The Final Farewell [Temple of Molten SH 24 lMT/eTT]

[Ssinith DIllil]

The largest temple in Gulanadur in size, shaped as a volcano, complete with large sculpted lava flows acting as stairs (painted red, though hard to tell with Gulanadur's light source being a constant purple hue) which lead to entrance, which is the 'volcanoe's' crater. From there stairs lead down to an extravagant place of worship. Imported red tapestries line the walls, and the pews are covered in equally exquisite yellow tapestries, for one of the aspects of Molten is of course fire, and even the hall of worship symbolizes this.

The Hall of Worship is wear the services are held, at tradetide, the sermons are fiery and inspirational. Many priests or priestess in fact give sermons, every third Rasday, there are seven sermons. All of equal intensity.

No expense is spared with upkeep, and constant building of this temple, as among its worshippers are some of the more wealthy citizens of Gulanadur, for the greatest aspect of Molten, power, draws many of the well-to-do here. The temple rejects no worshippers of this echelon, no matter how their fortunes have been made.
----

He had informed his parents of his decision. He had also informed the Magic Guild of his decision. Though he was positive that word had spread to the clergy of Molten of his decision, he had one last delivery to make. He knew that Marrek would either be here or preparing weapons for war. Either way, he was sure he would see him again in this mess.

I wonder if they will recognize me... He mused.

He had sold his gaudy orange clothes, though he kept his blacks and reds. The eccentricly-dressed scholar could now be considered... striking. His clothes still had the "sorcerous" flutter at the sleeves and the overcoat, but he was now wearing back with red trim. What was once a mouse-like man was a confident man of determination. Even his hair showed signs of this renewed spirit. Warbraids dangled from his head, most under a new black leather hat... after all, he couldn't let them get tugged on in the middle of battle. Even in the tight braids, they went past his back and shoulders with what strands remained. It might have looked silly as big as the brim was, but he knew he was going to the surface where light may shine in his eyes. He bore his red cloak with the bronze clasp of Maerret, and it fluttered behind him as he rushed down the steps once again.

His satchel carried what research he had found out in the past tides on the incident with the dwarves. He had to see The Temperer. He knew that Trade Tide was about to begin, and as such, the sermons. Whomever wasn't preparing for war was going to be praying for those who were. His mind drifted, as after he would make his delivery, there was one final place he felt he needed to enter...

The Antechamber...

His last true moment to himself in Gulanadur should belong to Molten. He knew that Molten knew that he was going. That and he would give his all in this battle. In the direct presence of his god, he simply wanted to pay him reverance and respect before going out to war.

For now, he searched for The Temperer...

... And the silly fool, lost in his train of thought and focus, tripped over that last step in his rush once again, this time over his cape instead of his hair.

"WOOOOAAAAAAHHH!"

[Tristam]

This time there was no forger to grab him by the scruff of his neck and haul him back. This time destiny intended for him to meet the two worshippers of Molten right before him

It is amazing what one can notice in such a short span of time. For example the hair of the woman whose back was coming up rapidly was swept up and held in place by a multitude of jeweled stickpins. Somehow Ssinith also noted the elderly man on her arm was walking with an ebony cane capped by a large ruby.

Ssinith met the pair rather forcefully as he collided with their backs and sent them all tumbling to the floor. The cane clattered a rolled off to one side while the stickpins scattered over the floor.

[Ssinith DIllil]

His hair was spilled from his hat falling off. In a very miffed manner, he tugged his culprit cloak from his feet and kept an eye out for anyone who would try to steal such finery.

"I thought I was fine with my hair tied!" he growled under his breath, but snapped his attention to the couple.

"My most profound apologies!" he gasped. "Are you alright?!"

He immediately went to gather the cane, and hand it back to the old man to help him up. He would then go to the lady and help her up, trying to collect as many push pins as he could and bring them to her. With the extravagence that this older couple had, he knew he just might have angered the wrong people.

"Forgive my impudence, milord, milady!" He said with tinge of panic. "These recent events have placed a lot on my mind and I was thoughtless to the ones around me..."

He kept an eye for pins that may have been missed around and making sure nobody made off with them. Once both were standing, he had flowing clothes and shaked his sleeves, and his pants to make sure none of the pins fell in, even checking down his shirt worriedly. He also checked in his satchel, rummaging through the papers to make sure nothing fell in there. Once he was sure he was in the clear on that respect, he knelt down with his eyes downcast, knowing he was going to get a lashing one way or another.

[Tristam]

"As well you should be sorry, young man." The elder adhiel grumbled as he accepted his cane from Ssinith. "Molten may prise speed and energy but there is a time and place for everything."

The lady was much more concerned about her partner than her jewelry and was content to let Ssinith scoop up all her pins. It would seem the thought of theft never even occured to her. She fussed over the elder, straightening his clothes and brushing off the dust. "Are you sure you are fine, my dear?"

"I'll be perfect if you would stop adjusting my dress like a doll." He harumphed stepping back to straighten his shirt without assistance. The lady looked almost confused when Ssinith returned with a handful of the jeweled stickpins and only now realized the state her hair must be in without them. Her hand went belatedly to her hair to feel the disarray and the look in her eyes foretold the fiery words to come. Her lips parted and then closed again. Her eyes held recognition and she turned to her partner.

"Dear isn't this?" She asked with the brevity of those that can complete each others thoughts.

The elder looked at Ssinith for a moment and then smiled at him. "Why so it is! The young firebrand that spoke out days ago." He pressed his hand to his chest and gave Ssinith a slight bow of greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you even under such circumstances."

[Ssinith DIllil]

One can only imagine the color of a Dark Adhiel's cheeks when blushing. He brushed a few war braids from his eyes and batted them with an honest and humble fluster at being recognised.

"Ah... yes, my name is Ssinith, a pleasure to meet you too! I will be going to be going to war here in about a tide... I have a lot on my mind and one last important errand to run. When I put my mind to something, many times my body fails to catch up." he replied sheepishly.

He stood up from his position and picked up his hat, putting his many braids back under it. He bowed once again to the couple in apology.

"I thought I had tied my hair high enough this time... I completely forgot that I had my cape on." he began with annoyal to himself. "I have no idea what the surface will be like, so I am trying to take every precaution... uhm."

Looking at the elderly ladies hair, he winced at himself and looked around. He rummaged through his satchel to see if he took his brush with him, since he was in the process of gathering his things for war.

"Perhaps I can set your hair for you again, my lady? I am no beautician, but I braid my hair often enough to at least make it presentable again... It is the least I can do."

[Tristam]

"That is kind of you, Ssinith but not necessary." The lady smiled. "Molten shall not care for the state of my hair and neither do I find. Isn't that extraordinary?" She exclaimed to her escort who could only nod in agreement. "We shall detain you no longer, firebrand. Prepare as you need to and know that we shall petition Molten for your success on the surface."

With a final smile the pair link arms once more and pass on towards the front of the temple.

[Ssinith DIllil]

Giving the couple one final bow, he makes his way to the halls where he was first led to the Temperer... this time with a more careful pace as he carried his satchel with him with what he was able to find in his studies. He also had a couple of permissions to ask him, as this seemed to be a temple matter... however, it could lead to aid in this Ascention.

He looked for the office doors as he mused in his mind.

Firebrand... I wonder if this brand has more meaning than just being a servant of Molten. Another question I will have to ask the Temperer.

[Tristam]

Temperer Caldera was just coming out of his office as Ssinith approached his door. He was dressed as before in his formal robes of red and black and held a piece of volcanic rock pocked with holes in his hands.

He looked up from his door and smiled in recognition. "Ah Ssinith! Molten's blessings on you this day." Caldera looked appraisingly at Ssinith's new attire. "It is clear you have already been bleessed with many changes since we last met. What brings you to my door this day?"

[Ssinith DIllil]

"Yes, Father. I am here to share my current findings on the situation with the..."

He looked around to make sure nobody that shouldn't listen on this matter wasn't before returning his gaze to the Temperer. He was still slightly shy, but he seemed to have a sense of purpose in his voice unlike even the day he shouted out.

"... incident that you inquired me to study upon. If you do not know by now, I am going to war. I... caused quite a positive stir and would like to talk to you privately about a few things before I depart... Important things..."

Like possibly meeting the queen, the brand on his chest, the possibilities of the portal, and affirming himself to Molten before the war. Because he caused the stir, people may know who he was directly from the flamboyant firey robes he always wore. He knew he was a symbol now, but right now was a time to be discreet and not mobbed when he was making his final goodbyes.

[Tristam]

"Molten continues to work through you I hear." The temperer smiled and reopened the door to his office. "Any undertaking of this size would naturally attract the attention of the god of activity." Caldera waved Ssinith to the chair before his desk. He carefully placed the stone on his desk, closed the door to his office and then took his own seat. "It does not surprise me that one that felt compelled to speak at His urging would do so again."

Caldera turned to a small cabinet and took out from it a pair of small stone goblets and a crystal decanter of a red liquer. He filled the glasse and handed one to Ssinith. "You may speak in safety here, Ssinith. What have you to say?"

[Ssinith DIllil]

((If I'm wrong about how portals sort of work, then I can edit my possible theories here.))

"Well, let me get the long-winded subject out of the way... the portal."

Ssinith took a nice sip of that liquid in order to wet his tongue, as this was obviously going to take the longest to explain. Taking out his notes on the subject... which were long and numberous, he brought his abridged version in order to present to the Temperer.

"You probably know a little about this since the priests know how to power the portal, but explaining a little how portals work will explain the likely theories involved." Ssinith began, taking out a couple of rough charts.

"Your typical portal is a rip of energy space between the Tether and the Aether. A door, if you will, between the physical and metaphysical which usually arrives to another destination of the physical. So we have point G and point N. G obviously being Gulanadur, and N being what I believe to be Nazareen."

Ssinith tapped a finger across the one labeled G and rested his head on his other hand as he spoke.

"Now, I have not been able to study into stonemasonry, but I know for a fact that Adhiel stonework is shaped, not carved. Meaning that it was more than likely crafted by the Dwarven side of this agreement to allow our Molten brothers come to the main temple. Which puzzles me because Dwarves are not the magical type, at least in the arcane department. Which is why I believe that the primary energy to conduct this portal is directly from Molten... If such is the case... then it is likely a physical malfunction on either this end or the other end which caused an ejection. Here is where my concern lies."

Ssinith pointed out the "Aether" section in between.

"IF such was the case, we would have the Dwarves caught in the space here instead of out here..." Ssinith replied gesturing to the Gulanadur side.

"If there was a collapse on this side which would have caused enough energy to push the Dwarves onward, they would have ended up strewn on the other side... which leaves two viable options; the collapse happened at the other portal... or in the Aether itself. Unfortunately, I can not say what Divine energy is capable of producing at such a mass... but considering its ability to appear despite the lack of surrounding energy, for instance being able to light a fire in the arctic, I can assume that a collapse based on the collection of faith energy may indeed be able to cause enough of a blast to toss the Dwarves to the other end of the portal... and then the concept I am most afraid of touching upon, but seems the most likely option..."

Taking a small coal stick from his satchel, he circled the Aether in the chart, looking a bit pale from thinking about it.

"... The collapse happened in the Aether. A lot of things crawl about in the Aether, including our own god, Molten. It could have been one of the other gods, a roaming elemental... but on the Dwarves I found traces of an unknown energy that I have never seen before. Now... I know energy can be manipulated, I have seen that energy of Molten's fire and normal fire are the same thing from different sources. This... stuff... crawled away from me when I tried to identify it... energy just simply does not crawl away from you unless there is a sentient or moving force acting on it. The dwarf was not moving and I surely did not will it to move away from me. So my only guess is that whatever energy did this to them was more than likely a sentient energy... which brings me to one final possibility..."

He wrote "Nether" and crossed an opposite path down the center of the area marked "Aether". He bit his lip and remained silent.

"Though I am still a student, Temperer... I have seen energy. As an Alchemist I can see different essences of energy from emotion to life force itself and I could not identify this energy... and I can tell you honestly that I have never once seen Nether energy. All of what I have given you so far is nothing but theory, however. In order to give you a more accurate account of what may have happened, I will need to learn more about portals and the ideal portal would be wherever that one goes... and I am almost certain it goes to Nazareen. I would have to learn more about portals and how they work to see if our portal is able to be... well... redirected possibly, but as far as I could tell, the portal on our side is closed and not broken."

Ssinith finished his long-winded set of theories and sighed, bowing his head and wishing that he could have done more.

"... Which leads me to my next question... if this indeed leads to Nazareen and other Molten brothers... Dwarven or not, they would make valuable allies in the Ascention. If we can find out if they have either a closed or broken portal on their side, it would give us more information as to how we can help their kindred in this state. In order to make such a venture, we will have to make the Queen aware of our findings and see if she will agree to investigate this matter further. A working portal could be invaluable to the war if we can figure out what went wrong. With your permission, Temperer... I request to bring this information to the DeVir house itself. They are Moltenites as you and I, however, I do not trust a soul at the Mage's Guild to handle this properly if the portal is Divine-Based energy. The only ones who may give us more accurate information are the Moltenites in Nazareen... and since our Queen is a devout worshipper herself, that kindred would win her allies in this instance."

[Tristam]

The Temperer took in all that Ssinith had to say with a thoughtful expression on his face. At the mention of the Nether he frowned but said nothing to contradict that or any of the other theories offered. At the mention of the Queen, Caldera instead looked a little confused.

"Ssinith," He began. "I do not question that the aid of the Dwarves could well be of use in the Ascent and that this story would be of interest to Her Majesty. However," he paused to find the right words. "if you wish to investigate the Portal, it is under the strict control of the Temple and you will have the resources of the Molten's Faithful to aid you. What then do you seek from the Queen?"

[Ssinith DIllil]

"For permission to deal with things on the other side of this portal." Ssinith replied. "Think about it... how strict policies are on trading with the surface. Granted we are making more liberal moves with the surface, but this also is the problem of another land. I fear the political issues which may be drawn from this without the knowledge of the Queen."

Ssinith had a tone that he agreed that this should only be the Moltenites problem, but he was a man of logic. Moltenites were also loyal to the crown, as a Moltenite held the throne.

"Yet I understand how secret this must remain... and the walls have ears at the palace. This may be a delicate balancing act that we are tredding because there is more than likely another end to this portal in another land not ruled by her majesty. With the war arriving, if more politics in a negitave form occur and the Queen is not made aware, it could grieviously hinder Gulanadur as a whole... besides... think of the worst case scenario... what if a surface spy finds out about this and the surface dwellers are able to have access to this? If the Moltenites were found that they were hiding this and the enemy used it to their advantage... the consequences would be dire."

Ssinith weighed both the options of the worst that could happen from both. He didn't like either of them and he showed it.

"You are the Temperer, so your decision will be final... I see wisdom and danger in either case. All I ask is that not to underestimate any possible threat. The Moltenites hold the throne... this war hangs the entire balance of Gulanadur. Curing this problem is going to require diplomacy. I am sure Molten's temple have some fine diplomats. The problem would be if the noble houses see this as encroaching on their territory."

Looking into the Temperer's eyes, he sighed with a slight smile.

"I have faith, but Molten praises the effort of a well-thought plan. We have to be smart about this. We need to guard that thing like a fortress if we need to play with it. The problem is that we will attract attention one way or another to do so... and so the scale shifts in this decision."

Ssinith shrugs, leaning back and looking up to the ceiling before taking another sip.

"There is no safe way that I see to do this... I say we need all the bretheren support we can get. We have no need to tell her EVERYTHING."

[Tristam]

Caldera was silent for a long moment. "Her Majesty attends private services with the High Priest. He accepts my advice. I will arrange for you to get your interview." He decided.

"Molten guides your words, Firebrand. I trust He will give you the right ones when you meet Her Majesty." Caldera smiled thinly. He took a long sip of his drink. Settling back in his chair, the Temperer looked at him as if to invite the next revelation.

[Ssinith DIllil]

"My words?..." Ssinith replied in shock. "Meeting the Queen face to face? I was... just thinking about leaving a report!"

Oh firey hell, Ssinith!

Ssinith was NOT good with speaking with nobility. The back of his mind was praying to Molten to lend him some smoothness on this one...

"Ahhum... Molten has guided me before, surely He will guide me again." Ssinith replied sheepishly.

Taking a healthy swig of the drink himself after that revelation, he was visably nervous about such a meeting... for if it was just him doing to explanations, his ramblings may not be met with patience. He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I... can not dwell on 'what if's'... I will just talk as I always do." Ssinith replied calming down.

Good, Ssinith.

"By the way, Temperer."

Ssinith looked down at his brand and then back up to the Temperer, hoping changing the subject would calm his nerves.

"People keep calling me 'Firebrand' now. Is there more to this brand than just Molten's favor upon the person? I do accept the honor of being called such, but I do not understand it fully. Could you please enlighten me?"

[Tristam]

"I am surprised you have come across the term in your training, though it is true that it is not used much." Caldera allowed. "The simple answer is that a Firebrand is one Molten speaks through. Not like a priest who tries to use their own words to convey the will of Molten, but one whom Molten uses as a conduit for his own words. Your pair of speechs have convinced some that you are such a one, Ssinith. They wait for you to speak again."

Caldera chuckles at the discomfiture no doubt running through Ssinith at that thought. "Do not be worried that you shall have to give adresses or expected to drop wisdom at every occasion. They know that a Firebrand only speaks when the spirit of Molten flows through him. So they will not pressure you to speak. But don't be surprised if Molten's followers tend to draw near you. They may wish to be close in hopes of being there when Molten does speak."

[Ssinith DIllil]

Ssinith paused a moment and blinked, wondering what he did to recieve such an honor. His ears drooped slightly, dumbfounded, but he remained focused and nodded solumnly.

"I am beginning to understand why I caused such a stir. A Sorcerer as a Firebrand must confound many priests. I ponder why I earned such an honor with Molten, but I will not question his choice."

And with that in mind, do you think He does not know that you are going out to war? You are His conduit for His word.

True... but it is the effort He desires most, and it would be wrong for me to say farewell to everyone but Him before departing.

"How much time before this meeting with the Queen?" Ssinith inquired. "The Heart Keeper of the Ascent told me to meet him at the first mark of eveningtide. Will I need to send a messenger?"

Ssinith looked at himself as well as his hat and trembled slightly.

"Do... you think I need to change my attire? Granted these are far from peasant's clothes, but I doubt they are fit for a Queen. I need to be taken seriously for this meeting" he said in a fluster. "I left my more... noble clothing at my parents house since I was going to war and needed more practical things."

[Tristam]

"Her Majesty comes at mid Tradetide this day." Caldera replied. "As it happens She comes to petition Molten's favor for the Ascent." Such timing could only be brought about by the Burning One. Clearly this was something meant to be. "Fear not about your appearance. I am sure all is as it should be." Caldera assured Ssinith. "Speak with feeling and all shall be well."

"Now, I believe there were other topics you wished to discuss, yes?" Caldera prompted him. "We had better get to them lest you miss your appointed time."

[Ssinith DIllil]

"If you say so..." Ssinith replied with a sigh.

Something struck him about his favor... he could do this for the Queen as well. Entering the firey furnace that is Molten's inner core would be rough on the Queen, so why not get Molten's direct word on the situation? He was supposedly his voice, after all!

"I... did have one last favor to ask." Ssinith began. "I have said farewell to everyone here before the Ascent... well, except a friend of mine that I am not sure I can find, but I am sure he is either here or joining the Ascent. In any case, my brother once said that if you are going to tell someone something of any importance, to do so to their face. I want to tell Molten himself that I am leaving for this war and giving it all I have. As there lies the chance that I may return here as a corpse, I want to at least leave my regards at the Antechambre to affirm myself before Molten before leaving. It may be wise to do so after the meeting so I'm not a soggy mess before Her Majesty. May I have one last meeting at the Antechambre before departing for war? If she is to petition Molten's favor, it may be wise to see if He has anything to say specificly on the matter."

[Tristam]

Caldera nodded thoughtfully at the request. "It is unusual for one to brave the antchamber so soon after communing with Molten, but these are unusual times. You will not be refused your petition. Whether you speak for yourself or the nation is up to her Majesty."

Caldera rose from his desk. "I have many to speak to arrange what we have discussed here. You may make use of my office if you wish a quiet place to wait or of course the temple is open to you. Just let one of the priests or acolytes know where you go so we can find you when all is ready." Caldera walked to his door and then turned around with a half-smile on his face. "Interesting times indeed eh Firebrand? Let's pray we are up to the tasks Molten had placed before us."

OOC: Unless you have specific things to play out we can summarize your time between now and the meeting with the Queen.

[Ssinith DIllil]

"Indeed..."

Ssinith went to find Marrek, obviously informing someone of where he was going. He would say a good farewell to him if he found him, since he was going to war. Afterwards, he would return to the office of the Temperer, and perhaps look curiously at the stone he had previously, trying to figure out what it was.

If he had some time after that, he would sit and meditate on Molten and his will for the Ascent... as well as courage to speak well to the Queen.

[Tristam]

"Marrek?" One of the acolytes queried as Ssinith searched for his friend. "Why the Master smith has not left his forge since the ascent was announced. They've practically picked the Merchant Houses clean to get things ready so quickly and he dare not leave his workshop even for prayers."

Thus Ssinith had plenty time to examine the rock in the temperer's office. It was as it appeared on first glance, a black porous volcanic rock about the size of man's cupped hands. On closer inspection, the pores in the rock connected up inside to a central cavity. The tunnels within look too smooth to be natural. At a guess, one would pour liquid in the top and let it drain. There is nothing to indicate why one would do this though.

His meditations were quiet and undisturbed. From time to time he thought he felt the warmth of Molten upon him but could not be sure if it was anything more than a snatch of memory or just a warm draft of air. Caldera approached Ssinith so quietly that the calmness of his meditations was unbroken.

"Ssinith." He spoke softly. "It is time."

[Ssinith DIllil]

Ssinith should have figured that, but understood why. Thus, he left Marrek to do his work. He looked at the rock for a few moments in curiousity, believing it to be used for some sort of ritual he knew noting about.

He felt the warmth, trying to calm himself for the meeting. He opened his eyes slowly, breathing slowly out of his meditation and stood up with his satchel at his side. He gulped, showing his real sign of nervousness, but seemed poised, removing his hat and letting all of his braided locks fall down his shoulders. The slight jingle of the occational bead seemed to keep the attention given to his worries diverted.

"Lead the way, Temperer..."

How much should I go into detail, Molten? I know you have my back, so I refuse to let it worry me.

[Tristam]

Caldera led Ssinith deep into the Temple into tunnels carved out of the rock by boiling magma and polished smooth by loving and reverent hands. There were only a few torches mounted on the wall to give light but the walls reflected the red glow all the way down the passages.

They rounded a bend and abruptly came before a door and two Dark Knights. The Knights looked poised and ready satnding with the cool confidence that there training gave them. The red light reflected dully off their chain shirts and drawn swords. They nodded respectfully to the Temperer and then turned their glare to Ssinith. After a flicker they turned to the side to allow them to pass.

Caldera touched something on the side of the wall and the door slid noiselessly into the wall. A wave of heat poured out into the passage rich with the smell of brimstone. Inside was a small altar of black basalt rock carved with the symbols of Molten. It was unadorned. It needed no adornment for a small flow of lava ran down the wall and into a channel in the floor. Molten's presence here could almost be felt. A third Dark Knight stood vigililantly in a corner of the room. Before the altar, a young woman knelt in prayer. Her skin was the deepest ebony gently shining like a polished gem in the red light. Her white hair was cut short framing her face. She was wearing a robe of red and black like the acolytes of Molten do.

"Your Majesty?" Caldera asked quietly. The young woman stayed where she was for a moment then gracefully rose from the altar and turned to face them. She looked so young, barely fifteen yahren. Yet, she wore the cold iron and diamond crown with authority and her gaze was keen and apprasing.

"Who is this you bring before us, Temperer?" Queen Ser'raquine asked with interest.

"He is a Fireband, Majesty. Ssinith D'Illil by name and he has words he would speak to you." Caldera said simply.

The Queen of Gulanadur looked at Ssinith with new interest. "Our ears will always hear the words of Molten. What have you to say to us, Ssinith?"

[Ssinith DIllil]

Ssinith heard she was young, but... she was younger than he was! Ssinith would have had a nervous look of stone on his face until he finally gazed upon the queen. It then turned into a look of relieved surprise and a warm smile.

And here I was expecting an intimidating beauty... no, Molten. This is actually someone I can relate to. Your daughter is... wow.

The Queen of Gulanadur looked at Ssinith with new interest. "Our ears will always hear the words of Molten. What have you to say to us, Ssinith?"

He thought he'd be a stammering fool to the queen's beauty as he had been with vastly gorgeous women in the past, but there was something about the acolyte robes which told him she had humility on top of power... a trait which Ssinith found comfort in, and which allowed him to speak from his heart. Still, he did take a deep breath before speaking, allowing the heat to strengthen his resolve instead of taking his focus to her beauty. He realized how tall he was and knelt down so that his head wasn't higher than the queens, but lifted his head to see her, the beads from his war braids making a melodic clap as his insanely long hair cluttered to the ground.

"Truly... you are a favored daughter of Molten" Ssinith began honestly, getting his slightly smitten streak out of the way. "I am a sorcerer by trade, and was asked to look into a tragedy that happened here in Molten's very house. I gave The Temperer the lengthy explanation of what could have happened, but I make a long story short to say that several of Nazareen's citizens and brothers in Molten are in states of great trauma. The priests here can not figure out precisely what happened, and even with my background, all I have is theory."

Go on and tell her about the Portal, Ssinith...

He closed his eyes briefly and nodded to himself, as if affirming Molten's wishes of getting on with it.

"Your Majesty... what I am about to say is information which in the hands of the wrong people could be fatal to Gulanadur. I do not doubt the loyalty of your guards, but I have studied magic and there are people who can read people's minds. With your permission and Molten's, could the Temperer pray for a way to make certain this information is just between the three of us and Molten?"