by Jim C. Hines
Snick started to flee, then veered back to hide at the foot of Veka's cot.
"What's wrong with—"
"Silence, goblin." Mel stood by the window, her arms bare. Even Veka, for all of her struggles with magic, could feel the power crackling around Mel's body.
Veka reached for her staff.
Mel flicked her fingers, and Veka fell to the floor, gasping for air. "How shall I dispose of you?"
Veka couldn't have answered if she wanted to. She struggled to inhale, but every breath felt like she had swallowed water. She gagged and fought to keep from throwing up. Powerful as Mel was, this was another class of magic altogether. This was Dakhan.
Mel waved her hand through the moonbeam. Silver light sparked and danced at her touch. "This child has talent," she said, sounding both surprised and impressed.
Raw, burning envy swept Veka's fear aside. She wanted to cry. Melanie could not be the Prince of Os-Webra. It wasn't fair! She strained to break free of Mel's control, but it was useless. To make things worse, a red fire ant climbed up Veka's palm and sank its pincers into her thumb.
A second ant scurried beneath the door, followed by a third. Soft laughter told Veka this was no coincidence. Mel—no, Dakhan—was going to use the ants to kill her.
Veka's eyes watered, and her lungs were on fire. She struggled to contort her trembling hand into the proper position for a levitation spell. Trying to ignore the hammering of her heart, she reached out with her mind, feeling the lines of magical power that ran through the walls of the school. In this room, those lines all led to Mel. Veka struggled to divert the nearest one, like a child digging a tiny ditch at the edge of a stream. The power she touched was slight, but then, so was the target of her spell.
Her staff flipped into the air, and one end smacked the back of Mel's head.
Mel stumbled into the wall, and the spell holding Veka vanished. Veka gasped and pushed herself upright.
She wasn't fast enough. Strong hands caught her hair, yanking her off balance. Mel wrapped one arm around Veka's neck and squeezed.
"This is less elegant," Mel whispered, "but it's been so long since I've had the chance to kill with my bare hands."
Veka tried to levitate her staff again, but a stronger spell ripped it from her control. "Filthy, talentless goblin," Mel said. "You should learn not to interfere with your betters."
Veka sank her claws into Mel's forearm, wrenching it away long enough to shove her chin down. Then, before Mel could shift her grip, Veka bit her.
Veka's fangs weren't the sharpest or longest, but even goblin children had jaws strong enough to crack bone.
Veka's staff leapt into her hand as Mel tried to pry her arm free. A quick blow to the gut left Mel doubled over. A second strike knocked Mel to the ground. Veka sat on her for good measure.
"And you should learn not to shove meat in the face of a hungry goblin," Veka said, licking blood from her lips.
The only answer was a deep snore. Mel had fallen asleep.
* * *
Sunlight filled the room when Mel finally awoke. Veka sat on a folded blanket, her ritual dagger in one hand as she watched Mel stir.
Mel yawned and tried to sit up, only to choke on the rope looped around her neck. Her arms and legs were bound as well. A longer rope leashed her to the heavy trunk by the foot of her bed. Veka knelt and pressed her knife to Mel's throat. If Mel was still possessed—
"They warned me this would happen if I roomed with a goblin," Mel said. She craned her neck to look at the crusted blood on her arm. "If you're hungry, you can always grab a snack from the dining hall. I would have swiped you a bowl of lamb and rice if you'd asked."
"You don't remember anything?"
"No." Mel hesitated. She clucked her tongue, and Snick hurried over to rub against her foot. "Which means you chomped my arm without waking me up. Care to explain how you did that?"
"Not really," Veka muttered. Snick scurried out of Veka's path as she walked to the bed. She kept her head down, hiding her face behind her hair. She yanked the blankets and mattress down to reveal Dakhan's runes.
"I see." For a long time, Mel said nothing more. Snick moved toward her bound hands, and she scratched his ears. "I think I'll have to kill you for this."
Veka shrugged and raised her knife.
"Wait! What are you doing?"
"Goblin rule of survival: When someone threatens you, kill them first."
"But I'm tied up!"
Veka nodded. "That makes it easier."
"Goblins." Mel shook her head, then slammed her legs against Veka's knees. Veka stumbled against the wall. The ropes around Mel's wrist unknotted themselves and dropped to the floor. Veka recognized the spell Mel had used on Jimar's belt, but this time, she was casting it without a wand.
Veka cursed. Of course Mel could fingercast her spells. She was better than Veka at everything else. Veka still needed a full staff to cast anything but a levitation spell, and even then her magic fizzled more often than not.
The ropes raced at Veka, coiling around her legs and reaching for her arms. She tried to cut them, but the ropes were too fast.
"I wasn't serious, you know," Mel said. "Humans don't kill each other on a whim."
"Dakhan was human," Veka said, trying not to fall. Her arms were lashed tight against her side.
"Fair enough. I don't kill on a whim." She plucked the knife from Veka's fingers and started to sit down on her bed. Then she glanced at the runes and moved to Veka's instead. She twirled the knife in her fingers. "I might maim on a whim, though, unless you can give me a good reason not to. Or maybe I should just let the Masters throw you out."
"It doesn't matter," Veka said. "We all know I shouldn't be here."
"Is that why you tried to summon Dakhan? Because you're having trouble learning on your own?" Mel shook her head. "Murderous wizards don't make the best tutors."
"I wanted to learn how he survived death," Veka said. "I thought I could stop him from killing you, then trace his magic back to the source of whatever spell he cast."
"How were you going to stop him?"
Veka's cheeks were hot. "I was going to hit you with my staff."
Mel tapped the tip of Veka's knife against her chin. "Brainless as that sounds, the overall idea isn't bad."
"It's not?" Veka stared, surprised.
Mel hurried back to her bed. Holding Veka's knife like a quill, she began to scrape new symbols around Dakhan's rune. "This is a seal of slavery. It grants physical control of the body to another. I don't remember what happened, which means Dakhan took over my mind. If someone else has mastery of the body, Dakhan shouldn't be able to do anything."
She stepped back and brushed the knife on her robe. "There. Ready to uncover Dakhan's secret?"
Veka nodded. "You're sure that spell will keep Dakhan from controlling you?"
Mel's grin grew. "What do you mean, me?" She grabbed Veka by one fang and flung her onto the bed. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to break Dakhan's control over—"
"It won't work." Veka's chest was heavy.
"You're criticizing my spellcasting?" Mel sniffed. "Strong words for someone who can't even mix an everglowing potion."
"My potion cast more light than anyone else's."
"Only because it set your desk on fire."
Veka shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Dakhan won't possess me."
"Why?"
Her throat felt like she had swallowed a rock. "He wants you. He said you had talent." Even long-dead evil wizards loved Melanie Lapan. "You're the Prince of Os-Webra."
"Princess. And that's ridiculous."
Veka shrugged and turned away. Ridiculous or not, she knew in her gut she was right. Mel was the heir to Dakhan's power, while Veka was...nothing.
* * *
Hours later, Mel was beginning to believe. She paced back and forth, each time stepping over Snick, who lay curled up in the sunbeam on the middle of the floor. "He didn't possess me right away either," Mel sa
id.
"He won't come for me." Veka strained against the ropes. "You might as well let me go."
"Not yet."
"My bladder's about to burst. If you don't want goblin piss all over your bed—"
The ropes leapt aside, and Veka was free. She climbed to her feet, wincing as the blood pounded through her limbs. She picked up her staff and hobbled toward the door, only to stop midstep. She swayed, and then her leg lurched forward of its own accord.
"I told you the slavery seal would work," Mel said. She traced a circular rune in the air, ending the spell. "Come back when you're through, and we'll try again."
"If you want this to work, you shouldn't ask me for help," Veka said. "Go talk to one of your friends—someone who's not a complete failure as a wizard. Someone Dakhan might actually be interested in."
"I don't care that you're a failure," Mel said. She frowned. "Sorry, that came out wrong. Look, Veka, we can do this. We can find Dakhan's spell, and we can stop him from hurting anyone else. Even the Masters haven't been able to do that."
Veka hesitated.
"Besides," said Mel, giving a quick wink. "Think how Jimar will feel when he finds out a goblin helped destroy Dakhan's curse."
* * *
The next morning, Mel finally admitted Veka was right. Dakhan simply wasn't interested in a goblin with no real power.
So after breakfast, Mel altered the slavery seal, giving control of her body to Veka. "And before you get any ideas, I cast a second spell. If you try to eat me or anything like that, your insides will start leaking out of your ears."
Veka ignored her. Goblins made worse threats simply to greet one another. Besides, she was almost positive Mel was bluffing.
Dakhan took control of Mel the instant she touched the bed. The surge of magic felt like insects crawling over Veka's skin. Mel's body tensed, straining against the slavery spell. And then she simply stared, her eyes cool as she studied Veka. It was all Veka could to do keep from slitting Mel's throat right then, just to be safe.
Instead, she led Mel out into the passages of Os-Webra. They moved in unison, every step the same. It felt like she was carrying Mel on her back. Every step was twice as heavy, and every breath took twice the effort. A stronger wizard probably could have given Mel independent motion without walking her into a wall, but for Veka, it was all she could do to keep them both moving. She walked Mel into a few walls anyway, just on principle.
Halfway down the hallway, it hit Veka. She had conjured Dakhan. Not only that, but she and Mel had controlled him! Dakhan was her slave! Even the Masters had failed to accomplish so much.
Several students snickered and pointed as they passed the dining hall. "Careful," Jimar said, pointing to Mel. He thought Mel was mocking Veka's clumsy gait. "It's catching. Next thing you know, Mel's going to grow fangs!"
He grabbed two knives and held them to his jaw, mimicking goblin fangs.
Veka fought the urge to use a levitation spell to jab those knives up Jimar's nose. She concentrated, and Mel flashed an obscene gesture his way.
Snick slunk nervously in the shadows behind them. At least Dakhan's presence seemed to keep the ghost cat out from underfoot.
Veka flattened her ears and concentrated on tracking Dakhan's spell to its source. The power led down a narrow staircase that opened into a walled garden. The hot sun overhead made her squint, and her nose began to drip from the smell of the plants. Too-sweet flowering cacti bloomed pink and blue to either side of a dusty, tiled path. Stunted trees with bluish green leaves gave off a fruity smell.
Beyond the plants, the walls of Os-Webra spread in either direction. Large runes carved into the sandstone protected the school from outside magic.
"The spell is coming from here," Veka said. She could feel it, like a spider tossing line after line around Mel's body, each one pulling her closer. But pulling her where?
The gates of Os-Webra stood on the far side of the garden. They were heavy doors of smooth brown stone, balanced on iron hinges. This was one of the most tightly warded places in the school. They said the gods themselves would have to knock and ask permission before entering Os-Webra.
"The murderers of Dakhan carried his dismembered body along this very path," said Mel.
Veka's skin tingled. Mel shouldn't be able to talk at all. In typical goblin fashion, Veka's first thought was to flee. But where? Mel was behind her, and there was no way Veka could get through the gates. Snick was already racing between the cacti to hide.
There was an old goblin saying: When you can't run away, at least anger your enemy into killing you quickly.
Veka swung her staff at Mel's head. The wood splintered in her hands, slivers driving deep into her palms. Blue beads of blood welled up on her skin.
"You're not as worthless as you appear, goblin," said Mel. She smiled as she inhaled the warm, dry air. "Fatally foolish, but no more so than scores of students before you."
Veka pulled her knife, only to have it ripped from her grasp. It flew into Mel's outstretched hand.
"The seal of slavery was clever," Mel said. "I assume that was the human's idea? But surely she couldn't believe she was the first to think of such a trick. Time and again they try, students and Masters both, always convinced their cleverness is a match for my own."
Humans talked too much. Veka backed away until she touched the doors. Dakhan's spell originated here. Not from the doors, but from the large tiles at her feet. This was the source of his magic.
"Grovel before me, goblin, and I may be persuaded to show mercy upon—"
Veka dropped to her knees.
Mel blinked. "No defiant speeches? How refreshing. And if I were to give you the choice of an honorable death or accepting the seal of slavery and helping me rid the defilers from my city?"
"Can we start with Jimar?" Veka asked. She kept her eyes down, feigning respect as she searched for the spell. The heavy tiles were worn smooth by generations of wizards and students. She saw no trace of runes or other enchantment, but the magic was here, pouring from the rock beneath her.
Mel chuckled. "I like you, goblin." She waved her hand, and it was as if an enormous stone had slammed into Veka's gut. Veka doubled over, struggling to breathe.
"Alas, I simply cannot allow you to live—not after your earlier defiance. But it gives me pleasure to know your blood will seep into the stones of my home."
As she lay there gasping for air, Veka spotted a line of fire ants crawling toward her face, creeping out of a tiny hole between the tiles. She wasn't even dead yet, and already they were preparing to feast. The stupid bugs were as bad as goblins!
"The ants are surprisingly efficient," Mel said. "In a few hours, only your bones will remain."
Veka tried to roll away, but another blow from Mel's magic knocked her flat. She groaned as she watched more ants pour up from the ground.
The ants...like goblins, they lived in tunnels. Goblin tunnels were a confusing maze of twists and turns, doubling back and crossing like the most chaotic runework.
That had to be it. She held her breath and traced a levitation spell with her fingers—the only spell she could cast without her wand—hiding the movement beneath her robe. Bits of sand began to rise away from the hole the ants were coming from.
"Stop that," Mel said. She reached for Veka.
Veka concentrated, and the sand flew into Mel's face. Veka poured her strength into the tile itself, struggling to rip it free. These tiles had been here for centuries. Surely time had loosened and cracked the mortar.
Mel clapped her hands, and Veka's robe tightened around her neck. She was hauled to her feet, then to her toes, and still her robe dragged her higher. Soon her frantic kicks touched nothing but air. She clawed at her robe, trying to tear the cloth, but all she managed to do was bloody her own neck.
Mel gestured with Veka's knife. "Farewell, goblin."
Veka switched the focus of her magic. She was rewarded by a crazed yowl. Caught by Veka's levitation spell, Snick tumbled head o
ver feet through the air, his tail lashing like a snake. He passed right through Mel's head and shoulders, flying much faster than Veka had intended.
Mel gasped and stumbled back, clutching her head. Veka dropped to the ground. She placed both hands on the tile. She could do this. She had levitated stone before. Sure, those were loose pebbles and rocks, and this tile was a good two feet wide and who knew how thick, but she could do this. The ants had dug through the mortar, weakening it. All she had to do was concentrate and remember her lessons. A calm mind and cool, precise control would—
"Cursed goblin," Mel said. "I'll bind you to this life until the last bit of flesh is consumed from your bones. Your death will last for hours, but it shall feel like an eternity!"
Sometimes panic and terror worked better than calmness and control. Veka plunged all of her strength into the ground. The tile ripped free, and she used her magic to fling it at Mel.
It exploded into dust. Mel coughed and waved her hands, completely untouched. A breeze swept the dust aside.
Veka watched the ants scurry deeper into the stone, and wished she was small enough to do the same. The exposed tunnels formed familiar patterns, but she wasn't a good enough student to identify the runes.
"Well done, goblin." Mel's hand clamped onto Veka's neck. "As they carried my dismembered body from my fortress, they dropped my left hand. In that hand, I held a single ant that slipped away before anyone noticed. That ant began to carve the spell that would one day return me to glory. In return, the descendants of that ant will feast on goblin flesh."
She forced Veka's head to the ground, so her face pressed against the ridged tunnels. "You wished to discover my spell. I grant you that wish."
Tiny mandibles stabbed Veka's forehead. She wrenched her head to the side, momentarily dislodging the ants. But more were already pouring from the tunnels, biting her scalp. Perhaps Dakhan was controlling them, or maybe they were just hungry. They really did remind her of goblins swarming over larger prey.
But goblins had bigger teeth. Wrenching her jaw open, Veka jabbed her left fang into the rock and dragged it across the tunnels. Human teeth were small and frail, but Veka's fang punched through the thin walls of the tunnels, etching a new line through the runes.