Competitions

by Sharon Green

  “Good morning, Dom Ro, good morning,” the thin Adept greeted him, forced warmth in his melodious voice. “I trust you rested well since we parted yesterday?”

  Vallant hadn’t had much sleep the night before, so he ignored Podon’s burbling the same question to Holter to say shortly, “It was a wonderful time. Now let’s get on with it.”

  “Of course, Dom Ro, we’ll begin as quickly as possible,” Wimand replied, his enthusiasm fading for an instant before being dragged back in place. “We must wait for two more Adepts to become available to witness your and Dom Holter’s masteries, so we might as well have tea during the wait. We already have a pot and cups right over here…”

  “No,” Vallant said, a refusal Holter clearly joined him in. “I’m not in the mood for waitin’, with or without tea. You and Podon can witness our efforts together instead of separately the way you did yesterday, since we’ll be performin’ one at a time. So let’s get this thing goin’ now.”

  Vallant knew that any delay would send him back into brooding distraction, and that could mean a delay in passing the tests. Since this was probably the last time he’d be comfortable during a test—in other words, outdoors—his mood wanted the time behind him. Being faced with struggle would satisfy him a good deal more, so that was the point he had to reach. Struggle … and maybe a failure that would end all of his problems for once and all…

  Wimand spent some time in feeble argument with Podon backing him up, but Vallant and Holter had formed a united front. Neither of them would hear of a delay, and today it was Vallant’s turn to go first. The Adepts were clearly unhappy about that, especially since they didn’t seem able to refuse. It was completely obvious that they wanted to refuse, but instead Wimand drew himself up.

  “I can see that you gentlemen have made up your minds,” he decided aloud, his tone definitely sour. “Continuing on without the others is irregular, but as long as there are two of us to do the witnessing… Very well, we will begin.”

  Vallant wasn’t at his sharpest or most attentive, but it was still impossible to miss the … vindictive intent behind Wimand’s words. The Adept sounded as if he had plans that would not be to Vallant’s benefit, but that was all right. Vallant would welcome a skirmish right now, preferably one that was physical. If abilities became involved instead, that would also be acceptable.

  Wimand and Podon led the way to the first of the testing cubicles, but not before Wimand insisted that Holter wait at a table some distance off.

  “To be certain that no one is able to later raise a charge of collusion on the part of you two gentlemen,” the Adept explained with a faintly amused smile. “Having to achieve the same masteries a second time is such a bore.”

  Holter shrugged to show that he didn’t mind waiting at the table, so Vallant also allowed the matter to pass without argument. Simply going along would get them out of there sooner, a result Vallant was quickly coming to want rather badly.

  The first cubicle held resin spheres the size of a man’s head sitting on posts, but unlike the original first cubicle there was no vat filled with water. Vallant would have to take water from the air to surround the forms with, which was harder than using standing water.

  “At least you needn’t worry that anyone will think you used water from the vats in the other cubicles,” Wimand remarked from behind Vallant. “The resin walls don’t let people reach through with their ability, so that’s one concern behind you. Just please be certain that you don’t run afoul of the other, more important one.”

  “And what concern would that be?” Vallant asked, turning to look at the man. Podon stood more behind the first Adept than beside him, which, with Wimand’s prejudices in mind, wasn’t very surprising.

  “Why, the concern behind the reason that these exercises are so much more difficult,” Wimand replied, a sleek nastiness underlying the words. “It’s not only harder to take the necessary water from the air, it’s also more dangerous. The extra effort needed to do it sometimes causes a practitioner to also surround himself with water. If he then loses his head to fear, he can end up drowning himself. It has been known to happen, and on far more than one or two occasions.”

  “Oh, yes, I remember hearin’ somethin’ about that now,” Vallant drawled, not about to let Wimand think his scare tactics had a chance to work. “That’s a nasty way to die, but I don’t ever expect it to happen to me. Are we ready to begin?”

  “Yes, of course,” Wimand muttered in answer, the sleekness having disappeared. “You may begin when you wish.”

  Vallant nodded his thanks and turned back to the targets, almost disappointed that that was all the plotting Wimand seemed to have in mind. Apparently the Adept had hoped to frighten Vallant enough to ruin his try for the masteries, which simply showed how blind it was possible for a man to be.

  The exercise was just like the first time in that Vallant had to first surround the six forms with water while they were all together, then when they were in two groups, then three groups, then individually. Podon was the one who shifted the positions of the forms, of course, a fact Vallant noticed but ignored. Gathering the necessary moisture from the air took concentration, but it wasn’t long before the exercise was completed.

  “Well, you now have your first mastery, Dom Ro,” Wimand said then, making an obvious effort to sound hearty. “Let’s continue on to the next cubicle.”

  “I think you’re forgettin’ about Holter,” Vallant said as the Adept began to move away. “It’s now his turn to earn the mastery.”

  “No, I’m afraid it isn’t his turn yet,” Wimand denied with a smile as he looked back at Vallant. “Other applicants aren’t given a rest between exercises, so it would be unfair to allow you to have one. Please follow me, Dom Ro.”

  There was nothing Vallant could say to that without sounding as if he were trying to cheat, so he followed Wimand as requested. Yesterday Holter had started first with Vallant following, but there hadn’t been any pauses between the exercises. And, considering the smugness Wimand now showed, it was too bad argument wasn’t possible.

  The second cubicle held six breadboxes, which Vallant had to fill with water. First one box was to be filled, then two together, then three together and so on, until all six boxes were filled at once. Each box held a catch bowl, and if the exercise was properly done the water would come out when the bottom of the box was released. Once again Vallant had to concentrate on what he was doing, but other than that the exercise wasn’t difficult.

  “And that’s mastery number two,” Wimand said, but the lightheartedness of his tone was surprising. Vallant turned to look at the man, and was startled to see that two strangers had joined Wimand and Podon.

  “How amusing that your mastery has been witnessed by four Adepts rather than two,” Wimand continued, his expression bland. “Dom Ro, I would like to present Adept Rilin and Adept Kinge, whose presence will make it possible for Dom Holter to begin at once. Adept Rilin will accompany me, and Adept Kinge will go with Adept Podon.”

  It would have been more accurate to say that the man Kinge had already gone with Podon. The second newcomer hadn’t even nodded to acknowledge the introduction before turning away, and Rilin was no different. He simply stared hard-eyed at Vallant as if he were some lower lifeform, which brought Vallant’s head up as his jaw muscles tightened. Tamrissa had looked at him in almost the same way, and Vallant was sick of that particular reaction.

  “We can go to the third cubicle now,” Wimand announced, still sounding much too smugly satisfied. That had to mean something had changed to make the situation more pleasant for him, and the only change was the presence of Rilin. Vallant took that as his cue to start being more alert, but otherwise followed the two Adepts silently.

  “Now, here the boxes are hidden behind that curtain,” Wimand said once Vallant was in the cubicle, possibly trying to suggest that Vallant was too dim to remember on his own. “The boxes are of different sizes, so you must use your ability to discover their d
imensions as well as to fill them. Just as in the last cubicle, you’ll begin by filling one, then two at the same time, and so forth. You may start when you feel yourself ready.”

  “That’s mighty kind of you,” Vallant murmured in answer without turning. Yes, the man was definitely up to something, but it still wasn’t clear what that might be. Could Wimand be trying to get him angry, which sometimes resulted in a loss of control? It was possible…

  But Vallant didn’t have the time to worry about that now. The third and final mastery had to be earned, so he reached out with his talent to discover the dimensions of the first box. It was very much on the small side, which meant it had to be filled very carefully. He did that, and Wimand’s tripping the box’s release showed rather quickly that he’d done it properly.

  Vallant had filled three boxes successfully and was beginning to probe the size and shape of the fourth when it happened. He suddenly found himself surrounded by water, and for an instant believed he’d had that accident Wimand had mentioned and had done it himself. But his automatic attempt to return the water to the air didn’t work, which immediately told him the true state of affairs.

  A glance over his shoulder showed Vallant that Wimand and Rilin were using their own talents rather intensely, which meant that the two so-called Adepts were responsible for the water around him. It was also a fairly safe guess that Rilin was a good deal stronger than his associate, and that was why Wimand had been so smugly pleased. He would have had trouble doing this to Vallant with no one but Podon helping, but with Rilin’s assistance…

  All of which was really interesting, but still did nothing to free Vallant from the globe of water. He’d held his breath at the first appearance of the water out of habit, a reflex related to how experienced and strong a swimmer he was; that in itself, however, wasn’t going to save him. He had to force the water away completely, but with two men holding it firmly in place he simply couldn’t break free.

  At least not with the amount of power he now wielded. Vallant realized that even as the strain increased on his lungs, and his mind grew aware of the fact that he was trapped inside the small globe of water. Panic threatened to rise up and overwhelm him, but if it did he was dead. He had to find a diversion, so he quickly opened himself to more of the power.

  The immediate inflow of golden strength surprised him, as the inflow also seemed to include a bit more oxygen for his straining lungs. But even more it seemed to spread throughout his body, bracing him to wield the additional power and clarifying his wildly roiling thoughts. The way to escape the trap came to him instantly, so he quickly put the plan to work.

  In the upper reaches of the sky, water is closer to being ice than a liquid. Vallant reached down two large globs of that ice, and applied each glob to the private parts of the two men trying to drown him. Their screams could be heard even through the water around his head, and then the water was no longer there. Vallant stood and breathed deeply while he listened to the unfiltered screams, grimly satisfied. Cold, beyond a certain point, becomes true pain, and if these two didn’t deserve the pain then no one did. He let them experience it for a full minute, and then he withdrew the ice a very small bit.

  “Gentlemen, your screams are disturbin’ me,” he said then, keeping his voice reasonably low. “They’re also disturbin’ all those other people, so I suggest you turn and assure them that you’re perfectly all right.”

  The two so-called Adepts glanced at him with fear in their eyes, then turned to do as he’d said. People from the eating area had crowded up when the screams first began, but once Wimand called to them that everything was fine, they shook their heads and returned to their tables.

  “Nicely done,” Vallant said in the same soft tones. “Now we can discuss the fact that you’re still able to feel that ice, and the additional fact that you can’t force it away from your … dignity. Each of you has been tryin’, and you’ve discovered you’re simply not up to it.”

  The two men exchanged desperate glances, understanding without being told that linking against him again was impossible.

  They were beyond the point where they could surprise him, and only greater strength than what he wielded could break his hold.

  “Now we’re goin’ to continue with this exercise,” Vallant said, giving them a pleasant smile. “The ice will stay where it is until I’ve achieved this final mastery, and then we can all forget about it. Do you agree?”

  The two men nodded raggedly, so Vallant turned back to what he’d been doing. It didn’t take long to finish filling all the hidden boxes, and when Wimand tripped the lever there were six matching streams of water produced.

  “C-congratulations, D-Dom Ro,” Wimand said immediately through chattering teeth. “The s-second level m-masteries are all yours, s-so please…!”

  Rilin’s gaze was also begging, but Vallant still felt reluctant to release them. Experiencing pity for people who had deliberately attacked him wasn’t one of his failings, but it was time to end that farce. So he released his hold on the ice, letting the two men reach it themselves, and a moment later they both sighed with relief.

  “Now I’d like to know what happens next,” Vallant said after giving the two an additional moment to pull themselves together. “Aside from your fetchin’ six dins for me. How soon do I get to the first of the competitions?”

  “You’ll be notified about that, sir,” Wimand replied after taking a deep breath, now firmly back to being obsequious. “I’ll fetch your dins immediately, along with your master’s bracelet.”

  “What’s that about a bracelet?” Vallant asked, trying to divert himself from a mixture of disappointment and relief. He’d thought he wanted to get on with the time when he had to enter that enclosed building, but now that the occasion had turned indefinite, he felt it a lot easier to breathe.

  “Your status has changed from applicant to full participant, sir,” Wimand told him in explanation, all but bowing. “You’ve reached the level of master, so a master’s bracelet will replace your applicant’s card. Congratulations again on achieving that much higher status, and would you care to sit and take tea while I get your bracelet and dins?”

  Rilin had turned and walked away while Wimand spoke, leaving Vallant with the impression that he would not be back.

  That was fine with Vallant, since he had one further thing to say to Wimand.

  “Yes, I believe I will take tea while I’m waitin’,” he said, then moved closer to Wimand and lowered his voice. “I don’t know why you and your brother slime did what you did to me, but I also don’t care why. I’m simply advisin’ you to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen to Holter. I’ll be watchin’ while I have that tea, and if it does I’ll feel obliged to help the man. Do we understand each other?”

  “Perfectly, sir,” Wimand said with a gulp, then hurried off—in the direction of the two—Adepts—with Holter. Vallant nodded to himself in satisfaction as he walked toward a table, looking forward to the tea, something to eat—and a chance to firm up his decision to have nothing more to do with Dama Tamrissa Domon.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  When the coach stopped at my practice area I got out, and Jovvi was so deep in thought that I didn’t want to disturb her even to say goodbye. Our discussion had helped me quite a bit in that it usually helps to share your problems with someone else. But in another way it hadn’t helped at all, because now I couldn’t decide what to do.

  I stopped on the walk leading to the practice area, trying to pull myself together before going in. Talking things out with Jovvi had made me realize something I hadn’t admitted to myself before: a very large part of me wanted to be with Vallant Ro. Looking at him made me feel things I’d never felt when looking at any other man, and even the thought of simply strolling with him in the garden sent me into a minor flutter.

  But I’d decided against associating with Vallant Ro, and right or wrong the decision had still been made. That meant the man had had no right to keep bothering me, no
t to mention trapping me into a very disturbing promise. Maybe I had insisted on making the promise; that didn’t mean Vallant Ro wasn’t wrong to let it happen in the first place.

  Anger rose in me again at that thought, covering over the possibility that I’d been wrong to say I’d never speak to him again. Putting the entire blame on him had seemed unfair because I had encouraged him to a large extent, but the anger wiped out that feeling as well. It usually isn’t wise to let yourself walk around being angry, especially when the use of magic is involved, but this wasn’t a usual situation. If the anger kept me from being distracted by conflicting wants and desires, it seemed wiser to simply go with it.

  So I took a deep breath to settle the anger down to a dull roar, and then walked through the opening into the practice area. Today I was supposed to perform those exercises while Soonen attacked me with her own magic, and for the first time since I’d learned about it I didn’t dread the coming experience. I was in the process of learning that anger sometimes turns fear into indignation, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

  “Well, well, so you actually showed up,” a woman’s voice said, and then Soonen stopped not far from me. “I thought sure you would remember what we’ll be doing today and decide to stay in bed.”

  “That’s your biggest problem, Soonen,” I countered, the coals of my anger glowing hot. “You don’t think, you just flap your big mouth. I happen to be more than eager to get started, so let’s get to it right now.”

  “What a surprise,” the big woman scoffed, looking at me as if I were some sort of insect. “You’re in such a hurry to get started because you’re afraid your nerve will break, and then you’ll show everyone what a sniveling little coward you really are. If you had real nerve, you’d sit down first and have a leisurely cup of tea.”