When I came up with the idea for a interview column I then realised that I needed someone of great importance to start the ball rolling. Who better than the head of the school of magic I thought. I quickly got my office to arrange a interview and was surprised the next day to find that he accepted.
The next week I found myself in a comfortable sitting room in the School of Magics Salloway residence. I was just reaching for a glass of water when the door opened and Pelanor Darkwing entered
Pelanor stands around 6 feet tall. He has pale skin, dark swept back hair and intense green eyes. He wore dark purple velvety robes with all the arcane symbols of his status. He has the characteristic good looks and pointy ears of his kind. Yes that's right pointy ears. For if you did not already know Pelanor is an Elf.

We got the initial greetings and pleasantries over before I started the interview. I thought I would start with a question on many peoples minds.

“So how did you get to be the head of the School of Magic?”

He smiled and took a sip from his glass before answering. “I guess it surprised a lot of people. An unknown, an Elf rising above the others to become the head. Many resent me for the position that I have earned. I can understand why. We, and by that I mean Elves are not greatly trusted by human kind. Our association with the Fey creates suspicion. But Mage’s do not share the same superstitions as the general populous. They are more open minded. Does that sound condescending? It isn’t meant to be. In the end I worked hard under Alastar (The former head) as his secretary. I knew what the position required and I was qualified to do it. That's why I was voted in and that's why I am the right man for the job.”

“But are you the right man? Some say you aren’t. Some say you abuse you position. Creating new laws for the public to adhere to and creating a monopoly in the field of magic.”

“You must understand that I have not created any new laws. Only the Kings may do that. I am enforcing old laws laid down by the Kings of each of the Garaleyern countries some time ago. I am not abusing my power. I am doing my job. Alastar ran the school differently I agree. He was less strict perhaps then I am. I am not saying that he ran the school in a worse than I am. He was very good at his job. Its just different circumstances breed different necessity. In Alastar’s long reign there was very little war or threats to the social order. These are dangerous times we now live in. Threats from abroad and civil war shake the countries. Magic is something that has to be controlled. It is too dangerous. One man or woman proficient in the arts can cause devastating effects on the lands and its peoples if allowed to. The school is there to prevent such things. It makes sure its members abide by the law and are not a threat. That is why the law was created that all non school members performing magic in the lands of Garaleyer were liable for prosecution and the School of Magic was given special license to enforce the law by arresting the perpetrators and putting them on trial.
Those are the duties that we perform and that is why Garaleyer is becoming a more secure place in regards to magic.

“So how come certain individuals and organisations seem to escape the Schools notice?”

“Like who?”

“The Red Cloaks, The Heralds Guild, Galin the Arcane and Allister the Black”

“The Heralds Guild have always been the exception to the rule. As the agents of the nobility they have special rights and needs for magic and thus when the law was drawn up they were given special rights to perform magic. They enforce certain rules and regulations within their own Guild. Galin and the Red Cloaks have been given special permission from King Urath the Third to cast magic within the country of Erland. I am sure he has his own reasons on why he has done so and I cannot speak on his behalf. Allister...well Allister has always been exceptional at avoiding the school. In know way is the school incompetent and finding him. He is just a very clever and powerful man with years of experience. If anyone should be good at avoiding us, the Apprentice of the Necromancer should.
I feel confident that one day he will slip up and when he does the school shall bring him to trial. Though I think we shall not be the only ones interested in prosecuting him. I believe Erland’s authorities and the Holy Order of the Oak have warrants for his arrest.”

“What of the Schools relationship with Erlands Royal household? In recent months they have caused an obvious split with Erland. Refusing to pay taxes and withdrawing their envoys.”

“Let me make things clear. The school has never by law been obligated to pay taxes in the country of Erland. We did so through choice and withdrew our payments after the country was thrown into civil war. It is not our intend to fund in any way one sides army whilst the country lies in civil war. The School stays neutral in such matters. The School is only obligated to pay taxes to the Isle of Caragar. We withdrew our envoys not because of some dispute. But because of some internal politics at the school of magic. Each of the respective envoy’s have been returned to their posts under the Earlish nobility and I stress no School Magician shall take part in any conflict in the Civil war unless they themselves are of Earlish nobility.”
“Around the same period that the school withdrew its envoys the Church of Math Mathonwy split from the Holy Order of the Oak. This seems like a strange coincidence. Do you have any comment on the split?”

“No, not really. The Church of Math makes its own decisions and I have no authority to speak on their behalf. All that I will say is the School of Magic and Church of Math Mathonwy have always had very close ties and shall continue to do so.”

“Tell me about the Elves. Why is it we rarely see any? What is it like growing up in an Elven community?”

“Elven kind are a very private people. Elves come from the union between Humans and Sidhe.” (He pronounced it Shee) “Our Sidhe blood gives us a love of nature and a need to commune with it. Our human blood gives a fascination with the world around us. And a desire to further ourselves and learn. Yet despite these fine qualities that we inherited from both races, we still find ourselves lost. We find that the humans are not yet ready to accept us. And in a way Elves are not yet ready to announce themselves to the world. We are a young race and still very small in number. We gather ourselves into small communities away from human eyes, but those communities are very peaceful ones and they are a great environment to grow up in.
In Elven communities there is no need for money. Each member provides for the other. Knowledge is shared and the people look after each other.
For now we stay hidden. But I hope that soon we can reveal ourselves and integrate ourselves into the Human community. And when that happens I am sure that there is a lot that both of our races can teach each other.”

“Pelanor Darkwing, thank you for talking with me.”

“Thank you.”

And with that I ended the interview. And Pelanor was happy to show me around the Schools Headquarters in Salloway.

Peter Evans was interviewing Pelanor Darkwing