correct page, he lifted the prism from where Ladonna had set it,
then held it above the page, repeating the same harsh, sharp
words Ladonna had used.
The rainbow light streamed down from the prism, brighten-
ing the page. At a command from Par-Salian, the light from the
prism beamed out to strike a bare wall opposite them.
“Look,” Par-Salian said, his anger still apparent in his voice.
“There, upon the wall. Read the description of the spell.”
Ladonna and Justarius turned to face the wall where they
could read the words as the prism presented them. Neither
Ladonna nor Justarius could read the components needed or
the words required. Those appeared as gibberish, either
through Par-Salian’s art or the condititions imposed by the
spell itself. But the description of the spell was clear.
The ability to travel back in time is available to elves,
humans, and ogres, since these were the races created by the
gods at the beginning of time and so travel within its flow. The
spell may not be used by dwarves, gnomes, or kender, since the
creation of these races was an accident, unforeseen by the gods.
(Refer to the Gray Stone of Gargath, see Appendix G.) The
introduction of any of these races into a previous time span
could have serious repercussions on the present, although what
these might be is unknown. (A note in Par-Salian’s wavering
handwriting had the word, ‘draconain’ inked in among the for-
bidden races.)
There are dangers, however, that the spellcaster needs to be
fully aware of before proceeding. If the spellcaster dies while
back in time, this will affect nothing in the future, for it will be
as if the spellcaster died this day in the present. His or her death
will affect neither the past nor the present nor the future, except
as it would have normally affected those. Therefore, we do not
waste power on any type of protection spell.
The spellcaster will not be able to change or affect what has
occurred previously in any way. That is an obvious precaution.
Thus this spell is really useful only for study. That was the pur-
pose for which it was designed. (Another note, this time in a
handwriting much older than Par-Salian’s adds on the
margin – “It is not possible to prevent the Cataclysm. So we
have learned to our great sorrow and at a great cost. May his
soul rest with Paladine.”)
“So that’s what happened to him,” Justarius said with a low
whistle of surprise. “That was a well-kept secret.”
“They were fools to even try it,” Par-Salian said, “but they
were desperate.”
“As are we,” Ladonna added bitterly. “Well, is there more?”
“Yes, the next page,” Par-Salian replied.
If the spellcaster is not going himself but is sending back
another (please note racial precaution on previous page), he or
she should equip the one traveling with a device that can be
activated at will and so return the traveler to his own time.
Descriptions of such devices and their making will be found
following –
“And so forth,” Par-Salian said. The rainbow light disap-
peared, swallowed in the mage’s hand as Par-Salian wrapped
his fingers around it. “The rest is devoted to the technical
details of making such a device. I have an ancient one. I will
give it to Caramon.”
His emphasis on the man’s name was unconscious, but
everyone in the room noticed it. Ladonna smiled wryly, her
hands softly caressing her black robes. Justarius shook his
head. Par-Salian himself, realizing the implications, sank down
in his chair, his face lined with sorrow.
“So Caramon will use it alone,” Justarius said. “I understand
why we send Crysania, Par-Salian. She must go back, never to
return. But Caramon?”
“Caramon is my redemption,” Par-Salian said without look-
ing up. The old mage stared at his hands that lay, trembling, on
the open spellbook. “He is going on a journey to save a soul, as
I told him. But it will not be his brother’s.” Par-Salian looked
up, his eyes filled with pain. His gaze went first to Justarius,
then to Ladonna. Both met that gaze with complete under-
standing.
“The truth could destroy him,” Justarius said.