A Mage Among Kender
Taken from the journal of Par Salain:
The Foundling entrée twenty-five
As it turns out the old mage in Sanction was no mage at all but a fortuneteller who had a talent for magic. He has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth so questioning him has become impossibility. Pity really, I would have liked to have met him. A few weeks have passes since Rosemarta left Sanction and she arrived in Kendermore two days ago. She has been gone for nearly five months, counting the two months that passed before she was brought back to the Tower for the crime of dueling, and now the autumn weather is upon us. Which means Morgen shall be returning soon. Once the cold weather sets in he travels less. I cannot for the life of me understand why she has decided to go to Kendermore, unless she has the desire to be irritated to death. One things for sure though she will be safe there for Kender don't fear or hate anything. She will be a mage among kender, treated as royalty; humph I wouldn't be her for all the riches of the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas.
Rosemarta found that she did not dislike kender as much as she had thought she would, quite to the contrary these past two days she had grown rather fond of them. They were pleasant enough to be around for all their "borrowing" and their childlike simplicity and ignorance. The only thing she couldn't stand was when they were drunk; they became even more loud and hyper active. She thought there should be a law against kender having alcohol but that wasn't likely to happen. Drunk or otherwise they were easy enough to get along with, as she soon discovered all one really needed to do to get along well with a kender was to keep a firm hand on your purse, conjure up a few quick illusions, and have a large array of stories or songs at your disposal and Rosemarta had it all. Further more this being October she had arrived just in time for the Festival of the Eye, which was now one day way, an opportunity to use all of her talents and to have a little fun, something that had been lacking in her life for quite some time now.
Being the tallest out of everyone in Kendermore she had of course been asked to assist in the preparations and had accepted with out question. So when she wasn't playing her harp, or making mini dragons fly out of mugs of ale, she was putting up banners, tying ribbons, critiquing door decorations, tasting pastries and doing anything else that the Kenders deemed important.
"This will be the best festival of the Eye ever," boasted Dandelion as she skipped down the street along side Rosemarta as the mage made her way to resolve her seventh "crisis" of the day. Dandelion had attached her self to Rosemarta shortly after she had arrived and acted as her guide and bodyguard.
"And why do you say that?"
"Because you'll be here that's why"
"Oh really, I can hardly see why my presents would make any difference"
"Oh but it will, you'll see, I know it will" Rosemarta couldn't help smiling as she turned down Dead End Lane. It did not take her long to come upon the scene of the "crisis". Two-lady kender stood in the middle of the road near a dressmakers shop. Both had their arms crossed and noses upturned while their husbands stood near by at a loss for what to do with either of them, except for hold off traffic to ensure that neither one was trampled.
"Alright what's the problem?" asked Rosemarta, even though she could see that the problem most likely stemmed from the fact that both lady kender were wearing the same identical sky blue dress.
"The problem is I requested that this dress be made in this style and in my favorite color and she stole my idea," the fair-haired kender pointed to the red head.
"I did not, she stole it from me. She always has her ear to my door, listening in on everything I say. She's a regular eaves dropping nit"
"Moss haired copy cat!"
"Gully dwarf bitten dress stealer!"
"Ladies calm down we don't want any violence," said Rosemarta hurriedly, recognizing the start of a taunt. Both kender ladies quieted and resumed their cross armed nose in the air silence.
"Now ladies I think you both look lovely and I'm sure that every one here agrees, right?" she was answered by a chorus of,
"Oh yes lovely, just lovely"
"There you see? Now is there any reason why you two can't work together? You know add some ribbons, and jewels to make the dresses look different?"
"But what if she uses the same color ribbon as me?"
"That's why you'll work together. Talk about what you want the dresses to look like so they don't come out the same" the two side glanced at each other.
"I suppose that could work"
"Yes I suppose" both looked to Rosemarta and smiled.
"Thank you"
"My pleasure ladies now lets move out of the road shall we?" both ladies nodded and went to their husbands. Regular street traffic resumed and Rosemarta watched the four walk away down the lane before heading the other way back toward Straight Street and City Hall, with Dandelion at her side, were their would surly be another task waiting for her.
* * *
It was late by the time Rosemarta and Dandelion arrived back at the Inn where Rosemarta was staying and the crowd that had gathered in wait for her was enormous and exited to hear her play.
"Now cant you lot wait just a few minuets? Rosemarta and I have been out all day attending to the preparations for tomorrow's festival and we haven't had anything to eat or drink yet. So if you would just wait for a little while longer we would appreciate it" a barrage of "sorry's" filled the room as the kender returned to their tables to wait. Dandelion nodded and hopped down off the stage to join Rosemarta at the bar.
"Thank you"
"No problem, what are friends for?" Rosemarta nodded and sat leisurely to enjoy the bowl of hot porridge and the cup of mint tea that had been placed before her, on the house of course. Once finished her humble dinner she made her way to the stage and took a seat.
"Well what will it be? A song or a story?"
"A story, a story" the whole room answered her and she smiled.
"Alright well what kind of story?"
"Tell one about the festival of the Eye!" called Dandelion.
"Yes, yes," chanted the crowd, Rosemarta crossed her arms and thought.
"A story about the festival of the Eye hum? Well it just so happens that I do know one but it's rather long though"
"Tell it, tell it"
"Well alright, you all know Caramon and Raistlin Majere right?"
"Yes, yes"
"And of course you all know the name Tasslehoff Burfoot"
"Of course"
"Uncle Tas was my"
"Well it just so happens that the brothers had another kender friend by the name of Earwig Lockpicker" said Rosemarta, cutting off the lone kender and so ending a long an arduous debate that would have followed as to who was related to Tasslehoff Burfoot and how,
"I ran into Earwig a few years ago and got this story from him" this of course was not true at all. The fact was she had read about the story in the Great Library of Palanthas but it made the story more interesting to start it this way.
"Now as Earwig recalled it was night when he and the brothers reached Mereklar…"
* * *
Five songs after the stories completion Rosemarta had finally stumbled into bed at three o'clock in the morning with out changing. She slept till eleven thirty and was awakened by someone knocking on her door. Figuring she had slept for long enough Rosemarta sat up, rubbed her eyes and walked to the door. Dandelion stood in the hall and smiled up at her.
"Morning Rosemarta, or I suppose I should say good afternoon shouldn't I? You know I had quite the time convincing Mayor Metwinger to let you sleep late what with the festival of the eye being today and all. But once I explained to him how hard you had worked yesterday he said that I could let you sleep for as long as I thought necessary but that I should bring you to the City Hall as soon as you woke up. You know you're very lucky to have me around"
"I certainly am"
"Well come on lets go, there's a lot still that the Mayor wants you to help with"
"Well let me get tidied up first and I'll meet you down stairs"
"Alright but hurry, mustn't keep the Mayor waiting" Rosemarta sighed as she watched the kender hurry down the hall before going back into her room to wash her face and brush her hair.
Dandelion was sitting on one of the tables when she came down.
"Alright Dandelion lets go" the kender leaped off the table and lead the way to the City Hall.
* * *
It was two hours till sun set by the time all the preparations were complete and Rosemarta and Dandelion were walking back to the Inn to get ready for the festival. They arrived to find a crowd waiting for them, headed by the two-kender ladies that Rosemarta had helped the previous day. The fair haired one had left the dress the same length but had sewn purple bows on the sleeves and around the hem while the red head had shortened the dress and fluffed it out with white crinoline and large white bows on the shoulders. Both smiled at her and waved.
"Hello Rosemarta"
"Hello ladies, what's all this about?" Rosemarta indicated the crowd behind them. The fair-haired kender giggled.
"Well we"
"Wait a minuet we've forgotten something" the red head interrupted.
"Have we?"
"Yes, we haven't introduced our self's properly, like we should have done yesterday" the fair-haired kender put a hand to her forehead.
"Where are my manners?" she put forward her hand. "I'm Izzy Fizzblower"
"And I'm Windy Tailspinner"
"Pleased to meet both, now you were saying Izzy?" while saying this Rosemarta shook both of their hands. Izzy nodded.
"Right as I was saying, we, that is Windy and I, were trying to think of a way to thank you for yesterday. So we got some of our friends together and made this for you" Izzy reached behind her to retrieve a large brown paper package from one of her lady friends. She then handed it to Rosemarta.
"Open it" Rosemarta took a seat upon the bench by the door of the Inn, set the package upon her lap and opened it. Inside was a dress made of red and blue velvet. One side of the upper part was blue and the other was red while the skirt was made of alternating panels. Silver bells on the sleeves and the hem jingled as he held it up to get a better look. She turned her gaze to the crowd of beaming kender.
"You all made this for me?" Izzy and Windy nodded.
"That's right. We would all like you to wear it for the Festival. After the kids have done calling on the houses there's going to be a dance in front of City Hall. You'll come wont you?" Rosemarta smiled.
"Of course I wouldn't miss it for the world and I'll wear my new dress proudly. Thank you all"
"Hurray!" cried all the kender before they began to disperse.
"We'll see you there then don't forget," said Izzy as she walked away.
"I wont" Rosemarta waved and turned to Dandelion. "I suppose you had best be off home to get ready too Dandelion"
"Yep, see you later" Dandelion smiled and skipped away. Rosemarta watched her for a while before walking up to her room. As she settled down into the warm bath that the Innkeeper had been kind enough to draw for her she thought about what Dandelion had said about this being the best Festival of the Eye ever and she was inclined to agree.
* * *
The Festival of the Eye was a more somber affair at the Tower of Wayreth, more ceremonial then celebratory. There was a large feast at sunset then all the mages gathered out in front of the tower to raise a glass of wine to the Moons and offer up praise to the gods of magic. After that there was a brief period to socialize then that was pretty much it. All of this had already past so Morgen sat with Gremelkin in his room drinking from a bottle of seventy year old whisky that he kept hidden away for special occasions. A knock came to his door.
"Who is it?"
"Its me Morgen" recognizing the voice of the head red robe Morgen hurried to the door and opened it.
"Welcome Master Justarius, please have a seat. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Well you both looked a little glum earlier so I figured I would come keep you two company"
"Most kind of you thank you Master" Justarius smiled at Morgen as he took his seat.
"Very kind indeed" said Gremelkin.
"Come now Morgen surly today we can put tittles aside and simply talk to one another as friends" Morgen returned the head red robes smile.
"I agree. In that case would you care for a glass of whiskey?"
"I believe I would, thank you Morgen" Morgen fetched another glass, filled it, and handed it to Justarius.
"Seventy year old whiskey Sanctions finest. What do you think?" Justarius took a sip and sighed.
"I think we should have done this a long time ago"
"I'll second that," said Gremelkin. Morgen chuckled and downed what remained in his glass. Another knock came to Morgen's door.
"Who is it?"
"Its me Morgen"
"Sarilban?"
"Yes" Morgen went to the door, opened it and stared in disbelief at what he saw. Not only was Sarilban there but also so Laddona.
"May we come in?"
"Of course but this is…quite a surprise. You're the last people I was expecting to see" Morgen stood aside to allow the two black robes to pass.
"I don't doubt it"
"Evening Sarilban, Laddona" Justarius raised his glass to them.
"And to you as well Justarius" this from Sarilban as he took his seat next to Laddona.
"Care for some whiskey Sarilban?" Morgen held up the bottle for the black robe to see.
"Thank you Morgen"
"Laddona?"
"Why not? Thank you" Morgen nodded, poured two glasses and handed them to Sarilban and Laddona before pouring another for him self and returning to his seat.
"Well I'd say we have a fine party shaping up here. All we need is Dalamar, Jenna, Tryfan, and Angelique to show up and it will be perfect"
"I wouldn't think you would welcome Dalamar even if he did show up"
"Because he is a friend of yours and for Jenna's sake I would. Besides after having a few more of these in me I think he could be half way tolerable" all chuckled as Morgen downed the contents of his glass in one swallow and then refilled it. The smile slipped slightly from the old red robes face.
"But I think there is one person we all wish was here, Rosemarta" nods of agreement went through out the mages and a silence filled the room.
"You know we could always send her a letter. Krif is here at the Tower and he always knows where to find her," said Laddona. Morgen brightened up.
"Say that's not a bad idea but tell you what why don't we all write separate letters? Better yet we'll take turns writing them in my study that way no one will know what the other wrote. So if you want to write something personal you wont have to feel embarrassed about it. What do you think"?
"I think that every once in a while you have a stroke of genius Morgen" Sarilban smiled faintly and drank the last of his whiskey.
"Genius save for the fact that I cannot write with these paws"
"Don't worry Gremelkin I shall write for you"
"Thank you" Morgen stood and departed to his study. He returned moments later.
"Alright I've set up the paper and ink. Who wants to go first?"
"It is your room Morgen my friend so the first is yours" said Justarius, Sarilban and Laddona nodded in agreement. Morgen bowed his thanks and returned to the study with Gremelkin following. Once they were done Justarius went, then Sarilban, and last was Laddona, who returned to the main room with all the letters folded in her hand. She took a silver whistle from her left sleeve and blew one long shrill note and Krif flew in the window to land on her shoulder, cawing as he did so.
Laddona tied the letters together with a length of black ribbon then tied the bundle to one of Krif's legs.
"Alright Krif take these to Rosemarta" Krif cawed and griped the letters tightly in his foot before jumping from Laddona's shoulder, making a u turn and flying out the window into the star filled night under the watchful yet sightless gaze of the Eye.
* * *
Rosemarta had sat up in her room waiting till it was time to leave, reading. When there was one hour left till the time she had to leave she brushed her hair, changed into her new dress and the new ankle high boots that had been tucked under it, placed her wolf skin cloak around her shoulders, and headed down stairs.
The last of the children that had been out in the streets were hurrying toward the City Hall same as the adults. The sound of pipes and flutes filled the night air and brought a special magic of their own to the gleeful seen that greeted Rosemarta once she reached the City Hall.
A dozen small fires had been lit in a wide circle to illuminate the musicians and dancers. All of Kendermore was gathered here to dance and socialize. Friends and enemies a like were gathered here to have a good time and enjoy life. Rosemarta found she could not help smiling.
"Rosemarta! Rosemarta over here!" the mage looked to see Dandelion jumping up and down and waving at her. The carrot orange haired kender was dressed in a bright sunflower yellow dress and boots. Rosemarta waved back and walked slowly over to her. "For a while I didn't think you would be coming. Your just in time to hear the Mayors speech and then the real party begins" the music stopped and all turned to the head of the circle of fires where a small platform had been constructed. Upon the platform stood Mayor Metwinger, far grayer since Tasslehoff Burfoot's time, but still very much alive.
"My fellow kender, welcome. I'm so glad that so many of you could make it tonight for the festival. Now I did have a speech written down but it seems to have disappeared so instead I will take this opportunity to introduce our very special guest, Lady Rosemarta" all eyes turned to face her. "Who assisted with all the festival preparations to make sure that this years festival was best ever and I would like to invite her up here to say a few words"
"Oh no really I couldn't"
"Oh please Lady Rosemarta?" Metwinger clasped his hands together pleadingly.
"Yes please Rosemarta?" asked Dandelion. Rosemarta's eyes went from the Mayor to the crowd and back again. She sighed,
"Oh all right if you insist" a cheer went up as she made her way to the platform. Once she reached it she turned to face the crowd. "I don't really know what to say except that when I first arrived here I did not expect to have the time of my life and meet so many fine people. Thank you all and enjoy the festival" another cheer and Rosemarta descended the platform to be met by Metwinger.
"Thank you ever so much Lady Rosemarta. I honestly have no idea where that speech of mine went. I remember I"
"Think nothing of it Mayor I was glad to help" by now the music had started up again. Metwinger bowed to her, his long topknot flopping over his head and past his nose.
"Would you like to dance with me?" Rosemarta smiled.
"I would love too" Metwinger smiled and took her hand. As the Mayor led her to the center of the crowd Rosemarta thanked the gods that kender were about the size of a ten year old child else this would have been much more difficult.
* * *
Rosemarta danced, drank, talked, joked and preformed illusions till it was well after midnight. Dandelion walked her back to the Inn at about three o'clock in the morning. Arriving in her room she found a large black crow perched upon one of the bedposts with a bundle of letters tied to his right foot.
"Haven't seen you for a while Krif. Are all of those for me?" the crow nodded and flew over to land on Rosemarta's shoulder. She took a seat near the bed and untied the bundle of letters from the crow's foot. She summoned a single orb of light to read by before opening the first letter:
Dear Rosy girl
Just writing to say that I miss you. I know you probably don't believe that but its true and I'm not the only one. I paid a stop in on Marz and the others before returning to the Tower and they all miss you as much as I do. If you're ever near Palanthas don't be afraid to stop by and pay them a visit. You know you are always welcome there. Gremelkin is doing well and he also misses you. Gremelkin and my self you the very best on this the Festival of the Eye, and hope to see you again soon.
Signed your loving father Morgen Dasrenvair
"Your not my father" muttered Rosemarta as she placed Morgen's letter aside to open the next:
Greetings Rosemarta Dasrenvair
I have not much to say save that I think you ought to know that this was partly Morgens idea. He truly does miss you and I don't think you know just how deeply you have hurt him. I know he is not perfect but who among us is? Not I that's for sure. I hope that this years festival has been good to you and that I have helped to lift your opinion of Morgen, if only slightly.
Signed Justarius, Head of the Red Robes
Rosemarta smiled slightly but as always, Justarius hoped for too much. She placed the head red robes letter with Morgens and opened the next:
Greetings Youngling
I hope this finds you well. I have thought of you often since our parting five months ago. Let me first apologies for not coming to see you or offering much in your defense two months back. I am truly sorry for the way things came to pass, I would go back and do it all over if I could, and you know that. Par Salain told me of what happened between you and the mage killer in Tarsis, for no other reason except to torment me. I have not spoken of it so no one knows of it but me. I want you to remember that if ever you find your self in a situation like that again do not be afraid to use my name in your defense, I promise that there are some just scared enough of me to leave you alone. May the Festival of the Eye bring you happiness.
Sincerely yours Sarilban the Shadow Stalker
Rosemarta's smile widened and she pressed her formers masters letter to her heart before setting it aside to read the final letter:
Greetings Rosemarta
I write this in the hopes that you are safe, warm, and well on this year's festival of The Eye. Your room and all your things here at the Tower are being well looked after under my supervision. I can honestly say that you are missed here. Tower life just isn't the same with out you and I know that the others feel the same. I know that I cannot ask for you to come back, not for a long time yet but please try to send a letter every once in a while so that we can all know that you are well.
Signed Laddona, Head of the Black robes
Rosemarta set Laddona's letter with the others and sat for a long length of time deep in thought. When she came out of it she took a piece of parchment, ink, and a quill from her pack. She went to the writing desk, dipped the quill and placed it to the parchment:
Dear Morgen, Gremelkin, Master Justarius, Master Sarilban, and Mistress Laddona,
Thank you all for your letters and well wishes. I have had a grand time here in Kendermore and this year's festival was one of the best I have ever had. I know that I should make an effort to see you all some time soon, and I shall. I do not know where I shall be heading next but know that you are all in my heart wherever I go.
Yours truly Rosemarta Dasrenvair, mage of the black robes
She folded the letter and sealed it before handing it to Krif. She smiled at the crow and stroked his head gently.
"Thank you my friend and fare well" Krif bowed and flew out the window. Rosemarta watched him till he was out of sight before changing and crawling into bed. Before falling asleep she fixed her gaze upon the eye that was now barely visible from her window.
"Great Nuitari I praise thee and I thank thee for all thou hath given me. And I pray that thou might grant me my one and dearest wish this night. Let all those I care about find the peace that I have yet to find, so that they might find strength in each other till we meet again. Grant me this and mine continued loyalty shall be yours" her eyes closed then and sleep overcame her.
Had anyone been listening closely at that point in time they might have heard what could have been taken as amused laugher upon the wind.