Short chapter, 'cause I kinda ran out of juice partway through. Oh well. Pointless chapter, lots of questions. Enjoy.

Mother knew I was up to something right away. I don't know how she knew, but she did.

"Fayard, what are you doing?" she inquired, staring straight ahead, as usual, as I knelt on the wet floor before the alter.

"I'm mopping and scrubbing some. Gotta keep the place nice and clean so everyone can come and thank Paladine for everything that he gives us! Big thanks!"

Probably that.

I always wished that my mother could see me, just for one day even. I could then stand before her and say proudly, "Look at me Mother, I am your son. Do you see me? Am I what you see in your mind's eye?" She has never seen me with her eyes before in her life, but I know she sees me, comparing my features with the man I don't know, my lost sire.

But I was glad she could not see then, as I would walk by her, bundles of supplies as I readied for my journey. Instead I was harboring a new problem.

Where would I go?

I had pondered that question all night as Riddletuft skittered across my chest in the dark. I think he must have found some new friends, as I recognized a few more tiny claws following after. Oh well. However, my mind would always wander astray, dashing over to the other questions the mind merchant had set up beside the road.

Why a black robe? What was this incorrect pairing that brought about my birth? Was Mother a victim of some horrible rape that I had never been told of? Or maybe a mage that turned to Nuitari soon after I was conceived? That would explain why I've never heard of him. I could ask my mother, but what kind of answers would I receive? No one had even mentioned my father until now.

Why would that change?

"Maybe I'm wrong," I whispered to Riddletuft (or whoever was scurrying across my stomach at that moment), "Love is, as they say, the most powerful force there is…maybe it was just some odd fling…" Then why hadn't I met him? Heard of him? Why wasn't he here, teaching me the skills I needed to know to control this curse of mine? If I met him…would he know me?

I'd have to ask him myself.

And there it was. The gods had shown me, and now I could see it. If I wanted answers, I would have to go find them, and that meant finding my father…whoever he was. How does one find a black robed mage? How does one find any specific mage?

I tossed the few supplies I could scrounge up onto my bed and sat at my small desk, gazing out the window. The sun was at its zenith, shining down upon beautiful Palanthas, my home. The home I was leaving. Yet no sunlight seemed to touch the dark tower that rose above the buildings. Tall and leering, it made an odd comfort to my eyes against the bright city…

That was it! I jumped out of my seat and dashed to the small library across the building. I dug around until I finally found what I needed. Spreading the large map out on a table, I traced my finger south from the small dot marked 'Palanthas' to a darkened area. The Tower of Wayreth, or where it supposedly was. I'd heard that the very forest that surrounded the tower moved from place to place, one could fall asleep in an open field and awaken in the forest the next day.

I'd go to the Tower somehow. I would find a way in, I knew it. The wizards in the tower could probably find out about my father and maybe even his whereabouts. I rolled up the map, satisfied. I had my destination. It was far, but I was sure I could manage.

If only I had known…

I ate my meal in silence, my mind too busy to even notice anyone was speaking my name. My father…if I met him, what would I say? "Hello sir, do you know me? I am your son. Please sir, take this magic back, I want none of you. Take your magic, your name, your blood, I do not want it. No more than you wanted me…"

"Fayard? You're awfully quiet. Is anything wrong?"

Aside from the fact no one has ever told me of my full heritage, that I am the bastard son of an evil mage that is kept around because you all pity me. Yes, I see it in their eyes now, they're afraid, afraid that I may rip them to shreds with this magic that is pulling me further and further into my nightmares. I'm just peachy.

"Nothing's wrong Mother." I replied softly. She said no more, just sighed and continued eating. Oh yes, she knew I was up to something. I glanced at my pack, sitting in the corner, ready to go. What would I say?

Upon finishing my meal, I rose and knelt beside her, taking her hand in mine. "Mother, I'm going on a walk, I'll be back as soon as I can but it may take a while."

"When you get back, will you help Lilith reorganize the books in the library?"

"Of course, goodbye." I kissed her on the cheek and let go. Grabbing my pack, I backed out the door. "I love you," I called before turning and walking down the hall. Wrapping my traveling cloak about my shoulders, I felt a foreboding tug at my heart as I strode away from the temple, but I walked on, away from everything I knew. I didn't look back.

"Fayard!"

"I'm up here!" the boy called over his shoulder. The dwarf climbed up the rocks with little effort, muttering to herself until she reached him.

"What are you doing up here by yourself? In the cold no less, dressed as you are…" Azure began scolding him. Fayard merely smiled and gestured outward.

"Ah, I see," she sighed, settling beside him, "you're a queer one, you know that?"

"If I wasn't, you wouldn't be here. Besides, there isn't anything queer about this, it's beautiful."

"You're acting as though you've never seen a sunrise before."

"None like this. We're so high up, I can see for eternity…" he breathed, opening his arms to the rising sun.

"What are you thinking about this time?" the dwarf smiled, shaking her head.

"It's been so long since I left home, I wonder what everyone is doing, my mother…I hope she's not too worried."

"You thinking of giving up lad?"

"No! I haven't come this far for nothing. But I mean…what if I find this uncle of mine? What can I say? Will he even believe what I tell him?"

"If he truly is your uncle, he will. Now come on, it's chilly up here and the kender is cooking something that actually seems edible, you're too skinny."

"Yes, I'm coming."

Azure grunted and, lifting her worn skirts, began her descent back to camp. Fayard watched her go, smiling. If there was anyone he could ever count of these days… The sun had finally broken free of the horizon's grasp and rose upward, brightening the world around it. Fayard shut his eyes and felt the warmth spread through him slowly.

He stood slowly, letting his tight muscles uncoil. he turned back toward camp, and blew the sun a kiss.

Whoo…I can't think of anything to say…Well, Fayard is a little difficult to handle, because his character's still developing, all I know is that he's supposed to be pretty much the opposite of Raistlin. He's got many friends, is very sociable, and obviously doesn't give a rat's (censored!) about his magic. eh…oh well, next chapter of whatever coming up next, maybe even something new, because this idea has been bothering me for months…nah…ja na.