((next chap)

Sage paced the room after Shey had left, his braids were draped over his shoulders he toyed with the end of one as he paced. His bare feet making no sound on the floor. He knew he couldn't stop Shey from doing what he wanted anymore then he could stop being a mage, but he just wished it was something less dangerous. Stopping at the window he looked out over the dark forest shadows and shapes moving. He watched them with out really seeing them. He sighed and gave up and turned back inside. He looked round the empty room. It looked better now it had some more colours in it. But still it was not home. With a final sigh he dampened the candles and then he crossed the darkened room and got into the bed, not bothering to take off his fine shirt.

Sage awakened to bright sunshine streaming through his window, as he had not closed the shutters last night, the cheerful morning sunshine streamed in. Grumbling softly to himself about how morning should not be so happy he stumbled out of the bed he walked into the main room, of his suite. He was stripping off his shirt when he became aware he was not alone, some one was behind him. Whirling round he grabbed the person and held a dagger he had produced from somewhere to the person.

The man who Sage had grabbed was a servant, he gave a most undignified squeak and nearly dropped the sheets he was holding.

"Who might you be to creep in these rooms" Sage asked softly in common. Pressing the dagger slightly into servants neck.

"I.... I.....I am a palace servant Lord." The servant stammered, "My.....My name is erm Kiro" It was hard to talk with a dagger against your throat.

Sage released the servant Kiro and stepped round him to stand face to face with the man. Holding the dagger down, but not totally unready he looked the Kiro over. Not a noticeable man, middle height brown hair and eyes and dressed in servants clothes. Kiro was holding onto his sheets for dear life. "A word of warning I am not a morning person, don't come in here in the mornings or next time, you might not get out in one piece.

Kiros head bobbed in agreement as if it were on a spring, he was trying not to stare at the tattoos on Sages chest and arms, they were swirling tribal patterns in all colours. Tearing his eyes away. "Sorry my Lord, Yes my lord" and then left the room at a near run.

Sage tried not to laugh, as the servant ran out. He made a note to tell whoever was in charge of the servants to make sure they were not to come in, in the mornings. Suddenly feeling cheerful, he tossed the dagger onto the table with the steel feathers, and then he went to wash in the little wash room.

Feeling better for a wash Sage left his rooms and went down to find out what people did for breakfast, unable to find any nobles, he left the palace and went for a walk in the market. Glad he was dressed slightly more normal he moved around with out to much trouble, although the guards at the gates had seemed reluctant to let him out. So now they were sleeping. He hated to use magic in that way but, they really were being unhelpful. Besides he wasn't obvious He was wearing black trousers and a black shirt with black embroidery and over robe. His long braids were loose. Having looked round the market in peace he then talked to some of the local people that were around, mainly flower sellers and some people he guessed to be pick pockets. After everyone had gone, he wandered to the edge of the market and bought an apple. He ate it on the way back up to the palace, several hours had passed and now he was feeling much more awake, he hoped that he would be able to find Numair or one of the nobles he had met yesterday.

At the bottom of the hill up to the palace, he became aware that he was being followed he ignored them and kept on walking only looking back every now and then.. Halfway up the hill a company of the Kings Own were ridding down the hill. Sage could see Raoul was at the head and Numair was not far behind. Sage stepped off the path to let them pass and to talk to a beggar girl that was nearby. But instead of ridding past the stopped in front of them, the horses covering him on all sides. Several glares from the Kings Own sent Sages followers away as if they hadn't been following him at all. And the girl hurried off with backward glances.

Sage watched the girl run away with a puzzled look and then turned to smile at the serious looking Raoul. He could see Numair smiling behind his hand. "Lord Sage you should not be out with an escort." Raoul said his voice serious.

Sage looked confused "But I was taking a walk. No-one was awake so I went to look at the market, whilst no one was around in case I couldn't come later" Sage turned back to the path behind him "I only looked and talked to a few people, that knew my name already. They were friendly" he said his voice still confused.

Raoul looked as though he was about to have a fit at what Sage had said. Numair interrupted his voice filled with suppressed laughter. "Raoul, Sage, doesn't understand about bodyguards or escorts really, his people don't have them and he don't use them."

Sage grinned at Numair in thanks and then took his hand up so he was sat pillion with Numair. Raoul looked like a fish out of water his mouth opening and closing. It was sergeant Domitain that came to the rescue, "Err commander, I think now that we have found our charge we should head back to the palace and talk there people are getting worried."

Looking around Raoul saw that Dom was right. He gestured with his hand and the Kings own wheeled round and headed up the slope to the palace. As they pulled into the stable courtyard they were met, by Jon, Gareth the younger and Myles. All of them looked worried. As Sage slide off Numairs horse, Shey was no where in sight but then Sage hadn't really expected anyone to be there. Had he done something wrong he wondered. After he had been hurried inside by the kings own. Sage found himself in Jon's private office, with himself, Numair, Raoul and Jon looking at him Numair and Jon had looks of humour, Raoul looked as if he would explode.

"Lord Sage" Raoul begin. But Sage stopped him with a hand

"Please, I am Sage, no Lord just Sage" He said looking at the big man for a moment, seeing the commander nod, Sage lowered his hand for him to continue.

"Sage" Raoul begin again, "Its not safe for you to wander the streets alone, you are an ambassador, unmoral people could kidnap you"

Sage looked shocked that some one would want to kidnap him. But Raoul went on. "You must have an escort when you go out, its for your own safety"

Sage turned to face Raoul he looked worried now, he glanced at the door as if expecting people to burst through and grab him. He looked so worried that Numair made a mental note to tell Sage, some things when they got out, in the mean time Jon came to Sage's rescue.

"Raoul, I think we have a misunderstanding here. Sage, isn't use to being an ambassador, in our country. In Carthak people wouldn't have dared go near him So" Jon left the rest unsaid.

Raoul blushed slightly for being so cross and bowed slightly to Sage, who beat him to an apology "Please, Lord Commander, I am not use to people in this country, I see that you care for your job and I am sorry that I scared you" Sage glanced at Numair who was smiling like a mad man. "But I can fight, well, My people all train to fight, even if we don't use the skills."

Raoul looked at Sage shocked, his face betrayed him for a moment, "you fight" it said and the he mastered himself. "I don't look like I fight" Sage said with a rueful smile. "But I can." Before Raoul could say anything.

Jon stood "Raoul thank you but now I have things that I have to do, and now Sage is back I really must attend to things" Taking the hint the others stood and bowed and left Jon to his work as they walked out Sage caught Raouls sleeve, "Commander I really would like to have a go against you sometime" Sage asked.

"Please call me Raoul, and we will have to arrange something but now, I have to patrol" and with that Raoul left them. Watching the big warrior walk away, Sage turned on Numair.

"So what was so funny" Sage asked with his hands on his hips.

Numair started walking along the corridor, "It was what you said in there, this is not Carthak people here aren't as afraid here. They have a right to do things. Jon and Thayet are nothing like Ozorne" Numair told him, "People here would base you over the head for the shoes on your feet and as for fearing the guards, they don't fear what can't catch them" Sage nodded, understanding, "And as for being friendly, be careful some of them could be spies or plotters against the king"

Sage walked along sadly for a moment. "I wont go out with out a guard then" then he smiled "I'll have to teach them that a Mage can fight with weapons" Numair smiled, "you and Alanna will have a great time then." he chuckled. They walked on down the corridor talking. A servant came out of the shadows and walked the opposite direction.

Shey hurried though the streets, he was glad that he could go unrecognised, unlike Sage. Also being dressed like a merchant did a lot, most people assumed that he was from near Scaran. He walked into a tavern the dancing dove. He looked round for his contact not wanting to ask, his common wasn't that good. Finally he spotted the man he was looking for, he had hazel eyes though the rest of him was cloaked. He walked over and sat down and nodded in hello. "So, did you find him" The stranger asked, Shey nodded. "And is all going well" Shey nodded again. "You don't talk much do you" The stranger asked.

"My common is bad" Shey said in halting common, "I understand not talk"

This seemed to satisfied The stranger. "Well you will have to find out his movements and who he talks to" Shey nodded and then The stranger stood. "Same time, same place, two weeks" Shey nodded and watched the man walk away. He shook his head, he didn't like this is he didn't want to be doing this. He glanced about and then stood and left the tavern. As he walked back up to the palace he didn't notice a man in guards uniform following him for a while. Shey reached the palace and was heading back to his rooms when he saw a familiar figure with long braids heading down to the practise yards. Silently Shey followed Sage, he had a feeling something was going to happen.

Sage was bored So bored he wandered down to the practise yards at least these people talked him down here all the others in the palace had been busy and they all wanted to get him in meeting and he didn't want to be stuck in a small room on such a nice day having to discuss something that had been agreed to. He sat on a fence and tried to ignore the guard that had been assigned to him, when ever he stepped out of his room now. He watched some of the trainee knights, pages he remembered being taught something. By a female instructor, she was good she was teaching them to use a long spear like pole weapon although it had a large curved blade on the top. He watched with interest. The lady was doing fine, a good fighter, when she turned he could see her face, she had her hair cut short in a bob and green eyes that could be friendly or hard. His guard shifted round bored. Sage turned and called to him "Go and see your friends, I think I should be safe enough here with all these fighters and I wont wander away I promise" he said with a smile, the guard looked at the soldiers that were training and then shook his head,

"I shouldn't" he began. But Sage cut him off.

"I insist, there's no point in you being bored now, go" He pointed and the guard smiled in joy "Thank you Lord" he said and went off to join his friends.

Now that his guard was out of the way Sage turned back to watch the lady but she had sent her charges off for a breather. Sage jumped off the fence and walked over to her. "Lady, you fight well would you mind if I looked at your weapon"

The lady shook her head, she thought this was the new ambassador but he hadn't said so, so she assumed that he didn't want to be. "Of course you can" She said picking it up and handing it to him, "My name is Kel, Keladry of Mindelan"

Sage looked at her with a raised eyebrow

"The other Lady Knight, well done" He looked at the weapon that he was holding and then handed her back "I like it but its too big for me, I like the smaller weapons personally" Kel took the offered weapon.

"What do you fight with" She asked leaning the glaive against the fence. She glanced her at charges "Five minutes so don't get comfortable" she shouted. She smiled at the groans.

"I use, swords mainly or daggers, if all else fails free hand" Sage told her sitting back on the fence. Kel looked surprised that he admitted to free hand, as that was not the normal way a noble fought. Before she could say anything a large Knight came over, from his cloths a foreign knight, and spoke in a loud voice.

"You see, a women hasn't got the stamina to do practise sessions, she has to rest, that's why our women know to stay where they are best suited, at home" He said this so his voice carried across the yards. All who where there glanced at him and then away. "She has so stop to rest her little legs and arms" people were now taking an interest in what was being said. Before Kel could say anything Sage jumped off the fence. "You are very rude, me and the lady were talking" Sage said making his words very clear by talking slower then normal.

"And what would a man like you want with this," he sneered the next word "Lady" he said looking Sage over, "We have heard about you from Carthak and why you left"

Sage looked at the man his black eyes hard, "Well you seem determined to insult someone, and I feel in the mood so" he paused thinking for the words, he couldn't think so, he half turned to Kel, but instead of saying anything he whirled back and sent a solid round house into the knights jaw knocking him back. Staggering the man only just saved himself from falling he spat out a mouth full of blood and drew his sword,

"You wanna fight pretty boy lets go" the man sneered.

Sage said nothing he simple took off his over robe and placed it on the fence, "Lord Sage, I don't think it's a good idea, that man is the best sword fighter around, nearly as good as the lioness" Kel told him

Sage smiled, "I am not a useless as I look" he drew a sword out of a hidden scabbard at his back. The other man was ready so Sage twisted a few times to loosen up and then walked into the middle of the practise yard. The pages had moved out of the way quickly. "You will apologise to the lady when we are through" Sage told the knight.

((keep reading for the fight and PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW))