Chapter 4 Raistlin's New Life

Hearing Dalamar enter the kitchen, Raistlin looked up from directing the spectres making soup. "Hi Dalamar," he said. "Dinner's almost ready."

"Oh," said Dalamar. "Well done."

"You were taking a long time, so I thought I'd better start."

"What still needs doing?"

"Just a few herbs."

"Master cut his finger," announced a Spectre.

Raistlin glared at the spectre, which flinched visibly.

"It's only small." Raistlin held up the offending finger for inspection. It was, indeed, a very small cut.

Dalamar shrugged. Shortly thereafter, they had eaten and sat down on one of the couches in the adjoining living room. With a word and gesture, Dalamar lit the fire, much to Raistlin's interest. It was then that Dalamar brought up the massive changes that were about to turn young Raistlin's life on its ear – again.

"I was talking to the Heads of the Conclave about what happened to Raistlin Majere," said Dalamar. "and about you."

"Yes?" said Raistlin warily.

"We've decided to explain you as Raistlin Majere's son. This means you will have to change your name."

"Why? I don't want to change my name."

"It's for your own safety. My Shalafi made many enemies who would think nothing of harming or killing him, and your status as a child would not deter some of them. As Raistlin's son they would be much less likely to go out of their way to try to kill you, though make no mistake some will try if they run across you accidentally."

Raistlin looked at him wide-eyed. "Who?" he asked.

"Most of Takhisis' dragon armies. Evil dragons, draconians, and others. Also most of the armies of light dislike my Shalafi, so Knights of Solamnia, good dragons, elves and others."

Raistlin swallowed. "What about Caramon?" he asked. "He doesn't hate me, does he?"

"No, he doesn't," said Dalamar, realizing as he said it that he wasn't sure whether this was true anymore. "I don't hate you, and as Raistlin's child many fewer people will hate –"

"I want to see him. I know he'll be older and everything, but I still want to see him. Please?"

Dalamar pursed his lips. "If you're good, and once we've sorted this out."

"Thank you!" said Raistlin. The child moved as if he were about to hug Dalamar, but settled down again without doing so.

"You need a new name," continued Dalamar.

"If I have to change my name, I want to pick the new one." said Raistlin.

"I don't see why not," said Dalamar.

Raistlin cocked his head to one side. "Magius!" he said.

Dalamar winced. "Magius Majere sounds stupid," he objected.

Raistlin deflated. "I suppose so." He was quiet for about a minute. "Carin," he said. "If I had a son, that's what I'd pick, so it's in character and everything."

"I'm not sure that's going to work," said Dalamar. "Your cover story makes more sense if Raistlin didn't know about you until recently, otherwise Caramon would know about you and obviously he doesn't."

"Carin," said Raistlin stubbornly. "Besides, maybe I'm not Raistlin's son. For all most people know I could be Caramon's. They don't hate him as much as they hate adult-Raistlin, do they?"

Dalamar blinked in shock. "That is actually not a bad idea." Half the people who actually know the twins will hear Carin and assume the father is Caramon and Raistlin stole the child when he spotted the kid's gifts. This has possibilities.

"We'll still claim you as Raistlin's child, but just leave the possibility of different parentage open to those who want to believe it. And you're right, Carin is the perfect name for that."

"Carin Majere," said Carin softly. "I can live with that."

Over the next few days, Dalamar began preparations for the long term, going through the lower levels of Palanthas tower and removing the most obviously unsuitable items. The ones that could be moved. Unfortunately, the Well of Seeing and its Live Ones wasn't portable. He would have to ward that very powerfully and leave where it was. Hopefully the young mages who would be living here would be sensible. Idiots were likely to end up removing themselves permanently from life.

Then there were lists of needed items and supplies… his to-do list just got longer and longer. He really needed to find some more suitable things for Carin. Dalamar also needed information. He didn't know much about elvish children, let alone human ones. Unfortunately, Dalamar was also willing to bet that whatever normal was, Carin wasn't it.

Together, they went on a shopping expedition into Palanthas. They walked along streets lined with vendors, Carin craning his head every which way in fascination, though he stuck close to Dalamar. It was obvious the boy had never been in a real city before.

He wasn't the only one fascinated, though. They were attracting a lot of looks themselves, of mingled fear and curiosity. Dalamar supposed they made an interesting picture – the tall elven Black Robe and the child in Raistlin's shrunk-down black robes. All gave them a wide berth, until they came to the newly-christened temple of Paladine.

A priestess with black hair and delicate features stared at them from the doorway before hurrying over. "Why have you put this child in Black Robes?" she demanded, grey eyes snapping fire.

"And you are?" said Dalamar.

"Crysania de Tarinius," she said haughtily. "Reverend Daughter of Paladine. And you?"

"Dalamar Nightson. This is my adopted child, Carin Majere. He is wearing Black Robes because I am his teacher and student mages take on the color of their teacher until they are ready to make their own decision as to which path they intend to follow."

"I see," said Crysania. "But surely you would not wish him to follow such a dark path, especially so young?"

"Why not?" said Dalamar, smiling entirely too sweetly. "It suits me fine."

"You shouldn't be allowed to corrupt innocent children," declared Crysania. "Come with me, child. This dark elf does not have your best interests at heart." She held out her hand to Raistlin.

Raistlin shot a panicky look at Dalamar.

"So because I adopted my Shalafi's orphaned child after he died, you hate my guts? You little hypocrite." said Dalamar venomously. He seized Carin's hand and marched him off, Carin looking awkwardly back at the priestess.

"Crysania, we need to talk," said a man's voice from inside the temple precincts. Dalamar slowed his steps slightly, but did not look back.

Student robes, books, empty notebooks, beginners' handbooks, underwear, shoes, a book on child development, a toy dragon… they were quite laden down by the time they went back to the tower.

Carin sat by the window late that night, thinking. Palanthas had been beautiful, but the encounter with the priestess had been disturbing. Dalamar was confusing. He'd never been anything but kind to Carin, bar the odd bit of sarcasm, but everyone they ran across seemed to hate and fear him. Then there were all the dangerous things in the tower: spectres, things with teeth, assorted other undead and who knew what else. Or in the rooms he wasn't allowed to enter. Just what was Dalamar hiding? Did Carin really dare trust him when there was so much he only had Dalamar's word for?

But it wasn't as if he could run away. He couldn't get past the Grove. More than that, if what Dalamar said was the truth, there was nowhere for him to go. He might as well stay here and learn what Dalamar had to teach. It would be more than Theobald could, that was for sure.

When he was grown, he'd be powerful enough he would need to fear no one. Carin smiled at the thought.