Authors: Lana Axe
Lending a hand to
steady him, Nera said, “Take it slow, Kwil. There’s a lot to see.” She could
imagine herself having a similar reaction should she enter a vast collection of
music. This was his idea of paradise, and she enjoyed seeing his reaction.
For over an hour,
Nera followed along as Kwil moved through the stacks, peering at an assortment
of books. Few people were around, so no one noticed that the slave was leading his
mistress. Nera enjoyed his enthusiasm, and she happily carried the books he
wished to borrow while he kept his hands free to flip through more. Eventually,
she said, “There’s a limit of ten.”
Kwil hadn’t
realized how many he’d collected. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking the stack from
her. Scolding himself for being so thoughtless, he made a mental note to pay
more attention. After all, he was the one who should be carrying her books, not
the other way around.
“I’ll just go grab
my school texts and then we’ll be off,” Nera said. “You can wait by the door.”
Nodding, Kwil
carried the heavy stack of tomes toward the door and waited for his friend.
When she returned, she was carrying six books of her own. “Now we can finish
getting settled in,” she said.
As they stepped out
of the library, Kwil felt he was truly home. Here at his fingertips was all the
information he could possibly desire. Thanks to Nera, he would have ample time
to read and learn. With his friend at his side, he was no longer a slave—he was
a wizard in the making.
W
ithin days of
arriving at the College, Kwil and Nera settled into a routine. Kwil would study
during the day while Nera attended classes. This allowed him to catch up to
her, and she considered him at least as knowledgeable as any other second-year
student. Every evening when she returned to her chambers, she would share with
him what she had learned that day. Together they would complete her homework,
and she was certain her marks would improve thanks to his help.
Nera always took meals in her room, sharing
whatever the school was serving with her friend. In his entire life, Kwil had
never been offered so much to eat, and his body reacted favorably to the
additional calories. Though still thin, his face shone with a radiance of good
health since he no longer lacked vital nutrients.
The runic language proved no match for Kwil’s
sharp mind. He excelled at the subject, reading incantations with ease. Nera
had great difficulty until Kwil suggested she put the symbols to music. Though
they still gave her fits, she found it easier to remember what each rune stood
for.
With Kwil’s help in her studies, Nera found
herself with more time to spend on her music. The previous year, she had spent
many long hours laboring over her schoolwork, which took away from what she
really wanted to do. Now she could sit and play her lute every night, and her
skills were improving. She challenged herself with more-difficult refrains,
perfecting her technique and fine-tuning her own ear. Though she originally
dreaded returning for a second year, she was glad she had made the decision to
stay. She was enjoying her time with Kwil.
One evening while she was strumming away, a thought
occurred to her. “You know,” she began, “if you’re going to have four years of
basic wizard’s training, that’s going to force me to stay as well.”
“You don’t want to stay?” Kwil asked.
“Not at all,” she replied. “I’ve frequently
thought about running away.” Clutching at her lute, she said, “All I want to do
is make music, but that isn’t good enough for my parents. They want a master
wizard in the family.” Laughing, she added, “Maybe they should adopt you.”
Kwil laughed, turning to look out the window
toward the lake. “I’d love to stay here forever,” he admitted. “But if you
decide to leave, then I’ll leave with you.” Turning back to face her, he said,
“As long as I have some of these books and your friendship, I’ll be fine
wherever I am.”
It was the kindest thing he could have said to
her. She fought back her tears, and said, “That’s very selfless of you, Kwil.
You’re a true friend.” In her mind, he cared more for her than her own parents
did. They were uninterested in her dreams, and they were determined to force
her into a life that did not suit her. Kwil had been far more supportive and
more family to her than they had ever been. All they seemed to care about was
their own reputation among the wealthy. Having a musician for a daughter would
bring shame on them, as the position was considered lowly and undesirable by
the upper class. Despite the fact that nobles paid musicians to perform at
their dinner parties, the musicians themselves were looked down upon. They
could be entertaining, but they were uncivilized, as were all performers.
Nera didn’t care what they thought of her.
Becoming a wizard was not her desire, and ultimately, she would fail. Mastering
the arcane required immense skill and too much study. If a student wasn’t fully
committed, he wouldn’t succeed. Nearly any Gatan could learn basic spells, but
to truly excel took dedication that she lacked. Only music mattered.
“Do you think you’ll be content without becoming a
master wizard?” she asked.
Kwil didn’t need to think about it. “Who says I
can’t become a master? I may never have a title from the College, but that
won’t make me any less a wizard.”
Narrowing her eyes, Nera replied, “You’re wise for
someone so young.” Kwil’s life experience was far different from her own, and
she decided that was what had given him his determination. Having the odds
stacked against him, he would be forced to work harder to overcome them. She
could see the determination in his eyes and knew nothing would stand in his
way. Gi’gata would not be big enough for him. Somewhere was a land that would
accept him as he was, and Nera hoped one day to see him succeed there. All he
needed was a proper teacher—someone who knew far more than she.
“How would you feel about talking to one of my
teachers?” she asked. “Maybe one of them could be convinced to tutor you
privately.”
Kwil’s heart jumped to his throat. “I don’t think
that’s a good idea, Nera. Humans are forbidden from practicing magic.”
“I know, but you deserve a proper teacher,” she
argued. “Besides, not all Gatans agree with that. Mistress Tress would probably
agree to it. She’s open-minded, and she owns no slaves.”
Shaking his head, Kwil replied, “I still don’t
think it’s safe. I’d rather stay as we are. I’m already learning more than I
ever dreamed.” The thought of confiding in someone else didn’t sit well with
him. The law was clear—any human practicing magic was put to death. There was
no way to know how Nera’s teacher would react.
With a sigh, Nera dropped the subject. Kwil was frightened,
and that was only natural. But Nera knew Mistress Tress could be trusted. She
was honorable and forward thinking. If any of the masters at the College would
be willing to teach Kwil, it was she. If she didn’t want anything to do with
it, Nera trusted she would keep silent about Kwil’s learning.
The following morning, Nera got herself ready for
class with no obvious change in her demeanor. She didn’t want to alert Kwil,
who might talk her out of what she was about to do. Unable to focus on her
lessons, she instead tried to decide which words she would use when approaching
Mistress Tress.
Nera scanned her surroundings as she approached
her teacher’s office. Few students were around, most of them with their noses
buried in their books. It was unlikely anyone cared to overhear what she had to
say, so she pressed on toward the door and knocked.
“Enter,” a voice called from inside.
Nera turned the handle and peered inside. Mistress
Tress smiled and tucked away the lesson plans she had been preparing. Though
Nera was not her finest student, she was a special girl with an endearing
personality.
“What can I do for you?” Tress asked. She motioned
for Nera to have a seat.
Seating herself across from the master wizard, she
paused a moment, still trying to find the words she wanted to use. “I have this
friend,” she began, haltingly. “He, well, err…”
Tress folded her hands and rested her elbows
against the desk. “You’ve come here for a reason, Nera.” She flashed her
student a smile. “Out with it.”
Taking in a deep breath, Nera tried to calm her
nerves. What would Kwil say if he knew she was here? She already knew the
answer. He would beg her not to speak of him. Mustering her courage, she
decided it was too late to go back. This was Kwil’s only chance to become a
true sorcerer. “I have a friend who is unable to study here at the College,”
she explained. “He’s a promising young wizard, but his status won’t allow him
entrance.”
Tapping a finger against her lips, Tress sat back
in her chair. “I think I understand,” she said. “Your friend is not of noble
birth, and he hasn’t the funds to attend classes.”
“Yes,” Nera replied, quickly looking away from her
teacher’s eyes.
“We do have scholarship programs for potential
students who demonstrate significant talent,” Tress stated. “Normally they
require the sponsorship of a professor.” Leaning forward, she added, “Mind you,
it’s rather difficult to be chosen for one of those scholarships. It’s also infrequent.
In my twelve years teaching, I’ve seen only one student granted any award
money.”
“If my friend could prove to you that he’s ready,
would you sponsor him?” Nera asked, her eyes hopeful.
“Perhaps,” Tress replied. “I’d have to meet with
him first and determine his skill level.”
“He knows as much as I do,” Nera declared. “He’s
taught himself everything.”
“That is impressive,” Tress replied, raising an
eyebrow. “But I’m not sure that will be enough. The requirements for
scholarship are set high. Probably too high.”
“Could you tutor him?” Nera asked, almost
pleading. “He learns quickly, and he won’t take much of your time.”
Tress sighed. “I’m not sure I have the time,
honestly.” Seeing the desperate look on her student’s face, she asked, “When
could I meet him? I have to talk to this person before I can decide anything.”
Nera thought for a moment. “I suppose I could
arrange a meeting today if you have time.” Nera’s voice grew thinner as she
spoke. At some point she would have to reveal to Tress that her friend was a
human slave. She was going to find out when she met him, and it would be better
to know beforehand if that would be a problem.
Noticing Nera’s frustration, Tress asked, “Is
there something else?”
Shifting uneasily in her seat, Nera tried to decide
what to say next. Racing through her mind were many different scenarios, most
of them bad. Would Tress be willing to listen once she knew the truth? Would
she be angry? Was it possible she would be open to the idea? Nearly panicking,
Nera wondered if she should just drop the subject and leave now before things
got worse. Before she could stand up, her teacher spoke again.
“It’s all right, Nera,” she said. “You can trust
me.”
Her words seemed sincere, and Nera wanted
desperately to believe her. Steadying her breathing as best she could, Nera
said, “My friend is a human.”
Tress’s jaw dropped open slightly, but she
remained calm and silent. Nera’s eyes darted side to side, searching for what
to do next. A few moments of silence passed between the two as Tress processed
the information. “Your human friend is skilled at magic?” she finally asked.
“He has taught himself to do this?”
Nera’s heart pounded in her ears as she replied,
“Yes, ma’am.” She felt a tightness in her throat as she realized what her teacher
was thinking. Luckily, she had not mentioned Kwil’s name or that he was the
human working for her. It would not spare him from suspicion, but she might be
able to convince her that she was speaking of some other human.
Crossing her arms, the master sorceress let out an
audible sigh. “This is a serious crime, Nera. How could you be a part of
something like this?”
Things had gone from bad to worse. Nera had
expected Tress to be more open-minded and unlikely to have this reaction. The
law was wrong, and Nera wanted nothing more than to shout that fact at the
woman she had trusted. But that would not help the situation. Nera had already
made a grave error, and now Kwil’s life could be in danger. Staying calm was
her only option. Perhaps she could control the damage she had done.
“I didn’t realize it was a crime,” Nera replied,
attempting to save face. If Tress had her dragged away as a criminal, there
would be no one to protect Kwil. The authorities would assume it was him she
had spoken of, and he would be executed without a trial. And it was all Nera’s
fault.
“Come now,” Tress said, not believing her. “You’re
a grown woman who has studied in the finest schools. You must be aware of the
law.”
Choosing her words carefully, Nera replied, “I
knew it would be taboo and that most Gatans would dislike it, but I did not
know it was a crime.” Her only chance to avoid arrest was to convince her
teacher she was ignorant of the law. She did not look away for fear Tress would
see through the lie.
After a pause, Tress said, “All right, Nera, but
you must tell me who this human is. He mustn’t be allowed to perform magic
unchecked. He is a threat to everything we Gatans hold dear.”
Thinking quickly, she replied, “He was a slave in
my friend’s household.”
Tress stared into Nera’s eyes and said, “You’re a
terrible liar. The truth now.”
Nera swallowed hard. “He was in my household, but
my parents sold him before I left for school. I do not know his name.”
“You’re trying my patience, Nera,” Tress said,
anger rising in her voice. “If he was your friend, then you would know his
name. I think you’re protecting him, and you’re playing a dangerous game.”
Nera remained silent. What else could she say? She
would never admit it was Kwil, even if it meant being thrown in prison or
worse. She would not have his death on her conscience. Wishing she could turn back
the clock and never come into Tress’s office, Nera closed her eyes and breathed
deeply.
“Fine,” the sorceress said. “Every member of your
household will be searched, beginning with the slave you brought with you.”
Nera’s eyes shot open, her muscles tensing.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Tress asked. “Your reaction
reveals everything.”
“Please,” Nera begged. “He’s done nothing wrong!”
“You will turn him over to the authorities,” Tress
demanded. “Fetch him and bring him here, and we can do this quietly. I’d hate
for your father to find out about this.”
Nera knew she had no choice but to agree. Nodding,
she replied, “I will. He’s on an errand for me at the moment, but as soon as he
returns, I will bring him to you.”
“See that it doesn’t take too long,” Tress warned.
Tears splashed against Nera’s cheeks as she nodded
her agreement. “I won’t keep you waiting long,” she promised. Rising slowly
from her chair, she exited the room, closing the door behind her. Wiping her
eyes, she broke into a run, sprinting toward her dormitory. It was time to tell
Kwil what she had done.