Disclaimer: I don't own.

:}

"Azurban." The ancient mystic said. "You have a deal with him, to watch your frontier, in return for some tribute."

"We don't even know that name." Tori said, keeping to her man voice. "And we have other allies watching our Southern boarder."

"We have a deal with Clan Azur to watch our Southern border. We send them twenty head of cattle each year." Beck explained. "But they're a clan of barbarians who've taken up residency on our distant Southern boarder. My uncle and cousin Trina, they've met several members of the clan, most notably a wandering bard who goes by the name of Andre Harris."

"Andre is the servant of the dragon." Aliester pointed out. "Dragons can hardly do business with most races, not directly, so they send servants, agents, out into the world. And yes, I do believe my spies have told me that Andre is a mistral. Probably came into the service of the dragon a while ago, cause dragons can build a great deal of wealth, should they choose to. Many a scholar consults with distant sources, whom they pay well, while never realizing that those sources are dragons. Ancient beasts tend to pick up a great deal of lore."

Kraven, who hadn't yet left, had endured enough. "So your sending them on a quest to find a dragon?" He scoffed. "Just like a wizard, no help at all. Still, your money spends just fine, so I'll be talking to you, in the morning, about what you're looking for."

"We have two years before I'm ready to look for another apprentice." Aliester stated. "But if you wish, in the morning, we'll talk about what I do need. And yes, we will talk about how I've been using the local mountain men to get supplies as well. I've no patience for dealing with a monopoly. Now go, and we'll discuss what roll Ryder here will play in the events that will soon happen, and why you'll gladly let him."

The merchant stormed out of the room, trailed by old Bert. A short silence fell over the assembled. "Now then..." The wizard started.

"Jade…?" Ryder said, his voice hesitant. The wizard gave his apprentice a quick nod, letting her know it was okay to speak.

"Ryder? Is that you?" Jade asked, hurt and wonder mixing together at the elder brother who'd tried, in vain, to protect her from their fathers indifference..

"Of course it is." Aliester snarked. "I just said his name. Your brother is now a knight, and almost a journeyman merchant. And on top of all that, he's going to be traveling with you, on this quest."

"And why is she going on this quest?" The knight asked, showing no fear of the mysterious mystic who sat upon the simple throne at the head of the room.

"They need a wizard, so I'm sending a sorceress." The old mage said, as if it was obvious. "She still has some training to finish, but I've made arrangements for that, too. She should be strong enough. That is, I hope she'll be."

Jade wanted to run to her brother, and hug him, then hit him, then maybe hug him again. 'Ryder, you came for me...' Her mind reeled, unable to believe, after eight years, he was really there for her.

"Now, I've pretty much spelled out whats going to happen. If I face this creature, I'll probably fail, because it's been constructed fairly resistant to most spells. I'd need a huge amount of magic to harm it. So better to send Jade, who has magic enough to help potentially hamper the automation, and send you to someone with both the strength to help, and a big reason to want the beast dead." The wizard said. "All that's left is to discuss my payment."

"Why pay, when all you did was send us on another quest?" Tori demanded.

"Because you always pay the middle man who sets up such arrangements." The old man said, smiling. "And you'll find my price oddly easy to stomach. I've noticed that Vic here is infatuated with my apprentice. I suggest you give them a chance, let them be friends, or more, depending on what the fates wish."

"Um..." Robbie, who'd remained quiet up until that moment, started to say something, but thought better of it.

"What is it, ranger?" The mage asked.

"You may not want that deal." He said, trying not to glance at either Tori or Jade.

"Why not?" Aliester asked. "The young lady is clearly infatuated by my apprentice, and I know what kind of girl I helped raise. I must admit, I made more then a few mistakes, let some people near who shouldn't have been allowed, so she has a bit too many emotional scars. However, Jade's a good soul, who's mastery of magic will grow, assuming she lives."

'He knows...' Beck thought. "I think you're mistaken..." He started.

"Forget it." Tori cut in. "Beck, everyone here knows. There must be a million ways a wizard could have found out. I mean, we really haven't told him that much, and he explained what our problem is, and how he believes we can deal with it. For all I know, he even knows how things will work out..."

"Haven't got a clue." The old magician said. "But hay, that's part of the fun of life. I'm sending the first really talented apprentice I've had, and that's in the hundred plus years I've been taking apprentices, and I'm sending her out on a quest where I hope she has the skills to survive. I may be sending her to her death, and if so, I'll mourn her. But the plan I've laid out, while flawed, will give you the best chances of success. So, go seek the dragon, and you'll find a way to win, hopefully. Also, Jade, I want you to send me everything you find on the beast. The one your hunting, not the dragon, though that would be helpful too. I want to know how this thing was created."

"And so I'm gonna be traveling with them, and something is gonna happen with me and that guy, er, girl?" Jade asked.

"Friendship, love, some kind of connection. I see it in the way your souls bond." The wizard said. "However, to know whats going to happen, you could really use the aid of a seer. Maybe, if you get to the city of the Holly Woods, you can look up a seer I've heard about, named Sikowitz. I've heard good things about him."

"So, you're sending me on a quest, without knowing whats going to happen to me, and them taking care of me is their payment?" Jade tried to clarify again.

"I know you'll grow from the journey, assuming you live." Aliester argued. "This is the best chance of growing you as a caster. And lets just agree that you and this lady will work out your payment, which will cover any severance pay I may have for you. Once you've had a few years, built up your power, discovered about yourself, and set up a home, you'll contact me and we'll talk. That's when I find out how much of this was real, and how much was my imagination."

"If you don't mind my asking, how did you know…?" Tori gestured down her body.

"Oh, I've been watching you since I first heard you were looking for a wizard." The old mage said. "It wasn't hard to get some background on you. And I must say, for such a frail looking girl, you're one hell of a warrior. Of course, not the fighter your sister is, but still, fierce enough. You'll help lead your clan one day. However, I've spoken enough about this. I suggest we retreat to the main house and dinner. Jade, I know we've exiled you to the tower, but for tonight, you may eat with the rest of us. Then, once they're ready, you'll be going with them."

A short while later, Jade sat with the others, sharing food and listening as they joked about things, trying to keep their spirits up. Every one of them, the members of the expedition, had been there, heard what the wizard had to say. There quest was far from over, and they had no guarantee of success. In fact, they had no idea if this witch he'd placed in the party was strong enough to help, or if her magics would even make a difference. They were holding on by a thread.

Aliester ate with his oldest servant, then retreated to bed. That left the others with time to talk, sitting in a warm hall, safe from the elements and the wild things that stalked the night. Kraven stayed long enough to find out what Ryder would tell him, then went to bed himself. Ryder hadn't told the man much new, just that Jade was his sister, something the merchant already knew, and she was going on this quest. But that left the brother time to approach his sister and find out something that bothered him.

"So, how've you been?" He asked.

"Sold of to unknown men, taken out into the wilderness, and threatened with all kinds of wrongs." Jade said.

"And you're Aliesters apprentice?" The knight added.

"Yep, just what every girl dreams of becoming." Jade said, her voice dead. "Why didn't you help me?"

"Because I was ten." The boy replied. "I ran off with a knight, almost as soon as I could find someone to take me. I squired with him mostly because there was a disgraced merchant working as his business manager, and I could learn from that man too. That, and as a knight, I hoped to be strong enough to save you from whatever hell they sold you into."

"And yet, you're apprenticed to the very house that tried to sell me off to some old man who wanted who knows what from me." Jade said. "The master, he only takes one apprentice at a time, and almost chose someone else. I was going to be sold to some guy who does laundry professionally, and sells his girl off on the side. That's what the guards kept telling me. Only, the old mage chose me, and I was instead abused by one of the older servants. Twenty years older then me, and he got off playing with little girls."

"Where is he?" Ryder asked, his hand reaching for his sword. But Jade knew the weapon was peace bound, and there were spells to prevent weapons being drawn in anger, just in case.

"He's gone." Jade said. "Wizards aren't all knowing. They have a lot of matters on their minds. It took a while for someone to realize what was going on, and then Bert, the oldest of the servants, he found out and told the master. That man was exiled from the keep, and apparently, a whole life I had no idea existed, cause until a certain point, they don't tell you anything. There's more, about that life, but I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to share. Just he lost a lot, being sent into the world on his own. However, he is free to wander the world and sell what little magics he'd learned."

"Oh." The knight looked around. "Have the rest been good to you? And, and do they all know some magics?"

"As good as their allowed to be." Jade replied. "Martin taught me how to sing, and play the lute. I can play a couple of other instruments too. You see, the servants, we're, um, they're his former apprentices. I was gonna be one of them, but as he said, I'm his lucky break, cause the magics in me, those are strong enough for further training. From what I understand, the way he teaches magic, you really don't know until the test, which I only faced a few days ago. Said I'm the only one to pass. So now, I have this thing that's supposed to help me learn magic, and I'm being kicked out of here with only the vaguest understanding of what I can do. And on top of that, for my first quest, I'm gonna help slay some kind of artificial dragon, one that's supposed to be stronger then a normal one. That sounds like fun, right?"

"Whats important is now I can take care of you." Ryder promised. "I can protect you."

"Only, the thing is, I may not need your protection." Jade pointed out. "I'm a big, bad sorceress. I have magic, and can do some damage, if I so choose. Maybe a bodyguard would help, but I'm the heavy everyone is gonna be counting on, and from what the master said, my magics may not be enough."

"Then we find something, even if it involves making a deal with a dragon." Ryder stated. "I'm not losing you again."

Not far away, Tori and her cousin were sitting together, looking at the siblings. "So, infatuated?" Beck opened.

"What? She's beautiful." Tori said. "I don't know, there's just something about her. Dark and mysterious and wonderful and I don't know. Plus, I want to know how she got those red streaks in her hair? I mean, yea, dying hair isn't that hard, so I could see her maybe doing something like that. But that shade..."

Beck chuckled. "I hear you." He nodded, watching the girl.

"You want her?" Tori asked.

"Of course I do." Beck said. "But I'm promised to marry the lady Meredith. It's important for our budding alliance with the western lords."

Tori's face fell. "I'm engaged to Steven." She said. "Our alliance with Carson City, a semi-free city run by his family." A heavy sigh. "I really don't like him."

"Why not?" Beck asked. "He's tall, handsome, and we know his scholarly ways have netted him quite a bit of praise from his father. Yes, he's a merchant, and only a noble because his mother is from an impoverished noble family, but that still counts. But I get it, no one likes arranged marriages. I guess the idea of an attractive enchantress is enough to draw out fantasies." He smiled. "But that girls no piece of fluff, or potential mistress. She's a power in her own right, even if it's not that much. We need her, for her knowledge, for her magics, up until we've dealt with the menace that's stalking out lands.'

"Then what?" Tori asked. "You planning on disarming her with your charms? Taming that girl isn't a prize, it's a risk."

"But what if she's meant to be to us like Gary was for your dad?" Beck asked. "A true friend..."

"Who'll run off because they both loved the same woman?" Tori finished.

"Yea, that's a plus for arranged marriages." Beck admitted. "But maybe we can find someone for Gary, bring him back. Your dad would love to have him by his side about now."

"Yea, he would." Tori agreed. "But what about her?" Tori nodded towards Jade. "What kind of roll will she have in life? Outside the clans, not many places accept women doing anything except maybe selling herself in one way or another. And yes, that includes getting married. I mean, there are exceptions, like doing laundry, but from what I've seen on this journey, even that sometimes involves being sold for other things. No, to be accepted, she'd need to learn about the world, something I'm barely doing."

"Then we teach her." Beck said. "Or offer her a home."

"I think, that maybe, she'll need to travel a bit to help develop her understanding of her magics." Tori speculated.

"And where did you get that idea?" Beck asked.

"Steven." Tori said, trying to keep the distaste out of her words. "He said that every caster has to do some serious exploring to better understand the ways of the world, nature and it's laws, so they can best develop and use their power."

"I guess." Beck agreed. "Still..."

Robbie was also watching the talk between Ryder and his sister. 'What do I tell her? That it was my cousin who took advantage of her naivety, and then beg her not to seek some kind of bloody vengeance? I mean, the guy, he does this all the time. Became an adventurer because plenty of ladies love them some adventure. I mean, I guess I do kinda owe her…' A decision made, he approached, but stayed back to let the siblings talk.

"Um, you want something?" Jade asked, her glare raising the hairs on the back of his head.

"Um, I was wondering, do you remember Rex?" Robbie asked. "A big, tough mountain man with the soul of a poet?"

"Yes, I remember." Her voice was ice.

'Damn, he wasn't lying...' Rob thought. "I wanted to apologize, on behalf of the entire Shapiro clan, for his actions." The boy felt his knees shake. 'Keep it together. She's just another pretty girl. No, bad thoughts. Concentrate on her being a potentially deadly mystic with potential mastery over the elements. That's good, take your mind off her body. Those breasts...'

"Um, Ranger, your staring, and I'm not sure I like where this is going..." Ryder warned.

"S-sorry." Robbie stammered out. "I want to apologize, but it's hard sometimes for me to talk with girls."

"But you had no trouble talking with the lady over there." Ryder pointed out. "I mean, you knew her gender, and yet, you could speak with her just fine."

"But she's unattainable, and was dressed as a man." The ranger tried to explain.

"Whereas I'm the vulnerable girl your cousin seduced with promises of a better life, then left alone to fend for herself?" Jade asked.

"Exactly!" Rob blurted, only to feel very self conscious. "I mean, yea, that's what he told me, us. He loved to brag about how no woman would reject him, but it often felt like he went after scared or damaged girls. Not that you were..." His eyes flashed fear. "I mean, not that you were damaged, cause you could well have been scared. The wizard was training you, but according to Rex, the place was so cold..."

Jade warred with herself, only to decide to let the boy off the hook. "Damaged." she said. "I've had more then one thing in my life that no child should live through. And to go from the daughter of the richest man in town to a virtual slave, and have no say over what happened to my body, that was hard. But now, I have power, and no man will ever take advantage of me again." She growled out the last part.

"And Rex?" Robbie asked.

"As long as we never cross paths, or if we do, he doesn't try to reacquaint himself with what he had before, we should be fine." Jade said, only for her face to grow cold. "If he tries anything, I don't know, maybe I'll bind his soul to a puppet, or something like that. Make him lose the thing he values the most, his size and strength." Mentally adding 'And his mane parts.'

"Not thinking that's what he values the most." Robbie said. "But thanks for not taking your rage out on my family."

"I have a proposition." Ryder said. "Not that you'll necessarily think it's a good one. But as you know, we're going on a quest. I was hoping to hire you as a scout."

"The value of a scout is their knowledge of the territory." Robbie said. "Take me away from the mountains, and you lose that knowledge."

"No, that's what you hire a guide for." Ryder countered. "I've been to war, and to me, the value of a scout, of a ranger, is that they can scout things out for you, find pitfalls in the wild lands, and help avoid you getting caught up in an ambush." He gave the ranger his most pointed look. "Can you do that for us?"

"I can adapt." Robbie said. "But what kind of payment should I ask for? I mean, whats in it for me and my family?"

"Since the Vega's are not paying much to Aliester, they have money to pay you, should you want some." Jade suggested. "And as for you, maybe you'll meet some girl who finds your inability to talk to them charming?"

"I can talk, just fine, as long as it's business." Rob told them. "Just, might you be..." He was cut off.

"Not if you were the last man alive." Jade said. She saw the hurt look on Robs face. "But in your defense, there are a lot of men I feel that way about. Honestly, I think, there will come a point where I just give up on men completely. So no, not interested, cause while I do admire the smart, you're kinda gross." She flashed what she hoped was a supportive smile. "But hay, maybe we can find you some girl to whom gross is endearing. And if all else fails, there are plenty of girls who'd trade their current lives to be just a housewife. So there's hope." The smile offered a lot less reassurance then Jade had intended.

Robbie looked hurt, and may have said something. However, she didn't quite hear, because at that moment, in her mind, a voice rang out. "When do I get to meet your friend?"

"Not now." Jade sent back. "Later, after they've gotten used to the idea that I'm a bit different."

"Okay, but I may sleep with your brother, or that Lord Beck, or maybe both." Cat sent. "I have magics enough to make adjustments for the slight size difference."

"You're six inches tall!" Jade reminded the fairy. "Sorry, was caught up in a thought. Nothing good, I'm afraid. But Rob, I promise, we'll try to find you someone who can, if not love you, at least tolerate your presence."

"You fill me with such warmth." The forester said, but he knew she meant well.

Ryder, for his part, was looking at his sister. "So, this is, um, kinda new?"

"And it feels great, not worrying about what people will think about what I have to say." Jade said as realization hit her. "I'm already an outsider, cause of the magics. Guess there's no harm in being honest, right?"

:}

I love how kind and thoughtful Jade was trying to be with Rob. Don't think it landed the way he wanted though. Also, got this part of the quest finished up, negotiations started, and hinted at something more. Darn those arranged marriages, right?

Yes, you're gonna get bits and pieces of this side of Cat through the story. Believe it or not, she has even more backstory, though it's never explicitly told. Look out for subtle hints.