“It can't be that bad. One trinket up or down,” Valezar said with an attempt at an encouraging smile.
“It wasn't just a trinket,” Magnus said swiftly. “It was something very important and I've lost it!” he groaned again, his face falling into his palms. Maren quietly held him by the shoulders all this time.
Valezar couldn't resist preaching smartly, “I was always telling you not to rely on material things so much — they are only temporary.”
Magnus looked up with a confused expression, “You've never said that to me.”
“No? Hmm,” he said, rubbing his bearded chin. “But you can be sure I wanted to do it.”
Magnus lowered his head again. None of Valezar's words would bring his amulet back, however good his intentions were.
Maren opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Magnus answered her unspoken question without even looking at her.
“No, there's no point. Even if we searched all of Ragna, we don't have a chance to find it. I'm sure it was stolen,” said Magnus blankly, Maren gaping at him. “The thief used the opportunity of the chaos around me.”
Unlike Magnus and Maren, Valezar kept his head cool.
“I didn't see anyone around you when I looked into the past. And even if there really was a thief, don't you think it must have been someone you know? They clearly knew what they would find under your tunic,” he said calmly, his eyes looking like a serene lake without the smallest wave on it.
Magnus and Maren exchanged mystified looks. Valezar was right! But if it was indeed stolen, how could they find the thief?
“Well, I know it's not related, but maybe we could –” Maren started, but Magnus interrupted her again.
“Show him the book, of course,” he interjected and with a blank look he groped into his backpack. In the next moment, a black, heavy tome landed right in front of Valezar on the table.
Maren shot Magnus an annoyed look. It was the second time he interrupted her — with her own thoughts. Valezar gazed at him too, with a strangely suspicious look on his face. Then his eyes darted to the battered book laid under his nose.
“You're faster than me, I was just going to ask you about it,” he said brightly. But as soon as he touched the cover of the mysterious book, his smile froze. He knew it was written in an unknown language. He knew it contained rare and even appallingly powerful incantations, even though he couldn't read them and he knew it came from a completely different world.
While Magnus was drowning in his worries and sadness, Valezar opened the first page of the book. He did so very carefully, almost with respect. He couldn't read it, but it seemed that he could tap the essence of its energy by touching the surface of its yellowish pages.
Then Magnus heard Valezar say that it was shocking he could read it. Magnus agreed, his expression clearing a little. He leaned over the table as though he was afraid that someone else could hear them. Maren gave them a questioning look.
Valezar told him that he had read his thoughts and that he knew what he translated from the book last night. He was even afraid that they had got a hold of something dangerous. Saying that it would be wise to ask Zimbadur about it, he kept turning the pages.
Magnus shook his head and told him that Zimbadur had left to a meeting.
Valezar said that he knew about it, but he also knew that there were no Mages Guild meetings recently.
Magnus' expression froze. Where was he, then? The old mage answered his unspoken question, saying that Zimbadur had never partaken in any meetings other than those for his guild and that's why it was quite odd. Valezar would have looked into it, but he was no longer authorized to do divinations concerning the Mages Guild. If he did that, it would be spying on one of the guilds, which was another strictly prohibited thing in Ragna.
Magnus didn't understand how people could even live here. Valezar's words about Zimbadur made him worried, but there was no time to think about it.
A small hand waved between Magnus' and Valezar's faces. Then Maren's voice cut the long silence, “HELLO! When will the two of you come back to your senses?”
Magnus was so stunned by the last of Valezar's words, that for a moment he had completely forgotten about the loss of his amulet.
“What?” he breathed in confusion, turning at last to look at Maren.
“Don't what at me. You've been exchanging odd looks for quite a while. I wanna know what's going on!” Maren said in a slightly injured tone, as though she didn't hear anything from their dialogue.
Magnus' eyes met with Valezars', but he found no answer there. Instead, the old mage smiled. It seemed he was the only one who understood everything.
“Well? Can I get an explanation?” Maren insisted, looking quite stern now. It almost looked as if the two of them were hiding something from her.
With a sudden rush of understanding, Magnus looked back at Valezar.
“We talked by reading each other's thoughts!” he shouted in amazement. “That's why Maren didn't hear anything!”
A broad smile broke across Valezar's face. All this time he knew what was happening, but he let Magnus figure it out by himself.
“But how –” Magnus breathed. He didn't have to finish the sentence, because there was no need to.
“I don't have an answer to this question,” Valezar said. “But one thing's for sure. Something has changed about you since the last time I saw you. And I think it might have something to do with that amulet of yours.”
Magnus felt quite perplexed, but Maren looked sad. How was it possible that Magnus, who didn't even know where he came from, could do things that she with her magi background could not?
Seeing Maren's downcast face, the old mage stood up from his chair. Magnus wasn't quite sure how to use this gift yet, but Valezar was expected to handle situations when there was a “non-speaker” of telepathy in the group. With a roguish smile, he cast a cheerful look at Maren.
“I've got something for you,” he said as he slowly departed to the next room. When he returned, Maren's face brightened with curiosity and when she saw what Valezar was holding in his hands, her mouth hung open. This must have been a dream come true!
“A telepathic device! It must be the version 6.0.1, the newest model!” she shrieked so loudly that Magnus had to protect his ears. It seemed that Maren had some good knowledge in the telepathic devices area.
Valezar's wrinkly face lightened — every craftsman would be delighted to see such great interest in his products!
“I call it the Thought Booster. It's not even officially for sale yet,” he said proudly, handing Maren a small brick-like box, gleaming in the candlelight. There were no precious stones or gold on it — the only decoration was a simple and elegant ornament, slightly coiling the grey surface.
“It's so light,” Maren breathed, gently gazing at her new “toy”. It looked as though she was afraid that she would break it. But then she noticed that Magnus received the very same present.
“Hey! Why did you give one to him as well?” she said enviously. “He doesn't need it!”
Valezar kept smiling as he said, “And how else would you communicate? These devices receive only thoughts that are transmitted through another telepathic device. Magnus is no master in telepathy yet! He can easily communicate with me, but it wouldn't be so easy with you or others, at least for now. And don't worry, the telepathic devices transmit only the thoughts you intend to send. It will be a little messy at first and you might have difficulty realising what the recipient actually heard. In the beginning it might be easier if you say your thoughts out loud.” It seemed that he eased Maren's mind by saying this, but what made her happiest was the fact that Magnus was no master in telepathy yet.
“That's so cool! Nobody at school will believe this!” Maren gave a triumphant shout, leaping to her feet in excitement and bobbing around the room merrily.
“School? Do you really think they will still recognise you there?” Magnus asked pointedly, but Maren didn't stop giggling.
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“Are you kidding? No one can forget me,” Maren said confidently as she kept on dancing and whirling in joy.
“No wonder,” Magnus muttered.
Valezar didn't want to interrupt her, but there was something they both needed to know.
“Listen, perhaps I should tell you that it's not thoroughly tested yet –” he said carefully, but neither of them seemed to pay any attention.
“Magnus — without the Thought Booster — what colour am I thinking of?” Maren said as she stopped suddenly, pointing at Magnus as though she was a teacher examining her student.
It appeared that this question shocked Magnus. It came so fast and unexpectedly that he couldn't even read it from her mind at first.
“Eh, blue?” he said bashfully. Seeing Maren's expression, anyone could deduce it was the right answer.
“My goodness! How did you know that?” Maren gasped, as if she hadn't been a witness to such abilities before. But before Magnus could even catch his breath, she made up another question. “What number am I thinking of?” she said, gazing at Magnus again.
“Two hundred and forty five — and I know you thought it would be terribly difficult,” he said in a bored tone, his head leaning against his arm.
There was a short pause.
“What animal am I thinking of?” Maren asked again, with no less enthusiasm.
“Well, I hope it helps you,” Valezar interrupted her, which Magnus was quite thankful for. If he hadn't stopped this, Magnus would have to keep answering Maren's “what questions” for much longer. Once upon a time, even Valezar himself had to endure this. “And we need to find that amulet of yours, Magnus,” he added, suddenly sounding rather serious.
“But why?” interjected Maren, “You implied that it blocked his abilities.”
“Of course, but there's also a possibility that it was blocking things you'd rather not experience,” Valezar said in a calm voice. “Strange things are happening — first you found the crystal ball that you didn't bother mentioning to me, then the book and now you lost the amulet. All I'm saying is... let's be careful.”
Magnus felt his heart sink even deeper than before he entered Valezar's house. It was enough that he was extremely sensitive to cold, breathed fire uncontrollably and now he could read thoughts without even wanting to read them. What else could he expect?
“I have to get it back,” Magnus said frantically. “What if it's in wrong hands? What if someone breaks it?”
Seeing Magnus, who had been panicking for more than an hour over his lost amulet, Maren's temper started getting the better of her.
“I understand you are afraid of what might happen, but could you finally stop acting like it's the most precious thing in the world?” she said tartly. Would he care about her like that if she got stolen too?
“No, it's not like that, really! I do care about you –” Magnus shrieked suddenly. When he realised he let out something he shouldn't have said aloud, it was already too late.
“You're reading my thoughts without permission?!” Maren squealed, shooting him a rather fierce gaze. “No way! I won't allow this! We're leaving right now! Let's find that amulet already!” she commanded and straining her thin arms, she pushed the entrance door open. To show that she was dead serious, she disappeared outside at once.
Valezar looked at the terrified Magnus.
“Welcome to my world,” he said, smiling faintly.
Magnus didn't wait any longer — he stuffed his Thought Booster and the black tome into his backpack and at the speed of lightning, he rushed outside. He even forgot to say farewell.
“Magnus,” said the mage's voice, bringing Magnus to a halt. “Be careful with that book. You don't know what you carry around with you,” Valezar said in a serious tone as he slowly approached him. He leaned closer to him, his long white beard touching the ground. His green eyes surveyed every citizen passing by to make sure that nobody was watching them, but at this time of day there weren't many townspeople on the main square. When Valezar made sure it was safe to talk, he continued, “Its energy is the same that I felt from your lost amulet. I didn't want to say this in front of Maren, but know this — evil surrounds you.” Upon these words, he stood up straight, towering above Magnus once more.
There was a moment of silence in which Magnus kept standing still, not sure what to say. These were certainly not the words of farewell he expected to hear. When he imagined the various forms of evil that could threaten him, he felt his stomach lurch. From all kinds of monsters and demons, his thoughts came to devilish Xanthar, armed from head to toe with his fellow Magi policemen right behind him, all of them taking Magnus to the darkest dungeon in a faraway prison. And that was just the start!
“Don't read from the book,” Valezar said gravely. Without any further explanations he turned away and made his way back into the windowless house.
Magnus gaped after him wordlessly. What did he mean? He tried to read Valezar's mind, but he got nothing but a searing stitch that stung him in his temples. He groaned, his hands rubbing his head as if it could make the pain go away. It seemed that mages had an ability to block their own thoughts from being read by others. That was exactly what he disliked about them — too many secrets!
Magnus returned to the place where all novices had been waiting for Aedan, even Fjalldís and Darius, although each was standing on the opposite side of the crowd. Everyone seemed to behave now, as they didn't want to be taken to the police station like those two. When Magnus found Maren, she was searching for the amulet fiercely, looking into each fissure on the pavement and checking under each rock that lay on it. Magnus deduced she wouldn't be talkative at this time — and he was right.
The journey back wasn't very gleeful. After what happened at the police station, Darius didn't even try to make any pranks. The Black Squad's favourite haggard coachman, always tuned into their mood, was now riding the cart slowly and boringly. Moreover, what kind of fun could they possibly have when the novices in Aedan's cart behaved just the same? Maren didn't talk at all and Magnus knew she was trying to stop any thoughts from getting onto her mind. He, on the contrary, was thinking frantically how to settle things down again. And you certainly wouldn't want to see Aedan's face when he learned about what happened after he had gone shopping. No wonder no one dared to speak a word.
When they arrived back in Sinei, it was time for lunch. There was no meal ready since no one had cooked anything, but they could eat fresh bread, vegetables and pastries that Aedan had bought in Ragna. However, their teacher wasn't in the mood for having lunch with them after all that had happened. He took the next few hours off and he planned meeting the novices again in the late afternoon. But if they thought they would get by this without any punishment, they were mistaken. Aedan had prepared an unpleasant surprise for them.
Although the novices were left alone, there was unusual silence in the dining room. None of them felt like talking and even though they all knew this was mainly Darius' fault, no one dared to say a word. They surely didn't want to endure what Magnus had gone through that morning.
Even the Black Squad was silent, although they couldn't stop playing cards, even at a time like this. Serena had found a seat next to them, but she didn't join in because they played too often for her taste.
It looked like Magnus felt utterly desperate and anyone who thought that was absolutely right. He hadn't slept for several days, he was still walking in the darkness of the unknown and now he had even lost his amulet. He gave a heavy sigh, tearing little bits off his bread and dropping them back onto his plate.
Maren couldn't stand it any more. Although she was angry with him before, now she looked at him with a caring gaze.
“Magnus, try not to think about it now and eat something. You'll need it,” she said gently.
“I don't have any appetite for these dry crackers,” said Magnus hopelessly. “I have lost the one thing that I knew belonged to me and Fjalldís got into trouble because of me. I haven't even had the
chance to tell her thank you! Actually, I owe her quite a few thanks already.”
“Don't be so harsh on yourself. It was her own choice –”
Everyone around them was forced to wince in fear — Magnus slammed his fist on the table so hard it was a miracle he didn't break it in two. All novices looked up to see what was going on. Even the Black Squad pulled their eyes off their beloved cards.
“I am going to thank her, right now!” Magnus said resolutely, standing up so fiercely that his chair fell on the floor with a deafening racket.
Maren's eyes popped open in shock.
“Fjalldís –” Magnus started stoutly, but his speech died at once. He eyed the whole dining room, surveyed every seat and every corner, but Fjalldís was nowhere to be seen. His grim gaze landed on her two house mates, who were sinking so deep in their seats, they almost slipped under the table. “Where is she?” he asked shortly.
The girls begun poking each other to make the other one talk. In the end, it was Belinda who spoke first — a girl whose rich brown hair reached her waist.
“I... I think she went to take a walk,” she stuttered and then she shot her friend a frightened look.
The girl sitting next to her was called Aurora. She had dark hair cut right above her shoulders. With her lovely gleaming eyes, she cast Magnus a terrified glance.
“I think she... mentioned... she would... go to the lake,” she stammered fearfully.
Despite Magnus' short height, he leaned toward them over the table as much as he could.
“You think or you know?” he said in a scary tone.
Aurora and Belinda moved their chairs away from the table.
“Well... I know,” Aurora let out finally, happy that it seemed to be an answer good enough for Magnus to leave them alone. After that, he left the table in haste, swung the door open and bolted out. Maren followed straight away.
The silence in the dining room turned into a clamour. Even Darius looked highly alarmed now.
“To the lake?!” he said abruptly. It seemed Aurora's words put him into motion as well, because he immediately left the table and dashed out into the courtyard. His friends caught up with him in seconds.
Drakonika (Book 1) Page 22