"That's huge!"

Hilde stared up at the cliff face that towered overhead. Beside her, Duo grinned. "Yeah, they say that the gods made this in the time that they walked on the earth. The legends state that there's a temple on the summit, a sacred place where no weapon can prevail."

"Is that why we came here?" Hilde turned her gaze to the Shade by her side. He nodded, frowning a little now. "Yeah. There's also one legend that states that the gods left a sword here. It wasn't easy to find, buried under many, many layers of history in the capitol, but there is a sword here that can divide even a god from his power, if he abuses it."

"So how do we get up there?" Hilde noted that the frown on Duo's face deepened at her question.

"That's the hard part. We'll have to climb."

He didn't looked thrilled at the prospect and only shrugged as Hilde continued looking at him questioningly. Finally he gave up. "All right already! We can't earthwalk together up the side and I'm not even sure that it would work for me to do it by myself. The elders said that only those who could climb up there or fly could enter, so I think that we have to climb."

"Are you sure that you don't want to at least try earthwalking before you say that?"

Duo blinked. "Didn't you just hear me? I said we couldn't do it together."

His answer was an exasperated sigh and a slender finger poking him in the middle of his chest. "I know that silly. But I know that it won't hurt for me to wait down here for you to come back. If you hurry, it won't take very long. You might even make it in a day." Hilde smiled softly at his concerned look. "I appreciate that you want to take me with you, but you were already looking for this place long before you found me. I think that you ought to at least try before you commit us to the possibility of breaking our necks."

There was a long pause before Duo finally nodded. "All right. I'll try it."

He walked over to the cliff face, took a deep breath, and vanished into the ground. Hilde sighed quietly and walked over to the cliff face. "Hurry back, Duo."

-

The cottage outside of the city was a humble dwelling for one that served the Seer, but Dorothy had been here many times before on her volition and thought nothing of its appearance. It was here in fact, that she had learned the news that troubled her enough to take it before her liege-lord. They had been discussing an ancient text when she arrived, and the prophetess had only shook her head when Dorothy had inquired. "The one who now takes the place of the Master of Light shall cause these words to be fulfilled. The lord of this land shall fail in his schemes and shall be destroyed. This I have seen."

Now she was returning, because she needed to know the location of the man who would be the Master. Despite her considerable powers, Dorothy had found that she could not scry with any degree of accuracy from one day to the next. And without knowing precisely who she needed to find, she feared to try her hand. The prophetess knew, that much was certain. She only told of things that she had seen.

Dorothy raised her hand and knocked upon the door.

The serving girl opened it as normal and welcomed her inside with a smile and a nod. "Lady Dorothy! What brings you here today of all days? Were you not here earlier this week to speak with the prophetess?"

Dorothy nodded absently as she looked around for woman that she sought. "I was, but I had need to return. Hana, where is your mistress?"

"I am sorry my lady, but my mistress received summons yesterday to an unknown location. I do not know where she was going, nor the time of her return." Hana looked regretful as she parted with the information. "It was very sudden."

"Do you know who brought her the message?"

Hana laughed softly as she shook her head. "She received summons; no one brought her a message."

"For all that is sacred! At a time like this..." Dorothy allowed her voice to trail off as she understood the meaning behind the servant girl's words. "Of course, duties to the Seer. And just when I needed her help, too. Very well, there are other mages who might be able to help me. I shouldn't have brought court problems here anyway." Nodding stiffly to the girl, Dorothy turned and made her way outside. Halfway in stride back towards the palace, she had to halt to reply to the girl's question.

"Did you wish me to send word when my mistress returns?"

"Yes, that would be welcome." Dorothy smiled tightly. "But do not trouble her with my coming here. I will find the answers I seek on my own."

Turning again, she vanished into the streets.

-

Duo's return was sudden; he emerged from the ground abruptly, startling Hilde from her cloud watching. She jumped to her feet with fire in hand, and then realized who had appeared in front of her. The flames vanished and she leaned weakly against the cliff face. "Wow Duo, that was quick. Don't startle me like that!"

"I was trying to hurry." A frown darkened the shade's face, and as Hilde watched, he walked over to the cliff face and punched it solidly. There was a solid smack as flesh met stone, and Duo came away shaking his hand. "Ow!"

Hilde's face was a mask of disbelief. "That's what happens when you try to knock out a giant wall of stone."

Duo grinned suddenly. "You noticed? Yeah, it usually does." He was silent for a moment, gazing up at the cliff face. "I tried walking inward for a while before trying to ascend. It seemed to be working, but when I came up, this is where I popped out of the earth. I never actually made it to the top. That's why it seemed so fast."

"It's like the mountain doesn't exist to my senses when I'm underground. I know that its here - I can see it and feel it. I can even use magic to manipulate it slightly." Duo focused on the rock face in front of him, and it turned into a miniature self portrait. "I know that it's rock, I should be able to walk through it, but I can't. And since legend conveniently has the gods making this mountain, maybe they sealed all the easy ways in."

"I guess we get to do this together after all."

Hilde nodded. "So how are we supposed to climb this? Are you going to use magic to create a ladder for us?"

Duo nodded. "That's what I've been considering."

"Um, Duo?"

He glanced over to where Hilde was looking at him meekly. "Yes?"

"You did know that I'm afraid of heights, right?"

He stared.

"Well not so much heights as what happens if you happen to fall." Hilde grinned impishly. "I'm kind of afraid of falling."

"If you fall, I'll catch you." Duo's voice was deadly serious. He winked at her, lightening the mood. "After all, it wouldn't be proper to allow the goddess who graces me with her presence to die while on my mission."

"You're just saying that." Hilde blushed lightly and ducked her head. "But I'm holding you to your promise. You'd better keep it."

"Oh, I will. I may run and hide, but I never lie." Duo thought for a moment. "Well, there is the joking around, but I never do that if its something very serious, like life."

He pressed a hand against the rock wall, and a series of projections appeared. "Shall we?"

-

Dorothy cursed herself silently for foolish expectations as she wended her way through the city streets. Foolish, hopeful expectations. From the first, Catherine had made it clear that she was a servant of the Seer; but it had been so long ago that Dorothy herself had almost forgotten it. Though she had made it a habit of visiting, they were still only good acquaintances and not friends. 'Of course she had to go; it's not like she knew that I was coming. Even if she is a prophetess, she still can't see everything that will happen.'

Her pace slowed as she neared the palace grounds. Trying to scry on her own would be an exercise in futility, but she would try it as a last resort if no one else could help her. Dorothy eyed the gardens with a critical eye as she passed, more from habit than from any care as to their beauty or condition. Curiously, two men walked there; one ancient and the other a mere boy in comparison. They were companions of some visiting nobility, servants likely. Dorothy shook her head vehemently and continued on her way. It didn't really matter.

Her path took her straight to the royal library. Housed within its walls were both sages and mages aplenty, as the royal line made use of both for many of the mundane tasks around the city. Vast knowledge was stored here, and Dorothy knew a few of the staff from previous visits. They would aid her, if not by her request, than certainly upon a royal one.

As her cousin was fond of saying, "All roses have thorns."

It was known to all in the city that to defy an order of the Crimson Rose was to court damnation. Refusing a royal request was only slightly less frowned upon, usually resulting in loss of favor. Dorothy hoped that it would not come down to her needing to use her cousin's name, even if her need came from his command. It would go easier if it was someone that she knew, though to what result she could not be certain.

It came as something of a relief then, when she noted one of her former tutors immediately upon entering the library. The man was deeply engrossed in an older tome, but looked up as the noble daughter approached. "Greetings, Lady Dorothy. How may I serve you today?"

"Sageras." Dorothy nodded to acknowledge the man's greeting. "It is necessary for me to find a person who goes by the title 'Master of Light'. What can you tell me?"

"And why might you be asking, young one?" Dorothy looked up to find the old man that she had seen in the gardens standing a mere two feet away. Though he leaned on his staff, it didn't appear that he needed it for locomotion.

"I am only doing as I have been instructed. Who are you that you address me so?"

"One who knows of many things from having lived a long time. Regarding the 'Master' that you seek, I know more than you do and can share it if you care to keep an old man company for a while."

"Sargeras?"

The sage looked thoughtful. "It would probably be the fastest way to find what you seek. This man is, as I understand it, a mage attached to the elven court. He has shown remarkable knowledge over his visits here the last few days."

Dorothy looked doubtful, but still nodded politely to the old man. "Very well. I suppose that I can accompany you for a time."

She had to stand somewhat hastily as the old man turned back towards the door. "Well child, you may call me Pagan. It is the only name that I have known for some time now. We'll walk in the gardens - it's better for conversation there. No offense to the learned scholars of this library, of course."

Sargeras waved off the comment. "No indeed, it was an honor to converse with you again."

Dorothy raised an eyebrow at that, but quietly followed the old mage out into the gardens. For a time they walked in silence, and just as she began to have second thoughts Pagan's voice stopped her. "Ah, this should be fine."

They had stopped in front of one of the many pools that dotted the area. Pagan seated himself upon the stone bench, warm from the sun and still in the view of that celestial body. He patted the area beside himself. "Come child, have a seat. We have much to speak of I think, you and I. Yes indeed, many things."

-

End Chapter

-

AN: A certain review set me thinking about a lot of stuff related to the story. There were some items that I had vaguely set up with regards to Abiara - the land that the Dukes hail from. Needless to say, I've been spending some considerable time actually writing portions regarding Dekim and his posse, plus their country. It'll probably come out sometime later in the story, but certainly needed looking after. Also, Dorothy needed her tale filled in more, so I've done some writing on her portion of the story.

And of course Duo and Hilde. They have my thanks for being so cute to write.

As a side note, for all of you who pay attention to such details... Duo says, "Legend says that there's a temple where no weapon can prevail." Wufei says, "No weapon was ever forged here, for it was forbidden by the gods." Why is that? Well, legends have a way of changing from place to place. Central ideas stay the same, while details change. They're probably both right. So don't worry about it too much - I did write it that way on pupose.

After all, Duo's people have been gone for a long, long time. Well, that's all for now.

See you next time.