Duncan sat straight up in bed, breathing heavily. He had had the
dream again! He had been floating above some strange blue pentagram. On
the pentagram had been two majestic jaguars; one of rolling flame and one
of utter blackness. They had fought, neither seeming to gain the upper
hand, when the flame creature had seen him. The flaming beast leapt,
soaring through the air towards Duncan. The strange, massive black cat had
leaped, attempting to knock it's opponent from the air, but it missed, and
the massive creature soared toward Duncan.
And then he had woken up.
~
Duncan went through the forest, whistling as he walked. His dream
continued to mystify him. He couldn't figure out whether the dream really
had a meaning, or was just a peculiar nightmare. He would have to ask
Sùmair about it.
As he walked into the small cabin he and the mage shared, he saw the
reclusive black robe going through one of his numerous arcane tomes. The
Carthaki spellcaster looked up at his young companion. "Strange nightmare."
Duncan responded, pulling up a chair. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you
about it."
Sùmair looked up. "Why?"
"It seemed like it might have magical connotations." Duncan recounted
his dream as Sùmair listened intently.
"Well," the Carthaki said, drawing the word out, "I recognize the
flaming cat. Magic is often represented by a flaming creature. But the
black one doesn't fit. Nothing in the world can really stand up to magic
except other magic. And the firecat tried to kill you?"
"Yes," Duncan said, "It leaped at me."
"That doesn't fit, either." Sudden comprehension flashed across
Sùmair tan face. "Unless." He abruptly got up from his chair. "We need to
go. Now."
Duncan got up quickly, startled "Go? Go where?"
"Corus." The mage responded briskly, gathering several books from the
shelves on the south wall. Duncan saw the title of one: The Dark Ages:
Volume VI: The Copper Islands Rebellion.
Duncan started gathering his sculpting materials and tools, putting
them in a leather saddlebag. "Why?" he inquired, still curious.
"We're going to see my friend Nùmair."
~
"Wait." Duncan said. "Nùmair? Isn't that almost identical to Sùmair?"
Sùmair grinned. "Both of our name are in Mair'Vhun, which literally means 'Magic Tongue'. 'Mair' means magic. 'Nù' as a prefix means 'great'. 'Sù' means 'research'." They were saddling their horses now, sliding on first the riding saddle, and then the bags that held their belongings. Duncan brought his sculpting things, as he intended to make more miniatures along the way. These miniatures were half of the reason Sùmair took care of Duncan; they were excellent for anchoring enchantments and communication spells. As Sùmair put the last of his books in the bags, he went back into the cabin. He came out wearing his oft-neglected black robe, and carrying two small pendants shaped like silver starbursts, with a small fire opal at the center. "This is about the closest thing a mage gets to heraldry." Sùmair said. "This signifies you are in my service, and will generally get you more respect in Corus." After making sure Duncan had put on the pendant, and putting one on himself, he spoke the words to activate his magical wards and mounted his horse.
~End of Chapter One~
"Wait." Duncan said. "Nùmair? Isn't that almost identical to Sùmair?"
Sùmair grinned. "Both of our name are in Mair'Vhun, which literally means 'Magic Tongue'. 'Mair' means magic. 'Nù' as a prefix means 'great'. 'Sù' means 'research'." They were saddling their horses now, sliding on first the riding saddle, and then the bags that held their belongings. Duncan brought his sculpting things, as he intended to make more miniatures along the way. These miniatures were half of the reason Sùmair took care of Duncan; they were excellent for anchoring enchantments and communication spells. As Sùmair put the last of his books in the bags, he went back into the cabin. He came out wearing his oft-neglected black robe, and carrying two small pendants shaped like silver starbursts, with a small fire opal at the center. "This is about the closest thing a mage gets to heraldry." Sùmair said. "This signifies you are in my service, and will generally get you more respect in Corus." After making sure Duncan had put on the pendant, and putting one on himself, he spoke the words to activate his magical wards and mounted his horse.
~End of Chapter One~