Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Raistlin Chronicle characters. But I do own the ones that aren't, so you can't sue me. (does a happy dance)

(ahem) YAY! I'm better!! Everyone be happy now.

Thanks to:

Guan: Lol, it is a great book. Plus, I still be following the storyline from my memory. So some parts will be familiar and others may not. You see, my memory only works on the parts that I care about and those parts only revolve around Raistlin. ONLY RAISTLIN!! Kitiara, Tanis, Scrounger, Flint, Laurana, Antimodes, Parsalian, etc. . . etc. . . they just don't matter to me. The only people I may do a p.o.v. of would most likely be Tasslehoff, Lemuel, Dalamar, and/or Caramon.

Brit: Thank you ever so much. I tried, I really did.

Dalamar Nightson: Thank you ever so much… I think my mind is working again, maybe. . . So I might actually be able to do a good chapter this time… With Raistlin's personality in order. I fear that I haven't made Raistlin cynical enough. So, he might be more like himself in these next few chapters. I was just trying to show more of his compassionate side rather than his sarcastic one..( I love that side!! (sighs) Ohoo yeah) Oh and as for Crysallis getting a character flaw, she'll have several later on.. But there's a reason she's this way… You'll see. . . . . (laughs maniacally)

Recap: Horkin is teaching Raistlin and the others the art of magic. YAY!! (sorry) I'm lacking in the happy right now… Damn computer won't allow me to update so now I have to resort to going to other people's computer's and stuff… GRRRR…. But great news, I just bought the "Annotated Chronicles" So I should have some stuff that really happened!! (oohs and awws at herself) Oh yeah…. Feel that love….

Is Blood Really Thicker Than Water?

" Hear the sage, as his song descends

Like heaven's rain or tears… And washes over the

Years, the many stories from the

High tale of the DragonLance……"

Canticle of the Dragon

Raistlin growled deep in his throat. Hastily sweeping the broom across the hardwood floor, Raistlin glanced once more at the leather bound spell book ; leaning precariously upon the shelf. It had been exactly one week since Horkin had him and the other's practicing and from that day on out, there was nothing. Horkin merely had them doing the work of a servant or cooking his meals as if they were his slaves.

Raistlin yearned for the prickling sensation of magic to course through his body once more. He longed for a single moment to himself so he could dedicated himself to studying his books. Instead he was forced to do the work of a common slave.

Heaving a low sigh, Raistlin bent down to remove a piece of parchment that fell down from the wooden table in the middle of the room. The second his spindly fingers brushed upon the surface of the paper, it crumbled into dust-like powder. Arching his eyebrow, Raistlin leaned closer to the floor to examine the substance.

" Aye, Raistlin, what you looking at?" cried out Marius, his gray eyes twinkling.

Raistlin didn't raise his head or speak, he merely rubbed the powder on his finger, tentatively gazing at it.

Marius set down the basketful of bat guano that he had collected from the attic. Stepping lively over to where Raistlin was, he peered over his shoulder.

" What de hell is dat, did ya spill something?"

Raistlin shook his head.

" I had bent over to pick up a piece of paper that was on the floor but the minute I touched it the parchment disintegrated."

Marius frowned, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the residue.

" That don' sound natural… Do ya know where the paper came from?"

Raistlin shook his head once more, his amber eyes never leaving the powder.

" What's going on in here?" a light feminine voice asked behind Marius.

Marius turned around slowly, his eyes reluctant to leave the powder. Forcing himself to stare at Crysallis rather than the strange substance, he answered.

" Raistlin found dis' paper dat turned to dust."

Crysallis arched an eyebrow, her eyes drifting over to where Raistlin was happened to be kneeling.

" Paper that turns into dust?"

Carefully stepping around Raistlin, she bent down to stare at the powder. Using her index finger, she prodded the powder and brought it up to eye level.

" Uh… This is bad…" she stuttered out.

Raistlin glanced up at her.

" Why? What is this?" he inquired.

Brushing the powder off her finger, she pointed to the leather bound book.

" If my memory serves correctly, Horkin said he picked that book up from a Black Robed Mage…."

Marius nodded from behind Raistlin.

" Aye, he did… He said de mage dropped it…"

Raistlin slowly heaved himself up from the floor.

" Not dropped, discarded.." he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

Crysallis pulled herself up from the floor and leaned upon the stool behind her.

" You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Raistlin frowned, his eyebrows narrowed in deep thought. Marius glanced back and forth from Raistlin to Crysallis.

" What are ya two talkin' about? What are ya thinking ? "

Raistlin gazed vacantly, his amber eyes not seeming to focus on anything.

" It would seem that the Black Robed Mage had not dropped the book by accident… or discarded it because it was holding him back as Horkin had so crudely put it…."

Marius tilted his head, not catching on fully.

" So you're sayin' he dropped it on purpose?"

Crysallis snapped her fingers, and grinned at Marius.

" Exactly what we're saying.."

Marius's eyes widened.

" Den that would mean dat dis book is somehow booby trapped!…"

Raistlin nodded his head, his eyes drifting over to stare at the black leather bound spell book.

" But what I don't understand is why it hasn't activated yet…"

" What do y' mean?" asked Marius.

Crysallis pushed herself off the stool and straightened her robes.

" He means, Marius, if the book was booby trapped… how come it never chose to initiated it."

Raistlin stared blankly at the book, his emotion concealed from his face.

" Did Horkin say anything about him opening the book?"

Crysallis frowned.

" Not that I remember, all I know is that he said that he couldn't read the language on it.."

Raistlin nodded.

" And if he couldn't read the language on the front of the book… then what would be the point of opening it…." he whispered.

Marius's mouth dropped open.

" Then that means, all these years… The reason why it never activated was because no one ever opened it?!"

Crysallis's frown deepened.

" There is still one more question…If that paper that you touched Raistlin, came from the spell book… How come the book didn't activate seeing as the only way for the page to fall out is if it were opened?…"

The thought was left drifting in the air, as Horkin came stumbling through the lab doors followed by the arrogant Theoddox.

" Blasted soldiers and their drills, nearly impaled me with their bloody wooden swords and whatnot…"

Raistlin, Crysallis, and Marius exchanged looks before stepping forward to breach the topic with Horkin.

" Aye, Master Horkin sir--…"

" I should get those damn captains a piece of my mind, I should…"

" Sir…" Marius tried again.

" They can't just be thrusting those blasted swords anywhere….."

" Sir!" yelled out Marius.

Horkin jumped slightly, his pudgy hand over his heart.

" Dammit, you nearly gave me a bleeding heart attack!! Whatever you have to say better be damn important!…" he growled out.

Marius fought the urge to roll his eyes.

" We have come upon a issue of great importance, sir…"

Theoddox sneered slightly.

" And Praytell, what could that be Marius?"

Marius ignored Theoddox and continued.

" It seems dat dere Spellbook you got from dat Black Robed Mage be booby trapped.. "

Horkin frowned slightly, his face growing a small bit redder with each strained breath .

" What are you talking about?" he demanded.

Marius pointed back to Raistlin, who was already carefully setting the leather spell book into a small wicker basket. Crysallis had left the laboratory to find some thin flax thread.

" What the bloody hell are you doin back there, Red? Planning to go on a picnic are you?"

Raistlin respond for Crysallis had returned with the thread, and was carefully preceding to tie the string around the small flap on the front. Horkin wobbled over to where they stood, and stared down at the book.

" What exactly are you planning to do with my book?"

Raistlin cautiously lifted the basket.

" We are going to dispose of this threat, sir."

Horkin sighed.

" Fine, if you are so intent on eliminating the threat we can go to the empty training grounds next to the baron's keep.."

Raistlin nodded emphatically.

Yes, Yes, I know… A really short update but sorry, I had to update somehow… It's been waaaay to long. .. And for that I'm sorry, I got really sick and as out for quite a while… And then I got writer's block….

But I'm okay now, so hopefully the updates will come faster..

REVIEW FOR ME PLEASE!!

RoguesHeart