The Story:
Miraussa's Troubles

The Lady Miraussa questioned every trader and official she could lay hands on, but no explanation was given to her. All she knew was that her traders were forbidden to send for their cargo in Carul, and her best negotiator was yet to arrive. She cursed the storm that knocked over the tree.

"Listen, mister," she curtly informed the official in charge of border crossings, "If you don't give me an explanation of why I'm stuck here with a load full of cloth and pottery and can't do a thing with it, or else..." She was unable to think of an appropriate punishment. "You don't want to find out what else," she concluded.

"Emperor's orders," the man staunchly maintained. "No one disobeys the Emperor."

Miraussa closed her eyes, wishing for patience. Of course. It was simple. The Emperor's word was law, and that was it. Nothing at all out of place.

Now why in all the years I've worked trading, she thought, can't I understand that principle that every mindless Dark Star seems to be able to accept? She drummed her fingers on the table between her and the man.

"All right," she gave up. "But what about my lost man? How is he to get here? Why have you blocked off travel to Farlin?" She held up her hand as the man began to speak. "Never mind. I understand. 'Emperor's orders' and all that."

The man nodded, as though that explained everything. Miraussa sighed. There was no point questioning him. Just then, one of the Rhenry girls ran up to her.

"Rhillan's been arrested!" the girl hurriedly reported. "He's being held at a guard station on Farlin Road."

Miraussa immediately snapped to business. "How long ago, Rhona?" she asked, looking around unsuccessfully for the fast way to the guard post.

"Early afternoon. They say he and the Captain had a disagreement, so they detained him and his cargo."

Miraussa snorted. "Not only do they retain Rhillan, they have to keep the cart, too!" She banged her hand against the table, startling the poor man behind it. "Sorry," she threw quickly at him, then boldly strode away in the direction of the stables, Rhona following close at hand.

"What do you plan to do, Mira?" Rhona asked.

"I plan to claim my right to my cart and my driver," she replied. "Anything they have done is my responsibility; I shall take care of it." She glanced to Rhona. "You go inform the rest of your group I'm going to get Rhillan back... I'll take care of it on my own, Rhona, don't worry."

Before long, Mira found herself within site of the guard post. She slowed her mount to a trot, and the guard naturally filed out to stop her progress. She was quick to identify the Captain.

"Captain, I demand you release my cart driver, whom you have detained."

"Lady Miraussa," the Captain greeted, oblivious to her demands, "it is pleasant to see you."

In a way, she preferred the straight-forward answer from the border official. "Please, Captain, I came to see about my man."

The Captain raised an eyebrow. "Your man?" he asked. "According to the Emperor's orders, all people traveling with a suspicious character must be detained with that character."

"A suspicious character?" Mira repeated. "And whom did you find to be suspicious may I ask, Captain?"

"Why, his sister," the Captain replied equably, watching Mira's every reaction. "His sister?" Mira repeated him again.

"Yes, Lady," the Captain said. "Surely you know his sister? The one called Rhona?"

Mira stopped herself from repeating again. Rhona? Hadn't she just left her in Farlin? Another Rhona, maybe, she considered? She resolved to find out.

"Then if it's Rhona you want," she said calmly, "then surely you can't object to releasing Rhillan to me?"

"On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that I am responsible for the actions of the Rhenries, that it is my duty to see through any punishment for laws they break, and therefore Rhillan must be placed into my custody."

A few seconds passed and the Captain said nothing. He glanced to his men. "You dismount, and we'll allow you to talk to your driver."

"Alone," Miraussa added.

"Agreed."

Mira dismounted, and her horse was immediately lead away. She followed the Captain to the small building that served as a cell and waited outside. Soon, an angry looking Rhillan was brought before her. He was slightly dirty from road dust and the grim of the cell, and his face was purple in places, but he appeared to be in relatively good health.

"Mira! I knew you'd come as soon as you heard." He smiled and they were allowed to use the Captain's office, allowing them some privacy in conversation.

She pulled him closer. "What is this I hear about your sister? Who's Rhona?"

He looked chagrined. "Well, it's sort of complicated, but her name isn't Rhona. She told me it was Talle, but I don't think that's it either."

"Rhillan, I've no time for games." Mira anxiously kept an eye on the door. "Who is she to get you arrested?"

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small piece of bark. "Look at that," she said, handing it to her. She examined it, bending it in her hand. She recognized it and glanced up at him.

"Where did you get this? Is this from Carul? Don't lie to me, Rhillan."

"Rhona, err, Talle, um..." he paused, sorting out names. "Talle had it in her pocket. It fell out without her notice, and I picked it up."

"But this is bark from a Frozen Tree!" she hissed at him. "There's no way there's enough magic in Ajir to make the bark this break unless..." she trailed off, her eyes widening. "That's why you allowed yourself to be arrested?"

He nodded. "I couldn't just let her be killed like the other Magic-users," he said. "So I said she was my sister." He grinned. "Sort of a spur-of-the moment thing."

Mira frowned; there was something missing. "How would they know she was one? Few Ajirians can recognize the visual clues these days."

He shrugged. "As far as I could piece together, she lived in a place relatively safe, but a Tree-" he motioned to the bark "-grew nearby and gave her away when a piece broke off. Why else would she have the piece? She ran away about the same time the storm blew, and her horse escaped. I found her lying by the road, practically dehydrated."

Mira nodded. "So they decided to search for her, and stop traffic? That's a bit far to find one magic-user." She looked at the bark. She assumed it had been a while since the girl, whatever she wanted to be called, handled it, yet even now Mira felt she could snap it easily. "But then again..." She looked at Rhillan. "I seriously don't hope that you think I'll help this Rhona, or Talle, of yours."

He grinned. "Well," he argued, "she's supposed to be my sister, and you claimed responsibility for the our actions. Besides," he added slyly, "you can't refuse to help a fellow magician, could you?"

She shot him a hard look, but gradually her irritation faded. "I suppose not," she replied and stuffed the piece of bark in her pocket. "Let's go," she sighed.