Chapter Text
“Master, please, I am begging you!” Alvira whined, her hands wringing the hem of her dress.
This was not the first time the topic had come up, and Astarion was starting to lose his patience with her. “Just where do you expect me to find someone like that, Alvira? All the way in Waterdeep? Ha – what an asinine suggestion,” Astarion replied, not bothering to look up from his embroidery. Alvira had been pestering the master for weeks about finding someone to teach her more magic. She’d already learned everything that Dazel could teach her, since he only knew up to the second level in spells.
“Wait, yes, that's it! I've heard there’s a wonderful academy in Waterdeep! Oh, please, Master, you must allow me to go! I promise I will return as soon as I've finished my studies.” Alvira said with a twinkle in her eye, already thinking of all the packing she would have to do.
“Have you completely lost your mind? Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for you to travel by yourself for weeks on end? Not to mention, exclusively at night? Out of the question!” Astarion shouted, finally throwing down his project and staring intently at her. He had known since the moment he met her that Alvira had a taste for adventure, but this was insanity. Astarion sighed, rose from his comfortable chair, and walked over to his youngest spawn. Cupping her face gently in one hand, he looked lovingly at her beautiful face and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb, pausing to brush it over her cheek. “Darling, it is simply too perilous of a journey for you to make on your own. I say this because I care deeply for you and cannot knowingly jeopardize your wellbeing” he said softly. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. Wiping away her tears, her radiant yet devious smile appeared once again.
“Then I suppose you will have to send for someone to make that perilous journey here instead,” she said, her smile widening.
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“Urgently seeking a well-versed professor of magic for a tutoring position near Tsurlagol. Traveling expenses to be reimbursed upon arrival. Lodging, food, and company provided. Pay negotiable. One pupil, competent in magic up to the second level. At least four lessons per week. Serious inquiries only. Send word, along with a resume, addressed to Count Ancunin for further information”.
Gale placed the parchment on his desk after reading it for the fourth time. Tsurlagol. Gods above, had he gone mad? Seriously considering making the multi-week journey to the edge of the Sea of Fallen Stars, just to get away from the city he loved? And Tara! She would have to come with him, and he could guarantee that she would complain the whole time. Before he could change his mind, he’d already gathered parchment, ink and a quill.
“Greetings and good fortune, Count Ancunin. My name is Gale of Waterdeep. I am a professor of magic at the esteemed Blackstaff Academy, and I have received your request for a tutor. I have been teaching for longer than I should care to admit and am well-versed in magic up to the sixth level. My specialties include spells in the school of Evocation, though I can teach proficiently in many other schools”. Gale paused for a moment. What should he request for pay?
Currently, he was making 100 gold a week teaching at the Academy. Should he request the same amount? More, for having to travel so far away? Not to mention, if the student is anything like half of his usual classes, it was going to be hard work getting them to pay attention, let alone cast the spells correctly. Or perhaps he should charge less, considering that lodging and food are provided? Gods, this was going to be difficult.
“As an esteemed faculty member of Blackstaff Academy, my regular wage is 150 gold per week, though with your very generous offer of food and lodging, I am requesting 100 gold per week”. Gale thought for a moment about his lie. Something about it did not sit well with him. He crumpled the parchment and started again. “...Thank you for your very generous offer of food and lodging. In light of this, I am requesting 80 gold per week as compensation for my services. In addition, my dearest companion, Tara, will be joining me. She is my tressym, and I simply cannot bear to leave home without her. Please send further information regarding the length of stay, exact location, and details of my new student. Wishing you well, Gale of Waterdeep”. Gale signed the bottom of the parchment and allowed the ink to dry as he re-read his words.
So, he had finally lost it. Moving away from his beloved city, simply to get away from Mystra, and taking a pay cut, no less! The wizard sighed and rolled the parchment up, tied some twine around it, and sealed it with wax. There was only one thing left to do before he could go home and pack. He pulled out a third piece of parchment and began writing.
“Effective immediately: I am resigning from my position here at Blackstaff Academy. Best of luck finding another professor to fill my spot. Regards, Gale”. There. Short and to the point. Not too sentimental. After wrapping and sealing his resignation letter, Gale packed up his desk and slipped the letter into Mystra’s office before leaving his cherished Academy for what could be the last time.
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As anticipated, Tara was not happy about the sudden change. A few weeks had passed before a second letter arrived at the Waterdeep postal service. Not that he had been counting. Or going there every day to check. When it finally did arrive, Gale felt like a boy again – feeling the rush of excitement after finally mastering a new spell.
“Tara! It’s here! I told you I’d get the position!” Gale shouted from the entryway of his tower.
“Goodness, Mr. Dekarios, there's no need to shout at me. I haven’t lost my senses with my age, you know,” Tara replied, ruffling her tail in annoyance.
“Quickly, we must finish packing! Oh my, I knew I should have washed my favorite robes last night. Now, where did I put my ring of invisibility? Oh! Can’t forget my boots of Misty Step!” Gale continued muttering to himself while gathering the last couple of things he would need for the long journey ahead.
Tara leapt up onto the kitchen counter where Gale had placed the reply letter. Nosing it open, Tara skimmed through.
“Dear Gale of Waterdeep, it is with great pleasure that I extend my deepest gratitude for your application. After much consideration, we have decided that you would be a perfect fit for the position. Based on your wide skill set, I believe that your requested compensation is more than fair, and we would be delighted to have you two at the manor. In terms of the length of your stay, I should guess no more than six months, though this is subject to change based on how quickly you can teach my dearest Alvira. She is a very sharp young girl and a quick learner, though she can be a bit of a free spirit. Once you reach Tsurlagol, my manor is due east of the town on the edge of Grey Forest. I ask that you send a letter before you begin your journey and update us when you reach a town with postal service. Best of luck, Count Ancunin. Ps. I simply cannot wait to meet Tara.”
Tara’s whiskers twitched, and her fur raised on end. “Mr. Dekarios! I have never in my years heard of a place named Tsurlagol. And six months? Just how far away are we going?!” Tara yelled, trying to get his attention.
Gale was a flurry of clothes and scrolls as he frantically threw his belongings into his traveling trunk. “At the very least, don’t forget my favorite pillow, Mr. Dekarios! If I’m going to be dragged halfway across Faerun, I want to be comfortable.” Tara grumbled in dismay.
Gale paused for a moment to walk over to Tara and, with a reassuring smile, pet her gently. “Of course, my dear companion. I wouldn’t dream of forgetting you or your pillow,” he said in a low voice, his hand smoothing over her fur lovingly.
After stopping at the post office to deliver his letter of departure, Gale and Tara set off on their way. Their journey would take many weeks, spanning hundreds of kilometers. To start, they would travel from Waterdeep down to Daggerford, then Southeast to Wayfork village. From there, the trade route would take them Northeast through the Reaching Woods, past the Sunset Mountains, and into the Thunder Peaks. Next, they would continue East through the Dalelands to the port city of Scardale and take a boat across the Dragon Reach. Finally, once they reached the Vast region, they would head south through the Earthfast Mountains to Tsurlagol, then East to the outskirts of the Grey Forest where the manor lies.
Of course, Gale had plotted their entire route beforehand to ensure the least amount of confusion. He would send update letters in Daggerford, Soubar, Hluthvar, Tilverton, and Scardale, then, once they reached Tsurlagol, he would ask around for directions to the manor. If this man were truly a Count, surely someone would know how to get there.