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Red on Red	By : Sylviana_of_Qualinost Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 4499 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonlance or any of the characters. DL belongs to Wizards of the Coast and Weis and Hickman. No money is made from these installments.

Chapter List
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Chapter 2:

An Easy Road. Of Daisies and Lilies.
Traveling through Ansalon was easy at the end of the summer. The roads were dry like the weather, the rains holding off for another couple of weeks, waiting for the advent of autumn. Antimodes made good time on his little pony, the elf-woman Silviana keeping a slow pace on her dapple mare at his side. The white-robe did not normally like traveling in company, finding that it impeded his mingling with the local crowd, distracting him from paying close attention to the circulating rumors. Regardless of the fact, Antimodes found that Silviana's company was relaxing and comforting in a way that a mug of hot cider was comforting on a midwinter's night. She had none of the haughty aloofness of her kind, none of the incessant pride that made the elves look at all other races as inferior. Silviana looked upon the world with awe and curiosity, wanting to touch and explore that which was different. Yes, Antimodes thought to himself, very unlike her kind.
Another one of her inherent qualities was that, inadvertently, people found themselves telling her the innermost troubles of their hearts. One did not feel judged in her company, she asked questions like a mother would ask questions, calmly not demanding, making observations based on the things one did not mention that were uncannily accurate. After several weeks of travel, Antimodes found that there was an inner peace in his soul that was not present there before. All his suspicions about what Par-Salian had planned, all his worries about the fate of Ansalon and the role that his young protegee would have to play, were eased. They were there still, but being with Silviana made him realize that the ravages of fate could not be avoided, that he should be contented with what he was doing. After all, there was not much more for him to do.
The white robe began to think that there might be something to Par-Salian's idea. In truth, there was little Silviana could do to heal Raistlin physically, even with her considerable skill, a fact that Antimodes did not have the heart to tell her. But perhaps she could do something to ease his mind, to become a friend. That after all was its own kind of healing. The only thing that worried Antimodes considerably was that Silviana, oblivious of the world as she was, would be thrown into the crude world of mercenary soldiers. He hoped for her sake, that the woman would be able to take care of herself.
And so, as the last days of the summer were drawing to a close, Antimodes brought Silviana to the castle of Ivor of Langtree.

***
Horkin was sitting back in his laboratory, carefully going about the business of pouring maple syrup into portable vials. He was glad the season was finally over and was looking forward to taking a trip to his hometown to visit his old acquaintances and indulge in his guilty pleasure of ice-fishing once winter set in. Tomorrow, the stationary troops would be dismissed until the spring training time came again. The soldiers would be going home. All that is, besides the Majere brothers and their ever present friend Scrounger. The baron had extra work for them and the young men were more than willing to oblige Ivor in exchange for shelter at the castle until spring time. None of them expressed a specific desire to go back to their home towns. Experience, Raistlin had said, was more important to him, and Caramon willingly agreed with the statement.
Red had already proved his usefulness over the several campaigns of the season, but Horkin did not bother telling the mage that he should take a break. The young, after all, wanted action. They were restless. So let the baron make use of them while he could. Ivor's distaste for Raistlin had dissipated considerably since the incident at Hope's End, aided by the secret supposition that the young mage had defeated the enemy wizard, Immolatus, a fact that Raistlin never admitted too, but that everyone suspected he had done anyway.
Caught up in his own musings, Horkin did not notice the knocking on the door for a while. Taking the liberty upon himself, a young soldier promptly opened the door and poked his head inside the laboratory. The man cleared his throat and Horkin started, nearly spilling the syrup.
“What don't you know how to knock?” He barked then cut the man off before he could answer, “no, never mind, just tell me what you want.”
“Begging your pardon, Master Horkin,” the man began, “there are two mages here to see you. A white- robe named Antimodes and a red-robe whose name I did not get. Say they are from the tower.”
“Of course they are from the bloody tower!” Horkin growled, displeased by the prospect of entertaining some haughty tower mages. At the same time his impressions of Antimodes were generally positive and so he quickly relaxed. “Well bring them in, don't just stand there.”
The man did as he was told and Horkin quickly packed away the syrup. It's not as though he cared what the higher orders thought of him, but being caught with maple syrup was slightly embarrassing.
The soldier returned quickly, followed by the two mages. Horkin's gaze swept quickly over the white-robe. Nothing new there. However it was hard to conceal his surprise at the sight of the red-robe. A red-robed elf. Now there was something new.
“Master Horkin,” Antimodes said with a gracious incline of the head. “It is good to see you again. May I present to you Lady Silviana of Qualinesti.”
Horkin was taken aback by the woman's warm smile and her pleasant greeting. This was not a typical elf, that was certain.
“Yes, please, guests be seated.” The two mages sat down in the worn wooden chairs on the opposite side of the table from Horkin. Ensured that the guests were as comfortable as the meager accommodations allowed, Horkin continued. “How may I be of service to the tower?”
“Straight to the point as always, Master Horkin.” Antimodes smiled appreciatively. “The business at hand is simple. I was to bring the Lady Silviana to make your acquaintance and have her remain here in the capacity of a healer.”
Horkin suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“If you are looking to enroll with the army, I am afraid you are several months too late and several more too early,” he looked from the white-robe to the red-robed elf soberly, “besides, sweetheart, no offense but I don't take on women.”
Silviana's smile wavered.
“Well, it isn't exactly the army that I have been assigned too,” the woman said, “although I was told to implement my skills as healer for the benefit of Langtree's army as well.”
“Healer eh?” Horkin stared her down, “let me tell you something, sweetheart. You healers are a dime a dozen and we've already got several. Heck, Red- my assistant- is a damn good healer as is. Why should we spend money on just another healer?”
Antimodes looked at Silviana with slight anxiety, eager to see how the young elf would handle this questioning. The change he saw in her usually cheerful face was astounding. Her eyes, usually distant and distracted, were at once sharp and penetrating and her expression hardened into one of haughty pride. For the first time since he has met her, Antimodes could say she looked genuinely and frighteningly elven.
“I see you have the daisy oinment,” Silviana pointed to several jars lining the wall behind Horkin.
“Yes, it is a typical ointment to disinfect wounds, as you would know.” Horkin shot back.
“Indeed,” Silviana stared back at him defiantly, “and did you know that adding juice from a pond lily to this ointment acts to relieve swelling in addition to disinfecting the wound? And that further adding poppy syrum to the mixture numbs pain?”
Horkin admitted that he did not.
“Did you know that drinking pulverized mandrake root dissolved in hot water staunches minor internal bleeding?”
Once more Horkin was forced to concede that he was not aware of this fact.
“Further, did you know that this same mandrake root relieves congestion caused by pneumonia when one inhales it with steam?”
“Alright, alright!” Horkin was impressed in spite of himself. “You have made your point. That doesn't change the fact that the army is disbanded until spring time. Can't just have you sitting around the castle with nothing to do. Your elven sensibilities would get the better of you and you'll run off for the forests.”
Silviana flushed feeling embarrassed.
“Again, although I am to provide services to the army, my main priority is something-or I should say someone, else.” Silviana handed Horkin a missive bearing Par-Salinan's seal.
The brown-robe took it, feeling indignantly curious and read the short message. He then read it again and looked questioningly at Antimodes.
“Is this a joke?” He said finally.
“I am sorry to say, Par-Salian is not known for his sense of humor.”
Horkin cleared his throat and re-read the letter once more, this time out loud.
“Master Horkin of Langtree Barony. I hereby introduce to you Lady Silviana of Qualinesi, my own apprentice and a qualified healer. I bid you make use of her skills for the benefit of baron Ivor's army, as I assure you she will not be a disappointment. I further disclose to you that Silviana's primary objective, as given her by me, is to employ her healing arts for the benefit of your assistant,Raistlin Majere. I am interested to see if a healer of Silviana's ability would be able to investigate the source of the young man's malady. She is to make regular reports on her progress to me at the Tower.
Signed, Par-Salian
Head of the Wizard's Conclave
Tower of High Sorcery, Wayreth.”
Horkin finished and raised a non-existent eyebrow inquisitively, directing his astonished gaze at both mages.
“I am not sure how Red is going to take this,” Horkin said earnestly. “He is a bit touchy... regarding his condition. Nevertheless, I suppose you can try girl.”
“What... exactly ails him?” Silviana asked. “I have not gotten any information regarding this malady. Everyone,” she shot a somewhat accusing glance at Antimodes, “is rather evasive on this matter. I haven't even been able to prepare any herbal remedies.”
“Well uh, I do not think there is anything you could have done without meeting him first,” Horkin said sagely. “Speaking of which, girl, ask Mart outside to take you to the mess hall and make your acquaintance while I have a further chat with Antimodes here.”
Silviana nodded several times in rapid succession and bounced out of her chair, heading for the door. Before turning the handle she glanced over her shoulder and asked.
“How will I know him?”
“Oh trust me,” Horkin snorted, “you just will.”
Horkin waited until the door snapped shut behind the elf and her footsteps receded down the hall before saying what he had to say.
“Look here, I will play along with Par-Salian because I have too,” Horkin stated matter-of factly. “But you and I both know there is nothing to be done for Majere. I don't know much about what happened, only that this is the result of his Test. Which means permanent.”
Antimodes sighed heavily.
“I do know this, friend,” the white-robe spoke truly.
“Then what in the name of the Abyss is the point of all this? She seems like a sweet girl. Odd thing to say for an elf, but it's the truth. I can't deny she put me in my place for questioning her healing abilities and I will be happy to get her assistance once campaign season starts up again. But why set her up for disappointment? I am fond of the young man in my own way, but he is no present. Not only will she find that she cannot do anything for him, but she will have to well.. deal with him.”
Antimodes could only shrug, having thought the same things himself many times over the past few weeks.
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Red on Red