The wizard paused to make a more thorough assessment. Without a doubt, he had found what he was looking for within the elf leader.
"There's something within you that belongs to Ansas."
"Are you certain?" Shantree demanded.
Jure, in order to confirm his suspicions, took a moment to seize upon the emanation. There was no doubt there was a strand of energy within the elf elder that contained curious properties. It was more than simple magic residue or even shards of a decaying spell. There was firm substance within Shantree, and despite its magical essence, it rejected Jure's grasp.
"Yes," the wizard confirmed.
Holli and Birk had both noticed the commotion and arrived together to review Jure's findings, but it was Shantree who took command.
"Ansas placed his energy within me," the elf elder explained. "I was able to manipulate it, but only to a degree. I used it to assist the camp when we were trapped in the dark realm. He gave me enough to keep everyone alive, but I could only use it for purposes he seemed to allow. It would not completely bend to my will. When we exited the dark realm, my connection to the magic ceased. I believed he took back what he felt was his. I can no longer touch it, or even sense it within me. I thought it was gone, but it seems you are telling me it is still there. Is that correct?"
Jure didn't wish to burden the old elf woman with such news, but he couldn't lie to her probing eyes. He didn't quite understand the politics of elves, but he quickly realized he was speaking to an individual of authority, one who spoke for the entire camp when a single voice was needed.
"It is."
"Am I a danger to anyone around me?"
"That would be difficult for me to say," Jure admitted.
"Do not worry about difficulties, worry about the truth."
Jure accepted Shantree's direction and concentrated on what he could sense with certainty.
"I don't think you are a hazard to anyone else at this moment, but Ansas certainly left a portion of his magic inside you."
"So you do not think I will explode?" Shantree asked with a very slight smile.
Jure knew the elf never believed such a calamity was possible, that she only asked the bizarre question to lighten the mood. It worked, and he gained a greater appreciation for Shantree's approach.
"No, you won't explode."
"Excellent," she replied with a slightly more obvious smile. Her good humor quickly faded, and she returned to the seriousness of the matter. "We still must address why the sorcerer would leave a small portion of his power within me. What does he hope to gain? What advantage does this allow him?"
The elf guard captain entered the conversation as the security of the camp remained his absolute concern. He required further information and he questioned the human wizard.
"What exactly do you sense? Has he placed some spell upon her?"
"No, there isn't a spell. A spell would imprint direction on the energy."
"But can you be sure?" Holli asked. "You said that Ansas' magic has the ability to defy you."
"Yes it does, and maybe I can't be completely sure, but a spell takes magic and gives it characteristics of some desire. That's all a spell really is. Magic is the fuel for the aspirations of the caster. I don't sense any such direction in the energy."
"But could such direction be hidden from you?" Holli pressed.
"I suppose it's possible."
"Then we have to remain cautious."
"I can't argue with that," Jure allowed.
"Can you remove it from her?" Birk requested, hoping to be free of the threat.
"No, that I can't do. I'm sorry, but the magic won't let me take hold of it in any way. To tell you the truth, that's why I don't think there's a spell involved. If there was, I would think I could counter it, but there's just nothing there for me to combat."
Birk turned his questions to Shantree. He did so with great respect for her authority over the camp, but he knew she understood his responsibilities.
"Do you believe you are in danger, or that you might pose a danger to this camp?"
"No, I asked the wizard that question for the same reason you ask it of me now. The safety of the camp must remain paramount."
"Your safety is also vital," Birk announced with pure honesty.
"Only with regard to how I serve this camp," the elf elder replied. Once more, she looked to the human wizard who was powerful in the ways of magic in his own right. "Tell me this, why do you think Ansas would leave a mark upon me?"
"A mark?"
"In essence, that is what he has done."
"I never really looked at it that way," Jure revealed, "but I guess 'mark' is as good a description as any. He may just want to keep some kind of connection to you."
"So I am a potential danger," Shantree noted.
"Not really," Jure explained. "I know that might not make sense, but I'm guessing here. The truth is he doesn't need that kind of link. He was able to teleport the lot of you without that kind of permanent anchor before. He created his own at the precise moment he needed it, so he really doesn't need the one inside you."
"Then why is it there?"
"Maybe he's using it to keep watch over us," Birk offered.
"Possible," Jure allowed.
Holli, however, divulged the truth she could not deny.
"While it might be possible. It is not probable. From my limited contact with Ansas, he does not like to waste his time or his energy. While I believe he will test his abilities in order to expand his talents, he tends to have deliberate reasons for his actions."
"Keeping watch over the camp would not be deliberate?" Birk questioned.
"It would be deliberate, but as Jure pointed out, it would not be necessary. Ansas was able to abduct the entire camp without marking a single elf with his distinct energy. Leaving it in Shantree would be inconsistent with his previous behavior."
"Then what do you think he's doing?" Jure asked.
"It is as Shantree said;" Holli declared, "she is marked. It is a reminder of what happened in the dark realm. Ansas is freed of his self-enforced exile and he's expanded his grasp back to Uton. This camp is a trophy for his victory and the mark on Shantree is his claim to that triumph."
Jure was amazed at the explanation, but it all fit together. There was arrogance in the sorcerer. He couldn't deny it. It actually made quite a bit of sense.
"So what do we do now?" Jure wondered.
"We secure the camp," Shantree announced. She then directed her wishes to the elf captain. "Once the immediate area is safe, I want you to find a spot for me away from the others. Even if this strange magic within me is nothing more than some seal of victory, the camp should not be placed at risk for my comfort."
"It will be as you say," Birk acknowledged.
Shantree directed her final request to the wizard at her side.
"I would ask that you stay with me during this time. I believe you are the most qualified in monitoring me."
Jure was ready to accept, but he looked to Holli again for a final determination.
"He can stay with you while I assist Birk in securing the outer perimeter of the camp," Holli allowed, "but after that, he must accompany me back to the human town of Connel. I must seek council with Enin and I will need Jure to explain what he has sensed here."
"Very well," Shantree conceded. She nodded to Jure with another warm smile. "Let us make the most of our time together. And by the way, if I am to explode, I would like a warning."
Jure laughed, and he knew he would enjoy his time with the elf elder. He then thought of one last issue that needed to be addressed.
"What of the elf we left behind? Scheff, I believe was his name. To be completely honest, I think if there's a risk to the camp, it's him."