[Previous session]

After initial testing to gauge Laylah's previous learning, Master Volan began teaching her the Krithian language and Celestian religious lore. Most of the lessons were conducted atop Volan's observatory tower. Volan suggested that, after each day's lessons, Laylah meditate there alone and pray to Rashira for guidance in using her prophetic gifts. After the first few days, Volan changed her schedule to include night sessions to study astronomy. (She asked if he knew the Desert Tongue. He knew some, but could not give it priority in her lessons.)

Darra helped Pelmark and Corben go through the papers and books which they had seized from Taroq's lair in the ruins. These papers fell into three general categories:

• General references on the occult and necromancy, in many languages (some of which none of the three of them could read).
• Copies of artwork from the Anidel ruins, some of which must have been from sites which they had not seen. Taroq seemed to most interested in the designs relating to the sacred flaming sword they had seen in one frieze, which one sheet identified as the "Phoenix Sword."
• Three sets of maps: the ruins between the tomb and Theronton; the eastern parts of the Sandmarch desert, which showed locations of some of the Horse chieftain's residences; detailed sketches of Castle Farvale (the Krithian fortress near the source of the Yangar River) and its environs, with notes on troop strengths.

While sorting these things, Darra found a scrap of parchment with a strange design on it. She quietly pocketed this for further study. After the first day or two, they realized that except for the maps and tomb sketches, they could find nothing significantly personal--no journal, no key rituals, no prayer book, etc.

The night of the full moon (6 Blooming), Darra sought solitude because, as a were, she had no choice but to change during the full moon. She informed her companions, then vanished for about 24 hours. As Darra headed back into town, she noticed a person in desert nomad robes following her. She confronted the person, a woman with strange cat-like eyes, who asked her to which tribe she belonged. (Darra has obvious Desert Men ancestry, but knows nothing of that culture.) Darra's fatigue made her speak more freely than her usual wont. They soon learned that both of them had contact with people marked by gods, and people who were unsure about whether to be invested as clerics. (Darra was thinking of Laylah. The desert woman, Ruqayyah, sees her cat eyes as a mark of her goddess, but is unsure whether she wants the burden of priestly responsibilities.) Ruqayyah was very briefly introduced to Laylah before Darra excused herself to get some sleep, and Laylah left for her lessons with Volan.

The next day, Ruqayyah spoke with some children in town about "what's going on that's interesting?" She was told about a silver-skinned priest visiting from up north. She learned from others that the priest was Master Pelmark, a member of Darra's group. She left a message for Darra, who (with Laylah) sought her out at The Singing Saddle, an inn where Ruqayyah danced evenings for her room and board. They got better acquainted. When Laylah described her dreams, the dream of the cat, camel and horse made Ruqayyah anxious to return home and warn her tribe of the danger.

After several days of meditation, Laylah was surprised to hear a voice in the wind speak to her: "Daughter…do you wish to serve me?" Laylah had decided to serve Rashira when she left the circus, but knew she had much to learn in order to be a useful servant. However, she did not wish to be burdened with learning all the rituals and such used by the Celestian Church. She was answered with, "These are not my only children, but learn what you can." Laylah promised to learn what she could, but wanted to know when it was time to go south. "You will know…."

Corben's company decided to return to Berigissel as soon as the local clerics returned in a few days from their mission to cleanse the tomb Taroq had used. Bran needed an extended leave of absence to try to recover from his psychic scars, so he and his brother Fran would return to their home near Castle Farvale--and warn the authorities there about Taroq's notes at the same time. Pelmark spoke with Darra and Laylah about their plans. Laylah felt a need to go south soon (after her healing and lessons were complete), and because Darra had no better leads on her father's whereabouts, she would go with her new friend. Pelmark offered his company for that trip, but Laylah could not say yet whether she desired it. He said that, in that case, he would return to Berigissel with Corben, but that she could reach him through Master Volan if she wished his help in the future.

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