Pellus recovered from his grief quickly, replacing it with anger and action. Before seeing to even the removal of his fellow wizard's bodies, he penned an urgent message to Vattus and the remaining council members spread across Arishamal. He called for Wiccinas' fastest messengers and sent them out on their journeys. Only then did the ancient wizard turn his attention to his departed friends and arrange for last rites befitting their years of service to the land.

The messenger to Gleneden arrived in record time. He relayed a verbal message outlining the known facts of the attack and handed Vattus Pellus' written communication. Yogi and Robbi joined the wizard in his chamber and listened to the tragic news from Wiccinas.

"That's horrible, whoi would anyone kill wizards? The council serves this world." Yogi asked perplexedly.

"That might be precisely why, my friend. Something foul is afoot." The wizard broke the seal on Pellus' scroll, "Let us see what old Pellus has to say," Vattus smiled, "thank the heavens that dear Pellus avoided the fate of my brother wizards, I think his loss would have been too much for me to bear.

Vattus unrolled the scroll and sat down opposite Yogi. Robbi stood behind her mentor. He scanned it silently at first. The mole could see from his facial expressions that the news was dire indeed. He began to read aloud.

"Dear Vattus and Robbia Praxus,
As you heard from the messenger, the news from here is most tragic. Malvus, Logi, Sigur, Cader, Stach, Jantus, and Parius are with us no longer. They were evilly assassinated for reasons yet unknown. It is only by the good graces of my fortune that I escaped the same fate. It is not without irony that I realize my advanced age and tendency to nap most probably allowed me to continue living.

"As devastating and disturbing as the murders were, Malvus' last words before he passed are almost more so. He referred both to the Deev and the Guild of Assassins, Seth-E-Raman, and someone or something named Gadral Neure. Whether the Deev or the assassins were the killers, I know not for certain, but before our brother passed I asked if the Assassins had done this, he sputtered out a no and then with effort before he died, 'The Deev', so I am inclined to believe, though it does not seem possible, that those abominations have somehow escaped Xenoth.

"I know of the Deev primarily from both stories( my grandfather was one of the council who wove the binding spell on Xenoth those many centuries ago) and the studies I have been conducting on your behalf to lift the spell in order to free its inhabitants. If the Deev have truly escaped, it would appear that someone has beaten you to it. If that is what happened, I can only assume our brothers were killed to prevent the council from reinstituting the binding spell.

"Most disturbing is that they have stolen the Rubitar. I know not nor can I conceive of what evil purpose they have in mind for our blessed relic. I will continue to research the scrolls of our library, though I will be less efficient with Egbert and Phoebe gone.

"As for the Guild of Assassins, I know nothing. I have heard of them, of course, but it has been many years since they were involved in any noteworthy news. I am not even certain that they any longer exist. I suspect that the library at Gleneden would be the best source of research, since I recall Egbert mentioning it contained a history of Seth-E-Raman during the time the Guild was flourishing. I believe the author was Pashar Prelat the Elder. Perhaps you can find it.

"I have sent messengers to the remaining wizards informing them of these horrible events and suggested that everyone remain away from Wiccinas until we discover the purpose of the attacks and theft. If someone is targeting wizards, I see no point in gathering them all in one spot, like lambs to the slaughter. You my dear friend, however, I would like to see, along with Robbia, once we have discovered anything. Guards have been tripled, and the rulers of all our kingdoms informed. We will talk again soon.
     Targas protect you, my brother,
     Pellus."               

Yogi looked up.
"What does this all mean, Vattus?"

"It means we have much to do in a short time. I will look for Prelat's book and try to make sense of what we have learned."

"What should I do?" Robbi asked.

"You need to go to Sapphire Mountain immediately. You need to convey this dreadful news to Arisha. Speak to her about this tragedy. If anyone knows what is going on, it is the Golden Spider."

"The boat is ready, I'll leave with Digger at first light," Robbi replied.

Vattus turned to Yogi.
"Would you go with her and your son? I'd feel better knowing you were at her side."

"Of course," Yogi said solemnly, "Oi'll see she's safe. Should we return here?"

Vattus thought for a moment before answering.
"No, head to Wiccinas. She should be safe there, The assassins are long gone by now. I suspect that this affair will lead to the Lands of Man and she will be far closer in Aolas. I will meet you there."

"Okay," the mole agreed.

"And Robbi?" Vattus said with gravity.

"Yes, Vattus?"

"Be very, very careful during this entire investigation. Be sparing with your trust and don't let anyone know you're a wizard who doesn't already, these are dangerous times."

"I'll be careful," The pretty rat assured him.

"You and Digger take care as well. Wizards might not be too safe to be around." Vattus told his friend,

"Digger and Oi will stay with her and protect her," Yogi said resolutely.

Vattus smiled slightly and patted the mole on the back.
"Thank you, my friend. Forgive me for snapping out orders, you are a king, after all. I would understand if you sent someone else, after all you have responsibilities here in Gleneden."

The Mole-King laughed.
"Dat's what da bureaucrats are for. Dere's nothing pressing here and Oi would be ashamed not to help. Robbi is loike a daughter to me and we owe her so much."

"You are a true friend, Yogi. Robbi, I must make haste now, I'm going to the library to try to find some basis for this dire act, to make some sense of Malvus' last words. Targas speed you, I will see you both in Wiccinas." With that, Vattus hugged Robbi and shook Yogi's paw firmly before exiting the room in a rush.

Vattus entered the large, newly constructed, sandstone edifice that served as the Gleneden Library. Before Egbert had centralized the collected knowledge and histories which comprised the library, volumes and collections were spread throughout the city, in Guild centers, government buildings, and private collections.

Vattus had no problem finding the scholarly tome Pellus mentioned in the letter. The library in Gleneden was meticulously organized and cataloged, thanks entirely to Egbert and Thoris, who considered it a second home and had given a great deal of their time to its creation and upkeep.

With both of the dedicated librarians out of Gleneden, it fell upon Phoebe's small shoulders to take their place. Phoebe was a precocious young duckling, who as Egbert's adopted daughter had found herself in the center of great events. Even in the Khalisian Wars, though little more than an infant, she played a key role in the defeat of the Ice Queen. Now, older, though still a very young, she found herself a friend and confidant of almost every ruler and wizard in Arishamal. This created in her a total lack of awe. Everyone to her was simply who they were, rather than what they were and they loved her for it.

Phoebe, who loved her adopted father as dearly as any devoted daughter, had been granted her greatest wish. She was declared a mole by Egbert's brother, Yogi, the ruler of Gleneden, and admitted with pomp and ceremony into his tribe.

Phoebe had been out running errands on her beloved tricycle at the time Vattus arrived. When she returned, he was already deep in study, sitting at an old oak desk, nose buried in Pashar Prelat's dusty history. This bothered Phoebe not at all. Delighted to see the old magician whom she considered almost a grandfather, she squeaked loudly and ran toward him, completely ignoring his intense concentration.

"Vatti! Vatti! Phoebe is so happy to see you!"

Vattus looked up. He couldn't help smiling and feeling better, despite the grave circumstances.
"You saw me yesterday, pumpkin." Vattus answered cheerfully.

"But now it's today!" she jumped up into his arms and he twirled her around.

"Indeed it is," he put her down, "tell me Phoebe, have you seen Max? How is he?"

Max was their dear friend, a brave parrot, who had recently lost his lifelong friend and companion, Ellios, to a sudden illness.

"Max is good. He still sad, a little, but happy, too."

Vattus knelt and spoke softly.
"It is very hard when one we love passes over before us on their journey, but then we realize that they have left their essence all around us so that they are always close and we can travel with them on our paths. Max knows now he will always have Ellios  and it has helped heal his pain."

Vattus changed tone and asked Phoebe cheerfully, "Could you fetch Max for me? It's very important."

Phoebe snapped to attention and threw a curt salute.
"Phoebe fetch Max!" she repeated and quickly mounted her tricycle. She zoomed out of the room as Vattus once more immersed himself in the vellum manuscript.