by Ben Hale
They strode through the streets of Westpoint until they reached a hovering boat. Climbing onto it, they were lifted a few feet off the water’s surface and then carried east. Soon they reached the center of Auroraq. Towering trees greeted her as they left the residences behind, but the shaded and cultured gardens did little to abate her tension.
The massive trees of Sentre boasted hundreds of high-level bridges, platforms, and overlooks within their branches. Known as the treeways, the multi-tiered walkways connected directly with buildings. Gurgling streams and rivers coursed beneath it all, adding their sweet murmur to the environment. At many points the water flowed vertically out of the river to create sparkling arches over pathways and rivers.
Yet amidst the strands of light penetrating the canopy, the people walked in haste. Features were somber or tight with worry, and their gait suggested a subconscious urge to avoid contact. Conversations were subdued, eyes were devoid of ease, and even their proximity to each other demonstrated the subtle air of uncertainty.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Rox asked.
"Last night the Magtherian released the news about the attack on Tess," Iris said, her voice somber, "and the Harbinger murders. They are saying that the auren governments have begun to assassinate known mages."
Derek frowned and pulled a small orb from his pocket. Gesturing to it, it activated and several symbols appeared, floating away from its surface.
"What's that?" Tess asked.
"A news orb," Derek replied without looking up. He manipulated the runes and a figure swirled into position above the orb. It showed an officially dressed woman talking in somber tones. Speaking on behalf of the Magtherian, she began listing the names of those that had been killed by aurens. It was evident that her emotions were real.
"That was lazed last night," Iris said.
Tess felt a tremor spread through her body. Hawk had told them previously that the Harbingers had been systematically infiltrating every branch of the Magtherian, as well as auren governments. The ones that had refused the invitation to join their organization had been killed. The deaths had been kept quiet by the Magtherian—apparently until now.
"And Ranson took over the council," Derek said. "They must feel it, even though they don't know who he is."
"Like birds before a storm," Derek said. He stared at a foursome of women who huddled close and cast suspicious glances at the others in the park.
"How could it change so fast?" Tess asked. "It's only been a week since our term ended—and it wasn't like this before."
They disembarked and resumed their conversation.
"Maybe people are just trying to get used to a new high chancellor."
"Maybe," Tess said, but her unease settled deeper.
A few minutes later they spotted the Tryton's Arch. Marking the separation between Sentre and Southpoint, the large span sported the Tryton's crest on its keystone. Rising to a point, a dragon and a phoenix breathed fire around a sword. In this case the fire was real.
Glowing with inherent light, the arch stood at the beginning of the Scholars Way. Giant statues of scholars looked down on the parents and students heading to the school. Garbed from their respective eras, the large figures held everything from books to weapons in their hands. Tess had always assumed they were past directors of the school.
Tess and her friends fell into step with the mass of people, and again she was struck by the change in behavior. At the start of the previous term the students had been excited and talkative. Parents had been casual and the atmosphere relaxed. This time couldn't have been more different.
Teenagers, mothers, and fathers congregated into tight knots of shuffling people, and there was a subtle mark of separation between each. Even the younger brothers and sisters seemed to feel it, and remained at their parents’ side as the group quietly worked their way onto Southpoint.
Many of the people recognized her. Their eyes went wide, but no one approached or spoke to her. She normally would have felt relieved, but it actually heightened her concern. Seven days ago she'd practically been mobbed when her identity had become public. Now they steered clear of her. Despite the gap, curiosity burned in their eyes.
They reached the massive crystal-topped Star Hall and filed in. As she had the first time, Tess paused on the threshold. The blue sky from the exterior had been replaced with a view into space. Planets, moons, and a handful of glowing suns soared through the heavens. Galaxies, star systems, and thousands of stars stretched across what should have been the ceiling.
Despite the grandeur and eternal nature of the amphitheatre, it was not the focal point of the enormous hall. In the base of the shallow bowl, an illuminated pillar rose thirty feet like a white stage. Wrapped in concentric circles, all of the benches faced it, and were fashioned of polished black granite. There were hundreds of benches in the enormous bowl but it felt packed. As soon as Tess and her friends found a seat a person flew up the side of the pillar and began to speak.
"Welcome to Tryton's Academy of Magic. My name is Director Grayson, principle administrator for this school. Before we release you to get settled, I would like to address the recent news from the Magtherian." He paused, and his voice became somber. "A student of this school, our very own Oracle, was attacked just a few days ago."
Tess shifted as she felt the weight of thousands of eyes. She did her best to keep her gaze on Grayson, and tried not to blink.
"It has been further revealed that this incident was not isolated, and that many of our people have been slain by aurens."
Tess wasn't surprised at the easy acceptance of the lie, but she felt a burst of anger. How could the Harbingers deflect blame toward the non-mages so easily? She felt the urge to rise and shout the truth, but hesitation stole her tongue. How would she appear if she did? Would she seem unreliable? Or crazy? Or confident? She had the sneaking suspicion that if she alone spoke out against the Harbingers, they would twist her actions and use it against her. The moment passed too quickly, and her words of defiance remained unspoken. She vowed it would not remain that way.
"We at Tryton's are greatly troubled by these announcements, and have added extra enchantments and security to our school. Rest assured that your children will be safe here."
A murmur swept the crowd. In spite of Grayson's reassurances, there was a note of doubt in the sound. More than once she caught people staring at her. To her surprise she saw blame more often than fear. Her brow creased in annoyance, and she resolved to find out exactly what the Magtherian had said about her.
" . . . are also happy to announce a change to a long-standing tradition here."
Tess returned her attention to Grayson, who seemed to be making a valiant effort to change the mood. Tess automatically looked to Iris. She shrugged, as perplexed as the rest of them. Frowning, Tess turned back to Grayson.
"For decades the students have gathered during the mid-quad break for the Magic Melee. To those new to the school, the Melee is a game that allows the participating students to practice their skills against each other.
"In light of . . . recent events, we feel it best to expand the game into a more official program. Instead of an open format at the dorms, the Melee will take place in the stadium. Students will be allowed to form teams of fifty, and will compete against each other in short conflicts within a specially designed arena. As it has in the past, the Melee will take place during the mid-quad holiday, and the games will begin on Friday morning. We look forward to seeing all of you in the new Melee."
With that, the director wished them good luck and stepped off the stage. Tess rose to her feet with the rest of the assembly, but turned to her friends instead of the doors.
"What do you think that was about?" she said quietly. She threw a glance around her to ensure that they were not overheard.
"I'm not sure," Derek said. "The tradition of the Melee traces back to the school's founding, and it has never been official. What do you think, Iris?"
Iris threw her hand
s in the air. "I don't know everything." The three of them stared at her, but she whirled and stalked away.
"Derek?" Tess asked, but he shook his head.
"I've never seen her like that," he said. His voice was worried enough that Tess felt concerned.
"But why the change in the Melee?" Rox asked. "Do you think it's really just about a game?"
"I don't know," Tess murmured, and recalled Hawk's words. Was this his doing? If so, what was his intention?
As they left Star Hall, Tess wished she didn't feel such turmoil.
Chapter 9: Knots
Tess stepped out of Star Hall and said goodbye to her friends. Then she headed to her dorm. As she went she searched the deepening gloom for Iris. She frowned when she did not see her. Since the moment they had met, Iris had been strange, quirky, and almost annoyingly aware of everything—but she'd rarely been angry.
Worried, Tess took to the skies. She launched herself into the air and flew south. In moments the school buildings came into view. She climbed higher, and scanned the shadowed ground, wondering where she had gone.
Shaped like a giant circle, Tryton's Academy of Magic boasted twelve distinct buildings for the individual schools of magic. The school for music, sound and light comprised the north end of the ring. Fire, mind, and air encompassed the east side of the arc.
The water, earth, and plant schools covered the southern side of the ring. Animal, body, and healing magics were taught on the west. Only the Unknowable Magics were not taught within the circle of schools. The rarest magics, lightning, memory, and anti-magic, were collectively taught at a black building outside the ring.
Dominating the center of the massive circle, a collection of enormous trees stretched hundreds of feet skyward, and circled a small lake at their center. Countless cabin-like rooms were nestled in the oversized branches, and housed the four thousand students of Tryton's each term. By the end of her first quad the trees had become Tess's home, and her refuge.
Her concern increasing, Tess flew toward the dorms. In a hurry, she flew over the treetops rather than through them. Descending once she was over the lake, she swooped toward the back porch of the cabin that Iris and she shared. At two hundred feet off the ground, cabin 313 had was one of the highest in the dorms. It surprised her to recall that when she'd first stood on the porch she'd been scared of heights. Now she flew onto it like it was normal.
Alighting on the balcony, she ducked inside and found Iris sitting on her bed, staring at a wall. She was also wearing her magic dampening beanie. For the first time since they had met, she was wearing no magic enhancing threads.
"You ok?" Tess asked, and moved to sit across from her.
Iris didn't respond for a while. She just stared at the wall as if she hadn't heard. Just when Tess was about to ask again, Iris released an explosive breath.
"No," she said, "I'm not."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Tess asked.
Iris jerked her head no, and then blurted, "I feel blinded. Ever since I warned the rock trolls the Harbingers were coming, their techno mag has been blocking me at every turn. At first it wasn't too bad, but since the attack on you it's gotten worse. I can barely think without a mental intrusion. It's why I have been using the hat. It's the only time I get some peace."
She growled and clenched her hands. "I just don't understand. It feels like they are watching me all the time. It's maddening—I mean, you've never felt that, right?"
Tess felt the urge to scowl and smile at the same time. That was exactly what she felt whenever Iris had known impossible things, but the more pressing matter was the scrutiny.
"Can they hear us now?" Tess asked. There was a trace of alarm in her voice.
Iris sighed. "Of course not. I blocked everything in the room, including myself. She stabbed a finger at her odd beanie.
"But how?" Tess asked, puzzled. "How can they get past you like that? I mean, you are the best I've ever heard of. There would have to be hundreds—"
Iris slapped her forehead so hard it left a welt. "Of course!" she burst out. "—But how, they didn't have more than a handful before—and they couldn't have recruited so many. I know enough mags I would have heard about it—but then where? Where is he getting them . . .?"
Iris's mouth fell open in surprise, and her eyes flicked to Tess. "Do you know what this means?"
Tess’s expression must have betrayed her confusion, because Iris jumped off the bed and began to pace. Her words tumbled from her mouth as she stalked back and forth.
"This makes sense, actually," Iris said. "From the beginning I have been tracking a supreme technology mage, and Keidon is the best of us all. If he now has the authorization from the high council—which we know is corrupted—it means the entire technology bureau is under Harbinger control."
"You mean Keidon, the head of the Mage Technology Bureau?" Tess asked.
She'd met him once on a tour of the high council room. He was tall and thin, and could very possibly be the Thin Man that they knew as the Harbinger's primary techno mag.
Iris stopped midstride and bounded to her bed. "I think so—but what to do about it? I can't beat the whole department. There are hundreds of master techno mages. It would be like going up against an army . . ."
Iris leapt off the bed and embraced Tess. "I've got it!" she shouted. "—but who, and where, and I will have to be discreet . . ."
"Iris? What are you planning? Iris!"
Tess sighed and gave up as Iris fell into incoherency. The conversation had done little to ease Tess's mind, but at least it had helped her roommate out of her despair. Resigned to her ignorance, Tess decided that whatever Iris was doing, it would help in the end. Abruptly she was exhausted, so she began to dress for bed. Collecting clothes from the bags that had been delivered for her, she changed and slipped under the covers. For a long time she listened to Iris chatting excitedly with several people at the same time. The next thing she knew it was morning.
She awoke bleary-eyed but refreshed. Rising, she was shocked to discover the changes to their room. Both memory paintings had been appropriated and were the focal point above Iris's desk. Names and lines blanketed the area around them. Scribbled in shining purple ink, they flickered brighter and then faded as Iris paced in front of them.
"Did you stay up all night?" Tess asked.
"Oh good—you're awake," Iris said, and darted to her side.
Her eyes were red-rimmed but focused. Her beanie was gone and her clothing was back to its usual magic enhancing threads. She twitched with excitement, and didn't wait for a response.
"We are doing it! In a week we will be able to start it—if I can just wrap the lag and gres the static . . ." she bit her lip, and then launched into a discussion with someone named Julio.
"Iris!" Tess raised her voice to get her roommate's attention. "You need to sleep. It's almost time for classes." She gestured to the soft light streaming through the back open window.
"Oh, you're right," Iris said, and then laughed. "I'll send a message to my professor telling him to excuse me. Have a good night!"
She jumped into her bed and mumbled to herself as she traced a rune onto the wall. Everywhere her finger touched, purple energy sparkled, leaving a visible energy trail on the wall. Then she donned her beanie and was out.
"Er . . . good night?" Tess said, but Iris was already asleep. Tess grinned. If Iris was that excited things couldn't be that bad. Chuckling under her breath, Tess rose and took a brief shower. It was only after she dressed and stepped to the back door that she realized Iris had said tell her professor, not ask. Shaking her head, Tess summoned Stel from where he'd been roaming the room. The creature changed from its dog form and coiled around her wrist, chirping its readiness. Tess then stepped to the balcony rail and leapt over it.
She glided down in the dawn light and then banked her way to the meal hall. For the first time since she had fought the Harbingers she felt a thrill of excitement at flying. Every day since had been full of confus
ion and strife, making the inherent joy of flying feel unnatural. It brought a smile to her face and she performed a few flips before landing. The smattering of other flyers laughed when she did, and some followed her lead. Once down, she strode into the meal hall and jumped over the railing.
She flew to the bottom floor and gathered a plate. Then she selected a couple of waffle cubes, one of whipped cream, and another of strawberries. Last she added cereal and milk. She sent it through the magic cauldron and collected the newly filled plate on the opposite side.
Students on all sides quieted and craned to get a better look at her, but Tess didn't make eye contact. Ignoring the attention, she weaved her way through the trees that had been shaped into tables and chairs. Arriving at her usual table she sat across from Derek. It was only then that she noticed there were two new occupants sitting next to him.
"Shorn?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"
He flashed a smile. "Breakfast, same as you."
Derek's mouth was full, but he tried to explain anyway. "Hh wunts fo moin our memee feam."
Tess turned to Rox. "Translation?"
She grinned. "He wants to join our team for the Magic Melee."
"Isn't it a bit early to start that?" Tess asked, and took a bite of waffle.
Shorn shook his head. "I'm not the only one. A few of the older kids are trying to create an unbeatable team." He smirked. "I figured you and your friends were the ones to recruit, though."
Tess wasn't sure what to think about that. The previous term the Tempest captain, Drake, had turned out to be a Harbinger. For most of the quad Tess had thought Shorn was the spy. Not until the last day did she learn he wasn't. After months of suspicion it felt odd to be seated across from him like they were friends.
Avoiding his gaze, Tess gestured to the other boy eating next to Derek. "What about you?"
"Oh . . . I'm Warren, Derek's roommate," he said.
The boy was handsome enough, but he seemed awkward and out of place, like he would have been more comfortable sitting alone.