Reflections on the Past, Part 7:
	So much to do...and so little time.  While I had gathered several 
allies for the task before me, they required my guidance.  It took much 
of my time and energy, for none of them seemed to match my abilities.  
Even matters of transportation fell to me, since the others had not been 
to the places we were travelling to.
	The trip to Thule marked a turning point for me.  Before, I was 
not afraid of the challenges we faced.  Even the demon attack in Chiare 
was a trivial matter.  However, I did fear what attacked us on the boat. 
They were skilled, but that was not what concerned me.  No, what filled 
my thoughts was the nature of their arrival...as if out of thin air.  To 
be attacked in such a fashion meant we would have to be constantly on 
our guard.  How can one save the universe, when it takes constant 
vigilance just to stay alive?
	Sean, Sunfall, and Madrak fought off the attackers with 
efficiency.  I did not do as well...only Ashlin's blessing saved me from 
the first attacker.  I had grown to rely too much on the Broken 
Pattern...a mistake I would not make twice.  Reed proved to be a 
noncombatant, but Jeanette was worse.  She tried to fight when it was 
apparent that she was not up to the task.
	The battle left us hindered, and slowed our journey.  Furthermore, 
we never discovered how the attackers got aboard the ship, though the 
mention of Trumps seemed to spark recognition in Sean's eyes.  Sunfall 
has some previous experience with the obviously inhuman creatures, so I 
let her handle the investigation.  I found out that Madrak could get 
results only after Sunfall's interrogation had caused the creature's 
death.  Madrak's method would also cause death, but that is of little 
concern when the stakes are this high.  I resolved to let Madrak handle 
such interrogations in the future, if he could stomach it.
	The remainder of the trip was tiring...I had exerted myself far 
too much of late, and it showed.  I explained the ways of Thule to the 
others, and they seemed to accept without too many moral objections.  We 
docked, dealt with the customs official, and headed to my home.
	Seeing Pleione brought about mixed feeling within me.  I've never 
had an emotional connection on the level I had with Ashlin, but my 
marriage to Pleione has always been more than a matter of convenience.  
I did not marry her for her body, but for her mind.  We can talk for 
hours on end, and she can pick things up with just a brief explaination.  
I think she understands why I'm often distant, and accepts how things 
are.
	Merope and I have a different relationship.  Though we have the 
traditional intimacy, she is more of a prize pupil to me than anything 
else.  She has a strong talent with magic...stronger than mine in many 
ways.  Ours is a marriage of convenience, which seems to suit her.  I 
believe Merope and Pleione have a relationship of their own in my 
absence, which suits me just fine.  I have never been the best of 
husbands, due to the duty which consumes my life.
	I requested that a message be sent to Andra, a former lover of 
mine and contact with the royal court.  More than the attack had put me 
on edge...Madrak had felt great death coming to Thule, and I feared the 
lost of a second Broken Pattern.  It may seem petty, but thoughts of my 
wives came only after I had overcome the horror behind that possibility.  
I had known Merope and Pleione for years...but I had kept Ashlin's trust 
for centuries.
	I charged the others with averting the coming disaster, and went 
to bed.  Pleione and I exchanged the usual intimacy, joined by Merope 
when she returned.  They were both exceptional for Thule natives, but 
still did not comprehend the danger.  It would slowly dawn on them over 
the next few days.
	There was one other matter to distract me during this time of 
crisis...Ariadne.  She was but a girl when I was last in Thule.  But she 
had grown to womanhood, and was ready to claim her birthright.  If she 
proved suitable, I would have a full apprentice for the first time since 
Jasra's treachery.  The thought appealed to me, and there were other 
feelings, that I buried before they could distract me further.  Sunfall, 
too, could become a valued apprentice.  I would have to gauge her 
interest.  So much to do...and so little time.