<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> We are almost finished with Link 1. Maybe two more parts, though I might send them both at once. -LurkingWolf ___ <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> Several hours passed by as the pair of mages created their chalk masterpiece. Alex marveled as the two started half the room apart at some point, and their lines constantly joined perfectly when they reached the center, never wavering by an inch. Although he had originally been impatient, the fascinating detail that their work required kept him mesmerized, and the noon hour came and went without him even noticing the first pangs of hunger. They finished perhaps an hour later, although they both stepped carefully in and out of their design for several more minutes, making certain that no line was out of place. Finally they both agreed that it was finished, and they stepped outside the lines to rest for a moment.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “When do you think you will make the attempt?” Alex asked.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “I think that a little rest would be best,” Lucy opined. She did not seem agitated at the question; she simply answered honestly.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Balrog nodded his agreement. “I do not believe that either of us is incapable of working the magic immediately, but some rest would certainly help alleviate the cramps from the past few hours.” The two mages shared a quiet chuckle at his words, and Alex shook his head. He was amazed that the two of them could even walk straight after spending so long in various uncomfortable positions during the process.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Julian was still managing to keep up a slow conversation with Nathan. It had been quite a while since it had been very active. Now that the mages had finished their work, however, the two canines were more interested in the discussion taking place near the door than they were in each other’s words. They both stood and made their way over, being careful to walk around the border of the linework rather than crossing through it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Should we recess for food before we attempt the casting,” Nathan suggested.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Alex turned to the mages to see both of them shaking their heads. Lucy spoke for both of them.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Time is of the essence,” she declared. “While I am certain that neither of us would mind a bite to eat, I think that we should be able to cast the spell safely before we leave for the noonday meal. I would rather see this done now. I am unwilling to be the reason why our efforts fail.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Balrog nodded his agreement wordlessly. With neither of them expecting to be extremely involved in the process, neither Nathan nor Julian expressed their opinions. If the mages were prepared for the attempt, then none of the remaining trio would argue with their decision.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Actually,” Balrog said after a moment of silence, “I believe that I am ready to begin whenever you are.” He looked to Lucy, and she nodded.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Yes. I feel that I am sufficiently rested,” she confirmed. “I will get Lois; Balrog, make one last pass to be certain that there is no debris on the floor that might interfere. The rest of you…” She hesitated. “I would actually recommend that you leave the room if at all possible.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Alex winced. “I would prefer to be here, just in case something goes wrong.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “That is precisely why I would prefer you leave the room,” Lucy replied. “This is the Curse we are fighting. Only rarely do things go as planned when mages play with its threads. While mages may be able to take precautions, we cannot focus on our own safety and yours as well.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Alex hesitated. He glanced over to Julian, and the moondog waved his paw towards the door. The lynx nodded, and he gestured for Nathan to follow them as they went to the door. The wolf made no protest, and the three of them, cracking the door only a little bit to keep from revealing Balrog, slipped out into the hall and left the mages to their work. <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml">  <link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"> <link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml">  <style>  </style> </body> </html>