DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1.

Apparently being made of "god-stuff" makes it much easier to pull yourself out of "astral shock", as Ladonna described it to me. She's taken over teaching me until Dalamar recovers. I don't like her as much… she's rather one-dimensional.

I have a feeling my father doesn't approve of 'this kindness phase', as he disdainfully calls it. Phase, hell! Dalamar needs somebody, and who else will look after him? Raistlin? I'm a goddess, and I'm scared stiff any time he comes near me! Nuitari's criticism falls on deaf ears. I will not leave Dalamar to fend for himself. Unlike most of the Black Robes, I have principles.

"Girl." Well, that's one thing I like about Ladonna. None of that 'my Lady' crap. "You were supposed to be in the library a candlemark ago."

"Yeah, and last time someone left a body unattended around here, it was mine and Fistandalius almost sapped my life force." I snap, then return to the book I'm reading.

"I don't care if you're a godchild, you still have to learn!"

"Learn what?" I give her a look that clearly telegraphs I am learning, you dolt!, but she doesn't pick it up.

"More spells, obviously! What else would a magus do?"

"Shinbratha!"

I had created my shinbratha incantation from spells in books I'd brought with me to read while watching Dalamar.

Ladonna falls to the floor, stiff, silent, and somehow seething.

I laugh. "Create spells like that."

"Admirable, godchild, admirable…" I hear a voice. "Shinbratha!"

The floor is cold and resists my fall with painful results.

"Slightly elementary, slightly juvenile… but extremely effective." Raistlin comes into my limited field of vision and looks down at me, leaning on the Staff of Magius. "I suppose Ladonna would like to see you lay like this for a while. But I never cared much for Ladonna anyway."

I want to say, "Well, I don't care much for you, either.", but shinbratha holds my body stiff and words unformed, so I have to settle for a glare.

"Ah, godchild, you have much left to learn." His laugh grates in my ears. "Ladonna will no doubt occupy any intruders. You will be coming with me."

I feel my muscles loosening and am able to stand. I take a step away from him, Raistlin Majere, who seems so much like fear… fear rhymes with Majere. "I don't want to."

"No doubt you feel warmly toward that apprentice of mine, but trust me- these wounds require time. He cannot shake it off like you did."

"I know that, dammit! Shinbrath-"

"Your magebane spell is effective, but not foolproof. Save your magic." He cuts me off. "Come."

"Where are we going-"

"You will see."

I can't justify it to myself, but I follow him. His heavy robes seem like they should collapse his doll-like skeleton.

"You see, m'lady-" Again, the sarcasm- "I have decided that Ladonna is not a worthy instructor for a mage with your potential."

"And you propose yourself?"

"Myself or Fistandalius."

I shudder, remembering how the lich's flesh had melted like putty under my hands. "I'd suppose he's not too happy with me."

"Consider how Ladonna's going to react when that clever little spell of yours is lifted. Then add some disemboweling."

"What, how, are you going to-"

He sets his palms on a door and whispers an incantation. It opens under his touch. "Come. To my study."

His study was as well-kept as the library, and far more beautiful. The library had a ceremonial, regal formality, but Raistlin's study was… almost like home. Lived in. Soft.

"What, did you expect ravens perching on skulls and souls screaming in eternal agony?" He smirks his irritating smirk. "I'm not melodramatic."

"I never would have guessed."

"You have some intelligence, Renetari." He ignores my comment. "You can cast a sleep spell without being mortally weakened. You proved yourself ingenious enough to create your own spell- and a useful one at that. I believe that… this will do." He takes a book down, and, concealing it with his robes, brings it over to me.

"What is it?"

He pulls back the cloth and reveals a book bound in night-blue leather, with silver runes imprinted on the front. I reach out to take it, and my body suddenly feels terribly cold.

Again that smirk. "I assure you, it's perfectly normal- the feeling of cold. Don't try telling me otherwise, I saw you shudder."

"You are irritatingly observant."

"I know." I wonder what terrible fate would await me if I 'accidentally' cast a fire spell in here?

"This was only my second spellbook." He says. "It was retrieved from a rather unsociable black dragon who tried to impale me."

"It's… beautiful." I open the parchment pages. Every line and symbol was inked precisely, each mark torn from the page. "Was it the dragon's?"

"Talons can't mark so neatly." He seems to be enjoying making a fool out of me. "It was a man's, a man whom I'm sure you know."

"The spellbook of Fistandalius!" I exclaim. "I remember now, in Dragons of Autumn Twilight-"

"Very good." As always, it's said haughtily, sarcastically. "Study the first spell while minding my apprentice. You're born to the Black Robes, so don't worry about anything… untoward… happening."

"What's in here?" I regard the runes, but very little of it makes sense.

"Do you really expect me to tell you?" He makes a grating sound that passes for a laugh. "That is why you must study it."

"RENETARI!" A high-pitched voice screams.

"Great. Someone found Ladonna." I sigh. "Can this day get any better?"

"She undoubtedly heard me speaking to you." Raistlin said. "So, if you'll excuse me-"

I appear outside of the study. "Damn!" I break into a run. "Ladonna is so going to kill me…"

Inside his study, Raistlin smiled. "She is capable. This will be a challenge…"