He reached past the blade, picking up the message that had been sent from Griffon Keep. Souriin was becoming bold, and had not shied from revealing his hand. In the Keep, where knowledge of the arcane and the powerful were traded readily, Damus was sure there would be someone who would identify the apprentice necromancer, and her master. Sure that Souriin was already making his move, Damus again doubted whether he was making the right decision. Fighting another wave of disorientating dizziness, Damus was glad that there were now more to take on responsibilities in New Ivrea. The new Mayor would do well if Damus could keep the bickering Council off his back. He prepared the spell to take him to the Library, lowering his voice until it resonated with the stones at his feet, with all places. Just like the tuning fork that Camanthalar had crafted, it was all a matter of attunement. He finished the spell and silence and emptiness replaced the bard, followed by a quick rush of air.

The musty air of the University, filled with strange smells and often eerie chants, filled Damus with a sense of unease. He knew that the neutrality of these halls of power would soon be tested. At least an outside threat would temper the mettle of these Mages. He quickly made his way to the inner library, trying to avoid attention, dressed as a junior mage and taking advantage of his smaller half-elven frame to project a youthful appearance. He was sure that another student he passed looked like a journeyman bard he knew from Griffon Keep. It was hard to keep a good story hidden. He walked through the Library to the far corner, where sun beamed through a stained glass window recovered from Lemonaris. Seated at the desk, Souriin looked up as the bard rounded the corner...

It had taken many years of practice to keep the surprise from touching Damus's expression. Souriin was dressed in black robes, silvery script encircling his arms. However the eyes glinting from beneath the hood hinted at the old camaraderie.

"Greetings, Mage." Damus smiled. "I see the essence of young virgins has maintained your youth."
"It's a disguise. That's how I get around undetected these days. And what years I gained, I've now lost due to those strange beings we encountered in the Shimmering. What is so important that we meet ahead of schedule?"

"I will cut to the chase Souriin. We have very little time before the trolls invade. We need a battle mage that will unite the nations, not a necromancer that will divide the churches, alienate the druids and strike fear into the heart of the common man. They must never doubt what they are fighting for. The halflings have the spirit for it. The secretive little buggers are amongst the most prepared."

Souriin had never been a great actor - his expression said it all. He was fighting to believe the course he had taken. But Damus had needed to see it for himself. He was not lost...yet. The silence was getting uncomfortably long before Souriin spoke again.

"I...can't go back to the way things were, whether I want to or not. Necromancy IS a tool nobody will expect us to use but I don't dare to leave the project unattended. It's too dangerous and... and I don't trust anyone else to keep it on the right path. I will however need backup if things get out of hand. The people I lead are all... unusual. I'll tell you about it when we meet in New Ivrea. Now what is it that I can help you with?'

"I will help keep your cohort of necromancers from the mind's eye, if you help me unravel my own mystery. I know not where I was for two days. I put on a brave face for the Council, and have reasons and alibis for my absence. But in truth I only have hazy dreams and few vague perceptions. Things don't make as much sense as they used to. I question every move I make and every motive. Soon my political enemies will realise something is wrong and pounce."

Souriin barked in mirth, bringing curious stares from people sitting around them.

"Hah, I'm possibly the worst mage to come to when it comes to mind magics." His eyes narrowed focusing on Damus's distaste. "Also possibly the only mage you could entrust with your precious thoughts, since I find mind-control so...perverse. It's funny how you were never sure of what links I might have forged to the central blade - but what never occured to you is that I didn't WANT anything to do with your Manticorum. You people LOOK for trouble! I've had a lifetime of it - let others rush around the world trying to glue it together. I find it an endless hassle delegating responsibility. If a problem exists, I try to fix it. I'd rather not know about any more problems, thank you."

He looked again at his friend, smiling wolfishly. "Euvgeni has already declared me a pariah. Are you sure you trust me not to fiddle with your mind? After all, I know you're the first person the Council would send to stop my wicked plans."