Chapter 9: Planning and Preparation

Carin spent the next week recuperating in Solace, then headed back to Palanthas with Dalamar and Crys the bunny. They ended up leaving the hutch behind, because it was just too much of a pain to carry when teleporting, and it wasn't as if they couldn't get another one there easily enough.

Carin found himself glad to see home again. That trip had been a bit too eventful.


Carin was watching from the top of the stairs when the teachers arrived, having just walked through the Shoikan grove. Both the Red Robe, Mira Sair, and the White Robe, Michael Uth Kenar, looked very pale and a bit shaky, Michael especially.

The novice's face wasn't far off matching his robes, making his freckles stand out sharply. He also had carrot-colored hair and was skinny and unco-ordinated. He looked barely older than some of the students were likely to be. Carin wondered how much use he would actually be in a classroom.

Mira was thirty-ish, small, and compact, with dark hair, eyes, and olive skin. There was something about her that seemed no-nonsense and practical. Carin suspected that she was far more competent than Master Theobald. Not that Dalamar would put up with her if she turned out to be a fool.

"Tea? Elven wine?" offered Dalamar. "and Carin, if you want to be here stop lurking and join us."

Face flaming, Carin did, trying to explain he "didn't want to intrude when you've just been through the grove." He should have realized Dalamar would spot him. Why was it he always managed to make a bad first impression when meeting wizards?

"Tea, please," croaked Michael.

"I'll take the elven wine, thank you," said Mira.

Dalamar poured and handed them the beverages. Carin received tea unasked for, while Dalamar took wine.

They all sat down in the comfortable room with assorted drinks in hand, and looked at each other. "That grove is… quite as bad as its reputation suggests," said Mira. "We're going to have to teleport the students . They can't possibly be expected to go through that."

"Agreed," said Dalamar. "Though remember they may throw up or faint when teleported." Carin turned his gaze to his tea cup in embarrassment.

"It is, however, important for their teachers to have experienced the Shoikan grove so that they understand the environment they will be operating in. The students cannot be allowed to get out of hand, or they may get themselves killed, children or not."

"Understood," said Mira.

"You'll understand better when I give you the tour of the tower," said Dalamar. "The grove is hardly the only dangerous thing here,"

They spoke for quite a while, during which Carin mostly sat quietly, sipped his tea, and observed them. Then they left on the tour. Carin went with them during the tour of the public areas, but remained behind when they headed upwards into territory off-limits to him.


It was now only two weeks until the students were supposed to start arriving, and things were happening fast. Dalamar, Mira Sair, and Michael Uth Kenar seemed to spend ages gesticulating, going over lists, and moving bunk beds and stacks of slates around.

Carin spent most of this time staying out of the way. He spent some time eavesdropping, but after a while it got boring, so he went back to his books. He might not have formal lessons right now, but there was always studying to do.

He had to admit, though, the conversation about getting groceries through the grove had been amusing. Charmed kender pushing handcarts, really? Michael must have a truly creative take on life to think up that one. Carin wondered what he and Mira would be like as teachers. In any case, he would soon find out.

Classes were to start three days after Spring Dawning festival.

But first he had a different trial to face. Dalamar had been invited to an exclusive and hard-to-decline party by Amothos, Lord of Palanthas, and the invitation included Carin. Sort of. He would be attending a semi-separate children's party for the children of the powerful. So now he was getting a crash course on manners and behaviour as pertaining to noble Palanthians, with emphasis on not offending by accident or otherwise making a fool of himself. Carin groaned, just thinking of all the social minutiae he was expected to know. He much preferred magic. He had a feeling of impending doom connected to that party.


A/N: Yes, the white bunny got renamed after Crysania. Blame her white robes and the fact she saved Carin's life.