White Hall (The High King: A Tale of Alus Book 10) (23 page)

Piotr looked shocked and blurted out, “You showed them your dragon magic?”

At Katya’s warning glance, the boy closed his mouth looking at the others to see what damage he had just done.

As her friends all looked at her in surprise, Cheleya shrugged, “It wasn’t going to be a secret too much longer anyway. They seemed unsure of whether I should train as a battle mage as I originally thought, though the healer wizard seemed more willing since I have the strength in magic of a wizard. It came up that I do have some similar training to your battle mages, but we call it dragon magic because it approximates what a legendary dragon can do.”

“Aren’t che’ther also dragons?” Piotr asked knowing what the girl was inside of the pretty packaging of a human girl.

“That is what your people call them; but if che’ther deserve such a name, it would be more like lesser dragons or land dragons. We could never fly like the mar’goyn’lya and the legends say that the greater dragon race we call the legendary dragons had wings and could fly. They could breathe fire without a command and induced fear in their enemies with just their presence nearby.

“Che’ther might be impressive on the field of battle, but a man might fear them simply because they are big. True dragons emit an aura that drives fear into man that is hard to control.

“Anyway, dragon magic tries to harness what we have heard of their powers and is cast quickly like a battle mage.”

Katya honed in on something the girl had said offhandedly at the beginning and asked, “You said that the secret wasn’t going to be necessary for much longer, why?”

Taking a deep breath, Cheleya answered, “Kel’lor will begin teaching the magic to those with the capability of using it soon. I will help him from time to time when I am not studying Southwall’s magic.”

While most eyes went wide with the new information, Niklaus asked, “When can I learn that? I would love to learn how to fly.”

Cheleya smiled at him and said, “Usually we train in the basics of elemental magic first. Without the basics to fall back on, it is a bit dangerous for a wizard to have the mindset to maintain their wings and other prolonged spells.

“You have no training at all, but perhaps battle mages learn differently and might try to use dragon magic sooner. There will be a bit of a learning curve for us teaching our lessons too. We weren’t masters who have trained others, though Kel’lor and I were on the verge of graduating to our next school of magic.”

Katya looked more surprised at the last part. “How many schools of magic do you plan to learn?”

Equally surprised by the question at first, Cheleya suddenly seemed to understand the other girl’s ignorance. “I forget that you have seen some magic, but know little of it. In Mar’kal our people live longer lives. There are elder che’ther who still remember the old world from their childhood. We can live over a thousand years. Well at least those bodies could. I am not sure how long I will live as a human.”

Katya and Piotr’s eyes looked ready to jump out of their heads as the young dragoness accidentally let slip to the others her secret.

“Wait, what?” Niklaus asked as Briahnna and Job looked at the girl like she was insane.

Looking suddenly fearful as she realized what she had done, Cheleya’s mouth opened and closed several times without words to say. Her eyes looked to Katya in shock as if to ask what she should do.

Playing with the new necklace, the younger girl gripped it thinking quickly. “You three can’t tell anyone else unless Cheleya says it is alright. Promise me that you will keep her secret!”

She felt power behind her words as she spoke. The final demand for a promise seemed to cause a glow in the others’ eyes as Katya’s power leaked out in a controlled flow for a moment. Promising with nods and the words spoken quietly to avoid notice, the seal of her magic bound her friends in secrecy to the dragoness, who looked thankfully at her friends.

Katya spoke the secret quickly after looking around to make sure that no one else was listening closely. Her magic hadn’t drawn any more attention than before. It was a school of magic and minor spell casting happened too regularly to draw much interest in such a place. “Cheleya has been trapped as the girl you see here, but she was born a che’ther. That is her true secret, so no one can tell anyone else without her permission.”

Staring at the pretty girl with the strange secret, Niklaus clarified for his reeling mind, “You aren’t a girl? You’re a dragon?”

Cheleya shook her head. “I am both... was both. For a che’ther I am considered little more than a baby to my parents. I am seventeen and this body was made from using an amulet like Kel’lor has. I’ve been trapped like this for months and keep learning more of being human, because at least for now, I am the human girl you see.”

“Do you even get attracted to humans? You look seventeen, but you always seemed a little naive, like a younger girl would be,” Niklaus questioned thinking of his dances with Cheleya. She was beautiful and he had always kind of wished to kiss her lips; but now he was confused as to what she really was. It was strange to see a human girl and know that she wasn’t what she seemed.

Cheleya looked unsure of his question, but replied, “I am not sure what that really means. Maybe it is because I am not as old for my race. I see the beauty in humans and know that if I were to try and mate, a male is what I would need; but I am not sure what that kind of relationship would be. If that is what you mean?”

Katya waved off the talk of such things and said, “We’re all too young to be talking about those things, so let’s just drop it. Cheleya is our friend and we love her. That doesn’t change. Whether she could change back into a che’ther or not, that doesn’t change.”

Leaning back, Nicklaus grumbled to Job, “That might change a few things I can think of.”

Job simply shook his head slightly at his friend with a smile.

As the students began returning empty trays and clearing tables, three people entered the front door from outside. They were bundled up and two of the three were carrying cases to protect their instruments. Hired from the townspeople outside of the school, entertainers were apparently brought in by the school to keep the students happy.

Before they began to play, however, a group of fire apprentices moved towards the table of new recruits. Their leader, a dark haired boy who was fairly large and appeared to need a shave, led four others and stood at the end looking at Cheleya.

“So is it true? Are you the girl they say was flying and fighting with a mar’goyn’lya over the Tower of War?” he demanded as much as asked the little blonde haired girl.

Katya frowned, “Now is that the way your mother taught you to talk to girls? I mean, you are accusing her of what now and who are you to ask?”

Niklaus looked like he was unsure if he should step in to defend the two petite young women, but the boy was still unsure what he felt about this new bombshell of Cheleya being a dragoness. The other problem was he had almost no knowledge of his magical powers. With just the fireball spell shown to him, Niklaus had been trying to master that spell for days. Against an older apprentice, especially a fire one, he doubted that it would be enough. Piotr’s magic wasn’t for attacking people either, the boy thought of his twin, and figured Job would be of no help as well.

“I am Arrimus, the top fire apprentice currently at White Hall. We’ve all heard the rumors of this flying girl. Now we all want to know what is going on with her,” he replied and began to play to the room. Other young apprentices and mages seemed to agree as they nodded approval of the questions.

Cheleya had been warned that Southwall might not be ready to see dragon magic, if only because seeing someone capable of flying would bring the worry of the Dark One’s forces using the same kind of magic. A forty foot wall running from one side of the southwest peninsula to the other to protect the country would be nearly useless if warlocks could simply fly over the barrier.

Katya stood up facing the boys who all towered over the shorter girl. “Well, Arrimus, what is the description of this flying girl? Was she blonde? I see a lot of girls in this room with that color of hair. I don’t suppose you knew her hair color or any other description of her looks. After all, if blonde hair and green eyes is all it takes, then maybe I am the girl?

“Or that one, or maybe that one,” she began to gesture to the other blonde haired girls, most of which wore the white of apprentices and novice wizards closest to them.

The apprentice’s eyes narrowed and he said, “Her hair was said to be light blond, which appeared to shimmer like silver. Yours is a darker coloring, even if it does qualify as blonde.

“The girl wore a red blouse and brown shorts, like she is now. Does that satisfy your needs, little girl? If so, you can sit down and let her explain what magic can do that?”

Katya’s right hand found the crystal gripping it as she leveled the forefinger on her left hand at the taller boy’s chest. “Well, you can just shush and go away. You are pretty rude, so I don’t think that she owes you any answers. Now go away.”

Her magic seemed to push from her with her words, but it didn’t feel strong like it had been moments before sealing Cheleya’s secret. While Arrimus’ eyes looked perplexed for a moment, the apprentice shrugged it off with a shake of his head. “Did you just try to coerce me with your magic, little girl? You are barely in the door and you think that you can use magic?”

Katya’s eyes barely registered any surprise. It was too soon for the girl to rely on magic to help her. “Who are you calling ‘little girl’, you big jerk?”

Laughter followed her irritated comment, which made the boy beside him try to come to his defense. “It’s not like you’re going to be called ‘big girl’, unless you decide to grow fat. Then maybe we’ll call you ‘big girl’ then.”

“Thanks, Mishael, like I need you to back me up against her,” Arrimus complained to the other boy. “She can’t even call her magic properly and she looks like she is barely old enough to start wearing a training bra. I don’t think a baby girl like her will be a problem, but the other one still hasn’t answered, so maybe she just needs to shush herself.”

Cheleya stood wishing Kel’lor was around. He had been told that the school was for students and he had to stay in the town until they decided whether to instate him as a teacher officially.

“It is called dragon magic and it is from Mar’kal. The mar’goyn’lya and I have come to see if any of your people can learn the magic. You are still learning your magic, but maybe some of you will get a chance to learn of it.”

Looking unsatisfied with her answer, Arrimus questioned other things about the girl, “You look too young to be a teacher. How are you going to teach us anything?”

Smacking her head letting the older apprentice know that she thought he was an idiot, Katya retorted angrily, “So first you demand that the flying girl is her and now you doubt that the same girl can actually teach a rock head like you how to fly? Guess what, you’re probably too stupid to learn how to fly. If you’re the best of the fire wizard apprentices, then I think Southwall is in trouble.”

“Well, she does have you there,” a familiar voice to the girl stated and Katya looked around the taller pack of boys to see Magnus with Wizard Embrell at his side. “You were always a good follower, Arrimus. Don’t try to be a leader.”

“Magnus?” the apprentice turned to look at the young men in red wizard robes. “You’re back?”

“And just in time apparently,” the fire wizard replied, “and it is Wizard Magnus to you, apprentice.

“What Cheleya’s magic can do is of no concern for you, apprentice. You are a fire apprentice. Master your magic fully and then worry over what someone else brings to the school.

“Oh, and by the way, be glad that Katya is restrained with a training gem or the girl would have fried your brain with a word. She might be small and untrained, but you should sense her aura. It is quite a bit stronger than yours is,” the blonde haired wizard stated with a nod to the younger girl.

The apprentice gritted his teeth and countered, “Just because you got promoted when you got a lucky assignment north of the wall, doesn’t mean that you are really better than me, Magnus. You’ve been gone for awhile. I can beat anyone in the duels, so be lucky that I couldn’t go to Hala or I would have beaten you.”

“Ha!” a simple barked laugh rebuked the apprentice. “Well, this I have to see. You want to prove it? I think we have the time before the musicians start to play.”

“You’re on!” the hot headed Arrimus agreed and the two men began to briskly walk towards the front doors.

Mishael, the apprentice friend of Arrimus warned, “I don’t think you should be doing this in the middle of the school.”

“Ah, Mishael, you always were a bit of a worry wart," Magnus countered with a smile. "I can control my magic and it won’t take long. Arrimus needs to learn his place and he already accepted my challenge.”

The two young men led a procession which nearly consisted of the entire school. Wizards’ duels had become more popular with the call to the Winter’s Edge tournament. Even though, Magnus had won, there were those who had no knowledge of how rigorous the competition had been or how good the other wizards were. As champion, Magnus now had a target on his back, especially for younger wizards and apprentices looking to make a name for themselves.

Katya and Cheleya joined the rush and the younger girl questioned why the wizard had stepped in to intervene. Was he the enemy which Sebastian and the others had made him out to be or was he a gentleman protecting the girls? He had even made Niklaus feel better about being a battle mage, when the wizard had once been as big a bully to her brother as Arrimus had become apparently.