Chapter Nine

Obito looked over as the door to his cell opened, what little joy he felt seeing his mother was quickly lost as the Grand Magister followed her inside. He made no attempt to get up from the cot he was sitting on. Amaya Ravenwind hurried over to his side and kneeling took one of his hands in hers.

"I've been trying to get you released, my son … however …"

"However, you've already proved you can't be trusted to stay in Silvermoon, so you'll remain here." The Grand Magus said.

"Please Master Rommath, there has to be another way. What if word got out that my son was here, do you know what that would do to my status?"

Obito pulled his hand away from his mother and shot her an infuriated look. Of course she'd only be worried about herself.

"Calm yourself, Amaya. My men can be trusted to keep their silence … unlike others." Rommath glanced over at Obito.

The hunter moved his hand up to the glyphs that had been drawn on his neck and chest. His mother followed the movement and sighed. "Was it really necessary to rob him of his voice and mental whispers? It's no better than the orcs of Blackrock! With all due respect, my old teacher … what the hell is going on?"

"Events are in motion at the moment that could very well transform our very lives and of all Quel'Thalas. You'll have to forgive me but that is all I can say. As for his voice, once he learns how to hold his tongue I'll have the spell-lock removed. Though if he's anything like his father was, we might be waiting awhile."

His mother's face looked torn for the briefest of moments and then became composed. "As you wish, Master Rommath," she said. She turned back to Obito and ran a hand gently up his cheek and through his hair. "When you get out of here we'll have a priest speed up the growth on your hair to get it long again." Her touch moved to the cold metal around his neck. "I thought you were going to remove this thing?"

"Ah yes, I forgot … forgive me," Rommath was silent a moment. "I called for a rogue they'll be here soon to see what they can do with the lock." The Magus's gaze fell onto Obito. "And young Ravenwind please try not to look so incensed. Your lodgings are more the adequate … a soft bed to sleep on, a washroom, a collection of books to help pass the time."

Obito looked over at the door. "A prison wrapped in velvet is still a prison," he thought to himself.

His mother bent down and kissed his cheek. "I need to go, I have students to instruct. Please, please behave yourself Obito."

Obito sighed and glanced over as a third elf entered the cell.

"Ah Zelanis," Rommath said greeting the rogue teacher. "Sorry to pull you away from your apprentices, hopefully this won't take long. I need you to remove, Young Ravenwind's … necklace."

"No worries, though this is the second time I've been called on to remove such jewelry from you, Ravenwind. You really should stop this disturbing trend." The short blonde haired rogue motioned for Obito to stand and took out his tools of trade, small thin wires. Soft leather gloves tickled his neck as the master thief worked on the lock of his manacle. He gasped as the metal started to tighten.

"Damn it," Zelanis said. "It seems I've triggered some sort of trap it's constricting … stop struggling!"

Obito clawed at the steel that was cutting into his flesh, knocking the rogue's hands away. Abruptly his arms were pinned to his sides as a strong arm wrapped around him from behind. His head was tilted to the side by the other giving the rogue access to the lock once again. Obito's mother screamed his name, his world started going dim as his breath was stolen from him.

"Zelanis!" Rommath growled in his ear from where he held Obito fast.

"I'm trying … damn it … Amaya fetch a priest!" The rogue master said. After his mother had fled the cell to do as he commanded he said in a softer voice. "I'm sorry; the trap released some sort of acid destroying the locking mechanism there isn't anything I can do now."

"Like hell," Rommath said laying Obito down on the cot. "Forgive me, Tyilo," he whispered as his hands erupted in flames and wrapped around the manacle. If Obito had the breath to scream he would of as the metal scaled flesh, he arched his back, clawing at the sheet beneath him. His body was held down securely by the rogue master. "Zelanis dull his pain!"

The rogue's dagger cut into the flesh on his arm and the next moment the paralyzing poison on his blade had the desire effect. Suddenly the metal around his neck went from blistering to frigid, the drastic temperature change repeated itself twice more and then there was a loud crack. Rommath grunted as he snapped the metal in half, he held up the now shattered irons just as his mother returned with Priestess Belestra in tow.

"Get out now!" The Priestess demanded as she placed her hands on Obito's crushed and burnt throat. As her healing magic started repair the damage done, she placed her mouth on his and blew into it, trying to force air into his oxygen starved body.

Obito responded by choking, she pulled back as blood and saliva escaped from his lips. He felt like he was drowning and silently pleaded with the priestess to help. She turned him on his side as he continued to cough, the white sheets he was one became stained with blood as he tried his best to clear his airway. Finally after what felt like an eternity he took a ragged breath as his windpipe was reopened. Once he could breathe again he was rolled onto his back as her magic continued to heal.

In his semi-conscious state he sensed the return of the Grand Magus. "I told you to leave," Belestra said.

"The child is my responsibility, I promised his father I would watch over him. How is he?"

"Well, his trachea was crushed by the manacle, I've reopened it. His skin was burnt by your hand; I've repaired that damage as well. The poison Zelanis had used was easily flushed from his system. I need you to remove your spell-lock so he can speak; his vocal cords were injured as well. I need to see if they healed correctly."

Rommath reached over Belestra shoulder and placed a hand on the glyphs on Obito's chest. "Choose your words carefully," he warned him mentally. His skin grew warm and the mage pulled back his hand. "He can speak now."

Obito whispered, "Go to hell."

"I need a few more words then that, Ravenwind." She scolded.

Obito closed his eyes and said, "Here stands the shrine of Dath'Remar, a fitting tribute to a noble elf. Let all who gaze on this monument remember his sacrifice against the scourge and his dedication to the cause of our continued survival. All who prosper in Quel'Thalas do so thanks to him." The words were the inscription from the placard of the Shrine of Dath'Remar, something all young Sin'dorei had to memorize back in the academy.

"Obito, tell me what happened in the Outlands," his mother's voice whispered in his head.

"Rater Grimshade happened … find him, Mother and you'll find …" His thoughts were lost to him as a hand touched his chest. He shoved the arm of the magus away roughly scowling, at the same moment erupting into a coughing fit.

"His voice sounds fine to me," Rommath said.

"Damn it, Young Ravenwind quiet down … please you're not completely healed yet." The priestess admonished.

The Grand Magus started chanting softly and Obito felt slumber pulling at him, it was a sleep spell. He swore silently as blackness overtook him.