Chapter Three
Digging Deeper
Usha leaned back with a yawn as she looked over at Dezra who was reading a book in the library. Dezra suddenly looked, then looked back in the book, and back up and over to Usha and said, "Usha, you have to take a look at this..."
Usha set the book down that she was reading and walked over, and Dezra began to read, "Winter of 344 AC, Day unknown.
I'm not particularly fond of writing in journals, but given the new information I have been learning that will not fit into my spellbook or notebook on spells, I feel the need to write down what I learn by the day.
Day One:
Nathaniel has taken me to an exercise room and handed me what looks suspiciously like a wooden replica of some sort of sword. After being allowed to handle it and ran through lessons my suspicions are correct. He tells me that if I plan on being any sort of warmage, learning to use a sword and how to fight in armor will be necessary. Whatever. I can still feel the pull of the Blue Star and it still calls to me. I must head South...
Day Seven:
My lessons, now that I can see where they lead, are progressing. I cannot say they are progressing well as I'm not like my brother in health or in stamina. But, as the 'kata's', as they are called, call more for agility and speed than brute strength I think for once he and I would be evenly matched were he and I learning the same thing. When we reunite, if we reunite, I will have to teach Caramon this..."
Dezra looked up, her face beaming, "Is this what I think it is?"
Usha read over the remainder, and whistled in appreciation, "Yes, it is. It's a journal by Raistlin Majere after he was Tested and before the War of the Lance. The time where he found the Blue Star and traveled with Marion Uth Maleste, the Guardian of the Blue Star... the Miiro... This is the book we've been looking for."
Dezra handed the book over to Usha who took it to the table she was sitting at and began to read...
A/N: The journal in question is actually the fan fiction 'Blue Star', which you will recognize the journal's reference to Raistlin's training under Nathaniel...
Hours after Dezra had gone to bed, Usha leaned back in her chair and noticed the Black Robe that sat watching her. He pushed back his hood and leaned back in a chair not six feet away. She felt her teeth set themselves on edge as she recognized the Dark Elf. "Dalamar..." she began. "I wish I could say 'nice to see you', but we'd both know I was lying if I did."
"Ah, Usha, you haven't changed a bit," he said, smiling seductively. "Where as your father was more prone to bending the truth you are more inclined to be blunt... much like your Aunt..."
"Don't you ever shut up?" she hissed. "You and I both know that I am not and have not ever been Raistlin's daughter. I don't know why you maintain the charade that you believe that. My father was the Irda Keryl and my mother was human, not the other way around."
He shrugged, "I don't know that. You have maintained that. All I know is that the Irda sent you to me and when I first saw you, you had gold eyes, silver hair and faintly gold skin. What else would you expect me to believe? And now you are heir to his legacy with the Blue Star, and possess the powers it bestows. Now, if you were me, how would you take that?"
"Honestly, the exact way you are," he smiled at her admission even as she dashed it moments later. "But it doesn't make your assumption correct, now does it? And you know what they say about people assuming things... it makes an ass out of me and you, so why don't you stop spreading rumors and find the real daughter of Raistlin if you're that bloody interested?"
She threw the journal on the table where it landed with a loud thud and it slid to just out of his reach on the long table. He leaned forward, reached and grasped it by two fingers, drawing it closer to him and opening it to where she had marked the page. "Maigrey?" he mused. "Who is Maigrey?"
"Ah, Dalamar," she said. "Maigrey Stormhawk is the true daughter of Raistlin Majere. She carries the blood of the Miiro within her, and inherited trait from her father, and also is half dragon. Half paragon white dragon, from what that says, and is in currently in the care of her draconic Uncle, Icingdeath."
He read the neat script, recognizing his Shalafi's handwriting, seeing it as a true journal and not forgery. Dalamar paled at the notes within. "But... she's... powerful in her own right... and no one has even seen, let alone met her besides this other dragon. Even her own father only saw her in the egg..."
"Scary thought, isn't it, Dalamar," mused Usha. "A rather nasty obstacle, and even if you got past that Uncle, I wouldn't want to cross her Uncle Caramon if you intended on using her to gain access to the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas."
He glared at Usha, "Maigrey would be a young dragon, but capable of making her own decisions. But where to look...?"
Usha snorted, "I would hate to say this, but if I want that sword, I have a feeling that Icingdeath would be the only one to help me. Which means you and I have some decisions to make."
His eyes thinned, "Are you suggesting I travel with you?"
"It's better than traveling on your own, Dalamar," she said. "Because then I would feel the need to add some 'obstacles' of my own. I may not be related to the Majeres but I still like them, Dalamar. And when we meet Icingdeath you can be sure I will point out that you are Maigrey's father's former apprentice. How you explain things after that is up to you."
For a moment he leaned back and thought about it, "You won't stand in my way otherwise?"
"As much I don't like it, I need you on this trip because you were Raistlin's apprentice. I need you to read his later journals that I can't because of the spells he cast on them. Not to mention that if I touch them I'll get a nasty surprise where you at least can read them because you and he had similar 'moral leanings' at that point in time," pointed out Usha. "I'm not evil. You and he are... was... in his case anyway..."
Dalamar took a breath, held it, then thought for a moment more, "Fine, you have a deal."
Early the next morning, even earlier than she was used to herself, Usha packed her saddlebags for the trip. Beside her sat Dezra who had already packed for the next leg of their journey the night before. Unlike Usha, who even though she was used to magical surroundings after living for years among the Irda, she did not feel comfortable surrounded by wizards of questionable motives. It seemed that even those who claimed to follow Solinari that ulterior motivations moved their actions.
Finally Usha was packed, and not a moment too soon. Dalamar walked in, also dressed for a journey and his packsack slung over one shoulder and a non-discript staff in the opposite hand. Dezra caught sight of the Dark Elf and hissed to Usha, "Is he seriously coming with us?"
Usha sighed and nodded, "Yes. For now we travel in the same direction."
Dezra leaned back, opening glaring at Dalamar who cooly gazed back, seemingly unfazed by her dislike. "I will not cause you any trouble," he responded softly. "And, for future reference, I can hear quite well. Has something to do with the fact that though I am dark, I am still an elf and still have all the abilities and skills that I had before I was exiled. I perhaps know more about traveling than either of you put together... so... I could even be of use that these tower-trapped epicurean."
Usha lifted a brow, "I thought you were one of them, Dalamar. At least, you were when we first met..."
"... And when we first met you had also never stepped foot on Ansalon, Daughter of Raistlin," he replied evenly. "But it was not always so."
Usha shrugged, "Fine."
The three walked from the tower to reclaim their horses.
Except for one.
Dalamar did not seem to even have a horse and so was forced to share with Usha as he rode behind her. When they left the vicinity of Wayreth the forest disappeared to be replaced with the mixed plains and lighter forests of Qualinesti Wood. They rode in silence but for the silent but suspecting gaze of Dezra at Dalamar, Usha glaring back as if to warn Dezra away from raising the Dark Elf's ire, and Dalamar's hidden amused glances at both of them.
He even started to egg on Dezra as he purposely would, time to time, lean forward from where he sat behind her and breathe in her scent, grasping her waist a little tighter. In turn this would make Usha frown, and Dezra glower at him, starting the cycle of glares to begin all over again.
Dalamar had to admit that it was amusing to say the least. Neither was truly aware of what he was doing until midway into the day as the sun reached its zenith and Dezra finally snapped...
"Okay, enough," Dezra rode up from behind and laid a hand on Dalamar's shoulder. "Stop groping her as if she's going to pay any attention to you. She's only letting you come with us because you can be of some use- not because she likes you. Because she doesn't."
Dalamar grasped Usha tightly, this time not mockingly trying to provoke either one, but because Dezra Majere's hand on his shoulder had knocked him slightly off balance. He heard Usha's sigh and she said, "Dalamar, kindly stop gripping me like that."
"My apologies ladies," he began. "But it was amusing to see the young one glower at me as if I had lecherous intentions. It did amuse me to see her try and protect you. I meant no harm in it, but was trying to inject a little bit of entertainment into the entire trip to make it go faster."
They both glared at him and Usha stiffened, "You. Off my horse."
Dalamar blinked in surprise. "You can't be serious," his eyes widened as Usha's jaw set and he saw just how very serious she was. Bowing his eyes slightly, he acquiesced and slid down from the horse. "Very well, Shalafia. I shall walk."
To her credit, even given how upset she was, Usha slowed her horse to his walking speed so that he could keep up. Dezra didn't even like this, "Come on, leave him. He made sport of us and deserves to catch up to us on foot."
"You're right, he does," at Usha's admission Dalamar's eyes widened in alarm. "But I'm not going to. It will suffice that he gets to walk until he can buy himself a horse."
Dalamar sighed. It was going to be a long sojourn...
At the end of the day they made camp. Dalamar was completely exhausted and after making his bed collapsed into it. Dezra said as he lay down, eyes closed and lines of exhaustion etched into his face, "So much for 'I know more about traveling than either of you two'."
"It... has been awhile," admitted Dalamar.
For him, it had. The last time he had been forced to trek cross country without the aid of magic was before he had been apprenticed to Raistlin Majere. Ever since then he simply teleported where he had to go or used the various means a wizard used to travel. To be sure, he did not miss this one bit, but as they were not exactly sure of where they were going teleporting was of absolutely no use. In fact, no magic existed on Krynn that could help them. They had to search for a rumor of a rumor of a woman and follow that trail.
Usha stared into the fire as she watched Dalamar's face clear of the exhausted lines as he fell asleep shortly after making his bed and laying in it. Dezra chuckled again, "Wow, that had to be a record on the shortest time anyone has been in camp and asleep."
"He's soft," said Usha softly. "Some wizards get that way and learn to take their own magic for granted. But, I feel that before this journey is over, he will keep up or go back to Wayreth."
"God, I hope so," said Dezra. "This snail's pace is driving me crazy."
Usha woke to a stone being thrown on her and she rolled into a standing position, drawing her sword at the sound of battle. Taking stock of the situation, she saw that both Dezra and Dalamar were engaged in the battle, Dezra by sword and Dalamar with his magic and the staff. Usha slashed at one of the goblins that tried to attack her, and neatly stepped out of the way.
Taking a moment upon coming to the conclusion that they were by far outnumbered, she knelt as she ducked below a goblin arrow flight path. Touching the Blue Star, she chanted, "Grant me the magic..."
Usha stood and pointed her sword at the shaman, "Chain Lightening!"
From the tip of her sword sapphire blue lightening arced into the shaman and then past him to the others behind before it diffused to even the odds a bit more. Dalamar called, "Good call!"
He stopped and Dezra covered him as he began to chant and his fingers moved in the intricate dance that indicated spellcasting. As he came to the apex of his spell he pointed to another goblin where lightening arced into that goblin and then passed from that one to another and so on down the line. From that point on the fight was quick as Dezra and Usha fought in tandem as they kept the goblins from hitting Dalamar while he cast his magic.
Two spells of magic missile went off.
One was Dalamar's.
The other was a goblin shaman...
Usha twirled, her dacian falx was moved to block the magical purple darts but could only block two out of three. In horror she watched as Dalamar's eyes widened in surprise and pain as the third squarely in the chest.
The fight had ended. He could hear as much as he opened his eyes into mere slits where a very worried Usha stared down at him and grasped his hand, "Keep breathing."
"I... have... no intention of stopping..." he gasped. "Gods, that hurts..."
"You took that in the middle of your chest," he heard her speak, but she had moved away to be replaced by a saddened Dezra.
"...no idea you cared..." he murmured.
A hand smoothed his dark hair back. "Don't fade out on me, Dalamar," said Usha and he felt his robes being ripped open and cool cloths tied to his wound.
At this point the pain was too much and he fainted to the sound of Usha screaming, "Dalamar!"
Dezra rode hard as she watched Usha support the Dark Elf in her arms and ride equally hard to the nearest settlement. As much as Dezra regretted seeing Dalamar be gravely injured like he had been she knew what kind of reception they would get once any cleric recognized Dalamar for what he was. But Usha was beyond being talked out of the ride to save his life.
The subtle changes that began to happen were missed until Dezra actually took notice of them as she heard Usha chant low, leaning forward and riding with her eyes closed. Her forehead almost touched Dalamar's unconscious one.
Dezra risked a look around. She muffled a gasp as she saw the ground moving beneath the horses hooves at an impossible rate of speed. The trees whipped past and even through them. It was unlike any haste spell that she was familiar with, not that she was familiar with spells, but it was not like how Palin had explained how they worked.
It was the magic of the Irda.
She felt its tendrils pulling at her eyelids even as she seemed to sink lower on the horses back, but yet as if held there by an invisible hand. Sleep stole over her as the ground began to move even quicker beneath them...
Dezra woke as the town came into sight. She gasped as she saw the obvious signs of the desert far off into the distance. She looked over to Usha who had clearly exhausted herself as the lines were deeply etched into her face and her hair hung listlessly and limply. Usha took one deep breath, closing her eyes for a second. "We are far from our destination, but I must stop and Dalamar needs care," she whispered, holding the mage closer.
Dezra bit off the sarcastic reply that Usha must have cared more than she even cared to admit for the Dark Elf, but held her tongue. Later. She would tell Usha how she felt about this so-called alliance later... But also for the reason that for the life of her she could not figure out why seeing Usha clutch the elf so close bothered her so much and sent jealous surges through her frame.
They rode equally exhausted horses into the town. The town was a distance from the road and was one of those settlements that had sprung up during the War of the Lance when refugees had to travel across country to get out of the path of the war. Finding what passed for an inn, which was little more than a run-down tavern, Dezra went inside to ask for lodging. The innkeeper looked up in surprise, "And what canna I do fer you, little missy?"
"We need a room and a healer, preferably a cleric of some skill," ordered Dezra quickly.
The barkeeper frowned, "Easier said than done. There're no rooms here... justa bar..."
"Then we'll take whatever you have!" said Usha carrying in Dalamar as she said so. Looking at Dezra she ordered, "Take care of the horses and leave the bartering to me, child."
As if for effect, Dezra noticed that Usha had chosen to wrap Dalamar in a black cloak and also to summon the armor of the Blue Star. Undoubtably she was calling on Raistlin or Dalamar's reputation to carry them through. The tavern went silent at the sight of her with Dalamar in her arms.
Even though Usha was half-human, she still held the height and stature of her half-Irda side. She turned her golden eyed gaze to the barkeep who swallowed nervously. "Oh... wizards don't usually stay here, mistress..."
"Oh? Then where do we stay? Do forgive me, I am not this far South often," Usha smiled sweetly although there was steel underneath the silk of her words. "But as Dezra told you, we need a healer and quickly. Goblins to the North East of here ambushed us and we were lucky, even given our skill, to escape with our lives."
One woman stood and walked quickly to her side, "I am the healer in this town. There is no cleric, but I deal with what I can."
Usha nodded and said, "Where is your shop or place?"
"Follow me..." The small woman led the pair to a cabin to the south of the village. "I moved on from my last home as when the true clerics moved in my services were no longer required... so... this is Dalamar..."
"Yes, it is," affirmed both Usha and Dezra.
Usha said as they walked briskly to the cabin, "This is Dezra Majere of Solace and I am Usha al-Irda of Tarsis. The rest of our story is as we said."
The older woman looked from Usha, whose gold tone was fading and to Dezra with an even harder gaze, before shaking her head with a small sigh. "I see the resemblance... Tika is your mother, is she not, child?"
"Yes," answered Dezra in surprise. "Caramon is my father, Dalamar is... was... my Uncle's apprentice."
Usha fell silent, calling upon the spirit of Raistlin as soon as the old woman had pointed out Dezra's semblence to her mother. Do you know this woman? Can she be trusted...?
Yes and yes, came his whispered response which seemed slightly in awe. Definitely...
With that he was silent. Usha crinkled her brows, "You have not told us your name..."
"Ah... if the rumors hold true to your parentage, you are much like your rumored father, Usha," said the woman, a twinkle in her eye. "How well I remember that line of questioning. Always questioning, never trusting, never giving anything of himself with few exceptions."
A few more steps as the cabin came into view and a wolf looked up in curiosity before laying its ancient head back down. Usha petted it absently and it licked her head with a soft whine. The old woman looked back at her and with a smile, answered finally, "My name is Meggin and this is my home."
Usha and Dezra watched in a bit of awe as, after Usha had laid Dalamar down on the table, briskly cut away the burnt robes and crude bandaging. She looked up as she saw the bleeding wounds on his chest in the clear pattern of fingertips. She sighed, "I was rather hoping that was a nasty rumor..."
Dezra turned a little green, "You aren't the only one..."
But it was the fresh and nasty burn to the upper left side of his chest that made them all wince. Meggin asked, "What caused this?"
"One stray magic missile," answered Usha. "I blocked two, but the third made it past all defenses. I am amazed he lived..."
"As am I," admitted Meggin as she continued to clean and dress the wound.
Once she was done she wrapped a white bandage around the wound to hold the dressing in place. She sighed once more as she gazed on Raistlin's curse to Dalamar, "I don't suppose they're curable otherwise they would have been healed long ago..."
"Rumor has it that he tried everything from the Gods to more conventional healing," answered Dezra. "None worked. Abyss, even after Uncle Raistlin returned for awhile... but... then again Uncle Raist didn't have time for anything but the Legacy..."
Meggin looked up, "What 'Legacy'?"
As if realizing she had said too much Dezra turned silent and looked at Usha in askance, but Meggin, seeing too much of a pattern too similar to another in a previous generation of this family brought Dezra's attention back to her, "Don't look at her, don't ask her. You're your own person, Dezra Majere. What legacy?"
"The Blue Star," answered Usha for Dezra with a sigh. Seeing no recognition, "The legacy of the Shattered God of the Greater Balance, the part of the God that houses all its power. Dezra speaks of the Guardianship and holy trust and secret that Raistlin passed on to me upon his death, or ascension, we are not quite sure which..."
Meggin nodded, "I have heard rumors on the wind of something like that. I always knew that he was special... I just could not put my finger on it."
She walked over to the fireplace and stoked the fire, setting more water to boil. "While he recovers I offer you my home as a place to stay. You will not find any other in town."
Usha bowed slightly, "Thank you and we accept."
Meggin looked up from the fire, "You say that Raistlin passed it on to you..."
Usha felt the shadow behind her before she saw it. She didn't have to turn to look to know that Raistlin stood in a ghostly form within the room. Meggin turned as she saw the familiar form in front of her, although she could see through him. "I knew you remembered."
"How could I forget?" he said with a shrug. "You were one of my only true friends back in Solace. You accepted me for me, without question or suspicion. We stood on equal ground and your healing skills saved my life numerous times when I fell ill."
"And you fell ill with great frequency," she smiled slightly at the memory. "And now... you follow in their shadow. Why...or do you know?"
He smiled faintly, "Sometimes I suspect, but no, I don't. But it was worth it all to see you one more time. I never blamed you and, in fact, if not for you, I might have been completely unredeemable..."
Usha watched as he faded away and the Blue Star faded back to its typical blue even though it still burned. Meggin looked at the ring, even touched the stone, "You are not his daughter by blood, are you?"
"No," answered Usha quietly. "My father was an Irda, and my mother a human. She died in childbirth and shortly after my father took me to the Isle of the Irda where he served as the Protector of the Irda. I don't remember what happened afterwards but he chose to leave and a new Protector was appointed. It was this new Protector that raised me in the end, but I never did find out my true birth and believed for a long time that I was the daughter of Raistlin. I think even perhaps he half suspected that it was possible. But now we seek Raistlin's true daughter and her Uncle for a sword that will help save us against further invasions of Chaos' demons."
Meggin absorbed this, "I take it that this would be your legacy?"
Usha nodded, "It is. It is my duty as the Guardian of the Greater Balance, and of the Blue Star, to see that the Balance is kept, even to the cost of my own life. Raistlin knew this, as did the other Guardians that walked this path before me."
Meggin gestured to Dalamar, "What is his role in this?"
Usha sighed, "Dalamar was Raistlin's apprentice. Even though Raistlin can still, as a spirit, come through I need Dalamar to read his later journals to track down this daughter. Maigrey and her Uncle were the last people on Krynn to see another Guardian, Raistlin predessor, Marion Uth Maleste. If I did not need him for that I would have left him in Wayreth and traveled straight to where this Maigrey could be found."
Meggin nodded, "When Dalamar recovers I shall leave this town in the capable hands of my apprentice. I would like to see where this path leads you and you will need me if you run into any more of these goblins."
Usha looked over to Dezra, who smiled slightly, "Very well, you can come with us. The extra person makes this an even group..."
A/N: Wow, this was a long chapter.
Don't worry (and this isn't a spoiler...) Dalamar will live, we need our mage....