"Are you sure that the spell hasn't hindered her accepted wisdom morals Dalamar?" Raistlin whispered softly as the two walked to meet Leaf in her room, "There is no more room for mistakes this must work."
"Do not fear the guards have reported hearing moving about the room," Dalamar said following his Shalafi faithfully, "Do not be concerned about it your plans will go as planned."
"They had better," Raistlin hissed as they rounded a corner coming in contact with the guards posted at Leaf's bedroom door, "Has she put up much of a fight up?"
The specters shook their heads and waving their transparent hands the door opened revealing Leaf bathing in the sunlight as her still form rose up and down with breath. She was fast asleep exhausted from all the turning points that had happened to her in the few couple of hours. Dalamar couldn't help but be in awe as Leaf began awakening her eyelids fluttering open. She looked just like an ancient cohort that Dalamar had envisioned ever since being told about them from his Shalafi. Gracefully Leaf stood up straight as Raistlin and Dalamar strode into the room watching her every move with suspicion. She was still the beautiful strong and independent elf that he had met many years ago.
"What now?" Leaf asked as the two continued to stare at her, "What will happen to the others and myself now that you've destroyed so many lives?"
"What do you care your all alone," Raistlin snapped thoroughly irritated at her.
"I may be alone yes but does that mean I have to give in to the darkness that you and Dalamar represent?" Leaf asked her face completely soothed and sparkling eyes staring Raistlin down, "The darkness that surrounds you, is that what you want me to be more darkness to this world. I think we have enough darkness I'll prefer to stay in the light so that when I do die I'll be able to meet my friends in death."
"Enough of these riddles of yours," Raistlin said softly turning and beginning to walk out, "Lets put your power to the test. If you are truly powerful you and Raven will fight and we will see who's the stronger. To see if you're the on-"
"One," Leaf stated casually interrupting him, "Your worried that I'm not the one you've been waiting for. Not sure if you missed your chance. Your chance to capture all the cohorts when they come to take me away from this world to work for the gods?"
"How did you know about that?" Dalamar asked incredulously surprised by Leaf's knowledge.
"They have already come and gone you've missed your chance Raistlin," Leaf whispered running her hand through her hair ruffling it as she grinned wickedly, "Next time I see any of them will be when I will have to fight them to survive. I'm an outcast by the Solana and by the elf's. To bad to sad you missed your chance to try and go and destroy another world."
"I see that your beginning to access the knowledge that the gods have given you," Raistlin stated softly, "it doesn't matter anyway. Your knowledge may be extensive but it takes skill and training to understand it all. Raven and you will fight, Dalamar will come and collect you when I am ready to watch you die."
"Die?" Leaf said still grinning, "Afraid not mage I'm not ready to die, I still have a lot to do before that day comes."
Exiting quickly Raistlin and Dalamar were gone before Leaf could taunt them more. The door slamming shut behind them Leaf fell down onto the bed. She had shown her strength but it had taken a lot of courage to stand up to Raistlin like that. She was stronger then when she had first come here but she was virtually afraid of Raistlin. He had spent his whole life studying magic; Leaf spent a total of a couple of months figuring out the truth about her.
"Leo you can come out now," Leaf said watching the little ferret come on out and cuddling up to her, "Yeah I know you would have taken them had you not overslept. Don't worry about those two I'm sure after I fight Raven I won't be seeing them ever again. Something tells me that I'm not meant to try and stop whatever they are planning. I'm pretty confident in saying that someone else is supposed to stop them."
The little ferret's answer was a kiss on the cheek, which tickled causing Leaf to laugh out loud and protesting telling 'no more!'
"Yeah I'm happy you're here too," Leaf whispered hoisting the little guy onto her shoulder and walking out onto the balcony, "Can you believe that all of this started pretty much out on a balcony much similar to this one? I still can't believe all the excitement and tragedy I've had to go through. At least I didn't have to go through it alone which is what I'm worried I'm going to have to do now. I can't ask the other Solana down in the dungeons for help, I'd be putting them at risk. In the future I think I just might look back on these days and wish for them. Maybe I should have gone with mom and the others I'm sure my life would have been easier. But if Cleo was here she would smack me and tell me to listen to my heart as lame as that sounds.
"Now that I think about it Leo I'm not so sure that once I get out of here I'll be able to go on fighting. For one I don't know how to handle a sword and I'm confident you don't know how to either. Seems once I get out of here I'm going to have to find a teacher willing to teach me and he or she is going to have one hard of a time teaching me. I'm pretty stubborn."
Smiling, Leaf looked onto the horizon it was light out which meant she had slept away the day before. That's not exactly uncommon for her she always slept a lot. She was still unsure of her next course of action but she did have a feeling that something was on its way. Its way either evil or good was still unknown to Leaf. She did have a feeling that by this time tomorrow Leaf's people the Solana would be free to live with the rest of humanity. She couldn't explain the feeling but she did have one that made her just feel at ease about her actions. Just thinking about the possibilities once she gets out of here was mind boggling to her. Leaf had never really seen the outside world even before she had begun to live with the royal family back in the Tower of Suns.
Leaf's thoughts wondered around till she thought about Dalamar. He had first said to her that he was here on the Conclave's orders; well she could obviously take that to be a lie now. He had been convincing in his trick in order to betray Leaf again. Leaf was beginning to get used to the ugly parts of people's ways. She couldn't blame it on the fact that they were human but she could blame it on the evil that's hidden in everyone. She just never thought that Dalamar would be one to betray her. Leaf wondered if the Conclave actually knew what was going on with the people of the Solana being trapped here.
"No they don't know or better yet they don't understand the situation," a young vibrant voice stated behind her, "that is they don't understand yet."
Turning sharply around she saw a young man with shoulder length blond hair with blue eyes staring directly into hers. She couldn't help but stare into his eyes they were so youthful and untroubled by anything. Leaf remembered when she used to look into a mirror and see her green eyes young and hopeful, now though she saw that they were clouded with trouble and sacred. She began to actually resent the youthful blue eyes; she wished beyond anything that her green eyes were the way she remembered them to be.
"Who are you?" Leaf asked anger lining her voice, "How did you get in here?"
"How do you think?" the young man asked, "You know I reckon they were right about you. Yep sure are! They were damn right about you!"
"Who?" Leaf questioned thoroughly puzzled by this man's talk.
"Why the gang who else could I be talking about?" the man stated looking appalled by the question but soon got over it, "My gods were they right about you, and you're just to damn beautiful even for an elf. Yippee! I'm glad I get to help you out."
"The gang?" Leaf asked perplexed by the concept, "Like your friends?"
"Yep my friends me and the others have always kept an eye on you," he stated smiling, "Well the guys and me have always bargained whether you were as beautiful as the elf's all told everyone. The guys always thought you were beautiful but I doubted a little."
"Young sir your confusing me tremendously, was there something I could do for you?" Leaf asked as politely as she could, "I'm immensely over wrought from a great deal of ordeal and would like nothing more then peace and quiet."
"Whoa that sure sounds like a royal elf with all the big words, wait what did you ask me?" at one moment he was smiling the next he was looking intently at her, "What did you ask?"
"What can I do for you?" she stated politely again studying his face as he realized what she had asked, "Hasn't anyone ever asked you what you want?"
"Never," he whispered the man was taken aback at being treated like an equal, "Do for me? First time someone ever asked me. Well there's nothing really…"
Nodding her head she turned back to the sky and looked out to the horizon yearning to be out there. But she could sense that the young man was still behind her watching her. She knew that if she even tried getting close to this young man in hopes of friendship he'd turn up dead. Anyways it sounded like him and his friend's thought her stuck up or something like that. It wasn't her fault that she had learned big and complex words that normal people never actually used. Shivering unconsciously, a little afraid of the man behind her. She still feels his eyes on her.
"Me and my friends can get you out there," the man whispered into her ear causing Leaf to look at him seriously, "There out in the sky where you want to be. I can tell that you want to be out there among the birds."
"You might want to know that if you help me you might end up dead," she whispered her voice actually full of regret as she stated the words, "Everyone who helps me ends up that way believe me when I say it."
"That doesn't matter to me I've already been pinned as an ancient cohort who has a bigger bounty on his head then anyone in this world," he stated smiling at Leaf, "Your not the only one who didn't take that path Leaf."
"I had the feeling that all of the cohorts given the chance to go to help the gods went," Leaf stated looking at the man with a more professional way, "I didn't go cause to me it was another cage. Why didn't you go?"
"Another cage for me too Leaf," he whispered his eyes downcast as he remembered, "You probably met my old dad, he was Mark. So he was the one who most likely looked at you with utter disgust."
"Who are you?" Leaf asked again, "You already know that I'm Leaf. Care to state your name to me or am I going to have to guess."
"Ah not yet how about I show you something well less of a word awesome," he stated grinning at her as he jumping up onto the balcony railing, "Come on just take my hand."
"How can I trust you?" Leaf asked looking suspiciously up at him, "Exiled cohort or not you could be trying to kill me to gain favor towards your dad."
"Come on once you fight Raven your not going to have time to have fun you'll have too many responsibilities that demand your attention," the man said his grin turning into a smile that was pleading even begging her to take his hand, "Just do one more spontaneous thing before your life is ridden with responsibility and pain."
Nodding her head she took his head and he helped her up onto the balcony's railing. Looking down she shivered as she saw the long descent to the ground. She couldn't help but go into the young man's welcoming arms giving her the comfort that she so desperately searched for. She heard him chuckle and looking up at him narrowed her eyes dangerously. She was afraid of heights she wasn't afraid to admit it, but this man had just met her how dare he laugh at her fear.
"Before you do anything you should know that I'm-" Leaf began.
"Afraid of heights especially when you're standing up here. You can trust me," he whispered staring fondly into those green eyes, "I know your mom she would tell you to trust me too. Look even Leo trusts me."
He was right Leo did trust him; the little ferret was curled up inside the man's jacket pocket. Nodding once again she looked down and shuddered closing her eyes tightly and holding tighter, if that was possible to the man.
"You're going to see the bottom of that," he whispered into her ear.
"What!" Leaf exclaimed as he brought her in closer and jumped off the balcony railing.
She could feel the wind brushing past her in sweeping gushes. Closing her eyes tighter then ever before she screamed and continued screaming till finally she felt solid ground beneath her. She dared not open her eyes she knew it was a trick. They had fallen over 50 feet. The two of them had to be dead they just had to be.
"You can open your eyes," Leaf heard the man whisper, "Were not dead I promise Leaf."
"No we have to be," Leaf stated sharply, "It doesn't make any sense unless were dead. We'd be defying every science I know, we have to be dead its physically impossible for us to be alive."
"Leaf open your eyes," he stated again laughing at her.
"You know it's not very nice to laugh at other people!" Leaf snapped opening her eyes and glaring at her, "You big bully!"
"You opened your eyes," he said smiling at her.
"You tricked me!" Leaf shouted getting ready to smack the man.
She hadn't meant to open her eyes he had actually tricked her into opening them. Oh she would get her revenge on him she would get even that was for sure. He did somehow make her feel at ease. She wondered about his true identity. He reminded her of someone but she couldn't place it.
Just as Leaf was going to smack him over the head he grabbed her extended hand and dragged her along to what looked like a little shack. She wasn't concerned about the shack she just wanted to smack him and hurt him in any way.
"Come on lets go there waiting for us," he said all serious as he took her arm and led her through some trees and to her surprise was a little shack which they entered, "Don't worry they won't judge you for not going with the other cohorts they might even welcome your help."
"I would highly doubt that Iatric!" an old voice stated sharply.
"Iatric?" Leaf looked at him she just saw him roll his eyes and glare at the old man who'd shouted at him.
Leaf looked and saw that it was the three heads of the Conclave here. Sitting they're awaiting for her apparently. Par-Salian head of the white robes and the Conclave, Ladonna head of the black robes, and Justerius head of the red robes. What were they doing here? One thought of Leaf's was oh crap she's in more trouble then before.
"Sorry we can't have more fun I'll be waiting outside to take you back up," the young man left her all alone with these three powerful mages.
"But wait don't leave me," she protested grabbing his wrist before he could close the door completely, "Please don't."
Looking at her he couldn't help but smile, "Leaf its alright I'll be waiting out here they need to talk to you in private. Its okay don't worry, trust me I know what I'm talking about."
She felt weird that she had shown so much weakness to this man but for some odd reason he reminded her of someone that she had known as a child. How did he know her name for one? Why was it that she felt so at ease holding onto his wrist? Letting go she felt a little depressed when he closed the door and she was left all alone with the heads of the three orders of magic.
Turning around she was a little amazed that Par-Salian was actually smiling at her. She thought he was mad at her, or was it the young man he was mad at?
"Come sit down you must be exhausted from falling down here," Par-Salian said gesturing to take the seat in front of them, "Did you have a enjoyable trip down here?"
"Yeah falling from a tower has always been a dream of mine," Leaf replied angrily quickly remembering who she was talking to, "Sir." She added lamely.
"Yes well it was really the only way we could get you down here without causing such a ruckus or disturbance," Par-Salian explained with the patience of talking to a student, "I'm sure you are wondering what you are doing here." He watched as she nodded her head and continued talking, "Now how to explain this to you so that you won't yell. Any ideas?" he turned to his colleagues and was now whispering fervently between them.
Leaf sat there watching them whisper unable to distinguish what they were saying. She wished that young man were with her she felt as though these wizards would barbecue her rather then helps her. Sighing she tried to calm her racing heart and tried to remember any sort of knowledge that would help her in this situation. If they tried anything funny that might cause her more trouble then she needed she would defend herself. Not exactly sure how she would do that without knowing how to use her power and all. She was still learning about it even with the vast amounts of knowledge in her brain.
"You are like Iatric a exiled cohort," Ladonna stated with a little disgust in her voice.
"Look I know that you all probably think I should have gone with my mother and the others but," Leaf was shaking with suppressed rage ever since Cleo's death, "there are people here who need help. All you three have done is teach Raistlin how to use his magic to the worst of his abilities. I wonder if any of you have ever faced Raistlin chained to a wall having unspeakable torture done to you. None of you have, so I'd watch the tones you take with me."
"Ladonna meant nothing by it," Justerius said smiling at her, "She's just impatient to leave here. Now to the subject past your origins about your defeat. We know how frustrated you feel at having been defeated but you were not defeated by your opponent."
"You sure about that?" Leaf asked sarcastically, "You want to see the impression of his boot on my ass?"
Par-Salian laughed and shook his head, "That will not be necessary. Leaf you are well trained even if you don't think so. Your memories of your home with your parents as a child is coming back aren't they? Fond memories I believe, but what Justerius is saying is that your brute strength didn't work. That you have to be sly to get the others out."
"Yeah easier said then done," Leaf stated, "You probably already know this but I have to fight Raven tomorrow or whenever they're coming for me."
"That is why you must learn more about the knowledge in you," Ladonna whispered, "The gods entrusted you with a great deal of knowledge more then any other cohort before you."
"So use the vast amounts of knowledge," Leaf whispered thoughtfully.
She had been wondering what the use of the knowledge would be. Maybe this was it. After all it would make sense why she could use it to save herself and others. Especially the others, she was going to keep her promise to them.
"Yes your knowledge within you is much more valuable then all the strength of the world," Par-Salian stated smiling at her, "After all you have to crafty when dealing with Raistlin Majere."
"Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?" Leaf asked looking to each of them.
"When all this is over with you have a choice to make," Ladonna stated waving her hand a scroll of parchment materialized out of the air and went to Leaf.
"The scroll will tell you what your choices are and explain what happens," Justerius whispered averting his gaze away from Leafs.
"Now it is time for you to be going back to your room," Par-Salian stated no longer smiling at her, "Iatric come in now."
The young man who had brought her came in and smiling down at Leaf extended his left hand to her. Taking it she was led out of the tiny shack.
"One more thing Leaf," Par-Salian stated before they even had their feet out of the shack, "Your decision decides Iatric's fate as well as your own."
"What?" Iatric shouted surprised as he watched Par-Salian, "Then why did I even bother to make the choice if its up to her in the first place?"
"You had to," Justerius snapped waving his hand forcing them out of the tiny shack.
Leaf looked to the shack and saw it disappeared. Looking to Iatric she felt extremely bad that she had so much control over him now. She didn't want that, everyone should be allowed to make his or her own choices. Iatric didn't even look at her as they went back up the same way it seemed. Jumping instead up. During the trip up Leaf took glances at Iatric and felt her heart sink. He was angry at her not the heads. He knew what decision she would make before she even knew what choices she had.
Up on the balcony Iatric went into her room and sat down on a chair. Sighing she decided to stay out here for just a little while longer. Maybe she would do the opposite of what Iatric thought. But it seemed he knew her more then she knew herself.
"Come on get in here!" Iatric shouted.
Startled she shuffled inside and looked at Iatric to see him glaring at her. She felt herself sink away from him. She was actually really afraid of him now. Sure she'd been scared cause he was so blunt and forward but now she was afraid he might hurt her.
"Open it already!" Iatric snapped.
Shaking a little she sat down and opened the scroll. It read:
Leaf you have two options after this ordeal of yours is over. Much has happened and as head of the Conclave I would like to apologize for all the harm Raistlin Majere has put you through. You should know that even though you are an exiled ancient cohort you have another choice that could lead you down a path of obedience or one of horror.
'Horror' wasn't she already in a world of horror? Leaf looked up at Iatric and waved his hand telling her to read on. Continuing on.
Your life as always was hard and tedious now though you may choose between two options.
Your first is to join our ranks of cohorts where I must say Iatric is. You will be trained with your power and your ability to fly. But you must answer to the heads of the conclave always. If you do not your life with us will be quite unpleasant. As I know that Iatric is with you look at his wrist.
Looking up at Iatric she saw that Iatric was holding his right hand up and there was a gross brand on it. Taking in a gasp she was surprised it took on the color of a white dragon. Shaking her head she looked back down at the scroll.
As you will see he had an impression of a white dragon on his right hand. The color white suggests that he is one of the ancient cohorts under my control; the white dragon is for the white god of magic Solinari. Each cohort is given a Test much like mages and then it is decided where he or she will go towards. This way you serve one god instead of all three.
Now your second option is one that no ancient cohort in all the history at the Tower of Wayreth has taken. That would be not only being hunted by as they put it "true ancient cohorts" but also the Conclave. Now if you were to take the first option I should state that too much the other cohorts serving all three gods wouldn't bother you. But protected enough that you could study in peace.
After your ordeal here at this monstrous tower is over you will have to make a choice. Good luck to you and take care.
Yours truly,
Par-Salian head of the white robes and the Conclave
So she was still requested to be a servant to one of the gods. She couldn't look at Iatric she knew he would be still glaring at her. Crying she let the scroll fall lifelessly from her hands. She didn't want this but she had no choice, she wasn't going to put Iatric through grief just cause of her. Sniffling she dried her face with the sleeves of her shirt and looked at Iatric. He wasn't glaring at her but had a soft sort of sad look in his eyes.
"I know what decision to make Iatric," Leaf forced a smile to come to her face, "I'll choose the first option. After all that way I won't be hunted as much by my own mother. I think that would be what she wanted."
She could remember the words of her mother's letter and felt a twinge of guilt at disobeying them. Leo was nudging her arm and she knew that her mother would never tell her to go to the Conclave. She couldn't be selfish there was another life in the hanging if she chooses differently. She looked down at Leo and began petting him.
Looking up to see Iatric's expression she was startled to see that he had disappeared. He must know that I'm lying to myself by going to the Conclave, that I'm only choosing the first option cause of him. Going to her bed she fell down on it and quickly fell asleep with Leo watching her continually.
Hours went by and Leo continued to watch his sleeping master. A shadow fell over Leaf and Leo turned to see Iatric there. Leo purred at him.
"Yeah I know Leo," Iatric whispered petting the little ferret looking intently at Leaf's still face, "Why would you make a choice so unlike you? Why would you put yourself through pain for someone else?"
Wondering in silence he closed his eyes and heard softly from Leaf, "Iatric…"
Now he was the one who felt bad as he cried silently beside Leaf's bedside. Pulling a chair up beside the bed he would watch over her till he could tell her to choose differently tomorrow.