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Ice and Steel	By : Skullbearer Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 3083 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the book(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Paraphrased a lot of 'The Soulforge' here, but there wasn't any other way of doing it. I hope I've offered enough variation that you won't be bored.
I own nothing, the characters and half this chapter belong to Weis and Hickman *checks* Actually the chapter bit belongs just Weis, Hickman didn't write 'The Soulforge'. Oh goody, just one set of lawsuits to contend with.
Good News and Bad News
Look at me now,
Got no religion.
Look at me now,
I'm so vacant.
-Marilyn Manson, I Want to Disappear.
Raistlin blinked, Theobald had never come to their door before and he had doubted the man had even known where it was.
Yet here he was and on spotting the two mages he turned and walked towards them, a grim look on his face.
Dalamar looked non-plussed, but Raistlin had his own suspicions; it had to be something quite serious for Theobald to bother going himself. What was more, the scrollcase he was holding was not one Raistlin recognized as belonging to the man
He had an unpleasant feeling that this had something to do with his exposing of Judith the previous autumn, and that the scrollcase had come from the Conclave.
Theobald didn't help his fears, scowling at him; "I have just returned from a meeting of the Conclave in the Tower at Wayreth, Majere, would you like to know who featured among the topics in discussion?"
Raistlin could hazard a guess, but stayed silent, matching the man's gaze glower for glower.
"Your actions in Haven were reported to the Conclave, Majere, you broke many rules, not the least of which was casting a spell far above your capability."
Dalamar snorted and Raistlin hid a smile, he had cast the spell- it now occupied a space in his spellbook as a matter of fact- so it couldn't be that far beyond his ability. Still, no use antagonizing the old fart, best let him rant and discover what his punishment would be.
"I did what I thought best under the circumstances, Master." Raistlin said, as meekly as he could.
"Rubbish! You know what was right under the circumstances. You should have reported the wizardess to us as a renegade. We would have dealt with her in time."
Dalamar didn't come to Raistlin's defense on this one. The Dark elf was for once in complete agreement with Theobald, although this was more due to his fears about Raistlin's welfare than because of the Conclave's laws.
"In time, Master," Raistlin emphasized, he'd have to defend himself then, "Meanwhile, innocent people were being bilked out of what little they had, others were being driven from their homes." None of which Dalamar had given a damn about, but he hoped it would go down better with Theobald. "The charlatan priestess and her followers were doing irreparable harm. I sought to end it."
"You ended it alright." Theobald spoke darkly.
Oh Gods, not again. "I was exonerated from her murder, Master." Raistlin snapped sharply, "I have a writ-"
"None of this is explaining why you are standing outside our house, if you have anything to say, please do so."
Ah finally, thank you Dalamar.
Theobald sent the Dark elf a very ugly look and grunted; "Well, you handled the matter badly, but, still, you handled it. Damn near got yourself killed-"
"Now, please." Theobald's glower wilted under Dalamar's steely eyes.
"-As I said, the Conclave discussed the matter." Theobald finished, with a wary glance at the Dark elf.
Raistlin waited to hear his punishment. He had already decided that if they forbade him to practice magic then he would turn renegade himself before he did so. He just hoped that the Conclave hadn't included Dalamar in his punishment, although a small part of him hoped they had, if only because it wouldn't keep them apart.

Theobald removed the lid of the scrollcase, fussing with the parchment until Raistlin was longing to snatch it from his hands. Finally the scroll came out and Theobald handed it to Raistlin.
"Here, pupil. You might as well read it for yourself."
Raistlin swallowed, hands numb. He wondered if he had enough courage to read it.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he unrolled the scroll and tried to focus his eyes on it.
It was a moment before the fog of fear cleared from his eyes and he was able to see more than an incomprehensible blur.
When he was able to understand the words, he couldn't believe them. His stomach, which a moment ago had been filled with writhing snakes, now appeared to have vanished.
Stunned he looked up from the parchment to Theobald, "I...this...this can't be right. I'm too young."
"That's what I said." Theobald said nastily, "But I was overruled." He sent one last scowl at the two mages, one thunderstruck, the other starting to look nervous. "Come to me if you have any questions about your spellbook."
"I will," Raistlin said absently, still staring at the scroll and not even registering when Theobald left.
"Raistlin?" Dalamar said softly, "What is it?" The Dark elf lay one hand on Raistlin's shoulder.
The younger mage looked at Dalamar, all masks had slipped for the Dark elf's face, and his worry was visible to all.
Unable to speak in the midst of shock and the first stirrings of incredulous joy, Raistlin shoved the scroll into Dalamar's hands.
The Dark elf glanced down at the parchment.
/The aspiring magus, Raistlin Majere, is hereby summoned to the Tower of High Sorcery at Wayreth to appear before the Conclave of Wizards on the seventh day of the seventh month at the seventh hour. At this time, in this place, you will be tested by your superiors for inclusion into the ranks of those gifted by the three gods, Solinari, Lunitari, Nuitari./
Dalamar nearly dropped the scroll and turned to Raistlin, who was now grinning wildly.
"You..." Dalamar slapped the scroll, a smile growing to match Raistlin's, "You..."
Raistlin started to laugh, Oh dear sweet Gods, was this the reward for having endured the last few months? If so then he would gladly have done tenfold more for this honor!
Dalamar stared at the parchment, smiled broadly, shook his head in astonishment; then he lowered the scroll and hugged the young mage. Raistlin rested his head on Dalamar's chest, hands reaching around to hold the Dark elf in turn. He couldn't seem to stop grinning, he felt so happy.
"Let's go inside," Raistlin said, half into the elf's robes, "We're making a spectacle of ourselves."
"Let them watch." Dalamar smiled, but followed Raistlin into the house.

The two mages calmed down a little and sat down at the kitchen table to read through the parchment properly.
The rest of the scroll went as follows:
/To be invited to take the test is a great honor, an honor accorded to few, and should be taken seriously. You may impart knowledge of this honor to members of your immediate family, but to no others./
"Do I count as immediate family?" Dalamar asked, raising an eyebrow at the past passage.
"A lot more immediate than any other member of my family." Raistlin answered, a bitter expression on his face at the thought of his brother.
Dalamar's smile was small but very, very pleased.
/Failure to accede to this injunction could mean the forfeiture of the right to take the Test.
You will bring you spellbook and spell components. You will wear robes representing the alliance of you sponsor. The colour of the robes you will wear, if and when you are apprenticed- i.e., your allegiance to one of the three gods- will be determined during the Test. You will carry no weapons, nor any magical artifacts. Magical artifacts will be provided during the Test itself in order to judge your skill in the handling of said artifacts./
Raistlin sighed and ran one finger over the glittering ring Dalamar had given him. "I suppose I'll have to give this back to you." The ring was magical, found when Dalamar was traveling North from Tarsis.
It was a pity, he'd have liked to keep it with him during the Test. It was enchanted to protect it's wearer against charms and manipulations of the mind and would doubtlessly have come in useful.
Oh well. Raistlin read on.
/In the unfortunate event of your demise during the Test, all personal effects will be returned to your family./
Raistlin looked surreptitiously at Dalamar and saw the Dark elf's lips thin as he eyes passed the sentence but he didn't speak. He knowing very well, like Raistlin did, that there was always the risk of death during the test.
Dalamar glanced up and caught Raistlin's eye. He smiled, slightly embarrassed, and dropped his eyes again.
"Is it so wrong to not want you harmed?" He murmured almost inaudibly.
Raistlin smiled and covered the Dark elf's hand with his own. "Worth the risk for the rewards, you know this."
Dalamar blinked, "Of course! I would never try to stop you from taking the Test, Raistlin, no matter what the risks."
Another smile, one that came from the warmth in his heart, then Raistlin read on:
/You might be provided with an escort to the Tower, but your escort should be aware that he or she will not be allowed to enter the Guardian Forest. Any attempt to force entry will result in the most grievous harm to the escort. We will not be held responsible./
The last sentence had been crossed out and below it was written:
/An exception to this rule has been made in regard to Caramon Majere, twin brother to the aforementioned contestant. Caramon is expressly desired to attend his brother's testing. He will be admitted into the Guardian Forest. His safety will be guaranteed, at least during the time he is within the forest./
The two mages looked up from the scroll as one, no longer smiling. Raistlin glanced back down at the last paragraph, as if hoping it would change if he looked again. It didn't.
"I am not," Raistlin hissed, "Taking that idiot along for the ride. I can barely tolerate his presence as it is."
Dalamar didn't speak, poker face in place.
"What were these people thinking?" Raistlin waved one hand at the parchment, "Why should they care if my brother comes along at all? We've hardly been close this past year and he certaintly’s never shown any talent for the magic!" Raistlin smirked at the very idea.
Dalamar looked over at him. He's jealous, Raistlin realized, surprised. He's jealous because while he's going to have to wait outside the Forest, Caramon is welcomed in with opened arms.
Caramon and Dalamar had been fighting for his attention for the past year, and while he admitted that it felt rather good to know that he was so important to at least two people in his life, he'd thought the matter settled.
Obviously not.
The Dark elf took a deep breath, back ramrod straight. "We don't have to tell him. Think about it, he knows nothing and so we'll tell him nothing. When it's time to leave for Wayreth, we say nothing. You're barely talking to him as it is, he won't suspect anything if we leave without telling him where we're going."
Raistlin smiled, grabbing onto the idea. "He mentioned before that he's going to be traveling up north with Kitiara and Sturm, we can just tell the Conclave that he'd already left or that he didn't want to come. No loss there. I wonder why they wanted him along in the first place?"
Dalamar grinned, "They probably think you still need his shoulder to lean on, his support while you take the Test. If so, then it won't matter if he doesn't turn up, does it?"
Raistlin shook his head, smiling broadly. No, it doesn't.

Skull Bearer.
- 14
- 15
- 16
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Ice and Steel