by Naomi Lane
“Scare me off after trying to recruit me?”
The high mage sighed. “I have taken actions to increase your mental shields, and you will need to sever the standing mind-link with the Dark Mage before you leave the Tower today. What the Crown may wish to do regarding the conversation you overheard in light of these events, I don’t know. My guess is that the plan for an expedition into the mountains in the spring will proceed. I can assure you that, even if Peter is never successful at convincing the Khazaran ambassador that the Dark Mage should be held in Sevalia, the Crown will act. I will still explain this to the King though, to see if he wants to do anything else.”
“I would appreciate it if you left the part about my relationship with Sebastian out of that explanation.” Jenna kept her fingers crossed that the high mage would respect her privacy.
Harcourt glared at her with those violet eyes once again. “You swear to me you intend to break off your relationship?”
Jenna nodded vigorously. “Yes. I knew it was doomed to end at some point anyway. I’m sorry. I would have been more careful if I knew about the risk of brain damage.”
“Then I will not inform his parents about this. But if you go back on your word, I will find out and I will report it.”
“Understood.” Jenna breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“Is that all that you remember from your vision when holding the charm?”
“Yes, but I still have some questions about what I read in that book.” Jenna frowned. “It described certain magic rituals performed by the Black Magister. I know you said the magic was not tainted, but—”
Harcourt slammed his fist down on the armrest of his chair. “As I said before that man was an aberration!” Jenna gulped, not expecting such an angry reaction from her teacher. “Yes it is true he perverted the magic to increase his own power, but that doesn’t make mind magic evil or tainted. Few mind mages followed him, and those that didn’t were hunted down and killed by the Black Magister himself.”
“But it is the reason that there are these restrictions on mind mages, why there is a law forcing them to enter a Tower?”
“Yes, at least in part. It is also because the guild was decimated, and there weren’t enough mages left to continue the line outside the Towers anyway.”
Jenna nodded, slightly relieved after his reassurances. “Could the Dark Mage somehow be practicing this blood magic?”
“He would have to have developed it independently. All the records of the ritual are either at the palace or in the Towers and are under guard. But given his skill level, I have considered the possibility.”
If he were some kind of black mage, Jenna wondered, then maybe that’s why he hunted her, so she could be one of his victims. She shivered at the thought.
She had one remaining question about the topic, but was reluctant to ask it. Lord Harcourt sensed her hesitation and answered the question anyway.
“Now, I know you will break off your relationship with Prince Sebastian, but I can reassure you that the risk of brain damage you refer to can be controlled. I promise you that once you are older and have mastered your powers, you will have nothing to worry about. I have taken the liberty to retrieve these texts for you.” He took out two books from his robe and handed them to Jenna. “Given how inappropriate an instructor I am for this, these books should help answer all of your questions. You can also ask the Queen for more information. She is well-schooled in both magic and healing.”
Jenna took a closer look at the books while the high mage spoke. One was about mind mages. It, too, had a chapter on sexuality, but was written before the time of the Black Magister. The other was written by a heart mage, but was not about magic, but rather relationships. Jenna was intrigued by its history of sexual relations among the Sevalian nobility. She also blushed slightly at some of the illustrations. She hastily closed the book.
“Thank you, My Lord. Thank you for everything.” Although he still scowled at her, Jenna could sense that he did care and legitimately wanted to help her. “Should we break the Dark Mage’s mind-link now?”
He nodded. “We’ll go to the instruction room.”
They left the bed chamber to enter a hallway. Jenna looked down and saw that it curved in both directions. “How far up are we?”
“Not far. These floors are rarely used. They are meant for Tower guests. Permanent quarters and group working rooms are farther up.” He walked down the hall and Jenna followed him.
“What kind of guest would stay in the Tower.”
Harcourt shrugged. “Typically residents from other Towers, but there is no lack of space now. There are not nearly as many Tower mages as there were at the time of the mage wars.” He stopped and pushed a button on the wall near a door.
Jenna heard a noise. “What’s that button for?”
Harcourt smiled. “It calls the lift.”
“Lift?”
“A magical device that travels up and down between floors. Living in the Tower does have certain advantages.” The noise stopped and Lord Harcourt opened the door and stepped inside what looked to Jenna like a large cage. She hesitated slightly, but followed him in. Once the door had closed, Lord Harcourt said, “First floor.” The lift began to slide downward. It was a little jarring, and Jenna grabbed the handrail. Harcourt smiled. “Trust me, Miss Mallory, if you do join this Tower, you will be very grateful for the lift.”
Jenna shrugged. “I thought the stairs were what kept you in shape.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that, but it was true; she always assumed the high mage to be so thin for a reason.
Lord Harcourt actually laughed. “No, though the constant magical workings do.”
The lift halted, and they stepped out onto a landing. Harcourt led her down a single flight of stairs, and Jenna recognized the foyer where she usually entered. They quickly went to the classroom. “We will work inside the circle,” he said. “The double shielding of the Tower wards and the circle’s magic should dull the link before we sever it.”
Jenna frowned. “When he severed my links before it wasn’t pleasant.”
“My hope is that cutting this link will be manageable, but yes there is some risk.”
Jenna nodded and entered the circle. Lord Harcourt took both her hands and closed his eyes. This was a familiar way for them to enter a mind-link.
Can you locate your standing links, he asked.
Jenna relaxed and located them, visualizing them as cords that attached behind her eyes. The cord that led to Lord Harcourt was the strongest and easiest to feel because it was in use. She then felt for the others. Here, she said. Yours, my brother’s, Sebastian’s, and Kedar’s, but I don’t sense any others.
He’s being subtle, but it should be here. Be careful not to activate it.
Jenna went deeper into trance, attempting to use her magical sight to examine her own mind. It was tricky, but not impossible. Then she felt it, a cord that attempted to hide itself among the others. When she tried to focus on it, it moved. It’s slippery, but it’s there.
Good. Cut it.
How?
Typically mind-links form from persistent contact with a person. If the contact is not kept up the links fade. This link is a bit different. It was forced on you. My best advice is to force it out.
But I still don’t know how to do it.
You must use your power and will it so. There is no specific technique that I can give you. You are in your own mind. Do what is natural to reclaim it.
Jenna refocused her attention on the cord. She imagined a giant pair of scissors in her mind and attempted to force the link inside their grip. It slipped out. She tried again, and again, but no luck. She took a deep breath and focused on it, this time she moved faster with the scissors. Got it! But as the scissors closed on the cord she felt a horrible pain inside her head. Suddenly, Lord Harcourt squeezed her hands hard, and she ended up opening her eyes, heart thumping.
“What happened?” she asked. “Is the link severed?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was wrong.” The high mage rubbed his hand through his hair. “Indeed I must apologize.”
“About?”
“About the link. I mischaracterized it. Your symptoms of headache and disturbing dreams suggested he forced the link, but he didn’t. You helped create it.”
“Oh.” Jenna’s face grew heated. “I swear I didn’t—”
“No, no. Of course not. As I said, standing links form through constant contact. You have had considerable contact with this man. It is also easier to form links with strong mages, especially mind mages.”
“How do I control it? Can it still be severed?”
“Through experience you will begin to feel the links form, but I am afraid it is not something under complete conscious control of any mind mage. Unfortunately, they should not be severed outright. It would damage your mind in an unpredictable way.”
“Are you sure? Did it damage my brain when he severed my links that other time?”
“No, but only because the links were reattached in time.”
“But what do I do about the Dark Mage then?”
Lord Harcourt started to pace. “Stay away from him is the obvious answer. The link would fade naturally.”
“Easier said than done when he invades my dreams.”
“I am aware of that.”
“You think I should stay in the Tower then? To be behind the wards?”
Harcourt sighed. “The wards are strongest here, but… There may be another way.” He stopped pacing and reentered the circle. “We can meld the link to mine so that I can monitor it.”
“How will that help?”
“If I sense him attempting to reach you I can force him away. It should minimize the contact and allow the link to fade naturally. It will also help me to shield your mind against him to prevent him from even trying.”
Jenna bit her lip. “Would it be safer for me just to stay in the Tower until the link fades?”
Harcourt’s eyebrow rose. “Yes. But it would take you away from your other studies and encourage your detractors. I don’t want that.”
She nodded. “How long would it take?”
“At least a month.” Jenna wasn’t sure she could go a whole month without riding.
“How confident are you that you can keep him away from me?”
He looked straight into her eyes. “I am a Master-level mind mage, and mind-linking is my strongest ability. This mage may be powerful, but I am prepared to face him now. I would give my life before I see him hurt you.”
Jenna was startled both by his words and his level of confidence. “Then we’ll meld the links.”
He grabbed her hands again.
Can you still see it?
Jenna went back to where the ‘cords’ attached and found the slippery one. Now what?
Grab hold of both the links and twist them together. I can help.
First she grabbed hold of the cord that led to her teacher. This one was easy to get a firm grip on. She knew the same could not be said for her standing link with the Dark Mage. It fought to stay away from her, but she knew how to beat it this time. She just had to be quicker. She grabbed on and gripped firmly.
Now! said the high mage. She brought the links together inside her mind and began to twist. They wouldn’t move easily, and the Dark Mage’s link tried to fight her will, but Jenna felt a boost of strength from her teacher as the two links touched. With his help, the Dark Mage’s link was tamed enough to submit to a few twists with Lord Harcourt’s.
Will it hold? she asked.
It should. We will check on it every lesson.
They dropped out of the mind-link more gently this time. “Thank you again,” she said. “Not only for your help with the Dark Mage, but for being understanding about my not wanting to be confined to the Tower.”
He shrugged. “I never feel it is confining. To me it is liberating. Here all mages are able to be themselves and their magic is respected, but I know it is not a life for everyone.” She just nodded. “Well, you can head back to the palace now. I’m sure you’ll want supper by now.”
She smiled. She went to grab her coat, which was still hanging in the room. She was startled when Harcourt asked her another question. “Is the Prince truly serious about wanting to enter a Tower?”
“Oh, well…”
“I ask because obviously you two are close.”
She blushed. “He is, but it’s a difficult decision. I think he worries most about what his family will think, especially his father.”
The high mage nodded. “Well, as I’ve said, it will be up to him.”
“If you want my opinion, just try to relax a bit, smile occasionally even.” She knew that was pushing it, but Harcourt smiled instantly.
“Now I have you and Mirella on my case. Perhaps one day you will both be successful in making me into a good-humored human being.”
She laughed and bade him well before heading off to supper.
Chapter 26
The next few days passed quickly to Jenna. She soon found out that Lord Harcourt’s mind-link could protect her from the Dark Mage. He tried once again to visit her inside a dream, but was easily rebuffed by Harcourt’s shields. This livened Jenna’s spirits, and she had hoped to be able to rest more easily, if not for two things. The lack of specific information about her foreign magic still nagged her. She had some time to figure out the text she found, but hadn’t made too much progress. The beginning referenced something about a scribe, but she hadn’t found any additional information about the term gharzir. But what bothered her much more was that she still hadn’t told Prince Sebastian about how she had to break off their relationship. She had been ignoring his calls to mind-link hoping to speak to him in person the following Sevday instead.
When that day finally came, her heart hung somewhat heavy as she saddled Bree and rode out to the meadow in a light drizzle, but she also felt a sense of determination. After the Dark Mage had managed to control her, she was convinced this training was even more important than she had originally assumed. It helped make her feel in control of her own body again.
When she arrived the others were already there. Eamon seemed happy to see her. Her brother and Sebastian, however, both seemed anxious. “Hello,” she said. “What’s first?”
“Let’s warm up with some footwork,” replied Eamon. “Have you been practicing?”
Jenna shrugged. “A bit. I wish I could do more, but it’s difficult when I have to play the Lady.”
Eamon smiled. “A feat you pull off so well.”
Jenna smiled back and shook her head. Eamon always seemed to have a way to make a girl feel better. She knew a lot of it was just flattery, but she sensed he legitimately enjoyed it. He wasn’t one to manipulate someone for his own amusement.
Eamon began to put her through her paces while Sebastian and Peter went off again to spar themselves. Jenna noticed they were practicing with staffs. It intrigued her to some degree, but Eamon kept her focused on her feet. After her warm up, she began to practice attacking while he would parry. Then they reversed positions so she could parry and finally also riposte.
“Good,” said Eamon. “Sebastian! Peter!” He called. The others paused their own sparring.
“What?” Peter replied. Eamon waved them over. Jenna sensed Sebastian’s eyes on her, and she knew he was upset. She was beginning to think she had done the wrong thing by ignoring him.
“I think Lady Jenna is ready for her first bout. Sebastian, would you do the honors?”
Sebastian sighed. “Why not?” He picked up a wooden training sword and saluted her. She returned the salute, and they both assumed the guard position. Jenna’s heart was beating quite quickly, in part because this was her first bout, but in larger part because she was distracted by thoughts of the conversation she would soon have with Sebastian regarding their relationship. He took a few steps, but hesitated to make an attack. Finally, he moved, but Jenna
with her distraction was late with the parry. He anticipated it and got a clean hit on her left side.
“Sebastian, good. Jenna, make sure you focus on his weapon so you can make the parry in time. We’ll do best two of three.”
Jenna nodded and returned to the guard position. Sebastian followed. This time she tried to calm her nerves and focus. Since it was difficult to face off against him as her friend, she attempted to picture him as he had looked in her dream when the Dark Mage had used his form. This allowed her to feel more comfortable being aggressive. She took a few steps forward and thrust at his left side. He parried, but she quickly made another attack. It surprised him, and she got a hit on his arm.
“Hit. Well done. Sebastian, it’s now your turn to focus. Now you know it won’t always be so easy.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes, but quickly moved to the guard position. Jenna noticed Peter was watching them closely. He appeared concerned, but didn’t say anything. She ignored it and resumed her ready stance, once again pretending Sebastian was her nemesis. This time she had calmed enough to let herself enter a trance-like state. It allowed her to focus better and let her body move with greater ease. She approached. Sebastian retreated, presumably to buy himself time, but then he attacked. But Jenna was not going to be caught off guard this time. She blocked his attack and made a riposte, which he parried. He retreated, but Jenna did not let him get far. She attacked, using an extended lunge to get in close to Sebastian’s body.
“Hit! Well done again, Lady Jenna. You win your first bout. Brother, you need practice with that footwork.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Sebastian seemed upset. Jenna frowned, worried this would only make things worse later. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been that aggressive.
Eamon grabbed his brother’s shoulder. “That kind of attitude is what really holds you back.”
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe.”
“Look, I know there are other things in life, and you are better than I am at many of them, but this could save your life one day. You may not always be able to depend on your magic.”