Disclaimer: Oi, I really don't feel like writing this so see Chapter 1.
Note: The song is from Wanderlust, The Meetings Sextet volume 2.
A Rift Between Worlds: Chapter 3
It was as they had walked through the darkness and back into the light that Tanis noticed something was missing.
"Alright Tas, give it back."
"Give what back?" the kender asked innocently.
"My money pouch and my dagger."
Tas rifled through his array of pouches and pulled something from it.
"Is this it?"
"No," Raistlin snapped. "That's mine."
"Tasslehoff," Laurana said patiently. "do we have to search you?"
"Can it wait until we reach solid ground? I want all of my stuff back and it's too dark to see!"
"Fine."
Trunks whispered to Tanis. "Why are you so suspicious of him?"
"Well, he's a kender," he explained.
The boy shot him a blank look.
"You don't have kender in your world?"
A shake of the head.
"Lucky you," Raistlin muttered. As they grew closer to the exit, Raistlin began to cough more and more. Wonderful! I leave a healthy paradise with massive technology for this place!
"Are you okay?" Goten asked, concerned.
"I'm fine!" he snapped, wiping at his mouth with a cloth noting the spots of blood that was left behind with annoyance, his staff thumping rhythmically as he walked on. Finally they reached the opening.
"Where are we?" Raistlin asked. Then he notice the vallenwood trees and the smoke that had to be coming from the chimney at the Inn of the Last Home. "Oh no," he shook his head. "I'm going back to my Tower. I need to get away before that meddlesome brother of mine--"
"RAISTLIN!"
"...sees me," he finished weakly. He pulled the hood of the black velvet robe over his head and vainly tried to melt into the shadows.
Goten, Trunks, Gohan, and Goku looked up to see the large warrior and his redheaded wife run up the trail.
"You had us worried Tanis!" Tika said as she caught her breath.
"Raist! Brother! What are you doing here?"
"Leaving."
"Why did you return my letter? How can you say that you don't have a brother!"
This was clearly a family thing so everyone moved away and gave them their privacy.
"They're brothers?!" Trunks asked surprised.
"Yes. Twin brothers." Laurana told them.
There were surprised glances and then Gohan spoke.
"Something terrible must have happened to sever their relationship."
Laurana nodded. "I can't tell you the details because it happened in their childhood and I didn't know them then, but either Tika, Tanis, or Tas can."
"Raistlin didn't always look the way he does," Tika began. "He was always weak, skinny, and pale but not as much as he is now. The Test made him that way.
"Caramon was always protective of him since the beginning I can imagine, but since I am several years younger than them, I might have been too young to remember. But Caramon was always the likeable one and since Raistlin couldn't play physical games like the other children and because he prefered reading and furthering his magic studies, he was ridiculed and harassed by the other children beacuse of it."
"Raistlin is bitter and mean spirited because of this," Laurana took over. "It takes all of his will power just to remain alive so there isn't much joy to his life."
"He was nicer as a child but the Test destroyed any of it that was left of that when he was a young man. Actually, he still is young. Only 25." Tanis finished.
"What is this 'Test' that you keep mentioning?" Gohan asked.
"I'm sorry. I automatically assumed that you had prior knowledge. The Test is what all mages have to go through to access higher magicks. Everyone is changed in some way or another whether pysically or mentally, but some have the scars for the rest of their lives." Tika said.
"Like Raistlin," Laurana said softly. " 'This was the price I had to pay for my magic' he says often. But the years of dedication to his Art payed off because, and I don't want to scare you, he is the most powerful wizard on Krynn. He's even more dangerous because he wears the Black Robes. That means that he's alligned with the evil gods and their ways."
"Forget it Raistlin! You just don't want me around!" Caramon shouted, frustrated.
"Now you understand." Raistlin pulled some spell components from the pouches at his waist. "I guess I can go and check on the rifts so if you need me, someone is going to have to brave the Grove." He pulled a charm out of a pouch and handed it to Tanis. "As long as no one shows up with Caramon, you will be given entrance. Farewell." Raistlin used the components in the perscribed manner and said the words. A few seconds later he was gone.
"Where did he go?" Goten asked curiously.
"Back to his damn Tower!" Caramon growled, frustrated. "He knows no one can reach him there."
"I can't believe he's acting like these holes are none of his business! His magic created them!" Tika fumed.
"This is Raistlin we're talking about. He never does anything unless it is to his benefit." Laurana replied. "I just hope we don't have to go and see him."
"Why? What's wrong? And what did he mean by 'the Grove'?" Goku asked.
"My don't we have a lot of questions," Laurana said smiling. "One, it is in Palanthas, north from here. It would take us about 4 weeks to travel there by foot. Two, the Grove is Nuitari's domain. Undead creatures walk there, no light can penetrate the thick trees, and it strikes fear in the hearts of everyone. Even with the charm he gave Tanis, you would have to be incredibly strong and brave to go through it."
"It's that bad?" Trunks asked.
Tika nodded. "That's why he invited you there. He knew no one could actually get through besides himself and he uses a spell to get there. If he really wanted you to come, he would have taken you along when he teleported inside."
"Flint and I tried during the War of the Lance when he was alive," Tas snifled a bit at the memory of his friend. "I'm a kender and couldn't even get close to it."
The four saiyans gave him blank looks.
"Kender are immune to fear."
"Oh."
Sometime during the conversation, Caramon had calmed down and was currently going through his longwinded thinking process. It wasn't that he was slow but as he thought, he liked the examine things from all angles and figure out every possible thing before speaking. Tika reconized the frowning look upon is face instantly.
"How about you come back to the Inn? I can have Otik give you some ale, sausages, and his special spiced potatoes on the house until we can figure out the money problem."
"That's great!" Then Goten thought a second. "Are you sure you have enough to feed us and what's ale?"
"It's liquor Goten." Gohan explained. Trunks and Goten smiled. "And no, you can't have any."
"Aw nichan!"
'He's right you know. You mother would kill me!" Goku said seriously.
"I think I understand," Caramon said suddenly.
"What? Oh. Come on Caramon, we're going home."
"Fine."
***
About 45 minutes later, a very drunk Tasslehoff was leading everyone in a round of singing. Even Goku and the kids had picked up the words by now.
Your
one true love's a sailing ship
That anchors at our pier
We life her sails, we man her decks,
We scrub her portholes clear
And
yes, our lighthouse shines for her,
And yes our shores are warm.
We steer her into harbor--
Any port in a storm.
The
sailors stand upon the docks,
The sailors stand in line.
As thirsty as a dwarf for gold,
Or centaurs for cheap wine.
For
all the sailors love her
And flock to where she's moored,
Each man hoping that he might
Go down, all hands on board.
The slightly perverted song had Gohan blushing faintly.
The patrons at the Inn had just started coming back in hordes since the threat to the world was over. The small tree-top town of Solace, in central Abanasnia, had accuired fame because of the Inn, Otik's potatoes, and how the whole town, minus the blacksmith shop, was in the tall vallenwood trees. This night was like most others, crowded.
"Tas! Tasslehoff Burrfoot!" Laurana called to him. She was just in time to catch him as he tottered from the oak table.
"But mommy, I don' wan' get up," he mumbled, instantly falling asleep in her arms.
Laurana smiled. "I'm going to put him to bed. Tanis, don't drink any more."
"Yes Mother." he teased.
"He's going to have one heck of a hangover tomorrow." Laurana added as an afterthought as she walked to the stairs leading to the upstairs rooms.
"Caramon, how come you an' Raistlin don't like each other?" Goten asked innocently. He still didn't understand the previous explanation.
"Well, when we were small I tried to protect him all of the time. I guess that I sort of smothered him and he started to hate me."
"Caramon, your brother doesn't hate you. He just doesn't understand that you protected him because you love him." Gohan said.
"I've never though of it that way."
"Do you want to see the sights of the land? I think Laurana and I can arrange transportation." Tanis told them.
"What do you mean?" Goten questioned.
"The fastest way over the land is by griffin. Only elves can control them and since Laurana is an elven princess, I'm sure she can find enough for everyone."
"Laurana is a princess? Wow!" Trunks said awed.
"I've heard of griffins, the half lion, half eagle creatures. Before now I thought that they were only a myth." Gohan said thoughtfully, "I can't wait to see one!"
Suddenly they heard commotion outside. Looking out of the windows, they saw a frantic man requesting to see someone. Tanis' almond shaped eyes widened.
"Porthios?!" Then he walked swiftly over to the door. "Someone please go get Laurana. Tell her that her brother's here to see her."
***
"The rifts are in Qualinesti too?" Laurana asked.
"Yes. Father sent me to ask you if you have any idea what they were." Porthios said stiffly, barely sparring a glance at the others at the table.
Laurana frowned. "He still hasn't forgiven me, has he?"
"No. How can he? You've shamed the royal family by traveling with people other than elves Laurana! You know that we can not trust others!"
"Porthios," she began cooly. "you will show respect while you are around my friends. Do you understand?"
"Fine."
She calmed down slightly, but started speaking again in the same icy tone. "As a matter of fact, I do know who has caused them. He is doing his best to correct it."
Porthios frowned. "Do you know him personally?" He tried his best not to accuse his sister of associating herself with criminals and other people of that sort, but it sure was hard.
She nodded. "It's Raistlin Majere."
"Raistlin Majere? The skinny mage who had supposedly helped saved the world by betraying Queen Takhisis? That Raistlin Majere?"
"The very same."
"Somebody needs to go speak to the Conclave about him."
"I highly doubt that the mages there would do something," Tanis spoke up. "He's more powerful than them all. They're afraid."
"Is that so Half-Elven? What about that exile," He said this with mild disgust. Silvanesti threw him out, not Qualinesti. "Dalamar? He's the mage's apprentence. He would know."
"We might can question him..." Laurana said. "Tanis and I can not go to speak with him because he doesn't like elves of any kind. One of you would have to do it. The Tower of High Sorcery is not far from here, only about a 3 day journey."
"The Tower of High Sorcery? I thought that you said it was in Palanthas?" Trunks said, confused.
"There's more than one."
"Oh."
"Why does he hate elves?" Goten asked.
"Not hate. It isn't strong enough for that. He is an elf and Silvanesti exiled him for practicing magic other than that for the use of good. When you are exiled, you can't ever go back. And to an elf, a being who will live over 600 years or more, that's a very long time."
"How old are you?" Goten asked innocently.
"Goten!" Gohan and Goku exclaimed in unison.
Laurana laughed. "It's okay. I'm very young by elven standards. Only 80."
All four gave shocked looks.
"It's 20 in human terms."
"Okay. That makes sense now. What about you Tanis?"
"I'm pretty old." he admitted. "103."
They received even more shocked looks
"34. I'm only half elf."
Before Goten could ask Laurana's older brother, he stood to leave.
"I must go back to Qualinesti and deliver this news to Father. If you have any more news, can you bring it to us?"
"Fine. I'm sure our guests would love to see Qualinost."
Porthios grimaced a little at that one. "Good by Lauralanthalasa. May Eli be with you." Then he left.
"I take it that he's a little predjudiced." Gohan said.
"Yes. To everyone that doesn't fit into his little definition of "normal" or "good"."
"You don't seem to have a problem with others."
"I've learned that everyone is different and to stop living in a fantasy world."
"Good idea."
"Well, we all should get some rest if we want to investigate tomorrow morning." Tanis stood and yawned. "It shouldn't be a problem. The only thing you have to remember while traveling the path is not to get to close to Qualinesti's border."
"I'm almost afraid to ask why." Gohan said.
"Then let me! Why?" Trunks asked grinning.
"You saw how Porthios acted right? Well take a population of over a million and stick them in a confined space of a forest where everyone around is different. What would you do?"
"They attack people of different races don't they?"
"You've got it. And they use long range weapons such as crossbows."
"They first give you a warning shot and then they kill you. Not to brag, but elves are some of the most skillful archers in the world."
"It's a known fact. Laurana's pretty good herself."
She blushed. "I'm not that good. What about you?"
"What about me? I'm more partial to swords."
Tanis stretched and smiled at his wife. "Have Otik show you to a room. Good night."
"Good night."