Role

Chapter 6

As Rylwaequarth's nimble fingers flipped quickly through bundled parchments, a
sigh composed equally of weariness and frustration escaped from his thin lips.
"There's nothing new in here I don't already know," he grumbled lowly to the
dust-covered crates that were stacked high in the Galadon registry's storage
area. "How is it that somebody as well-known as my father could just ...
vanish from the public eye? Did she kill him?" Rylwaequarth put the now neatly
stacked batch of records he had been exploring back where they belonged as he
pondered this riddle.

It had been easier for him to put together a timeline concerning his mother,
as she had been a diplomat and was much better represented in the various
records he had accessed. He'd only very recently learned that she'd been
recalled to the Underside very shortly after the dissolution of their family.
He then immediately dispatched an imperial spy to the spider city to learn
what he could, but that had been only days ago. As Rylwaequarth left the
registry and walked briskly back to his guild, he was disappointed but
undeterred. He would keep looking until he found what he was after.

Rylwaequarth was so absorbed in his thoughts that he initially didn't notice
the well-dressed drow awaiting him at the temple. He had half a moment to
laugh to himself that this surprise had surely been intentional before the
imposing man stepped towards him. Rylwaequarth readied himself for a coming
attack, but the messenger simply handed him an unmarked envelope, whispered
"Burn this!" and disappeared into the temple crowd. As he retired to his
guild to examine the vellum inside his eyes found a shocking message:

***
My child-

I've watched you closely all these years, and what I've seen has made me
proud. The favor of the Great Witch, a place in the Empire, these are glorious
feats. You are destined for so much more! Stay your course, and I will tell
you what you need to know when the time is right. However, DO NOT make any
more attempts to seek me out, for I need no unwanted attention. I allowed the
man you sent this time to live, out of courtesy, but if you send another he
will not return to the Topside.

Your dear mother,
Chessantra
***

===Days before===
Chessantra sits at an ornate desk as she finishes a note with a flourish of
her quill. "Send this to him immediately," she commands a waiting handmaiden.
"You didn't tell him the truth, did you?" the attendant asked with curious
amusement. "Of course not," Chessantra laughed lightly, "I told him only
enough to keep him focused. He knows nothing of his father. Or of Zurcon," she
added, as her smile hardened.