So I said I would think about it, and now I have to find some way to get the information he wants without implicating either of us. But I told him I would help right from the beginning of all this, and I am not going back on my word.

Looks like I'll be spending some more time in the Monastery's library. It might be more cost effective for me to rejoin them after all. I wonder if there is a precedent for a mage to belong to both guilds?

Lairunya and Simon were successful against Ebrian, though they also encountered a Mirror of Opposition.

November 13

Lairunya and I had another of our talks this afternoon.

Mikhael has lately been telling me that I should "date" more. When I asked Lairunya his opinion he disagreed, though he felt I should seek out new friendships.

Somehow from there we got onto the subject of why he gets so little respect from the rest of us; why so many of his actions earned him censure from us. I told him that I had no answer for the first, but tried to explain the second in terms of why I was offended at the idea of his having a fling going with his apprentice; that it's wrong to have a relationship with such an imbalance of power, at which point he snapped "like with your commanding officer?"

Evidently he was paying attention in the temple of Kwan-Yin.

I found myself at a loss for words. There was no way to deny it that would have been believable, so instead I explained the difference between the two relationships (Mikhael, after all, is Daniel's social and professional superior), and finally said that I would take it amiss if he brought up the subject again before Mikhael decides he is ready to "go public" as it were.

He agreed. I think he understood both parts of what I was saying.

November 15

Daniel has finally moved in.

November 20

Lairunya received a letter from Tarcyrian today, warning that there was a woman in elven lands seeking a Sulisil Gulceleb.

Until otherwise proven I must assume she is an enemy. No one here excepting Mikhael knows that name, and to my knowledge I am the only surviving Gulceleb.

Unless she bears a missive from Dairion she cannot be from anyone I care to meet. I would like to talk to Mikhael about this, but I don't wish to disturb his vacation.

November 29

Getting very close on EMT, must remind Mikhael that I'm not going to be available much for the next couple of days.

December 1

LateśLaurie and Mik took me to dinner, & Laurie presented me with Ebrian's Frostbrand. I should be concerned, I suppose, that some of her insanity has been transmitted to the blade, but I'm not that superstitious, and knowing Laurie he probably had Callous Bless the thing. It is a nice blade, and a kind gift.

December 3

Very late. It's been a rough night.

I wonder where Mother went after her death.

SkinEater is having an ascension party at the end of the month. I'd rather not attend (I always feel out of place at these things) but not going would be a political snub I don't dare give.

I wonder if she's looking for me for the descendants of ruy Kennan or Master Rebbeck. I hope not. Given the tenor of the city I could easily end up back in chains, though I would like to think my friends would do their best to prevent this.

December 4

Lairunya has received another missive from Tarcyrian. Her name is "Stella," and we are trying to get a better description. Evidently she seemed disappointed, as though "Nicholas" could not be who she was seeking. We shall see if she has been dissuaded by their depiction of me (however grim and distorted it may be).

December 8

Approx. 5'8", 110 pounds, black hair, green eyes. Lairunya and Cassia asked if she might be a relation, but I don't see how she could be. Mother died, and Father...I hope that bastard is gone. She's approximately 10 years younger than I.

Both Laurie and I tried scrying, but (with no surprise) had no success.

I told Lairunya I would tell Mikhael this evening, yet I find myself reluctant to do so.

Later -

I think Mik is discomfited by the number of people who have landed on his doorstep since Daniel moved in. He came storming down to the lab earlier, muttering something about "people," saw me, threw up his hands and exclaimed, "I'm going riding!"

I hope that's what provoked that reaction, anyway. I would hate to think I'd done something to offend simply by looking up from my copying.

In any event, I shall wait to ask his opinion until tomorrow.

Perhaps I should make a temporary move from his home, at least until Cassia has found a place of her own and Daniel is more settled in. But I know what Mik's reaction is likely to be. And I'm not certain I understand why.

December 9

Talked to Mikhael about this "Stella" (Estel is elvish for hope, as Lairunya is so careful to remind me). His first question was if she might be a daughter. This is the only thing anyone's mentioned so far that's so far out of the realm of possibility as to be laughable. Even if I had ever engaged in the necessary prerequisite to having a child I certainly could not have done so at the age of ten or so. He also suggested simulacrum or clone, but (though I know little enough of those spells) I don't think it's possible for such a creation to do anything other than exactly mimic the original.

He did suggest that I might try contacting her via Dream, inviting her here to talk about "Sulisil," telling her to use my name or his name (and I think I will use his) to protect her from the City.

I will try this for a couple of evenings, then return to scrying (a slim chance, but something is better than nothing).

December 12

No success with the dream. Will continue to try scrying, though I'm not sure why I'm bothering. Perhaps it's just the concern that someone seeking me (for assistance, probably) might end up captured/enslaved by the orcs/dead because of that quest. And I truly mislike being hunted by an unknown for Horus only knows what reason.