We live, we die, the world forgets.
Somewhere
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The captain is agitated by the wizard's preparations. He's all over the deck, asking questions and interrupting Seren every few songs.
The wizard scribes her signs. She claims that when she's finished, the ship will able to sail the deeps, and even the stony depths.
The wizard scribes and the sigils multiply. A wide circle of arcane script takes shape between the two central masts of Green Siren.
We finally take our leave of the bitter spell dealer, and return to the ship. Seren immediately begins chalking sigils on the deck boards.
I study the enclave wizard. She's apparently decided to deal with us amiably. Good. I hate guessing at other's motives.
I step between the mages. "We have no interest in Thayan power struggles or Red Wizards. We seek a ritual and nothing else. Be at ease.”
“That’s a lie! I didn’t . . .” Seren trails off, and the two wizards stare at each other, calculating. Time for me to head off a disaster!
The enclave owner replies "I remember you! You disappeared with the treasury the Raven’s Bluff enclave. You must be quite wealthy.”
I listen with amazement as Seren, the woman I thought I knew, explains to the enclave owner how she is a former Red Wizard, a freelancer.
Seren glares at the owner. “You’re Dhenna Shavres, right?” Seren asks. “Is it wise to revive an outlaw enclave so close to the dark mesa?”
In fact, had I know Seren was leading me into a Red Wizard enclave, I might have demurred. But here we are.
A Red Wizard patrol chased me through the Dragonjaw Mountains several years ago. Despite their break with Thay, I don't trust them.
1
“Welcome to Rose Keep,” calls the woman. We join her under the canopy. Seren studies the merchandise; I keep an eye on the red wizard.
A canopy dominates the courtyard. Beneath it is a woman wearing red and a table heaped with vials, scrolls, and other arcane oddments.
A tower pokes above the scuffed, mortared walls of the Red Wizard enclave. The gates--iron-reinforced oak--are thrown wide, so we walk in.
As we approach the enclave, Seren outlines the geopolitics of the Red Wizards. I listen for the sake of decorum but I don't really care.
Seren also requires a basic thaumaturgic foundation-a summoning ritual-on which to hang her working. So we go look for a Red Wizard enclave.
All that the entanglement will require, Seren explains, is a large sample of the elemental fish in question, called gleamtail jacks.
The wizard describes how she can destiny entangle elemental fish with the captain's ship. I half listen, but nod as if I understand.