Information of a Magical Kind

Snape looked up. "Indeed. There was one symbol that was often repeated. It was on all four legs of the ritual alter as well as done large on the top of the alter." With this Snape raised his wand over the table and nearly whispered an incantation. Slowly, over the center of the table appeared a purple sun with what would have been an open center if not for the jaw-boneless skull grinning inside of it. Nearly everyone looked at it curiously. Only two gave any signs of recognition making know to the others that they knew what it meant.

Brawn gasped while Ara swore. Not a good sign to the rest at the table.

Ayana had been in hard core training since Harry had gone through with his Mage spelled Archway. That had only been a week ago and she was already missing him. They had become close friends in the five months since they had first met. She was quite curious about the spell he had done to create the Archway. The two of them had never really talked about Harry's pet project; or rather Harry never wanted to talk about it. All she really knew was that it was very difficult magic to do and that it was to save his Godfather.

She had talked to Storm a bit after the spell had been done, while they were working on her training. It was interesting for Ayana to note that a lot of the magic Harry knew was completely different that that of the Mages of Faerûn, though he was now learning how to do that as well. She continued to think about this as she was chopping wood for the cook stove.

"Hey Storm," Ayana called out as she took a break and joined the older woman sitting against a tree at the edge of the clearing they were in. Storm looked up and smiled, Ayana continued with her question. "You said that Harry can do both his peoples type of magic as well as ours, right? What is the difference really and why is it that he can do it while others can't?"

Storm looked at her apprentice. "Ayana what do you know about Harry? I mean besides the fact that he is not from here. Do you know where he is from?"

Ayana looked thoughtful. "I don't think he ever said where he was from. I mean I know a few things about his people but not about where they are. Like that they use wands differently than Mages here, they also call their magic users Wizards or Witches depending on gender. I have seen his Owl often enough and know he gets messages through her. I also know about Harry's Godfather being in danger where he was but unable to get out, therefore Harry worked on that Archway. That's about it I guess. I mean I know other little things that he's told me but those are more personal and not really having to do with magic or where he comes from."

Storm regarded the younger woman thoughtfully. "That is quite a lot. I hope that means you two are becoming good friends. Lets see here. Harry comes from a very distant place. So far that you can not find it by traveling through normal means. Only magic can get you there." Storm began.

"But," Ayana interrupted, "how can that be?"

"Harry comes from a different dimension. This is why his people do magic in different way than we do. It is also why Mages in our dimension can not do his type of magic." Storm continued.

"Ok I understand that I think. But why can Harry do magic from our dimension while Mages here cannot do magic from his? Is it because of the fact that he is actually here in this dimension?"

"Being in our dimension has nothing to do with it actually. Let me ask you another question. What kind of Mages are Elminster, Sylûne, Lord Blackstaff, The Simbul, even myself though I don't do much magic?" Storm asked.

Ayana looked thoughtful. She knew three of those stated. Heck she lived with three of them. The other two, Kelbin Blackstaff, Lady Simbul, she knew those names. Everyone knew those names. Two rulers of great city's, but what did they all have in common. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. "Your all Chosen of Lady Mystra."

Storm gave her apprentice a grand smile. "We are indeed. This means that we are connected to the Lady Magic and her Weave. This Weave permeates throughout all dimensions. The interesting thing is that all beings tend to develop their connection to the Weave differently. Chosen have the ability to connect to the Weave in all ways and so can do all different 'types' of magic. Do you understand?"

"Um, yea I think." Ayana said with a look of concentration on her face as she worked through what she had just been told.

Storm laughed lightly. "Think about it for a while. In the mean time I'm headed up to the Hill Top to see how things are going."

Ayana watched as Storm disappeared around her cottage where they were currently staying. With only a moment's hesitation she too jumped up and followed her mentor around the cottage and down the walkway toward the road.

The two had been at Storm's cottage since Harry had left through the archway. It was a lovely place Ayana thought, set about a quarter mile outside of main Shadowdale; a fifteen minute walk from Elminster's tower. It was set back off the road, nestled into the trees. Behind the small cottage was an open area that was used for practice. There was also a chopping block with a stack of fire wood next to it and further into the woods slightly visible from the cottage was a good sized stream that connected to a hidden deep water pond good for bathing and swimming.

As Ayana sat thinking about where she had been staying recently Storm got further away. Realizing this Ayana jumped up and ran after her. Reaching the road she turned slightly toward the town, ran across the road and caught up to her mentor. They were only about 10 minutes from Hill Top, where Elminster and Sylûne were currently staying till Harry returned.

Finally catching up to Storm at the base of the hill, the two began walking up towards the camp and archway. On their way they ran across a young man coming down.

"Tallis, what are you doing here?" Storm asked him. The young man was an apprentice under his father in the local blacksmith shop. His father was also a good had at the sword though in the few practices Ayana had gotten Tallis to agree to she had found that he preferred a two sword type of style. He would use a short dirk in his left hand while he used a long sword in his right. He was also a fair had at throwing daggers.

Tallis was a tall young man reaching about 5'9" and had darkly tanned skin. His hair was an average length and shocking color of orangeish-red. Ayana, Harry and Tallis had become friends when they first met in the town while Harry and Ayana were running their laps each day. It soon got to be were Ayana and Harry were invited over for dinners or the three of them would met up at the tavern in town for an evening. They also would work on the weekends on their fighting skills. It was here that Ayana really got into dagger fighting. She now carried on her at least 5 daggers placed about her person along with her normal sword.

Looking over at his friend and her mentor Tallis replied. "I've finally finished my apprenticeship to my father. I wanted to tell Harry but since he's still gone I guess I'll have to wait yet."

Storm and Ayana both smiled. "That's great Tallis!" Ayana crowed. She was very happy for him. Although he liked blacksmithing, he had told her once that he wanted to get out of Shadowdale and do a little adventuring. He didn't want to do blacksmithing till he was ready to settle down. And now was most definitely not the time.

"Thanks." Tallis said to Ayana with his own smile. "With my apprenticeship done so is the weapons training. My Father said that he has taught me all he could. I'd have to go get experience to become better. Learn under different people. He never really did that, so can only teach me so much. Sparing with you and Harry has really helped me out and I'd like to do more."

Ayana thought about that for a moment. "Yea I understand what you mean. I think my apprenticeship will be done with here too soon enough. I was thinking about getting together an adventuring band. I heard there were great duelers up in Silverymoon and also in Waterdeep. People who have started Dual Arenas places where we could try our hand at people with different styles. I don't know when I'll be able to start that though."

"Wow. That sounds great. You can count me as your first member. I'm sure Harry would love to go also when he is sent off for experience by his mentor. Least that is what Lady Sylune said Lord Elminster usually does with his apprentices. We just have to wait till you and he are both ready for the adventure and are released by your mentors." With that both Tallis and Ayana looked over to where Storm had been, only to find she was no longer there. Apparently she had left the two while they were talking to meet up with Elminster and Sylune up at the archway.

"Well Tallis, it was great talking to you. Congratulations on your finishing. I'll have to talk to you later. I need to get up there." Tallis smiled again as did Ayana. With a final farewell the two each set off in separate directions.

Ayana ran to catch up with Storm at the top of the hill. Their the she sat and listened while the others chatted about this and that. These conversations were always a bit boring without Harry here. But they did every once and a while have interesting tid-bits. And while she was allowed to listen in she would do so just for those.

The rest of the month went by slowly for Ayana. She strived to stay busy by working hard on her fighting skills. According to Storm she would soon be set off on her own for experience if she kept up the way she had been. Who knows maybe she and Tallis could make that traveling group with in the next few months. Ayana only hoped that Harry would be able to join in with them. If he made it back safe that was.

AN/ Well I'm sorry that it has taken me so long. This really isn't a very long chapter. Sorry. I've been having some troubles on how to get this in and continue on to the next month where Harry has already returned. I don't like this chapter too much but it needed to be done. So here it is. I'll try to get the next one to be better.

DragonFoxx