An opportunity arises

[Author's note: What are you guys thinking of this story so far? Comments, critiques, advice, and suggestions; all would be appreciated. By my estimate, it's about three-quarters of the way to the end.]

"Let's...let's not act too rashly." Tri'lanna slowly whispered, her eyes locked on the bottom of her friend's bag.

"R-right. Rashly." Ceinwyn replied.

"We don't want to attract any unwanted attention to us."

"R-right. Attention."

The Elfmaid turned to look at the druidess, annoyed. "What?" Ceinwyn said defensively.

Tri'lanna rolled her eyes and blew out a sigh. "This is silly. What's the Stone doing here? I thought it was with Hans. I could have sworn that he had picked up his pack when we were leaving my home! And I'm sure that when he went over the bridge, he took his bag with him. There's no way it should be here."

"No...wait." Ceinwyn interrupted, beginning to recall the events in the study. "Both of you were too preoccupied with your mother, Morianara, so I was the one who pulled both of you out. I was the one who grabbed all of your belongings. If there was any time we switched bags, it would have been then."

Tri'lanna pursed her lips, pondering the statement. Then she blinked and her eyes grew in size. "Then that must mean..." Ceinwyn watched her elven friend rummage around in her bag, tossing out the chunks of bread and other knickknacks, and pulled out a small, leather-bound book. At first, Ceinwyn thought it was just a journal someone had stuffed into her sack, but then she realized what it was.

"It's your notes-MMmmpphhmm!" Ceinwyn's cry of elation was stifled by Tri'lanna outstretched hand, clamping down over her mouth. Before she could protest, the young woman was dragged off by her elven friend around the corner into an unoccupied room. It was a wide lounging room with a number of sitting chairs and tables, draped in silk cushions and cloths of bright colors. The room was mostly dark though, only the red-orange glow pouring in from the braziers blazing outside and a few lit candles scattered on tabletops.

Once she finally disentangled herself, Ceinwyn harshly whispered to Tri'lanna, "What are you doing?"

"What are YOU doing?" She snapped back, "I just said we shouldn't attract attention! Didn't you see everyone staring at us?"

"But we're in the mage college! If there's is anywhere in the entire isle that we can learn about the Shining Stone and tap into its powers, it's right here!" Ceinwyn said, waving her hand at the room around them. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We can learn about the Stone, maybe even learn about a weakness Vanarim might have, and with your knowledge and magic we can beat him!"

"No, not anymore." Tri'lanna shook her head, defeated. "I don't know what happened, but after that day in Gutandor and I haven't been able to use magic at all. It's as if I burnt out all the magic in my body. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't conjure a flicker of flame or even a little spark after that day. I'm like that." She scowled, pointing at the fireplace, "No fire, no magic, no life. Just a dead lump of ashes. Useless."

"No, you're wrong, Tri'lanna!" Ceinwyn said suddenly, spinning the Elfmaid to face her, "You told me that the price of magic was life, and that you had to give up your life in order to get that power. But I think that price works both ways!" She reached out and squeezed Tri'lanna's arms, locking eyes with her, "After you lost at the battle at Gutandor, you lost your power, but then you found Hans, and then you found me. You found a purpose again in your life, a reason to live and survive."

"Tri'lanna, you lost your magic. But in exchange, you were given back your life."

Ceinwyn remained quiet as she let her words sink into Tri'lanna's head. She watched her blink suddenly and then look back at her, surprised. "I...never thought about it that way. Thank you, Ceinwyn." She said. "Hah! it seems like you're always there to pick me up when I'm feeling down. If this keeps up, I'll spending the rest of my days repaying this debt."

She sighed again a moment later though, "But that doesn't change that I can't help with the Stone. I have certain technical knowledge, but there would be no way to apply it. We would need the perspective of a spellcaster to refute or confirm our theories. Even if we did learn how to manipulate it, how would we gather the resources to even use the Stone? I doubt the mages would simply give us what we need. Not with the Circles glaring at each other." They both lowered their gaze to the floor, discouraged.

"I believe I can help in both regards."

They quickly whirled around and faced the one who was speaking behind them. A tall, bald man stood at the entrance to the lounge, wearing a deep crimson robe that brushed along the ground as he walked. While not a overbearing man, there was a heavy presence that surrounded him, a subtle thrumming of power and pressure in the air that quickly betrayed his identity. A stole hung around his shoulders and behind his neck, patterned in multi-colored stripes, that clearly marked him as Grandmaster Malvern, leader of the Circle and the most prominent spellcaster in the entire school.

Both Ceinwyn and Tri'lanna tensed at his approach, and although it was slow and without malice, the young woman felt the anxiety squeeze at her heart. "How, how did you find out?" Ceinwn stuttered, worry creasing her brow.

"In truth, little druidess, I used the greatest magic there ever was..." The older man leaned in close to whisper his secret. With a sly smile, he answered, "...I listen."

Tri'lanna shoulder her way in between the Grandmaster and the Druid, protectively shielding her friend. "So Grandmaster Malvern can add sarcasm to his long list of achievements and talents. What of it? Do you really expect us to gratefully accept your offer for support? You're the head of the Circle and the cornerstone of the conflict here in the Mage College. If there is anyone who has the most to gain politically from this, it would be you."

"Sound and solid reasoning. And I also add that what you say is true - I can sense great potential in the Stone." Malvern said, "If I could tap its power, I'm sure I could apply a little pressure to the more....ah-ha, 'junior' members of the College, and convince them to end this little squabble we have on our hands." His eyes snapped open and traded gazes with Tri'lanna, "But where else will you find the help you desire? I offer my hand to you, honest in my intentions, and with it, I can offer the faculties of the entire college to be at your disposal."

He turned his eyes to Ceinwyn, who almost flinched under the penetrating stare, "You wish to defeat the Pretender, no? Our goals are not that different. You wish to learn more to defeat him, I wish to learn so that we can remain independant."

Ceinwyn hesitated. She looked at Tri'lanna and understood that she would agree to anything she decided. There could be a great deal of benefit to getting the aid of the Grandmaster, but she may make more enemies by getting involved in the politics. Vanarim needed to be defeated though, and if it costed her her life, wasn't that a small price to pay?

"So how about it?" Grandmaster Malvern asked them. "I'm certain we can both benefit from this transaction."