(This takes place some days ago back in the mages' Ivory Tower)

Breakfast had been an emotional affair for Li-eira and she would have liked to have retreated back to her room, into the comforting embrace of her bed. It wasn't that she wanted to hide from her friends or the apologies that might need to be said to make them whole again, nor was it that she was unwilling to put her time in at the library. She was just plain tired and still had a dim ache in her head from the alcohol last night.

Her pale blue eyes regarded her mighty friend for a few moments as his impressive form rose from his chair. "Will you walk with me to my room?"

Coren smiled and nodded. "Aye lass. Of course". He stepped towards her and put his arm through hers. With a final glance towards Sanyangia, he walked with Li-eira out of the dining room and into the hallway.

As they wandered away from the meeting, Coren turned towards the silver path mage. "Now, tell me lass", he asked. "What've I done wrong now? What was all that kicking about?" He seemed genuinely unsure what that whole affair was about.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have kicked you ...yet." She gave him an impish smile as a bit of color crept into her cheeks. "I was startled to see that Janus had a bump on his noggin this morning, and I assumed you had something to do with it. Because when he parted my company last night, to the best of my recollection, he had sustained no injuries."

Coren stopped and turned his head towards Li-eira. "And you just assumed I had something to do with it?" His voice was filled with annoyance and a little hurt. "I told you I wouldn't hurt Janus. Whatever he and you do, as long as he doesn't harm you, I'll not lay a finger on him".

He stared at Li-eira for a moment, making sure she understood what he was saying, before starting off down the corridor again.

"Oh." Li-eira pursed her lip a bit, more than a bit ashamed of herself for accusing Coren so quickly for a crime he didn't commit.

"To be honest, I didn't really notice Janus' injury", Coren continued in a slightly lighter tone. "If he did have a bruise, I would've assumed he'd hit his head on something in this..." he waved his hand in the air, "...unnatural place. You'll have to ask him. And not kick me".

Li-eira sighed deeply. "I'm sorry Coren. Please don't be upset with me. Not today." She squeezed her head into his burly arm, in a bit of a hug. "Not that you don't have every right to be mad at me ...unlike the others, but I don't think I could take anyone else being upset with me at the moment."

"I didn't mean to kick you anyway...my foot just kind of jumped out and did that." She offered him, what she hoped would be an endearing grin. "I guess I'll ask him what happened then, if I get a free moment…perhaps at dinner tonight."

Coren's eyes narrowed in obvious disbelief and he looked at her askance. "Just kind of jumped, eh? Ah well, no matter". He smiled a little and then shrugged, repositioning the bearskin cloak that he always seemed to wear. "Just clear it up with Janus before you take it out on me".

"You're right...of course, and I'm sorry. It's just that...I'm…" She sighed and shook her head, as she thought better of elaborating any further. She wanted to share things with Coren, for months now he had been her main confidante, but things were changing now. It hurt to think that they might be growing apart, but of course they would now. It was an altogether unsettling thing for her to think on and she wished mightily that the thoughts would go away.

"That's okay lass", Coren said, nodding in response. He was a little surprised by her flustering but he decided not to question her further about it and carried on down the corridor.

Li-eira regarded him with her pale blue eyes, really taking a moment to see him. As she looked at him, she realized how much she took his presence for granted sometimes. Whether it was putting up her tent, making sure she was warm, fussing over whether she'd eaten enough or slept enough, all of the little things that he did to make sure that her days were more comfortable. And. Regrettably, instead of remembering to thank him for all of the things he did to make her days better, she kicked him for something he was totally innocent of.

"I really don't deserve you Coren." Her tone was matter of fact as she gave him a warm smile.

Coren raised an eyebrow. What was all this about? he wondered.

"Nah, lass. It's me that doesn't deserve you", he replied. "You take me for who I am and not for what I appear to be". And you do not see the darkness that is deep within me he thought to himself. His smile wavered for a moment as he stared at Li-eira.

Her warm smile lingered as she listened to him, even though he was attempting to disagree with her. "It pleases me that you think so, Coren. I'll try to work on that temper of mine, and at least only kick you for the misdeeds that you're guilty of."

Coren smiled in return. He really did love her. She had brought him back from the brink of darkness and brought out the goodness in him. She was kind and considerate, full of mirth and innocence, beautiful both on the outside and inside. Coren knew that a battle-scar mercenary like himself really didn't deserve a woman like her.

And, sadly, Coren knew that their friendship would never blossom into something more. "And I thank you for your friendship lass", he muttered.

Li-eira looked up at him incredulously as they walked. "Don't be silly. I'm quite afraid that I'd be lost without you." Her tone became teasing as she continued. "How would I remember ta eat and keep the chill outta this lass' bones without ya? Eh?"

Coren glared at Li-eira, not sure what to make of her mocking tone. For now, he decided to ignore it. "I'm sure you'd do fine on yer own, lass", he said in reply. "Still, I am thankful for your companionship, whether you'd be lost without me or not".

They continued walking down the maze of corridors.
"What are your plans for today? ...and do you know Sanyangia? She kept looking at you during breakfast." Li-eira's question was abrupt but likely driven by her usual curiosity.

"Plans? I dunno, lass", he said. "I'm not going to be much use in the library nor sorting through magical trinkets. I'm thinking of discussing a few things with Atreus. Other than that I thought I'd look around outside a bit?" Anything to keep out of this building he thought.

"As to Sanyangia...", his voice trailed off for a moment as a memory fluttered through his head. It started with a memory of a dark shape, like that from his nightmare, but that darkness was driven away by a bright light and, maybe, a figure...? No, it was gone.

Coren looked at Li-eira, wondering what she had asked him. Then he remembered it was about Sanyangia. The much more welcome image of her beautiful face and stunning body replaced the previous obscure thought in his mind.

"Sanyangia? No, I don't know her. She... well, she seems familiar to me but I don't know from where". He shrugged again and began scratching his beard. "Perhaps she once lived in Freehold? She'd certainly be difficult to miss", he added absently.

"Indeed, she would definitely leave an impression. ...and that could be, the Tower isn't far from Freehold. Maybe it's as simple as that." Li-eira smiled up at him. "No matter, I was just curious, she's a lovely woman...and she was looking at you so intently."

"Yes. She was, wasn't she?" he said thoughtfully. He pondered things for the moment before changing the subject and asking, "Will you be spending all the day in the library and with the other sorcerers?"

"Oh...I hope not." Li-eira frowned a bit at that, her sullen mood still lingered close to the surface. "I never quite fit in with the other path mages. I'll be in the library for a bit of course, but I'll take my studying outside. ...and I should see if that Giacomo needs any help with finding anything."

"That Giacomo?", Coren noted. "Well, anything you two can find that might help our quest will be very useful, lass. If it means studying away in a stuffy library, and I don't envy you, but it'll be worth it". He then let Li-eira continue.

"I suppose." She sighed again, clearly not looking forward to immersing herself overly much in her studies. "I think all this travelling of late has spoiled me to the fresh air and outdoors."

"Other than studying, I hope to catch up with an old friend today, if I can find him. He's the sort that can't be found unless he wants to be found, and if I know him he'll be upset with me for taking so long to come and see him." Li-eira couldn't quite understand why she was feeling so melancholy. Perhaps it was the disconnect she was feeling with Coren, or maybe it was the rift with Yahim at breakfast, or drinking too much last night, but she had expected to be happy once she reached the tower again.

Instead, she felt antsy and eager to return to their travels. Even though the rigors of the trail were hard, she enjoyed their daily routines and the close uninterrupted companionship with her friends. There were a few things she would miss at the tower, like her soft bed, and the expanse of leather bound books in the library, her blissful willow tree, and her dear friend Tintaas. She knew that these were the things she should immerse herself in while she had the chance.

"I see", said Coren, noting Li-eira's unusual lack of enthusiasm and joy. "I'm sure you'll find him. If not, perhaps we can have lunch together? A picnic perhaps? I'd raid this place's kitchens if I damned well knew where they were. Or even if they have any. I wonder whether they just conjure up the food?" he mused, an uncertain look on his scarred face.

Li grinned up at him; his ill temper somehow managed to suit him and for some reason it made her feel better. "I have a surprise to tell you, Coren. And you'll be so happy to hear it that the idea of eating conjured food will quickly be forgotten."

"A surprise?" Coren could see the look of gleeful excitement on Li-eira's face so knew this was a good surprise and not one of the other sort. "Well, lass. Out with it". He smiled in mock impatience.

"Well… I haven't actually done it yet. But. …I feel it. It's in me. I know that I have the power to cast fire. Real live fire! When I think on it, it swells inside of me, it's blinding in my head. And…I know that when I unleash it, it will be more powerful than anything I've ever done before." She grinned up at him again, her pale eyes sparkling with the surprise. As much as Coren disliked magic, he could appreciate it and had encouraged Li-eira from the time they went into business together to stop fiddling so much with boring learning types of spells and concentrate instead on the kind that could help protect her.

Remembrance of the vast power that this small woman could wield startled Coren for a moment. She could do things that no normal man could. Although he did not fear magic, the thought that Li-eira could summon a blaze to burn a man horrified him a little at first. But he quickly realized the spell's potential.

"Fire, eh?", he amazed. "Like a ball of flames? I've seen them being used only once before during a battle at Per. Damn, that's powerful stuff, lass!" He chuckled to himself and winked. "Ah, the Dragonlords won't know what hit 'em with you on our side. Carry on like this and you'll have no need for my axe!"

He grinned at Li-eira and began to pat her warmly on the back.

Li-eira tried to keep the pride at bay, but with Coren's praise it proved impossible. "It's a bit scary though. I don't have the first clue how to use it tactically unless something was to attack us from the air. By the Gods! I could set flame to a forest and then who knows what Janus would do…or accidentally trap us in it somehow. The more powerful my spells become the more care I have to take with them. …so, I'm going to need your help with that."

"I'll think about it", agreed Coren, tugging at his beard. "Still, I think you've got the right idea. When I've seen the bolts of fire used before they've been against the Dragonlords' flying wyrms across open land. Probably the mages made sure there was nothin' in the way and no one near by to get caught in the blast. Though I'm no expert in this magical stuff". He glanced sideways at Li-eira. "As you well know".

"I suppose it's a little like firing flaming pitch from a catapult or trebuchet. You want to make sure all your men are behind the catapult when you fire". Coren thought to himself for a moment longer. "Damned useful in a siege", he muttered.

Li-eira seemed a foot taller by the time Coren was done telling her how useful she could be. When they arrived at her room she was still trying to keep the grin from consuming her face. She was about to give him one of her warm embraces, but stopped just short, remembering almost too late that things needed to be different between them now. Their feelings for each other were too different and the admission of them too raw, for her to be overly careless with her affections towards him.

"Thank you for your escort, Coren. …and I really am sorry for being unfair to you this morning. For now on, facts before accusations." She gave him one final parting grin before she opened the door to her room.

“Aye. Make sure you remember that”, he called after her as she shut the door with a smile. He then looked around the corridor before his eyes returned back to the door to Li-eira’s room.

“Alone again”, he muttered. And sighed.

Scowling at the walls, distrustful of the very building surrounding him, Coren stomped off back towards his room.