The Master Mage stood behind Eilis.  His body again acting involuntarily but not unwelcomed as it radiated soft waves of heat spreading from the tips of his fingers through out her body.  Despite what the young woman may be thinking, he was actually using her to anchor himself.  Listening to the elder Venray speak made his head feel dizzy.  The pit of his stomach did little  to provide any substance.  He knew that a decision needed to be made.  He knew that Eilis would turn to him for answers.  Answers that were as fleeting as the wisps of water particles so valuable to they hydro harvesters. 

Yet like those particles, the answers that could be gathered could be the difference between life and death.  His he could live with but hers….  His body shivered despite the warmth it was radiating.  He swallowed hard.  He needed to be the infamous battlemage now, the Hellspawn.  

She needed him to be strong.  She needed him to light her path and push back the darkness.  She needed him to be the cleansing fire and the raging flame that would turn her enemies to ash.  His eyes glowed with a conviction that he had not felt in a long time.  His soul hungered for the opportunity to be of use.  

He looked down at her golden head.  What better use for him than to make sure that such a lovely being, who had experienced nothing but pain and darkness, could live free and enjoy the blessings of the sun. 

Arn had parallel thoughts to the Ex Knight.  While her innate abilities were indeed worthy of recognition and of considerable power as witnessed by the refugee who had assisted the doctor on board the Auriel’s Blessing.  Yet despite this, why was she being targeted by mages or Aether users that were just as powerful or perhaps more powerful than he.  

When it was revealed that there was a similarity between her and the Sorcerer King Arn felt the pit in his stomach grow to a chasm.  Could the empire be in search of a descendant of the dreaded mage?  Had they found one and needed others such as Eilis to be servants or support for this new would be king?  What if instead, she had been limited or controlled to prevent her from becoming a threat?

The thoughts in his mind made his head spin, which did not help the feeling of dizziness already starting to settle in his it.  


[color=ed145b]“But I don’t want to be a weapon.”[/color]

Arn squeezed her shoulders comfortingly.  A reassurance that he would not let her be used that way.  If she was to be a weapon, then she would be joined to him as bow and arrow like they had promised.  She would not be alone and he hoped that she would know that. 

As Ullies explained their gathered data, the master mage was not surprised that the empire had dealt with an inside threat by assimilation or extermination.  In this manner, but in a slightly different manner, Belisio has ensured that only those loyal to them are retained.  This would have been the destiny of the Hellspawn.  

When Arn had rejected the very coveted position at court as the assistant of the Vice Arch mage, he had painted a target on his back as a person to watch and not necessarily in the good sense.  His lack of blind acceptance had revealed him to be a free thinker and devoid of greed or family which meant he could not be manipulated.  In their eyes, the best thing for him to do was to die in the service of the kingdom. 
His eyes narrowed at the audacity, if that indeed was what the empire had in store for her.  His eyes met Uilles’s.  He mentally communicated to the man that no matter what the Empires aim was, he would not allow any harm to befall his charge.  The millisecond connection was broken by Tyrhallan and the follow up explanation of the mysterious book in the elder Venray’s hand. 

The explanation made Arn long to read the book.  He had read tales of the old world before the Shattering.  However, scholars tended to lead the narrative or perspective to meet whatever need or view they had.  Personal journals tended to have a more down to earth data that could be more accurate than the data that was presented by commercial writters.  

Something in the master mage’s memory pinged at the mention of Aether weavers, more advanced mages than those that practice Stitching.  He could also swear that he had read somewhere about the Mound of the All mother.  However, it miay have been on a religious book which is why he did not take too much notice.  After all, religious types were often labeling places holy for one reason or another.  Rarely, however, the strong Aether focus could be also a holy site.  

At the suggeston that Eilis should come back to the place she risked her life to escape almost caused a reaction from Arn.  However, his logical side, which had taken a back seat to the newly birthed emotional side demanded attention.  What Uilles was proposing was the most logical outcome.  Running away and hiding only deterred or delayed Eilis being captured.  Only by finding a way to actually remove her bindings, and hopefully in this way remove the parasitical shadow being in her Thread could she truly be free. 

[color=ed145b]“No…” Her voice spoke trembling in horror. “Don’t take me back…”[/color]

He held her hand tenderly.  He sighed.  Perhaps she would hate him but he could live with her eternal disdain if he was able to free her and allowe her to live a life that would be sans dark haired witches nipping at her heels. 

He took a deep breath and then spoke, both to her and loud enough for men to hear. [color=0054a6] “No one will force you to go anywhere.  But please,  allow Lord Venray to finish his explanation.  There is not harm in considering all options.  One thing that is certain is that you are much too valuable and I would rather that value be due to the fullness you bring to people’s lives than that placed by the greed of others.”[/color]

The master mage turned to Uilles. [color=0054a6] “I assume my lord.  You have a suggested course of action in mind?”[/color]