Author's Note: This is an unofficial Dragonlance fan fiction. I did not invent Dalamar or Jenna, or the city of Palanthas, or any other people or place from the novels that are mentioned here.
This story is a sequel to "The Choice," but can be read on its own.
"This cannot end well," Rosina muttered as she glanced at the mirror one last time. she was dressed in a new gown, looking for all the world like a proper Solamnic maiden, though no true Solamnic maiden would ever wear Lunitari's red, nor be quite so laden with magical talismans and pouches containing spell components. Her black hair was caught up in a gold net, with the red velvet band holding it in place cleverly concealing her elven-shaped ears.
Not for the first time, Rosina sighed at the ruse that kept her full human in the eyes of most who knew her. She had discovered when she was brought to the Tower a year ago that she was the daughter of the Tower's master, although Dalamar had made it plain that he had no intention of acknowledging her nor of treating her differently from his other apprentices. Still, though he was not an affectionate father, he was an attentive teacher, and Rosina had thrived under his tutelage. And tonight, for the first time, she was grateful she was not known as the daughter of Dalamar the Dark.
The student mage sighed as she thought of the reception awaiting the denizens of the Tower this evening. This was the twenty-fifth anniversary of Palanthas' deliverance from the blue lady's forces, and the entire city was gathering to celebrate. A festival atmosphere already prevailed in the city streets, and with it a new animosity towards those who were seen as evil. The inhabitants of the Tower of High Sorcery certainly qualified in the eyes of many in Palanthas. Just yesterday, a kindly herb womann in the marketplace had advised her, "You'd best be gettin' on home, girl, and you'll be wantin' to stay there until Festival's over. No good'll come of your lot mixin' with these folk when they're all riled up.
Rosina had passed this along to her shalafi, who'd been hearing similar stories from all his apprentices, although not all warnings had been delivered in so kindly a fashion. He had forbidden Rosina and Thomas, the junior residents of the Tower, from going out alone, and recommended the same to his older apprentices. However, Dalamar Nightson had been adamant that his entire household be present at the celebration that was to be the culmination of the festival. "This Tower is an institution of learning within the Inner Circle of Palanthas. We must insist on the respect due us. I expect to see you all," and he paused to look pointedly at both Rosina and Will, who had been arguing fervently that the mages should keep a low profile, "present and presentable. Besides," he added fiercely, "the blue lady fell by my hand. Those fools on the Solamnic council tend to forget that when they pass judgment on me."
The student mage let out a deep breath as she swept her red cloak over her shoulders and fastened it with the gold broach that had been a gift from her employer, Jenna. She was alone, her private room being the sole privilege afforded to her because of her gender. It was a privilege she would soon lose, for Master Dalamar planned to take on three new apprentices, one of whom would become Rosina's new roommate.
Well, she didn't want to be late. Her shalafi's study was five flights up and on the other side of the Tower. Rosina decided to teleport rather than walk, a breach of Tower custom (though not of rule) that Rosina suspected would be tolerated this evening. It was better to arrive looking her best than out of breath and with a sweat-stained gown.
Rosina closed her eyes and began the chant. It was a spell normally prohibited to those who had not yet taken the Test, but Master Dalamar had exempted both Rosina and Thomas, who would be prisoners in the Tower if they couldn't teleport past Shoikan Grove.
Rosina felt herself arrive and opened her eyes. The exotic scent of a Silvanesti incense was faintly discernible, and the room was brightly lit not only by the fireplace but also by torches in the stone walls. The young woman quickly stepped back from the spiral on the rug in the center of the room which was the designated spot for all teleporting visitors. Her eyes glanced around the room as she noted the two senior apprentices and sought her shalafi.
"Welcome, apprentice," Dalamar Nightson spoke in Solamnic.
"My lord," she replied in the same tongue, placing her hands in her sleeves and bowing respectfully.
Her master surprised her then, coming forward and giving her the elven kiss of peace on both cheeks. He stepped back with his hands on her shoulders. "You look lovely, my dear. Jenna has done well."
"Thank you, my lord," the young mage answered, keeping a wry smile to herself. The apprentices usually wore simple robes denoting their status, but Master Dalamar had expressed his wish that all living under his roof dress befittingly as members of the household of a powerful lord of Palanthas. Since Rosina supposedly had no family, and no source of income beyond the small wage she earned from her work at the mageware shop, Dalamar had given her a pouch of coins with strict instructions to get Jenna's assistance in commissioning a new gown. he had also given money to the other "stray" at the Tower, his senior apprentice Jerron who could not afford the apprentice fees and was there on Master Dalamar's benevolence. However, Rosina could not imagine that her shalafi had demanded that Jerron get assistance in commissioning his robe.
Rosina saw that she was neither the first nor the last to arrive. It was odd seeing the others in their finery. Not so much her master, for as head of his order he frequently attended formal gatherings, but the other apprentices were usually garbed practically in plain robes or tunic and trousers, with very little in external trappings to distinguish them. This evening all were transformed. It was as if they were characters costumed for a play, although the effect was far more subtle.
If Rosina were dressed as a Solamnic maiden, Dalamar Nightson appeared ever inch a highborn Silvanesti elf lord in his silken robe and cloak, although no true elf lord would wear Nuitari's black. Jerron, in contrast, looked the part of a classic dark mage, with a heavy velvet black robe that came to the floor. Alvar appeared vaguely sinister, dressed in jet-black tunic and trousers, with a black cap tilted rakishly on his head. It was whispered among the other apprentices that he had dealings with the shadowy Thieves' Guild.
Rosina noticed that both apprentices were eying her with raised eyebrows and some amusement. Normally they paid scant attention to the young student, but tonight she must seem as different to them as they did to her.
Alvar went so far as to step forward, a small smile on his lips, and say in Common while sketching a mocking bow, "You grace us with your beauty, Mistress." He reached for her hand.
"In Solamnic, please, apprentice," Dalamar reminded Alvar, and then chided, "Rosina," as the student mage took an instinctive step back from the older apprentice. Rosina much preferred being beneath Alvar's notice. It seemed safer, somehow.
"Forgive me, Master," Alvar replied, and returned to stand next to Jerron. They snickered to each other at Rosina's immaturity, and Rosina could tell her Master was mildly exasperated, the formality of the tableaux momentarily suspended. The young woman, however, felt grateful as things returned to normal, at least for the moment. She was very conscious of being the only red robe in the room, and would be relieved when the others arrived.
The air shifted suddenly, so imperceptibly that only a mage wold notice. An exotic perfume filled the air, at first overpowering and then blending with the scent of incense to create a new fragrance. A red-robed wizardess appeared in the center of the room. Jenna had arrived.
Though their robes had literally been cut from the same cloth, Jenna having commissioned both from the same dressmaker, Rosina and Jenna could not have looked more different. Where Rosina's garb gave her an innocent appearance, Jenna looked positively regal. Her robe, or dress, was fitted to her form and the points of her sleeves touched the ground. The hem, neckline, and sleeves were embroidered with gold thread, and a gold circlet sat atop intricately woven braids. She wore gold hoops in her ears, and a delicately crafted jeweled necklace about her throat.
The Master of the Tower took the wizardess' hands in his own and drew her from the center of the rug. "You are truly a vision, my lady," he murmured, as he brought her hands to his lips.
"If people are to talk, we should at the least give them something memorable to talk about," Jenna responded.
For a long moment it seemed as if the two wizards had forgotten that there were others in the room. Rosina looked away, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, while Jerron shifted uncomfortably. For Rosina, who had only known Jenna as her employer and mentor, the affair between her Master and the shopkeeper seemed sweet, but she knew that Jerron and Alvar, who had for a time been apprentices with Jenna, viewed the relationship as a betrayal. Of course, this was only ever discussed behind their Master's back.
Dalamar smiled at his lover. ¨Something tells me that we will not need to make any effort to accomplish exactly that." He let go of her hands, and she turned to survey the room.
It was Alvar who stepped forward first. He swept the wizardess a courtly bow and then kissed her hand. "You honor the Tower with your presence, Mistress," he said, with only a hint of mockery in his voice.
"Thank you, Alvar," she nodded, dismissing him.
She turned toward Jerron, who gave her a curt bow. Her nod to him was just as curt.
As her eyes fell on Rosina, the student mage folded her arms in her sleeves and bowed respectfully. Jenna strode over to the girl and placed her hands on Rosina´s shoulders. "Rosina, dear child, you look lovely."
"Thank you, Mistress," Rosina murmured formally. But when Jenna began fussing with Rosina's collar, the young mage whispered in irritation, "Believe it or not, I have been dressing myself for some time now."
Jenna cocked an eyebrow in amusement, and a low chuckle from across the room told Rosina that her shalafi had overheard. "I can be such a busybody at times, can't I?" Jenna whispered back. "I'll try to behave myself." She returned to Dalamar's side and murmured something in his ear that caused the elf to smile.
Rosina sighed. She was certainly grateful for Jenna's help and guidance, but the anticipation of this evening was putting her on edge. Rosina didn't know who she was expected to be. She had not felt this uncertain since she had first come to the Tower. In that time, the young woman had blossomed into her role, not only as a student of the Tower, but as a liked and respected citizen of Palanthas. Rosina could not shake the feeling that his evening's performance might very well change all that.
The air shimmered again, and Rosina's fellow student Thomas appeared. Gentle, unassuming Thomas, twenty years old, tonight looked every inch the nobleman's son he was. Like Rosina, he had not yet been Tested, but wore black in deference to his father, a wizard of the Conclave and a baron in Nordmaar. The whispered consensus of the other apprentices was that Thomas would not Test black. Thomas was dressed in tunic and trousers, of a fine but not ostentatious cut. His gold-trimmed black cloak came to his knees, and a black velvet cap adorned his dark curls. He swept a low courtly bow to his master. "My lord, I hope this evening finds you well."
"And you, apprentice," Dalamar replied. He approached Thomas and gave him the elven kiss of peace. "You do your father proud."
"Thank you, master." Rosina knew that Thomas and his father did not get along. In his own way, Thomas was as much a stray taken in by Dalamar as Rosina and Jerron were in theirs. Rosina was aware of how hard Thomas strove for his master's approval.
The student mage then turned to Jenna and extended his hand. She placed her hand in his and the young man brought it to his lips, bowing formally and with none of the mockery evinced by Alvar. The sorceress inclined her head graciously. Thomas continued making his rounds, greeting Jerron and Alvar in turn, clasping each by the arm. The older apprentices, for their part, seemed surprised and a bit amused at the young student acting their equal.
Thomas startled Rosina by kissing her hand. "You look very pretty tonight, Rosina," he said. Rosina did not know how to respond to this suddenly grown-up and seemingly powerful Thomas, so different from her quiet, introspective ally and fellow student. ¨You're supposed to curtsy," Thomas whispered, temporarily shattering the formal mood and causing ripples of laughter through the rest of the room. Rosina hastily dropped a curtsy, and Thomas winked at her before going to stand with the other black-robed apprentices.
"But where is your roommate?" Dalamar asked. "I would have expected his arrival by now."
"I believe he is getting ready, master," Thomas responded in a voice so carefully neutral that Rosina wasn't the only one wondering exactly what Will was planning.
The air shimmered yet again, and the last apprentice arrived. Will stood in the center of the room, dressed in his plain, everyday red robe, in stark contrast to the formal garb of those around him.
Dalamar coldly looked at the newest arrival. "Apprentice."
"Master," Will responded calmly.
"You look...adequate."
Jerron, Alvar, Thomas and Rosina all burst into laughter at the difference in their master's comments towards Will in comparison with the lavish praise he'd heaped on the other apprentices. Even Jenna hid a smile behind her hand.
"Thank you, master," Will answered. Rosina envied his courage. By dressing as he did, Will was presenting himself as a lowly apprentice who must obey his master's wishes, even if he disagreed. He was effectively, if not openly, declaring that Dalamar was wrong to intrude on the Spring Dawning festival. Of course, unlike Rosina, Will had a family to take him in if he were dismissed from the Tower. Rosina couldn't afford to lose Dalamar's regard.
"I will deal with you later," Dalamar said to Will in a low voice. Will's composure slipped momentarily, and Rosina didn't blame him. He had, after all, disobeyed the Head of the Order of Black Robes, who was not one to brook disobedience.
"And now, apprentices, it is time for us to be off. Remember, each on of you represents the Tower of Palanthas, and I expect all of you to behave accordingly. We bring prestige to this city, and have every right to attend its celebrations. It is your responsibility to remind the good citizens of that. Remember, speak Solamnic at all times, remain courteous in all your encounters tonight, and show no fear, anger, or disrespect. I expect all of you -" and he fixed his gaze on each apprentice in turn - "to do honor to the Tower."
With that, he extended his arm to Jenna, saying, "Shall we be off, my dear?"
"With pleasure," she replied, taking his arm. Dalamar began a low chant, and the couple vanished.
"Shall we be off, my dear?" Will mimicked in an almost flawless Silvanesti-accented Solamnic while extending his arm to Thomas.
"With pleasure," Thomas answered in falsetto, and in a moment they too vanished to the laughter of the other apprentices.
Rosina hastily recited the chant that would take her to the gates of the Tower below. The sudden combination of the early spring night air and the dread chill of the grove caused Rosina to shiver, and she drew her cloak closer around her as she stepped away from the gate. There were two carriages waiting, the horses stamping nervously, no doubt spooked by the nearness of Shoiken Grove. The student mage wondered how much her master was paying the carriage drivers to entice them to pick up such infamous passengers and at such a grim location. While there had been a religious ceremony at the Plaza earlier in the day, the celebration was to be held in the market square near the Bay of Branchala. Lord Dalamar's household would be arriving in style.
As soon as all apprentices were accounted for, Dalamar invited Jerron to travel with him and his lady in the first carriage. While each of the dark elf's students were the best from where they'd come, they all knew that Jerron was the best of them all.
When Rosina turned to enter the second carriage, she was surprised when Thomas offered her his hand. "We follow the forms tonight," he said quietly. She allowed him to help her into the carriage, not for the first time wondering if she'd be able to avoid embarrassing her shalafi this evening.
Thomas entered the carriage and sat down beside Rosina. Will and Alvar followed, seating themselves on the wooden bench opposite the students. As soon as the carriage began to move, Alvar said to Will, "You're a braver man than I, my friend. He'll have you scrubbing every step in the Tower."
"If he doesn't expel you from the Tower outright," Thomas muttered darkly.
"He's not going to expel me from the Tower for a sartorial transgression; and Alvar, you needn't worry that I'll usurp your role as master troublemaker."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," laughed Alvar. "I saw the look our master gave you. I don't understand you - either one of you," he added, looking at Rosina as well as Will. "Why the reluctance to go to this celebration? You are both more integrated into respectable Palanthas society than the rest of us combined. I'd think you'd have the least reason to avoid the Spring Dawning Festival."
"I was warned outright by a cloth merchant's wife, a cleric of Paladine, and several participants in the disputations that we should all stay away for our own good," Rosina interjected.
"Oh, well, if this is the consensus of the marketplace disputations, we should all take heed," Alvar returned sarcastically. The marketplace of Palanthas was notorious as a place where anyone could try to convince passersby of any theory or belief, no matter how outrageous. Apprentices, acolytes, and junior ascetics all had their season of participating in the debates, much to the chagrin of their mentors. Currently Rosina was the only student of Dalamar Nightson who attended, but she was by no means the first.
"Will is right," persisted Rosina. "Many still remember the Blue Lady's attack on Palanthas, and still mourn the friends and family they lost. Rightly or wrongly, they see Master Dalamar allied with the dragonarmies. Our presence tonight will be seen as gloating."
"But don't you see?" Thomas spoke up. "That's precisely why we have to be there - to give the lie to the notion that Master Dalamar - and by extension the Tower and all of us in it - had anything to do with Highlord Kitiara Uth Matar."
"Oh, he had something to do with her, all right," said Alvar. "He's the one who killed her, in the very Tower she attacked."
"That happened in the Tower?" Rosina asked, appalled.
"You know that room in the North Wing that we're forbidden to even approach on pain of death?" Rosina nodded. "That was the study of Raistlin Majere, not coincidentally the brother of Kitiara Uth Matar. The night that Majere was to return, and our master was prepared to stop him, Uth Matar gained access to the Tower with the intent to murder Master Dalamar. He felled her with a fire-ball, splattering her guts all over the back wall of her own brother's study. I've seen what fire-balls can do to a person, but never in such close quarters. I'd imagine Master Dalamar had the body removed, but did he get everything? Blood in the rug, viscera dripping from the flagstones, bits of bone scattered here and there - they're all still there behind that locked door, under the very same roof that shelters us each night. I wonder if the spectral guardian keeps out flies?
"Why, Rosina, you've gone pale," Alvar said with mocking solicitude. "Does it shock you to learn that your shalafi has blood on his hands?"
In truth, Alvar's violent tale had shaken Rosina, for while she understood that the Head of the Order of Black Robes would most likely have to take lives at some point in his career, Rosina had never actually observed her gentle, patient master behave in so brutal a fashion. But she was not about to give Alvar the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten to her. "I was simply surprised that violence could occur at the Tower. Doesn't the Peace of Wayreth apply?" she coldly replied.
Alvar scoffed. "Certainly not to outsiders who invade the Tower. No, the Peace of Wayreth as applied to the Tower of Palanthas simply means that we can't do anything to each other. Master Dalamar, however, has the power of life and death over all in the Tower, including his students. He could kill any one of us like that -" Alvar snapped his fingers - "with complete impunity, should an apprentice annoy him enough." He looked directly at Will, who rolled his eyes.
"I doubt anything short of treason would cause our shalafi to invoke that particular clause of our apprentice oath."
"You've skirted dangerously close to that tonight," Thomas murmured.
"You worry too much," Will answered. "When we return, Master Dalamar will have stern words for me, set me to some unpleasant task, and then let the matter pass. Despite rumors to the contrary, our master is not an unreasonable man."
The carriage slowed and then stopped. Rosina's stomach lurched at the thought of leaving the relative safety of the conveyance to face a potentially hostile and most likely drunken mob. But she drew in her breath and composed herself, and when she gracefully descended (last, according to her status as newest student) she held her head high with all the pride of an apprentice of the Tower and the unacknowledged daughter of its Master.