Chapter 8: Antlers

Exhausted, Tristan closed his eyes and leaned backward into his chair, feet rested on the table, the way his tutors had always warned would lead to concussion. How long had it been since he had had a decent night's sleep? Four days? A week? He couldn't remember any more. He leaned back further, the chair gave a dangerous lurch and he put his feet sharply back on the floor. Killing himself through stupidity was only mildly more attractive than torture at Ozorne's hands. Staghorn rested his head in one of his hands and allowed his eyelids to relax once more. What was he going to do? The other hand spidered over the table until it found the goblet that contained his revitalising potion. Fingers closed around the cold metal and he raised it to dry lips.

It was empty.

Frustrated he hurled it away, sending it crashing into the magically shielded door.

"Sarah!"

The shield fell to admit a trembling child of sixteen. "My Lord?"

One hand still holding up his head he pointed at the dented goblet spiralling at her feet. "You let it go dry," he explained harshly.

"My Lord, with respect I couldn't get in through the-"

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR RIDICULOUS EXCUSES!" he bellowed, the girl made an attempt at escape but the shield was back in place. "Find Master Juon and get me some more."

"It's three in the morning, my Lord, he'll be asl…"

"For Mithros' sake! Wake him up, girl! Perhaps he'd like to take any objections to the emperor." The green wall vanished, the door creaked open and the girl fell gratefully through it. For good measure he flung a candlestick after her where it stuck quivering in the door. Sparkling fire sprung up as it closed, sealing him back inside once more. There would be no potion for another hour or so. Juon would undoubtedly be asleep, as Sarah had pointed out and even with the threat of Ozorne's anger hanging over him would still work extra slowly out of spite. Tristan let out his breath in one haggard stream and massaged his temples with long fingers than now sparkled with rings, gifts from his grateful emperor. Gods he was tired. Still than would not stop Ozorne mounting his head on a spike if he failed to produce anything and reluctantly he pushed himself to his feet and moved over to the examining bench.

It was a simulacrum; there was no doubt about it. Unfortunately Ozorne insisted Arram did not have the magical skills to create such an illusion so it fell to his new high mage, Tristan, to find out exactly how they had been foiled. It would've been very easy to go to sleep, stride into the throne room tomorrow and announce "Your majesty, Draper escaped using a simulacrum," but then he probably would not live to see the next morning. Perhaps, the mind is still enclosed within the body. He heaved around a couple of books until he found the one he was looking for and poured over it for a minute. Apparently not.

"Damn you Draper!" he yelled at the ghost of his enemy. "Why wouldn't you just die?!"

*

He awoke to a loud banging somewhere outside his room. Blearily he opened one eye; there was nothing in his sphere of vision except one large hand. He tried moving his fingers, the hand in front of him remained still. Not his hand then. The noise continued. Why wouldn't they go away? He managed eventually to push himself into a sitting position, ready to tell whoever it was to leave him in peace then he caught sight of Arram's still face, remembered where he was and who it was trying to break through his door. It felt like someone had just thrown a bucket of iced water over his head, a quick glance at the candles on his desk told him several hours had passed. He rushed to the curtains and yanked them opened revealing the bustling city below. It was too late. He let the barrier fall. "Come in?"

The door moved open slowly as if the person behind it were not sure anything would be accomplished by merely pushing it inwards.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting out here?" Juon demanded.

"I have no idea," Tristan told him wearily, sinking back into his chair. "Though I expect you intend to inform me."

"Three hours!" the other mage shrieked.

"Really?" Staghorn murmured disinterestedly. "Have you brought the potion?"

"Have I?" Juon spluttered in disbelief. "Of course I have."

"Well can I have it please? I have a very important meeting with the emperor… Sarah what time is it?"

"The clock struck seven moments ago, my Lord."

"In about half an hour then and I'll be sure to tell him, before I faint with exhaustion, that it was your fault I could not complete my research."

Bristling with barely suppressed rage the goblet was handed over and Juon stalked from the room.

Tristan drank it slowly, savouring each new burst of energy until he had enough strength to draw his gift back from the shield.

He got up and moved painfully to the mirror. His hair stuck up in all directions but that could be fixed with a comb readily enough. At least the bags beneath his eyes seemed to have vanished and his skin was no longer ashen. His clothes were wrinkled beyond repair though, he opened the wardrobe before he remembered that he wasn't in his rooms, these were Arram's. Were. He shrugged and pulled off his own plum robes and selected a long black embroidered one from the rail. It trailed along the ground until Tristan fetched some scissors and cut a foot from the bottom. Better. Arram didn't seem to own a comb however so Tristan merely pulled his fingers through his hair and tied it back with one of the multitude of hair ties the room's previous occupant had scattered around it. He tried a debonair smile.

Nauseating really; it was like Draper had never left.

*

"Master Staghorn, your majesty."

Tristan bowed as low as tired muscles would allow. "Your imperial majesty," he purred.

"Speak up man I know who I am."

"Of course." He bowed again. "I have toiled all night and have finally arrived at my analysis."

"And?"

"Your majesty, Draper escaped using a simulacrum."

"Preposterous!" Ozorne stormed rising from the gilt throne. "Staghorn, I thought we discussed this."

"We did your majesty which is why I suspect that he did not create the simulacrum himself."

The emperor allowed himself to sit back into the velvet cushions. "Go on."

"There are no marks of the Gift upon it which suggests it was created by a very powerful mage." The emperor's face twisted in displeasure. "Far more powerful than Master Draper. Infact had I not personally examined Lindhall Reed…"

"Are you sure you checked completely."

Tristan started to scowl but the image of his own head on a spike pervaded his anger. "Of course, your majesty. There is no evidence than Master Reed is connected to Draper's escape. He's very popular. I fear if he were accused the people would rise up against you."

"Do my citizen's not love me?" Ozorne demanded.

No. "Of course sire but I feel such a move would be unwise."

"Very well." The mage allowed himself to relax. It seemed today would not be his last after all. "I am pleased with you Master Staghorn."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"Our spies have revealed that Draper is indeed hiding out in Corus. Ambassador Tourin has secured King Jonathan's hospitality and assistance in this matter. I expect you and a team of at least five other competent mages, two legions and anyone else you feel might be useful to depart for Tortall by noon today."

"You are too generous, your majesty."

Ozorne waved his hand graciously, indicating the audience was over and Tristan bowed again and backed out of the throne room. "Oh and Staghorn?"

"Your majesty?"

"Get some new robes. I could recognise Draper's appalling taste a mile away, I'm sure he will able to do the same. The palace tailors will oblige I'm sure."

"Thank your imperial majesty."

"Do not disappoint me Staghorn," Ozorne called after the mage's retreating figure.

Author's Note: Long time no see huh? I only wrote this chapter because my friend ali [who this is dedicated too by the way, I'm sure she'll be thrilled… probably hates Staghorn, ah well.] insisted I couldn't write any thing else until I wrote some of this. So I did. V fun. I like Staghorn very much. He's such a crawler. Fun fun.

Anyway I did promise:

~*fantasy*queen*~ you reviewed A LOT thankyou v much.

Shayley Rain your reviews sound almost as articulate as mine. Well done.

Lady-kitty thanks… yes it did take aaaaaaaaaaages.

Kitty Ryan I hope I have put enough commas in it for you this time. There is a scene were all the sentences were about 3 words long… I think I got rid of bits though.

Thanks everyone before that too, if you review again I'll write back to you too!!! How exciting huh? Hmm.. anyway. It also helps if you say something LONG and then I have lots to write back about.

Thanks for reading.

Have just found mistake with the title but hey, no one's read it anyway. Er yay. Possible mistakes during rest of it but I can't be bothered to reread it coz its quarter to 12. Just sitting here being very depressed with the happiness of Remus and Sirius… though they are fictional, gay and possibly don't end up together in real Harry Potter land. Ah well.