A Sorcerer Rises

by Guy Antibes

  “How did you hold up doing all that sorcery?”

  Ricky thought for a moment. “It definitely was a drain, but I think a lot of that might be due to my recuperation. I am going to use the weekend to rest up.”

  “I would have suggested a trip outside the academy’s walls, but that won’t happen until you have regained all your strength. You can prove that to me when you can do a full set of exercises on the practice field. By the way, this week I moved everything needed outside the gymnasium.”

  “I wasn’t there to help.”

  Saganet grinned. “I don’t need you when I have a few hundred other students to order around.”

  ~

  Gradually building up his strength frustrated Ricky. Saganet warned him that even though he hadn’t been sick for long, recuperation would last much longer than his illness. After his exercises, he sparred with Saganet for a few times in short bursts and spent the rest of the afternoon practicing knife-throwing and archery skills.

  Ricky had a hard time getting the rhythm that Saganet pounded into Ricky’s head. Drawing a bow and releasing an arrow had its own cadence. With Ricky’s strength, Saganet told him to nock the arrow, raise the bow in his outstretched arm pointing up and draw it as he moved the bow down to sight the arrow. He had to pull the bowstring a little harder and then sight the arrow.

  Saganet had many bows and started Ricky out with one with a light pull. Ricky saw that the arrow wouldn’t go as far or fly as straight for as long with a lighter bow. It didn’t matter. Ricky shot more than one hundred arrows the first time with a target forty paces away. By the time he finished, he could hit the target consistently, but hitting the bulls eye was a matter of luck.

  He finished with throwing knives. His arms ached from the effort, but he had a better feel for knives than for arrows. Ricky could do better with both, but he wanted to improve and he needed to grow a bit to gain the proper strength.

  “You are working too hard,” Saganet said when he walked into the gymnasium through the door close to the targets. “Help me pick these up.”

  Ricky had shot four flights of thirty arrows and had broken a few. “I just completed my work,” he said. “I need to get stronger,” Ricky said.

  “You can use a little magic to move the arrows a little faster, you know. I don’t know how it’s done, but amplifying an arrow’s path isn’t very noticeable, where increasing your strength is, and that’s what the Compact forbids.”

  “I need to know more about how to get around the Compact.”

  “Not now. It’s time to rest. Get your knives, I’ll finish up with the arrows, after all.”

  Ricky met Saganet at the weapons tables after he had examined the arrows. He found two more that had cracked shafts. They walked in silence to the cottage.

  Ricky collapsed on the couch. “I’m too tired to fix dinner,” he said, putting his arm over his eyes.

  “Good, because I had our meal delivered.”

  Saganet opened the door and retrieved his keys, which he dangled for Ricky to see. He set out the meal.

  “It’s a little cold, but I’m sure you don’t mind.”

  Ricky shook his head as he sat down facing Saganet.

  “What’s new with your project?” his guardian said with his mouth full.

  “We haven’t made much headway since the day Doctor Bespa left. I link best with Merry. We’ve been able to stand on each side of the conference room and communicate. Betti still needs a touch, but I can speak with Dari about half the distance. None of them can initiate a link. It has to be me.”

  “You didn’t expect it to be easy, so it isn’t.”

  “There is only a month left before the academy lets out for Summer Break. I’m afraid my project won’t be completed by then,” Ricky said.

  Saganet shook his head. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I talked to Dari about you. She and the other Sorcery teachers will be tutoring you in private classes for as long as you are at the academy.”

  “Remedial?”

  Saganet clucked his tongue. “Advanced. No student knows as much about the theory of magic as you do. Her approach will be to teach you the basic sorcery techniques but have you doing very advanced spells. Professor Garini taught at the Royal University, you know. He came to Tossa because his wife wanted to raise their children in the city where her parents lived. He’s already agreed to split time with Dari next year.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “You do now, and as a reward for your project, you will learn as a full scholarship student for the next three years.”

  “I expected that,” Ricky said.

  Saganet frowned, playfully. “Yes, but you’ve earned it anyway. We should make sure you have reached your full strength by term end.”

  “I’m all for that,” Ricky said. He took a few bites. “Any reports on Mirano Bespa?”

  Saganet nodded and retrieved a folded paper from the pile on the kitchen counter. “He returned to Sealio and hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary. For him to leave is proof enough that something is going on in with Duteria. You aren’t going to like this, but we have scheduled Baron Mansali to visit us next week during your time with Dari and Betti. He has agreed to talk a little about Duterian sorcery in exchange for our telling him about our project.”

  “How did he know?”

  “Before Loria and you parted ways, she figured out enough, I guess.”

  “Will she be there?”

  “Perhaps. Prepare yourself.”

  Ricky didn’t know how he could do that, but he nodded and concentrated on finishing his meal. He spent another few hours on his homework, which was just about caught up. Even though he audited the classes, Merry requested that he take the final exams.

  ~

  Baron Mansali walked into the big formal conference room on the third floor. Tall windows looked out over the front wall revealing the roofs of Tossa poking up over the trees. Ricky sighed when Loria walked into the room with Merry.

  She looked at him with a curious expression. He had only seen her from afar during their estrangement, and they hadn’t exchanged a word.

  “Water? Wine?” Merry said.

  “Water for me,” Loria said, averting her eyes from Ricky.

  “Wine.” Baron Mansali managed to make it sound like he talked to servants. He looked at Professor Calasay. “It’s been some time since we last met, Dari.”

  “Yes, it has. I see your daughter quite often.”

  Mansali looked over at Ricky. “Valian.” He nodded his head curtly.

  “Our other partner had a previous engagement.”

  “Betti Singlia. We’ve crossed paths before.” Mansali cleared his throat. He looked a bit uncomfortable for a moment before he schooled neutrality into his face.

  “We brought you here,” Dari began, “for an exchange of information. We, mostly Ricky Valian, have come up with a means of sorcerous communication.”

  “Have you now. Have you bribed my sons? My daughter hasn’t yet been brought into the Mansali inner circle.”

  “We haven’t bribed anyone, Baron,” Merry said. “Ricky figured out your commercial advantage with very little to go on. We did our research and discovered references to joint resonance.”

  “You brought me here to tell me about a research dead-end?”

  “I haven’t finished. Ricky had an altercation with another student—”

  “Victor Taranta. It’s common knowledge.”

  “You might not know that Ricky almost died from that fight,” Dari said. “Merry brought in a Duterian-trained healer from Sealio. The term the physician—”

  “Mirano Bespa? He’s the only possibility. A talented sorcerer.”

  Dari cleared her throat and took a sip of wine. “He used the term ‘power-link’ when he explained to Ricky the technique he used to save his life.”

  “You are trying to tell me with those few clues that Valian, here, succeeded in duplicating a power-link?”

  “We are,
” Merry said. “Ricky has been working on this project ever since,” Merry looked at a shocked Loria, “the Advanced Sorcery class disbanded.”

  “Show me before I utter any syllable of information.”

  “Write something down on a piece of paper and give it to me when I walk past you,” Merry said. She beckoned to Ricky, who stood by the door at one end of the conference room and offered her hand to Ricky.

  Ricky closed his eyes and sang the very familiar note that filled him with power and ran through his mental checklist to establish the link remotely with Merry, which finally shifted into place.

  “We are joined,” Merry said. She took Mansali’s folded note and walked to the end of the room where she unfolded it and read.

  Pigs fly, eagles swim, and fish are eaten from mouth to fin.

  Ricky blinked his eyes as the message came to him from Merry. He repeated it aloud.

  “I don’t believe it. Come here, young man.”

  Ricky walked over to Mansali, who put out his hand.

  “Link with me.”

  Ricky sang again, although he felt he had sufficient power. He pushed his power into Mansali, surprised at how smoothly the link established. His palm had only gotten warm. Ricky stood back.

  We are linked. Ricky said to the Baron in his mind.

  You are even better than my sons, the Baron said. I’m disappointed you didn’t remain friends with my daughter and hope you will give her another chance. I now realize why you couldn’t include her in your project. She was very hurt about that. Nevertheless, I am very impressed. That is all.

  The Baron broke the link. “You may sit, young Valian.”

  Ricky returned to his seat. The Baron glared at him, but now he knew that was all an act. The man had instantly understood why they couldn’t include Loria.

  After leaning his forehead and threading the fingers of his two hands and placing his elbows on the table, the Baron gave them confirmation that he and his sons used the same technique. He also confirmed that having an affinity significantly improved the range, but he wouldn’t divulge any more information about the communication method.

  “I will leave you to experiment. I have another request to make. The communication project stays in this room, and I include Betti Singlia in that. I agree to endow the academy whatever you decide to keep the project silent.”

  “Until it becomes common knowledge from a different source,” Mistress Doubli said. “I will sign such an agreement if my three other partners concur.”

  “I do,” Dari said, “but I will be asking for dedicated research funds, Merry.”

  “What about you, Ricky?” Merry asked.

  “I don’t know what to ask for.”

  “Then I’ll take care of that at a later date, if you agree. Betti has always wanted to produce a show, so she will require adequate funding for that.” She looked at Baron Mansali.

  “Agreed on one further condition. Ricky must teach my daughter Loria how to power link.”

  Ricky’s mouth dropped open, but Loria sputtered.

  “Him? How can you, Father?”

  “It’s quite easy, Loria. He knows more about sorcery than you do. None of your brothers wish to teach you such a thing, so that leaves Valian.”

  Ricky noticed the barest twinkle in the Baron’s eye. He was enjoying this.

  “Very well. I’ll bear it, but I will require a chaperone during our meetings,” Loria said.

  “It can only be Dari, Betti or myself,” Mistress Doubli said.

  Loria worked her mouth, but no words came out. She nodded.

  “Good. If you want any further information on Duterian sorcery, ask. I was there for less than two years after university, but I divined a few tricks.”

  “Perhaps another session after we have signed a legal agreement,” Merry said. “I know you are a busy man, so we will let you go.”

  Baron Mansali stood. “Thank you. I was expecting something considerably less dramatic and didn’t think I’d be exchanging a thing. Our session has been surprisingly refreshing. Good day.”

  He gave Merry a curt bow and left the room. Loria sat, stone-faced with her arms folded.

  “When can we start, so my learning can end faster?” she asked, eyes fixed, staring out the window.

  “We can begin now,” Ricky said. “It’s easier to be a receiver. None of the ladies can initiate a power link.”

  Ricky held out his hand. Loria made a disagreeable face and put out a hand, still looking out the window. If she was going to act this way, how could they possibly establish a link?

  “If you are so angry, this may not work.”

  “I hope you fail,” Loria muttered so only Ricky could understand her words.

  Ricky sang, refreshing his power, and took her hand. He willed his power to flow, and they linked instantly, without any heat.

  I’m sorry you are upset, Ricky said.

  Loria’s eyes widened as she turned to him. This is what my brothers do?

  That’s what we think, Ricky said as he dropped her hand and stepped away.

  Why did you keep me from this?

  I didn’t want you to be put in a touchy position with your family, Ricky said. Now we have developed the technique in our research, and by fortunate circumstances, you no longer have a conflict of interest because your father knows everything.

  Loria’s eyes welled with tears. Father argued with me all day, dragging me here. Now I know why. I think he had faith in you. I believe he trusts you more than he does me.

  I don’t believe that Ricky said as he continued out the door. The link hadn’t broken yet. You are his daughter, but I don’t think you always understand what drives his decisions.

  As Ricky walked down the stairs, he felt the link disappear. He ran back to the conference room. “I almost made it to the ground floor,” he told Dari. “Affinity definitely extends the range.”

  Ricky grinned at Loria.

  “Affinity?” She narrowed her eyes. “Was our conversation an act? Did you mean what you just said?”

  He nodded his head. “Every word.” He didn’t tell her how easily he linked with her father. The man must like him at some level, even though Loria and he had parted ways. He sat back down and exhaled.

  “That was too easy,” Dari said.

  “I don’t think it was so easy for the Baron. It’s just that he can process ideas faster than anyone else,” Ricky said. He thought his statement was self-evident.

  “He can,” Loria said, sounding astounded.

  “You will help us?” Dari said.

  Loria pressed her lips together. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

  She looked over at Ricky, but he couldn’t tell what she was thinking from her gaze. She bit her lip and nodded without another word.

  Professor Calasay cleared her throat. “We should revise our plan since we now have two participants who have a genuine affinity. We can be more ambitious.”

  “Is it worth our time now that it’s plain that we will develop the technique and not reveal it to the world?” Merry said.

  “Have you ever thought about your legacy, Dean Doubli?” Professor Calasay said. “I have. Do you believe power-linking has a single application? We already know of two, communications and healing. There are undoubtedly more, waiting for us to research.”

  Merry giggled and clapped her hands. “And I’ll make sure the agreement only applies to remote communications. I’m sure the Baron will demand our pledge not to reveal our progress to any friends or family.”

  “That might be a trick. Saganet knows everything. Who else has been told?” Ricky said.

  “Professor Garini is the only person I have consulted with,” Dari said. “Merry?”

  “Just Saganet. We’ll have to have a heart-to-heart with Betti. She is a gregarious type, you know.”

  “Do you both realize that Loria is still in the room?” Ricky said.

  “We did get carried away, dear,” Merry said, looking chastened. “I assur
e you we have no intent to cheat on an agreement with your father.”

  To Ricky’s surprise, Loria’s mouth curved into something resembling a smile. “What’s in this for me?”

  “Ah, spoken like your father’s daughter. What would you like?” Merry said.

  Loria sat back and closed her eyes, presumably thinking. “I think I’ll follow Ricky’s advice and come up with something later. I promise it won’t be outrageous.”

  “Two unspoken promises? That’s just not good business,” Merry said. “I will put the value of tuition, room, and board at the academy until you graduate and four years of the same at the Royal University of Sealio in the contract. If I state the value of an education, then if you choose not to go to university, you can receive money instead. Is that agreeable?”

  Loria nodded. She seemed satisfied to Ricky. He was awestruck at the offer. His next seven years were provided for, no matter what happened. One year ago, he wished he could afford more than a week’s worth of fresh water on his shantyboat, and now he no longer had a hideout, but he could eat, sleep, and study for seven years, or take the value of all that education and run.

  He had no intention of running. Ricky enjoyed studying and learning martial arts from Saganet. If it weren’t for Taranta’s people pursuing him, life would be great. He looked over at Loria, who began talking to Dari about what work they had done on the project. Her eyes shone with enthusiasm.

  Ricky wondered what their relationship would be like if he had included her in the first place. Baron Mansali instantly understood, but Ricky wondered if she really would. He wondered if a person ever gets over being hurt emotionally. Ricky still thought of the torment Gobble put him through, and he still hadn’t managed to forgive his grandfather in his own mind.

  ~~~

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ~

  R icky entered the gymnasium as Saganet put a folded paper in a pants pocket. His guardian looked disturbed.

  “What’s the matter?”

  Saganet’s face looked like he had bitten into something sour. “Two of our associates were beaten until they died yesterday. Karian thinks someone is finally cracked the code and is acting on the information on the book wrapping you lost months ago. I don’t believe it, but who knows? Perhaps they found out a few names from another source.”