AUTHORS NOTES:

Havok22: Thanks for the favourite and follow! Best way to keep updated on my updates :) Malkarov basically did his apprenticeship, travelled in an adventuring party, signed up for duty as a war wizard for a term then went to the Mages Guild to study enchantment before signing up to be Easthaven's wizard. You'll see some spell combat in a few chapters, after they get back from Castlemere (although anything could change! I write down a plan of what I want to happen, then find myself going off on tangents halfway through!)

Veor Hrdenda: Thanks for the review! Yes, that uncomfortable feeling should be there. There is a vulnerability in a first love and in this case that vulnerability is magnified a hundred fold in Shard's 'technical' godhood. Sharein believes wholeheartedly that Shard can 'do no wrong' and the saving grace on Shard's part is that yes… she is basically only young herself (she's been there for approximately seven hundred years give or take, without anyone really to talk to, or learn from.) As well as this… Sharein is essentially Shard's first love as well. The power dynamics are a huuuuge mess though, but skewed power dynamics in a relationship aren't inherently bad… just something to be VERY careful of. (It's also something that Shard is kind of aware of, but Sharein definitely is not consciously aware of).

Slysylva: Illith is basically demi-pansexual and polyamerous, but still unsure of her sexuality. She's aware that she's feeling the same way about girls as she is about boys, but mostly only about the two that she is very close to at the moment. Although her poly and pansexuality wouldn't be generally acceptable in Easthaven without extenuating circumstances like being famous, powerful or with a profession like Sharein's. Although… With Sharein and Shard, most would probably 'accept' their relationship as just a "well, she's a wizard" with the unspoken "so the rules don't apply to her". But there would be some that wouldn't be willing to give them a 'pass'. Those who are more religious especially. The major problem with Sharein's Father is that he doesn't think of her as a wizard, she's still his daughter.

Archer1eye: She needed a little instruction and Aloise decided that it was obviously going to be up to her. Yes, it's still quite a few chapters away, but it's going to be VERY VERY sad.

Chapter 60

20th Day of Middle Spring 768 n.c

I woke up before anyone else, opening my eyes to see the interior of the bedroom as clear as day with it being still obviously dark outside was a surprise. In my post dream haze I had forgotten the events of that night. I could see the crack of dawn through the window, a line of real light in the sky that would continue to slowly replace the dark light of my Tenebrae gifted night sight.

I lay there watching Shard sleep next to me and looked over to see that Kara was sleeping in Illith's bed once again. I smiled to myself as I watched her, wondering how I could be so lucky to have her love. It was hard to believe, my life really did seem like a dream sometimes. I kissed her on the forehead and she stirred but didn't wake. For someone who didn't actually need sleep, she seemed to have thrown herself into the experience with her whole heart. I was glad that she did, it was reassuring that she was sleeping next to me, that she wanted to be so close to me. I got dressed and went outside to relieve myself and wash up. Once I had done that, I stood outside for a short while to watch the sun rise. It was gorgeous; purples, reds and yellows painted the few clouds that dotted the sky which was lightening moment by moment.

I went back inside and woke Shard with a kiss, when she stirred I wished her a good morning and told her, "you should probably head back to your altar before Father wakes up. I don't know what he'd say if he saw you in here before we are married."

She wished me a good morning in return and gave me such a steamy kiss that I completely forgot what I was just saying and almost forgot that we weren't alone. With a cheeky grin she winked and me and disappeared.

"Oh no missy," I whispered in mock indignation, "you're going to pay for that!"

"Pay for what?" Kara asked from behind me and I turned around to tell her, "nothing Kara."

"Shar!" Kara said, "your eyes aren't black anymore! Can you see me again?"

"Yes Kara, I can," I told her with a smile as Illith woke up as well.

"G'morning," she slurred as she rubbed her eyes with her palms.

"Good morning sisters," I greeted them, but Kara let out a whine, which prompted me to ask, "what's wrong?"

"Did Shard leave already?" She asked.

"Ah," I stalled for a moment before just deciding to tell the truth, "yes Kara, she did."

Kara looked disappointed, "I was hoping that she'd play with me this morning."

"I'm sure that she'd love to another day Kara," I told her, "but you wouldn't have had time this morning as we are heading into Easthaven. It's the tenday."

"Oh goody!" She exclaimed, sadness instantly forgotten and she ran out of the bedroom to toilet and get ready, Illith trudged after her sleepily.

I went out to the kitchen just as Mother was coming in from outside.

"Good morning!" We greeted each other at the same time.

"Shard has gone already?" Mother asked.

I wondered why she wasn't whispering and looked around for Father before calming down when I heard Father outside admonishing Jara for weeing on the outhouse.

I giggled as I told her, "yes, thank you."

Mother seemed to know that I wasn't just thanking her for her query and gave me a big smile in return.

We prepared and then ate breakfast before everyone went off to get ready to head into Easthaven. Mother instructed Illith to help Kara and then asked me into her bedroom.

"I have something for you," Mother said, opening up her chest, "I'm glad I finished some of it in time for you to go off to Castlemere."

"You needn't have," I told Mother who simply said, "nonsense," as she pulled out of the chest a number of items.

She held up each item in turn. A new pure white linen shirt, a new pair of trousers made from black leather, a pair of brown leather boots that would go almost up to my knee with the tops folded over. The largest piece was a black cloak with a hood, that fastened with a small copper cloak clasp. Lastly she held up a deep purple vest that had been embroidered with black stars over most of it and had matching black buttons. The embroidery and buttons looked a bit shiny, almost as if…

"Is that silk embroidery?" I asked Mother.

"Yes," she said with a smile, "this I did not actually buy. It's been sitting at the bottom of this chest for a long time, something that I… found back in Allarth in my youth."

"It's beautiful," I exclaimed, "are you sure?"

"Oh yes, my dear," she said with a smile, "it was made for a person pretty much your size, and who else is going to have a use for it?"

"You could sell it, it must be worth at least a sun!" I said.

"Probably," Mother said with a sad smile, "but we aren't that short on money and to me, it's worth much more than that for you to wear it."

"Thank you Mother," I told her and followed with a hug.

"We can't have you turning up to Castlemere dressed like a commoner, you're a wizard's apprentice. People in Easthaven might not care about your origins, but people in Castlemere will. The way you are dressed and present yourself will be the first thing people look at to judge how to treat you," Mother explained.

She smiled at me a bit sadly before saying, "get dressed in these, pack your bag and buckle on your sword. We've pulled out the tack and saddle so that you can ride Aloise horse. I don't know what Malkarov has already planned, but I doubt that he plans on walking all the way. You know Aloise horse and she knows you, I'd trust the two of you together rather than whatever horse your master can borrow off someone."

"Thank you Mother!" I exclaimed again as I flew into another hug. Mother gave me a kiss, wiped her eye and left me to get changed.

When the Meadowbroeks arrived, Missus Meadowbroek had to take a second look at me.

"My my Sharein, Malkarov dresses you well!" She said.

"Thank you Missus Meadowbroek," I replied, "but it was Mother who just gave me these clothes."

"Aloise!" She said, turning her attention to Mother, "where did you find such a striking vest?"

"It was a present from an old friend," Mother said calmly, "long before I arrived here."

"Oh oh!" Missus Meadowbroek then exclaimed, "look at me, to think that I almost forgot! I have news!"

She then announced to us that Mari and Thomas' wedding was to be held on the fifteenth day of Late Spring. This announcement caused so much excitement amongst us and I heard Mother questioning Missus Meadowbroek most of the way to town on the gown and where she would get it, what sort of decorations she would use. It made me a little sad that I wouldn't be able to cause such excitement amongst my friends but realised that Mari would definitely be excited for me when I told her. I knew that it was a when, rather than an if because I didn't think that I could possibly get married without Mari at least knowing about it.

When we arrived in Easthaven I said goodbye to my family and rode across the bridge and right towards Malkarov's tower. I tied Aloise up to a nearby tree and let myself in.

"Malkarov!" I called out once inside and his reply resounded down the stairs, "up in the kitchen!"

I kept my pack on my back and made my way up the tower.

"My my!" he exclaimed when he saw me, "don't you look dashing!"

I blushed a little and informed him that Mother had given me the new clothes. He was wearing the robes that he usually wore when we went out and about the Shire and when we went 'hunting kobolds'.

"Oh, and she's let me bring one of the horses, we weren't sure what your plans were in that regard?" I added.

"Oh good!" He said happily, "I was able to secure two horses, but one of them is a bit temperamental. You've brought your pack up? Yes, good. Bring it here."

The dining table was full of strange bits and pieces that he then divided up between my pack and his. He tied on a length of rope to three straps on the side of my pack that seemed to be sewn on for just that purpose. He also added a tinderbox and a flask of oil into a small side pocket. A small hammer, and a selection of foods went into the main part.

"Why are we taking a hammer?" I asked.

"You never know when you'll need a hammer," he replied, "or a flask of oil or rope or a tinderbox. There are so many things that you need to take adventuring and it's better to take something and not need it than to need it and not have it."

"Wait," I said, and he stopped and looked at me curiously, "are we… going adventuring?"

He laughed at that, "well, not really. We're just going to Castlemere. But you never know what might happen on the way. It's best to be prepared for anything."

The things that were left on the table were the most interesting; a long sash belt containing glass potion vials, a stiff rectangular leather bag on a belt, a pair of long leather cuff things and a small pink gemstone.

Malkarov noticed my interest and named each in turn, "This is my potions belt," he said as he put the long sash belt on diagonally across his chest. "My scroll bag," he added as he belted that on so that the bag hung at his side, "it's got various offensive scrolls in it in case I start getting tired. These," he said as he picked up the cuffs, "are called Bracers of Armour! They make me harder to hit in a way similar to a Shield spell. And finally!" He picked up the small pink gemstone and held it up in the air in front of his forehead. I thought that he was just looking through it or something, but then he let it go. Instead of falling to the ground it started spinning around his head! It whizzed around and around, and he laughed at me following it with my eyes. "This is called an Ioun Stone. This one increases my health, making me feel better physically. Each coloured stone has a different effect. I found this one in an ancient crypt in Nightholme Shire. An orc necromancer was raising the residents as skeletons and worse."

He snatched it back out of the air and put it into one of the pockets in his robes.

"For you," he said, withdrawing a leather belt from his bag, "I have a belt and potion container. It's a small leather pouch designed to protect the glass potion bottle."

He showed me the pouch, it was cylindrical and the lid was tied with a quick release knot. Inside was a small potion bottle filled with a yellowish liquid reminiscent of the potion Malkarov had fed Master Jorganshard after he was attacked by the wargs.

"A potion of cure wounds," he explained, "a precaution only. I don't expect that you shall need it at all."

I didn't tell him that I could replicate the effects of the potion with a prayer to Tenebrae, if only because it was a secret. I thanked him and fixed the belt around my waist.

"We'd better use the in house before we go, we will likely be squatting behind trees most of the way to Castlemere," Malkarov said, "I'm planning to stop at Inns for the most part every night, just riding between towns, but there is a stretch where we may have to sleep under a tree one night. Oh! And don't forget to get your staff."

We both headed down to make use of our facilities before we left the tower. I took my staff from the bedroom when I departed. When we got out, Malkarov showed me how to tie my staff to Aloise horse's saddle, so that I wouldn't have to carry it.

I swung up into Aloise horse's saddle and rode beside Malkarov as we made our way down to the common's paddock where Malkarov's horse was. We passed quite a few people on our way there, they all looked at the two of us with curiosity. One of those we passed was Master Gradie, whom Malkarov informed our changed requirement for horses. Master Gradie was happy enough (probably happy that Malkarov didn't request half of the money back that he would likely have given him.)

With that, we left Easthaven bound for Castlemere.