A short time later we were on the road again, and I was still wearing black robes. It felt wrong, I was a dark mage no longer. Never really was one I don’t think, I never enjoyed the killing like most start to do after a while. I don’t think I would ever be a light mage, despite my new found love for healing. Still, blue robes sounded nice, maybe green. Or maybe both, why limit myself to one color. I was free now, sort of, why be limited. I considered wearing normal clothes but that felt dishonest, a mage should be in robes. Shouldn’t they? Not wearing robes would feel like… a lie about who I was.
The march was another three days, and those days went much better. I wasn’t really treated any better, but I felt more hope, I felt better about myself. Not that I was all sweetness and light, I was still wary of this culture, in a way they were a lot more dishonest and sneaky. Not as evil, but not as easy to pin down and quantify either.
Sure they didn’t sacrifice people and steal their powers, but they still killed. They were people after all and that’s what we did. Even if we didn’t enjoy it and only did it in self defense.
There was also the bonus of not being in chains, they didn’t bother since the ones they had were too weak. They just had between two and four knights around me at all times. I was warned not to do any magic as well, or they would attack. The good thing about it was I could feel the magic around me, I would not be surprised by an attack again. Unless they shielded their magic and left the demons behind, which I was almost sure they wouldn’t do.
Finally the city came into view. It was huge. My old kingdom was made up of small demesnes, with usually small size keeps with about twenty mages and a few hundred slaves. This was huge, there were tons of people. It would never work in Zual, but here where people were free I was guessing it would work. Financial concerns and society would keep people in line as long as too many people didn’t suffer.
I wasn’t sure there were enough mages in the world though, to keep all the people in the city enslaved. At least their way of controlling the population was nicer, and the people could leave if they wanted. Maybe Lethia wouldn’t be so bad, as long as Duke Emory kept his word that is. We stopped about a mile from the city and made camp. I wondered about that for a moment and then realized it was to keep me out of there until they were sure of me.
I could probably cause a whole bunch of havoc and damage before they stopped me, so it made sense. I wouldn’t hold it against them at any rate. I found a spot and sat down, it would be a long wait until they went and fetched a mage. I was wondering why there wasn’t one in their camp to begin with, that didn’t really make sense to me.
Maria walked over quick and said, “We are heading into the city, we should be back in a few hours with a mage.”
I smiled back and said, “Sounds good, I’ll see you soon?” I was a little nervous, the only two people that liked me were about to leave, I wondered if discipline was enough to keep the soldiers from starting something I wouldn’t want to finish.
My nerves must have shown through because Maria nodded knowingly and whispered, “I’m leaving Jason here with you.”
She smiled at the look of relief and thankfulness that broke out on my face, then went back to the carriage. I would feel a lot better with him here, they wouldn’t be able to attack me then make up tales. The Duke left behind seven of the nine knights including Jason and thirty soldiers. The rest went with him into the city…
Chapter 5
Well I had to wait, I decided to work on tweaking my protection spells, I made it so a truth spell could get through, but harmful spells and mind control could not. It wasn’t hard, but it was new. In my old kingdom there was no purpose to modify a protection spell, they would never cast a helpful or benign spell on another person so there would have been no reason to.
I trusted the Duke’s word, to a point, but I wouldn’t let myself become helpless either. Not with seven knights that could try and kill me, with a mage on the way. Even if they put me into more powerful cuffs, my mind protection should still work. The cuffs only stopped magic that emanates from the body, mind protection was internal.
I almost giggled as I realized shape shifting was completely internal as well. Shape shifting was very rare, but someone that could do it could never be held that way, even by a more powerful mage. I was happy I didn’t realize it earlier and had destroyed the cuffs, otherwise they would have known. When I started to think about robe colors again I realized I was both nervous and bored.
I watched the city, what part I could see of it, and was fascinated. There was no looks of fear on the people’s faces and they stopped often to chat with others.
A short time later I saw the carriage coming back. The Duke got out and scowled back into the carriage, I saw Maria, shoulders stiff, looking determined to get out of the carriage. I grinned imagining that fight, it was quite obvious her father wanted to leave her behind. Then a very old mage in white robes got out of the carriage. He looked at me with curiosity and I relaxed a bit, that was better than anger.
The old man said, “Hello my dear, I am court mage Hollis. I understand you want to be questioned under the truth spell to alleviate suspicions?”
I answered, “Yes.” Then I grinned up at him in awe, I felt the spell guiding my answer, I hadn’t even felt him cast it. “Wow, how’d you do that?”
He grinned and winked. “If everything works out, I may tell you young lady.” He turned to the Duke and said, “Ask your questions.”
He asked the easy and obvious questions first, to which I answered no to all of them. Are you a spy, an assassin, are you part of a plot, did you know who my daughter was before getting back to Lethia…
After that, things got hard. Apparently even if I was innocent of the obvious, he had no intentions of letting a hardened killer with no appreciation for life living in his kingdom. He asked questions such as but not limited to… Do you enjoy killing, do you kill when there are other solutions, will you use dark magic on Lethians, why did you help my daughter, how do you feel about her, what do you plan to do now if we accept you.
It was brutal and lasted a while, I felt emotionally drained by the time he was satisfied. I wasn’t sure about that last answer though. How do you make plans when you don’t yet understand the society and how the kingdom worked?
“I don’t really have plans, just ideas. I am not sure what I will be allowed to do. If I had a choice, it would be to be Hollis’s apprentice so I can figure out everything my old master hid from me and probably a lot more that he never even knew. It would also put me close to your daughter, who really, is my first and only friend. Oh, and I really need new robes, black is not my color anymore.”
I blushed as the clothes comment snuck in at the end. Damn truth spell.
The Duke shook his head and turned to Hollis, “I was completely wrong about this one, what do you think Hollis?”
Hollis winked at me and said, “If the king allows it, I think I have a new apprentice. She is very good you know, a lot of potential, I know for a fact they don’t teach filtered shields in Zual.”
I blushed again, I was not used to compliments at all.
I felt the spell drop away and it was with relief and bubbling hope that I got into the carriage for the trip through the city. Unbelievably I had landed apprentice to the court wizard, pending the king’s decision of course. I smiled when I was informed only master level mages could wear white in Lethia, apprentices usually wore brown robes, but it wasn’t a requirement. It was only black that was really frowned upon because of the association to my former kingdom.
Maria, hearing that part of my answer insisted to my embarrassment that we must stop at a tailor shop that carries robes on the way to the palace. By the time we got finished, I had two light blue robes as well as two forest green robes. It was an entirely new experience, clothes shopping with a friend, actually, clothes shopping at all, was a new experience and I had a lot of fun.
I smiled and felt happy, but a small part of me on the inside
was cautious. The eternal pessimist said it was because of all the pressure the last few days when I was treated as a pariah, and something bad was going to come along and ruin it. Or at least, try to. I would fight to build my new life here, so far, it had been more than worth the trip. I had an amazing new master, a friend and soon a new home. I was also clueless and knew I had to watch my back, I was positive that all the people in the palace would not be friendly, hopefully I could avoid those people…
When we got to the drawbridge my good mood stayed, but I also felt intimidated. The palace was huge and intimidating. It was beautiful as well, it made my old keep look like a pig sty in comparison. We moved past the huge front doors, the carriage moved around the side of the palace and through a secondary gate with a portcullis.
When I looked at Maria in question she said, “We are going in through the Royal wing.”
I nodded back, sure my face had lost its color. I don’t know why I was so nervous, the King wasn’t even a mage, but… he most definitely held power of a different kind. We stopped and all got out and went into the palace. The guards examined me closely as I walked though, but considering who I was with did not question my right to be there.
I realized I was the only one questioning that right, and tried to relax a little, I was as tightly wound as a bowstring. I would be much more relaxed facing off against a few apprentices and shook my head, suppressing the laugh which I am sure would have sounded hysterical and slightly unhinged. At least I wouldn’t meet the King for the first time in full court, we were taken to the outer chambers of his suite and escorted inside.
King Tristan was a handsome man, looking a little older than his brother Emory. Like his brother he had brown hair, a strong jaw and hazel eyes. He looked to be in a good mood and I was able to take a deep breath and relax a bit.
The King said one word, “Well?”
Duke Emory grinned and said, “I was wrong, you know it had to happen sooner or later. This crazy old man who calls himself a master mage wants her for an apprentice.”
I caught Maria giggling behind me, the family banter made me smile. The masters in Zual never dropped their mantel of authority lest they be thought weak. Here though, it seems they let it go behind closed doors.
The king turned to me and asked, “And is this what you wish young lady? As an apprentice court mage you will not just be an apprentice to a master. You will need to take oaths to protect the royal family as long as you stay here in that capacity.”
I couldn’t hold the smile as I replied, “Yes your majesty, I do.” It was a bit more than I thought it would be, but apparently the oaths wouldn’t hold me here against my will, I just needed to follow them while I was here. I would probably have done it anyway. Protect my friend and her family I mean.
The kind stood and said, “Kneel apprentice Silvia.”
I was caught off guard that he knew my name, but that didn’t stop me from kneeling before the king.
The king asked, “Do you swear to obey your master and guard the royal family to the best of your abilities until such time you leave his service?”
My voice trembled when I answered. I was truly overwhelmed. When I left my home I could never have dreamed of an opportunity like this. “I so swear.”
Tristan said, “Rise apprentice court mage Sylvia. And welcome to my home.”
I blushed and thanked him.
Hollis said, “I’ll show her the mage suites and let her pick a room. Until dinner?”
The king just nodded his head and Hollis led me out of the room.
I concentrated and focused the same way I would if learning a spell. I needed to pay attention to where I was going or would get hopelessly lost when alone. Hollis led me through many long halls back to the center of the palace. Showing me the various rooms in the more public area such as the kitchen, large dining room, ball room etc…
We took hallways toward the back of the palace. When we reached the court mage suites, for some reason I was taken off guard when they were just as well appointed and beautiful as the rest of the castle. There were beautiful paintings of the countryside, as well as paintings of past master court mages. There were no candles, but mage lights instead.
There were multiple bedrooms besides the master bedroom, only one other was used at this time by apprentice Zand. Hollis said he was away and I would meet him in a few days. I chose the room done in red, it spoke to me and I smiled as I looked around. The wardrobe, desk, bed frame and dresser were cherry oak. Everything else was varying shades of red. I quickly put away my extra robes and my spell books then Hollis led me across the hall to the library.
Hollis said, “Here is the library, I want you to start learning the white magic they don’t teach you in Zual, which is quite a lot. You may ask questions if you have them, but I will not be supervising you in this task. You are accomplished enough to expand your spells on your own. Instead I will be focusing on advanced techniques. We have a little time before dinner, why don’t I show you how I did that spell without you noticing.”
I grinned, “Yes please.”
Hollis led me toward the next room as he asked, “Have you ever cast two spells at once?”
When we walked into the next room, which was empty, I could feel the wards on all the walls and the floor. They were very powerful. I knew this must be the practice room.
I answered his question, “Not really no. I’ve cast a spell while maintaining another, but not at the same time. I was told not to try it.”
He nodded thoughtfully, “Well holding up to six things in your mind at once can be very difficult, at least in the beginning.”
Without thinking I questioned, “Six?”
He raised an eyebrow. “All spells need both the glyph and a target, but some also need intent.”
I thought about it and it made sense, I had just never considered the intent part before. Healing had the intent built in the spell, heal whatever target is there. But some spells like summoning an elemental there is no inherent intent, only pulling the elemental to this plane. I had to specify in my mind the intent to destroy, protect, or carry. Heck, I could even make an elemental just hang out and look pretty with intent.
I nodded sheepishly, “Of course, I understand. I just never thought about it before.”
He nodded. I waited for him to tell me what to do, but instead he asked another question.
Hollis asked, “So, what are valid targets for spells?”
I frowned, apparently his way of teaching was to make me think…
I answered, “People, things, animals, an area…” I trailed off but he was still looking at me expectantly. This was about casting two spells, hiding magic. My eyes widened.
I gasped and said, “Other spells!”
He nodded and said, “Of course, you have already done it, that’s what protection spells are for after all, to target and stop incoming magic. You just never thought about targeting your own magic,” he paused then looked at me sideways, “So, tell me, how did I make my spell undetectable.”
I pondered with my new knowledge for a moment then said, “You cast two spells at once, the truth spell targeting me, and hidden magic, not on yourself to hide your magic aura, but on the truth spell, all at the same time.”
I grinned evilly, combining spells with hidden magic had a lot of potential. Hey, old habits die hard.
Hollis said, “Now, there is a downside. For most spells that don’t require much power it works great. But as you know, using one spell at a time you can put the full force of your power behind each and every one. Casting two at a time means you have to not only split your focus, but split your power. It might be good for a lot of things, including a sneak attack. But in a duel where every ounce of power counts you don’t want to do it.”
I nodded soberly, that could be an issue. Still, it had potential. If I had known this back when I faced the master I could have hidden the earth elemental instead of using it as a distraction. It wouldn’t have needed my full po
wer just to carry me away underground. Plus, I could think of a bunch of mischievous fun if I only half tried.
Wanting to try it I concentrated, frowning I was trying to hold five thoughts in my head, it wasn’t easy, I had to block out my surroundings. I summoned a very small water elemental in the shape of a dragon, my intent to have it just fly around the room. At the same time I brought up the glyph for hidden magic and targeted the water glyph, then released both.
I gasped in delight as small water dragon flew circles around us, and I couldn’t feel a thing from it. I knew I would have to practice a lot though, it had been hard for me and took entirely too long. When Hollis did it to me earlier at the camp it was while he was holding a conversation with me and appeared to take very little effort. I was determined to be that good someday.
Hollis said, “Well done Sylvia, you just need practice. I will teach you some other advanced applications of dual spells in time. I have some things to take care of before dinner. I’ll come collect you when it’s time. Feel free to explore, just stay out of my room please.”
“Yes master.”
Hollis frowned in thought. “My dear, I know what that word means to you, I would not mind if you called me Hollis. As long as you respect me as the master mage to your apprentice I think that would be fine. Now let me just set a link in you and I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”
I took a step back in alarm, my eyes going wide. I knew this new life was too good to be true.
Hollis shook his head gently, a look of sadness on his face, “Don’t be alarmed, what they do in Zual is a perversion. A master apprentice link is very light here. It won’t give me access to your thoughts, or to being able to control you. It will only allow me to locate you, and feel very strong emotions, such as panic or great fear. It is designed to help with training and to keep you safe.”
I nodded warily and stepped back within range of his arms. I felt a mixture of terror, calling myself a fool for trusting him, and shame at not trusting this mage enough, the one that is making the dreams I didn’t even know I had come true. I felt the light touch of his magic as his fingers brushed my forehead and knew he was telling the truth. Everything was confusing and I was constantly fighting myself, my old self, the slave who trusted no one. For the second time since I could remember my cheeks were wet, my eyes blurry.
The Formerly Dark Mage Page 4