The return of the Nereus and thirty ships from the Island Kingdom was cause for celebration. Thugard had left Barik in charge of the blockade with the balance of the fleet and after stopping briefly to advise King Merrill of the victory and arrange for supply ships to provide supplies and replacement sailors, he had set sail for home. Keri had immediately reported to Aeronwyn regarding her encounter with the man she believed to be the Morlac.
Thugard arrived later to tell his version of the events. As he told the story Sessailaine style, describing the battle and how Keri's magic shocked the enemy into surrender, then Keri's encounter with the Morlac, his audience slowly grew until the common room was crowded with nearly all the mages, master and apprentice alike. As he quoted, word for word, what Keri had said to the Morlac, cheers rang out. Keri flushed with pride and embarrassment. Aeronwyn, sitting beside her, put her arm around her and grinned.
"Wow," said Jerrill. "I don't know if a Master Bard could have put it better."
"Well," said Aeronwyn, "whatever else we know, we know the Morlac didn't like hearing that the Old Gods were involved with mortals. That tells us something. But what?"
Moiril, who had been carefully honing one of her two short blades across a whetstone looked up and said, "Perhaps the Morlac has had a run in with the Old Gods before. Can't we ask them?"
Keri turned her head and looked at Moiril. "Why not?" she said. "Even if Althene or the others says nothing, at least we have tried."
"Didn't they tell you last time they couldn't do much more?" Moiril asked. "I mean, really, aren't they pretty much dependant on you, Aeronwyn?"
"Well, that may be so," Thugard looked at the mages, "but meanwhile, the Westerners are pretty much cut off. With the Mornan and Grale fight going on, nothing is getting through for trade from Grale. We are patrolling the coastline and Barik has orders to capture or sink and Westerner ship. The Westerners could send their armies into Grale as they did once before and help Mornan defeat them, if they haven't already. In any case it gives us time."
"No." Aeronwyn stood. "It gives the Sessailaine time but we are far too short on answers and long on questions." She looked around the room slowly and looked at all the young mage apprentices. "We must continue with the training but I will going on a journey. I think I know where I might find some more answers. It is a long shot but it is what I must do."
"What? Where?" Cadeyrn asked. "We're coming too!" Cadeyrn looked at Moiril who nodded.
Aeronwyn shook her head. "How can we continue to train mages if most of the senior mages are chasing hopes? No, Cadeyrn. You and Moiril must take on the responsibility for training the apprentices. As well, in addition to the mage craft, Eiriol and Gille must continue with the other studies. Also, Moiril, I would like you to arrange with Biort some martial studies for our apprentices. You should add your own section to show the use of the blades but when a mage leaves this hall as a journeyman, I want them to able to defend themselves with or without magic. Cadeyrn, when Jerrill returns I want you to start assigning some of the more advanced apprentices to travel with the home fleet. Show them how crafting works in a real environment at sea. It will be good experience and a relatively safe way to let them test their skills."
"Aeronwyn, it is hard to fault your argument but I still want to know where you are going?" Cadeyrn asked.
"We are going back to the Academy to find out which door the key opens." she said. Immediately voices were raised in opposition. Keri was watching silently but even Thugard questioned her decision.
"Last time you nearly were killed! Why risk it with no known reward?" Thugard demanded.
Aeronwyn looked at him, tilting her head slightly and raising her eyebrows but saying nothing. Finally he sighed. "All right, I admit I am pissed that it can't be somewhere the Nereus can protect you. You know full well that I can't go chasing off with you either because we are in a de facto war with the Westerners. Damn you, Mage!"
Moiril looked up from her whetstone and crossed one leg over the other, resting her short blade across her legs. "Cadeyrn has to stay. I get that. Anyone can ask Biort for help and, as much as I hate being apart from Cadeyrn, I am going." Aeronwyn started to protest and Cadeyrn looked like he was about to have a heart attack but Moiril held up her hand to still their objections. "I am arguable the best warrior the Mage Hall has. I am also a hell of a mage, if I do say so myself. From what I understand, those Stone folk see me play with a bit of mage light and they are like puppies. I am not needed here, therefore I will be there."
"You are right. If you can convince Cadeyrn he won't die without you by his side," Aeronwyn said dryly, "then I welcome your company. I also want to stop by the Colony."
"Okay, now you have me curious. Why?" Thugard asked.
"I think it is time we took advantage of the fact we have Skyfolk. Some of them are young adults now and if there is one place that people never look when they are hunting you..."
"Its up!" Gille finished her sentence. "Sorry. I just haven't seen the Skyfolk yet and I would really like to."
"So, three mages and couple of Skyfolk? Anyone else you intend to invite to this party? Besides me, I mean." Cadeyrn said bitterly.
"Yes, actually there was," Aeronwyn said. "Lenck." At the sound of his name, the young apprentice mage's head popped up. "What?" he said, looking confused.
"Every time I leave the Hall from now on I intend to bring one of the experienced apprentices with me. They will lose out on some studies but the habit of the Healer Halls to tie their students to the Hall until they Journey is a bad one. My own experience with Fiongall showed me that field experience tends to accelerate the learning curve. As Lenck was our first apprentice, he gets to come with me first." Aeronwyn explained. She could see the apprentices perk up at the idea of travelling with the Master Mages on journeys.
"Well, your mind is made up. How can I help?" asked Thugard.
"Help me collect my party and get us to Forsyth. More than that I cannot ask you."
