Hannah placed her sword before Razul.
"You are resigning?"
"Retiring," Hannah corrected him.
The large captain of the guards, her superior looked at her inquisitivly more from shock than suspision, "Why?"
"I have been granted my freedom of wardship, and I wish to travel, sir,"
"The deserts are treatcherous and there are many enemies out there to anyone from Agrabah."
"I was trained by you; I will be fine," she grinned, knowing that reminding him of how 'good' of a teacher he was would draw a chuckle.
"Yes well, I may be the best of Agrabah, but there are many dangers out there; you met one of the worst, but there is still more"
And yet, that is where I am going, she thought but didn't say.
"Consider staying,"
"Don't worry Razul, I will come and go. Agrabah is home for me, but I want to see more before the end. That much I learned from this little excursion."
Razul could see that he was not going to be the victor of Hannah's debates, and he nodded.
"Very well-but you will have to come and visit Radu and I when you do drop in. Take whatever provisions you need free of charge. A parting gift."
Mozenrath was a buzz, his lab provided everything it seemed to take anything he wanted, but the sudden prospect of just having the world at his fingertips rather than something he had to work for made the prize not so juicy. It had been nearly a month since he had sent the cheap invitation to his former captive for the apprenticeship, and he was certain she would refuse in thinking that it would be a trap.
He pulled a book from the shelf thumbed through it seeking something to occupy his time, to find an old spell that he had once made a mistake on.
The Philosopher's Stone.
His brow furrowed as he checked the cover to make sure there wasn't a mistake. This wasn't the Book of Khartoum. He didn't want another catastrophe. Xerxes hovered beside him.
"Try again master?"
Mozenrath shrugged reading the instructions for this stone, and noticing the difference in ingredients and process. "I think so, this calls for more than the other stone did. Plus I don't need a genie to combine the ingredients."
"Then what?"
Mozenrath shot him one of those looks that screamed, 'What do you mean "then what"?', and answered, "Test it,"
"Limited warrenty?" Xerxes questioned recalling the last time they tried to create one.
"No," He set the open book on his desk and began pulling various ingredients properly labled from the shelves, and setting them beside the book, when an odd sound reached his ears.
The magic sensors outside buzzed with a low hum.
He raised his brows with interest. What being had entered his city uninvited? He looked to Xerxes.
"If anyone enters here that's not me, sound the alarms."
Xerxes nodded as his master vanished.
"Savage,"
Hannah paused, seeing the dark lord appear just out of the corner of her eye.
"Mad man,"
"I wondered if you would actually get the message, but I didn't think you would trip the crystals."
"Seems to happen when there is unfinished buisness,"
She could see him smirk in the evening light, "Anyone know this is where you were headed?"
"No,"
"Good, then I take it that you have accepted my invitation?"
"To be your apprentice?"
He nodded.
"Aren't apprentices a bit younger?"
"Usually," he answered, "But I think in your case, I have to make an exception."
Hannah grinned, "Then I agree,"
"Splendid."
"On one condition,"
She could see Mozenrath's expression freeze waiting for her to spill what condition she had.
"Yes?"
"I would prefer to be called 'Hannah', and not 'Savage'."
"Only if I get to be myself, and not 'Mad Man'."
She laughed, "Deal,"
"Well I am glad we got that square," he answered taking her arm to escort her back to the Citadel.
"Where do we start?"
"With the Philosopher's Stone,"
"And then?"
"The world,"