Tristan

The next day of travel went by at what felt like a crawl. Everything he tried to distract himself with failed, and trying to read was beyond challenging. Too many times he would find himself either looking out the window in the direction of the arrow--even when there was nothing to see in that direction--or merely skimming over the words on the page without processing them. He read one page easily three or four times before he felt he'd actually understood what it was saying.

All along, in the back of his mind, he couldn't stop wondering about Timetwister.

He tried talking to Sophie about all his guesses, hoping to glean something new from her thoughts or maybe her network of connections. He just wanted anything he could get, especially if it could help him prepare in some small way for facing off against the unknown person he was being pulled toward.

Eventually she got tired of his questions. "I don't know any more than you do, Tristan! I've literally been sitting right here in this coach just as long as you have. You're starting to drive me crazy! Can you please hold it in at least until we get to Rockmoor?"

"Sure," he'd said quickly, "and sorry."

But he'd found 'holding it in' really hard to do. He knew so little, and he needed to know so much more. He wasn't about to allow another Shadow situation to happen. He'd been stupid to rush in unprepared, and beyond lucky to survive it, and that was despite all his skill and training. Maybe he'd simply earned the bladeweaver's respect. Maybe.

He didn't want to think about what might have happened--what almost happened--otherwise. There were just too many consequences that didn't bear considering now. He'd survived, and moved on.

Hunting Venom had followed, and gone a lot better... though he didn't really want to think about that either.

All that reflection brought him back to his quest, which he reopened and reread for what must have been the fiftieth time that day. Then his eyes glanced back out the window in the direction of the arrow, and the process began again.

Fortunately, as time went on and some of the anxiety wore off, Tristan was finally able to settle back into studying his book. He figured he'd only made about half the progress he should have, and he wondered how long it would take him to truly learn to speak with astrals if he only ever continued at this rate. Probably much too long. A small part of him wondered if he should have just bought the scroll, but he ruthlessly squashed that thought immediately.

If he really got too far behind, he could always put Kaylee's book on hold to focus on astral languages exclusively.

More days passed. Then a week. The terrain around them grew increasingly lush, though the road itself never seemed to change at all. Tristan could tell that they were nearing Rockmoor when the grass turned a green that was so deep it was nearly blue.

"Just checking in," Gregory said on what would prove to be the last day of their journey, "but would you like me to take you through the city, possibly stopping there for lunch, or push on a little longer and skirt around Rockmoor, heading directly to Jamal's manor as we'd originally planned?"

"The direct route please," Tristan answered. Taking the man's question as a sign of their progress, he strained to see the way ahead. If he could just catch a glimpse of Rockmoor, he'd feel some little relief that their journey was almost over. He didn't want to go there--he'd been surrounded by strangers for so long he'd almost forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by friends--but he also knew that waiting just beyond it, almost within reach, would be Jamal's manor.

"Sounds good!" Gregory continued. "I don't much love Rockmoor myself, and skipping around means we could cut some more time off the trip. I'll estimate we're only about an hour away currently."

A bit to Tristan's surprise, Sophie replied with "Thanks, Gregory," even though her eyes had been glossy white for a while now, meaning she'd been seeing through Sneakers' eyes. She'd switched back to the bird-like astral again earlier, saying it was time to give herself 'another escape from the monotony.' Sneakers, and her eyes along with him, had been soaring high above them ever since.

"Can you see it yet?" Tristan asked her.

"Rockmoor? Oh yeah, it's big enough it's been on the horizon for a few minutes now. But nothing of Jamal's."

That didn't surprise Tristan. Jamal had chosen to build close enough to the city for supplies, but far enough for privacy.

It's fine, he told himself. Just one hour left. I can wait for an hour.

Of course, the last hour of travel felt like the longest of all. Thanks to the way Jamal's manor was built in the bottom of a valley, it wasn't until they were almost upon it, cresting the crown-like surrounding hill, that he finally saw it. When Tristan did finally lay eyes on it, he was a bit surprised to find that nothing seemed to have changed. It shouldn't have shocked him, given the short time he'd actually been gone. Only a month or so. But it still felt odd to know that the whole world didn't seem to have kept pace with how much he himself had grown.

I guess that's life though. Some things change quickly, while others never do.

He wondered which of those categories Jamal fit into. Possibly it was a third, for those who only appeared not to change because it took them so long.

Though, if nothing has changed, he realized, I need to warn our driver!

"Hey, Gregory, it's really important that you follow the dirt road up to the main entrance and not from another direction. Oh, and don't go past the hedge dragons!"

"Ohhh-kay?" the driver replied. "What do you mean by 'hedge dragons'?"

"You'll know them when you see them," Tristan answered.

"R-right."

"They're really just detailed topiaries," Sophie added. "Sculpted bushes."

Luckily Gregory didn't need any further clarification, and he followed Tristan's directions to the letter. The coach came to a full stop several paces before the path went through the gap between the hedge dragons.

"Should I just let you two out here?" he asked.

"Just me first," Tristan said. "I'll go first and clear the way for you. I am still going to try and get you that meeting with Jamal, after all!"

Gregory's face brightened immensely at that remark.

Tristan walked the last way up the path, feeling the familiar warmth of the dragons sensing him, and was glad--but not surprised--that they stayed put. As he climbed the steps to the sprawling porch, the doorway to the manor opened as if in anticipation.

Out strode Cherry, looking both professional and relaxed, in a pantsuit with her hair pulled into a long ponytail. The style really showed off the slight point to her half-elven ears. "Tristan! We weren't expecting you back so soon! It's great to see you! And my, look how you've grown! Jamal will be thrilled, and Cleo will be relieved you're not dead."

Tristan tried not to let his pride show too much, but he couldn't help smiling at that greeting. "I've got Sophie and our driver in the coach at the hedge. Could you allow them to pass? Also, do you think Jamal would be up to receiving visitors? The driver brought us all the way from Perpetua, and I kind of floated a brief meeting as part of the terms... if Jamal wouldn't mind."

"Clever," Cherry said as her eyes glazed over briefly. Then, indicating the coach, she said, "OK, both of them should be fine to enter."

"Thanks, you're the best. Also, what about Jamal?"

The half-elf assistant laughed. "Well, he only just woke up a little while ago, and then there was a leisurely brunch..."

"I know how that goes," Tristan said, laughing along.

"Yeah, so he's still in his 'post-brunch bath'--which hasn't ever been a thing, I might add!"

"But it's Jamal, so of course," Tristan said, understanding her frustrations.

"Right. So let me just see what I can do. Bring the driver with you and Sophie into the parlor, and I'll have someone bring a few snacks. Wait, have you had lunch yet?"

He beckoned toward the coach and called them forward. Turning back to Cherry, he said, "Actually, we haven't."

"Then I'll get Aldra and the kitchen staff to bring out some of what Jamal didn't touch at brunch."

From living in the manor for a while, Tristan knew that was likely to be plenty of food. "Sounds great. Thanks, Cherry."

As it turned out, what Jamal hadn't touched at brunch was basically a meal for each of them, and it took several serving girls to bring it all out to them.

"These are the leftovers?!" Gregory asked, awed.

"Pretty typical, too," Tristan acknowledged.

Sophie also asked, "Is there someone on staff who's responsible for taking all this stuff and donating it to local organizations or people that might need it? We had a few of those."

"That is part of Aldra's job, actually," Cherry said, reappearing in the doorway. "I do hope that everything is to your liking."

In response, everyone spoke at once about how good everything was.

"Great," Cherry said with only the hint of a smile. "As for Jamal..." She sighed.

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"I totally understand if he's busy," Gregory preempted.

"Oh, it's not like that," Cherry responded. "He's just being like he always is and taking his sweet time."

A new voice joined the conversation, one that Tristan recognized immediately. "Oi, if you were anyone else, Cherry, I'd give you a piece of my mind right now. You know you're supposed to be talking me up prior to my big introduction, right?"

Jamal was standing in the doorway, shirtless, with freshly-oiled chest on full display. On his hip was his best sword, not the two-handed one he'd always used against Tristan in training, but the legendary estoc he'd actually gone adventuring with. Tristan recognized [The Last Word] immediately, and the powerful aura it radiated.

At Tristan's side, Gregory had gone stiff, his eyes as wide as saucers. Tristan took the opportunity to do a proper introduction.

"Gregory, allow me to introduce you to my teacher, the {Student of Olson}, {The Unerring Blade}, and the greatest mortal swordsman in the realm, Jamal Quicksteel."

Jamal actually flexed as Tristan introduced him, and admittedly it was impressive. "See, Cherry, love, now that's how you're supposed to do it! Talk me up, even when it's just giving my still earned titles! Though I suppose it helps that all my achievements sound so impressive."

Cherry silently rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile, the driver was struggling to find any words at all. "Y-you're, uh, I mean, it's a ple--no, an honor, to meet you, sir!"

Jamal gave the man his most charming smile. "It really is, isn't it? And who are you, mate?"

"G-gregory."

"Brilliant. Nice to meet you, Greg! How are you enjoying my hospitality?"

Tristan tried to speak up. "He actually goes by--"

"Greg is fine," the driver insisted, chuckling excitedly. "It's great, actually! I'm Greg! Yep! Now and forever, because obviously that's my name! Just Greg."

Tristan sighed and looked over to Sophie, who was shaking her head. Cherry, not far off, was now alternating between pinching the bridge of her nose and then rubbing her eyes with the same two fingers.

"Right," Jamal said. "Obviously. That's what I said. Anyway, what else can I do for you now, Greg? Want me to sign something for you, or just give you a firm handshake? Then you'll be able to say you touched me."

Tristan looked aghast and edged closer to Cherry so he could whisper, "Is that something people actually want?"

"Oh yes. It's the main reason why he stopped going out in public," she replied, equally quietly.

Gross, Tristan thought, but he didn't want to say it aloud in case that was what Gregory--Or is he just Greg now?--might choose. Luckily, the driver went with Jamal's signature on a spare shirt, which felt really weird to Tristan, but he didn't say anything. Then Cherry ushered the man out without much more fanfare. Jamal merely waved at the guy as he passed out of sight, and ultimately out of mind.

"So you're back already!" Jamal said, moving back to Tristan. "I kind of thought you'd be away longer, especially after Cherry told me about how successful you'd been with that Venom bloke. From the sound of things, he was well and truly living up to his title."

Tristan grimaced at the name. "He was, but we handled him. And thanks for meeting Gregory like that."

"Anything for my fans," Jamal said, with only the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Cherry, who had reappeared after escorting the driver out, rolled her eyes. "Oh? Should I start booking more events then? Would you prefer them to be open to the whole general public, or more private affairs, with small crowds in the hundreds?"

Jamal waved a hand. "Alright, alright! None of that now. You know what I meant. It was mostly just to help Tristan out."

"And I do appreciate it," the swordsmith said.

"Of course. Anything for my best student."

"Your only student," Cherry added.

"Semantics! But now that student has returned! Let the training recommence!"

Tristan held up a hand. "Actually, uh, I'm not here for that so much..."

Cherry's eyes narrowed. "What is it this time then? Cleo's not around, if you were hoping to see her. But that's been pretty typical lately. She's out healing some noble in a dungeon run. A waste of her talent, honestly, but what do I know?"

Tristan felt a bit confused. "No, I'm not--why would I--?"

Sophie seemed to perk up. "Wait, Cleo, like the realm-famous healer? That Cleo? She's here?"

Jamal laughed. "Right, so you don't need healing then. That's a shame, because she's especially good at healing through stupidity, isn't she mate? But spill, Tristan. What can I do for you, if it's not training you yet--and it better be a 'yet' kind of deal, or I'm going to make you wish Cleo was around."

Tristan swallowed. "Well, not to sound too much like last time, but my Path Quest updated again."

Cherry groaned and threw her head backward.

Jamal outright laughed. "Another target already? And you feel like you're just going to run out to--which of the {Legendslayers} is it this time?"

"Timetwister," Tristan answered, "though I am not just trying to run out after them. I don't want a repeat of Shadow. I've learned and grown since then. I want to prepare properly. So, I'm here asking for help."

"It's only been a few months, kid," Jamal said, scoffing. "But sure, I'm glad you've grown. Now let's see how much." He began walking around Tristan, clearly sizing him up. "I mean, I see the levels, and that your physique has improved, but is there more to it? That you're here instead of running off straight away is a good sign." He glanced at Sophie. "You've grown quite a bit too, little astralist. Have you been a good influence on our boy here?"

Sophie kept a pleasant smile on her face as she answered, "Of course. Someone has to be."

Tristan bristled slightly though. "I've grown in lots of ways, and it's more than just grinding experience. Yes, I've made mistakes in the past, but I've learned from them! One of the things that made Venom easier to take down was that we gathered information about him while we were trailing him. Stuff that made the eventual fight more manageable."

Sophie added, "And that's what we're hoping you might provide for us in this instance, too. We know next to nothing about Timetwister."

"Just the name, really," Tristan agreed. "We don't even know their gender."

"Female," Cherry supplied immediately. When everyone pivoted to look at her, she just shrugged. "What? She's been on my radar ever since Tristan first told me about that idiotic list of his. I did a little cursory digging on each. I didn't find a lot, but..." She shrugged.

Tristan practically pounced on her. "Then you've got to tell me absolutely everything you know!"

"Sure, but like I said, it's not that much."

"Doesn't matter!" Tristan said, all but salivating at the idea of any new intel after such a long time waiting. "Any detail, no matter how small, might be important!"

Jamal laughed. "Oi, Tristan, while I'm loving all this enthusiasm from you, maybe take it down a peg, eh? Some of us have had busy mornings already, and all this energy you're putting out there is wearing us out."

Cherry gave the swordmaster an evil side-eye. "Busy morning?"

Jamal produced a chair from his magical storage and reclined himself in it. "Hey, I hadn't seen Kythean in a long time. We had lots of catching up to do."

"I'm sure," Cherry replied levelly. "How is he then?"

"Still in bed, last I checked," Jamal said with a grin. "Like I said, some of us are exhausted."

"Gods above," Cherry groaned before returning her attention to Tristan. "Anyway, back to useful things. Timetwister. Want a copy of what little info I gathered? I've got one in my office."

"That would be fantastic," Tristan replied.

"Alright, be right back," Cherry said, giving Jamal a long glare. "And maybe you could offer some pointers on dealing with a time mage healer while I'm gone?"

She's a healer? Suddenly his mind was flooded with thoughts of how he might fight someone like Opie or, gods forbid, Cleo.

As Cherry walked out, Jamal leaned up a bit and cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, alright. I've dealt with lots of healers in my time. Even fought Cleo a few times. Never seen anyone else like her, lucky for you. From what I've learned, healers are almost all tricky. If you let them, they'll try to wear you down and just outlast you while doing small, incremental damage. 'Cause they can heal, see, and usually people like you and I can't. Tends to make for really long, arduous fights if you can't end them before they get up their buffs." He tapped a finger against his lips.

"But a time mage, too? Ugh, that could be rough. I've got a bit of experience with one of those. Though, full disclosure, the guy I fought was more of a spellsword, so a melee-caster hybrid. He mostly used his timey-wimey stuff to speed himself up or slow me down. He definitely wasn't a healer. Kind of makes me wonder how that combination would work..." He went quiet for a while, still tapping the finger to his lips.

The sound of footsteps brought Tristan's attention back to the parlor entry. It felt much too soon for them to belong to Cherry.

"Sorry I overslept," a deep baritone voice began, as the most striking person, let alone elf, Tristan had ever seen walked in. Tall and willow-thin, he was wrapped in tight green leather perfectly fitted to his body. It seemed to show the rippling of every muscle as he moved into the room, leaned down, and gave Jamal a brief kiss. "We need to do this much more often," he said.

As he straightened back up, Tristan couldn't help but notice the elf's sharp cheekbones and jawline, which both seemed like they belonged on statues, not in the real world. The elf's looks somehow put even Jamal's to shame.

Standing at Tristan's side, Sophie literally whispered, "Whoa."

Jamal held out a hand that traced the elf's arm as it moved away. "I've been saying that for months, mate. Ever since this one finished up," he indicated toward Tristan, "I've been practically begging you to come over."

"You never begged," the elf replied coyly.

"Well, obviously not. But you know what I meant."

"I do," the elf said with a smile that was utterly distracting.

"I need to sit down," Sophie said, finding herself a chair.

The elf turned to acknowledge Tristan at last and said, "And so this is the student I've heard so much about?" His piercing green eyes flicked from Tristan's head to toe, quickly assessing him. "He looks delicious."

"I told you you'd like him," Jamal replied with a sigh, "but I've decided I won't play with my students. And while I did try to get him to relax with some of my favorites, he never seemed interested!"

"Pity," came the elf's reply. "What's his name again?"

"I'm Tristan," the swordsmith said, raising his chin and extending his hand as firmly as he could.

The elf smiled again, inclined his head slightly, and accepted the handshake. "I am Kythean. It is a pleasure to meet the one and only {Student of Jamal}. I am surprised you have chosen not to avail yourself of the many other things your master has to teach."

The handshake was perfectly firm but not too firm, to the degree that Tristan wondered if the elf wasn't somehow skilled in it. As for how to reply, Tristan wasn't really sure, so he simply said, "I'm doing my best to stay focused."

"A noble pursuit indeed." He turned his attention back to Jamal as his hand dropped. "Just like your student here, you must know that I, too, am doing my best to focus on matters of grave importance. I am a busy elf, Jamal. I have a business to run, and can't just come over whenever you call, or I'd never leave."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Jamal asked in reply.

"I think some of your other lovers would grow jealous," the elf said, smiling.

Jamal waved that off. "What are you talking about? There's plenty of me to go around, and all my lovers know how rewarding patience can be, especially with me. They're very well practiced at it."

The elf chuckled, beginning to move away. "Yet, sadly, I fear it is you who must practice that now. It was fun, and I shall see you again soon enough."

Jamal, patient? Tristan was pretty sure the man had forgotten how to be that.

Jamal turned to call over his shoulder, "Just try to keep it within the decade this time."

"I make no such promises," Kythean replied. At the door, he encountered Cherry, who was just returning with a folder in her hands. He gave her a polite and elegant bow. "Cherry, I apologize, but I actually must be going. Please continue to keep him out of trouble."

Cherry let out a peal of laughter as she walked to the front door of the manor and opened it. "Of course. It's easier since we stay here practically all the time. It was good to see you, Kythean. Be well."

The elf inclined his head, saying, "You as well," and then he was out the front door.

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