A bit of anger crept into Karinda’s voice. “But I said—”
The Master help up his hand. “There’s no point in denying it. The other Masters—the ones that can remember you, anyway—feel the same way. I’m not telling you to leave our school, Karinda . . .”
No, of course not, she thought bitterly. You still want my father’s coin.
“. . . but I do think it’s in everyone’s best interest for you to think long and hard on whether being a Bard is in your interest.”
Karinda nodded silently. There was no point in arguing with the Master. It was equally clear that he’d already made up his mind on what her answer should be. She left the room just as quietly, since the Master Bard had already gone back to his work as if she’d already gone. She walked down the corridor and into the courtyard, passing small gatherings of students chatting merrily and enjoying both the weather and the company.
Karinda found an unoccupied stone bench under a tree not too far from a half-dozen students, so as not to appear to be withdrawing from the rest, but not eager to be included. Not that it matters, she thought, glancing at a nearby group of girls her age with no small envy. No one had ever invited me to join them. It had been like this from the moment she donned the Trainee robes; teachers and fellow students alike acted like she was never there.
The Master Bard’s words echoed in her thoughts. The longer Karinda thought about them, the more she agreed. She had no real drive to become a Bard, other than not disappointing her parents, who had given the Bards a considerable “gift” in return for accepting her. Even if she had the drive, it wouldn’t change the fact that she felt just plain unwelcome as a student—and when she got right down to it, as a person.
No, not unwelcome. That implies people know you exist and don’t want you around. No one here seems to know I’m around . . .
As if to emphasize the point, the summoning bell rang for the next classes. The two dozen students in the courtyard called out to each other to hurry up and not be late, but none of them called out to Karinda, even though she sat unmoving. In a few minutes, the courtyard was empty except for her, and for the first time she would be late for a class.
Karinda got to her feet and sighed. But after only a few steps, she stopped. She looked back over her shoulder toward the archway that led out to the streets of Petras and the world beyond. As she did, a wild thought entered her head.
No one here would notice me if I stayed, so nobody would notice if I left. I can walk right out of this city, and the forest beyond, and it would be as though I were never here . . .
She was now facing the archway, tightly clutching the neck of her lyre in a way that would have made the Strings Master livid.
I wasn’t meant to be a Bard, she thought with conviction. Somewhere out there is something I’m good at, something that will make people notice me. There has to be. But I’m not going to find it in here.
Karinda’s feet were taking her through the archway before she had finished the thought. “Forgive me, Papa, Mama,” she said to the walls of the school. “This might not be right for you, but it’s right for me.”
The single call of a songbird was her only answer. It was all she needed.
* * *
As thankful as she was for the passing trade cart a few hours into her journey, Karinda was just as thankful to get off of it. After two days of what had to be the bumpiest road in all of Velgarth, without any breaks to speak of, every muscle ached. Still, her drivers were gracious enough to leave her alone, not asking questions or for compensation, so she had little reason to complain. Right now all Karinda cared about was the inn in front of her and the hope of a soft bed.
Quite a few people found themselves at this inn tonight, but it wasn’t busy. Regardless, Karinda stood at the bar with growing impatience at the housemaster as he went about his business with everyone but her. It wasn’t until she clumsily cleared her throat that the man finally turned his attention her way.
“Ah. Welcome, young miss. Didn’t see you standing there. Night approaches, and if you seek a place to lay your burdens, you’re in luck. I’ve one bed left.”
Karinda let out as quiet a sigh as she could manage. Even this one lucky break was enough to lift her spirits.
“I’ll certainly take it, sir,” she said, careful not to sound too grateful. “And a bit of whatever is in the kitchen, as well.”
The housemaster nodded and barked an order for food and drink to the nearest servant boy. “Not that it’s any of my concern,” he said, returning to his work, “but where would a young woman such as yourself be headed to alone? Somewhere here in Vitimish, or points beyond?”
Karina froze for a moment. Be confident, she thought. Don’t show them any weakness, and don’t agree to anything that costs you more money. That’s what Papa always said.
“I’ll find out when I get there,” she said with a shrug. “All I want to do is get far away from here and start anew.”
“You’ll want north for sure, then,” the housemaster replied. “North lies Valdemar, and if you want new, that’s the place for it. You would be like so many others, making the life they want how they want.”
The housemaster paused to let the servant boy place a tray of stew, bread, and cheese in front of Karinda. Before she could get started on her meal, the housemaster leaned in to talk in a lower voice.
“But you don’t want to be like all the others, I can tell. You want some adventure, yes? Something to be remembered by.”
Karinda furrowed her brow. “And what if I do?” she asked.
The housemaster grinned. “Then I know of something that could give you all of that and more. It’s only a rumor, but I’ve heard it enough from the right kind of people.” He pointed over Karinda’s shoulder. “The road north will get you to Valdemar, but if you turn west as the road turns to the east, deep into the Pelagiris Forest you’ll find a forgotten ruin, and there you’ll find an Adept Mage guarding a living node.”
Karinda didn’t know much about magic, having seen very little in her childhood and none at all in the last few years, but she knew enough to know why she hadn’t seen any—and that this man was lying.
“That’s impossible,” she said. “Even if a node had survived the Storms, with all that energy it would have been found right away, and many would have braved the deep woods for that grand a treasure. Excuse me sir, my stew is getting cold.”
The housemaster didn’t act offended by the brush-off. “I did say it was only a rumor. But imagine if it were true? That ‘treasure’ could grant you any life you desire. Just something to think about.”
And she did think about it; all through her meal, during her idle strumming by the hearth, and as she lay in bed, Karinda pondered what if . . . what if . . . ?
The next morning, the sun had barely peeked above the horizon when Karinda set off for the Pelagiris Forest. It was the only thing she could do to stop thinking about it.
* * *
The fifth morning in the forest, Karinda was regretting everything, starting with her last day of school. To her credit, she hadn’t just dashed off like a crazy person. She had bartered and bought suitable clothes and supplies for the hike from other early-rising traders, but even so, Karinda was at her limit. Four nights with no fire, sleeping in trees and not stopping during the day was more than enough. Not to mention that she had no idea where she was going.
Her caution had paid off, at least. Other than distant sounds of movement, there had been no signs of the horrors that were said to dwell in the Pelagiris Forest. Karinda decided that earned her some rest. Still mindful of her surroundings, she leaned against a tree and took the weight off of her feet in turn.
In the relative silence, Karinda picked up the faint sound of running water in the direction she’d been heading. The fresh water was much needed and gave her something to move toward. When her feet had quieted to a
dull grumble, Karinda stretched and started toward the water.
Not more than a dozen steps later, Karinda stopped to look at an unusual rock that caught her eye. It was tall, skinny, and looked to be placed in the ground rather than exposed by weather. It would have been no more than a curiosity if there hadn’t been another one of similar shape a few meters ahead. Stepping up to that one revealed several more farther down by a trail hugging a small river.
Karinda forgot the stones and the ancient path long enough to drink her fill, replenish her waterskins, and wash off the worst of the grime. A full clean could wait until she knew the area. Refreshed, Karinda resumed following the path of stones.
Five minutes along the river, the path turned from dirt into paving stones, wide enough for a single oxcart. The trees were particularly thick along this part, giving the ancient path a closed-off feeling save for the sky.
The path opened up as abruptly as it had appeared. Instead of disappearing back into dirt, the paving stones expanded out into what looked like the remains of a small village. There were four piles of stones still more or less in the shape of dwellings and at least two more that weren’t even that. A large circular platform stood where the river became a lake. Whatever had once been held up by the seven stone pillars around the platform was long gone as well.
On top of the decay of time, most of the stone was covered in moss and vines. Karinda paused to take it all in. This, she accepted silently, was probably all she would ever find in the Pelagiris Forest—including a way out. Better enjoy it for what it’s worth, she thought.
It didn’t last long. Despite the primordial beauty of this place, Karinda quickly realized that something had disturbed it. There were trails through the pavement’s moss that didn’t meander like an animal would. They went from structure to structure, with purpose. Someone—or something—was living here.
She got her answer almost right away. Two structures over from the platform, a robed figure stumbled out of a doorway, holding a large staff in front of him like a torch. Karinda took a deep breath and hid behind the nearest pillar, willing herself to be smaller.
“I know you’re out there!” the man shouted. “I can see the ripples of your passing! You cannot hide from magic!”
Despite her animal instinct to flee, Karinda believed what she’d been told. If this man is the rumored Adept, he probably has the power to do anything he promises. The thought was rational enough to prompt her to step out into the open. She slowly walked forward, her hands open at her sides. At the count of ten, she stopped.
There was still about twenty meters between them. Karinda could see now that he was an old man in tattered, stained robes. If he is an Adept, he didn’t let it go to his head, she thought. Or he did, in the wrong way . . .
Even though she could clearly see the old man, he showed no sign of seeing her. Was he blind? The staff pointed at her several times, but never for more than a second. There was only one thing left to do.
“I come peacefully,” Karinda announced. “I hold no weapon. Say the word, and I will leave in peace.”
There was no doubt that the old man saw her then. The staff swung directly at her as he came forward. “No weapon? You’ll leave in pieces that way!” He cackled. “It’s a wonder you made it this far undamaged.”
A strange glint appeared in the Mage’s eye. “Or is it, hm? You certainly are a clever one, and a real spark of talent, too. No . . .” He took two more steps closer, a revolting smile crawling onto his face. “I don’t think you’ve made it this far just to leave that quickly. There’s something here you want. Say it.”
Karinda stayed calm, despite the shudder running through her spine. “It’s . . . a rumor,” she answered slowly. “A rumor of a magic node.”
The end of the staff was now uncomfortably close. “So . . . you’re here for power. I have enough power here alone to end your life. Would that be enough to satisfy you?”
“If you wish to end my life, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.” Karinda lowered her head but kept her eyes open and swallowed hard.
The old man took a step back and pulled the staff to his side. “You will do well to remember that, Clever. You’re not the first to have tried and failed.”
Karinda nodded deeply. “I will, sir. I’m Ka—”
“You are Clever,” the old man said sharply. “Until you have learned all that you can learn here, you will be Clever. Understood?” The girl nodded. “Very good. Here, I am called Bellgrove.”
Karinda raised her head. “Should I call you Master Bellgrove, or Adept?”
Bellgrove’s face went red and anger contorted his features. “You should all be calling me GRANDEST Adept!” The staff went up again, the old man’s knuckles going white. But as suddenly as it appeared, his anger vanished. “But no. There are no titles before the Greater Power. I am Bellgrove, just as you are Clever. Come, we will begin.”
Bellgrove turned around and headed back toward the structure from which he’d appeared. Karinda stayed silent for a minute, then asked, “May I ask a question, Bellgrove?”
“Just one, for now.”
“Were you going to channel your magic through the staff to kill me?”
The old man barked out a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was going to beat you with it if you got too close. Waste of perfectly good magic, besides. No, no, don’t want to damage you if at all possible . . .”
Karinda furrowed her brow. “What do you m—”
Bellgrove held up a finger. “One. No more. All will be known when it is meant to be known.”
Which means you’ll tell me if you feel like it, Karinda thought. I already know more about you than I want to. Why am I even putting up with this?
At least I’m not alone anymore. At least he still knows I’m here . . .
The rest of the walk went by in silence. The structure Bellgrove led her to was the one he was living in. It was surprisingly functional, and it even had most of a roof. Maybe she would get lucky and one of the other buildings would have mostly intact cover. Maybe.
Bellgrove made himself busy inside his ramshackle dwelling. Karinda watched him most of the time and had no idea what he was doing at all. She was starting to wonder if he did.
“I want to know everything you were told about this place,” Bellgrove finally said. “And everything about me. We must begin by separating the truth from the lies.”
Karinda waited for a moment to see if Bellgrove would turn his attention to her, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to. “The truth of it is that I wasn’t told much of anything. I was told that there was a rumor of a magic node that survived the Storms and an Adept guarding it. I thought it ridiculous at first, to be honest.”
“And yet here you are. A part of you wanted to know the truth.” The smile that made Karinda shudder crawled back onto the old man’s face. “Or maybe it wanted something . . . more.”
There was no holding back the shudder from that one. Bellgrove simply cackled. “It is no mere node or ley-line that resides here. No, this place belongs to a Greater Power. I will teach you to weave great magic through it, but it may very well beyond your grasp entirely.”
“I will give it my all,” Karinda said with real conviction.
Bellgrove arched an eyebrow. “Will you, now? There is another path to this power. Quicker, easier. And definitely more entertaining.”
The leer on the old man’s face was unmistakable. Karinda felt ill and then horrified. Not by what Bellgrove was offering or how he offered it—though that by itself was disturbing enough—but by the realization of who he thought he was offering it to.
Karinda hadn’t bathed for the better part of a week, after heavy hiking. Her traveling clothes were slightly too big, just as grimy as the rest of her and not the least bit feminine. Karinda had always kept her hair short, and despite the fact that she was closer to being an adult
than a child, her body had yet to catch up.
Just my luck. Of all the Mages left in the world with any magic, I find the one who’s not only likely insane, but a boylover . . .
Karinda managed to keep her stomach down. She didn’t know how to answer Bellgrove’s offer, so she quietly shook her head.
“Suit yourself,” he said. “Then we will start with the simple magics, what you would call kitchen magic or hedge magic. Show your skill with that, and we will move on. Tomorrow at first light, you will begin.”
By first light, thought Karinda, I’ll be heading north as fast as I can. To the Abyss with you.
* * *
It couldn’t properly be called dawn yet, and Karinda was already covered in a thin sheen of sweat. She rolled over in her makeshift bed, wiped her face with the hem of her shirt, and got to her feet. She padded over to the doorway, looked around for signs of movement, grabbed the cloth bundle waiting there, and went to the lake’s edge.
Karinda looked around once more out of habit, dropped the bundle on the bank, and slipped into the water. Her clothes instantly clung to her skin and her teeth chattered, but the cold would pass soon enough. It would be warmer later, but this was the best time for bathing. Bellgrove slept in later the hotter the days became, which suited her fine.
This had been her routine for nearly two months now. It was the only time she had without Bellgrove’s unwanted attention. Always attentive of her every move, always leering. Never once did he try to touch her, but that didn’t make things any less revolting.
Karinda sighed. “Why do I stay, then?” she asked the fading ripples, though she already knew the answer.
Bellgrove hadn’t been bluffing about being a Mage. Karinda had been prepared to head out into the forest that next morning, but she wasn’t expecting the old man to make good on his promise of first light. He had been standing on the platform with the pillars, looking over the lake. Bellgrove’s forearms were wreathed in orange flame to match the sunrise. As the sun cast more rays across the water, Bellgrove would flick a wrist and the rays became colored flame upon the lake.
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