“We call it self-actualization on Earth,” remarked Anna.
Eric thought she looked displeased, almost disapproving. Did she think she couldn’t be that way herself? “How old was she?” he asked.
“Each was in their mid to upper twenties when they disappeared,” answered Morven, “perhaps a few years older than each of you.”
“However,” started Lorian, “their experiences gave them gravity beyond their years so that they appeared older. You seem young by comparison, especially to an elf.”
“So everyone should expect us to look a decade older,” observed Eric.
“Yes,” replied Lorian, “but few ever saw them for long. Casual encounters with you will leave most people fooled, and many will be too awestruck to question anything.”
“That helps,” remarked Eric. He noticed they spoke about this as if he and the others were permanent replacements, which he didn’t like, but something else had his attention. “What can you tell us about Korrin?”
Morven set down his wine glass and looked at Ryan as he replied. “He received training as a knight from an early age and seems to excel with every weapon he touches. He even fights well with things that aren’t intended to be weapons. His strength is impressive, and he’s been known to shatter an opponent’s sword or shield with a single-handed blow. The title Dragon Slayer is well-earned and initially caused his great reputation, for he was trained in killing them with both the lance and sword. You’ll find that his armor there is fire-proof, to a degree.”
“To a degree?” Ryan asked skeptically. He started to laugh. “What does that mean? I’ll only get second degree burns?”
“It means you’ll feel no effects from dragon fire the first few blasts within a short time,” answered Morven. “Then the protection lessens until it has a chance to restore itself, which usually takes a day from what I remember. The magic is strong. It should be, as Soliander cast the spell.”
“That was rather sporting of him,” said Matt. “Do you know what magic items we all have?”
Morven replied. “Maybe not all, but many, yes.” He went on to say that Soliander created various things for them. One was called the Trinity Ring, for it could heal someone three times before being spent, and all but Eriana wore one. Korrin bore another ring called the Dispersion Ring, which allowed the hand wearing it to pass through magical barriers and generally be unaffected by magic up to the shoulder. For Andier, another ring made his hand do more damage and act like a magical weapon, since some creatures could only be struck by one and he often fought with hand and foot. Lorian didn’t know all their items, however, and remarked that all of them lost their power in certain areas where magic didn’t work at all.
“What about Soliander?” Matt asked. “What can you tell us about him?”
This time Rognir replied. “For all Andier’s silence about his life and wants, Soliander is the most mysterious of the four, not because the details of his life aren’t known, but because they are. It is he who has had enough brushes with darkness to make some question his allegiance to matters of peaceful living, quietly of course.
“It has long been known that those of a dark disposition attain power more readily, due to the absence of a conscience to impede their progress. If their aspirations go awry and cause a death, for example, it is of no consequence to them, and while Soliander is not this way, he has always desired great power, and with good reason once the quests began in earnest. The champions are summoned to fight truly fearsome foes of often great magical power, and it is Soliander’s own might that often defeats these opponents. Imagine needing to be the most powerful wizard on not only one world, but across many. As a result, he sometimes takes great chances with his soul, dancing a fine line between the light and darkness to achieve his goal.”
“That said,” interjected Lorian, “he is a good man, but one greatly preoccupied with other matters and not given to idle conversation. His reputation for being uninterested in social matters, to the point of rudeness, is well known.” Looking at Matt, he remarked, “You are far more approachable so that some will be surprised by this, but you should expect to find yourself standing alone at social events. Soliander is a most intimidating man.”
Matt nodded, and Eric remembered his account of Raith at the banquet and how nervous the young wizard had seemed. No one else had spoken to him all night.
“You had best turn in early tonight,” advised Lorian, rising, “for the quest begins tomorrow and you will need your strength and energy in the days ahead.”
The arch wizard Sonneri frowned at the black orb before him. A wizard of his power didn’t fail to make such simple scrying devices work, so he knew it wasn’t him. Something had happened, and while it stood to reason that the spy might be in an area of Lorian’s estate where contact couldn’t happen, he had a bad feeling that wasn’t it. If Soliander had caught on, Sonneri didn’t relish the ensuing discussion.
“Stupid bird,” he muttered, throwing a black cloth over the orb and turning away. Queen Lorella expected a report on their progress to Castle Darlonon, and while he could still provide one, it would be the last. She had been rather demanding the last few weeks, which was unlike her, but she was under great stress after all. It affected all of them, but he’d noticed that no relief had come to the queen with the champions’ arrival, which was odd. The last time they’d been here, the situation had been astronomically worse and the task far harder, so Lorella should’ve been as giddy as a girl. Not so. Wondering about that, Sonneri left the tower for her meeting rooms, something nagging at the back
