Thank you all for still responding to me. I feed on that like a lich on human life... err... maybe not the best example... err...

Guan: LOL. We all rather pity poor Dalamar since he gets degraded/ promoted from "apprentice" to "kendersitter"... Tough job!

chickens: Here it goes...

Kinryuu: I think I'll have a plausible explanation for my planned romance at least I hope so.

Dally: Thanks as always. ;)

Freesnow: ROFL. Not quite the same, that would be boring. But Tika and a slap in somebody's face will have something to do with it. BTW: regarding style and spelling I depend heavily on Dally's help, I think the story has become much better since the good gods of writing sent me this Beta-reader.

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Part 9 - In the Eye of the Beholder

"I'm coming! I'm ready now!"

Nima jumped down the last stairs of a long stairway and nearly into the arms of Dalamar who awaited her on the first floor of the tower of high sorcery. He looked questioningly at the large bag Nima carried over her shoulder.
"Just some useful things for the trip", she explained.

Right after breakfast she had gone on a hasty tour through the mage's personal rooms, the kitchen and the library. Some things had fallen into her bag just by chance. Several potions had made their way into Nima's possession this way. They had funny Names written on them. One was called "Veritas", "Potence" another. Nima had no idea what that ment, but surely it was absolutely necessary to accomplish their mission. Just by chance had sweet smelling herbs and two nicely sparkling jewels practically jumped into her baggage. Accompanied by some other stuff, clothes most of them. Dalamar looked intrigued.

"Did you remember anything?" he asked her expectantly.

Nima shook her had. First confused than slightly abashed.

"No, I just thought they might be useful. And their mine after all."

Dalamar didn't answer anything. He preferred to ignore comments like these.

"Well... Shalafi... maybe you will find this useful, too."

Only then Nima realized that he held something in his hand. It was a long staff, like the one from her dream. No, not like. It WAS the one from her dream! That had to be Raistlin's mage staff.

"I took this from the laboratory. I was sure you would not want to go without it." His voice was sweet and friendly as he handed the staff over to her. But his all to friendly smile was accompanied by a sly glance. Slowly she took it.

Dalamar waited anxiously for the moment his Shalafi touched the object. The idea had come to him during the night to use the staff of Magius as one final test of Raistlin's identity. The staff was secured with different offensive spells who were simply triggered by the touch of a stranger. Raistlin had made sure that there were only very few people in this world who were able to carry the artifact and stay unharmed. If this man was a trickster disguised as his master, the staff of Magius could probably see a difference where he, Dalamar, had seen none. Then, the hand of his "Shalafi" closed around it...

The dark elf waited for a reaction to come but nothing happened. Raistlin just weighed the staff in his hand and thanked him. Dalamar was not sure if he had to feel relieved or even more concerned.

Nima on the other hand was excited. This was a mage's staff. A true mage's staff! A real artifact! She had never been so near her fantasy of being a mage as in this moment. She new, this thing could make light. She had seen this in her dream. Stop! How had she dreamt about this? Since when were her dreams able to foretell the future? She hadn't known that this staff existed and nevertheless she had seen it ignite tonight. Maybe this was just coincidence. Maybe all mage's staffs looked like this. Ah, surely this was nothing to worry about. 'Nima', she teased herself, 'you've started to think like a biggie. You worry to much.'

She shrugged, took the staff and thanked Dalamar absently. He bowed slightly. Together they crossed the entrance hall and had nearly reached the door, as something occurred to Nima. Maybe she could try something.

"Shirak." she said and watched the staff expectantly.

In an instant, the orb beamed and bathed the hall in a silver light.
Nima stared at the orb, delighted, under the eyes of an astonished Dalamar.

"Shalafi? Did you just remember something?"

"I think so." she murmured not really paying attention to Dalamar's question.

She had done magic!!! She, Nima Teketoll, had done magic!!! Real magic! What an experience!!!

Dalamar was likewise happy but not for the same reason. It worked. His theory worked! When even the staff of Magius had accepted the mage, he had to be his Shalafi. And by being confronted with something so dear to him as this artifact, Raistlin's memory had returned. At least some part that was connected with the staff. He had remembered the right command. That was a first step into the right direction.

Dalamar and Nima exchanged a grin.

"And now, lets go!" Nima exclaimed while Dalamar opened the front door. "Onward to... hey, where does my brother live?"

They had just made some steps out of the door when Dalamar suddenly tensed and stopped dead in his tracks. Nima was still engaged with her new staff. She didn't see the elf halting and bumped against him.

"What?"

He pointed up in the air. Their "home" was surrounded by some trees which formed a little groove. The elf pointed right on top of them. Something moved in there. Something that looked like a ball with eyes. It glided right over the treetops and then hid between them.

"What was that?" Nima said. "That was not a bird. It looked strange."

"No." he responded gravely. "It was not a bird. It was something worse. Much worse. It was a beholder."

"A beholder? What's a beholder?"

Dalamar sighed. Could that really be, that he had to explain his master what a beholder was? Shouldn't it be the other way round?

"A beholder is a creature that can be summoned by mages. They are ideal as spies and guardians due to their outstanding ability to see everything in reach."

"Oh."

"Somebody tries to observe us, probably. We have to be careful."

"Oh... Let me guess, I have no friends but dozens of enemies in return?"
"Well, some."

"Oh."

Dalamar saw his Shalafi biting his lip. Suddenly Raistlins features brightened.

"Maybe it was just here by chance. Maybe it was just looking for its master. You know, like a dog."

Dalamar was at a loss of words.

'Oh, Nuitari, if this is a test of my loyalty and my nerves then please, what what am I supposed to do?'

Since his master was not able or willing to take the matter seriously, it seemed that it lay in his hands alone to guide his Shalafi safely to his brother's home. He could only be careful and hope that Raistlin regained his memory as fast as possible.

They were halfway through the groove, when Nima looked back to the tower. It was really dark and even seemed to imbibe the sunlight.

"Dalamar are you sure, we didn't forget anything?" Nima teased the elf, just for the fun of confusing him.

"Yes." he said slowly.

"Did you turn out the stove?"

"Yes."

"Did you extinguish all the candles?"
"Yes."
"Did you feed the undead in the cellar?"

"They don't have to be fed."

Nima's laughter died in her throat. Dalamar looked absolutely serious.

"We... we have undead in the cellar?!? This was a joke, wasn't it?!"
Dalamar answered nothing but went on, an intriguing little smile in the corner of his mouth. Nima followed him with consternation. At least she hoped he had been joking.

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So, next time we leave these two alone and finally it will be revealed what happened to Raistlin....