.....Every so often, something happens that's so strange, it defies explanation.
.....On a cold bleak night in Octobre, it happened near House Soulbinder. .....One minute, the plains were deserted, and the next, an onyx tower, surrounded by four tall stout walls, simply appeared to fade into place.
.....It was a mixture of contraindications. The air was filled with both death and decay, and wild rose bushes. The tower was made out of black stones that reached into the sky, but each window was made out of the most fragile looking painted panes.
.....If anyone dared to make their way into the courtyard, they'd see the doors to the tower being guarded by skeletal warriors, but those that tended the garden would be nature spirits.
.....High atop the tower, attached to the spire, flew a flag of red, with a Dark Blade rampant in the center.

....."We've arrived, my lord," A skeletal acolyte reported to the man sitting on the throne.
.....A pale hand reached up and pulled back the black cowl, and a pair of hazel eyes opened as a pair of lungs drew in a deep breath. "I see that, Zarthra. Have we been noticed?"
.....The acolyte communed with the other skeletal soldiers on the walls. "It doesn't appear so, my lord, but if I were still living, I'd lay good money on the Tanners already knowing."
.....The Wizard shook his head at the understatement. "I wouldn't bet against that, Zarthra." He took another deep breath and started to push himself upright, and paused half-way to his feet, then slowly sat back down as the blood rushed out of his face, leaving him looking as pale as one of his zombie servants.
....."My lord Rhyslin?" The skeleton took a step toward his master, but stopped as Rhyslin Darkblade raised his right hand and gestured for the acolyte to stop.
....."I will be fine, Zarthra, It's just a side effect of moving the whole tower. Should anyone show up at the gates, let me know."
....."Yes, my lord," the acolyte watched as the wizard's head sank down to rest against the back of the chair. "Till death and beyond, we will watch you."

.....The Darkmage took a deep breath and softly exhaled as he felt her presence behind him. "Of course, Mia Amare," was his reply as he leaned his head back against the back of the throne and slowly relaxed.

.....The acolyte looked at the Elven beauty and nodded once as he took a step back and turned to the rest of the undead sentries. "If it is your will, my master, I will check the tower for travel damage." If the undead could feel jealousy, the sight of elven longevity would do it, but rather, the acolyte was confident in his place in the order of things.

.....Rhyslin simply waved the acolyte away and waited until he was gone, before reaching up to take Crystal's hand. "We are here now."

The Tanner's noticing the new addition to their property was one of those occurrences you did not want to bet against. As it was a long figure appeared at the door of the tower. The red headed figure waited at the doors patiently, almost gauging the reception.

There was that perpetually amused smile on her lips as she waited to be admitted. Afterall, she was an old friend.

.....After taking his leave, the Acolyte made his way to the front entrance of the tower, pausing only long enough to check with a maid about the condition of the guest quarters.

....Passing through the doors of the tower, he slowly made his way down the walkway. As he moved through the rose garden, he kept space between himself and the living plants and fae that were taking care of the precious roses. If he had had lips, they would have been curled in disdain. For the unlife of him, he couldn't figure out why the Master chose to raise roses, when fetid decay would have been much more conducive to zombification.

.....In irritation, he raised one hand and swept the flower petals from his head, then glared at the laughing fae that circled him. "Go away, foul creatures." He snarled as one flew right up in his face and stuck out her tongue. For one brief second, he entertained the thought of turning the tiny female into a drek, then shook his head. It would not do to make the Master mad, he had watched as the last acolyte had been returned to an inanimate state and buried in mud.

.....Upon reaching the gate, he traced the rune that opened the wooden portals, and bowed to the red-headed woman standing there. To him, she looked like a full repaste of energy, yet covered by the shadow's call. Had he still been living, he knew that he'd have been trying to bed her. She was just what his type used to be. With a small bow, he addressed her. "Lady Tanner, Welcome to Torre DeIllarita. The Master invites you inside and bids you meet with him in the throne room. He apologized for not coming in person, but the task of moving the tower has left him somewhat drained."

"Lady Tanner, Welcome to Torre DeIllarita. The Master invites you inside and bids you meet with him in the throne room. He apologized for not coming in person, but the task of moving the tower has left him somewhat drained."

There was one finger raised at his speech, "Word to the wise, Acolyte. Never tell anyone, friend or foe, that your master is weakened. That is to invite disaster." The rebuke was not overly sharp, the tone suited to a teacher correcting a student who had stumbled over the Pronunciation of a cantrip.

Were he alive and trying to bed her, he would have been on his knees... Or dead. That was the air she had around her. Seems getting back into schooling has done her some good.

"If you would care to lead the way, I have some matters to discuss with your master."

She knew how to establish the Acolyte's place in the state of things with words.

There was a frown on her lips with the apparent weakness in the Acolyte. She spoke sharply, "On your feet, fool."

The red-headed shadowknight seemed to loom over the acolyte as she spoke. "Take me to the dark Mage. We will let your master decide your fate."

She would have let the previous transgression go as a lesson delivered. Yet this acolyte continued to prove to be weak, flawed. She would not be delayed but she would not allow such weakness close to her dear friend.

.....As the Acolyte led Natolii down the hallway toward the throne room, Rhyslin was listening to the conversation. *I'm going to have to replace that servant with another that's stronger of will.* He sighed softly, as he rested his hand on Crystal's hip. "Mia Amore, do we have refreshments for Lady Tanner?" He gazed up at her. "I think she may be slightly vexed."

.....The mage merely shook his head. "I have noticed that, but what do you expect when I have inferior material to work with?" He rose from his chair and walked over to Natolii, extending his hand to her, taking her hand when she raised it, and placing a kiss on her knuckles. "Welcome, once again, to my home." He watched her face, "I hope I didn't err in placing La Torre where I did." The inference was that he could move it, once he regained his strength, if that's what the land owner wished.
.....At Natolii's side, the acolyte took a half step back and tried to withdraw into the shadows, wondering if and how he was going to be gotten rid of, for he had heard the disappointment in Rhyslin's voice, and had his verdict in that tone.

Rhyslin glanced at Crystal as Damien's name was mentioned and arched a brow as he considered why he would be happy to see her.

He turned his gaze to Natolii as she gave permission for the tower to stay where it was. "Thank you, Lady Tanner. It's nice to have a small patch of ground near friends." He gave a half bow of his head. Then he listened to Natolii's idea for the Acolyte, and chuckled softly and nodded. "Yes, that would do. You may take him with you and place him where you wish." He turned his attention to the Acolyte and took a small amount of glee at the shocked look on the undead's face.
"That's right, useless fool. You will go with her and do what she says."

The acolyte could only bow and whisper. "As you wish my lord."

Rhyslin gestured for one of the other servants to bring Natolii a chair. "So, tell me, what has been happening in the city? I've been away far too long."

"The twins are in school, which brings me to the reason I am here... Aside from seeing old friends."

Rhyslin arched a brow, "Go on," He had already dismissed the acolyte from his mind. *What could bring her here, what does she need?* he wondered as he lifted his glass and took a sip of wine. A gesture of his hand brought a skeletal servant forward with a chair for Natolii.

While he waiting for her to answer, he took a good look at her, and nodded. She still looked breathtaking, and *If she didn't belong to Marcus, I'd have made her mine.* he thought, then blinked his eye, clearing his mind. He was deeply in love with Crystal, and glanced in her direction with a soft smile, before turning his attention back to Natolii.

"We are seeking instructors. The students are known to get into mischief if not suitable engaged." She said quietly, knowing her two from experience. "I was hoping I could entice you to lending a hand and your experience."

Listening was an art form, and one that he somewhat excelled in. "I see, but what openings do you have? Do you need an instructor of battle magic, or maybe an instructor of necromancy, or perhaps an instructor of rune magic?"

One of the benefits of being a mage was that one always got to study new ways of casting magic spells, and learned the various ways to control the art. "These students you speak of, what would be my limitations on how I might instruct them?"

There were, of course, various ways of instructing students, and they ranged from book learning, to making the students do tasks without magic, or even pushing to see what the potential limits were, and in some cases, even the use of bladed weapons and staves.

"Battle magic would be good for some of your more promising students, including Angelica." She ventured forth, "I do have a young man that is more physical than arcane, even though he has the talent for both."

Rhyslin steepled his hands in front of him and listened to Natolii. "Battle magic requires discipline, do you think your students are disciplined enough to listen and learn to someone who's been there and done that?" He arched a brow, and considered the second part of her statement. "More physical than arcane? Sounds like a good prospect for a sword mage."

He reached out and caressed Crystal's hand and leaned over and whispered, "You always seem happiest when teaching and helping others, mia Amare." Then he chuckled at the mention of a white magic master. "I'm guessing you have no Chirugen's either, do you?"
He mentally ticked off the number of possible classes: Battle Magic, Sword Magic, Surgery, and Runic. "It sounds as if you could keep a person very, very, busy, Natolii." He took a sip of wine. "What would be the recompense for this use of my time?"

Rhyslin gave it a moments thought, then mentally reviewed what he knew he would have to do.

"Unless you want me to raid your fields for food, A tiny stipend would be helpful." He looked over at Crystal. "Are you interested in this, Mia Amare?" He caressed her hand, even as he looked back over at Nat.

"I can teach four classes a day. Do I get to choose the times, or are they already set?" He was indeed interested in teaching, and an easy source of research was always easier than trying to explore dungeons and dragon hordes to find spellbooks.