The following morning’s lesson involves drilling caution into each and every child and the necessity of seeking the approval of an adult before attempting any extended use of magic while not in class. Some uses may be permitted without direct supervision as those uses could presently be considered relatively benign and have been previously allowed.

The following day of training occurs in the Scearnvale garden as it is raining in Percoin and the Garden there is not enclosed. Additionally, in Scearnvale it is a sunny day. The children continue to practice vision and travel links with some now able to hold their travel link for as long as fifteen minutes without assistance. Missii and Kayla practice also.

Andrew carries Alice out of the meal hall.  Alexandra links to the Percoin garden following the arrival of the SaVannah sisters and everyone quickly crosses, then she drops the link.

Andrew and Alexandra leave the children at their meal hall explaining to them that they will return for them in a half hour’s time. If they finish before Alexandra returns, they are to wait at the benches outside the meal hall.

Immediately after Missii and Kayla have gone through the link to Scearnvale, Andrew closes the link and thinks back to the armor he purchased from Master Carlaine’s. ‘The sisters should do all right. If they purchase everything at once to save money then they will come back and ask for perhaps three hundred or so more.’

The Sun begins to hesitantly peek from below the horizon, cautiously casting it’s gaze upon the land only to discover that two young Feline sisters have dramatically outpaced it, well on their way to fun and adventure in the shopping district of Percoin.

Contemplating the evening’s events as he sits in his room brings Andrew to the thoughts of meeting Alexandra’s Father. ‘I had no idea. I should have guessed it would be something like that. She has the bearing of someone who has had imperial training. She must have recognized me the first time she saw me.

One young boy has used his training link to check on his mother, for with him gone there is no one to do the work with her. He has been worried she may not be well. The link worked satisfactorily to his mother’s surprise and joy at seeing her son working magic.

Training of the children continues throughout the morning with each of the children given another chance to link and to move a small object from one place to another. Andrew and Alexandra carefully guide them while providing explanations.

"Andrew, what did you do to that candle? And how are you able to penetrate wards as though they are not there?" These questions and more come from the Sorcerers and Sisters present in the testing room.

Upon another continent, "Alexandra! How could you?" SaVannah admonishes her. "He is not your betrothed. You should not have kissed him. What will I tell your Father? He will be furious."

"Nothing. Tell him nothing. I simply returned a gift with a gift."

"Andrew, there you are. Why did you run off like that?" Sorcerer Gabriel rushes up gasping for breath even as he finally reaches the location where Andrew, for no apparent reason, has stopped.

"I wanted to find a mirror so I might let her see me."

"Who am I? Alex, are you addled? OH! Is it that Sorcerer again?" SaVannah is instantly interested and concerned for her charge and friend. Concerned because she is unable to protect Alexandra from a Vision despite all her Warrior’s training, and the centuries of hunting and fighting bred into her through her ancestors.

“Mon Dieu!” Raphael exclaimed.
“What is it?”
“La Mer Morte.”
”The Dead Sea?”  Chloe asked.
“Quite so,” Raphael said emphatically.  “Look at those!!  It’s a total row of doors!”
“Yes,” I said.
Raphael moved closer to inspect.

“We were nothing too.”
“Nothing, too.”
“Nothing too.”
“But you’re not nothing.”
“Nothing exists in the Nothing.”
“Okay,” I said, “let me show you.”  And I pulled the door out of my pocket.

We sit down at Raphael’s restaurant, at a sidewalk table.
“Won’t somebody notice “Pierre” there?”  Asks Chloe.

Nine – Preparations

“Raff!” shouts the sales clerk, “Comment allez vous?”
“Tres bien,” Raphael replies, “Est-ce que tu connais mes amis?”
“Un peu. Porquois ils et tu entre sans habiillement?”
“Long story,” Raphael replies.
Then he turns to me.