The History of Tortall
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters or any known history facts mentioned in the story. All others are strictly mine.
Note: *AGE CHANGE: TRISTAN AND AARON ARE ONLY 4 YEARS APART. TRISTAN MET AARON WHEN AARON WAS 21 AND TRISTAN WAS ONLY 17. Nowhere in the Daine Books does it say how old Tristan is, but it implies that he went to the University with Numair. In this story, Numair and Tristan are 18 years apart (Numair about 27, Tristan 45), but that doesn't mean they couldn't be in the classes together or at least in the same school. Maybe Tristan started late. It happens sometimes. Also, Bertram means bright and raven (which is a bird that Numair would love to be but chose to be an hawk because if he were a raven it might give away what animal he was disguised as should anyone guess the meaning of his name).
449 H.E. The Job
Numair had been working very hard for the last year or so. He had uncovered a lot of useful information, all of which he sent immediately to Myles and George, who had promised to help in any way he could. He discovered that the Lord and Lady of Dunlath had something to do with the sudden appearance of Immortals, as he had learned they were called. He also knew that Tristan Staghorn was involved somehow.
That was his current assignment: to find out what Tristan had up his sleeve. Currently, Numair, the great, secret Black Robe mage, perched in a tree. He looked like a giant black hawk. The excellent vision of such a wonderful animal allowed him to see directly into Tristan's study. He had been observing Tristan's every move for a few days now. He was on the verge of discovering what it was that Tristan had to do with the whole Immortals thing.
Suddenly, another man showed himself through Tristan's window. Who is that? thought Numair. He flew closer to look. He perched himself, this time as a small sparrow, on a tree just outside Tristan's window. He could see the man now. He was tall and lanky. His dark hair had been tied in a horsetail at his neck, but now pieces of it were popping free. The man cursed and quickly tied up his hair again. There was something familiar about that man, but what Numair couldn't place. He cursed. He would have to think about who he was later. Right now, he had to focus on his job.
He flew down to the ground and decided to try to seek out lodging so he could continue his job better than before. He changed back into his human self and went to seek out Lord Belden or Lady Yolane. They did not know he was spying on them so they would most likely be able to give him lodging if he were to ask. He changed his appearance slightly by making himself appear shorter and not as skinny. He gave himself blond hair and green eyes. He whistled to his horse and mounted up when Spots came. He rode to the main gate and sought out a servant.
The only one he could find that didn't seem to be busy with something else was a young boy, not much older than seven or eight. "You there," Numair called from his horse. "Come take my horse and fetch your master. Tell him I have been traveling for a while and I am very tired. I need food and lodging for both me and my horse."
"Of course, sir. Right away, sir." He took Spots' reins when Numair handed them to him and said, "Follow me, please." When they had reached the stables, he handed Spots to another hostler. "Wait here."
A few minutes later, a man appeared with the boy. It was the man he had seen earlier in Tristan's study. The man was becoming more familiar, but Numair still couldn't place his finger on why. "I was told you were in need of a place to stay," he said, rather rudely. It was as if he sensed Numair wasn't a noble at all, but a mere commoner disguised as one. Numair nodded. "Well, then. I believe I can help you. As I am good friends with the Lord of this castle, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I gave you a room. Follow me."
He led Numair into the building and down a hallway. He stopped at a door and opened it. "This will be your room. You may stay here as long as you need. Dinner is served in the main hall. Seeing as you have few possessions with you, you may either come as you are or buy some clothes from the tailor. Shall I have a servant fetch you when it is time to dine?"
"That won't be necessary. I don't plan on dining tonight. I have been on the road for a while and am only just getting used to normal fare. Dried meat and bread are all I have eaten for the last month," replied Numair. "Besides, I wouldn't want to impose on His Lordship by forcing him to receive another guest for dinner. I'm sure he has much better things to do with his time than talk with the likes of me. I'm dirty, dusty, tired, and sore and all I would like to do is take a bath and go to bed."
"Oh, but sir, you must join My Lord for dinner. He wouldn't have it any other way. He loves to entertain. If you wish, I will send you a tailor and a healer. My healer knows many potions to refresh travelers. A bath can be arranged as well. I am sure you can manage that in the short time we have before dinner," persisted Aaron. He turned to the boy and said, "Go fetch the tailor and the healer. And send for a hot bath. We need to make this man presentable for tonight." The boy nodded and ran off to do as he was bid to do.
"Well, if you insist," said Numair, reluctantly.
Aaron turned to go. "By the way. Whom may I tell His Lordship will be gracing us tonight with his presence?" mocked Aaron, rather evilly.
Numair knew that this man did not like him. There was something odd about the way the man spoke to him. Numair knew the meanings of names so he chose one that fit himself quite well. He was sure that this man, whoever he was, wouldn't know what it meant. "Tell him that Lord Bertram of Eagle Mountain would be more than happy to join him for supper. And who may I say has graced me with his presence for the last several minutes of my arrival?" sneered Numair, just as evilly as Aaron.
"Forgive me. I am Lord Aaron of Dunlath. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He shook Numair's hand. His grip was hard and testing, but Numair held on and returned his grip with one just as strong, if not stronger. Aaron turned and left. Numair shut the door behind him.
Aaron. I know that name, but who he is escapes me. Mithros, why can't I remember? Oh well. I suppose I shall learn more as the time goes on. He sat down to wait for the arrival of his bath, clothes, and refreshing "potion," as Aaron had put it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Meanwhile, Lord Aaron had just been admitted to Tristan's study. "I don't think we can trust him," he said. "He is wearing a magical cloak. Maybe he's the spy we've been told about. Why else would he disguise himself?"
"Calm down. Did you send for one of those healing potions? The one we use to loosen up the guests lips? I think it will work splendidly if he is lying. Making a magical cloak is a relatively easy spell. You don't even need to possess any magic to disguise yourself. I should know; I've bought plenty of cloaking charms myself," said Tristan, matter-of-factly.
Aaron nodded. "He didn't seem like the magic-possessing type to me; and he did have a large amber drop in his ear. That could be his cloaking charm, if what you say is true, as I believe it is. As a possessor of magic, I should have no problems believing there is a way to cloak yourself without a charm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Numair's bath, clothing, and potion arrived. The healer said the potion would take time to cool so he ought to take his bath first. Numair ordered everyone out while he bathed and dressed. The healer left of his own accord, saying he did not need to stay to watch Numair drink the concoction down.
When Numair had finished his bath and tried on the clothes the tailor had brought (surprisingly they needed no further altering; they fit someone just his tall and lanky size), he sat down to stare at the cup sitting on the table. Ought he to drink it? He picked up the mug and waved a hand over it. It began to glow a steady greenish-black. That meant there was a drug or poison in it that was dangerous to a mage. Then it began to glow a light sky blue color. That meant it contained a relaxing drug that would make the drinker talk or give away vital information. He opened the window and dumped the vile-looking drink into the bushes below. Now that he knew what Tristan and Aaron were up to, he knew that he had to create a relatively legitimate story about himself; one that included lots of details a "sober" person would not normally tell.
Dinnertime came and a servant arrived to get him. He showed Numair to the main hall then left to eat his own supper in the kitchens. Numair, still disguised as "Lord Bertram" took his seat next to Lord Aaron as directed by the servant. He looked around and recognized several people. At the head of the table sat Lord Belden and Lady Yolane, the lord and lady of Dunlath. To the left of Yolane sat Tristan and next to Tristan was Lord Aaron. Across from Numair there were four people. All were adults whom Lord Belden introduced as Alamid Mokhlos, Gissa of Rachne, Hasse Redfern, and Tolon Gardiner. Numair recognized them instantly as mages because he saw their auras. Tristan, though, assured everyone that they were only merchants who were visiting for a while. At the opposite end of the table from the Lord and Lady of Dunlath sat a young girl whom Belden introduced as Maura. She was quiet and kept to herself during the entire meal.
Lord Aaron began the conversation, "Lord Bertram, what makes you come this far north from Eagle Mountain? You said you have been on the road for a month."
Numair, remembering the drugs he was supposed to have taken, replied after taking a long sip of his wine. He had been creating the illusion that he was getting drunk before the dinner had started by appearing to have drunk a whole pitcher of wine. Most of it, however, ended up in a larger pitcher on the floor under the table because of his mastery of sleight-of-hand. "Nasty business, that," he slurred. "Can't tell you. It's a secret." He laughed and . "But, if you can keep a secret…?"
Lord Aaron chuckled heartily. "Of course!" he exclaimed.
"I'm runnin' from my wife! She caught me with another woman two months ago and I've been on the run ever since. Spent a month in the deserts I did; with the Bazhir and all. Been following the Great Roads since. And this is where I ended up. Just arrived a few minutes 'fore your servant showed me in." Numair sat back and took another sip of his wine.
The two lords and Tristan burst into laughter, Yolane hid a smile, only to have it emerge in a fit of hearty laughter which drowned out the three men's. "What an excellent story, if I may say so!" cried Belden, clapping. "Well done!" Composing himself, he said, "But what of your mistress?"
"My wife killed her. She ran into her one night as she was skulking around my room and ran her through with a kitchen knife!" There was another burst of laughter from the three hosts. "And do you know what? She said I was next if she ever caught me!" This time is was Numair's turn to laugh as he took another swig of wine. "Then, she said I had five seconds to remove myself from her sight or I'd get it. I ran. I ran straight out the door as fast as I could go. And all the while, I could hear her screaming, 'I'm going to find you! And when I do, gods' help me, I'm going to let you have it!' That's why I've been on the run." There, he thought. That better be enough to keep them at bay. He smiled. He especially liked the sentence he made up about how the mistress got killed. It never specified who was skulking around his room. It left room for interpretation either way.
Then, the question he was waiting for: "You said she was skulking. But whom do you mean? The wife or the mistress?"
"Whom do you think, Lord Belden?" Numair replied, grinning.
"Oh-ho! I'm liking your story more and more!" Belden said. "Imagine. The wife, skulking around to find out if you were cheating!"
Numair only smiled. Let him think what he wants. That's the key to making them believe the story. "Yeah," he said, letting a small chuckle escape. The conversation then passed to the happenings around Dunlath; what one person was doing, what events were coming up, the lovely weather they had been having.
Then, it turned back to Numair. "What have you been doing this past month on the run? What did you do when you were with the Bazhir?" asked Lady Yolane, clearly interested in what he had to say.
"Well, I have taken up magic," he replied. They all looked at him in surprise, clearly thinking he meant magic that involved the Gift. He quickly dissuaded them by saying, "Street magic. Also known as sleight-of-hand. Allow me to demonstrate." He walked over to where Lady Yolane was sitting. He showed her his empty hands by extending them in a friendly gesture. Then he said, "Clearly, My Lady, you did not wash very well behind your ears this morning." Yolane gasped, but then smiled as he seemingly pulled a copper out from behind her ear. He showed it to her in his open palm then asked for her handkerchief. He placed it over his open palm, counted to three, and then whisked the handkerchief off his hand (which had seemingly remained still during the entire process). When it was removed, the coin was gone. He opened the handkerchief by holding it up by two of its corners to show the coin was not there. He then let go of one corner of the handkerchief and made a deep bow with his hands spread wide. When he came back up from his bow, he said, "Now let's enjoy this meal." And sat down again.
Lady Yolane bent over her plate to pick up a piece of chicken, but gasped. There, on her plate, was the copper he had made disappear! She clapped for his performance. After that, Numair's trick was the talk of the evening. No other subject was brought up, which was just as well, for Numair couldn't think of anything to add to his story.
When the meal was finished, a servant showed him to his quarters and left him. At once, there was a knock on his door. "Come in," he said.
The door opened and there stood the boy from before. "His Lordship, Lord Aaron, has asked me to serve you during your stay. If you need anything, you are to let me know and I shall get it for you," he said.
"Thank you," replied Numair. "I shall take Lord Aaron up on his request. But right now, I am a little tired and would like to go to bed. Come to me tomorrow after the sun is up and I'll see if I have something for you to do."
"Yes, sir," he replied, bowing. He closed the door and left Numair to be by himself again.