The Embalmer's Apprentice by Lyra

I also notice that Azruhar has trouble adjusting his ideas to non-Numenorean life-spans! Maybe he will work that out later.

Azruhâr will definitely have some troubles in the future, won’t he? He hasn’t fully grasped the many differences (cultural or other) between the Umbarians and Númenóreans. And it’ll be a while until Darîm decides do trust him a bit… if he decides to do so… It’s very understandable that he’s wary. I hope some of the apprentices give Azruhâr a chance as well.

As always, great chapter! Thanks a lot, Lyra!!

Interesting. The Númenórean society of your story gives me a medieval vibe, but the colonialism is very XIXth century. Quite a fascinating historical synchrony, made possible by the fantasy setting, and which does not feel jarring at any moment, probably because of the special characteristics of the POV character, who is a critical outsider to either mindset (though he does not always recognize himself as one). Azruhâr is full of good intentions since he arrived, but these last chapters, especially the last one, make a good job of showing that it won't be so easy. I am looking forward to the part where he finally gets to meet the natives.

Captivating! I have to stop reading to do some other things, but certainly wouldn't have if all my time was spare. You really create a convincing Numenor here.

I just dropped everything I was doing to read this! No regrets!  /

Azruhâr’s decision to read the reports on the possible apprentices was very good, he needs more opinions to help him choose. I want to see those interviews!!

How can you tease me with the letters and not show Lord Eärendur's? T-T Even I miss the people back in Númenor!

I really liked knowing a bit more of Kâlil and Sîmar, I’m too optimistic sometimes but I hope they can open up more to Azruhâr. Also, I loved seeing Laurilyo again :)

I’m glad there’s finally a promising place for embalming! Sure, it needs work but it’s about time this project starts in earnest.

Now, as a last comment…May Eru help our boy so he doesn’t end up going on the excursion as a last-minute addition xD

Thanks for another chapter. It was good to finally read Azruhar's letters from home but I suspect Azruphel is keeping much from her husband (As he suspects)--hope they are truly doing well. And will you also share the contents of Lord Earendur's letter?  
About the upcoming "skirmish/battle" I'm wondering if Azruhar will still join and somehow save Herucalmo's life and he would be similar to that neighbor of his in Numenor who saved the King's life. I also liked the scene of Azruhar's interaction with the twins--I dare think they like him and probably didn't expect him to be a decent guy. 

The location seems promising for Azruhar's new workshop, hope it works out for his vent ure. I am still not sure what to make of Darim-- not sure what his motives are and it's good that Azruhar is being carefu. I don't envy him though. 

Finally it seems as if Azruhar is making some headway in Umbar (and with the people there). So many different threads being updated here. But the subject of the expedition has come up so much now that I keep having the feeling that we are going to get a POV on it somehow, and since Azruhar is the only POV character I wonder if he will end taking part in it by some strange twist of fate.

Also, I have the impression that the letter by Eärendur was the one which contained the most important information. :P Looking forward to the continuation!

A  very interesting chapter in more than one way!

So Simar and Kalil are obligated to Darim. That may mean they are acting as his informants in the palace. That doesn't mean they have any hostile intent, in fact they seem very sympathetic, but perhaps after all a bit of caution might not be entirely misplaced.

Also, Azruhar maybe should be thinking of one or two guards for the new morgue as well, even though I knew he does not naturally think along those lines. Or am I getting paranoid here?

I am familiar with that feeling of not wanting to do something, and yet everyone expecting you to do it. It's frustrating. :D In this case, I just think that the subject comes up so often that it looks like it has to be important at some point, and it's hard to think of a way to do it that does not involve a POV. Perhaps that's why so many readers think like  this. But it could just be misdirection, or you could be thinking of an uncommon/original way of having that expedition matter, for example by something going wrong and having repercussions on those who have stayed behind. Let's see...

Author's Response:

In this case, it isn't even frustrating, just really interesting how reader expectations pick up on things that I'm not doing with that outcome in mind. I don't usually get so many comments on the same thing, so it's a new experience. XD

It might well end up being important, but I might break the "show don't tell" rule for that...

What a quick update!! I’m so happy!

Good to know the house restoration will happen without problems. I hope Azruhâr eventually learns a bit of accountancy otherwise he won’t be able to keep track of anything with his business. Also, the idea of growing grapes is interesting I hope he gives it more thought.

Darîm really is influential and powerful… well, to the other umbarians at least. He even receives payment for finding them jobs. I want to see how Azruhâr will approach this topic when it comes to the apprentices. I had other idea of him when he was first introduced but I’m liking how you’re working everything.

That’s it guys, the ship AzruhârXHerucalmo is real now! I remember commenting about Herucalmo being jealous of Azruhâr but I was joking at the time! Consider me surprised. So, he was interested since the trip to Umbar?  Before? Give us specifics! ;)

Good that he is starting to build the morgue--the vineyards sound very promising.  I kind of suspected Herucalmo's inclinations when he shared a bed with Azruhar.  Azruhar must look so rugged, attractive and manly :-D

Kind of expected Darim not as altruistic with his people, but then perhaps the situation is quite desperate for him/them.  Wonder how the battle will turn out--hope Azruhar will be emerge OK and hope Herucalmo won't be vindictive.

Author's Response:

It's probably fairly idyllic, if he lifts his head from his work for long enough! But he's probably not going to use the vineyards. Unless he gets the impression that his neighbours underpay their workers, I guess. ;)

Not sure about rugged, but he's definitely good-looking (although he wouldn't consider himself as such). It's more a soft and sensual sort of manliness, though. My inner faceclaim for Azruhâr is Riz Ahmed, in case you're looking for reference! ;) Yes, the "only one bed" approach was a bit of a hint, wasn't it, although I tried to make it as uncomfortable and unromantic as possible?

Yes, Darîm isn't all idealism and shepherding his people, I'm afraid. Although he probably feels that he has good reasons for his way of doing things. The situation is complicated, to say the least!

Ha! So Herucalmo *was* interested. I was not particularly tipped off by the scene where they sleep on the same bed, but there were two things that gave me weird vibes: when Herucalmo disapproved of Azruhar's friendship with Laurilyo, and when he took Azruhar's fanciful misreading of his intentions so badly in the next chapter. I quite like the development of that scene, especially two details which I found darkly amusing: the fact that while Herucalmo was "showing off" in the baths Azruhar was thinking of how he was not particularly good looking (*snort*), and then that Herucalmo would try to use that tacky pick up line about going to battle the next day and perhaps never coming back, with Azruhar also reacting entirely in the wrong way. Azruhar really *is* clueless, and yet Herucalmo does not come across as much better. I suppose he is still young for Númenórean standards (and of course we know he won't die in battle).

As for the rest, the social and political landscape in Umbar keeps getting complex, and Azruhar is discovering more and more about it, which means we are discovering it along with him. Very curious to see how the whole embalming situation will develop, and what is Darim's interest in speeding up the process beside making some money on the side.

I confess I had not seen that coming at all, although I see retrospectively how it fits. I guess Herucalmo may be quite lonely in Umbar, despite the presence of his father, and that could intensify such emotions. I am driven to speculate about future ramifications, depending how deep this goes. They need not be as negative as Azruhar fears, but it certainly complicates things. (And poor guy, I am glad he does not know how he got compared in that way with his relatives of Andunie in just that moment!)

I liked Urdad and would enjoy seeing more of him.

Darim keeps growing in complexity!

Author's Response:

I've actually been trying to push it further off (or leave it out entirely) because I feared it would interfere with the main plot, but it kept coming back...
Herucalmo isn't necessarily alone, but Azruhâr certainly is his closest acquaintance in Umbar (whereas Lord Roitaheru, father or no, feels basically like any other distant noble relative). Azruhâr's change in status may also play a role; Lord Roitaheru takes him seriously, treating him as one of the many young men from ambitious families who come to Umbar to earn their merit. That's very different from being (ultimately) Atanacalmo's errand boy and the King's punching bag, and opens up all-new possibilities. (It's also possible that Herucalmo had some feelings long before Umbar, but suppressed them as inappropriate; I'm not sure how new this infatuation is.)

It does complicate things. We'll see how deep it goes and how Herucalmo deals with it. (We'll let him believe that Azruhâr admired his muscular build, rather than compared him unfavourably. ;))

Urdad was another surprise!character; I have no idea whether he'll stick around for longer, but I hope so.

Yeah, Darîm isn't just Azruhâr's Umbarian equivalent! I hope I can keep up with him.

As ever, thank you for your thoughts!

I somehow did NOT see that coming at all! That combined with the fact that I can think back on Herucalmo's earlier behaviour and see how the perhaps somewhat clueless POV influenced my interpretation of his actions is a sign of good writing though, I think!

Thanks for another chapter.  I like how Azruhar appears to be settling in at Umbar.   I think his "tutelage" under Lord Roitaheru will do him well someday.  I'm actually glad that Azruhar gets to experience a fair / objective "manager" as compared to before.  :-)  Lord Earendur is more of a proxy father/uncle, not a "manager".  

His new servant and his family are very interesting and I'm sure their interactions with Azruhar will reveal a lot about Umbari culture--both the positive and negative. Good that you gave Azruhar a chance to go full circle in that he now has the resources to help people.

Darim is getting more and more complex.  Lord Laurilyo, too, is not as idle and superficial as he initially appeared--I'm wondering what role he will play (if any) later on when they all are back in Numenor.  Good that he has a "soft" heart too maybe he will get on well with Azruhar.   I am curious about Herucalmo's "expedition"-- wonder how he is doing. 

Oh, very interesting! Good new insights on Umbarian society and on the personality of your characters. Laurilyo's reaction to learning that Azruhar is a dangerous criminal (of sorts, lol) somehow makes me think that he is suddenly going to find him a lot more interesting than he did before, perhaps even as interesting as Herucalmo found him. :P The new family he is taken under his wing is also a welcome addition; they have potential. Darîm has a rather interesting parallel government system going on, though I cannot quite wrap my head around the effectivity of a redistribution method that hinges on people giving them all their salary. Wouldn't that make them all into paupers that he, in turn, needs to spend his money on? It might be more advisable to take off a percentage, like taxes. But perhaps Azruhar still doesn't know everything.

Nice update!

Author's Response:

Laurilyo didn't learn about Azruhâr's criminal past, just about his humble birth (although the more prejudiced nobley might naturally associate that with criminal activities) and the fact that he came to Umbar involuntarily. As far as he is concerned, that could mean anything. Laurilyo himself was sent to Umbar as a sort of punishment for being disrespectable - it just doesn't feel like that because he actually prefers it to his life as heir to the lordship of Orrostar. He might find out more later, though - who knows? (Not me! Not yet!)

Darîm's system is a bit more complicated than that. People don't have to pay him all their lives! The basic idea is that when he has arranged your apprenticeship or trained you for service, you have to repay him for his investment and contribute to the emergency fund beyond that. In theory, you don't need the (modest) salary you get as an apprentice or new servant, because you'll be living in someone else's house and be fed at their table rent-free, anyway. Once you have completed the apprenticeship (or the equivalent length of service), after 7-10 years, you're free of the monetary obligation and get to keep the money you earn. But it does mean that you can't send money to your family, or save up for your future, while you're an apprentice. Which probably means that you have to get a loan from the Darîm when you start your own workshop or household - which you will then have to repay - so you'll be beholden to him again, until you have finally paid off your debts. It does mean that a lot of people are perpetually poor, yes. Not very effective if your goal is securing decent standards of living or something like that, but very effective in creating and securing dependencies. I'm afraid Darîm, like most of the nobles of Númenor, is convinced that society would collapse if you didn't have a great number of people desperate enough to take any job for any pay.
This is, of course, more information than Azruhâr has!

Glad you liked it! Thank you for your thoughts, as always!

Hello, Lyra!! Happy Holidays!

I’m happy that Roitaheru is helping Azruhâr, he needs all the information he can get in order to blend in with the others. I loved that Laurilyo showed up as well, I had no idea he didn’t know of Azruhâr’s circumstances… Maybe he’ll want to spend more time with Azruhâr from now on in order to learn more about him? I hope so, I like when the two of them are together! Also, Laurilyo’s soft heart was a welcome surprise that makes his character even more interesting!

We have a bunch of new characters, wow! I look forward to the new family interacting with Azruhâr, he’s going to learn a lot about life in Umbar now.

Darîm is another interesting character, he tried to make Azruhâr believe his way of doing things is the best possible, but taking all the payment is too much… The people end up being completely dependent on his help. I wonder how their interactions will progress.

Thanks for the chapter! It was a great “end of the year/ Christmas” gift!

Interesting developments with Laurilyo and Darim!

The clash between Laurilyo's views on charity and Azruhar's different point of view was particularly telling.

I'm sure trickery is not entirely non-existent in Umbar, but not as frequently as it is used as excuse by those who do not want to change the status quo.

I liked seeing how Azruhâr is settling at his new house and getting used to the new people around him. I think he’ll do a better job of managing the household/business than he’s expecting, he just needs to channel his inner Amraphel xD (I miss her so much!)

I need news on Herucalmo and his expedition! Is he coming back soon?

Thanks for the fast update! Loved the chapter!

I keep forgetting to say so I have to write it first--I also enjoy reading your reader's comments and your responses!   It's like a behind-the-scenes featurette or an interview with the author.  

For this chapter, I did miss Amraphel a lot.  Is it possible for his family to join him eventually?   This time alone will also help him discover his own strengths though hope he does not dwell too much on his insecurities. The new workshop/home does sound cozy and I hope he won't get any grief from his servants.  

I am very curious about his apprentices! I hope we get an inkling too about Herucalmo. 

Poor Azruhar, what a massive attack of impostor's syndrome!

I think it is good for him to have Nerad and his family as well as intimidatingly competent people selected by Darim, even though he feels the responsibility. And he is much better at being responsible than he thinks he is, even if Umbarian customs remain a challenge.

Looking forward to meeting the apprentices!

Author's Response:

Yes, I think it's a good mix of people - some who know what they're doing, and some who'll be fine with him doing things the way he feels is right. They can balance each other out. And he'll learn more about Umbarian customs, too.

He is definitely more responsible than he realises (and better at it than he thinks, too). And of course, some of his perceived weaknesses are not really weaknesses, but will in fact help him to fulfill his new role adequately.

Me too! Finally, some major developments! :D

It must be disorienting for the apprentices, I guess. They don't want to risk putting a foot wrong, but the rules have unexpectedly changed!

The apprentices are finally here! I’m glad Sidi was brought along, maybe he’ll be the first to start trusting Azruhâr a bit.

I can understand why they are so closed off and reluctant to believe things are okay. To them it just seems too good to be true and Azruhâr must not have told them everything. I hope with time everyone gets used to each other.

Thanks for the chapter, Lyra! 

Finally! The household is complete now, and there seems to be a lot of potential for interesting developments. One thing that baffles me is how Azruhâr can be so clueless about what is going on with the apprentices, when earlier in his life he was exactly where they are now (and annoyed the people who wanted to help him or be nice to him in exactly the same manner). But I guess he will have a moment of revelation at some point. It's really remarkable how his journey had brought him full circle, and he finds himself in exactly the same situation where the story started, but in the opposite side. And I am eager to know more about all the new characters!

Azruhar has come a long way! I feel things are being put in place in this chapter. I think Azruhar was a good pupil of Lord Earendur -- if only Lord Earendur can see him now!  I hope everyone gets along at his household but I think there will be some friction. 

Oh dear. I suppose mental health problems aren't surprising, considering the circumstances, but really difficult to handle.

Poor Bâgri, dealing with these problems is never easy. I hope we get to see a way for him to fit in with the group and do his work as an apprentice without too much trouble. They just need time to work everything, and then maybe Bâgri, as well as the others, will no longer fear Azruhâr, not as much at least!

Thanks for the chapter!! And thanks for your replies on our comments! I really enjoy reading them. Like you and whitewave have said, it’s like a “behind-the-scenes/director's cut” and it adds a lot to the experience of reading the story.

This is an absolutely fabulous fic. I lost sleep reading through it and I am very glad I did. Thank you!