Pondering
Author Notes: You see below, the type of stuff a Pharaun fan gets into when one is bored and frustrated with life. Just a drabble that takes place before WOTSQ. :P
Forgotten Realms belong to WOTC and I do not own it or any of it's characters.
The first time he had been suspicious and burned the letter. The others that followed over the course of the previous twelve months met the same blazing fate. By that time it was more of an annoyance than a suspicion of a potential assassination.
However by the time he received the ghastly red envelope for the one-hundred and seventh time the annoyance had rapidly descended into an obsession as Ryld found himself at great difficulty to ignore the thing. He admitted that he was at a loss of what the other might want with him. For he had done investigation on the author of his monthly correspondence and he could not think of any reason the other might wish him dead. Of course, Ryld knew there was the possibility that a rival in the academy might have paid the wizard to sent him off on a one-way trip to the Dark Mother but he doubt it.
The other was known to be a pampered male scion of one of the richest House with a ruling seat on the Council. A powerful wizard in his own right and, from the accounts of those who have been in contact with him, is said to have a tongue that could charm a snake-whip wielding priestess. Therefore it was neither money nor power that the mage seek for in either of those what he had, far exceeded anything Ryld could give him- so what did he wished?
With a sigh, Ryld combed a hand through his white shortly cropped mane. He only realised his obsession when the letters stopped for a couple of months and he found himself feeling a sense of…mild distress at that. He made discreet, if not dangerous enquires about the mage (asking about a Master at the Tower of Sorcere was highly suspicious even in a place as dark-soul as Menzoberranzan). His sources eventually told him that the other male had left on patrol as was routine for masters at the academy did from time to time.
There was peace for a while after that and he was surprised when he began to feel restless. A fellow instructor offhandedly commented to him that it was due to a lack of a social life. Ryld had briefly pondered the merits of beheading the idiot but decided it wasn't worth the effort.
Now, months later the red envelop has arrived again. And Ryld was at a loss on what to do with it. Curse this curiosity of his, he knew better than to answer these strange enquires so why can't he keep ignore it? The mage was trouble he knew, the type of trouble that should be avoided at all costs. From all accounts, the mage was an eccentric even for a spellcaster. It was whispered that he had a falling out with a power female within his family that led to his fleeing to seek out a post in Sorcere. It was unclear how he managed to not only escape alive but to prosper as he has done.
Obviously, Gromph Baenre had found some use for the youngster to install him as a master in Sorcere. Still his very survival alone was nothing short of miraculous.
And now this strange individual wished to meet him….what was stranger was that Rylds found himself seriously pondering the idea of actually meeting this drow whom he had only a misty recollection of ever seeing the other.
Staring at envelope, Ryld remained lost in his thoughts till evening. Then, he left his quarters and headed out of Melee Magthere. Descending the stone staircase he dived into the chaos that was the main heart of Menzoberranzan and towards his meeting with the one known as Pharaun Mizzrym.