..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...Ah HUH!" But Yuki's eyes sparkled knowingly and her whole demeanor screamed, "AWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She walked with Yuki along the paths to go up to the deck and head into town, "It's... it's dizzying being with Kale... He makes me feel happy... and I have this want and need to be near him... I need to know that he's safe... and that I'm still close enough to be there to help if he's not... he makes my heart race and skip beats... and his kisses make me long for more." Wren sighed softly, "It's like my heart is at war with my head ... it's maddening... and scary .... and blissfully magical all at once..." she sighed again, "it's like the closer I get to him... the closer my heart wants to be to him... and then my head starts screaming, ' what are you doing? this isn't how it works ' ...sometimes I feel a little crazy." Wren laughed, "Do you ever argue with yourself?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mmmm... Yup! Though...er...mostly I just get confused A LOT. What I'm feeling. Why. What did that mean. Is it kindness or... SWEET GODDESS!" Yuki stretched her hands towards the sky, "LOVE is so IMMENSE! And there are so many different kinds and depths and tastes!" Yuki beamed at the beautiful elven woman, "But... ...how I wish I had the kind you have with Kale!" She threw her arms wide and twirled in place, "Heart racing! Beats skipping! Maddening and scary and crazy and magical! All of it!" She hugged her hands to her chest, "It... All of it sounds so WONDERFUL!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Her eyes softened and her tone turned intimate. It struck Wren this must be the way Yuki was in Temple... The way she spoke to the worshippers who sought the Goddess of Love for potions and hope and love... Priestess Yuki, "You know...I'm not an elf...and I didn't grow up in a witches' coven...and I can honestly say I can't begin to understand...ALL those conflicts swirling around inside you... Because of who you are...and where you come from But...!" Yuki winked at her, "I AM a priestess of LOVE... And I say...Give up now!" She laughed, "...Surrender and embrace it! For...I can't help but trust...the heart absolutely. The head analyzes and confuses. Overthinks and muddles things, creates fears...and dismisses unquantifiable things. But the heart... It is true North. Always." She beamed up at her friend, "And...what I see between you and Kale...? There's no other name for the look in his eyes..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sighed softly and giggled as she let it all sink in. She looked like she was about to say something, but then changed it as confusion passed over her, "He... Wait... are you telling me that there hasn't been anyone who makes your heart skip a beat or race at least a little bit? No one that your heart yearns to be closer to... but your head fears to listen? And you would always just follow your heart blindly? Surely the heart gets confused too..." Wren tilted her head at Yuki.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"OOoooOH! My heart skips a beat ALL THE TIME! Pounding so hard I think my chest will EXPLODE!" The pretty priestess giggled, "But...I wonder... I mean! When a beautiful, striking man looks at you, don't you get all...swirly and giddy and excited? I SEEM TO!! But then I'm REALLY weak to pretty people...and pretty things..." She mused, sighing "...But I wonder if that's the same as LOVE... I listen REALLY closely to my heart, y'know! But it seems to be going in fifty different directions all the time! And some of the directions don't EVEN make SENSE! I wonder if that makes me a..." Yuki glanced around and whispered worriedly, "...a kind of...'slut'...?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren burst out laughing and shook her head at Yuki, "No sweetie... that is certainly not a label anyone could put on you." She leaned in and whispered, "It's more suited for people who..." she paused in thought for a moment, "give up their virtue... to lots of different people, whether they love them or not." She winked at her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked around as they walked and chatted through the city toward the merchant district. Charred walls, repairs, and reconstruction... The guilt continued to weigh heavier and heavier on her shoulders. //Would it really have been better to leave the map in the estate untouched? This was supposed to be the safest place to send it... Such powerful magic to have brought them all here, following Axton and Ursus. What would have happened if we had kept it?// She shuddered. //We would all be dead... but instead innocent people gave their lives here. Would the strong heroes who saved the city have made a different decision?//

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki seemed to be feeling the same... Looking all around, the young priestess seemed to grow sadder and more somber...as they walked down the streets towards the House of Wonders. "...those poor...people..." She murmured, ringing her hands and staring at a particularly grotesque pair of scorch marks that outlined human forms against a stone wall, "...what have we done..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Turning the corner onto the street of the magic shop, they gasped. The damage here was much worse than either of them could have imagined... The walls were pock-marked from magic assaults gone awry - lightning and acid and missiles... Hunched over shop owners were cleaning up as best as they could but the girls could tell by the slumps of their shoulders and the redness of their eyes that their hearts...just weren't in their tasks. Even now, there was a smell in the air... Faint and indistinct but earthy and moldy and grave-like. It made Yuki shudder. Death had walked these streets...and it wasn't something anyone could forget soon. It was everything she could do not to consecrate the entire street with Sune's Love.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Looking ahead, they could see The House of Wonders. ALL OF THE HOUSE OF WONDERS! The WHOLE front wall of the building had been blown off, door and all! Inside, they could make out the glitter of broken glass and a neatly sorted pile of magical items meant for restocking... The windows were blown out... And the rest of the building was singed...and scarred by ungodly magics... "...whoah." Yuki glanced at Wren grimly and shook her head... The young priestess was beginning to get an inkling of just what her Senior had gone through to carry out the mission they'd all given him and...it was making her tremble...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stopped in her tracks, staring at the store. Thankfully it seemed that the damage was mainly on the outside wall... but all of the faces of the people she had met inside flashed into her mind... //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Shandra - shrewd with business, but kind to her, and her clever cat Whiskers, Samira - the pink haired sorceress who had been so kind and welcoming, Argent - the airy sorceress who seemed to stand off a little more and seemed a little cranky with Samira... and that something else familiar feel that she just couldn't place, Melanie - the sorceress with the fiery aura who held Bella - the little baby that Shandra had cooed over so much, Topaz - the young student who had blown off Shandra's hat... and of course Rosche - the wizard in the side door who seemed to have more secrets and know even way more about everything than her own mother did... had any of them been there? Were any of them hurt? //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Her heart ached.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stared at the shop, "I met so many good people there... I need to go see if they're okay... and help if and where I can..." she paused and touched the scroll case over her shoulder and looked on the side of the building for the door, "but we should probably get these off of the street as soon as possible... let's see if ... if he's here and will talk to us... then... if we're still alive... we'll go shopping and I can try to help." She glanced up a little fearfully with guilt-worn eyes up to the door on the side and glanced back at Yuki. Just how many people were going to yell at her over these few days... she sighed and went up and knocked on the door.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At first there was no answer, Wren knocked again while Yuki glanced nervously at the gigantic golem standing next the shop. Black metal glistened and thin wisps of steam...or smoke bled from several vents in its back. The young priestess barely came up to its knee, she'd never seen a golem of its size before. Abruptly...the door...shimmered and vanished in front of Wren, leaving a blank wall in front of her. The two girls looked at each other...was this Rosche's answer?

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Excuse me young ladies....are you looking for Master...err...Rosche?" A powerful male voice came from behind them, at the front of the shop. They turned to see a handsome man, obviously a wizard from his fine robes, with long metallic silver hair tied in a long ponytail running all the way down his back. The hair was so...striking the only time either one had seen anything like it was on the sorceress Argent. This man was older...though not so old as Rosche. Perhaps he was Argent's father? He didn't fit the mold of a wizard though, even if he were dressed like one, he was...so broad...shouldered.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Y..yes?" Yuki answered, a little hesitantly...a blush rising in her cheeks. Why did every man she meet have to be so...so...devastatingly handsome? Lucky!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm afraid he's gone...he's not fond of the limelight...so to speak...and he doesn't like answering questions. With all the misfortune that's happened to Lyrabar lately, there's likely to be a lot of questions." The man smiled, nodding his head to the two girls. "Ah...forgive me...my name is...Silvermane, I'm a friend to the House of Wonders. I've come to help...fix the place...and...as a representative of Damara's Magic School."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki glanced at Wren and mouthed the word, "WOW". Clearly, the priestess had found another handsome man that made her heart skip a beat... Even if he was an "old guy".

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Er... I'm Yuki Ashdown, Magical Girl Priestess of Sune! And this...is my good friend Wren Dreamspinner! We...er...well..." She glanced back at Wren... "...we consulted with Master Rosche not long ago on an important matter and then...well...something even more important came up and we tried to send him something important but...er...that didn't go so well... AND...uhm...now we have another important thing to show him but...well... and...maybe I should just let Wren take this from here!" The pretty priestess blushed... He was just so sparkly! And...she wasn't good at lying... And she might JUST say too much to the wrong person! I mean...HOW did THEY know if this...guy was really from Damara at all or if he was...er...just some guy sent to lead them all astray by Szass Tam! Not that he looked like an evil, undead, floating, ruby-eyed lich... Not with that glorious hair or...those...broad...broad shoulders... Yuki sighed... Demi-liches didn't have shoulders like THAT did they...?

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Wait! Could you be...?! A...Are you Argent's dad?" exclaimed the pretty priestess, excitedly!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ahhh....no...." Silvermane looked almost mortally wounded for a moment, but then smiled "We are...related though. Perhaps I can help you with any...left over business my...the old man has left behind?" The mage wondered just exactly what mischief 'Rosche' had been up to down here in Lyrabar. Why was he not surprised that it involved two...young...pretty girls. He was such...a...pervert.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at Yuki, and bowed to Silvermane, "A pleasure to meet you, Silvermane. If you're a friend of the House of Wonders... then we have common friends." She glanced back one more time at the wall sadly, a little more guilt weighing on her shoulders. She blinked back glossy eyes, and took a deep breath. ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She can feel a mild magic aura on Silvermane, but an inner voice whispers, “Lies…Lies…” <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">)Listening to her inner voice, she calmly switched to her charming smile, and then walked down the stairs to greet him.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"So you’re related to Argent?...It's most unfortunate that we've missed Master Rosche... I had great hope that he would share some of his wisdom with us today... and I had a personal matter to discuss with him... but tell me, is everyone well? I haven't been in to see them yet. We were on our way there next... I'm hoping to lend them whatever aid I can give." She stood beside him, smiling and charming, and trying to feel him out.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh...they are well although Argent and Shandra are....recovering from the magical battle that took place here a week ago. Come around front here...and come inside, I'm sure they'd like to see you!" He motioned for the two girls to come out of the alley and back to the front, and led them around the work men who were busy reconstructing the front of the shop. Workmen who were...all shirtless...and glistening with sweat from the exertion of the labor of refitting the lumber to repair all the damage done by the liches.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inside the shop, they saw several women and a young man working to reorganize the supplies on the shelves, while floating in the air nearby was a strange....floating basket. One of the women the two had seen before...Melanie, she smiled and waved as they came in. "Hiya! Welcome to the House of Wonders! I'm so glad you two are all right...it's been...a dangerous week!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The other woman, they didn't recognize...she was dressed in dark leathers...with flame colored hair. She was beautiful...and both girls could feel something...stir within them. Wren recognized it...as desire...and Yuki...well Yuki wasn't entirely sure, just that she felt like her body...wanted...something. Perhaps a few years older than Melanie...the woman smiled as well, tucking a lock of her hair away from her eyes as she stood easily balanced on several crates to hang something near the ceiling.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And that...is my lovely wife Magda..." The silver haired man pointed at the red haired woman. "And, as you can see...Shandra...and Argent...are...recovering..." He pointed over near the back, where the young sorceress Argent, and the older sorceress Shandra were resting comfortably on a couch, legs propped up on chairs, eating some fruit and bread, lazily watching out the front where the shirtless men were working. And...giggling conspiratorially

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Hi!" Yuki smiled at everyone but her attention kept coming back to the scarlet haired woman in leathers. She just made her feel so...strange! "Miss Shandra! Miss Argent! It's...ah...so good to see that you're alright!" Yuki called out, carefully stepping to the side so as not to obscure their view!.

//<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He doesn't seem to give off the same powerful aura that Argent does... and he seemed offended that Yuki thought of him as her dad... a brother perhaps? //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked him over for more of a family resemblance than just the striking and obvious hair. He was certainly handsome, and such a powerful voice. He seemed personable... but how much was he hiding... and why? //Is he holding back the magic aura that almost seems too light? Can someone do such a thing? or was the light magic on him not his own... but just a disguise? How much trust can I give him...//

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled sweetly and nodded to Silvermane, following him around to the front. She looked around, and seemed a little more relieved that no one in the shop seemed uneasy around him, "Oh Melanie! It's so good to see you safe! I was worried. And your little one?" Wren held her arms as though cradling an infant, "Bella? she is well too?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled charmingly at Magda and bowed in greeting, "Lovely indeed. A pleasure to meet you, Lady Magda."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren gazed back toward Shandra and Argent, feeling horrible that they had been hurt, but then couldn't help but laugh as she glanced to the men outside and back at the two of them giggling. //Oh thank goodness, they're alright!//

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled happily, relieved to see them all well, and then frowned... "I don't see Samira... is she alright?" she tilted her head back to Silvermane.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Melanie laughed, gesturing, and the floating basket drifted over so that Wren and Yuki could look inside to see the sleeping form of Bella, swaddled in a blanket. The basket radiated powerful magic in its own right, and Wren could sense Rosche's handiwork. Heavens only knew what all enchantments were laid upon the thing. "Samira's fine....she's just spending a little time with her husband...seems like she got all fired up from blasting undead and now's she's off looking for more adventure." Melanie sniffed "I think she's just tired of changing diapers!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Silvermane nodded, absently catching the red haired woman in leathers as she leapt off the crates into his arms, laughing as he put her down. "Good catch...for an old man..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Of course you heard that...." The silver haired sorcerer rolled his eyes "So I heard you had a run in with Szass Tam's minions and stirred up some trouble. Word has been sent to the neighboring countries and representatives from all over are gathering for a council. Including Queen Sambryl, and representative of Myth Coramanth, Thesk, Algarond, and of course myself from Damara., representing both the government and mage's school."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"He’s very diplomatic! Silver tongued... as well as silver-haired!" Magda added teasingly...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren was over-joyed looking in the little basket, "Oh thank the heavens! She's even more adorable than I seen her last time." She smiled brightly at Melanie.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki peeked over her shoulder, "OH! She's so...LITTLE!" She glanced up at Melanie and then back down at baby Bella sleeping soundly in the basket, "Oh what a little Beauty! She looks just like you, Miss Melanie!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stared back and forth at Silvermane and Magda, her mouth dropping open, and guilt and regret weighing heavily against her normal elven grace, "I... I had no idea... the neighboring countries and ... and everything have been called?!" Wren paled and shuddered. She started to dread that meeting with her mother a little bit more.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Like Wren, she couldn't quite help staring at the silver-haired wizard and his scarlet beauty. They had such a nice feeling. They loved each other. Very much. She could feel it. Warm and passionate...and deep... Deeper than any love she had ever felt before. She felt she would drown in it...if she stared too long... Blushing, she glanced away back to her friend, only to find her pale and trembling. Never had she seen Wren so distraught before...except once...when Kale...when Kale had almost...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well... you've heard correct... we did... we went... and... and..." She glanced over to Yuki, and took her hand for support, "all of ... this... is my fault... we didn't mean for it to happen!”

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki immediately began shaking her head, squeezing her friend's hand tightly... "...wren..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“ ...I ... we... I just thought it would be safest in his hands... I had no idea all of this... would come to here... I... He... he had helped us... he seemed the best choice... it's all my fault... and now I need him... desperately... people need help... but... he's not here... and it's my fault that he's not here... and ... I'm sorry... I'm sorry you've been called away from your home... I'm sorry that the magic shop was attacked... I'm sorry that any of you were put in any danger... I... I'm sorry. I know I can't ever make up for... all of... this... but... I want to help... I can mend... I can identify and sort... whatever you need..." She squeezed Yuki's hand and quickly whisked away a tear, blinking back the rest. "I'm so sorry... I don't even know you... and I just..." Wren put a hand over her mouth and paled... "I'm so sorry... I'm usually so much more collected than this... and I... well this is a terrible first impression... I'm so sorry." she took a deep breath, calming her composure.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly, making soft shushing sounds, "...no silly... Don't take this all on yourself... We all decided... ALL of us... Together. So the blame...all of it...is ours...together. Why would you take the blame...now. Let...your friends bear a little...too...Mm?" She smiled warmly, and all present could feel how much she admired the beautiful elven woman.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Forgive me... As Yuki said before, I'm Wren... Wren Dreamspinner. I've become quite fond of the people here. I'm... I'm just a customer really... and I came to apologize... and to help... and to seek wisdom and aid from someone who can handle magic that I don't know that I'm strong enough to handle... or understand... and I certainly don't want to mess anything else up. As much terror that happened here... and maybe our journey is nothing compared to it... but it's been a long few weeks, and I'm afraid I've gotten ... overwhelmed. Please... I'm sure I've stirred up an awful lot of questions... if you'd like to go somewhere a little more private, I'd like to apologize to Shandra for her beautiful shop and if you're going to be a part of the council... then I'd be happy to answer some questions... and if they don't hate us... maybe Shandra and Argent would be willing to tell us more of what happened here."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Looking up over her shoulder, Yuki continued,"... <span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">can...ah... someone perhaps make some tea? And then..." She patted Wren on the back, and then turned to face the wizard and his companions, "Then....why don't we...tell you everything...if you will listen... For you see..." Yuki's voice was sad...and remorseful..."It was our party that set in motion the events that led to this destruction..."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Silvermane put a hand on Wren's shoulder comfortingly, waiting for a time to let the young witch compose herself. He spoke softly to her then "You should not...blame yourself for anything that Szass Tam did, Miss Dreamspinner. Only Szass Tam is to blame for his own actions. Not that he would ever think his own actions were anything other than perfect. Did you know he's attacked Lyrabar at least times already, without any provocation at all." The silver-haired man shook his head sadly. "He hates...the living...he thinks himself superior to the living… as long as he exists the threat of his evil is always looming over all countries near to Thay. Most of the council knows and accepts this, I do not blame you."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He smiled then "Nor do I seek to question you...such matters as your tale will come out at the council, I'm sure. The only question I have is what magic is it that you don't understand, and how can I help. If...'Rosche' spoke to you then he must trust you. So I will help if I can..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked at Silvermane in surprise, "but..." she blinked again, "And you're willing to help... just like that? even after...?" Wren stepped closer and hugged him warmly, some of the weight lifting off of her shoulders.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She blinked as she stepped back and blushed at Silvermane and then Magda, "Oh... he's good... I bet he wins every argument." She laughed softly, suddenly so much more at ease with both of them.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki beamed, relieved that her friend was becoming more like herself again.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well...umm," she glanced toward all of the workers out front, "It's something that probably should be kept a little quiet..." she walked with the two of them and Yuki farther back into the shop, and removed the scroll case from her shoulder.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What we sent here isn't the only thing we found in the estate... we also found these... there are four of them... and we believe they're trapped... We know two of them as friends of our companions... the other two we don't know." Wren handed one end of a painting to Yuki, and then stepped back, carefully unrolling it so he could see the portrait of the lovely woman Kinu said was her friend. "This one is a friend of one of our companions... and she spoke and said her name is Gracie...“

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...Inside Posy's head!" Yuki added helpfully.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“I was going to try dispelling it... but it seems like such a complex spell... do you think you can help her?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Gracie?! You found Gracie?" Silvermane recognized the young woman immediately "So...that's what happened to her....that Szass Tam is a real...bastard." He traced the image of the painting lightly...it really was very good...except that the lich actually had to...trap a life in his art to make it actually have...life. It was sort of sad...from another painter’s point of view. Silvermane could feel the relief from the trapped young woman's mind as he touched the surface.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Y...You 'know' her?!" for the first time since entering the Magic Shop, Yuki was beginning to feel excited! Like...Like...everything, ALL of it! The destruction...her death...those poor people in the streets of Lyrabar...that all of it had been...a bit fated. That everything...was working out exactly how it was supposed to... It was a thought that gave her a great deal...of comfort...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked in surprise, and then smiled at all of them. Oh thank goodness... what a great surprise! ...with Kinu having made her quick exit, now at least this poor woman would have someone she knows when they get her out.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren could see the silver haired mage shut his eyes "Yes...yes... I'll get you out Gracie...give me a little more time. Yes...yes...and Lauzoril too."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He opened them up to look at the elven witch and her perky priestess companion. "I think I can...break this enchantment but it will take... preparations and I'd like a high priest to be nearby... just in case. Szass Tam...well ...has laid many enchantments upon this painting that need to be broken first, else the dispeller might end up right along song the person whose trapped. Or...the person that's trapped might not come out alive."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's eyes widened. //That... could have been me... trapped inside with her... or I would've... I could've killed her! Oh thankfully at least that was a good decision... and Lauzoril too... Lauzoril... I know that name... it must be the man from the painting we didn't recognize... why do I know that name... the book! He wrote the book we went after... a zulkir of thay! We can't let him out!!! ... what had Rosche said... he wanted to try diplomacy rather than conquest... but... but...// she looked at Silvermane, but he had turned to Yuki.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He turned to look at Yuki "You should return to your temple and find out if...Alain would aid us. Then we can go to the Temple and free these people. I recognize the other woman as Dmitri Flass… the former princess of Thay, but do not recognize the...other."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yes! Of course! I'll go RIGHT NOW! er..." She frowned slightly as if suddenly a little worried and turned to her friend, "...if that's alright with you, Wren? You're going to stay with the portraits, right? Will you be alright?" She squeezed her hand. "I'm sure High Priest Alain will help us too! So it shouldn't be long at all!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren hugged Yuki warmly and nodded, "I'll stay. Are you sure you'll be alright? ... I really don't like the idea of sending you off alone... You haven't been standing near long enough... at least take Cirdan with you," Wren raised her wrist, and the familiar black raven landed on her lightly. Wren stroked his head and set him on Yuki's shoulder, "Please be careful! He understands messages. Send him back to me if you need anything!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki took the bird awkwardly, laughing a little as its talents dug into her shoulder, "Ah...er...If you...insist..." She looked a little uncertainly at the bird... "Of course! I'll send him back once I've talked to the High Priest!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked at Silvermane, "I don't really know the other either, except that his name is Belltra, the brother the woman who helped us in Thay was looking for... but did you say Lauzoril?... as in... Lauzoril, Zulkir of Thay?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's eyes widened and she hesitated, balancing Cirdan uncertainly on her shoulder, but curious to hear what the older silver-haired wizard had to say about...the man trapped in the portrait. A Zulkir, no less. She wondered...what such a powerful man did to get on his fellow Zulkir's bad side and how the mage had been caught...in such a trap in the first place...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yes...Lauzoril of Thay...ex-Zulkir I would imagine. I think there is a new Zulkir of Enchantment now, some puppet installed by 'Tam." The silver-haired sorcerer shook his head sadly. "He was very...progressive for a Red Wizard...he's the one who came up with the idea on the enclaves...areas in other countries where the Red Wizards set up shops to sell...magical items. Conquering the world...through...commerce." Silvermane smiles "Even though it was still...conquering the world at least it was better than sending out your undead horde to kill and devour the living."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled and nodded in agreement, wondering how such a person came to exist as a Zulkir of Thay.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Still...that approach didn't endear himself to many other Red Wizards, including Szass Tam. Gracie was...err...is....sorry..." Silvermane made a face as if some invisible voice had scolded him.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled and glanced from Silvermane to the painting and back to Silvermane, nodding.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "…a priestess from a female sect who serve as advisors to some zulkirs who's arcane experiments have led them down the path to madness. They can… moderate those...outbursts and heal the mind. I was surprised that Gracie had been assigned to Lauzoril, I'd always thought he was one of the saner ones..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You know a lot about them... With the enemies he was gathering... was she sent to make him mad, do you think? and ... do you think it's safe to release him here?" Wren looked at him, a little worried.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Silvermane shook his head "No...I don't think so..." And he winced a bit "And Gracie isn't too pleased with the insinuation… She was brought in by the princess of Thay, Lady Dmitra Flass, who is apparently in this painting." He held up one of the other painting of a dusky, exotic beauty. "I think she suspected...foul play...that someone or something was driving Lauzoril to madness and asked Gracie's order to investigate and help. I really suspect at this point it was all a plot of 'Tam that the princess fell into...and thus...also was imprisoned."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Sorry, Gracie," Wren nodded toward the painting,, "I just don't know the story..." she smiled and turned back to Silvermane, nodding and blushing. "So... he **was** driven mad ... changed from the 'sane' person that you knew? ...was she able to ... cure him? or is he still mad? ...not that I wouldn't feel a little crazy trapped in a painting, myself... but ... you know what I mean..."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He carefully rolled back up the painting of the princess. "The reason I know so much is that I talked to Gracie before, along with Kinu and the others back when Szass Tam made his bid for godhood. She stayed with my wife and I for a time, so we...learned the story. As to...freeing the Zulkir...no...I don't know that it's safe. Precautions will have to be taken to incapacitate him should it be necessary once he is freed.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'll take that as my cue to leave for the Temple." Yuki bowed deeply to Silvermane, Magdalena, Shandra and the rest. "Thank you so much for...helping us." Squeezing Wren's arm, she smiled, "I'll hurry! Don't worry. See you soon!" And off she raced, out the door and into the streets, presumably heading for High Priest Alain and the Temple of Sune.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded to Yuki, laying her hand briefly over Yuki's as she squeezed Wren's arm. She watched her leave the magic shop, and turned back toward the handsome mage in front of her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"This isn't something I've come anywhere close to dealing with before... but I want to help in any way that I can," She smiled and nodded to him.

//<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So handsome... and it's almost mesmerizing to hear him talk... She tried to clear her head... it's simply not possible that he has that small of a magic aura if he's really going to try this, he's far too smart for that. //<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> She watched him as he talked, feeling her body heat blush pink into her cheeks.