DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1! For the love of Nuitari!

Life proceeds normally in the Halls- or at least as normally as life can proceed with dozens of dark mages clashing egos. Ladonna won't come near me without a spell ready to counter shinbratha. Amusingly, she hasn't been able to puzzle out the incantation, so the counterspell isn't always effective… I've managed to numb varying parts of her body and cut her decibel output significantly, even when the full effect doesn't get through. This normally enrages her, leading to her setting an abyssal creature on me…

I'm working on another new spell. Raistlin would probably call it "juvenile", but it seems he calls anything practical I come up with "juvenile." On second thought, I think he may like this one- it's a blanket spell of antipathy. I like to call it my "privacy bubble".

The spellbook of Fistandalius did help me come up with the idea. There are some useful spells- for unlocking and the like- but the one that inspired me is a compulsion. I've managed to adapt that spell to the command "leave Renetari alone", but I still haven't figured out how to make it affect anyone who comes within a certain radius.

I still spend most of my time making sure Fistandalius doesn't try to snack on Dalamar's life-force. I've smelled the lich's rotten stench draw far too near to the room. I don't trust him. Maybe whenever Krynn has a gift-giving holiday, I'll use shinbratha on him, gift-wrap the bastard, and give him to my grandmother. Or maybe Chemosh- he's the god of the undead, right? I'm not exactly certain how I'm related to him, but fellow god-hood is a good enough excuse to get Fistandalius somewhere where he won't be able to breathe down my neck! Raistlin still scares the shit out of me, but at least he doesn't try to steal my divinity every time I turn around. I guess his previous experience with Fistandalius is what makes him such a good resource…

"What do you mean, shinbratha won't work on him?"

"Although your spell is impressive, Fistandalius is a lich." He hacks as he opens a book. "This is a compendium of all the creatures of Krynn. Kraken… Kuo-toa… Lamia… Lamasu… ah, here it is. Lich." He points out a line.

"The fearsome lich is immune to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mind-affecting attacks." I read, then look to Raistlin. "And this is significant because?"

"The holding component of shinbratha is considered mind-affecting. Although the silence portion may still work, without the holding, a silence spell is a better bet than shinbratha."

"But he'll be expecting that!" I groan. "Shinbratha's so effective because no one expects it, and no one can effectively counter it!"

"My lady." I don't recognize the Black Robe who comes to the door. "I have been sent for you."

"Who are you?" I demand, knowing full well that Raistlin won't stop me from casting shinbratha.

"I am Dracart." He says. "One might say I was your father's representative on Krynn while he was… occupied… with your banishment."

"I haven't heard of you."

"He contracted out to the Dark Queen." Raistlin says bitterly. "Aided in the creation of the draconians. Nothing to be proud of. That's probably why you're a mere message boy."

"You challenge me, Majere?" the expression on Dracart's face reminds me of a dragon's. "I was already powerful enough to perform the corruption ritual when you were barely a mageling!"

"If you dare answer my challenge. Coward."

If I was my father, I would let them battle it out, laughing bemusedly. Actually, that would be fairly amusing… but problems could arise if anything dangerous was summoned, or if they decided to use an area-effect spell…

"Shinbratha!" I shout, and Dracart falls to the floor. However, Raistlin is still standing.

He laughs. "You didn't think I'd let someone run around with an uncounterable spell, did you?"

"Just take it outside. I'll let my father know I floored his message boy." I look back at Dalamar. "If you so much as imagine you smell lich near this room, send for me."

I don't trust the look behind Raistlin's enigma of a smile.

I groan when I hear the voice. "You did what?"

That tone, the sheer desire to throw someone to a large and angry dragon compressed into the single word "what", was most definitely coming from the mouth of my second cousin.

I open the door. "Father. Lord Solinari."

"Daughter." My father rises. "Where is Dracart? I sent him to you-"

"Another clash of egos. I took care of him."

"You tolerate that scum Dracart here?" Solinari scowls. "The one who created those foul draconians?"

"Black mages come here, cousin." My father spoke, unusually calm. "I personally like to use him as a message boy. If I may inquire as to whom he was clashing egos with?"

"Raistlin Majere."

"Why, dear daughter, did you bother to interfere? Did you think the Master of Past and Present could not handle himself?"

"We were with Dalamar, and-"

"The elfmage. I should have guessed." He scowls. "You see, Solinari, you needn't worry about her inheriting my ruthlessness. She actually-" his expression transformed into disgust. "cares for a mage. Out of gratitude."

Solinari raises an eyebrow. "The world has many mysteries."

"Jesus!" I say irritably. "I'm not a copy of my father! Stop treating me like I am!"

"Sending her to Earth may have been a good idea." Solinari says. "And what's a Jesus?"

"Um… Earth religious figure. Not worth the trouble explaining." I look to my father. "Why was I summoned here?"

"Partially because Solinari sensed your return. Partially because we are beginning to make plans to attack Takhisis, and since you will be so intimately involved…"

"Not if I have anything to say about it…" Solinari says under his breath.

"Considering her unusual behavior, Mishakal might just appreciate her empathy. Kiri-Jolith will be none too pleased, but Majere could be swayed…"

"Are you trying to turn the pantheon against me?" Solinari snaps. "My father-"

"My mother is the one tearing apart the order of the world, and I offer a viable solution. I am simply trying to turn the pantheon against Takhisis, and Renetari, the rebirth of magic, offers us hope."

"She is not the rebirth of magic!" Solinari exclaims. "I refuse to call her by… by… that name!"

"Call me Ren, then. Ren sounds more like the name of a common mortal. Not like an immortal threat to your misguided scruples."

"She's inherited your caustic wit, cousin." He disregards me and speaks to my father alone.

"I'm proud of her for a reason."

Solinari gives me a look I'd reserve for Fistandalius.

I sigh. This is going to be a long meeting.

Raistlin sensed Fistandalius coming before he could smell him. "Stay where you are, lich."

"And why should I listen to you?"

"The girl. I told her I would keep you away from my apprentice."

"Since when do you keep promises, Majere?"

"I keep promises when they serve my purpose." He said. "I promised her that I would summon her if I smelled lich near this room. I have only sensed you- you are yet too far for your stench to carry. I, however, have a proposition for you."

"Why should I trust you on this… proposition… if Renetari herself cannot trust you? You've killed me before."

"Because this proposition is on behalf of Nuitari. Come… to my study. I have a Test to discuss with you…"

Dalamar coughed, then resumed his shallow breathing.