Alais' silvery eyes held a touch of merriment watching Amanda. "Yer aboot tae gae tae a place verra few haff been lassie. Th' 'omeland o' dragons."

Alais reached for Xenograg's arm, bidding Amanda take her father's arm as well before she used the Annaran spell that allowed her to travel between worlds. Time fell away and had no meaning during the transport. Images blurred and ran together like watercolors in the rain, except that they did not run downward, but spread out like there was no gravity to pull the raindrops any particular direction.

They came out of the timeless riot of color to stand on a black sand beach with the sound of surf gently lapping against the shimmering obsidian beach. A verdant hill rose before them, quite a steep angle, and it was covered in lush grasses and dotted with myriad colors of flowers. Some recognizable, some very unique and never seen beyond the island.

Cresting the hill stood an imposing stone structure that was clearly not finished, but well along in its progress. Several dragons could be seen circling above the structure, and within moments, they were greeted by a very large dragon. "Lady Alais, welcome home," Garl's head dipped in a gesture of courtesy before swinging toward Xenograg and Amanda and back to Alais, "You have brought friends."

Alais nodded, "Garl, I would like to introduce you to a very old friend, Xenograg, and his daughter, Amanda. I have asked his assistance in figuring out why the trees will not grow." She turned toward Xenograg and his daughter, "Please meet my most constant friend and companion here on Matlal, Garl. His name is truly unpronounceable, so he's allowed me to shorten it." She gave them an impish smile before beginning the climb toward the crest of the hill.

Garl landed, folded his wings and took a couple of steps toward the small group. His scales shimmered silvery in the sunlight as he lowered his head to be closer to them, "Welcome to Matlal friend of Alais, Sorcerer Xenograg of the Darelir clan."

His eyes slid toward the young girl then, "And to you young sorceress."

Alais tried to hide a smile as she watched Amanda. Garl was doing his best not to be intimidating, but she had to admit, that first face to face with one of the dragons leaves an indelible impression.

Alais glanced toward the top of the slope where the construction was ongoing, "Xenograg, the whole of the island looks as this does, it grows non-woody plants, and nothing more. "

Garl lifted his head and peered in the direction of three more dragons circling above the stone building. Then he looked at Alais and Xenograg. "If you would like to see it from the air, we can arrange that."

Alais had to hide a bit of a smile, she knew Xeno had a healthy respect for dragon kind, and apparently Amanda had learned the same from her sire.

As Amanda gave her father and mentor proper respect and unpacked the robes and wand, Alais stepped back to give them room. She wasn't certain what they were going to do, but Amanda clearly had something important in mind as she pulled the long oak wand.

Xenograg allowed her to proceed as she wanted to, and Alais reached for the ley lines of the island to keep in touch with what the girl was doing.

Garl lowered his head further to study the use of human magic.

Amanda and Xenograg dig up three more tree seeds. All appear alive yet dormant.

"But why only the trees?" asks Amanda.

"When we understand that, we will likely have solved the problem," is Xenograg's conjecture.

"How shall we examine the earth?"

"Scrying is channeled through the senses,", Xenograg instructs. "Each element has a preferred sense. With air, it is sight; with water, taste. What of earth?" Amanda smiles as she remembers the answer from a previous discussion.

"Touch."

"Correct."

"So we should start with a magic circle." It was not a question, and Amanda begins looking for an appropriate location.

After selecting a suitable spot, Amanda clears it of loose debris. Using her wand, Amanda encloses herself and Xenograg within two shallow rings in the dirt. Xenograg guides her drawing of the glyphs between the circles.

"Done?" she asks.

"Test it," is his instruction. Amanda nods and centers herself. She takes her time with the working, knowing the crucial importance of quality. With a labored exhale and upswinging arms, Amanda raises a ward from the magic circle. She feels momentarily drained, and sits down on the ground. After checking on his daughter's condition, Xenograg inspects her work. Like her, he takes his time.

"Well done, my girl," is his judgment. Amanda beams with pride. "Do you want to rest?" he asks, not as a test but in concern.

"No, I can continue. I want to," comes Amanda's reply without hesistation. Xenograg smiles and nods his assent.

"Very well. I will return in an hour or so." With that, Xenograg carefully steps out of the magic circle. Amanda's ward is a focusing one -- rather than interposing a boundary between within and without, it channels energy to the sorcerer within. Amanda should be able to sense the entire isle from where she sits.

Amanda eventually tires and cannot hold her concentration. She has been laying on her back within the circle, having found that more contact with the earth improves her sensing to a noticeable degree. Xenograg walks over when he sees her sit up.

"Tired?" he asks, and she simply nods. "Hungry, too, I expect," is his follow-on statement. Amanda realizes she is very hungry. She also notices it is late afternoon -- later than she expected it to be.

"I lost track of time," she admits.

"A very common occurrence. Come, Alais has arranged an early dinner." Amanda smiles at that, but then remembers the task at hand.

"What of the circle?"

"It will fade in time. I trust you can raise another?" he challenges. Amanda smiles again, this time in pride.

"Yes, I can." Xenograg smiles, too, and holds out his hand. Amanda stands and brushes some dirt from her clothes. She steps out of the circle and takes her father's hand. "I am hungry."

"I told Alais you would be," he replies, "and that you are a growing girl. She accused me of not feeding you enough, though, judging by your stature."

"Now I am embarrassed," she blushes. Amanda is petite and self-conscious about it. Xenograg puts one arm around his daughter as they walk to the house.

"Alais is fond of you. I think you impressed her when she visited Xenodar." Amanda nods but her smile fades. The disconcerting memory of Alais's lesson in necromancy is one Amanda will never forget.

"She told you?"

"No, but I hear it in her voice. Listen at dinner and see if you do as well." Amanda smiles again and nods. It is not another test, but a reminder to always pay attention.

Garl headed back toward where Xenograg was offering his hand to his daughter. He paused well back from them as they spoke.

"Your friend is preparing a meal for you both. If you will follow me, I will take you to her." Garl knew his size and nature were intimidating, but Matlal was for Dragons. He swung his head in the direction of the huge stone building at the crest of the hill. "Alais is expecting you."

He gave Xenograg a toothed grin, "And as you are guests, you have no fear of becoming a snack here."

Garl folded his wings and lowered his head toward Amanda, "Are all elven females so petite?"

Garl meant no offense, but she seemed much smaller than Lord Momus' half elven daughter, and he guessed them to be approximately of similar age.

He watched her as she moved about the patio from one of the corners of her suite where the shadows folded over just a little more than they needed to. She would know he was there, if she paid attention, but he knew her mind was elsewhere, and so he simply waited, and watched.

The Younger should be here, dealing with these matters, but he was off, enjoying this new trist of a woman that he had entwined himself with. He felt it was only a matter of time before the Younger once more found his heart torn, and through this, he would not survive. The Younger was becoming much like their sister in this... but, perhaps the Eldest was as well?

He shook off such thoughts, shedding them like a snake does a skin. He found his gaze off, and he moved it to find Alais stepping towards the door as that insepid fool of a dragon tapped at the door.

Perhaps it was well that Garl choose not to assume the smaller forms. That would make this meal with the Lady d'Nitesong's friends less troublesome.

Alais meets Xenograg and Amanda at the door and does not waste words.

"Xeno, an unexpected guest will also be joining us at dinner: Khirsah." Xenograg's eyes widen -- a reflex of great surprise in him. 'More than surprise,' Alais thinks. 'Trepidation.' She knows that Xenograg surreptitiously avoids Khirsah for reasons of his own.

"Who is Khirsah?" asks Amanda. Alais hesistates and looks to Xenograg. He does answer after taking a moment to choose his words.

"A very great lord among dragons." Amanda has noted the mood of the adults and holds any further questions she may have. Xenograg then recovers his poise. "There is nothing to be done," he says to Alais. "Let us not keep Khirsah waiting."

"Besides, I am hungry!" Amanda quips with a grin, seeking to lighten the tension. Xenograg and Alais both smile at the welcomed levity. Amanda lifts her chin and leads the way out of the foyer with faux confidence -- though she knows not where the meal is to be served.

"You must be very hungry, Amanda," Alais says.

"Very!" Amanda replies with a smile. She walks around the table and takes the furthest chair. With a gesture and another smile, she offers Khirsah the seat to her left and Alais the right; Alais's back is to the setting sun. Xenograg hides his approval of Amanda's arrangement as he sits down opposite her; Amanda can take cues from her father regarding any questions asked of her.

Amanda goes to bed early after her day of exertion. Alais, Khirsah, and Xenograg withdraw to a warm room and enjoy a drink or two. Conversation comes and goes; none of the three being uncomfortable in silence. Khirsah eventually departs, and Xenograg retires to his room around midnight.

Perhaps an hour after midnight, Amanda's sleep becomes disturbed. Her dream changes into something worse than a nightmare. A dream-vision comes to her, and she is forced to see an event through the eyes of another. As this man does, she sees bodyguards die fighting to protect him. She only sees; mercifully, there is no sound. The man now defends himself with a sword, but is disarmed and captured. A new man in armor enters the room, and Amanda is shocked as she recognizes him. She now realizes whose vision she shares, and her blood goes cold. She tries to cry out, but no sound comes; nor can she do anything to affect the scene.

The captured man is pushed to his knees, his arms held firmly by two warriors. The conquerer steps up and reaches towards his prey's unprotected head. Amanda moans as the golden crown is taken from "her" head. She sees words pass between the men, but does not hear them. The conquerer places the crown upon his own head, and Amanda panics. "Her" eyes are upon the conquerer's scabbard even before he reaches for his sword. The kneeling man struggles but it is futile. The conquerer places the sword edge against the left side of the fallen lord's neck. With some last words and a dark, snarling expression, the new ruler pulls the sword in a cutting motion forward.

Amanda screams, breaking out of the vision and sleep.

Amanda's scream brings Alais and Xenograg running. Alais arrives first to find the girl crying and screaming madly.

"Traitor! Murderer! Assassin!"

Xenograg arrives and tries to hold Amanda to calm her, but she is inconsolable and continues to yell.

"Bastard! Damn him!"

"Amanda, what is wrong?" Xenograg asks in a strong voice, trying to get through to her.

"He is dead! My cousin is dead!" she cries. Xenograg's head snaps around towards Alais. He is clearly shocked.

"She has only one cousin," he says even though Alais knows this already. Xenograg looks back to Amanda. "How do you know this?"

"I saw it! I saw--" she begins but falls to hard sobbing. She hugs her father as if she would fall off the world otherwise.

"Is this true?" asks Alais.

"I will find out right now," growls Xenograg. He lowers his head as if to talk to himself. "Teraden, attend me," he half-whispers. Alais's eyes widen as the command is loosed--not at its power but its intensity and flavor. For the first time, she has witnessed Xenograg use necromancy. Alais can already feel the approach of the spirit, and looks into a shadowed corner of the bedroom as it materializes. Alais has never before met Teraden but recognizes him immediately from Xenograg's simple description from years past: a good and noble spirit. He is tall with blond hair. Though dead, he is armed and armored--residual self-image.

"Summoned, I come," Teraden says. He then bows to Alais. "Forgive my intrusion, mistress." Alais nods her acceptance and permission for him to remain. Xenograg looks to Teraden with a tight jaw.

"Is this vision true?"

"It is."

"Past or future?"

"Amanda saw it as it happened," Teraden says with a look of sympathy to Amanda. "Theograg is dead at the hands of your eldest son." Xenograg's face darkens in rage.

"I will burn the flesh from his bones--" he begins but is interrupted by Teraden.

"No, you will not."

"What?!" Xenograg snaps. He stands up, and Amanda falls forward in the bed where he was. She is still sobbing, but the tenor has changed from anger to pain.

"You are dead in Demodar, Xenograg," Teraden announces in a voice resonating with otherworldly authority. "You gave up your place to affect events there. You are forbidden to avenge Theograg or otherwise strike at Kenograg." Xenograg simply stares at Teraden, knowing this is a command of the gods but not believing it--and hating it. Teraden ignores Xenograg and steps forward to lay a hand upon Amanda's head. She looks up as if suddenly aware of the spirit's presence.

"I am sorry, Bannu," he says to her. "Your love for your cousin made for such a strong connection." Amanda begins to cry again, but it is no longer sobbing. Xenograg sits and takes his daughter in his arms again, rocking her.

"Xenograg, 's th' former wathu-Darelir, 'm Ah allowed tae r'turn tae Demodar?" asks Alais. Xenograg looks up at her a moment before looking across to Teraden. Teraden just shakes his head in the negative. The spirit then bows to Alais as he did upon arrival and dematerializes.

Amanda simply cannot be consoled. She allows Xenograg to mesmerize her into sleep. He and Alais exit the bedroom and return the drawing room. Xenograg heads straight for the dry bar. Taking up a bottle of what is surely Liquid Fire, he pours a good amount into a glass and immediately downs it. He refills his glass and pours a second one. Alais steps up to the bar and takes the glass Xenograg offers her.

"To Theograg," she says.

"To Theograg," he replies in an unnaturally even tone. They drink the toast, Xenograg draining his glass again.

"What now, Xeno?"

"After I calm down, I will finish what we came here for."

"Now? 'Tis the middle of the night."

"I will not be getting any more sleep tonight. I might as well work."

"Ye need to grieve, too."

"I am," he replies, and Alais's eyebrow rises. He sighs and corrects himself. "I will, I mean. I have to get ahold of my anger first."

"At whom? Kenograg?"

"And the gods," he adds. "I should not be surprised at Their decision, but I am. I am to do nothing?!" The last word is burning with resentment. Xenograg looks down at the empty glass in his hand. Alais knows what he is pondering.

"N' more 'f you intend to work magic."

"Yes, you are right."

"Is 't wise?"

"I can use the emotion--yoke its power for a constructive purpose. I need to do that, in fact." Alais nods, remembering that is one of Xenograg's personal imperatives.

"Then Ah wi' await your results." Xenograg manages a small smile. He sets down his glass and turns for the front door. Alais thinks of something as he reaches it.

"Should Amanda awake, wha' should Ah tell her?" He half-turns to answer.

"Insist she follow her regular morning routine," is his instruction. "She may not be able to focus on the mental practices, but the physical exercise will be just what she needs."

"Yes, verra good." With that, Xenograg steps outside into the dark of the early morning.

Alais let the first rays of light move across the stone floor. Pain seemed to permeate the structure, resonating with a dischordant feeling that sent her wandering the shadowy halls of her new home.

The sounds of footsteps bring her about as she comes face to face with Xenograg's daughter, wearing a blade at her hip, which seemed an odd addition here, and at her young age,

"Good morning, Aunt Alais," she said, and Alais canted her head in greeting, "Good morning Amanda, will you join me for breakfast on the patio?"

It troubled Alais more than Xenograg would ever know that he'd found a flaw in the chamber that housed the books. They were to remain forever cloaked from the outside world, and she'd even regretted entrusting them to the Elder.

"Xenograg... wha's 'n tha' chamber is nae fer the world auld friend. 't is Morrin's most powerful necromancy."

If they were going to delve into that chamber, she wanted Amanda well away from this place. It was one thing to show her some of the elementary things of her arts, it was another to risk her with the presence of the darkest forms of Morrin's work.