The story continues as Shea and Alba are taken to meet Maeryn, the Arch Magus of all of Turan: Maeryn's study was in a large tower at the northwest corner of the house. Maeryth led them up the stairs, knocked on the door and went into the room when bidden. Shea and Alba waited on the landing. He gave Alba an inquisitive look. "She's filling him in on us, our situation and what we've told her so far," then she laughed softly,"and the crew." "Nice to hear you laugh," Shea smiled. Maeryth opened the door then. "Go on in. If you'll excuse me, I'm going back down to the other guests." Her mouth puckered in a wry smile and she squeezed Alba's hand. "Don't be scared any more. He wants to help you...all of you...all of us. And he can." "I remember you," Maeryn half smiled as they sat down across from him. "Lord Bethereon's lovely daughter - all grown up now. And Shea, I've heard a lot about you from Maeyth. You'll have to excuse me if I don't stand - but I'm lazy fetcher," he chuckled. "In reality, I'm exhausted and I know I must go downstairs at my sister's insistence. I'm saving my energy for that. Maeryth's told me about what happened. I already knew some. I have my own connexions, you know." "I'm sure you do," Alba smiled. He wasn't much different now than he was then, just older. His hair was longer, and his face tattooed now with the marks of the Arch Fire-Mage. His eyes had gone black, as he 'looked' at Shea briefly. "You know he shattered the Orb, as well?" "I didn't need anyone to tell me that. I felt it, as I'm sure you did Na'Alba." There was a knock at the door. "Come in, Bayeri." He reached over and took the pile of large books from the corner of his desk and put them on the floor. "You can put it there. Thank you. I was getting a bit hungry myself!" He waited for Bayeri to leave and closed the door behind her. "Help yourselves! I'm going to!" Shea poured Alba a goblet of Bashke Medan - the good stuff. He knew it was her favorite. "Maeryth says you wish to help us." "Ohhh, not just you but all of Turan. I'm sick to the teeth of the Consortium of Lords dragging their feet about the Dunmar issue. He affects us all, in one way or another. No offense to either your father or brother, Na'Alba but to put it plainly, they're all terrified of him. As long has he hasn't made any overt aggressions, they've been happy to dismiss any talk of dealing with him. However, what he's done - again, affects us all, our world, and perhaps our well-being." Maeryn peeled open the bottle of Sonderan - bless Bayeri's heart for that - and proceeded to take a healthy chug straight from the bottle. "You drink that straight?" Alba gasped. Sonderan was somewhat like Terran absinthe, only stronger. "I drink Bashke Calano straight too. I am a fire mage, afterall," he laughed. He leaned forward, leveling his gaze at Shea and pointed at him. "I know exactly what you're thinking this very moment. You're wondering why I care and if I have plan. The answer to the first is: Oh aye, I care deeply that Dunmar and his ghouls are removed from the face of this world. He killed my - our father, you see. Sliced his head right off and sent it to the Consortium to say 'Fuhl 'za!' to them about leaving this one and her family alone. I promised my dying mother on her deathbed, I would avenge Taron's death. "The problem is," he took another swig, "you cannot simply kill Dunmar. You must kill every corrupted soul in Faladar, because they are all under his spell and only 'alive' in the broadest sense of the word because he wills it and he owns every one of their souls. We cannot ask those who live beyond his reach to go into battle against him. The people of Turan know nothing of real war, while death and destruction are all Dunmar and his ghouls know. Do I have a plan? Heh...." Another drink and a twisted leer. "Oh aye, I have one. A big one...but I'll need you, Shea and Na'Alba to come with me to speak with the Consortium, and tell them what you saw and experienced in your own words. They meet in two days in Riorna-Blas. We can either travel in your ship, Shea - or I can 'blink' you there with me." Maeryn laughed. "Have you ever been blinked, Shea?" "Can't say as I have," he glanced at Alba. "Have I?" Alba laughed. "No, I could but I never did. I didn't want to upset anyone. I would prefer the later, Maeryn. I have no desire to set foot on the ship again...at least not for awhile." "Agreed, Shea?" "Whatever she prefers is fine with me." "Good man! I see you appreciate what you have been given, and all the better for you...because I would d steal her in the beat of a heart if you didn't!" Maeryn saw Shea's brow rise. "I joke with you, Shea...." "Shea has always been good to me," Alba interrupted, laying her hand on his arm. "We are bound." "I see this. I saw it when you came through the door," Maeryn answered waving his hand in the air. "Pay me no mind. I have been working too hard and too much toward this. And finally, it may come to pass. We must be solid, together - all of us - to convince the Consortium. And soon, very soon, there will be more for you both, and your crew. That is, if your crew proves worthy of it. I understand you have a thief amongst you." "He's been more than warned...," Shea began. "I have been working with him, Maeryn. He is a reasonable mechanic and I think I can make him a very good one, given time. He likes it. There have been things missing in his life that he has now, and he does not wish to compromise them. He is 'at his last exit' and nowhere else to go, and nothing else to do but change. He knows these things." "Aye, but old habits die hard. You know that - both of you." "I think you should speak to him," Shea responded. "Encourage him with a future, but at the same time...." "Ahhh, done then. I can do that," Maeryn smiled, standing up at last. He drank the rest of the Sonderan and sat the bottle up on the mantle. "Shall we repair downstairs? They know about the black eyes, don't they?" Alba stood as well. "Oh aye, they know." ***** Again, another scene very full of all sorts of different stuff and this is only half the original image o.O Thank you for your visit and your comments dear friends! They are always appreciated :) Thank you as well if you read the story. Hey! Seems like the site got fixed!! Hope it stays that way. Have a terrific Tuesday and smile! Ray