Rand felt like it was flying, yet he felt like he was falling. He couldn't tell up from down. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but absolute blackness. It was all around him, squeezing the life force out of him. He looked down and saw his life energies seeping out from his wound from his chest. He tried to bring his hand up to cover the wound. But he felt so weak. The slightest movement racked him in a throbbing pain.

Yet with a super human effort, Rand covered the wound to his chest. His life energies nearly stopped, just slightly oozed between his fingers.

With out thinking he call up the magic to heal him. Suddenly pain slammed into him like a thunderbolt. The energies rushed out of him like a raging river. He felt this consciousness evaporate like a drop of water on the burning sand. He passed out. But not beyond the reach of his agony. Then he woke again, and prayed....."If this is what one has to go though to die? Then take me and be done with it, already!"

Then suddenly in the center of his pain. He felt a gentle coolness. He felt a hand, laid against his brow.

"No words, Rand-Tor." a voice said. "We'll have enough time to talk."

It was a woman......no, a girl's voice. But he did not recognize it. He struggled to look up. He was staring into a face of stunning beauty. Long, dark brown hair that famed features that were slightly blurry to him. He squeezed his eyes and shook his head and what he saw left him in opened mouth shock.

"Mentokka?"

He couldn't believe the word he just spoke. But it was true. He was looking up at his niece. But, something was wrong. It was her. No doubt about it. But something was different about her. It was her hair. It wasn't dyed silver-white. It was her true hair color. The color he loved. But how was it possible? That was almost two years ago.

"I know you are confused at what your seeing," she said in a voice that was not Mentokka's. "All I ask of you is to hear me out and I'll explain everything to you."

Rand said nothing, just nodded his head. For the next several minutes The image of Mentokka told him everything. She told him that he 'was' AND was 'not' his niece. She told him that she was the magic that flowed inside him. The magic that took the form of a person who he care greatly about.

Rand couldn't believe what she told him. His magic taking form? He always thought it was alive. He talked to it and he was sure it spoke back to him. But to actually seeing the magic. It was beyond words.

"I took the strongest image in your mind. That of your niece. The vision of her you loved the most."

Rand smiled, then frowned. "I'm I dead,.....little girl?"

"No, Uncle Rand," she said in a voice that now sounded like his niece. "The attack upon you was so great, I had to remove you from your corporal form." He understood what she meant. She was talking about his physical form.

She placed a glowing hand on his chest. And amazingly the pain disappeared and the wound to his chest vanished. She removed her hand from his chest, and held it just above his chest. A soft glow of light entered his body and he felt reborn. Rand asked him how was all of this possible. She told him, it was his dedication to the arts. His giving nature to share his very being with the magic.

"You've done so much for the magic. I believe it was time for the magic to help you?"

She wanted to tell him more but it was time for you to return to corporal form. When Rand asked why.

"Your friends and family has come here looking for you and believe you are dead."

She took Rand's hand. He tried to rise but could not.

"Trust yourself, Uncle Rand," she said softly "Have faith in your powers and follow me."

To Rand's surprise he had risen to his feet and slowly rose into the air. Rand told her that there were so many questions he wanted to ask her. But she smiled and told him to ask any question in the future and all you need to do is open up your heart to hear the answer.

"Come, Uncle Rand. We must return you to your grieving friends."

They went. And once we reached the ridge, he made out Mentokka and the others. Mentokka was wailing uncontrollably over his body. Merc was kneeling next to her, holding on to her, tears streaming down her face. Tosh had his back turned from the others. No doubt not was the others see him cry. Gunner looked deeply sad. Like losing someone special in his life. Even Uber had his face in his hand. Weeping softly.

Rand had to admit, it was a pleasant sight. "What could be finer then to know you'll be missed by your friends when you are gone." Rand thought to himself.

Then he felt sorry to think I've caused his friends pain. And with the speed of light, Rand returned into his body.

"Come on, Mentokka, " Tosh said. There's nothing more we can do for, Uncle Rand. He's gone." That only made her cry out even more.

"NO!" She shouted. "He's NOT dead! I won't accept it!"

Tosh was about to bring his sister to her feet. But she threw herself upon her Uncle's body and held on to him with a death like grip. Tosh backed away. Not knowing what to think any more. Emotions stirred up in him.

After several seconds Mentokka felt an arm come across her back.

"That's my, Little Girl," a voice whispered into her ear. "Defiant to the end."

"U-u....Uncle Rand?" Mentokka called out, pulling back to look at her Uncle. Tears streaming down her face.

Seeing her Uncle was alive. Mentokka threw herself upon him once again. Joyfully crying out his name over and over again. Tosh knelled down next to his sister, looking almost scared to speak. When he saw the gleam in his uncle's eyes. He lost all composure. He lowered his head and cried tears of happiness.

The others could only look on, saying nothing. Only realizing that something special happened here.

Rand rose to his feet looking down at the dead Wizard. Then looking at the others.

"I think we did enough training for one day. Don't you think?"

Somewhere deep in the pain fill mind of Rand-Tor. Something was wrong. Besides the fact that his nephew damn near beat him to death. There was another form of magic in the area.

For most of his adult life, he was one with the magic. It was always with him. Whispering to him in time of danger, Just being there as a friend just out of sight, but being there in spirit.

Rand forced himself back to consciousness, and he wished he didn't. Pain wracked his face so bad, tears formed in his eyes. He didn't need to look in a mirror to see what was wrong. Left eyes was swollen shut, a broken nose and two teeth knocked loose. Not to mention scores of smaller cuts. It was going to take a great deal of healing magic to fix his face up quickly.

If he used it slowly, it would take a couple of days to completely heal himself. But the fact that he sensed another person casting magic upon them. He wanted to be in descent form to confront whom ever it was.

Rand groaned loudly as the magic stitched and healed the wounds to his face. The only disadvantage to healing quickly is that it hurt. The body had no time to adjust to what was happening. The body believed that it is being attacked. So the pain senses were pricked and stimulated.

After was seemed like hours....{1 minute} Rand rose to his feet. And what he saw shocked him. Tosh was unconscious on the ground. He face and body were covered with cuts and bruises. He could see that his right arm was broken and left shoulder was dislocated. Rand cast a slow healing spell on to his nephew.......{Only because he was still using the rapid healing spell on to himself}

He looked over to his left to see Gunner lying on the ground. At first Rand thought that he was hurt real bad. But with closer examination, he could see he was playing possum.

"Now, why didn't I think of that." Rand muttered to himself.

He was jolted out of his momentary amusement, when he hear a shout in anger. It was Uber. He was being attacked by Merc and Mentokka. He was using two short swords to defend himself. He must of ditched his larger sword when they attacked him together.

Rand could see that the girls moved with speed and grace. Staying just out of reach of his swords and striking him nearly at the same time at different parts of his body.

"He won't last long at this pace." Rad said as he could clearly see that the girls was getting the best of him. Rand opened his 'inner eye', His magic site.
And what he saw confirmed what he thought. Mentokka and Merc were being control by another form of magic. An evil form......no, a dark form of magic.

Rand sense no evil with in the magic. But who ever cast the magic Mentokka and Merc were the main targets. No doubt this was the reason why they fought so well together. The one thing Rand never tried to do with his magic was control other people with it. It was one of a few, things he didn't do. It wasn't that he couldn't do it. He just didn't do it.

"Who ever you are 'puppet master'," Rand said getting into the proper stance to cast the counter spell. "Time to cut your strings!"

Rand took a deep breath and called forth a powerful sleep spell on Merc and Mentokka. The spell moved towards them like smoke and it froze the two for a second and they dropped to he ground where they stood.

Uber was taken back at what happened, until he saw Rand casting his magic toward them. Gasping for air, he ran over to where the old man was standing. Rand himself was clearly tired at casting so much magic at one time.

"Are you alright, sir?" Uber said. Rand nodded.

"Just tired, my friend. Some one cast a spell on the girls."

"That explain it." Uber replied, as Rand leaned on him for support. "They fought like they were possessed. It must of affected me and Gunner also. For one minute we was just watching and the next all went blank, except they dying need to fight. Do you think who ever cast that is still in the area?"

Rand told him that he was sure that who ever it was had to be near to cast such a powerful spell and he was sure it took a lot of him or her also. the one down side to casting powerful spells.

Rand closed his eyes and cast his magic in a full circle. Searching out any hint of dark magic. and almost instantly he felt it. A tinge of dying dark energy. It was north of them about on hundred yards ahead of them. "Got you!" he said, his eyes snapping open.

Rand told Uber to have Gunner to keep an eye on Tosh. And have him wake up he girls and follow him. With that Rand started running north towards the energy signature and to whom ever casted it.

Rand ran with smooth, long strides. One look at him and you'd swear that there was NO way that this old man could run with the speed of a person half his age. But Rand worked hard to keep himself in great shape........{with help of his magic, of course}

There was only one place that person could be. Royal Ridge. A mountain area that over looked the entire southern area. An area that Rand and the others could be seen. Rand moved within the trees so he wouldn't be seen. The only disadvantage of Royal Ridge, that you had to be directly in the center to see the whole area. Rand hope who ever was up there didn't know that fact.

Luck seemed to shine on him when he reached the entrance to the Ridge. He had two options. He could go directly up the front passage. He would make it to the top in moments. But he would be seen. The second opinion would be go around the back of the Ridge. A path around the western area of the ridge. He wouldn't be seen. But it would take time. Rand choose stealth over speed.

He would use the extra time to heal his body a bit more. And build up his magic reserves. He didn't know how powerful who ever was up there. So Rand played on the side of caution. Before moving Rand took several seconds to clear and calm his mind. For his heart was racing. He didn't feel this way since his time as a solider many years ago. Hunting an enemy one couldn't see.

After several moment, Rand started up the rear path. He cast his magic to pick up any trace of dark energy. Yet he cast it in a way that it wouldn't be detected unless the person was looking for it.

As soon as he got half way up the path, Rand took extra care to watch were he stepped. The last thing he wanted was to be heard. After several minutes of quiet walking he had it to the top. And not more then thirty yards ahead of him. He saw a man standing near the edge. He was wearing a bright red robe. He had his arms outstretched and muttering something under his breath.

Rand recognize him. He was a Wizard of the Kansan Order. There were more or less Wizards that sold there services to whom ever. Rand had several run ins with these guys. Nothing good came out of it.

He knew what spell he was casting. A spell of fire. Rand could see that this was a powerful spell. He was planing to take out all down there in one fiery blast.

"Over my dead body!" Rand thought as he rushed towards the Wizard.

The Wizard heard Rand's foot steps. But he was too late. Rand called every last ounce of strength into one punch. The Wizard turned into a fist that slammed into his face. His momentum sent him past the Wizard, sprawling onto the ground. He clearly heard the man's neck broke. But he wasn't taking any chances. He quickly got to his feet and stood ready for what ever. But it wasn't necessary. The Wizard was staring upward with wide eyes. He shuttered for a second, then went limp.

Rand walked over to where the dead Wizard laid. He was about to lead down to take a closer look at him. He mind screamed at him of the danger. But his body was seconds too late. The blast caught Rand flush in the chest, that took him clean off his feet. Rand never felt such pain, he couldn't scream out. All he felt was the burning in his chest. He tried to call his magic to help him. But all he felt was death creeping around him.

"M-mento-kka.............T-tosh........for....forgive.... me." Rand muttered, barely a whisper. Rand felt his consciousness fade away. And then he was no more.

A dark figure walk towards Rand body. He placed his hand at the side of Rand's neck, to check for a pulse. There was none.

"What a waste." was what he said. "Maybe his brats know something."

With that the mystery man walked away leaving the two dead bodies to rot for all he cared. For you couldn't get info from the dead.

For the next couple of days Rand trained Merc hard about a half mile out of town near a slow flowing stream. He wanted to see how much mental stamina the girl had under intense training. For Rand believed this was the one major flaw she had. How the term 'Giant Women' still made her angry and throw her off track.

Merc stood facing Rand, Tosh, Mentokka, Uber and Gunner. They all agreed to help Rand with this part of Merc's training. Even though some of them didn't like it.

"Now Merc," Rand said walking towards her. "This part of your training will be physical in nature. Here everyone including myself will attack you. We'll come alone, in pairs, or all at once. What you must do is defend and avoid. You can NOT attack until I give you the word to do otherwise. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Rand." Merc said in a flat even tone.

"And all of you," Rand said turning away from Merc and looking at the others. "You must attack Merc as if she was an enemy that was about to kill your love one. You all understand?.......... Especially you Tosh."

"Yes, Uncle Rand." Tosh said. Not before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Tosh was one that told him he had problems with this.

"Very well then.....Mentokka! Come forth and Stand Ready!"

Mentokka came forward, wearing the same fighting rode as her uncle. In fact you'd thought she was a female version of her uncle. For she wore the same outfit as Rand right down to the leather wrapping around her wrists. She even stood in the same fighting stance as her uncle.

She looked like a totally different person. Something that unnerved Gunner when he got a glimpse of her eyes.
"Is she just going to use her magic?" he wondered.

Rand smiled inwardly. For it was he that made the similar outfit for her. Several years ago, Mentokka asked Rand to train her in the art of fighting.

"I can't always depend on my magic casting, Uncle Rand." she told him. "There will be times I will have to use my hands or a weapon."

So for several years Rand trained Mentokka in secret.
He didn't understand why she didn't want to tell her brother about what she was doing. Maybe if he knew that she could protect herself. Tosh would lose one of the most important things in his life. Being her 'protector.

But he agreed to her wishes and trained her when Tosh wasn't around. After awhile she was nearly as skilled as a fighter as her brother. Rand was surprised how fast she learned her skills. As if she was a natural when it came to fighting. Rand Trained Mentokka Hard. Mentokka trained herself even Harder.

The two girls looked at each other. Even though there were close as sisters for the last few days. They both knew that this was serious. And Merc knew that Mentockka would cast some pretty powerful magic at her, So she better be ready for anything.

"Nothing personal, girlfriend." Mentokka said. A small grin breaking out across her face.

"But, of course." Merc replied, noticing that Mentokka had the SAME sick smile on her face, as Rand had when they fought.

Merc suddenly has a sour taste in her mouth. "If she call me 'Giant Women', I swear I'll slap her into next week." Merc thought bitterly.

"OK you two...........Stand ready!" Rand shouted.
The two girls glanced at Rand and stared back at each other.

"GO!"

Mentokka wasted no time. Instantly she casted a orb of water at Merc. Seeing that it was just water. Merc stood her ground and put her hands up, preparing to block it. And at that moment Mentokka went to one knee. The ring on her right hand glowed. She slammed her fist into the ground and called out the word.....'Lighting'.

A line of electric spark shot in a line towards Merc. Merc blocked the ball of water with ease, wetting her hands and most of the front of her outfit. Then suddenly Merc felt electricity ripping though her body. She screamed out in pain.

Mentokka rushed towards Merc. She suddenly she tucked herself into a roll. After a full revolution, she was right in front of Merc. She unrolled her self and instant went airborne into a jumping side crescent kick that caught Merc flush on the side of her face. Even though, Merc was still suffering from the effects of Mentokka's electric attack. It still took Merc clean off her feet, and she landed flat on her back.

Tosh, Gunner and Uber looked at what happened in opened-mouth shock.

"Tosh!" Gunner shouted. "You didn't tell me your sis could fight."

"Umm, someone forgot to tell me this also." Tosh said, in wide eyed shock looking at his Uncle.

Rand chuckled slightly. "You may not be my daughter, Mentokka-Tor. But your Damn sure my 'Little Girl'.

Merc was monetarily stunned by Mentokka's attack.

"Come on, Merc!" Mentokka said standing over her. "You alright? Didn't hit you TOO hard, did I?"

Merc's vision some what cleared. And what she saw made her blood boil. It was that cocky little smile on her face. The same smile Rand had when he more or less mopped the floor with her.

"DON'T say it!" Merc muttered though clenched teeth.

"Say what?" Mentokka said sweetly. "Giant......Women?"

Merc rose to her feet, fire in her eyes.

"Girlfriend?..........That's Your ASS!"
She rushed towards Mentokka.

"Oh My!" Gunner said, a large grin on his face.

"CAT FIGHT!"

The air rushed from Mentokka's lungs as Merc rush caught her in the stomach area. What happened next was brutal. Merc encircled her arms around Mentokka's narrow waist, lifted her up and drove her to the ground.......hard. Mentokka barely made a sound. Only because she had no air in her lungs to cry out.

Merc rose to her feet, pulling Mentokka up by her fighting robe. Her face was twisted in a mask of rage.

"Giant Women, huh?" Merc shouted as she cocked back her fist. "Kiss your pretty face goodbye, girlfriend!"

Merc drove her fist flush into Mentokka's cheek. Mentokka's head snapped to side as blood shot from her mouth as she fell to the ground. Tosh wanted to run to his sister's aid, but Rand told him to stay his ground and let them fight. At first he didn't listen. But the old man stood in front of him, shaking his head.

"My boy!" Rand said firmly. "I know what your thinking. Your sister is getting hurt, and you must protect her. I can not let you interfere. This is her fight to win or lose. Do you understand, Boy!?"

Tosh was shaking with anger. Everything in his fiber was shouting at him to go though his Uncle and help her sister.

"You want to get to her?" Rand asked. "You got to get though me."

Tosh understood what this meant. It was part of there training. When it came to finishing a task or finishing a part of his training. Rand would sometimes make Tosh fight him to complete the task. 95% of the time Rand would beat him. This troubled Rand, for he knew that Tosh should be able to beat him. But Tosh still couldn't fully bring himself to fight his uncle. One of the few flaws in Tosh's training. But this day would be different.

"So be it, Uncle!" Tosh shouted. as he threw a left hook towards Rand's head. Rand side stepped the blow, but was caught with a right uppercut to his jaw. The blow took him off his feet. Tosh looked down at his Uncle with an expression that Rand didn't recognize. "I'm impressed Tosh.'" Rand said rubbing his jaw. "But you should of kept up the attack. And that's gonna cost ya." Rand jumped to his feet and rushed towards his nephew.



Merc walked toward a nearly unconscious Mentokka. She once again pulled her up by her robe. It felt good to finally connect on a 'Tor'. She kinda hope it was Rand she was hitting. But a Mentokka-Tor was good enough..........for now. "I hope I didn't hurt you, TOO much, Girlfriend." Merc said in the same tone of voice that Mentokka used on her. She pulled her close to her face as she about to hit Mentokka once again.

Suddenly Mentokka let out a bloody spray of spit on to Merc's face. Merc screamed as she released Mentokka to cover her face. Mentokka stepped back and drove a side thrust kick into Merc stomach, that made her double over in pain. Once again, not giving her a chance to recover. Mentokka sized Merc up and gave her a well placed round-house kick to the side of Merc head, that sent her to the ground once again.



Uber was staring at all of this, thinking that all these Tor's are crazy. Gunner was practically doubled over laughing. Saying he didn't have this much fun since his birthday.



Rand and Tosh were trading punches and kicks with each other. Without either one trying to block. That's how they fought. They were hitting each other til one of them dropped. Even though Rand was an old man. his blows still packed a wallop. Tosh thought the old man's punches felt like a spiked rocks. He lost WAY too many times to his Uncle. But he would be damned if he was going to lose this time. For his sister's sake and his own.

Rand realizes he was losing. He could feel it every blow that connected. He felt weaker. Tosh had FINALLY got it. Too bad, it happened at the cost of his facial looks. Suddenly Tosh was connecting two punches for every one of Rand's.

"Fall," Tosh shouted, as each punch connected to his Uncle face. Blood splashing onto his face. "Fall damn you!" Tosh stopped hitting his Uncle to grab him as he noticed that the old man's face was a bloody mess. He was about to let his uncle fall to the ground. When he felt a kick to the side of his head.

"Leave him alone, Tosh!" Mentokka shouted.

"Sis, I-I,"

"Brother or not! I won't let you hurt Uncle Rand!"

Suddenly he felt a punch to the back of his head. It was Merc.

"And I won't let you hurt, Master Rand either.

Before he knew it. Tosh was fighting the two of them. It took all of his fighting skills to avoid the punches and kicks from them. Merc punches were mostly towards Tosh's face. They were easy to deflect. But they were also painful when she connected. Mentokka's punches and kicks were mostly low strikes to the stomach and leg area. They weren't hard blows. But her speed nearly cheated the eyes.

It was at this point where the two of them finally got the advantage on Tosh. Merc was throwing punches toward Tosh's face. Most of the blows were missing. He thought it would be a good idea to back away and go after his sister before she cast some spell on him..............Too late.

Mentokka cast the 'Flash and Bang' spell towards her brother. The exploding lights and loud bang was too much for him. He lost his center of balance. His eyes saw spots and bells rang in his ears. Before he knew it, the girls were raining punches and kicks all over Tosh's body. And not even his great strength and stamina could with stand such an attack. Before long all went black.

Before they could finish off Tosh. Merc was hit with a flat end of a sword across her back. And Mentokka felt something like a stick across the back of her head. As Tosh fell to the ground unconscious. The girls were sent to there knees winching in pain. They looked up to see Uber and Gunner standing over them.

Uber was hefting his large Bastard sword towards Merc, and Gunner twirling a wooden staff towards Mentokka.

"You didn't think we'd miss out on all the fun?" Gunner said. A large grin on his face.

"Fun?" Mentokka replied, rising to her feet. "I believe it's going to be a lot of FUN, kicking your ass."

Before you knew it, the four of them were locked in combat. Merc was neatly avoiding the slashes and stabs from the large sword that Uber welded. While Mentokka was attack Gunner, even though he was the one that had the weapon. She used her leather wrist bands to block most of the blows from Gunner.

"How does he wield such a large sword with such ease.?" Merc thought as she tried to counter his attack. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, since she wielded a large frying pan, at times.

"Hey pretty lady." Gunner said. "How about if you and me get outta of here.............And I'll let you play with my 'Other Staff'."

Mentokka stopped her attack and smiled at him.

"An interesting offer, my womanizing friend. But I'd doubt you'd last 5 minutes with me...........Peewee."

She sealed the statement by looking down at his crotch area. And smiling even more broadly.


"Bad choice of words, Pretty lady." Gunner said, slightly winching at the remark. That was the one thing that wrangled him. Making fun of his manhood.

"Time to introduce you to a 'World of Hurt'!." He dropped his staff, cracked his knuckles and moved in towards her.

"Bring it, Dragon Boy!" she shouted.

The two attack with each other with even more intensely. Gunner lead with a right hand upper-cut, that Mentokka avoided with ease. He threw a right hook that grazed her cheek. He was about to come with another upper-cut, but she countered with a kick to shin. She drove the foot right between bone and muscle. Gunner winced for a moment. Mentokka didn't let him recover. She drove her fist in to the nap of his neck. The blow made Gunner eyes well up with tears. Mentokka stepped back and drove a side thrust kick into Gunner's chest. The air rushed from his lungs as the blow threw him back and onto the ground. He strained to rise to his feet for a second but fell back to the ground in unconsciousness.

Mentokka walked over to where Gunner was lying. She kneed down and lowered her head to were it was right in front of Gunner's face.

"I hope it was as good to you as it was for me, Pretty Boy." She said as gave the unconscious Gunner a kiss on his lips.

As she got up to join in the fight with Merc and Uber. Gunner opened his eyes.

"Damn Good, for me, Pretty Lady." He whispered, a large grin breaking across his face. "I think I'm in love............Again."

Rand stop talking at that moment to lean back in his chair and rub his eyes. Uber didn't know if this part of his story was giving him pain or it was a source of strength that shaped his life. But Rand answered it for him.

"At that time, I made a promise to myself, that I'd try to be respectful of life. Even if I have to take it."

Rand said nothing more after that. Uber was sure his story was over but there was one question he was dying to ask the old man.

"Rand?" Uber asked. "There's something you didn't answer."

"What is that?" Rand replied looking at him.

"What was the solution to the problem you had with remembering spell."

"Oh that!" Rand said, his mood brightened when he heard that. "The main problem to learning spell is that there is no quick way to learn them."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. There is no way to learn spells quickly. Not by the means of magic or anything. People have been trying to figure a way to get around this problem for years. Even Master Benqu is stumped."

"Isn't that impossible, Rand." Uber said. "The definition of the spells you'd cast were from three different kind of spell casters."

Rand sighed and rose to his feet and walked over to where Merc kept a collecting of books on a shelf on the over side of the room. He asked Uber to come over to where he was and asked him to pick a book that he never read.

Uber looked for a few seconds and pointed at a large brown book near the bottom shelf. A cook book. Rand pulled it out and took it to the table. Uber followed. The two sat back down in there seats.

Rand asked Uber once again that the never read this book. He shook his head while saying no. The old man smile, and asked him to put his hand on the book. Uber looked at Rand for a second and then put his right hand on the book. Then Rand asked Uber to give him his left hand. Uber once again looked at Rand strangely then give him his hand.

Rand muttered something softly under his breath, then Uber's right hand began to glow. He stared in amazement. Then as fast it began, it was over. Suddenly Uber's eyes went wide.

"Rand!..........The book!" Uber said. "I understand Everything in the book! As if I read the whole thing. what kind of spell was that?"

"It's called scholar's touch. A low level cleric spell." he said with a chuckle. "I'm sure you can cook up alot of the recipes in that book."

Uber agreed and told him he doesn't even know how to cook. Rand told him to put his hand on his small leather bound book. He took Uber hand once again. He muttered some words again. Uber's hand glowed, his eyes went wide. Then there was a puzzled look on his face.

"The spells" Uber said in shock. "I couldn't read them. I could read the maps and symbols. But not the spells. Why is that?"

Rand smiled and shook his head. "I've been racking my brains on this for years. I guess who ever created magic put that in as a side spell. Not to make it so easy to learn I guess."

"But you figured it out, right?" Uber asked.

"Not really. But I did find a way around it.....sort of"

Rand told him that he couldn't do anything about learning the spell quickly. But it didn't say anything about 'learning quicker'. When Uber asked what he was taking about. and told him he created a spell that 'Increases the speed to learn'.

"Cast the spell on the MIND........Not on the SPELL." Rand said tapping a finger on his forehead.

Uber laughed when he heard that. "It sounds so simple. It's almost stupid that no one figured it out."

The two shared a laugh. But suddenly, Rand stopped, put his hand up to silence Uber. The two heard muffled giggles. It was coming from where Merc and Mentokka were sleeping.

"I guess I wasn't the only one enjoying your story, Rand." the old man nodded, with a grin on his face.

"Merc?........Mentokka?" Rand called out. "Come out here you two." Moments later, the two girls came out of there room. here were both wearing short sleeping gowns that was barely hiding the curves and private parts of there bodies. Uber stared at them with wide eyes.

"I hope you two enjoyed the story." Rand said. "You know you two could of come out of here and sat with us."

"I think not," Merc said looking at the way Uber stared at them. "Not the way 'he' is undressing us with those nasty eyes."

"All turned to look at Uber. Uber realized what he was doing. He turned red as a beet with embarrassment. He quickly looked away.

The girls laughed. But Rand told them to go easy on him. There were a 'feast' on the eyes.

"It's a little hard to have a person thinking only the dirtiest thoughts about me when trying to listen to a story." Mentokka said.

"Hey little girl." Rand said. "Were guys.....cut us a little slack, will you." The girls chucked with mock surprise.

"I'm not talking about you, Rand." Merc said. "Just him" She pointed at Uber.

"Be thankful Gunner isn't here. He'd be drooling by now." Rand said.

"Maybe........But I'm not worried about an old man like you. Your harmless." Merc said with a wicked grin on her pretty face.

"I may be old, little lady," Rand said, rising to his feet, a large wolfish grin breaking out on his old face. "But I'm not That old, that I can't wear either one of you two out in the bed.........on the floor.......up against a wall."

For several moments, Merc and Uber was truly shocked at what he said.

"Your a Dirty Old Man, Rand!" Uber said in shock. "Here, I was thinking you was a 'Clean' Old Man!"

Rand sat back in his chair. Sighed deeply, chuckling under his breath.

"I'll be a 'Clean' Old man when I'm 'Dead' Old Man."

They all laughed at that.

Uber asked the old man did he ever see his master again. Rand didn't answer at first. He sat back in his chair with his eyes closed. No doubt thinking back to that time when his master left him.

"Master Rand?" Uber said. Rand eyes opened and his head snapped towards Uber.

"I knew 'That' would get your attention". Uber said, a large grin on his face.

Rand had to chuckled. As the two shared a laugh. He told him that he came in contact with Master Benqu a little more then five years later. He sent him a letter asking him for his help. A raiding army was planning to attack his people's forest home and burn it to the ground. Rand didn't give it a second thought.

With the use of his magic, Rand was standing by his master's side within an half hour. Rand had to admit to himself He thought it odd that Master Benqu needed his help. He was sure that there were more powerful spell casters in this village. Maybe Benqu wanted to see if he improved in his skills. Or maybe he just missed him as much as he did.

What ever the reason. Rand stood ready for what ever came. As the army came into view, Rand was ordered to go to the back with the other magic users and spell casters. Rand drew his short sword and stood next to his master in the lead fighting group.

"Have you figured out that problem you had with remembering spells?" Benqu asked.

"It took me a while, Master. But I figured a way around it." Rand replied looking straight ahead. "I promise to tell you about when this was over."

As the army approached the Elfin Chief gave the order to advance. The elves marched towards. At that moment the spell casters started casting there magic towards the enemy. Fire, ice, wind, earth, lighting spells hammered the enemy without mercy. There attack lasted no more then ten seconds. But it decimated more then half of the attackers.

At that moment the marching army broke into a run and attacked the survivors with a sickening blood lust. Master Benqu did not join in the slaughter. Rand wanted to join in on the attack. But Benqu told him that there targets haven't come into view.

Rand was going to say something, when the front line of the Elfin Army rushed back to where Benqu and Rand stood. As the soldiers passed them, the two started walking forward. What came into view made Rand gasped opened mouth.

The closest description of the thing that came towards them was something like a Minatore. But it was encased in a gleaming metal skin. It was carrying a large battle Axe. The strode towards them with the confidence of a being that was fully protected.

"Show me what you learned boy." Benqu said firmly.

Rand took a deep breath a walk towards the creature.

The creature stood well over seven feet tall and heavily muscled inside the metal skin.

"You think you can defeat me, foolish human?" The creature roared with laughter.

"Humor me." Rand said softly.

"Very well human," The creature shouted after he stopped laughing. "Take your best shot. Show me your power, human before I grind you under my heel."

"First and Last mistake, Fool!" Rand muttered as he rose both hands in front of his chest. Suddenly a blue light formed between his hands and several blue orbs exploded from his hands and slammed into the monster, knocking him back several steps.

The creature looked down at his dripping body and laughed out loud. "Is that the Best you got?"

"Wait for it." Rand said, a large grin breaking out across his face.

Suddenly his metal skin begin to smoke and drip off his body like so much water. Rand didn't give him time to react. He balled his left hand into a fist it took on the color of the earth. He extend his right hand and countless needles shot out from his finger tips. The needles struck in countless places on his body. The creature shouted that they were burning him.

"Poison does that, friend." Rand said. "Time to end this."

Rand went to one knee and touch a hand full of grass. He muttered some words under his breath, and suddenly the blades of grass rose from the ground. Each blade of grass curved into metal blades and flew towards the creature and circled it, slicing into it already bleeding flesh.

Rand made a fist with right hand and the blades cut into it with even more intensity. As the creature screamed in it's death cry. Rand turned away and walked back towards his master.

At that moment Rand was sickened at what he done. He knew he did it to protect his master's people. But the idea of so willingly taking a life made him feel mentally ill. He said little as he left the battle field. Once back in the village. Rand went by an open patch of land and stared off into space. Master Benqu walked over towards him. He could sense the feeling of distress in his former apperentice.

"What troubles you, Rand?" he asked putting an hand on Rand's shoulder.

Rand said he felt troubled because he killed that creature. He stopped himself. He tiook a deep breath and spoke again. He said it wasn't the fact that he killed. It was the fact that he took the creature's life and had fun doing it. Making a mockery of it's life.

"That's not what my life is about, Master. Rand said painfully. "That wasn't a part of the path of my life"

His Master said nothing. What could he say. This was nothing that he didn't go though himself. That is what life is all about. Trying to make sense of it. And trying to find out were he fit in it.

Rand walked home. He could of used his magic. He needed the time to calm the raging storm of emotions he was feeling.

By the time he made it home. Rand-Tor understood the path he was going to take.

And for better or worse. He would stay on it.