Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!csus.edu!wupost!news.miami.edu!cybernet!news From: wolvie@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (christopher motherway) Subject: For once, a good night sleep. Message-ID: Sender: news@cybernet.cse.fau.edu Organization: Cybernet BBS, Boca Raton, Florida Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1993 18:07:58 GMT Lines: 121 ADMIN: As is known, Sir Lance and Blaze met up with the [AU] thread and travelled with them back to Generica (BTW, thanks to Hutch for: a) the fine "edited" version of my post, and b) getting the two to try new things (Blaze playing the lute, "frisbee", etc. :) ). When last left, the couple was joining the group and 'Raf's place... = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Sir Lance and Blaze spent many hours in the company of the Mages' Guild party, chatting mostly about magic and spells (half of which Lance did not understand in the least). As the sun started to set, the mates thanked 'Raf and the others for their hospitality and headed back to the Inn (right after they got directions from 'Raf's house. After a light meal, they went upstairs to their room, more relaxed than they had been in many weeks. Andrea was back in the city, and the "Housestorming" would commenece not too long from that time. Blaze had fininshed washing herself when she came into the bedroom and saw Lance, sitting on the bed, the magical amulet around his neck, looking to be in rather deep thought. The young archmage chuckled and said, "What are you doing?!?" Lance sighed and replied, "I was seeing if this amulet would glow for me as well. Tried thinking about my parents, King Kinseeker, you... nothing." "Well, the gem is a _magic_ focuser, Lance. It works for me because of my magic. You have no such magic." Lance removed the amulet and placed it on the dresser. "Perhaps you are right about the gem, but if I have no magic, how is it that my mandolin allows me to make the song come alive?" "The _mandolin_ is magical, and attuned to your strumming it." "Well...I never tried to understand any kind of magic. I know of what it can and cannot do, its benefits and all, but the details...well, that is _your_ department." The light was doused and the couple settled in for what would be their first "good night's sleep" in a while. Blaze then said, "You know, beloved, I really enjoyed the time with the Mages' Guild." "As did I. That "Game of Life" 'Raf pulled out was very pleasurable. They made me appreciate the outdoors more than before." "Perhaps I could join them...the Guild, that is." "Be my guest. You know I cannot deny you anything. I hope that, with Andrea safe and sound, you have stopped worrying." Blaze paused a second before replying, thinking the question over. "Actually, one thing still bothers me: Raykor. If he _was_ the one who snathced my soul-self in my sleep, that means he is waiting inside of Andrea's house..." Lance interrupted, "Now, wait a minute, Blaze. First of all, we cannot prove that it was, in fact, Raykor who took you. Secondly, even if it _was_, there is no proof that the entity was actually in that house." Blaze thought about this, and said, "I suppose that is true. Whoever it was could have used _its_ soul and mind to capture me. It would not have to be with its body to take other souls..." Lance said, "Right. But, even if everything you say is true, if Raykor got you, if he is in the house, I can find no reason to worry about it. "When I was part of the Royal Guards of Wolverton, a group of people from the neighboring kingdom of Langelesca came into the kingdom one day. There had been great tension between the two kingdoms since the war between them ended thirty years prior (many years before I was before). The men _were_ armed, but they seemed to want to settle in our kingdom. The other gaurds wanted nothing of it; they claimed that they had come to overtake the kingdom by surprise and were concerned about the king's life. But the king and I convinced them that there was no reason for worry. We had no solid proof that this was their intent. And, if we worried too much about _them_, our minds would drift from our task: guarding the castle and the king from REAL assasins. "it turned out that they WERE out to overtake the kingdom, but we stopped them easily. We also learned that they were renegades from Langelesca, whose fathers died by Kinseeker's army during the war. They were sent back to their own kingdom for trial and Langelesca apologized for the renegades' actions, which the king graciously accepted. "The point is, Blaze, that, no matter how much anyone worries about something, even something they are positive about, worrying cannot change things, nor can it stop that 'something' from ever happening. Thus, I hope you will put these thoughts about Raykor out of your mind... for now. If we meet Raykor face-to-face, THEN is the time to worry!" Blaze stayed quiet for a minute, smiling in delight. Then she slowly rolled over until she was looking down at her lover's face. "I think I just recalled," she said, softly, "why I love you so much. Even with your strength and cunning, you have an astounding wisdom. If my father had only met you, he would have been honored to have you as my mate." Lance smiled and replied, "_I_ am honored that you think that way." "Tell you what: from now until the 'Housestorming', I will worry about nothing...but you." With this, she kissed him tenderly on the lips. "A woman after my heart, hmm?" "Amongst other things..." = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = What happened next should not really be discussed, as it is... quite personal. Suffice it to say that, at one time during the night, Blaze quietly told Lance that he _did_ have magic in him after all. ;-)