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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 814597" data-attributes="member: 113">2nd of Chardot, yr. 150 A.V. Nearly an hour after midnight, the trio of Surielle, Tréan, and Gerad entered the grove north of Quelsk. Accompanying them was Snowmelt, who had been briefly introduced to the other two. Surielle sensed that her wolf was wary of the others, as well as the change in clothing that she now wore. Still, it was reassuring to have her companion waiting for her as they exited the city.Brianna was quick to meet them as they approached, the light from Tréan’s spell illuminating a good distance in the darkened wood. Never quick to judge, Brianna greeted them all, presuming that the others were Surielle’s newfound friends. The look on Surielle’s face must have conveyed her fears, as Brianna took her hand and sat beside her.“What’s wrong, Surielle? What has happened?”Surielle relayed the story exactly as the others knew it, save for one pertinent detail she added.“When Marus spoke to me, he told me to seek out a mage named Kelkarrin to the north.”“He did?” Gerad asked. “You didn’t speak of this before.”“No. Regardless of what happened, I did not know who to trust in that city. Here, things are different.”  Surielle absently stroked the amulet, wondering what exactly Marus had done to it. She would keep that secret as long as she had to, just in case situations changed.They relayed the rest of the battle and their dealings with Silas and the Prospero. It was a lot for Brianna to take in, but she seemed relieved that Surielle had returned unharmed.“So, what will you do?”  Brianna asked.Surielle pondered for a second, then replied with determination. “In the morning, we shall decide our course.”***A few final chores were handled in the early light of dawn. Surielle noted with interest that Brianna was spending a great deal of time with Gerad. She had put him to work with the tools Surielle had brought, uprooting damaged tree trunks. He was covered in sweat, but he seemed at ease now that someone had given him a task to perform. And Brianna had seemed quite happy assisting and watching him.Surielle and Tréan had each done a number of small tasks after their morning devotions. Surielle wanted to leave as little work remaining as she could for Brianna. She hadn’t convinced herself firmly that she should be involved in this quest. There were many pressing tasks she could pursue, such as trying to free Maximillian from his earthen tomb, or continuing her journey to find her mother. That was far more important than…… a dying man’s wishes.Surielle sighed and continued to work. She was knee-deep in a small lake that bordered one side of the grove. She could see Tréan and Gerad each working the land, helping her and Brianna. The two were driven in this quest, and like it or not, she was drawn into it as well. She didn’t want to abandon the search for her mother, but it was probably futile now that Maximillian was gone. No, she would not give up on her mother. She would postpone her search, and focus on what was likely the greater good.She heard an audible gasp from Tréan, who was close by. Surielle followed her gaze back to the water that she was standing knee-deep in. She expected to find some creature rising from the surface, but the water was placid save for her reflection. But something was odd about the reflection…She watched as the image of herself looked to the sky. Behind her was a wooded path of trees, and in the sky was the sun in a position different from where it should have been reflected. There were subtle differences in her as well – her outfit was different than the spun green thread she currently wore, and her hair was hanging loose…You look just like your mother, Agnes had said on more than one occasion.Was this a vision of her mother? She felt a tear well up in her eye, begging for freedom. Although all were silent, she knew that her companions were seeing this as well. She wiped her eyes and focused on the image, searching for more information.The setting of the sun indicated that she was walking north. The message from this divine sending was apparent to her. The two paths you consider are one and the same.Surielle stepped from the lake once the image had faded. Trean, Brianna and Gerad approached, but none seemed sure of what to say. Unable to meet their eyes, she looked at the ground and spoke.“I will go north to seek this mage with you.”</blockquote>

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