Tehr took the queen’s hand and kissed the back of it, bowing deeply.  A gesture that was in no way inappropriate and was respectful to the queen.  However the way his finger tips brushed the palm of her hand softly as he did so was a hidden gesture of affection.<strong>“My queen, as always, I am at your beck and call.  I will make sure that I am present at the noon bell.  But I must also speak to the archmage, so I shall leave you for now with the promise to delight in your presence again shortly.”</strong><br/><br/>He bowed deeply and made his way to the archmage’s quarters.  His nose crinkled at the infernal smell that assailed him upon his entrance, but he was trained and disciplined enough to do nothing else to give light to his feelings on the state of the archmage’s affairs.  He would be a hypocrite to do so. How often had someone entered his chambers or workshop after a rousing bout of magical practice with a lovely woman or two, and had their nose assailed by the reek of sexual musk?<br/><br/>He bowed shortly at the waist and leaned his staff against the wall near the door, an obvious sign of disarmament intended as a show of respect to the superior mage.<strong> “and I find it a great honor that you enjoy my company master mage, thank you for allowing me to intrude.  How fortunate that my timing coincided so well with your frustrations over the puzzle before you.  I’d offer to assist, but I fear that my skills would pale in comparison to yours.  In fact it is partially because of this failing that I come to you today.  May I sit?”</strong><br/><br/>He gestured to one of the chairs in the archmage’s quarters and waited for permission before doing so.  He pulled a frustrated face and snorted lightly,<strong>“I admit that I find divination a useful school when it works, but it is too nebulous for me.  Too often I found that the answers were open to interpretation, or the whims of the caster, or perhaps even that of a fickle deity.  I know not.  It is perhaps one of my reasons of dislike of those who practice the divine magic in fact.  They seem so assured that the messages they receive from their gods and goddesses are divinely inspired and infallible, when quite often, they are not perfectly accurate.  I like my spells to be a little more reliable and never found the exacting messages in the lights of a crystal ball or the patterns in tea leaves to be anything less than vague.”</strong><br/><br/>He shrugged his shoulders and sighed,<strong>“But because of my failure to appreciate the art of divination that I need your help, or at least your advice.  You know of Duke Caeldor of the Elven people of Wales?  Her daughter stays in my home and I have worked out an agreement with him that benefits his house and mine as well as our queendom.  But he has traveled south weeks ago, and it has been some time since he has been heard from.  His daughter begins to fret, and already there is pressure for her to return to her homeland.  Such an action would threaten the beneficial trade agreements between her lands and ours.”</strong><br/><br/>Tehr reached into his pocket and drew forth the duke’s ring, given to him by Rosalyn,<strong>“This is his ring.  I know there are ways to divine the location and well being of an individual, but they are not known to me.  I was wondering if you could help, or knew of someone trustworthy that could?  I would of course be willing to return the favor in whatever way you thought appropriate.  But I wish to put the elven lady’s mind at ease if possible.”</strong><br/>