((thank for the review I aim to please))

Sage looked round the rooms that were going to be his new home for the foreseeable future. They weren't so bad light and airy with a nice view of the forest, all that was missing were colours really. He opened a bag and pulled out some brightly coloured drapes and throws. These he placed on the floor and over some of the plainer furniture. When these were in place, he smiled and sighed that was better. And then set about tidying himself up for the meeting with the king and court. One of the other men, who was left, was also unpacking things. "You don't need to stay Shey" Sage told him in their language.

Shey half turned "If we are to maintain there customs then I do, Lord " he said with a smile. Before turning back to his unpacking "Beside, Maldi and the others are doing there own unpacking in there own rooms"

"Please. Don't call me that " Sage asked and then relented "Well not in public anyway."

Sage pulled some steel feathers from his bag carefully and went to the mirror that adorned one wall. He twirled some of his braids up and carefully set the feathers in them, so they held his hair in place. "Why do northerners have to follow the old tradition of servants. I'll never know. Its not right" Sage's voice was a constrained complaint.

Shey walked over to Sage and placed his hands on his shoulders and looked at Sage in the mirror. "Of all the people we are sent to, these are the most honourable. These can really help us Sage. You must try to act the part you have come to play"

Sage placed his hands on Sheys for a second and then turned to face him, "Never mind me, I will do as I am you need to get changed as well. I am not going in there by myself" He told him letting go of his hands and watching as he went to find clothes of his own. He knew he wouldn't be able to tell Numair about Shey, it would be complicated. They had decided the less people knew the better. Satisfied that Shey was now getting ready. Sage turned back to the mirror and finished off himself.

Daine had very much enjoyed listening to Numairs explanations of what Sage had meant. After letting him suffer long enough she silenced him with a kiss and a smile. "Maybe I will be better off not knowing" she had said teasing him. They were sat outside the council chambers waiting for Jon to finish with his Spymaster Sir Myles. Daine decided she would take this opportunity to get some answers.

"Dear heart" she began, Glancing at Numair who lounged on the bench next to her. "What is the deal with Sage, I mean. the clothes the horses the accent, you never did tell me about him, not really"

Numair frowned. "I did. I told you............" his voice trailed off as he realised he hadn't told her anything. "Oh my, Daine your right, I'm sorry I meant to"

"Its all right" she said with a smile cutting off his apology. In truth she was so used to her husbands absent mind. "about Sage" she pressed.

"Oh yes, Sage. Well, his people are called the Talamaskas and live far to the East. So far east that not many people have been to his home land. They are people who live and do everything together. They share out jobs in the community so not one person has the same job for long, unless it's a skilled job like blacksmith or needle art or if they like it. And even then they are free to try something else if they wish."

Daine listened these people sounded to good to be true "What language was it they speak?

"Talasan and now common." Numair smiled "Do you know they do nothing to harm animals in anyway, they are vegetarians. You saw their horses, no tack. They don't believe that one thing should serve another"

Daine nodded that would explain the tack then and the reason for Sages friends and why Numair had dismissed the other servant.

"it's an harmonious way of life" Numair told her "They live off the land and only take what they need and then they make sure that's its replaced and no animals will suffer from its removal. As for the colours his people like them, its part of there way of life"

Daine couldn't think of anything to say, these people were so different it was unbelievable, they didn't eat animals or hurt them. That she liked. "I think me 'n' them will get on fine, not killing animals and all." She paused she had thought of something "Will they, Will Sage let me talk to his horses do you think I've not seen anything like them before" She told Numair.

Numair stood and stretched "you can ask" he told her and then turned because the door had opened and Myles was coming out.

"Is he ready" Jon asked following Myles out. When Numair nodded he smiled "Right then, I'll meet you in the throne room as soon as he can"

Numair nodded again "Jon"! He called after the retreating King, "Be prepared"

"For what" Came the reply

"Nothing you've ever seen before" Numair called back with a smile, then he turned to Daine. "Right dear. Lets go get an ambassador"

Shey answered a knock on the door, he opened it to find Numair and Daine outside, moving back he let them in. "Sage, Is nearly ready Lord" he told Numair. He had the same lilt to his words as Sage did. "I get him for you" he Shey said and hurried out of the main room into one of the smaller side rooms that served as dressing rooms. They could here talking in Talasan then Shey came back into the room "A minute more please" he said before going and picking up some rolls of parchment. Daine took the chance to take in what Shey was wearing. He had changed from the blue and purple outfit to one that was white and silver, his clothes were white and all the stitching and embroidery was in silver. He had short hair that was also very blonde though not as blonde as Sage. His eyes though were light green. Numair lent on the wall not bothered with protocol she was going to protest and then she remembered what he had told her, Talamaskas had no servants, even though this man was trying to be one.

A flash of colour caught her eye, she turned to see Sage he had come out of the dressing room. Now she did stare. He was wearing the same or identical clothes to what he arrived in. However it was the rest of him that had made her stare. He had twisted come of his braids up and secured them with what looked like Stormwing feathers. How on earth had he got them? She wondered, he had Kohl rimmed his eyes making his look even more exotic and he now had three blue studs in his left ear. She looked at Numair, he wasn't staring so badly.

"Will I do" He asked Numair holding out his arms.

"More then enough" Numair told him with a smile "you always did like the dramatics and show"

At that Sage smiled relieved. "I guess we go now then" he said walking to the door. "Lead on. I hate meeting like this and I want it over with"

Smiling Numair led the way out of the room Daine at his side, Sage and Shey behind them. As they walked Daine remembered what she had wanted to ask Sage. She dropped back slightly "Sage, I was wondering if I could ask a favour"

Sage looked at her, his rimmed eyes making his expression hard to read. "If I can what" he asked

"Well could I talk to your horses" She felt herself blush but Sage either didn't notice or ignored it.

"Of course you can, I mean I don't mind but if they want to talk that's up to them" Sage looked at her seeing her smile of happiness. "I think they would like to talk to you, In my country we don't have a mage that can talk to animals."

She thanked him and then moved back up to Numair.

Soon they stopped outside the doors to the throne room. Daine and Numair had to go in, so they left Sage and Shey waiting in Antechamber. Sage paced for wringing his hands, Shey sat on the seats "Calm down or your eye liner will run." Shey warned him. "You are a mage, a Black Robe Mage, calm down, just be you"

Before Sage could answer the door opened and he was announced taking a breath he stepped into the waiting room, Shey a few steps behind.

((Okies I no its long but stay with me, the next chap will get better. ))