You arrive, invitation in hand, and are escorted to a cozy room- clearly not the banquet hall, with a small table and a pair of comfortable chairs. A slave stands nearby with a pitcher of wine and offers you a glass while you are led to your seat. You spot a spirit hanging out in the corner of the room watching you as you are seated.
Xahansa will sit and wait, not partaking in the wine.
After a few moments the spirit departs through a wall, and a moment later a man in midnight blue robes enters the room. "You have chosen not to drink the wine. I am not sure whether I should be offended, not that you think so little of my hospitality, for you do not know me well enough to make such judgement, but that you think so little of my power that you believe I would gain some advantage by drugging you. He has some of the wine which is offered by the slave, and another enters with trays of food. "Now from what I understand, the wizard I have imprisoned is your mentor, and you seek his release. If this is correct, what do you offer?"
Xahansa bows his head slightly. "I apologize. I heard that you were a devout muslim, and I thought to avoid offending you by not partaking." He takes the wine and drinks.
"I did not expect you to be so direct, but let us be blunt, then. Why did you imprison him? What did you hope to gain?"
"The reasons are a long story I do not care to go into, I spared his life and have offered to return his freedom in exchange for the secret of the protection he used when we fist met. So far he has not renewed that protection while in my custody, but I believe I will get it from him eventually, unless you have a better offer."
"Have you heard of the Order of Hermes?"
"He has mentioned it."
Xahansa sighs. "I probably can't do anything to convince you of what they're capable of, but I promise that if we taught you that secret, it would be the death warrant of both of us, and you, and any other users of magic in this city. It might even start a war between the Order and the group you're a member of.
Is there anything else you want? Something less dangerous?"
"From what I have heard, writing with others in my order, we may already be at war. So what do we have to lose, especially since you, and your mentor, will not tell your order, if you do not want them to kill you."
Xahansa sighs.
"Did my mentor offer you membership in our order? It is the only way one of us will teach you the secret. And joining, you will add to your magical capabilities in other ways, too. You will also be protected from the war. We do not demand our members participate, but those who participate tend to be very thorough, so membership is the only real safe haven if our orders are at war."
[Is there a window in this room? How high is the ceiling?]
" He did raise the possibility, though neither of us is certain about questions of membership in both orders at once, and I understand that if I were to join your order I would have to give up my position at this court. It seems to me a safer path at this point to simply risk the anger of your order armed with this protective magic. I can of course offer you, as I have offered him, membership in our order if you wish to forswear your current allegiance."
[question remains re window and ceiling height]
There is no window, ceiling height of about 15 ft.
"So, there's nothing else you're interested in? That one secret is all you want?"
He gives a half shrug "Right now, yes. Make me an offer, if I am intrigued we can negotiate."
"Well... I would be willing to spend some time to work with you in research. I'm sure with the use of Bonisagus' theory we could make new discoveries about your own magic, and expand the capabilities of what it can do."
He gives a hollow chuckle "very proud of this theory aren't you? But no, I am not so impressed that i see any value in this offer."
"My pride is justified. His theory means that if you give me a few of years, with any magical tradition, I will be able to replicate whatever they can do. But if your tradition also has a robust theoretical backing, the improvement can go both ways. But if that doesn't interest you, I'm not sure what else I have to offer, without knowing what you lack."
" So your theory allows you to learn other magics, which is nice for you, but offering to teach me my own magic is no offer at all. But If you wish I will give you time to consider. Meet me for lunch here again tomorrow, and if you come up with a better offer I will listen then."
Xahansa nods.
"Very well. I will come tomorrow with a better proposal."
He will leave, but rather than walking to the inn, he will walk to the old Yezidi center. He will keep an eye out for spirits tailing him, and if he is unobserved he will look for the mosque Daryan spoke of, where his mentor is being held.