For any of you who have Read my Tammy story Providence Smiles, (which I suggest you read by the way, it isn't necessary to understand what goes on here at all, but please read it anyways, and review, I like reviews), you'll remember that I put the story in parts, this one doesn't have parts, it's not set up that way.
Read! And! Review!Turn from Shadow
By LGR
Chapter One: Arrival in Carthak
"Thank every god in existence!" Thom yelled at the top of his lungs, drawing the attention of the entire crew of the ship as well as nearly every passenger.
Master Numair Samalín ignored the exclamation with his usual choice of distraction, notes on a magical spell, a few of the other mages onboard rolled their eyes, and Master Lindhall Reed looked very confused as to what the commotion was about.
Thom's best friend Naranda looked almost as relieved as he did, "Thank the Gods indeed," she said dryly, "You've been looking a nauseous shade of green, and clutching at anything close at hand, (including me) for the whole trip."
Thom's Blondish-red hair tied back in a tail, pallid asking-for-a-sunburn complexion, very powerful mage-gift, and shorter than average stature weren't the only thing's he'd inherited from his mother; he'd also come away with an extreme intolerance for water travel.
Lucky him.
He'd barely managed to keep anything down for the last few days, and though he'd inherited his mothers short-ness, as it were, he'd come away with his father's thin frame. He looked rather skinny and scholarly at the best of times, but right now he looked half-starved. Which he was, sort of.
It was probably hard for most people to believe that he had the newly attained rank of a Black Robe Mage, Gods, he barely believed it himself, but it was true. Not four weeks ago had he completed the Ordeal of Sorcery at the highest level and passed the brutal tests of magical strength, ability, skill, and control.
It was true, he still hadn't the shear brute power that his adoptive Uncle Numair commanded, but Thom was still as strong as they came, and he had the ability to do far more fragile spells that took far greater control than Numair could gather with his magic reserves at full strength.
It was a huge achievement that had been celebrated with all his family and friends, and he'd thought it was the greatest thing to ever happen to him…
…Unlike this trip, which was by far the worst. The happy memories had distracted him for a moment, but as soon as he came back to reality he had a violent gag reflex and nearly spilled the little he'd managed to eat for breakfast.
"Naranda, when we get to Carthak, I'm going to sleep, and then I'm going to eat something and it will stay in my stomach," he professed. She shook her head exasperatedly.
Naranda, a year younger than him at twenty-one, also was unlucky enough to have a very pale complexion (he absolutely hated to think how much money they were going to spend just on sun-bloke for this trip), as well as white-blond hair and emerald colored eyes. She also had the look of a clerk, with her wire-framed glasses.
She, too, was a mage, her power and skill near his own, though he was almost certain she didn't plan on trying for the rank of Black-robe, for reasons he could only guess at.
She'd been his first friend at the university, and they'd been best friends and partners ever since.
However, despite their great friendship, he had the strangest feeling that he embarrassed her sometimes, which was ridiculous, he knew, but he couldn't help thinking it.
Especially when her eyes were half-lidded and she adverted her gaze from Thom, trying to ignore him.
Like she was right now.
"Land! Land!" Despite Naranda's best efforts, she was red with embarrassment when, as they docked, Thom threw himself at the ground.
"Damnit Thom! We know you're obscenely happy to be out of that boat, but must you announce it like that!" She screamed as those making their way along the port were giving the raving redhead a wide berth as they shot him odd looks and tried to go about their business.
"Must I? Must I?" he asked not really paying attention, as he did a strange dance that could possibly have been some sort of deity-worship-ritual.
Stepping down from the ship, a few of the other Mages who had also came to attend the Mage conference in Carthak were betting on how long it took for Naranda to cuff Thom and drag him along, as carts came to help transfer their baggage to the Carthak University located near the Palace.
Numair tapped Naranda on the shoulder, not showing that he found Thom's dancing, which had now progressed to making "wooh-waah" sounds and waving his arms and swaying, in the least bit out of the ordinary.
"Naranda, do you mind getting Thom to finish up here? We're about ready to head out." he asked, barely looking up from his notes.
"Sure thing, Master Numair, I was getting pretty tired of it myself." She said and walked inside the ten-foot radius around Thom that had been evicted as he'd started his dance.
There was a small argument as the gambling mages disputed whether agreeing to stop Thom was within the parameters of the bet, but it was quickly decided that it wasn't and so everyone kept their money with slight disappointment.
However, their own disappointment was soon replaces by winces as Naranda boxed Thom on the shoulder and carted him off.
"That's what we were betting on? Hell, I almost feel ashamed for wanting to see someone put through that! Ouch!" one of the mages said as Thom whimpered slightly after the blow, but apparently it hadn't been as bad as it looked because he didn't seem permanently injured, or even in too much pain.
Oh yeah, but it had hurt. Thom was still rubbing his shoulder when they arrived at the university, were given a tour, shown rooms, and left to their own devices until dinner, when there would be a great feast in the Grand Hall.
Finding Naranda placed next to him at dinner wasn't much of a surprise. His mother had set her to the task of keeping Thom out of trouble personally, and she seemed to have taken it to heart. And he was still massaging his shoulder.
"Did you really have to hit me so hard? I bruise easy…" he asked her as he took his seat.
The University of Carthak was going all out for this mages conference. This was a banquet one would expect in the palace itself, not a University. And the perfectly sheer Limestone walls and shining gold accents everywhere told him that it must have been renovated recently, either that or kept up very well indeed.
A servingman, which we was surprised, and relieved to notice, did not seem to be a slave, but a hired servant: not only was he missing a slave collar, though Carthakis didn't always outfit their slaves with them, he just didn't have the air or behavior of a slave, nor any of the other sighs that one was a slave.
The Carthaki University must really want to show a good face to the rest of us, he thought.
But Naranda didn't seem impressed, "This is like my Aunt Chandri's dinner parties all over again."
"What do you mean?" he asked her, slightly confused, as savory looking food was brought out and placed before them. Thom's mouth watered; he was starved after that Boat trip.
"This 'little kids table' nonsense, the nerve of them!" she said and he understood.
There were multiple table's set everywhere around the hall, but in the center was one twice as large as the other, holding about twenty people. The people seated there were the most powerful and most recognized mages in the surrounding Kingdoms. Numair was there but Lindhall Reed wasn't; and neither was Thom.
There was also a very arrogant looking man seated there coated in gold and jewels.
"That's the head of the University, he's Master Sjahreed," a girl who looked younger than both him and Naranda said from Naranda's right.
She was a rather short looking girl of fifteen or sixteen, with a kind voice and dark eyes, coppery skin and black hair. Her clothes were in typical Carthaki white cotton, but she was ornamented with many gold bangles, earrings and rings with jewels, as well as kohl and some gold face-paint. She was most likely the daughter of a powerful Carthaki noble, but Thom could see that she wasn't here for nothing; she had a strong Magical Gift.
"And your name my lady?" he asked politely, and Naranda shot him a look before turning back to eye the girl suspiciously.
"None of this my lady nonsense; I'm just Tahiri." She said with a smile, "and I know what your friend means by 'kid table', it's been like this the whole time I've been here."
"It's Naranda," she told Tahiri, seeming to warm up to the girl, "Oh, and this is Thom." She said off handedly, pointing to him. Thom didn't respond to the obvious tease; he just rolled his eyes at her.
"Well, you already know my name but—Oh, here everybody comes now!"
The table had been empty except for the three young mages but now four more people came in a gaggle to be seated at the table.
"Hi Tahiri, are these the mages from Tortall? I hear there are two black robes with them! Two!" exclaimed a woman who looked slightly older than Thom, with very dark skin and eyes and very curly hair with red coloring to it. She had the accent of a southern Carthki, as well as being very tall and athletic looking despite her being a mage.
"This is Jamila," Tahiri said pointing to the woman, "That fellow there is Ehioze, he's Jamila's twin," Tahiri explained pointing to a very tall male that was undoubtedly Jamila's relation.
"This dark haired fellow is Nakik, he's from the copper Isles," she said and Thom was surprised to see that the man was a Raka and not Luarin. He had a similar build to Thom and looked rather shy.
"And that is Gorden there, he's from Tusaine." She said, indicating a very average looking brunette haired young man of about eighteen; he smiled at Naranda but she shot him a frown. He seemed unfazed by it.
"Everyone, this is Thom and Naranda. They are put out by that shunning to the far table as much as we are." She said as the crew was seated and served.
"Actually, I'd much rather be here than up there any day," Thom said, pointing to the middle table.
"Well, I doubt any of us would be up there even they weren't being biased because of our ages," Ehoize said through a mouthful of steamed vegetables and meat; his accent matched Jamila's to a pinch.
"Why shouldn't we be up there?" Gordan said, taking a bite of his own food, "Where as powerful as any of them!" he said angrily.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Gordan," Nakik said soothingly, "They are way more experienced than us. None of us is older than Twenty-five."
"Why should that matter?" Naranda added, Gordan beamed but she ignored him.
"Age isn't everything." She said and she bit at her fork just a little more forcefully than necessary.
"Yes, age doesn't necessarily have anything to do with talent or even experience or good instincts. And older person, even if they've been doing their job for longer than someone like us, isn't always better than them at doing that job. And lack of experience can be made up for in determination." Tahiri agreed.
"Heck, knows we've worked as hard as anyone of them in our apprenticeship, to pass our tests and ordeals, harder even. We deserve some measure of respect." Jamila replied.
"You all have Mastery?" Thom asked curiously, there was a round of nods, even from young Tahiri. "Wow, I agree, they should be honored to sit with us!"
"Yes, yes." Ehoize agreed.
"So what was this about there being another Black Robe, Jamila?" Tahiri asked her, Thom contented himself with eating his food, very hungrily, and everyone seemed to notice.
"Slow down, Thom," Gordan joked, "The foods dead, it isn't going anywhere."
"Thom hasn't eaten much the past week, boats make him nauseous." Naranda explained for everyone.
"That's right, you all are from Tortall, you must know about the two black robes." Jamila exclaimed.
"Yes tell us!"
"You must know, come on!"
"Well, Master Numair Salmalín is up at the table with the rest of those fuddy-duddys—" Thom said.
"Haha, fuddy-duddys…" Gordan snickered.
"He's not a bad guy like those stuffy-looking characters, he's practically my uncle. He used to live here actually, but I won't go into all that." Thom finished and took another bite of food. Every one was looking at him, expecting more, except for Naranda who just looked a little bored.
"And—?" Jamila added.
"And what?"
"And what about the other one. There are two." Ehoize clarified.
"The other is Thom." Naranda said blandly and what met by a show of bulging eyes.
"You?"
Thom sighed, shifting his food with his utensil, "Yes, I know, I'm not at all like one would expect."
"Especially not after that episode on the docks." Naranda added dryly as everyone continued to stare.
"I am not ashamed." He said plainly and took another bite.
"That's what's so disturbing about it."
"Wait…what?" Tahiri was the first to recover from shock, everyone one else was still blinking uncontrollably at Thom who was looking slightly uncomfortable at the attention.
"You know how I said him and boats don't agree well?" Thom snuffed at Naranda's comment, "Well, when we got to shore he yelled, 'Land! Land!'
And did the most ridiculous dance."
Gordan's face twitched slightly at the corners and everyone else looked a little skeptical.
"It was my happy dance, didn't you like it?"
"For you sake Thom, I'm going to pretend you never said that."
"Now I know who you remind me of," Nakik said with a grin, "The Cunning One, Alianne! You're her wizard older brother!"
"There are more of you?" Ehoize looked nervous.
"I only have two younger siblings and neither of them are mages." Thom admitted.
Nakik snuffed, which seemed an odd action considering just a moment ago he had seemed quite withdrawn, "That one doesn't need to be a mage. She does miracles as it is! Drives everyone insane, too, her and her husband."
"Oh, really? I met Nawat, he seemed like a nice enough man—crow—person—whatever…" Thom said.
"Yes! I am usually assigned to help the Crows, and Nawat is in charge of them, and Alianne always comes down to eat with us once or twice a week in the mess." He paused slightly, "You don't by any chance know what a Makyara is, do you?" he asked.
Both Thom and Naranda chocked on their food.
"What!" Naranda exclaimed.
"She joked to us about it once, I didn't get the joke." He said innocently. Makyara was an extremely provocative dance done between lovers in certain areas of Tortall, Thom didn't even want to know what sort of joke she'd said.
"Um, I'll tell you later I suppose…" Thom said hesitantly.
"Hey everyone, look!" Jamila said, interrupting the odd moment and pointing to a man who was walking over to the big table.
The man in question was about in his late thirties or early forties, with dark hair and eyes that seemed hidden under shadows. His Carthaki attire was died-black cotton and silk, and he was draped in surprisingly little jewelry and most of what was there was simplistically classy. He walked in a straight-backed fashion, but it almost seemed as if he was stalking. He was one of the more copper or olive toned Northern Carthakis, not the darker southern tribes. His expression was stern, but not particularly aggressive looking. However Thom thought that there was something off about him, though he couldn't explain.
"That's him! There!" Jamila insisted.
"What do you mean? What's so special about that fellow…" Naranda asked, taking the words from his mouth.
"That's Master Negus," Tahiri said, her tone now serious, "It's an open secret that he hates other mages, and thinks rather highly of himself, He's a Black Robe too, you know. There are only eight in the world and we have three here right now." She looked slightly awed. Thom was just happy she wasn't staring at him any more.
"If he doesn't like other Mages than why did he come?" Naranda inquired.
"I don't know…"
"Master Negus is strange enough, but you have to hear this," Jamila said and they all crowded together to hear the news.
"They say Master Negus brought an Assassin with him." She whispered.
"What!"
"It's true! He has a bunch of slaves that he brought, and one of them is supposedly a mage-assassin. He kills mages. The law enforcement has been trying to pin him down with something for years, but they can't prove anything. There are all kinds of Mage murders they think he's done!"
"Jamila, that doesn't sound very accurate, or probable…" Gordan said.
"You'll believe me once you see that assassin." she said, "He's strange. Nakik and I saw him earlier, didn't we?"
"We did," he said with an odd expression, "I'd believe he was an assassin, though I don't see how anyone could kill a mage. I'd be difficult, not having magic himself, even if he could catch one off-guard."
"He was shadowing Master Negus while we were looking in the temples, then we saw the assassin by himself outside of the Temple of the Graveyard Hag. I don't know why he'd be there…" Jamila said.
"Even assassins pray to the gods. So why not?" Thom said.
"I suppose…"
"You're over reacting Jamila," Gordan said, "Someone would have caught him by now if he was really an assassin," he was shaking his head.
That was the end of the conversation until dinner was over. They all made plans to meet-up the next day and go out into the city together and then Thom went up to his room, hoping to catch up on some much needed sleep.