THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FINDING KOBOL

          As they passed through the gated archway, they each felt the tingle of magic wash over them, telling most of them that they were being scanned by something that should not be able to do.  "What the--" came her stunned gasp as she followed Apollo through the gate.

          "It's the magic of the First Lord, Serina.  I think it's making sure you're a welcome part of my party."

          "And if I weren't?"

          But Roark's attention had already been claimed by something else.  He was currently bending to examine a plot with all kinds of growing Herbs.  Rodolphus chuckled softly as he turned to look at her. 

          "There's really no telling what would have happened," he told her.  "I have never felt magic like this before, nor seen it so...sentenant.  Take this garden," his hand lifted, waved.  "This should never have been possible, given the depth of destruction and decay in the City itself, to find something this--" he broke off as they reached the front door of the First Lords Mansion.

          The door itself was of gold, with large glass windows showing them a large foyer and receiving area within.  In the center of the doorway was a handprint, a single eye, bordered in gold, with bright red, yellow, and blue paint.  There was also writing on the door above the eye and handprint.  

          "Beware," came Roark's soft voice, his head tilting.  "Attempt to enter at your own risk.  Only he that is designated as the Heir may enter herein."

          "And what happened to those who tried that were not the Heirs?"

          "I'm quite sure," Evan began as Roark once again lifted his hand to press it into the print, "we would not like the answer to that, Serina.  Roark?" he demanded upon seeing his lover, now husband go very still, a gasp escaping him.

          "ROARK CHRISTOPHER DURIN PEVERELL POTTER LESTRANGE-ROSIER, BE YOU WELCOMED WITHIN HEIR OF THE FIRST LORD!" came that booming voice once again.

          "How did he know your name?"  came her question as the sound of a click was heard and the door began to swing open.

          "The Book of Kobol says his gifts...his magic was very powerful.  If his premonition gift was as strong...and as powerful as the Book says, he may have known who his Heir was."

          Roark moved into the Foyer, its white marble shining in the sunlight that entered the glass roof above.  "This detail--" he breathed as he studied the columns, the walls...looking at the ancient script written there.  "There's a story being told here," his hand lifted, fingers moving over one section.

          "What does it say?"

          "This?" he turned his head to look at his uncle's wife.  "It tells of the previous First Lord...his name was..." he looked back to the wall, his head tilting slightly as he looked at the script, "Antonius.  His First wife," he grinned as he looked at her again, "he had eight."

          "EIGHT?!" she gasped, making Roark laugh.

           "One thing you need to keep in mind, Serina.  Kobol was a vastly different culture.  If a Lord could take care of them, he could have as many wives...or Courtesans as he wanted.  His First wife graced him with his Heir, so she became his first wife."

          He moved to the next section.  "This tells of the first years of our First Lord, how he was raised...when he began his training...when it was discovered that his Psychic gifts and magic were more powerful than anyone had ever realized...the death of his mother...then his father..." 

          They reached the back of the receiving area to find a heavily decorated wall and a single door.  A door that seemed to shimmer...to almost vibrate.  "This door would lead into his private quarters."