the main reason Antimodes did not live in the tower but chose to reside in the outside

world, no matter how dangerous it might be for magic-users. He was glad to change the

subject.

"Speaking of children.. ." Antimodes began. "Were we?" Par-Salian asked,

smiling.

"Of course. I said something about snatching children."

"Ah, yes. I remember. Very well, then, we were speaking of children. What have you

to say about them? I thought you did n't like them."

"I don't, as a rule, but I met a rather interesting youngster on my trip here. He's one to

take note of, I think. In fact, I believe

three already have." Antimodes glanced outside the window toward the night sky, where shone two of the three

moons sacred to the gods of magic. He nodded his head knowingly.

Par-Salian appeared interested. "The child has innate gifts? Did you test him? How old is he?"

"About six. And, no. I was staying at the inn in Solace. It wasn't the time or the place, and I've never put much

stock in those silly tests anyway. Any clever child could pass them. No, it was what the boy had to say and how

he said it that impressed me. Scared me, too, I don't mind telling you. There's more than a bit of cold-blooded

ambition in that boy. Frightening in one so young. Of course, that could come from his background. The family

is not well off."

"What did you do with him?"

"Enrolled him with Master Theobald. Yes, I know. Theobald is not the Conclave's greatest teacher. He's

plodding and unimaginative, prejudiced and old-fashioned, but the boy will get a good, solid grounding in the

basics and strict discipline, which won't hurt him. He's been running wild, I gather. Raised by an older half-sister,

who is something special in her own right."

"Theobald is expensive," said Par-Salian. "You implied the boy's family was poor."

"I paid for his first semester." Antimodes waved away any acknowledgment that he'd done something

laudable. "The family must never know, mind you. I made up some tale about the tower having established funds

for deserving students."

"Not a bad idea," said Par-Salian thoughtfully. "And one we might well put into practice, especially now that

we're seeing some of the unreasoning prejudice against our kind starting to die off. Unfortunately, fools like

Esmilla keep putting us in a bad light. Still, I believe that people are in general more tolerant. They're starting to

appreciate what we do for them. You travel abroad openly and safely, my friend. You could not have done so

forty years ago."

"True," Antimodes admitted, "although I believe that in general the world is altogether a darker place these

days. I ran into a new religious order in Haven. They worship a god known as Belzor, and it sounds very much to

me as if they're planning on cooking and serving up that same old tripe we heard from the Kingpriest of Istar

before the gods-bless their heartsdropped a mountain on him."

"Indeed? You must tell me about it." Par-Salian settled back

more comfortably in his chair. Taking a leather-bound book from the table at his side, he opened it to a blank

page, dated it, and prepared to write. They were about to get down to the important business of the evening.

The main part of Antimodes's job was to report on the political situation of the continent of Ansalon, which, as

was nearly always the case, was done up in a confused and tangled knot. This included the new religious order,

which was discussed and summarily dismissed.

"A charismatic leader out of Haven," Antimodes reported. "He has only a few followers and promises the

usual assortment of miracles, including healing. I didn't get a chance to see him, but from what I heard he is

probably a rather highly skilled illusionist with some practical knowledge of herb lore. He's not doing anything in

the way of healing that the Druids haven't been practicing for years, but it's all new to the people of Abanasinia.

Someday we may have to expose him, but he's not doing any harm at the moment and is, in fact, doing some

good. I'd recommend that we not start trouble. It would look very bad for us. Public sympathy would be all on his

side."

"I quite agree." Par-Salian nodded and made a brief note in his book. "What about the elves? Did you go