‘Where did you learn your skills?’ Vako asked Jim.
‘Beaufort’s Academy. I had two years in school before they sent me out to work as a Journeyman in my gap year. That’s why I’m keen to get back. I’m due to recommence my schooling again in September,’ Jim added.
‘It’s unusual to break up schooling, particularly after such a short time,’ Vako remarked with a disapproving frown. ‘What work did they have you doing?’
‘Finding gifted children and grading them so they could be logged. Then their families would be approached officially to have them enrolled at the Academy. My family have always been sensitive to others with magic.’
‘Ah, they needed more students to train up. That’s why they gave you minimal training and sent you out to work.’ Vako commented, eyeing the young man appraisingly; he was little older than most of his students. ‘But I hear you have accomplished several powerful and complicated spells. Can you tell us about them?’
‘Which do you mean?’ Jim asked nervously. ‘You know about the owl man. What are you referring to?’
‘Max witnessed a half mile trench dig itself across the battlefield front line. Then a river was diverted into it dividing the forces.’
‘Ah that. Yes it was all I could think of to help us get away. You see, it was obvious that the battle was going badly for Lord Dirk and while we felt no particular concern over his fate, we knew we’d been seen. If we didn’t try and halt the enemy advance towards us then we would have had a fresh load of pursuers,’ Jim explained quickly. ‘Amelie had been forced to bear Lord Dirk into battle as his warhorse. I’m sure he suspected what she was; or rather he suspected she was a simple animus. He was in full knight’s armour and then they wrapped her in chain mail with armoured head and neck plates. That’s one hell of a burden. But they then expected her to go into battle. She lasted about three hours, all of it in the thick of the fighting. Lord Dirk was obviously a prime target.’ Jim could see the whole table and any student in earshot, was silently listening. ‘A knight on a huge carthorse ploughed in to her and knocked her flat. I found many injuries, but the worst was her shoulder. The neck plate had been torn into a spike which was deeply embedded in her. Lord Dirk helped me pull it out. Only then did she faint and of course reverted to human form. I got her out of the fighting and tried to heal her but she was flat out. When she finally woke we realised the battle was about to overrun us. Neither of us was feeling very strong. I diverted the river to stop a new set of pursuers, but that was as much as I had time or strength for. We had to escape on foot before Lord Dirk also managed to stop us.’
‘I’d like to see this. You’ve created more questions with your answers!’ Vako laughed. ‘Can you show us?’
‘Certainly,’ Jim said and glanced about them. ‘How?’
‘Tactics room,’ Vako said quickly and led the way. All the teachers and a large number of students followed.
Vako led them to a big sand table laid out in the middle of the room. Beside it were trays with little wooden soldier figures either on foot or horseback. Model tents, carts and support personnel also lay awaiting placement. There were also landscaping props too for hills, fields and trees.
‘Excellent. I’ve not actually used one of these before, so stand clear,’ Jim warned. He closed his eyes, visualising the battleground, and then waved his hand over the table. The valley with its forested slopes and river formed itself. He positioned the tented encampments of both sides. Then he added the two contingents hidden in the forested flanks. ‘You were with this contingent Max?’ Jim asked the silent animus.
‘Yes. You knew we were there?’ Max asked. ‘It wasn’t because of me was it?’ he asked anxiously.
‘No. We scouted the battlefield area just before the battle began. Lord Dirk was looking for proof I was worth keeping alive.’ Jim glanced at Vako. ‘What do you want to see? A re-enactment?’
‘If you can, that’d be most enlightening,’ Vako said, glancing wide eyed at his colleagues.
‘Am, do you remember where they were at the start?’
‘Yes.’
‘Ok. Set the scene in your mind and put these pieces in their places,’ Jim said calmly.
She glanced at all these strangers watching their every move. ‘How?’ She reached towards him tentatively and he took her hand. She closed her eyes, released his hand and then gestured at the table. All the little figures leaped from the trays and settled on the landscape before her.
‘They’re moving! They look alive,’ Max whispered in awe. ‘There are more figures on the table than were in the trays,’ he added in surprise.
Jim glanced at him and he fell silent. ‘Now let’s set them moving,’ Jim said to Amelie and with more thought and concentration she gestured slowly over each area of the board. Jim stared at the little figures realising that many now had actual faces of people he recognised. Each tiny inch high figure moved independently of his neighbour and some could be seen scratching their nose or flicking hair out of their faces.
‘That’s me,’ Amelie said of the black horse and rider glinting with full armour. The battle commenced and the little figures shouted battle cries and soon many had died shrieking. They were actually fallen on the table, broken and bloody. It was hideous.
‘Can you speed it up?’ Jim asked her. ‘Or we’ll be here for three hours.’
She frowned and suddenly the little figures seemed to move at twice the speed.
‘Slow it down again Am,’ Jim said suddenly having spotted the big carthorse.
‘I was trying to get back to safety there,’ Amelie said seeing her figure grabbed and forced round. Now she could see that if she hadn’t turned when she did, the other horse would not have hit her. There were gasps all around the table as she was struck and thrown off her feet. She watched Jim running to her aid. Soldiers saw him and tried to stop him, but somehow no blow landed on him. Nor did any of the enemy soldiers all around him manage to get close enough to touch him as he knelt trying to free her. It seemed only Lord Dirk and the big horse was able to approach. The black horse laid still and silent, her sides heaving. When he found and pulled out the twisted metal spike, and she immediately changed, there were gasps. Jim had covered her naked body quickly but there were many glances at the real woman standing before them. The one on the battlefield had looked quite different. The multitude of other wounds she’d sustained had also been clear even on the model. They watched model Jim drape her unconscious body over the carthorse, hiding her face. He started the horse moving, walking beside it, and stopping her sliding off by holding her leg. The fighting soldiers seemed to make a path without noticing them and the big horse walked calmly and without obvious guidance. Jim and his cloak wrapped burden went into a blue striped tent and disappeared. Lord Dirk had briefly watched them go but then rejoined his men, now on foot.
The little figures continued to fight one another, despite both Jim and Amelie not having been able to see any of this from inside the tent.
‘Ah, there’s the cook with food,’ Jim commented. ‘You’d only just woken,’ he added to Amelie. But now he could see the turn in the battle that had pushed it ever closer to their tent. The cook had stared at the battle once she’d left their tent. She then rushed back to the cook tent, calling to her colleagues and rapidly helping them finish stowing all their stuff into a wagon. She got partway back to Lord Dirk’s tent before a rain of arrows halted her. Reluctantly she turned and ran back to her wagon, her warning unvoiced.
Model Jim peered out the tent and shortly afterwards hurried out, Amelie wrapped in a cloak by his side. They paused near Lord Dirk’s fight and could be seen talking. Amelie took the lead, holding Jim’s hand while he kept looking up the slope. Then at a safer distance she stopped. Jim held out both hands towards the slope and a long furrow gouged itself from the model. Soldiers jumped across or tripped up in it. Jim and Amelie hurried further away towards the trees, both clearly exhausted. Then Jim turned and held out his hand again. A hole punched
itself in the wall of the riverbed, the dislodged dirt rising and then falling into the river, blocking its channel and diverting the water into the new ditch. Gravity did the rest. The two armies were neatly divided with only a few of the enemy’s front line combatants on the wrong side. Jim and Amelie staggered into the forest.
Lord Dirk had watched them go, they could now see. As the fighting ceased he’d hurried back to his tent with his men and sent a page galloping off on a horse.
‘So that was how Prince Casper was injured,’ Max commented, his attention on another part of the proceedings. He pointed to a group of little figures still moving. Prince Casper’s gold armour was very distinctive and whilst they could all see he was able to dismount unaided from his horse and walk, he was clutching a very bloody arm.
‘There’s Daniel,’ Amelie said pointing. ‘He arrived fast.’ They watched the familiar tall man enter Lord Dirk’s tent and then, followed by a small squad of men on horseback, he ran for the trees in the direction Jim and Amelie had taken. The watchers saw the little human figure turn into a wolf once into the trees. He began loping off, his nose to the ground. Lord Dirk had stood in his tent doorway watching until Daniel and the squad vanished.
Amelie waved her hand slowly and the little figures reverted to their carved lifeless selves. Those who’d died of hideous wounds were now reinstated to pristine paint and straight limbs. Jim touched her hand and took over. All the little figures flew back into their trays in an orderly manner.
‘Would you mind leaving the landscape as it is for the moment?’ Terry suddenly asked ‘I’m sure this battle is something our students would really want to study.’
‘What now?’ Jim asked.
‘Max, your class is expecting you aren’t they?’ Vako asked and saw the nod. ‘Why don’t you take our guests with you? They might be interested in meeting our animus students.’
‘Good idea,’ Max said quickly and led the way to his classroom. Several of his students had been in the tactics room witnessing the battle and they ogled these strangers, before running ahead to spread the word.
‘You’ll be famous in no time flat,’ Max said with a grin. ‘Class, meet our guests visiting from overseas,’ Max said and the students hastily sought their seats. ‘This is Wizard Jim and Animus Warrior Wizard Amelie.’
‘What’s an animus warrior wizard?’ a young man asked quickly, his confusion clear.
‘It means she’s an animus and a strong wizard,’ Max explained succinctly.
‘What form do you take?’ a girl asked.
‘She’s a horse, a warhorse. I just watched a re-enactment of the battle of the river,’ another lad said quickly.
‘No, I’m not a horse,’ Amelie contradicted. ‘I’m a multi-shifter.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It means I can turn into any animal I choose. My preference is a dragon,’ she added with a grin. They were staring at her, wondering if she was being truthful. No-one chose dragons unless they were very strong or bold of character.
‘Ah, can you change your appearance as a person?’ Max asked. ‘You look different to how you became on the battlefield.’
Amelie exchanged a glance with Jim and he shrugged. They’d seen her there and Max had originally too. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window. ‘Yes,’ she said and reverted to her true self. Mousy, curly brown hair turned black and sleek. Her body stretched up to her true height and her features became more defined. ‘We have had pursuers on our tail for months. It seemed prudent to look as unremarkable as possible.’
‘We’d certainly have spotted you as you are now,’ Max said staring at the aristocratic looking young lady before him. ‘Now I see Lord Jeremiah in you. He was one of our founding fathers you know? We have a painting of him in the headmaster’s office.’ He glanced at the class; they were rooted to the spot at this display, proof of her unusual abilities.
‘What animal are you?’ Amelie asked, beginning with the lad who’d thought she was a horse.
‘A hound,’ Laurence said wondering why she asked. But she nodded and moved on.
‘And you?’ Amelie asked, getting to the girl who’d boldly asked what form she took.
‘A rabbit, I think,’ Kathy said.
‘No. That’s not you,’ Amelie said shaking her head. ‘Why say rabbit? It’s a prey creature for everything. Show me this rabbit.’
Kathy glanced at Max and he nodded permission.
‘Give her room,’ Amelie said sharply and the close crowd backed up.
Kathy took off her shoes then hesitated. ‘Everyone’s watching.’
Amelie frowned and put her hand on Kathy’s shoulder, learning in an instant what was troubling her. It seemed that it wasn’t only Jim’s thoughts she could hear through physical contact. ‘Boys turn your backs,’ Amelie instructed. ‘Kathy you must learn to love your body just the way it is,’ Amelie said softly. ‘It’s capable of an amazing ability if you’ll let it.’
Kathy undressed quickly and very slowly became a white rabbit.
‘Jim can you see anything?’ Amelie asked and he came forward to look at the rabbit more closely.
‘She’s not truly in that form,’ he said slowly. ‘But I don’t know what would suit her better.’
‘No. That’s got to be her decision,’ Amelie agreed.
‘Are you trying to tell me I could be something else?’ Kathy asked reverting back to human form.
‘Yes. You’re not fixed in that one yet. Your body is fighting it,’ Amelie explained. ‘What would you rather be? What calls to you?’ Kathy glanced rather longingly at Laurence. ‘Trying to force your body into another shape just to please someone else won’t work. You’ve already done that. You should go out into the woods, find a place that feels comfortable to you and sit quietly. You must be alone and clear your mind. It may take most of the day, but the spirit of your animal will make itself known to you. You may hear its voice in the distance or feel its presence nearby. Whatever form it takes let your intuition and gut guide you. Go. You can’t do any real learning until you’re straightened out.’
Kathy wondered by what right this stranger ordered her to do such an odd thing. But Max backed the order, so she got coat and boots and headed out into the forest beyond the grounds as instructed. As she sat, hope blossomed for the first time that she could truly become something other than an embarrassing rabbit. She’d joined the Academy just after it had been attacked in the summer and been gutted to discover they didn’t know how to advise her. She’d then been humiliated to struggle with the most basic of the Animus lessons. Was this why?
‘Will she be alright out there on her own?’ The hound lad Laurence she’d been watching asked.
‘Yes. One of us will go and check on her shortly. But we cannot disturb her. She must have no distractions to do this properly. To help her you must stay away. Once she knows her animal then she’ll need some encouragement and support. Okay?’
‘I understand. I cannot help her?’
‘No. Someone must have pushed their own views on her as to what she should be to make her try to be something so against her nature. She must choose a better form soon before her ability turns in on itself and festers,’ Amelie said seriously.
‘It could do that?’
‘Yes. So help her find her own path,’ Amelie said and moved on to see if the rest of the class looked right. She was aware they now spoke almost with trepidation but no others were wrong. Max had asked them to help identify students with any problems. She meant to do just that, particularly with the animus students, with ability so close her heart. She and Jim then took chairs and watched Max take his usual lesson, albeit rather condensed for time now.
A bell sounded and everyone got up. ‘Break time,’ Max explained and they followed the class back to the dining hall. Two big urns of tea had been prepared and Jim followed everyone else’s example by getting a cup. He passed it to Amelie and filled another for himself. They sat down glad to relax with a bi
scuit too. It had been an early start and busy morning and they were glad of a break.
‘Could you check on Kathy?’ Amelie asked Max. ‘But don’t let her see you. If there’s nothing dangerous around then it should be fine to return. Very few creatures would attack a human anyway and if you sit still and integrate with your surroundings they sense it and are less likely to think you a threat.’
‘Interesting view,’ Max commented.
‘Let me know when she returns. She may need help,’ Amelie added.
Max nodded and hastened off.
‘Dispensed with your disguise then?’ Vako said appearing and eyeing Amelie closely. ‘You feel even stronger now,’ he added shaking his head.
‘You all saw what I looked like this morning. Not a lot of point wasting my energy keeping a mousy disguise,’ she said with a shrug.
‘You have a point,’ Vako chuckled and sat with them. ‘My class is next. I was going to ask Jim, if you knew what the problems were with some of my students. But I hear Amelie has already started on Max’s worst one.’
‘My parents were teachers. I could see Kathy wasn’t in tune with the rabbit she thought she was,’ Amelie explained. ‘I’ve merely sent her off to discover what she is in tune with. That approach was for her. Other people with other problems will need different solutions.’
‘Of course, each person is different,’ Vako acknowledged. ‘How does she rate?’ Vako then asked turning to Jim.
‘Her ability is thwarted at the moment and fighting itself. She gives me the feeling she’d be quite strong once she’s straightened out,’ Jim added.
‘Interesting,’ Vako mused. ‘And this straightening out; how does that work?’
Jim shrugged and looked to Amelie to answer.
‘That depends on what she’s figured out for herself,’ Amelie said slowly. ‘I can’t tell until she’s ready.’
Vako nodded, having expected that. So many lessons could only be learned the hard way and for oneself. ‘What spells have you done?’ he asked Amelie.
Amelie: Wizards of White Haven Page 22