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Some of them would train in the use of the Shadow Sigil, strengthening Umber’s growing number of Shadow Sigilists. Others would become binder-mages, those whose very souls would be bound magically to that of a powerful immortal Cjii who would grant the binder-mage a portion of his powers. It was a risky process for the mortal, but one which would enhance his or her powers greatly and further Umber’s cause. And still others would become clerics of the Dark Lord, Umber, and gain special powers granted directly from the King of Darkness.
    Shalthazar was a generous - but strict - master and his apprentices had the best clothing, supplies and mounts. In return for his knowledge of the Sigilcraft, the apprentices did much of their master’s arcane bidding, and performed many of the experiments he wished he had time to do on his own.
    And so these two young men, magic-wielders in the employ of a recently dethroned petty monarch, had quickly offered their allegiances to the great wizard, the Prophet-General of Ilian Nah. These young men possessed extraordinary talent for the Shadow Sigil and had grown in the use of their new powers quickly.
    “Your rapid progress in the use of Sigils has been well noted. I have urgent missions for each of you.” Shalthazar knew these men were ambitious, all of his apprentices were. However, unlike many of his comrades, Zerelis was shrewd and possessed of a strong sense of duty. He believed that his zeal would be rewarded in its own time, which made him more trustworthy than some of his backstabbing comrades.
    Urelis, was another matter.
    “You have heard of the Glacier Palace of Erestonin, yes?” the wizard asked Zerelis.
    Zerelis nodded curtly, revealing no hint of his inner thoughts to his twin. Shalthazar had no need of such physical indications, he read the young man’s mind plainly enough. Zerelis knew that this was the palace of the monarch of the Frost Elves. The Frost Elves were a mysterious and fearsome race of elves living in the frozen wastes. They were hardy folk who could survive amidst the harshest of conditions. Deviously intelligent, few who ventured to their wondrous and mysterious lands ever returned. And those who did, returned changed for the worse, tortured by the horrors inflicted upon them.
    Yes, he knows of them , Shalthazar said to himself with a grin, letting the mental connection falter. He was amused by the man’s well-founded fear of Erestonin.
    “You will travel there and deliver this message.” The elf held out a jet-black scroll case inlaid with silver and rubies. He need not reassure his apprentice, all knew that harm made to those under Shalthazar’s protection would be repaid tenfold, even to the Frost Elves. “Remain as long as is necessary to return with their reply.
    “You may go, now,” intoned the elf. Zerelis relaxed a moment, allowing himself to reach out to the Tides. A talisman hanging from a leather strap at his hip gleamed in the light of the dark wizard’s laboratory. The talisman appeared to be little more than a block of obsidian, a substance highly valued among the new Sigilists for its ability to store vast amounts of Tidal energy in the form of ready-to-cast Sigilspells. The master wizard required all of his apprentices to carry one, and to keep it charged with as much power as they could. And the only Sigilspell he required them to possess at all times was called travel . This was a potent form of magic which allowed a person to travel anyplace on Llars in a matter of moments, using the elemental plane of Shadow as a go-between.
    Zerelis made the appropriate Sigil in the air before him and spoke the command which unleashed the magic. Then the very shadows of the room raced to the center, swirling in a clockwise vortex. The apprentice stepped inside the vortex and slowly disappeared.
    Shalthazar gave a satisfied nod, sensing that the spell was properly done and turned to face the twin, Urelis. The two were not identical twins, yet