“I had a thought,” Emily said. “Something I want to try.”
Duchene studied her for a long moment. “Something you didn’t want to discuss in front of the others, including my deputy?”
“Yes,” Emily said. “I thought it should stay between us.”
“I see.” Duchene frowned. “What do you have in mind?”
“The riot exploded too quickly,” Emily said. “I figured there might be an outside force influencing events...”
“That was the theory,” Duchene said. “And nothing was ever found.”
“Yes,” Emily said. “But did they think to use soul magic to investigate?”
Duchene’s eyes bored into hers. “... No,” she said, finally. “Are you aware that soul magic is tightly regulated? That powerful oaths are required of everyone who studies the art?”
“I was taught how to do it,” Emily said, choosing her words carefully. She’d never been asked to swear any oaths. Hopefully, Duchene wouldn’t ask too many questions. “I could scan one of the rioters and look for traces of outside influence.”
“The board would throw a fit,” Duchene predicted. She sat back in her chair. “Let me think about it. You’d need a volunteer.”
“I know,” Emily said. Soul magic was difficult enough when practiced on a willing subject. No one liked having their mind read. Someone who wanted to fight back could make life very dangerous for her. “I could ask for volunteers...”
“You’d have to offer a substantial bribe,” Duchene said. “I’ll think about it and let you know.”
Emily stood. “I have a lesson to plan,” she said. It wasn’t what she’d intended to do, on Sunday, but she couldn’t go down to the town herself. She’d have to write Jan a note apologizing for her absence. “Let me know when you decide.”
She scowled, inwardly, as she made her way down to the classrooms. There were only a handful of girls in the corridor, none looking very pleased. There’d been a very simple announcement at breakfast that no one was to leave the castle until the teachers said otherwise. Nadine might be able to continue her planned flying lessons - and games - but the girls wanted to get out and spend some time away from the school. Emily understood the impulse. The castle’s corridors were starting to feel as if they were closing in.
The classroom was dark and cold when she entered. She muttered a light spell, then sat at her desk and started to go through the lesson plan. Damia was highly organized, to the point Emily could - in theory - simply read from the notes, without adding anything of her own. She doubted it would be that easy. There would be questions she’d have to answer, questions that couldn’t be predicted. Emily had to smile as she ran her eye down the notes. Damia had done a very good job of trying.
She looked up as someone cleared her throat. Lillian stood in the doorway, looking nervous. Emily frowned. It looked as if Lillian didn’t want anyone else to know she was there. It was odd for students to seek out their teachers on weekends, unless they were playing games or needed access to classroom stores...
“Lillian,” Emily said. “What can I do for you?”
Lillian closed the door and inched towards the desk. “I was... I was wondering if I could ask you a question?”
“You can ask any question you like,” Emily said. Mistress Irene had said the same thing, back when Emily had started lessons. “I don’t promise to answer.”
Lillian nodded as she stopped in front of the desk and stood, clasping her hands behind her back. “They said you were with a boy.”
“A man,” Emily corrected. Jan wouldn’t be amused if he knew he’d been called a boy. He’d graduated a year ago and was legally, as well as physically, an adult. “Who said that?”
“The girls,” Lillian said, vaguely. “I... there’s a boy I like. In the town. And... I don’t know what to say to him.”
Emily concealed her amusement. “And what do the girls say about that?”
Lillian colored. “They just” - she looked down - “they just talk nonsense.”
“I can guess,” Emily said. “Right now, things are very tense. You’re not allowed to go down to the town.”
“I know.” Lillian’s blush deepened. “But... what do I say, when we meet?”
Emily winced, inwardly. “Do you think he likes you?”
“I don’t know,” Lillian said. “I just don’t know...”
“I see.” Emily considered her next words very carefully. “First, a lot of men can get very funny about dating magicians... witches. Some think we’re willing to do anything with anyone, that we have the kind of freedom never granted to mundane girls. Others see us as threats, as people with powers they will never equal. It doesn’t make for a balanced relationship. Second, you need to know how to protect yourself...”
“He wouldn’t hurt me,” Lillian insisted. “I...”
“How do you know?” Emily frowned. “I didn’t just mean protecting yourself from him. I meant the risk of getting pregnant. Or catching something nasty. You have to learn spells to handle it and they’re not easy to remember...”
She shook her head. “You really should talk to someone else about it. I’m not an expert.”
“I can’t trust my dormmates,” Lillian said. “You should hear what they have to say about men.”
“I can imagine,” Emily said, dryly. Alassa and Imaiqah hadn’t said much about men, but... she shook her head. “Very well. Let me try to explain...”
Chapter Thirty
“IT’S NOT GOOD TO HAVE A private tutoring session,” Damia observed, as she stepped into the classroom an hour later. “People will talk.”
“People always talk,” Emily said, curtly. “What can I do for you?”
“The headmistress said you can go ahead with your plan, if you find a volunteer,” Damia said. She indicated Lillian. “Is this one suitable?”
“She wasn’t there,” Emily said. She wondered, suddenly, what Duchene had told Damia. The Old Woman might be smart enough not to ask too many questions, for fear of uncovering something she couldn’t overlook. She’d been a magician long enough to know the restrictions on soul magic - and healing magics - were more porous than anyone wanted to believe. “We need another volunteer.”
“I can volunteer,” Lillian said. “What do you need?”
“I need you to find Karalee and ask her to come here,” Emily said. Karalee had been there, casting hexes and curses with the other witches. “We can finish our discussion later.”
Lillian nodded, bobbed a quick curtsey and hurried out of the room. Damia scowled after her, then turned to look at Emily. She looked as if she’d bitten into something sour. “That girl should be more discreet.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
“About liking you, as well as respecting you,” Damia said. “You’re not going to be here for much longer. She doesn’t need a reputation as a teacher’s pet.”
“I’ve had worse,” Emily said. She didn’t want to be quite so blithe about it, but... it had to be said. “This is the first time she’s sought me out.”
Her eyes hardened. “What do you teach them about men?”
“I leave that to the dorm supervisors,” Damia said. “It is their job to ensure the girls know the basics.”
Emily frowned. “And just how much does that cover?”
“Enough,” Damia said, curtly. “As a general rule, such education is largely left to the families. It is not our role to provide more than very basic education. We teach the girls how their bodies work and to avoid pregnancies and very little else.”
And you don’t like men, Emily thought. The disdain was obvious. What happened to you, I wonder?
Damia stepped to one side as Karalee entered, looking surprisingly cheerful. “Have a care, Lady Emily, have a care.”
Karalee frowned as Damia left the room. “What was that about?”
“Nothing of great importance,” Emily said. She had the odd feeling she’d missed something, but... she shrugged. She’
d sort it out later. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything,” Karalee said. She perched on one of the student desks, looking surprisingly calm for someone who’d been summoned without advance warning. She must have wondered if she was in trouble for something. “What can I do for you?”
Emily held up a hand as she cast a complex privacy ward. “First, you have the right to say no. It will not be held against you. That said... you are required to keep it to yourself until I say otherwise. Is that clear?”
Karalee blinked. Emily winced, inwardly. That had sounded a lot better in her head. Out loud, it sounded a little creepy. The wards would make it harder for Karalee to talk, but not impossible. She could go straight to the headmistress and... and say what? Duchene already knew what Emily had in mind.
“The riot started too quickly,” Emily said. “What were you thinking?”
“I...” Karalee hesitated. “They attacked us and... we defended ourselves.”
“So you say,” Emily said. “Is that the truth? Or is it the story you agreed to tell?”
Karalee flushed. “It’s true.”
“I see.” Emily held her eyes. “I need to check for signs of outside influence. To do that, I need to touch your mind. Whatever I see” - she didn’t know how much Karalee knew about soul magics - “would remain strictly between ourselves. I won’t share anything I glean from your mind with anyone else.”
The younger girl stared at her for a long moment. “You think we were enchanted?”
“It’s possible,” Emily said. She grimaced. There was no easy way to sugar-coat the problem. “And we have to be sure.”
“We weren’t enchanted,” Karalee said. “I would have known.”
“That’s the problem with subtle magics and suchlike,” Emily said. “Your world is changing and all the tools you use to measure it are changing too. It’s impossible to realize you’re being influenced until you find yourself facing a contradiction, by which time it is often too late. An outside observer might spot something wrong...”
“If she looked into my mind,” Karalee said. “And... if I do this, what do I get in return?”
Emily frowned. “What would you like?”
“An apprenticeship?” Karalee looked at the floor, her cheeks reddening. “Would that be possible?”
“It might,” Emily said, slowly. She’d been told she’d be expected to take apprentices of her own, once she completed her apprenticeship. It wasn’t something she’d really considered at the time. “That said, there’s no guarantee I’d be finished and ready to take you on as an apprentice by the time you graduate. You might wind up waiting for me.”
She met Karalee’s eyes. “Contact me when you’re ready and we’ll discuss it,” she offered. “If I can’t take you myself, I can talk to others who might.”
Karalee’s eyes gleamed. “And if I refuse anyone other than yourself?”
Emily felt a hot flash of irritation. “I cannot guarantee anything,” she said, sharply. “There’s a very real possibility my own apprenticeship will not be concluded by the time you leave the school. And that’s assuming I don’t get killed somewhere along the line. There are people out there who hate me, who want me dead! I could offer you a promise I simply wouldn’t be able to keep.”
She controlled her annoyance with an effort. She was making one hell of a request of a young girl, one who had to fear the consequences. She didn’t even know Emily hadn’t sworn the correct oaths. Karalee had every right to demand a price... Emily briefly considered asking one of the others, but Karalee was the one who was most likely to agree. Dionne would have a heart attack if it were so much as suggested to her. And then she’d start firing off complaints in all directions.
“If I am in a position to take you as an apprentice, I will,” she said. “If not... I’ll recommend you to someone else.”
“That will be suitable.” Karalee stood, brushing down her dress. “When do we begin?”
“Now,” Emily said. “Come with me.”
She forced herself to think as she led Karalee through the corridors and into a small meeting room. Damia had told her that it was intended to allow students and teachers to have private chats, when the time came to discuss their future. The armchairs were surprisingly comfortable, even though they looked old and battered. Emily motioned Karalee to a sofa and then headed over to brew a pot of tea. Karalee looked confident, but Emily could tell she was nervous. She’d probably be a great deal happier if she’d decided to undress in front of the entire school.
“You don’t have to go through with this,” she said, as she poured the tea into a pair of chipped mugs. “I’d understand if you wanted to back out.”
Karalee looked down at her hands. “Lady Emily... if we’ve been enchanted, we have to fight back before... before it’s too late.”
“That’s true,” Emily said. It was odd that Karalee wasn’t rejecting the suggestion out of hand. Most mind-manipulation spells were designed to make it hard for someone to believe they could be manipulated, let alone that they were. People generally found it easier to believe what they wanted to believe... she shivered. She didn’t want to believe she could be controlled either. “Drink your tea, then lie on the sofa.”
She gathered herself as Karalee followed orders. Soul magics weren’t that hard - and they didn’t require a great deal of magic - but they were dangerous. It would be easy for something to jump from mind to mind, anything from an embedded curse to a simple idea... an idea that would be hard to question. She gritted her teeth, trying to order her thoughts as best as she could. It might hurt Karalee a little, but at least it wouldn’t influence her mind...
Void said the first soul magicians went mad with power, she recalled. The horror stories had been enough to convince her that soul magic shouldn’t be risked, unless there was no other choice. They unleashed nightmares in the guise of helping people.
Karalee put her mug down and leaned back on the sofa. Emily felt a pang of guilt. She was about to risk Karalee’s life - and her own - in a desperate attempt to find out the truth... an attempt that might fail. If the naysayers were right, if there was no outside influence, she was about to take a horrible risk for nothing. Her lips twitched, bitterly, as she adjusted her position until she was sitting in front of the sofa. No wonder Duchene hadn’t asked too many questions. She wanted to make sure Emily took all the risk.
“Try to relax,” Emily said. She didn’t want to restrain the younger girl. It would just spur her mind to fight the intrusion. “Relax... and listen to me.”
She took a breath, then started to recite a soothing mantra. It was little more than basic hypnosis, from what she’d learnt, but it was surprisingly effective even on strong-willed magicians. Karalee’s breathing became even, as if she were on the verge of dropping off to sleep. Emily touched her forehead lightly, feeling the girl’s magic pressing lightly against hers. She tried not to feel guilty as she allowed her awareness to inch down into Karalee’s mind. The girl wasn’t trying to fight, but her mind still resisted the intrusion.
And there’s nothing obvious to suggest she’s being controlled, Emily thought. It was no surprise - the wards would have sounded the alert if Karalee had returned to the school under a compulsion - but... she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to probe very deeply. If there’s something inflecting her, it’s very subtle.
A storm of images - Karalee’s memories - raged against Emily’s awareness as she slid further into Karalee’s mind. Flashes of an older couple - her parents, Emily knew without asking - were mingled with glimpses of a magical upbringing, of a childhood that was both strict and loving. Emily tried not to feel envious as the images grew stronger, tried not to let them drag her into a childhood that hadn’t been hers. And yet... Emily frowned as she followed the threads of memory, images of girls she vaguely recognized popping up in front of her. It took her a moment to realize they were Dionne and the others. They’d been younger at the time.
Idiot, Emily thought, cros
sly. Of course, they were younger at the time.
The memories grew stronger as she zeroed in on a particular thread. Nadine - no, not Nadine - was a faint presence, barely remembered. The intruder hadn’t shown any interest in any of the younger girls, apart from Lillian. Emily studied the memories for a moment, then went on to the riot. Her face appeared in front of her, so big and strong and overwhelming that, for a moment, she honestly didn’t recognize herself. She hadn’t realized just how she looked to outside eyes... Karalee was impressed, even though Dionne was not. Emily hastily looked away as the thread led her to images she didn’t want to see. Karalee was trying to steer her away from the riot...
Emily braced herself as the riot exploded around her. Everything had happened so fast, to the point the memories were a jumbled mess. It was hard to put them in any coherent order, hard to work out who - or what - had hexed first. Karalee’s emotions had shot up the scale so rapidly that she’d practically been consumed with rage... a spike of hatred - no, something worse - that had pushed her into hexing every mundane in sight. Emily recoiled as she saw a middle-aged man begging for mercy, an instant before she - Karalee - turned him into a toad and kicked him across the room. It was easy, so easy, to blame Karalee for everything and yet... there was something else. Something...
She narrowed her mental eyes as she stared at the memories. The spike of rage had built too quickly. There’d been no hint Karalee was simmering with anger before the incident, an incident she hadn’t even seen directly, had exploded. One moment, she’d been mildly bored; the next, she’d been overcome with rage and a desire to humiliate the entire world. She’d been lucky she hadn’t turned on her friends. And yet, it might have been better for her if she had. It might have taught her a lesson.
Little Witches (Schooled In Magic Book 21) Page 29