All portals have the ability to make you feel nauseous, light-headed and disorientated. The one at the base of the Nexus was no exception, and although I was accustomed to most of those sensations, this one felt - different. Perhaps it was due to it being the gateway into Malygos's lair and the one-time home of the Blue Dragonflight. Or simply because it took us not to a planned destination in the world, but deeper into the bowels of a fortress. Whatever it was, I couldn't shake the unease which seemed to seep into my very marrow.

As we stepped into an icy corridor, I felt a hand on my lower back, steadying me. Comforting me. Automatically, I turned to thank Felenn for watching over me yet again. To my utter astonishment, it was not my fellow Adept. It was Araellor who had guided me through. Felenn stood off to the right, waiting for me to join her. I hesitantly smiled my gratitude and quickly stepped away.

Straightening her skirts, Felenn leaned towards me. "Ooh, do I detect a little warming towards our protector?" she whispered teasingly.

I felt my face prickle as a flush rose from my neck. "Not at all! He was only being..."

"Gallant? Chivalrous?" Leaning in ever closer she almost breathed her next word. "Romantic?" She linked her arm with mine, pulling me close.

"No! Now stop your teasing, Felenn. You know fine how I feel about..." I was caught in a strange mix of annoyance and embarrassment. Felenn gave me a sardonic smile - and a wink, no less! I nudged her to face forward, maintaining my defiance. She laughed lightly.

"I've decided you are incorrigible," I said.

"And you protest too much, my friend."

I can't fully explain how emotional her words made me feel at that moment. She called me her friend. Somehow, that one endearment overshadowed everything else. Never did I imagine feeling so overwhelmed by my fellow Adept, my former roommate during our internships. It was ...delightful. Incredibly, I almost cried! I found myself exceptionally grateful that Felenn was with me on this excursion.

Our male companions had secured all three sledges and gathered only that which we needed for our investigation inside the fortress: small picks, knives, lanterns, water and some very light snacks.

"Have either of you actually been in here before?" I asked Garret and Aden as they attached the implements and flasks to their belts.

"No, never inside."

Their answer sent a chill up my spine.

I looked to Araellor, and desperately hoping he could ease the rising dread in my bones, I asked, "You said you once ventured inside. So, I take it this is familiar to you?" I couldn't hide the tremor in my voice.

"That I did," he agreed as he, too, fixed various items to his person. "But I entered the portal above, and I didn't venture far. This one is new to me, too."

I fought the rising bile as his words washed over me. Absentmindedly, I accepted the water flask and a small bundle of jerky, bread and cheese that he pressed into my hands. Felenn received the same items and dutifully clipped them to her waistband.

"Ok," Araellor rounded us all up. "We'll need to keep our wits about us in here: we don't know what awaits us. And I suggest we also keep the same formation as we did to get here. Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads then the two Kirin Tor magi led the way, with Felenn, me and Araellor bringing up the rear.

We rounded a bend in the icy corridor: the walls were like mirrors, with streaks of azure and white emphasising the sheerness of their surfaces.

Onward we moved, careful, steady, quietly. Then, after rounding another bend in the ice, the walls opened out to reveal a large open space. Its ceiling and walls were structured around a metal framework, which no doubt served to stabilise the fortress, bearing the many-ton weight of ice and snow both above and within its walls. A mass of crystallised stalactites stretched down through gaps in the metal. Frozen fingers – pointing at us. Were they issuing a warning, perhaps? Or a curse? Such notions caused yet another shiver to course up and down my spine.

"Are you okay?" Araellor said close to my ear.

My mood shifted instantly. From fear and uncertainty to warm anticipation, as if his voice somehow wrapped me in a shroud of security and comfort. The paradoxes created by our predicament, our location and my complex feelings towards the elven hunter baffled me. Left me disconcerted. All I could do was nod, my tongue seemed frozen to the roof of my mouth.

Three other corridors bled deeper into the fortress. We stepped into the central hub, each of us turning slowly on the spot, surveying the area. The multitudinous stalactites were clustered predominantly in the centre of the hub. Embedded at the top of the sheer walls, runic symbols were emblazoned, encased within oblong borders, and each appeared to hum with power. I studied them closely, attempting to translate them.

Both Garret and Aden looked lost as if the runes made no sense at all. The etchings consisted of fairly basic runic symbols, yet their formation was unique, very different from those we'd studied and from which we learned our craft. Beyond ancient.

Felenn came to stand beside me. "This is your speciality, Klara. What do they mean?" Her hand rested gently on my forearm. A gesture of faith. Of respect.

I pulled out my spectacles and studied each of the plaques carefully. "They are conduits channelling each of the primary schools of magic." I pointed to each one in turn. "Frost. Fire. Arcane."

"Is that it?" Araellor asked as he joined us.

"No. I think they also represent a map, a layout for particular areas within the Nexus."

"How so?"

Talk about pressure! Everyone was staring at me, waiting for my answer. If I wasn't able to interpret these runes fully, then I failed as a mage – at least in my mind. Interpreting runes was my strength, my forte. Yet, these ones were from a time long before I'd even been born. A time when dragons ruled. When magic had almost been forfeited in favour of a dominion that could have laid waste to our world. Our home. I gasped, clutching my chest.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Felenn looked at me, her concern almost tangible.

"I – I think you're right, Felenn. There is something in here to do with the scourge, but there's more..."

"Scourge! They are in here?" Araellor asked. I swear it was the first time I saw dread in his eyes. A dread I could well understand.

"No," I replied, feeling the need to belay his fears. "They would not be able to enter here. But..."

Although he tried not to show his immense relief, I did note how he exhaled through pursed lips. It was strange to realise that the terror of the scourge affected him so deeply. I knew Kel'thuzad had killed his mother, yet I couldn't help wondering if he'd experienced some other loss involving the army of the undead. But now was not the time to pursue it.

"We need to move," I said pointing the way. "This path is governed by Frost. If outside was in any way a warning of what to expect, then I reckon we will encounter more mage hunters in here, so be careful. Do not let them steal your magic."

"In that case, I'll lead," Araellor announced. It made sense: he was the only one from whom the mage hunters could not deplete magic. Nevertheless, it put him in the first line of defence – the only line of defence. Unless...

I crossed to one of the metal supports, in front of which runic symbols flickered in and out of view. It made it more difficult to translate, but I thought I'd caught a glimpse on the use of magic within the halls.

Felenn came up beside me. "It's different in here," she whispered. I just nodded, concentrating on translating the runes.

"Klara. We can use magic within these walls."

I turned. "So, you can read these runes too?"

She shook her head. "No. At least not as quickly or as thoroughly as you can."

"Then how...?"

"I just ... know. Trust me?"

Her signature hand on my arm was all I needed. I was sure she still had something up her sleeve to surprise me, and perhaps this was it. But whatever made her certain about this, I was on board. "Of course. My friend."

She smiled so warmly that my heart swelled with pride. We returned to the rest of the group.

"Klara has something else she's discovered," my fellow Adept announced boldly.

They all looked at me expectantly. I glanced at Felenn, who simply nodded.

"We can use magic in here," I said.

"What? Are you sure?" Garret asked.

"How do you know?" Aden then pressed.

I couldn't answer that. I started to stammer.

"She read it on the pillars," Felenn said quickly. "The prohibition of magical use applies only to outside the Nexus – to prevent people from getting here. Inside, as it is Malygos's realm, and in which his followers move freely, there is no way to discern our use from theirs."

"Way to go, Klara!" Aden cheered.

I smiled coyly and flashed a grateful look at Felenn.

"All right. However, I'm still leading," Araellor announced. The vote in his favour was unanimous.

We were about to start moving when a shadow at the far end of the corridor made us all freeze. Araellor signalled for us all to move in behind him. He carefully nocked a bolt to the rail of his crossbow, and, placing his foot in the stirrup, he drew the string back slowly until it clicked securely into place.

"Um..." I tapped his shoulder, and he cocked his head to the right to listen. "What if there's more than one thing coming at us?" I whispered. "How quickly can you prep that weapon of yours?"

His shoulders shuddered. To my astonishment, he was laughing albeit quietly. "You're no longer banned from using your magic, you said..."

"True," I acquiesced with a nod.

"Then use it if need be. But I can assure you, Miss Elmsworth, my weapon is always primed and ready."

I heard Garret and Aden snickering behind me and Felenn's face bore a suppressed grin. My blush threatened to be my undoing, so I just closed my eyes, shook my head and said nothing more.

"Quiet everyone!" The hunter was back on track.

Four pairs of eyes peered around Araellor's taut frame, his crossbow at the ready. Coming towards us in the intermittent shadows, a large creature moved slowly, deliberately, as if it had all the time in the world. At first, I thought it looked humanoid, but its limbs were bigger and stronger. As it neared, I realised it had four legs, not just two and behind trailed a powerful tail. It carried a huge axe in one of its hands, a hand tipped with lethal-looking talons, that glinted when the stream of frost lining the corridor caught them between shadows.

Absentmindedly, I grabbed a handful of Araellor's tunic. A roll of his shoulder was the only indication that he was aware I was holding on.

He cradled the crossbow in his shoulder pocket and brought the sight up to eye level. I felt him hold his breath, and then, with a jolt, he fired. The bolt pierced the armoured hide of the creature ahead of us, and it fell with a spine-shattering howl. We waited a few moments to ensure its death cry did not attract others. Then, it stilled.

Araellor moved forward, pulling me with him until I remembered to let go of his tunic.

We all crowded around the beast. "It's an Azure Warder," Felenn advised. "Guardians, or sentries I guess you could call them."

I stared down at its serpentine face, at the razor-sharp teeth poking out from under its ophidian lips. Araellor's bolt had pierced not only its scales but also its heart.

"Fine shot!" Garret congratulated the hunter.

We all started to move forward again when Araellor suddenly grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me back. He towered over me, the size of the man intimidating if I didn't know he was on our side. "Don't ever do that again," he said.

I knew he referred to my grabbing his tunic. I felt myself withdraw, baulking at his tone. "I'm sorry. It was just reactionary because I was nervous. But don't worry, I won't do it again, I'll stay well out of your way." I pulled my wrist free and offered him a scathing look.

"I'm not scolding you, Klara."

"Sure sounds like it!" I wasn't for backing down and I forced myself to stare him out.

"All I meant was..."

His eyes were intense but not with anger as I'd automatically assumed. And the way his voice trailed off, leaving whatever he was going to say to me, unsaid, left me confounded. I didn't know what to make of it all. Somewhere, deep inside, I thought I felt an awakening of sorts. An awakening in us both. But as I rubbed my wrist where he'd grabbed me, I dismissed it as nonsense. Irrelevant. Fanciful. Instead, I dropped my gaze to the dead creature at our feet. "Good shot!" I said, then turned to join my companions.

As I approached Felenn I dismissed the question in her eyes, too. "Nothing!" I hissed as I came to an abrupt stop beside her.

Our agreed formation resumed as we ventured further into the fortress. I, however, swapped places with Felenn, ensuring I was at the rear – as far as I could be from Araellor. I was far from idle though. The runic patterns flowed throughout the corridors and smaller hubs as we continued on. I took note of them all as I walked, committing each to memory.

Our next encounter loomed from our left down a ramp. This pathway dipped just beyond our viewpoint, but the three figures moving in our direction ensured each and every one of us was ready for the encounter. The hunter prepared his crossbow while we four mages readied our spells, awaiting the perfect moment to strike.

And in that instant, it dawned on me. I had never killed anyone or anything before. This was going to be my initiation. My baptism in blood; the line over which there would be no return.

__________________________________________________________________________

More dangers face the team. A surprising reaction from Araellor when Klara held on to his tunic, though, and, of course, her response is just typical, icy and defensive.

Hope differences can be smoothed over, especially in light of what Klara has just realised.

Thanks for reading, folks.