Chapter Two
A Revelation or Two

For a moment, the other four in the room could only stare. Usha blinked a great number of times and it was Dezra who put her hand out to touch her Uncle, only to have her hand go right through Raistlin's right hand. She pulled back, her eyes wide, "No way."

Raistlin looked up, as if to say, Why me? Then he turned back to them, "An interesting side effect to 'bonding' with the Blue Star is that I am temporarily able to keep a hold on my own consciousness, although... I have limited time compared to before."

Usha recovered, "By all the Gods of Krynn, Raistlin, you could have warned us before suddenly popping into existence!"

He sighed, and then as if deciding to tell or not to tell Usha of the information he had, he tapped his lip with one finger thoughtfully, "You are right about the Lawful weapons being needed, unfortunately, I do not know of any purely lawful weapons. I do know of one sword with a double blade, but I have not seen it for years."

"What sword has two blades?" asked Gilthas in puzzlement.

Dezra answered him, "A particularly nasty weapon that is wielded like a quarterstaff where only the hilt is handled. There is a blade on each end and they are usually four to six feet long. But I have never seen one, just what it looks like."

"The Sword of the Miiro," confirmed Raistlin. "A weapon of both Lawful and Chaotic nature. One blade is the fiery hell of Chaos, the other the icy bite of Law. I only saw it once in the hands of my predessor, and I have not seen it since, and considering she preferred scimitars, I only saw it wielded once. And my niece is right about it being 'nasty'."

Laurana asked, "Your predessor? When was the last time you saw her"

"Marion?" Raistlin thought for a moment. "How long was it since I last walked Krynn? Add about a year to that, although I saw the blade over thirty years before that."

"Almost thirty five years, Uncle," Dezra told him. "It could be anywhere."

"Not to mention we have to find this Marion first," said Usha darkly. "Where did you say you saw her last?"

"When I summoned her before the Summer of Chaos," said Raistlin apologetically. "And, unfortunately, the ring will only call those Miiros you have met personally. Even with her name, which is, by the way, Marion Uth Maleste."

Usha turned to the other three as the spectre of Raistlin Majere faded after imparting that last message, "This tree will have to wait until then."

Laurana nodded, "From the sound of it, you will have to find this sword to complete your duty."

"I will leave for Palanthas tomorrow. If anyone knows of Marion, Astinus will," pointed out Usha. "Although, I should head for the Conclave of Wizards first as planned. Perhaps they may even know something."

"We will give you provisions for your journey," said Gilthas. "As well a light escort to the border of Wayreth."

Again, at dawn Usha was waiting for Dezra, although she didn't have to wait long as Dezra was already ready to go. The two walked out of the palace and to the stables where their horses were brought out to them. Out of the stable was brought two more horses led by two elves in armor. One was the lieutenant from yesterday and the other was a Kagonesti. Both mounted their respective horse and the Qualinesti lieutenant said, "The Speaker assigned as guides and escorts to the border of Wayreth."

"It is appreciated," said Usha with a small smile.

They rode out and a few children that were playing in the streets stopped to stare at Usha, one ran up to the horse and put a hand out to touch her as she went by. Usha smiled in a friendly manner and Dezra asked, "I don't get it..."

"The High Ogres, once they had refused to follow Takhisis, became the Irda. These Irda swore themselves to the service of Mishakel and of life," explained Usha. "They were blessed. Some elves helped the Irda in their climb to what they became, out of the darkness that bound their ogre nature. Now, we are a mere shadow of those former Irda."

"There is more," came the shy voice of the Kagonesti. "During the War of the Lance, for a brief moment, the shield that protected the Irda fell and many were dragged off to become slaves once again of darkness, only this time they shared a fate with the elves under the Dragon Highlords. A bond was formed out of the respect. While the elves abhorred killing and wars, they found that they could not avoid it. The Irda, even if it meant their enslavement, were willing to bend to it to avoid bloodshed. Life was more sacred than even their own freedom, but not of others. Many Irda, while peacefully and non-violently helping elves to escape their captors, died in captivity. As such, the elves owe the Irda. Some of those children you see would have never been born if not for the sacrifice of the Irda, and a few of them even carry Irda names than elven. I am one of them. My name is Taneryl, after the Irda woman who died helping my mother escape."

Dezra was silent for a very long time, "But, except for Usha, there is no more Irda left?"

Usha shrugged, "It is possible that a few of those who were captured in the various wars have escaped themselves once the furor died down. If the slaves in Neraka all escaped it is entirely possible that they did as well. One can hope..."

There are still many of them alive, came Raistlin's voice.

Would you quit that already? What did happen, anyway?

A mental sigh was her answer, An interesting side effect to releasing the salient powers of the Miiro held within the Blue Star. I am permanently bonded to the ring, one less Fragment to hunt for the Shattered Reunion. Eventually, my consciousness will fade and merge with the few others that have done this before me... I think...

And that will be how long from now?

It could be tomorrow, next week, next year, maybe even twenty years from now. But no more than twenty years, maybe even forever, who knows? I hardly understand, although the more I remain awakened the more I shall understand.

Wait... I'm stuck with you for twenty years? Raistlin!

A mental chuckle was all she got before the touch on her mind was gone. Great.

The Blue Star had already begun to tingle on her hand, but Raistlin had not said anything for hours. Considering he didn't usually communicate like that, Usha called on the armor and drew her dacian falx as the alerting tingle turned warmer. The elves cocked their bows as Dezra pulled out her sword as well. Then they simply waited.

The elves saw it before Usha did, but Usha saw it long before Dezra did and shouted the warning, "Gnolls!"

Suddenly the huge humanoids were upon them and Usha counted at least six before she was forced to swing her sword to parry a strike from a halberd. She moved to the horse to the side in a quick side step and this time was able to more accurately aim her next blow to sever a gnoll head from its body.

Dezra, in the meantime, was holding her own with her cross bow being aimed at the insides of elbows and the backs of knees of gnolls engaged with the other elves. Finally the last of the gnolls were dispatched, and Usha pursed her lips in concern. "The goblin 'nations' have been getting bolder," said Taneryl. "We have seen more and more goblins and other similar races push to our borders."

"They usually are not so well organized," said Usha. "Nor are they so brave. Something, or someone, is organizing them."

Dezra, her horse just behind Usha's, began to feel a bit like a fifth wheel on a wagon. It was becoming more obvious that her father, Caramon Majere, might have known what he was talking about when he had told her, "Dez, you aren't ready for life out there. Give it time..."

Excellent advice too late understood, and far too late to do anything about. She was already at least a hundred miles of her home and leaving would mean a hard ride through less than friendly territory. "How close are we to Wayreth?"

Usha thought for a moment before she answered, "We are only halfway to it, and most of the ride is on seldom used roads. Wizards don't always use them, usually just those traveling there for Testing do... or the even rarer visitor."

Dezra's horse stamped on the ground, a feeling Dezra could sympathize with. She wished she could do the same...

The next day proved to be an easier ride as they left the Qualinesti forest and Usha told them, "We now are on, well, in the general area of should it choose to be, the territory of the Wizards of High Sorcery and of Wayreth Tower."

With that the elves reined in their horses and turned around. Taneryl was the only who did not, and Usha and Dezra looked at them in curiosity. Taneryl explained, "They were your escort to the vicinity of Wayreth and will wait for us in Qualinesti Forest. I alone will continue with you."

Usha waved her thanks to the elves, and as quick as they had first appeared, they were gone within the trees again. With that the plain became a thick forest again. Dezra's and Taneryl's horse started and Usha said, "Be calm. It appears that the Wizards will see us now."

They rode to the gate and the silver gates opened as they rode past. Usha looked up at the tower that she had always heard of, but never had been invited to. Dezra had only heard of it from other family members and was naturally curious about it, but said nothing. Of the three, Taneryl was the least curious as she, they found within a few moments of being there, had been Tested.

An elderly Black Robe greeted them, "White Robe Taneryl, it is nice to see you again."

"Ladonna," she nodded in greeting. "May I present Usha al-Irda and Dezra Majere. Usha requires information and I brought her here because..."

"Usha?" came a voice.

Usha turned to see another Black Robe, one she recognized even if the relationship was more than a little rocky. "Dalamar... how... nice... to see you."

The Dark Elf smiled slightly and looked from Dezra to Usha, to Taneryl, then back to Usha again, "I find it ironic that the daughter of Raistlin would feel the need to seek entrance into Wayreth by using a White Robe to do so..."

"I find it ironic that you ended up with the Palanthian Tower, my old 'friend'," stated Usha coldly. "And Raistlin was not my father, as you well know."

"Do I?" asked Dalamar, his eyes thinning, before he brightened again and turned to Ladonna. "I vouch for Usha Half-Irda and her cousin Dezra, the daughter of Caramon."

"Look, buddy, you may have been my Uncle's apprentice, but Usha isn't..."

Ladonna rubbed her temples before glaring at Dalamar. "Enough. The fact that she is a Half-Irda means that she has great magical powers, or the potential to use magic. We shall leave it at that and leave her parentage, whatever the truth of it may be, out of it. Do I make myself clear?" she looked at Dalamar, but even Usha knew that half that look was directed at her.

"Yes, Shalafia," bowed Dalamar.

Usha merely nodded, then looked over at Dezra, who shrugged and said somewhat sharply but it was hard to tell, "Sure, whatever."

For a moment, Ladonna looked at Dezra curiously, then turned on her heel and walked back into the main part of the Tower. Once there she turned to the dark skinned Head of the Order of White Robes and said, "Has the young Majere girl been tested for her potential in magic?"

"No, Ladonna," said Dunbar in surprise. "Why, do you think we should?"

"It would be an idea," she pointed out. "I can definitely feel a potential there, an ambition. The same for the Half-Irda, although there is something there I cannot quite put my finger on. Something familiar..."

Jenna, the Head of the Red Robes looked out, "My God, it's Usha. I didn't recognize her without... whatever it was on her she had when she first came to Ansalon."

Dunbar and Ladonna looked at their Red Robed brethren in curiosity, but it was Dunbar who asked, "'Whatever is was on her'?"

"When I first saw Usha, I was so sure I saw the daughter of Raistlin..." mused Jenna. "But, then again, the Irda are shapechangers, perhaps she is hiding her true appearance. When I first met Usha, she had gold eyes, gold tinged skin and silver white hair. Granted, she was a lot shier then and not as sure of herself. Now look at her... she's all grown up..."

Ladonna paled visibly, "And you told Dalamar, who also saw her like you say, and he will always call her his Shalafi's Daughter. So... the magic runs strong in the Majere bloodline..."

Jenna said, "But Raistlin is not her father... you see, Usha was his successor. Usha is a Guardian, a Miiro, and likely has the Blue Star."

The two other wizards looked at each other, a look that was clearly accusatory on one side and carefully bland on the other. Jenna sighed and shook her head, an unconscious echo of her father when frustrated by inter Conclave politicking. "Brethren, whether or not she is Raistlin's daughter makes no difference, the magic is part of her. Taneryl likely brought us a blessing in disguise. Why not have them both tested for potential, and perhaps taught the paths of magic? Let Usha have her access to our libraries for research and forward her agenda while we forward our own for our benefit and she need not know the real reason we have admitted her into our halls. Just think, Half-Irda or no, she will be the first known Irda to walk our Towers as a sister to the magic..."

"Could be," corrected Dunbar gently. "There is no guarantee that she will accept should we offer."

Ladonna shrugged as if that were a minor detail. "Bah, Miiro or not, the benefit to accepting an invitation to Test once she gets to that point, or to even try, so that she will have access to our vaults of magical lore will prove too much a temptation, especially if she is as Dalamar claims. His blood will run too thickly in her veins for her to refuse."

"... and if she follows in his less than 'brotherly' footsteps?" asked Dunbar.

A malicious smile spread on Ladonna's lips, "Then we kill her."

Usha sat in the library as Dezra sat off to one side. Looking up, Usha said from where she sat, "I noticed you haven't gone very far."

"I've heard tales about this place..."

"And likely only about a quarter of them are correct," Usha smiled. "Trust me, I heard plenty about it too. Like I heard plenty about the Tower in Palanthas, but after being it I can tell you that three quarters of it is mere rumor."

"And the other quarter?"

"Is a hundred times worse, and better, than that of the worst rumor," finished Usha, who upon taking note of Dezra's horrified look sighed. "But it kept within strict control. This is a place of magic. It is surrounded by much mystery. You how little the average human knows of the Irda. They naturally assume that we are just ogres in prettier and more intelligent 'clothing'."

Dezra walked around, shaking her head, "At which point, upon meeting you at least, rumors are both quelled and confirmed, and more questions come up. I get the point."

The door opened and a White Robe walked in with a tray. With a small bow he backed out again. Dezra walked over and took an apple from the tray. She regarded it for a long moment, "It's too perfect..."

"Their supply is better than the typical fruit stand in Solace, Dez, trust me, it's just an apple," said Usha, reading the book in her hands.

Dezra rubbed in on her blouse then took a bite. She seemed to relax then sat down in one of the chairs and stared out the window. "I feel like I'm being watched too," she said. "And every time I see a wizard they seem to stare at me like I don't belong here... or worse... like I do."

"You come from a family steeped in magic," Usha put the book down, but left it open so as to not lose her page. "Your grandmother was an untrained seer, your Uncle the most powerful wizard ever known, and your elder brother, had Takhisis not interfered with his Test, held the same potential. Ever think that maybe you just might carry that same gift?"

"Well, I'll admit when all of us kids went to school, Palin and I were in the same wavelength," she said. "We had the same early training. He went for his Test and Mother wanted me to help in the kitchen."

Dezra's tone of voice held more than a little bitterness and Usha sighed as she walked over to sit across from the young woman, "Listen to yourself, Dezra. You sound bitter that you were dragged here, but yet you sound more bitter that you were forced away from further magic training. Which is it? Just what do you want in life? Are you satisfied with thieving and brawling, or are you looking for more? Is that it?"

The young woman glared at Usha who simply took in the bland nature of the Irda, her eyes vaguely disinterested however interested she may have been. The strange part is that this 'disinterest' defused Dezra's temper quicker than Caramon's threats or punishments ever did. Dezra sighed then and swept her hand with the apple in it around the room, "I'll freely admit that I'm restless so they wouldn't want me anyway..."

"All young people are restless. I was, so was Raistlin, and so was every other teenager in their time," said Usha. "Abyss, half the time I still am. It just takes a measure of control."

"That I don't seem to have inherited from these same magically gifted bloodlines, Usha," answered Dezra. "Ever think that could be half the problem?"

"It comes with time," said Usha reassuringly. "Go ask Dalamar, or Jenna, or even Dunbar how they remember your two eldest brothers. I've heard stories..."

"... That I can confirm," said a deep male voice as he walked into the library. Both looked up and Usha greeted him with a nod of her head and Dezra stood respectfully. "Now, now, ladies. It is the gentleman"s job to stand for a lady when she enters, not the other way around... not that I don't appreciate the gesture..."

Dunbar walked around the table to peer at what Usha was reading. "I see you are reading Raistlin's little autobiography. That would explain the reference to him in your conversation."

"I thought that maybe there might be something on the Blue Star on it..." explained Usha.

"Was there?"

"No, it deals with his early childhood up to and including his Test. Nothing further," she answered, closing the book to set it on a shelf. "How long were you listening?"

"Long enough to note that Dezra appears to have the same gift as her Uncle," he chuckled. "I had no intention on listening in, but when I walked past and heard that I simply had to know."

He gave her a healthy poke in the ribs before turning his attention to her. Dezra paled a little under the man's gaze as it was a bit unsettling but then said, "So, do I pass muster?"

"My, so full of spirit," he laughed and then put an arm around her shoulders. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Mistress Majere, as Usha here has told you. No one is going to eat you or turn you into a mouse. If anything, we're more curious as to if we have found new blood for our brotherhood and sisterhood..."

He turned serious, "I will be frank, ladies, we could use the new members. So many have been trying to become wizards, but have no gift. Having two join us who have skill would be a great boon to the Towers of High Sorcery."

Usha blinked as she realized why everyone had been so hospitable, "This has been nothing more than an attempt at recruitment?"

Even Dezra moved out from under Dunbar's arm, "Yeah, excuse me as I say I think we were slightly used..."

He shrugged, "Now, now. We did not use anyone. You asked for admittance to use our libraries. That means you owe us a favor. One way of paying it back would be to consent to training, and then Testing at the end of the training."

"Are you so sure we would pass?" asked Usha.

Dezra added, "Yeah, I don't want to end up like the ones who didn't pass..."

Dunbar walked out, with another shrug, "Think about it. One of you consenting will pay back the favor, and it would mean that one would also have access to our libraries as a member. Not to mention the other benefits of being a Wizard of High Sorcery..."

With that he was gone from the room and Usha heard Raistlin, Now, that was unusual.

What was?

I have never seen 'Active Recruiting' in my life as a wizard, but I think I just saw 'Aggressive Recruitment', even bordering on 'Drafted', was his mental snort of derision. And they wonder why I went renegade...

Dezra, recognizing the look on Usha's face that meant that she was talking to Raistlin, curiously asked quietly, "So?"

"He called it 'draft'," answered Usha. "And he didn't like it at all."

"I think I agree," said Dezra. "I certainly don't like it either."