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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 9555707" data-attributes="member: 7737">81We've done well with cautious deceit thus far, so we say nothing about the Sceptre nor the missing spellbooks, "in case Thayne was right" about Beldon.Instead we claim that ever since we were old enough to understand what magic is, we've wanted to become a wizard. However, our mother forbade us even to mention our father's profession."And now that my dear sister is dead, you're free to learn magic!" Beldon beams. He always thought it was "criminal" of her to hold us back. [Yeesh! Cold. Marla is not even two weeks dead and Beldon already speaks ill of her.] We ask if this means we can study magic with the advanced students. Beldon replies that it means more than that and says he will show us something that has frustrated him for many years.He leads us up a circular staircase to a stone landing "no more than fifteen feet across". [Note the re-use of the same number that was just used ("fifteen" feet across), when any arbitrary number would do. This is a common writing error that irritates me to no end. Either use a different number, or simply don't write about the dimensions of the landing, because it doesn't matter at all to the story.]The staircase continues up to the tower's battlements above where we can see "the gray light of dawn" around the edges of a trapdoor.[We must be far north of this world's equator if it is just now dawn, some time after 8:00 AM.]There are also two doors to either side of the staircase on this level, and Beldon steps up to one of them. Like the other doors we have seen, this one has a runic inscription on it. Beldon explains that the language is "High Elvish script used by Bhukodian sorcerers for centuries", which we must someday learn to read. [Language matters!]We ask what it says, and Beldon methodically traces the runes with his forefinger."ONLY FOR THE ONE WHO WOULD FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LANDOR," Beldon translates.This was Landor's private chamber until he "disappeared". [The book can't seem to make up its mind whether Landor was murdered, went missing, or disappeared (perhaps literally given magic is involved).]The door is trapped with powerful magic and all who have attempted to open it have died. (Cool! Err… wait….) Beldon thinks the inscription is meant for us alone as Landor's sole heir.We are filled with trepidation tinged with anticipation. Could Landor "or whatever is left of him" still be in that room? We  step towards the door only for Beldon to stop us.He advises that we confront this powerful magic only when we have learned enough to handle it. He only showed us the door so we would know where our father's secrets are waiting when we feel ready to claim them.Beldon's "pale lips are pursed in an amused expression" as he observes and, apparently, enjoys our inner conflict. We are torn between…(160) open the door now, or(143) wait until we know enough magic to protect ourselves.</blockquote>

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