Kin'risha grinned as he worked on the tunnel. Judging by the hollow sounds and faint sound of bouncing pebbles and rocky bits, they were nearly into the interior of Urtho's tower. Wouldn't that be something to tell Quasena about. He stopped and wiped his brow. Hard work, but nearly there…

The next swing of his pick brought a much louder crack and more rock came away than usual, leaving a dark hole a little larger than his thumb. Yes! He stuck one eye up to the hole, expecting to see nothing but darkness.

Instead, the transparent, faintly-luminous figure of a thin, long-haired man in long robes looked back at him. A voice spoke softly inside his head: Welcome to the Tower: it said. :It's about time – :

Kin'risha didn't hear the rest, because he'd run down the corridor shrieking about ghosts.


Inside the tower, Urtho sighed and settled down to wait for someone less afraid of ghosts than they were of the Mage Storms to arrive.


When the group looking for a way to stop the mage storms got there the next day, their reactions to the story were mixed.

"Oh no, not again," groaned Firesong.

Karal was quiet and a little bug-eyed.

:Really!: Altra said: that could be very useful.:

:Yes,: said Florian. :Vanyel's ghost was very helpful. I don't see why Urtho's wouldn't be, if in fact he is here.:

Treyvan rocked slightly, talons digging gouges in the dirt. "Urrtho cannot be here. It hass been two thoussand yearrss!"

"Two thousand years," said Silverfox softly. "I hope he's still sane."

An'desha said nothing, but bit his lip, probably worrying if Urtho's enmity with Ma'ar would extend to him.

"I am going to go and talk to him," said Hydona, pushing her way past the others. The others looked at each other, and followed her.