by David Hair
Sergeant Harft gently set Alaron on his feet. ‘Are you okay, lad?’
Alaron tried to speak, but his throat was agony. He nodded.
‘I’m sorry, lad. I had no idea what this visit was about. I am sorry, ma’am.’
‘Get out of here, Harft,’ Alaron’s mother snapped, then her voice mellowed. ‘And tell your Maggie hello from me.’
Harft nodded as he backed out. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
Alaron sat on the floor and massaged his throat.
‘So, you’ve got the family temper, have you?’ Tesla said. ‘There might be hope for you yet. But you’ve got about as much sense as your aunt.’
‘Wha—?’ Alaron tried again, as the pain in his throat lessened. ‘What did Auntie Elena do?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ Tesla snorted. ‘Volsai business. They’re all evil rukkers, those pricks. Your aunt fitted right in, I’m sure. She was a heartless little snot. But she knows how to sink a knife in. I hope she gave those bastards hell.’
The Great Hall of Norostein was packed with the well-to-do of Norostein, especially the magi, for this was a night for all of the descendants of the Blessed Three Hundred to show off their wealth and status as the newest graduates were welcomed into the fold. Marriage alliances would be made or confirmed, careers would be launched. Rich non-magi paraded their own children, hoping to catch the eye of the young men and women who were the centre of attention: the day belonged to the graduates.
Normally the governor presided, but as matters of state required his presence at the Winter Court in Bres, the Noros king was here. His position had been emasculated since the Revolt, but the twenty-two-year-old king was nonetheless an important figure. His father had been executed after the Revolt and he himself had spent most of his life confined in Lukhazan Palace. The slim, rather timid young man looked out enviously at the real powerbrokers of his kingdom.
Alaron was in his best grey robes. His hair had been cut and glowed reddish in the gnosis-lamps festooning the hall. His father was with him. His mother was still at the manor, after his father lodged papers with the council to forestall the eviction. The papers proved Elena’s funding was legally a gift and therefore could not be confiscated, and thus Tesla Anborn could not be evicted – but without Elena’s payments they could not afford to keep the manor anyway. It made Alaron’s graduation all the more imperative.
Ramon, standing beside Alaron, was tricked out in his Sabbadai best, but neither could match the opulence of the Pure as they swanned about in gilded velvet hose and doublets, fingers adorned with gold rings, their fine leather boots polished to a mirror-finish. All the women sighed at Malevorn, Seth and Francis as they swaggered past, bowing to all of the graduation candidates from the girls’ Arcanum, kissing hands and making florid compliments that had the girls simpering and blushing. Alaron watched the trail of adoration they left behind with disgust. Then he saw the Webers arrive and ducked behind a pillar, but he hadn’t been quick enough. Gina, a serious-looking girl, detached herself from her father and walked towards them. Her straight blonde hair was coiled into an old-fashioned bun; she looked like she was intent on going straight from schoolgirl to matron.
‘Hello, Alaron.’ She held out her hand. She was wearing a green and gold velvet gown with a plunging neckline that drew his eye despite himself.
‘Uh, hi,’ he answered weakly. He stared at her hand. What—? Oh yeah! He flushed red and bent over it, not quite making contact.
Gina struck a pose. ‘How did your exams go? Are you confident? My best was in Clairvoyance and Divination.’
‘Um, good. Yeah.’
Ramon leaned in. ‘Buona sera, Donna Weber.’
She snatched her hand away. ‘Oh, hello – are you still here? What was your name, sorry?’
‘Shaitan. This is part of my realm.’
Gina curled her lip faintly. ‘Mmm. Oh look, Father wants me.’ She pointed to where her father was bending Vann’s ear. ‘Shall we join them, Alaron?’ She offered her arm.
‘Um, I – I’ll just get a drink. Ramon?’
Gina sighed irritably and stalked away.
‘Changed your mind again, amici?’
‘She’s an insipid cow.’
‘Nice wide hips, though,’ observed Ramon. ‘Good for child-bearing.’ Alaron blushed while Ramon cackled, discomforting the well-to-do families about them.
‘You’re disgusting,’ declared Alaron. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Of course you are. Being stuck alone with Donna Weber will be no fun for you at all. No sense of humour.’ Ramon snickered. ‘Fills a bodice nicely, though.’
Naturally, the Pure couldn’t resist calling past. ‘Ah, the two failures,’ sneered Malevorn. ‘I’m surprised you bothered to turn up at all. Neither of you will pass – especially you, you little Silacian slime,’ he told Ramon.
Francis Dorobon looked down his nose at them. ‘You know, my kingdom has thousands of Rimoni scum in it. You can’t trust any of them. They’re all thieves and liars.’
Ramon eyed Francis. ‘Then why don’t you go back and see how long it is before you get a stiletto in the back, O Beloved King?’
‘My family’s restoration to the throne of Javon is well in train,’ Dorobon said loftily. ‘The Crusade will ensure my rightful place is returned. I think my first act as king will be to round up all the Rimoni vagrants and have them crucified.’
Alaron took a step towards Francis, angry words forming, but Malevorn interposed himself and they stared into each other’s eyes, noses nearly touching. ‘You have something to say, Mercer?’
All of the beatings he had taken at Malevorn’s hands flashed before his eyes, and every drop of resentment sang in his mind. ‘Yeah, I’ve got something to say. You’re a gutless coward who—’
Malevorn spat in his face and he spat back, his spittle striking a small shielding an inch from Malevorn’s face. The pure-blood blew it back nonchalantly, spattering Alaron’s own spit into his face. ‘Got something in your eye, Mercer?’ He smiled. ‘Don’t make an exhibition of yourself just yet. You wouldn’t want to be thrown out and miss the big show.’ He turned away.
Alaron grabbed his shoulder. ‘Hands off, you little worm,’ he snarled and grabbed Alaron’s wrist, wrenching it painfully. ‘Don’t ever touch me again. Ever.’ He shoved Alaron back and he and his friends swaggered away.
Alaron winced, but the worst thing was seeing other mage-born parents smirking behind their hands at his discomfort.
A bell rang and a herald proclaimed the beginning of the ceremony. They filed into the main hall where the governor heard plaintives and supplicants. His ornate throne remained empty in his absence; the king had to sit in a plainer seat below it. All about the room, the pillars and arches were carved into leaf-motifs gilded with gold paint. The painted ceiling depicted the ascension of Corineus. Crystal chandeliers captured and radiated the myriad gnosis lights, and the guests glittered no less. Ladies wearing necklaces with centre-stones of priceless sea-pearl walked gracefully on the arms of magi luminaries. The talk was boastful, while unseen currents of rivalry and influence pushed and pulled.
Alaron tried to restore his spirits by picturing himself as one of them. I am a quarter-blood after all. That’s not so bad. If I can distinguish myself on Crusade … He pictured an audience with the Noros king, no longer a puppet but with full regal authority. Rise, Lord Alaron, Emancipator of the Realm, approach the throne of your grateful king!
Right now, the king looked more like a sulky youth as he called for the ceremony to begin. ‘Lords and Ladies of Noros, I ask Grand-Magister Besko to begin proceedings,’ he said without enthusiasm.
Besko! Alaron felt a tightening of his throat, as if his windpipe could remember the man.
The Grand-Magister began a speech written by Governor Vult, recalling the great traditions of the Noroman magi, speaking of the past glories of those who had graduated from these two premier colleges, Turm Zauberin and Saint Yvette’s Arcanum. Names of the better-
known past graduates were invoked, many of them present in this room and all of them pure-bloods. None of the generals of the Revolt were named except Vult himself, though many were graduates, and Auntie Elena didn’t rate a mention either. The speech did recall Vult’s own ‘happy memories’ of college life, commended the graduates for their efforts and wished them well for their glittering futures in service to the emperor. To Alaron it went on for ever.
Then Principal Lucien Gavius took the stage. He too rattled on for hours, and Alaron’s impatience became feverish. He reassured himself by rating his own performance in the exams. By his reckoning his final mark should be in the seventies, well above the requisite fifty-nine and enough for a bronze star – lowest of the merit awards, but still respectable.
Then Gavius was joined on stage by the principal of Saint Yvette’s, who called forward her graduates. Gina looked radiantly confident as she received a silver star, a very creditable graduation. No wonder Da is so keen on her. He bit his lip, feeling as if the walls were closing in, narrowing his future.
Then it was the turn of the boys of Turm Zauberin. Gavius beamed about the room. ‘Lords and Ladies, some years stand out more than others, and this is of course due to the quality of the candidates. This year, we have been blessed with not one but three candidates of unsurpassed quality. I truly believe this year will one day be recalled with wonder, that three such blessed young men illuminated our ancient and revered towers.’
Ramon made a gagging gesture to Alaron.
‘The first of these exceptional young men is Malevorn Andevarion.’ Malevorn stood and walked into the middle of the room to collect his results. Mothers’ eyes brightened, ageing spinsters licked their lips and daughters clutched their breasts. With his black hair curled about his shoulders, his mature and regal face caught the myriad light and reflected it as if he were haloed, the embodiment of the legendary warrior-magi of the Rimoni Conquests. ‘Malevorn is the son of Jaes Andevarion, the great general whose service to the emperor is well-remembered for valiant courage in the face of adversity,’ Gavius went on. Alaron snorted softly; Malevorn’s father had been a failure and a suicide, disgraced by his defeats at Robler’s hands in the Revolt. ‘Malevorn has been a revelation, not only for his superlative skill and impeccable breeding, but also his single-minded pursuit of excellence. He has been a model student, ever courteous, thoughtful and supportive of his fellows. He has even attained the status of trance-mage, the first in many years whilst still at college.’ This revelation earned an appreciative gasp and rich applause. Alaron watched Malevorn soaking it up, visibly fighting to look humble. If only they knew what kind of bullying creep you really are, he thought dourly. Then he reflected, It probably wouldn’t make a jot of difference. They’d admire you even more.
Gavius awarded Malevorn a gold star, the highest merit. ‘Malevorn has accepted a commission in the Kirkegarde, the protectors of the faith. A career of unsurpassed glory awaits.’ Gavius took up a periapt of pearl and placed it into his waiting hands. Malevorn could no longer contain himself. He raised his hands to the skies and roared, displaying the glittering gem. Everyone in the crowd applauded at this apparent display of youthful exuberance. Alaron saw it as sheer triumphal arrogance.
After a minute of milking the applause, Malevorn moved to stand to the left of the king’s throne. The king looked envious, and oddly insignificant beside him. Gavius started again. ‘The second of my “Golden Trio” is Francis Dorobon, the rightful king of Javon. Francis has been a model student who will be sorely missed. To know him is to understand the true nature of breeding, both in terms of gnosis and in terms of manners, dignity and carriage. I commend to you, Lords and Ladies, Prince Francis Dorobon of Javon.’ More applause, more swaggering. Another gold star.
Alaron watched all of this back-slapping with distaste. When I get my periapt, I’ll accept it quietly, not prance around like a show pony.
Gavius said, ‘Normally we give the graduation periapts in alphabetic order, but I am taking the liberty of slightly amending the order. I apologise to these young men for the slight change of protocol when they are clearly dying to know their results. But it is only proper to now welcome to the stage the third of my Golden Trio, Seth Korion, son of Kaltus Korion, Marshal of the South.’
More restrained applause rippled about the room. Alaron wondered whether it was because people remembered Korion from the Revolt, or whether they just knew that Seth was a little prig with no backbone. It would be nice to think it was the latter, if unlikely, he admitted to himself.
Gavius fussed over Seth for a while, but his words were more hollow than those bestowed upon Malevorn and Francis. He noted that General Korion couldn’t make his own son’s graduation, due to the same need that had summoned the governor away. ‘It must be something big,’ Alaron heard someone mutter. Seth looked stiff and pale as he bowed before the Grand-Magister, receiving his gold star.
You shouldn’t have even passed, Korion, Alaron thought grimly, remembering the boy’s breakdown at the weaponry test. I wonder who the exalted Marshal bribed to ensure his son wasn’t failed.
The three graduates stood alongside the throne, not looking at each other. Alaron wondered how they really got on. Egos that size always bump, his father said whenever he saw powerful men together. But Gavius was graduating Boron Funt, who was of course joining the Church. Gron Koll was next, smirking all the while as if he had just played a tremendous joke on everyone there – but none of his ‘friends’ shook his hand now that they were parting ways. He gave no sign of caring.
Gavius then called for attention. ‘Lords and Ladies, I call Alaron Mercer.’
Alaron’s heart lurched. He walked forward, feeling as if the air were turning to treacle. He saw faces turn curiously to see the next candidate, politely clapping. He bowed to the king as if in a dream and stood expectantly before Gavius, just wanting to get this over with. Keep your head down, play it cool. He caught his father’s eye, and he nodded encouragingly.
‘Lords and Ladies, the candidate Alaron Mercer, Mage of the Third Rank, has earned a bronze star for his efforts in the examinations.’ Phew! He allowed himself to smile, as Gavius continued, ‘But there is another test our students must pass.’ He had adopted a sombre tone. ‘That is the test of character. In the case of Alaron Mercer, we have found a young man whose ill-temper, insolent bearing, atheist leanings and violent manner are ill-fitted to bear the periapt and serve the empire. We therefore withhold the periapt and declare Alaron Mercer a failed magi. He is forbidden to practise the gnosis or to bear a periapt henceforth, at the pleasure of the Crown.’
The whole crowd stared, utterly stunned. Alaron felt his knees wobble. Only the conviction that he was hallucinating kept him from falling to the floor. But Gavius looked solid and real as he drew himself up, pointed condemningly and thundered the renunciation: ‘Alaron Mercer, the Kore and the empire reject you! Get you gone from this place!’
The room was utterly silent. Every eye was upon him. No one had been failed for years, and certainly never on these sort of grounds. He felt as if the ground was gone, that he was both floating and falling, for ever hanging before all the judging eyes. Malevorn’s face was alight with pure pleasure. Francis Dorobon was beaming, his features twisted into gloating joy. Seth Korion stared at him wide-eyed, like someone who has just seen a dead man sit up.
Then his father was shouting, ‘Gavius you fat shit – you can’t do this! You show me your Charter! You show me what gives you the right! I challenge you, you bloated sot – show me!’ Other voices were raised, but Alaron couldn’t tell what they were saying. His ears were ringing, and the words meant nothing. He stared blankly at the fleshy face of the headmaster, and then at the confused and impotent face of the king. Besko was grinning gleefully, pointing a finger at the door. Hands clamped onto his shoulders as sudden fury made him lunge forward, but the guards had him firmly and dragged him out of the hall into the vast emptiness of the reception hall. He saw his father being
pulled along behind him, not struggling but shouting, ‘I’ll see you fired, Gavius!’
I’ve been failed. This can’t be real. This can’t be real.
The guards released them at the top of the stairs. His father put his arm around Alaron’s shoulders. ‘We’re going to fight this, son, I promise you. They can’t do this – not on a character assessment. I’m going to take this all the way to the governor if I need to.’ He squeezed Alaron tightly.
Alaron had a sinking feeling in his stomach. The faces of the Pure floated before him, Besko’s face and Gavius’ smirk. He thought about Governor Vult, as pure-blood as they come. What would he care of an injustice done to a quarter-blood merchant’s boy? They’ll never let me pass.
Vann Mercer fought hard for his son, but Lucien Gavius refused to see him and the council stalled him at every turn. His own work suffered while he wasted hours trying to see council members. The Weber family disappeared from his social circle, and so did all the other magi families he knew, to his pain and surprise. He had thought many genuine friends.
Ramon had gained the minimal pass allowable, conditional upon his joining a legion in time for the Crusades and serving for four years. He stayed with Alaron almost every minute. It didn’t occur to Alaron until later that it was to ensure he didn’t harm himself, as almost every failed mage tried to do. But even Ramon couldn’t stay for ever; he needed to return to his village in Silacia, to see to his mother and arrange his affairs before his legion duties commenced.
‘I will be married before my feet touch ground,’ Ramon joked before he left, but that just reminded Alaron that the Webers had broken off negotiations. He could not even bring himself to wave goodbye.
The festival of the Birth of Corineus passed him by. His father bought presents on Alaron’s behalf, because his son didn’t have the courage to leave the house. There was no love for failed magi out there; they were easy targets for every bully in the neighbourhood, with no protection from the authorities.