Dark Uncle

Assume some time has passed and that Tanin and Raistlin are expecting Sturm and Skydancer to arrive any day now.

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Chapter Six

Recovery

Tanin paced the hut as his Uncle Raistlin slept. The short conversation had been completely unproductive on both sides. Tanin wanted Raistlin to return to Solace. Raistlin would have none of it and maintained that once he had recovered enough, he would continue his journey. He had been completely silent when Tanin asked where this ‘journey’ was taking him, having no answer. Tanin even half suspected that Raistlin did not really know where he was going himself.

Finally Tanin slumped down in the chair. It had been six days since Sturm had left for Solace. If he ran into no problems on the way there, and none on the way back, he could be anywhere between here and Solace on his way back to Que-Shu.

Any day, perhaps any hour, Sturm would arrive. If Tanin and Raistlin presented Venla with a unified front and swore that he would get bed rest in Solace, and not move around too much, Tanin would be able to get her to let them go.

However, if Raistlin decided not to support Tanin (which he rather suspected would happen, knowing his Uncle...), Venla would hold him until she was satisfied he was well enough to move around. Knowing her she would make sure that he only moved around while under her strict supervision to make sure he didn’t take off. Or...

Goldmoon could come back from her pilgrimage, recognize Raistlin for who he really was, not heal him, and turn him over to the Wizards of Wayreth.

That wouldn’t be a good thing. Actually, for Raistlin it would more hazardous to his health than if he walked back to Solace in the condition he was in right now. Like, what would he say to Venla, Look, you have to release my Uncle. If Goldmoon figures him out, he’s dead because she would feel obligated to reveal that he really isn’t my brother, Palin? Oh, trust me, Venla. He’d be more dead than if a dozen half ogres tried beating him within an inch of his life...

Better to let him die now. At least, with an overdose of Venla’s potions, he’d go out without any pain, and perhaps even happy.

Tanin leaned back despondently in the chair. He heard the change in his Uncle’s breathing before he really was aware that Raistlin was waking again. Tanin leaned forward as Raistlin, opening his eyes and blinking them, looked around as if getting his bearings again. Tanin grasped the bottle of the potion again but Raistlin waved it off. “No,” he whispered. “Let me have a few moments to at least be awake. I’m not in as much pain as I was before.”

The two of them sat in a relatively companionable silence as Tanin asked in a whisper, “I know you’re my elder, but I must really insist. Come back to Solace and recover there.”

“No.”

“But...”

“Tanin,” Raistlin moved his head to gaze at his nephew. “I can’t. If... what I suspect to be after me... finds me there, not only would I be unable to help defend Solace, but it would consume the entire village. I can’t allow that.”

“So that’s the terrible secret you hide,” said Riverwind as he walked in.

For a moment, Tanin was frightened that Riverwind knew that Raistlin was lying before him, that he wasn’t really Palin. Riverwind regarded the both of them, then sat down on the other side of Raistlin, all the while, Raistlin followed Riverwind’s movement with his eyes.

“Palin Majere, while your... wish to protect Solace is admirable, running away never solves anything,” said Riverwind, and Tanin let a breath out in relief. “Your brother has a valid point. As much as you’ve been the quietest guests we’ve had in a long time, and I rejoice at seeing the three strong sons of Caramon, I agree with Tanin’s point. You would best heal at home, in familiar surroundings. And, trust me, since we now know that something hunts a Majere, you won’t be unprotected. When Sturm and Skydancer return, I myself will accompany you home.”

Both Tanin and Raistlin began to interject, but Riverwind held up his hand, “And that is final.”

With that Riverwind left the tent to a wordless pair of Majere’s.

* * *

Caramon breathed in the night air as he looked over to his middle son, Sturm. He smiled
reassuringly as he continued to drive the two horse team that pulled the small wagon. Sturm had been practically dead on his feet when he had run into the Inn and into the kitchen to tell Caramon that Palin had been attacked by bandits and beaten within an inch of his life. At first, Caramon had gone white, then when he recovered, all he could do was listen as Sturm relayed Tanin’s orders for a wagon to bring Palin home to recover.

Once Tika had managed to get mostly the full tale, or at least, what Sturm knew of it, it had been decided then and there that Caramon would accompany Sturm and Skydancer back to Que-Shu. It was the conversation with Skydancer and how she had found the gravely injured young wizard.

“How did he come to be alone?” Caramon asked his son.

“Tanin told me that Palin left to protect us all. I have no idea what that means, perhaps it found him and they left him for dead?” Sturm had shrugged. “You would have to ask Tanin...”

Oh, Caramon had every intention of asking Tanin, as well as Palin. What had the boy been thinking to ride off with naught but some supplies and the Staff of Magius. Had he been thinking. He took a calming breath. He couldn’t ask Palin until he recovered enough to be strong enough to take a bit of interrogating. And what would hunt Palin, by the Gods? He wasn’t even that powerful, just an apprentice who passed the Test.

They crested one last hill and saw the modest village of Que-Shu nestled into a mountainside and the blue of the sea in the distance. When they had passed under the gate, Caramon smiled as the tall form of Riverwind walked stately to greet him. “Caramon Majere! Que-Shu is honored not only by three Majere’s, but now four!” Riverwind grasped his hand. “The years have been kind, my old friend.”

“To you too, it would seem,” said Caramon as he grasped his hand back and helped Riverwind climb into the wagon as he followed Sturm to a central hut and pulled up beside it.

Riverwind jumped down, and so did Caramon, if a bit more slowly. Sturm got down from his horse and looked after them while Riverwind led Caramon into the hut where Palin lay. Tanin looked up, saw his father, and his eyes went wide as he stood to greet him, “Father? What are you doing here?”

“One might ask the same of you,” said Caramon, then sighed. “I won’t ask now, it isn’t the time nor the place. How is he?”

“Sleeping again,” answered Tanin softly as they moved to the opposite corner. “A healer by the name of Venla gave him these potions to help him heal. He spends most of his time sleeping them off.”

Caramon nodded his head, and walked over to Palin’s bedside before kneeling down and taking his right hand in his large one. “Oh, my brave son. Why? What is so terrible you can’t tell your own father about it?”

Caramon could have sworn that he heard a muffled gasp, or snort, from Tanin, but when he looked back at his eldest son there seemed to be nothing amiss. Turning back to Palin, he wanted so much to see the soft hazel like his mother’s eyes.

The pale blue ones that sleepily greeted him with vaguely veiled surprise was a bit... strange. Well, at least he could have sworn that Palin had hazel eyes. Perhaps it was one of the others? “How are you feeling, son?” asked Caramon softly. “Are you in any pain?”

For a moment, Palin seemed to blink without comprehension, then he gave a gentle shake of his head. “What are you doing here?” he asked, as if it took everything he had to give a gentle and not too impatient sounding answer.

“I came to get you, silly,” said Caramon. “We’ll see about getting you back home to recover there.”

“But....”

“No buts!” Caramon said sharply, getting tired of the cross answers from his own children. “You’re coming home with me and that’s final. Whatever this ‘thing’ is hunting you will simply have to go through me. And I’ll be damned if I let it take a member of my family. Whatever it is will learn that if you attack one Majere, you attack us all.”

The look on Raistlin's face was comical. It was a cross between shock, surprise and more than a little awe. Then again, as everyone had been telling him, his Uncle was well known for 'leading Caramon about by the nose' and now that the shoe was on the other foot it had to be more than a little strange to suddenly not be in the leading role. To have Caramon sharply telling him what to do.

I always knew he had it in him... mused Raistlin. But he could have shown that sense a long time ago...

Riverwind stepped in, “Indeed, if you attack any of the Heroes of the Lance, you take us all on. And that includes our heroic children. You have more than just your father’s protection, Palin. Remember that.”

Tanin held his breath as he watched Raistlin’s eyes widen more and more as the two went on. In a dark way, it was rather amusing to watch Raistlin, of all people, be made uncomfortable. Finally Raistlin sighed, and said, “Very well.”

* * *

Tanin, once he figured his father wanted a heart to heart with ‘Palin’, left and paced outside. Sturm watched his elder brother. “Father was really scared, you know,” pointed out Sturm.

“I know. I could tell when he saw Palin,” said Tanin, honestly surprised at how easy Raistlin’s deception rolled off his tongue, how easily he hid his own grief at knowing that the man who lay inside was not his younger brother. “Not that I wasn’t either.”

“I was right, you know, both he and Mother flipped when they found out.”

Tanin glared at his brother and Sturm turned away. Caramon came back out, and said to Tanin, “You and I need to have a talk.”

Tanin nodded, ignoring Sturm’s soft hummed death march. Following his father between tents and out of sight of the village Tanin had some misgivings. Caramon stopped and turned to face him, “Palin is being rather tight lipped about the situation, but he has finally agreed to coming back with us.”

Sighing in open relief, Tanin said pointedly, “It’s about time someone got him to listen to reason.”

“... But I have to wonder at something. You, of all of them, tend to think things through,” Caramon paced in a circle around Tanin. “However, I have to wonder, what were you thinking when you simply watched him ride off?”

“Well...” Tanin began, not even sure how to put it.

Gee, Dad, Palin is really powerful, if anything Sturm and I would have gotten in his way? Gee, Dad, he’s not even Palin, he’s Uncle Raistlin, and you told me all about him... Tanin realized that there was really nothing to say. Granted, he shouldn’t have let Raistlin ride off in the first place. Even he knew better. But he couldn’t tell Raistlin that either. Tanin took a breath, “Palin... okay I shouldn’t have let him ride off. But he seemed so sure that Sturm and I would be needed more in Solace than with him. He wouldn’t let me come with him, and I couldn’t talk him out of leaving. Sturm and I followed him anyway. Little good that did...”

Caramon ran a hand down his face. “Damn right you shouldn’t have let him leave, and if he rode off anyway you should have come straight to me. But I have to be fair. You did ride after him with Sturm at a distance. You’re too old to turn over my knee, and he’s too old to be chased after if he runs away. Hell, he’s even too old to run away. If he wants to leave, that’s his choice now. As much as it scares me, all three of you are able to marry, even if you don’t act like it. And
that’s my point. Tanin, you’re too mature to be hiding this. You knew this was out of your league and did nothing. What if he had died?”

Tanin listened and nodded, “Father, if Palin died when I could have prevented it, I would never forgive myself. But he didn’t. That’s doesn’t mean I feel any better.”

“That’s good, son,” said Caramon. “Remember that feeling, and I hope that you never have to feel it again. Now, let’s forget this and figure out how in the Abyss we’re going to protect the young fool from whatever he’s running from.”

“He wouldn’t tell me what it was,” said Tanin quietly. “I just know he was...” did the word afraid even apply to Raistlin?... “afraid of what it was. Afraid for us, afraid for Solace, perhaps even afraid for himself.”

Caramon made a hmming noise in thought as they walked back to the hut where Raistlin was. Riverwind came out and said, “Venla’s in with him now.”

The four of them waited outside until Venla’s assistant came out and said, “Venla has something to tell you and the patient. Please step inside.”

Riverwind stayed outside while Caramon, Tanin, and Sturm went back inside. Raistlin was still in the bed with Venla standing to one side. “Against my better judgement, so long as you all promise me that he will not leave his bed, except to relieve himself, he can go home,” before any of them could answer, she held up a hand. “And also you must keep to all of my conditions.”

Caramon answered, “Of course.”

“And you,” she turned to Raistlin.

“I’ll do it,” he grudgingly agreed.

“Good then. He rides in the back of the wagon, flat on his back so if he wants to rest he can. He will be pillowed by plenty of hay so that he feels no bumps and bundled warmly and comfortably. That tent like affair for the top of it will be up at all times for the trip. Take it slow and smoothly,” Venla looked pointedly at Caramon who nodded his agreement. “Good. Now, when he gets home, he will be carried to his room. I don’t want to hear even a whisper of a rumor that he walked up those infamous stairs to the Inn of the Last Home, got me?”

“Yes, Venla,” the three standing members of the Majere family said.

“Good. Now, when at home, one week at least of full and complete bed rest. I would prefer two, but he can walk around within the home so long as he doesn’t tire himself after the one week. Now, fresh air is okay so after two weeks he can have short trips to sit outside for some sun and fresh air. The same goes. He will tire very quickly, so don’t let him or he won’t heal,” Venla then turned and handed them a well padded wicker basket. “These are my potions. I know you can all read. In the basket there is a list of what to do in case you forget, as well as a supply of
my potions and some spare bandages and creams. If he needs something for pain two mouthfuls of the potion will help, but also put him to sleep for awhile. I would suggest for the first week or two that he be given two mouthfuls before bedtime so he can sleep the night. Any questions?”

Caramon shook his head and took the basket from her, “No. When can we take him home?”

“I would like to watch him one more night, so tomorrow morning. I’ll give him some of the potion tonight, so he’ll be quite groggy in the morning,” she answered.

Venla nodded and then left the hut. Raistlin said, “Thank you for helping me.”

“Palin, it’s no problem,” said Caramon. “Would you relax.”

“I can’t ‘relax’,” snapped Raistlin. “You’re all in danger because of me, but you won’t listen...”

Tanin quipped, “What is with this family? We’re all in danger because of the other, but we won’t ask for help. I guess we’re just stuck with danger. Well, at least we won’t be bored.”

Raistlin looked at Tanin with a disbelieving expression, then smiled as the humor filtered through. Caramon snickered as did Sturm. “You’re worse than kender, Tanin,” pointed out Sturm.

“Gods, I hope not. If things start falling into his pocket, I’m going to see if I can find out who switched him at birth,” said Caramon.

They let the light atmosphere last awhile, until they noticed that Raistlin’s eyelids were drooping again. The three other Majere’s slipped out and let him sleep peacefully.

* * *

The next day they moved a sleepy and groggy Raistlin into the wagon. Riverwind said, “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

Caramon nodded his head, “Not that I don’t want your company, Riverwind, but if Goldmoon returns while you’re gone I wouldn’t want her to worry.”

“Think nothing of it,” said Riverwind as he signaled to a few of the Rangers. “We’ll go with you. With that wagon, bandits will have you marked from here to Solace. I would rather be sure that you are safe.”

“Well, in that case,” agreed Caramon. “Glad to have you along.”

* * *

They were not even half a day into their journey when the attack came. Caramon brought out a crossbow, and his two sons drew their swords, but did not dismount. Riverwind cocked his bow and let fly, taking out a bandit off his own horse.

Sturm and Tanin were familiar with fighting on horse back and using their trained mounts kept up a cycling perimeter around the wagon, taking out any who came too close. Tanin was cycling around, when he saw Raistlin’s right hand motion to the tent above. Tanin stopped and peeled back the tent cloth. Hearing his Uncle start to cast his magic and seeing as his right hand did the motion for the spell, Tanin hovered close to make sure none interrupted his casting. When he finished casting, Tanin felt the unmistakable feel of magic in the air.

One bandit yelled, “Wizard! There’s a wizard in the wagon!”

But the spell had been cast. Tanin had the dubious distinction of seeing a molten ball of flame land a distance away close to where the arrows were coming from. The one molten ball split into three, those three split into three more, and then those nine each split into three so that it rained smaller meteors into the midst of the bandits.

Sturm had stopped riding in a circle and, although at ready for another attack, was clearly impressed with the spell cast. The remaining bandits, which weren’t many after that spell, broke and ran away. Sturm rode over and asked, “What was that?”

Raistlin smiled, “Meteor Swarm.”

Riverwind, eyes still on the charred ground and bodies, moved over to Caramon, “Gods in Heaven above, if your son is capable of that, I would hate to come across what laid him up...”

Caramon regarded his middle child in wonder, “Same here...”

* * *

The rest of the trip back to Solace was uneventful. After casting the really impressive spell, Palin had fallen immediately back to sleep. Caramon carefully lifted his son out of the wagon and carried him up to his room. Not to anyone’s surprise, he never stirred. When Tika opened the door to find Riverwind and Caramon, with Caramon holding the sleeping Palin, she automatically preceded them as she opened the door to his room and Caramon lay him gently in his bed and brushed his hair out of his face as he pulled the covers up over his son.

Tanin walked in and lay the Staff of the Magius against the headboard, and also fastened the chain that held Raistlin’s rings together around his own neck. Raistlin seemed to have that bit of trust in Tanin, and really, Tanin didn’t know who else to entrust the items to.

He meekly followed his father out, then noticed Caramon’s pointed gaze at the rings. Caramon tapped Tanin on the elbow and led him to Tanin’s room. Once there, Caramon closed the door and pointed to the gold chain around Tanin’s neck, “Where did that ring come from?”

“Ring?”

Caramon pulled out a simple gold ring that had a blue sapphire set in an unknown setting
material. “Yes, this one.”

“He was wearing it on his left hand,” answered Tanin. “I figured that he wouldn’t want it to get lost, so took his things and made sure that they couldn’t get lost. I didn’t exactly feel right wearing it, so I put his rings on this chain.”

Caramon sighed heavily, “I was rather hoping Palin would miss that burden, but I guess that’s why the Staff was also given.”

Tanin sucked in a breath, realizing his mistake. Not only was the Staff a unique item to his Uncle Raistlin, but now he realized that so was his rings. Well, at least one of them. Tanin looked at the nondescript ring, and it seemed to glitter a deep blue within. It was a calming blue, but one that didn’t really make him want to wear it. Besides, the gold band was seemingly sized for Raistlin, and therefore would be too small. But... until Raistlin woke up Tanin felt right protecting it for him.

Tanin slowly became aware of Caramon shaking him. “What?” he asked.

“You seemed to fade off for a few minutes,” said Caramon. “Come on, maybe you should go to bed too.”

“Yeah, maybe,” that didn’t seem to be such a bad idea and Tanin complied.

Caramon left his two sons to sleep, but walked past Palin’s door and looked in. Something tickled in the back of his mind, like something of a ghost of a memory that wanted to be remembered but just could not. Looking at Palin he dimly remembered a woman, a powerful woman. But the memory came and went. Shaking his head he went downstairs to see off Riverwind, Skydancer, and the other Que-Shu rangers that had accompanied them back.

Riverwind was talking with Tika, and laughing over memories. When Caramon entered, he stood up and kissed Tika’s hand, then said to both of them, “When Palin is recovered enough, you have to come visit Goldmoon and our children. It has been too long, my old companions. Much too long...”

Caramon shook Riverwind’s hand, “Yes, it has. I guess the silver lining to this is that we got to see each other and catch up.”

“Yes, true,” Riverwind laughed. “Well, remember the invitation. And Tika, don’t let him forget!”

“I won’t!” she called to his retreating form.

Turning to Caramon, she said, “He doesn’t seem as bad as Sturm said he was.”

“He’s been healing pretty quick,” remarked Caramon, again this set off that eerie feeling that triggered a memory that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. “And his skills are phenomenal. I can see why they wanted to Test him now...”

* * *

Raistlin awoke in the night to regard the ghostly form of a woman in his room. Except it wasn’t Marion. In fact, it wasn’t any woman he remembered. This one wore ancient Red Robes and looked at him sadly as she kissed his forehead. “Heal fast, Guardian. I sense things are moving quickly now.”

“Who are you?” he asked.

She smiled, and her, Tarsian?, accented voice whispered, “Someday, maybe I will tell you, but know I have watched your progress for a very, very long time. I mourned when you fell, and I rejoiced when I saw you again, redeemed. You, my old friend, my greatest failure, yet my greatest victory... ah... but I’ve already told you too much. Rest well, Raistlin, Guardian Avatar of the Miiro.”

With that a lone ray of the red moon penetrated his room and she disappeared. “Lunitari?” he wondered.

Maybe, but she had never appeared to him like that. He put his head in his hands and groaned, “Now what have I gotten myself into?”

* * *

Meanwhile, in Neraka, a set of armored figures walked into the Temple of the Dark Queen. The lead one, kneeled before her alter. “My Dark Queen, my All-Seeing General, I ask a boon...”

In his mind, he felt her pleased touch, What is it you ask, Ariakan?

“I ask to form a Knighthood, dedicated to your vindication, organized to do your absolute will, and for the progress you will bring,” he then explained his plan to form what would come to be known as the Knights of Takhisis...

* * *

The End of Book One

* * *