Rahhe (RAW-hey) started guiltily from where she was looking out a window and playing with a piece of her raven wing hair. She didn't really want to be here but it was her duty to listen to her tutor with undivided attention. I'm graduating today, she thought stubbornly. I know my duty to the Circle. You'd think he would stop lecturing me by now. She turned away from the blue sky reluctantly.

"Lass," the bald elderly man sighed. His face was just showing signs of the beard custom demand he grow; now that his last pupil was going out to do what she was taught. "The Black Rose take you girl! If you stop listening to the more elderly and experienced, just because you are done training you will never survive."

Rahhe knew what was coming next, a long lecture about her duty. How as the strongest member of the White Rose she was expected to fight the evil that was the Black Rose assassin group. She suppressed a grimace. "I know Master Lleb, I know. It's just that it's so beautiful outside and I'm a bit nervous." She looked at him hopefully. "Do you know who my assigned group is?"

"No, you're assignment comes from the office which comes from Headquarters. I'm merely a teacher, though after I see you well on your way I will go and join the head council." The old man dressed in dress pants and a tidy sweater was positively jumping for joy, she thought with a pang. She would miss him as much as she missed her own, deceased parents. Well it hardly surprised her; he taught her everything she knew about magic, one way or another and for the last thirteen years he acted like a surrogate father to her.

Because Rahhe knew him so well she knew she could tease him. "Oh! You're that eager to get rid of me, eh?" she asked in mock anger, stamping one small foot. That was something she hated, being small.

Before her Master could reply there was a knock at the door and they both stared at it, as if they'd never seen a door before. "Yes," the elderly mage called out almost breathlessly. The door creaked open to reveal a nervous looking middle aged mage. He glanced around the conference room to locate them. Once he saw Rahhe he cleared his throat noisily. "Ahem. Yes." His eyes darted around as if he expected a Black Rose assassin to be hidden in the miniscule shadows about the small meeting room. He walked slowly to the oak table in the middle of the room and cleared his throat again. "Yes, here are your orders, miss." With that he placed a sealed envelope on the table, turned and exited quietly.

The two left in the room looked at the thick envelope with trepidation.