She was notified of her expulsion the next day. She left the school
quickly, not having much to pack. Only Palin regretted it. All the students
waited as she left. There were two lines, one on each side of her. It was
like an honor guard, but more humiliating. Jaron and Palin were the last of
each line. Rivin paused at them. She spared a saddened, pitying look at
Palin. Turning to Jaron, she frowned, her eyes cold.
"Did you truly love me?" she whispered to him, moving closer. As cold as her gaze was, his was ten fold that. He shook his head.
"No." Hurt showed in Rivin's eyes for only a moment before she regained her cold composure.
"Damn you to the Abyss," she whispered to him, even more softly than before. She turned on her heel and left. She walked slowly on her way home. It was not as if she had lost some great teacher; on the contrary, she would not miss Theobald or the students at all. The only thing that she would miss would be the library. She had never seen so many wonderful books accumulated in one spot before. She consoled herself in thinking that the Harvest Moon fair would bring in traders selling mage ware. She also dreaded telling her parents what had conspired. She remembered a time many years ago, when she had told Caramon that he "wouldn't regret it." She was sure he would now. But her mother would be happy at least. She often had sent letters, saying how much she missed Rivin, how much she wanted to have her daughter home. There were two new additions to the family, who Rivin had never met. Baby girls, Laura and Dezra.
Well, at least I'll get to see my family. she thought helplessly. But another part of her didn't feel the same. Was that ever what I truly wanted? I never belonged in Solace. Night was starting to fall. She had left late in the day, and the sun was nearly gone in the darkness. Most girls her age in Solace feared the dark. Rivin reveled in it. Looking up, she smiled into the moonlight. She wasn't much startled to realize she saw the Dark Moon. She had learned, of course, that only those who have dedicated themselves to Nutari could see his moon. She merely lifted her eyebrows at its appearance. She had seen it before, on days where hate played a large part in her life. It happened often while she stayed at the school. She looked up now, into the darkened hole. Compelled, she wandered into the forest at her right, walking as if guided by a divine hand. Not much surprised Rivin, but what she found did. She reached a clearing, tiny by normal standards. In the center was a shallow pit. It too was small, surrounded by fire. Rivin tried to take a step backward, but she felt a hand at her back, shoving her forward. She fell to the ground, smudging the white robes she wore unwillingly. Whirling, she twisted to her feet with cat like grace, facing the being that had dared shove her.
She saw who it was, and was back on her knees, head bowed in awe.
"My Lords," she whispered. "My Lady." The two gods and goddess of magic stared down at the girl. Black hair fell about Rivin's face, shielding her eyes from the light - and darkness - that emanated from the gods. There was complete silence. Then:
"Rivin Majere." Something in the voice (she could not tell who had spoken) made her look up. She stared into the eyes of all three gods, waiting. Solinari and Nutari seemed to loathe Rivin; they certainly showed no amount of kindness toward her. There was (As Rivin was alarmed and pleased to see) a strange sort of respect in their eyes, however. Only Lunitari looked upon Rivin with compassion.
"Majere," she murmured. "It has been a long time since I saw you last. Twenty-two years, to be exact." Rivin looked up at the neutrality goddess in surprise.
"Excuse me, my lady," she said respectfully. "But I am merely fourteen now; I could not have known you twenty-two years ago."
Lunitari merely smiled. "You young mortals; you forget so quickly. Can you not remember a time when you were still a baby?"
Rivin opened her mouth to deny it, but shut it after a moment's thought.
"I.I remember magic.and a red moon." Lunitari's smile broadened.
"So you do remember, child. I-"
"Cousin, we are not here to reminisce about past times." Solinari turned his cold icy stare on Rivin. "You, girl," She bristled at the name; She was no girl! "Your relative is Raistlin Majere, is he not?"
"He is, my lord. The Archmagus Raistlin Majere is my uncle." She spoke his name with more reverence and respect than she held for any of the gods. Lunitari's eyebrows rose, and she opened her mouth to say something, but with a glance from her cousins, shut it.
"Rivin Majere, we have appeared to you on this night to question your faith. You are a student of magic in Master Theobald's school, are you not?"
"I was, my lord." Rivin said bitterly. "The great idiot expelled me this afternoon."
The hate of her words held all three gods in thrall for a moment.
"My Lords, my Lady, I beg you excuse my harsh tongue; I hold a deep loathing for Master Theobald and the occupants of his school."
Lunitari looked at her, saying softly, "Even the one you call Brother? The young man Palin Majere?" Rivin looked down, blushing.
"I.I meant only.." She stopped talking. She and Palin had not been friendly since the day they were enrolled in the school, since Rivin had first revealed her power. Looking, up, Rivin gazed past the gods, her eyes cold.
"Yes," she said softly. "Even Palin."
The change that came over the gods was amazing. Solinari watched her coldly. Lunitari shook her head sadly, her eyes clouded. Only Nutari looked well upon Rivin. He smiled at her, a smile that sent a chill up Rivin's spine. She shuddered, closing her eyes for a moment. She felt a strange sense of rebellion. She stood up on the impulse, staring into the cold, scornful face of Solinari, the saddened, disappointed face of Lunitari, and the imperious, haughty look of Nutari. Rivin raised her chin defiantly.
"My Lords, my Lady, I do not wish to displease you." She waited while Solinari bristled. "You said before that you were here to question my faith. What do you mean by that?"
"Is it not obvious?" Solinari scoffed. "You wear my color, but it's obvious you do not do so by your choice."
Rivin was silent for a moment. "It is true," she said softly. "My father forced me to wear these. I would not be allowed to study magic if I did not. So I donned the robes he gave me." Solinari snorted, muttering something. Rivin looked at him sharply, angered at the derision in his voice.
"My Lord, I bid you listen. I may wear these robes by force, but that does not decrease the amount of respect I have for you, or your cousins. I have truly not decided whom I will dedicate myself to. With your good will, I must leave; I still have an hour's journey until I reach my.home." She shook her black silk hair back, starting to walk away.
"Wait." Rivin froze, unable to move. She tried lifting a foot; it was glued to the earth. She waited to be released as the three gods came in sight of her again.
"Do not try to leave so quickly, Majere. There is still one more thing you must do before you leave. We watched you, yesterday. Theobald cast fire upon you. You put it out. We want to know how you did so when that spell was long ago forbidden."
Rivin raised her head defiantly. "I've no love for rules, my Lords, my Lady. The spell was forbidden; I came across it in a book I was reading. I learnt it well, thinking that at some point it would be useful. It did as it was made to do, did it not?" Solinari and Nutari glowered at her. Lunitari's lips twitched, and she gave an approving nod.
"We would like to see the spell performed again, Majere." Nuitari growled. He pointed to the pit surrounded by fire; it had burned steadily as the four talked.
"Walk through it and come out unscathed."
"What will happen then?"
"You will find out when more years have come to you, and you know what path is before you." Rivin nodded, and stepped to the lip of the fire. She took no more then a second to mutter the spell, then proceeded to walk through the fire.
She came out on the other side with every hair as it had been. She turned to stare quickly into the faces of her patrons. There was astonishment and shock in their faces. They had never believed she would do it. Rivin smiled, satisfied. She walked back through the fire, coming to stand before the three gods.
"Have I performed to satisfaction?" she asked innocently.
"You have," Nuitari rasped. "And we will now take our leave." He glanced at his cousins. They stared at Rivin, mouths slightly open. Then, all three of them disappeared in a puff of their own colored smoke. Rivin's mouth curled into a smile, and she knelt obediently in homage, standing quickly and brushing of her robe. She walked on to Solace, and her home.
"Did you truly love me?" she whispered to him, moving closer. As cold as her gaze was, his was ten fold that. He shook his head.
"No." Hurt showed in Rivin's eyes for only a moment before she regained her cold composure.
"Damn you to the Abyss," she whispered to him, even more softly than before. She turned on her heel and left. She walked slowly on her way home. It was not as if she had lost some great teacher; on the contrary, she would not miss Theobald or the students at all. The only thing that she would miss would be the library. She had never seen so many wonderful books accumulated in one spot before. She consoled herself in thinking that the Harvest Moon fair would bring in traders selling mage ware. She also dreaded telling her parents what had conspired. She remembered a time many years ago, when she had told Caramon that he "wouldn't regret it." She was sure he would now. But her mother would be happy at least. She often had sent letters, saying how much she missed Rivin, how much she wanted to have her daughter home. There were two new additions to the family, who Rivin had never met. Baby girls, Laura and Dezra.
Well, at least I'll get to see my family. she thought helplessly. But another part of her didn't feel the same. Was that ever what I truly wanted? I never belonged in Solace. Night was starting to fall. She had left late in the day, and the sun was nearly gone in the darkness. Most girls her age in Solace feared the dark. Rivin reveled in it. Looking up, she smiled into the moonlight. She wasn't much startled to realize she saw the Dark Moon. She had learned, of course, that only those who have dedicated themselves to Nutari could see his moon. She merely lifted her eyebrows at its appearance. She had seen it before, on days where hate played a large part in her life. It happened often while she stayed at the school. She looked up now, into the darkened hole. Compelled, she wandered into the forest at her right, walking as if guided by a divine hand. Not much surprised Rivin, but what she found did. She reached a clearing, tiny by normal standards. In the center was a shallow pit. It too was small, surrounded by fire. Rivin tried to take a step backward, but she felt a hand at her back, shoving her forward. She fell to the ground, smudging the white robes she wore unwillingly. Whirling, she twisted to her feet with cat like grace, facing the being that had dared shove her.
She saw who it was, and was back on her knees, head bowed in awe.
"My Lords," she whispered. "My Lady." The two gods and goddess of magic stared down at the girl. Black hair fell about Rivin's face, shielding her eyes from the light - and darkness - that emanated from the gods. There was complete silence. Then:
"Rivin Majere." Something in the voice (she could not tell who had spoken) made her look up. She stared into the eyes of all three gods, waiting. Solinari and Nutari seemed to loathe Rivin; they certainly showed no amount of kindness toward her. There was (As Rivin was alarmed and pleased to see) a strange sort of respect in their eyes, however. Only Lunitari looked upon Rivin with compassion.
"Majere," she murmured. "It has been a long time since I saw you last. Twenty-two years, to be exact." Rivin looked up at the neutrality goddess in surprise.
"Excuse me, my lady," she said respectfully. "But I am merely fourteen now; I could not have known you twenty-two years ago."
Lunitari merely smiled. "You young mortals; you forget so quickly. Can you not remember a time when you were still a baby?"
Rivin opened her mouth to deny it, but shut it after a moment's thought.
"I.I remember magic.and a red moon." Lunitari's smile broadened.
"So you do remember, child. I-"
"Cousin, we are not here to reminisce about past times." Solinari turned his cold icy stare on Rivin. "You, girl," She bristled at the name; She was no girl! "Your relative is Raistlin Majere, is he not?"
"He is, my lord. The Archmagus Raistlin Majere is my uncle." She spoke his name with more reverence and respect than she held for any of the gods. Lunitari's eyebrows rose, and she opened her mouth to say something, but with a glance from her cousins, shut it.
"Rivin Majere, we have appeared to you on this night to question your faith. You are a student of magic in Master Theobald's school, are you not?"
"I was, my lord." Rivin said bitterly. "The great idiot expelled me this afternoon."
The hate of her words held all three gods in thrall for a moment.
"My Lords, my Lady, I beg you excuse my harsh tongue; I hold a deep loathing for Master Theobald and the occupants of his school."
Lunitari looked at her, saying softly, "Even the one you call Brother? The young man Palin Majere?" Rivin looked down, blushing.
"I.I meant only.." She stopped talking. She and Palin had not been friendly since the day they were enrolled in the school, since Rivin had first revealed her power. Looking, up, Rivin gazed past the gods, her eyes cold.
"Yes," she said softly. "Even Palin."
The change that came over the gods was amazing. Solinari watched her coldly. Lunitari shook her head sadly, her eyes clouded. Only Nutari looked well upon Rivin. He smiled at her, a smile that sent a chill up Rivin's spine. She shuddered, closing her eyes for a moment. She felt a strange sense of rebellion. She stood up on the impulse, staring into the cold, scornful face of Solinari, the saddened, disappointed face of Lunitari, and the imperious, haughty look of Nutari. Rivin raised her chin defiantly.
"My Lords, my Lady, I do not wish to displease you." She waited while Solinari bristled. "You said before that you were here to question my faith. What do you mean by that?"
"Is it not obvious?" Solinari scoffed. "You wear my color, but it's obvious you do not do so by your choice."
Rivin was silent for a moment. "It is true," she said softly. "My father forced me to wear these. I would not be allowed to study magic if I did not. So I donned the robes he gave me." Solinari snorted, muttering something. Rivin looked at him sharply, angered at the derision in his voice.
"My Lord, I bid you listen. I may wear these robes by force, but that does not decrease the amount of respect I have for you, or your cousins. I have truly not decided whom I will dedicate myself to. With your good will, I must leave; I still have an hour's journey until I reach my.home." She shook her black silk hair back, starting to walk away.
"Wait." Rivin froze, unable to move. She tried lifting a foot; it was glued to the earth. She waited to be released as the three gods came in sight of her again.
"Do not try to leave so quickly, Majere. There is still one more thing you must do before you leave. We watched you, yesterday. Theobald cast fire upon you. You put it out. We want to know how you did so when that spell was long ago forbidden."
Rivin raised her head defiantly. "I've no love for rules, my Lords, my Lady. The spell was forbidden; I came across it in a book I was reading. I learnt it well, thinking that at some point it would be useful. It did as it was made to do, did it not?" Solinari and Nutari glowered at her. Lunitari's lips twitched, and she gave an approving nod.
"We would like to see the spell performed again, Majere." Nuitari growled. He pointed to the pit surrounded by fire; it had burned steadily as the four talked.
"Walk through it and come out unscathed."
"What will happen then?"
"You will find out when more years have come to you, and you know what path is before you." Rivin nodded, and stepped to the lip of the fire. She took no more then a second to mutter the spell, then proceeded to walk through the fire.
She came out on the other side with every hair as it had been. She turned to stare quickly into the faces of her patrons. There was astonishment and shock in their faces. They had never believed she would do it. Rivin smiled, satisfied. She walked back through the fire, coming to stand before the three gods.
"Have I performed to satisfaction?" she asked innocently.
"You have," Nuitari rasped. "And we will now take our leave." He glanced at his cousins. They stared at Rivin, mouths slightly open. Then, all three of them disappeared in a puff of their own colored smoke. Rivin's mouth curled into a smile, and she knelt obediently in homage, standing quickly and brushing of her robe. She walked on to Solace, and her home.