After contacting Malcolm across worlds, David West was very tired and very hungry. He sat, drifting in and out of a light sleep until a knock on his door brought him to full attention. “Yes?” He called out blearily.

  “Just wished to inform the Grand Mage that the evening meal is being served now," came an unfamiliar voice from the other side of the door.

  “Thank you, my friend. I could use it!” David replied, getting to his feet.

  He made his way to the dining area, passing a few groups of apprentices and Magisters and exchanging bnd greetings. The room was far more crowded than when he came by before, but Sandra had been watching for him and called him over. She was seated with five other women, all of them almost as beautiful as herself. She introduced them to him as Kaylondea, Jen’a’veiar, Dhalvean, Lyriss and Meleanna.

  David gave them all greetings, and then Sandra walked him over to the serving line. “It is nearly impossible to find seating for this meal without friends,” she informed him. “And I have only one friend closer than those five; you already met Jaeya, who is even more like a sister to me.”

  “Are all the women here as beautiful as you and those Battle Sisters?”

  “I would not know,” she replied, startled by the question. “I am more a judge of male beauty than female, and yours is all I want to see.”

  He smiled. “Fair enough. Malcolm would get in a lot of trouble here though. Oh, I talked to him, sort of, tonight.”

  “How?” she asked, intrigued.

  “An effect called Astral Projection,” he began, but was interrupted rudely.

  “Are you filling my assigned woman’s head with more lies, Chartan Thangarian?” Dalrinjian’s voice cut through the noise of the dining hall.

  David turned to him and gave a mock bow. “Chartan Thangarian bids you fond greetings, Idiot Dalrinjian.”

  A ripple of subdued ughter cut through the room and people parted, forming a circle around the two men and Thellissandra.

  “Idiot? Well, I suppose that is the pinnacle of insults at the nursery where she found you, child.”

  David turned away from Apprentice Magister Dalrinjian and asked: “Thellissandra, is the beastling over there mocking my apparent youth?”

  It took a supreme effort of will for her to reply simply: “why I believe he is” without breaking into ughter.

  Dalrinjian gred daggers at David, then turned to Sandra. “Come away from this infant, Thellissandra. There are things I must discuss with the mother of my child.”

  “I am sorry, but I have had little to eat today and fear your foul stench would ruin my appetite. Perhaps we could meet in an hour at the park where Thengarian proved the right to be called a Mage earlier?”

  The crowd murmured: “Did she really say that?”

  “How can she disrespect her assigned mate like that; she is too young!”

  “Dalrinjian was on forge duty and does smell a bit of smoke so maybe she has a point?”.

  David chimed in: “Oh, now wait; this fine man wishes to speak to the mother of his child. I have never seen a man carry on a conversation with his own hand and would greatly enjoy it!”

  Before the crowd could react to this, Dalrinjian let out a roar of frustrated anger and threw a punch at David.

  David had been expecting this and had held two runes in his mind in preparation; as soon as the other started to move, he tapped first Air to shift his position from in front of Dalrinjian to his side, then David physically touched his Apprentice Magister’s robe while he mentally tapped the Wood rune. Suddenly the robes were a glossy brown and nearly immobile, and Dalrinjian was frozen in pce.

  “What have you done?” the Apprentice roared in rage.

  “Invoked the w of simirity to turn the wool of an ewe into the wood of a yew,’ David replied. “To show that only one truly deserving the title of ‘idiot’ casually insults a Mage.”

  “You want to use power, Chartan?” Dalrinjian growled. “Then taste mine”. As he spoke, his flesh seemed to take on a metallic sheen and with a casual effort he shattered the upper portions of his robe. His bare chest stood silver in the dining hall’s light as he moved his arms in sweeping motions that looked like martial arts practice moves. As the motions ended, he aimed his upraised right hand at David, and a conic wave of force issued forth that sent David staggering back several feet, knocked two people behind him over and sent a third person literally flying through the air to crash against a table.

  Barely regaining his bance, David struck back and what remained of Dalrinjian’s robes burst into fire.

  The Apprentice jumped back, shedding what was left of his garments in the process. He stood there, unhurt but naked, his temporarily metallic body shining in the flickering lights of the room.

  “Wow. Anatomically correct!” David noted “I had my doubts.”

  Dalrinjian looked down, realized that he was naked and let out a sigh. “You win this round, baby mage. But not the war.”

  “Baby mage? Nice. Definitely a step up from Chartan, thank you!” David replied, only half joking.

  Dalrinjian stalked heavily off; down a side hall, one of his friends gave him a cloak and as he donned it his flesh returned to its normal color. He did not look back and just stormed away.

  David moved over to Sandra’s side and hoped nobody could see how much he was leaning on her; that use of power had exhausted him almost as much as the Astral Projection had earlier.

  He did not realize he was still holding on to Air until he realized he was hearing comments from all around the room:

  “Well, I, for one, will not be messing with either one of them.”

  “Full body shift to Metal; only saw that once before and the Mother of Battle could not hold it that long.”

  “He turned cloth to wood! He is more than a mere Mage despite his youth!”

  “Did you get a good look at Daleinjian? If Thellissandra is truly done with him, I would give him a tumble or two”

  “Unless that is the only way he gets hard.”

  He almost ughed at this st one and thought “Malcolm would really love this pce.”

  At that thought, all the noises of the room vanished for a moment, to be repced by strange ughter and a quiet voice saying: “That is why he is my Chosen.”

  At that very moment, David lost his hold on Air and his hearing was normal, catching only the jumble of voices around him and no specifics. He realized Sandra had eased him into a seat and was looking at him with concern on her lovely face

  “I am fine,” he told her, almost believing it himself. “Just very tired. I think I just used more power than I realized. I just need to eat and then get some sleep.”

  A new voice behind him said: “It gets easier but never easy.”

  David turned around and the voice, belonging to a young person in a golden robe and with androgynous features, long bck hair and bright blue eyes, continued after giving a slight bow “I am Velik’Hai, the Healer. And I believe they do you a disservice to say you are only a Mage. I feel you are ready for The Trials or nearly there.”

  David returned the bow and replied: “You do me great honor, friend.”

  “Anyone who could get under Dalrinjian’s skin like that deserves honor,” came the wry reply. “I have two seats at my table if you would care to join us after getting your food?”

  After exchanging a gnce with Sandra and seeing her give a slight nod, David replied: “It will be our pleasure.”

  David and Sandra went through the serving line, and she quietly said “Velik’Hai was the first male accepted to the Healers in the st one hundred years, give or take. He refused a position as a Magister.”

  David just nodded. “If he is being honest, then we are in good company, and we can always use more friends.”

  Soon they joined the young Healer at his table. He introduced two women who seemed identical except that one parted her hair, as golden as her robes, on the left and was called Leedar and the other parted her simirly colored hair on the right and was called Reedal. They were the least attractive women he had met so far, being merely “pretty” and clearly not as well conditioned as the other members of the temple. On the other side of this couple was a gargantuan older man with mostly gray hair that still retained traces of a much darker hue for a “salt and pepper” effect as Keldrin of Cagar, Priest of the Mysteries. David vaguely recalled this group as the spiritual leaders of an isnd kingdom run by sorcerers, essentially junior Mages who drew their power from the worship of a god of magic rather than from tapping magic directly. The final member of the group was Preltar, who wore a metal half mask and had a right arm that appeared completely artificial. Preltar was an Artificer, a person who could perform magic only by embedding it into items.

  They all had tales of being abused by Dalrinjian and appreciated him putting the Apprentice Magister in his pce. Keldrin pointed out that Dalrinjian was exceptionally powerful but extremely undisciplined, which was why he was still only an Apprentice and not a full Magister.

  After several minutes of basic chatter, Velik’Hai suddenly asked: “Do you know the Tale of the Lost Arch Mage or the Prophecy of the Two?”

  David started to reply in the negative, then remembered seeing something about a Lost Arch Mage fairly recently, but he could not quite pce it. He made a mental note to ask Malcolm. “The first one sounds familiar, but I am drawing a bnk. Have never heard anything about that second one.”

  Thelssandra then added: “I know the prophecy says the Lost Arch Mage will sire twins who will reorder magic, whatever that means. Have never heard what any of it might mean, though.”

  The two sisters spoke in unison: “We do not know more about it, but were wondering if you, Thengarian, might be the Lost Arch Mage."

  David stared for a minute, then replied: “I am fttered that you might think so, but I am barely a Grand Mage.”

  in his low, calm voice, Keldrin replied: “you have access to more raw power than any I have ever seen. I have a talent for reading power levels and I have only met two others who even approach your potential level: Dalrinjian and the te Grand Magister Mikkledarmius.”

  David could think of nothing to say to this so motioned for him to keep talking.

  “One version of the Prophecy of the Lost Arch Mage says that he will be found on another world, and ignorant of his true power and heritage.”

  “Well, that part fits, at least,” David admitted.

  “It is a shame the Prophet Darvik vanished before a definitive version could be recorded,” Velik’Hai admitted. “It is said he fled from the visions as they were driving him mad. He was also a World Walker if the tales of green eyes are true.”

  “A what?” David asked, unfamiliar with the term.

  “One who has the ability to both find and deny others access to the Hidden Pathways between realities. There have only been a few dozen in recorded history, with the most recent being The Betrayer.”

  “Elgarin?” David asked, “or another traitor?”

  “No, it was Elgarin. His eyes turned green, so he was not born with it though.”

  David and Sandra exchanged surprised gnces as both recalled that Leonard Guerin also had green eyes.

  “But none of this is written down anywhere?” David asked.

  “There is allegedly a book, The Legacy of Five, that prophesies a lot of the details,” Keldrin replied. “But that has not been seen since the fall of Viltrask Keep on the border between Damar and D’Gar.”

  “But I… oh!” David began, recalling a game session a few years back. It was a module they were pying through, Carol’s only attempt at running a game. He was trying to think of the title; something about horns. Another thing to ask Malcolm the next time they talked. “There are minotaurs in that area, right?”

  “According to the stories circuting. They like to keep tension levels high between the kingdoms so they can pick off stragglers and deserters at their leisure.”

  “Is there a library or map room around here?” David asked.

  “Two libraries and a map room,” Velik’Hai replied. “Though both libraries are restricted access. Only students, full Magisters or guests of a Magister allowed, and only during daylight hours.”

  “Hmm. Sounds like I have a project for tomorrow,” David said.

  Velik’Hai said: “I am on kitchen duty in the morning but am usually done by second bell. I could meet you here then and show you around, maybe even find someone to get you into one or both of the libraries.”

  “That sounds,” David began but was interrupted by something tugging at his sleeve. He turned and saw a creature that stood as high as his seated shoulder. It was covered with coarse brown fur, had rge amber eyes, teeth that looked like upthrust tusks jutting up from its lower jaw and drooping ears like a bloodhound. It spoke with a definite lisp “Exthuthe thir. You Thengarian?”

  “Uh, yes,” David answered.

  “I Xicar, footman of Lady Baydera. Baydera want audienthe.”

  At his side, Sandra leaned close and whispered to Dave: “She is the head of the Battle Sisters.”

  “Now or just to schedule?” David asked.

  “Now. Follow,” the creature said, then turned and started to walk off slowly. David shrugged, bade his tablemates a good evening and hurried off after the Beastling.

  Xicar led him to the courtyard where he had proven his right to be called a Mage earlier. A woman leaned against one of the courtyard windows. She was tall and slender yet powerfully built. She wore a silver sleeveless dress and bck sandals, and a bck armband studded with a mix of gemstones. Her iron gray hair stood out in at least a dozen braids pointing out to the sides and three hanging down. Jewelry adorned the braids but was absent on the rest of her form. Her pale eyes were almost gray with a hint of blue. Despite being weather-beaten, lined with age and sporting a half dozen scars, her face still showed a great beauty that likely would have even eclipsed Thellissandra's in her prime.

  Xicar said: “I bring him. Done for day?”

  The woman’s smile was dazzling, despite one of her upper teeth being missing, as she replied: “Very good my child. I shall see you again to break fast in my chambers.” The diminutive creature bowed and hurried off as she turned her attention to David. She said nothing, just walked slowly around him as if appraising a newly acquired mount. David half expected her to examine his teeth before she spoke again, her voice strong, commanding yet also somehow sweet and welcoming. “So, you are the young man there has been so much buzz about.”

  There was a pause, and David finally decided she was waiting for a response: “I have not heard much buzz but suspect I have been the subject of at least some of it, yes.”

  She reached out and squeezed one of his shoulders. “Good tone, could use some work. She slid the hand off his shoulder, along an arm and then crouched down. Her other hand squeezed one of his thighs, and he almost jumped. “Good, strong legs,” she muttered. He did jump when her hand slid up and lightly squeezed his rear.

  It took all of his willpower to not give a shocked reaction and just stand there and take her appraisal.

  “Thel could have done worse. I think her mother would have approved,” she suddenly said, rising to her feet. “If Dalrinjian did not impregnate her with their st coupling, I will approve her transfer to you. Now, walk with me.”

  He recognized this as a command, not a request and nodded. She fshed him that dazzling smile for a moment then began walking in a very sedate, almost stately manner. David caught up to her in two steps and then matched her pace. They walked in silence for at least a minute, leaving the courtyard for a hallway he had not been down before. They passed three rooms without seeing another soul, and then an armored young woman - not one wearing the leather-like armor Thellissandra and the other Battle Sisters used, but a mail shirt, metal helmet and metal skirt standing before a fourth door greeted them: “Lady Beydara! You and your guest honor me with your presence.”

  “Unlock the door and light a mp, please,” the older woman answered, sternly but with a touch of affection in her voice.

  The younger woman bowed and did as requested. The room beyond proved to contain a collection of scrolls, books and artworks arranged carefully in a myriad of shelves.

  “Do you need anything else, Mother of Battle?” The younger woman then asked. “Shall I fetch a Librarian?”

  “Thank you Trainee Coryanna. I do not think we will need one, but my companion here may, in the morning, so make sure the next shift wakens one early. And see to it that a pitcher of water, some cups and some light snacks are set out on the table in the hall,” Beydara replied, and said to David as an aside “We do not permit food or drink in the libraries.”

  “Most of the ones where I come from have simir rules,” he admitted.

  Beydara smiled slightly at this then turned back to Coryanna. “You are dismissed, my child. Please do not lock the door until we leave, and if we are still here at the end of your shift, though I do not expect that, alert your repcement.”

  “It shall be as you command, Mother of Battle,” the younger woman replied, again bowing deeply before turning sharply on her heels and striding out.

  As soon as the door closed, Beydara colpsed into a nearby chair with a light ugh: “Trainees are always so formal, so afraid of making mistakes. We learn more from mistakes but until they learn that they will remain Trainees.”

  She waved to another seat. “Please, sit, rex. David is it? David Michael West?”