Athan bounced in his saddle, tired from the journey and his lack of information. He had searched across Angmar for years it seemed, though he knew months was more accurate. From border to border, he rode with all possible speed, speaking with all who had heard of what happened to Fourthbridge. All he'd managed to gather was that it may have been kirmu, or it may not have, or any number of absurd claims. All he'd truly discovered that whoever did it was extremely good at what they did, and there was atleast one channeler among them. The residue of weaving had deteriorated significantly, but the faint traces were there.<br/><br/>Athan was a day or two's ride into Meruvian territory when the road forked familiarly; to the left, more endless plains, with a small township a week and a half away yet. To the right, the Black Tower was hidden a day's ride more into the hills. Kneeing his mount, a thick, black-maned colt he'd named Daril toward the right. It wasn't for atleast four hours that Athan saw any form of life, in the form of three vaguely familiar Santi, two he'd trained beside, and one who was much older, and wiser. And more powerful. The latter of the group spoke first.<br/><br/>"Athan al'Car! You've finally returned from your first sabbatical from Tower duties. It's been too long."<br/>Athan could see his compatriots giving him apologetic looks. Barat and Cael he believed their names were. They wore plain, unassuming tan tunics, and tight trousers of a darker brown.<br/>"Master Tanan. I apologize for my tardiness, but I had things I had to attend to."<br/>Without giving him a chance to explain the tragedy, Tanan responded,<br/>"More important than your oaths? If you value your childhood puppy-love more than the life you swore to, perhaps I should speak to the mahdi about your dedication. We will now be late, more than these two already made us, and must be off."<br/>The reminder of what he has lost stung Athan deeply, but he couldn't speak back to a Santi of such standing. Besides, it was true that he'd shirked some duties. His assigned help in the library would surely double.<br/><br/>As the sun fell below the horizon, Athan's sense of loneliness doubled several times over. His mind returned to days of forestry and fishing, of hunting and having fun. He caressed the medallion given to him by Sulvi, his Sulvi; the ram's powerful horns driving him forward faster. He saw the tower rise before him hours before he'd planned, just as the sun was rising. He was greeted with wary nods by two guards at the front gate of the compound, showing just how fully his dereliction was known. Athan engaged in short conversations with Santi and apprentices attending duties, who had no time to listen to his story.<br/><br/>By the time Athan had made it up the innumerable flights of stairs into his quarters, he was dead tired, and tired of having no answers. Just as he was laying in his bed, ready to fall into a surely fitful sleep, his door burst open, with two older Santi standing in the blinding doorway.<br/>"Mahdi wants to see you."<br/>Athan's heart rose to his throat. That was fast.