So how was he going to ruin it?
“Lucien,” the man with the baritone voice said. “So nice of you to finally join us.”
“Always a pleasure to spend time with you all,” Lucien said.
“We’ll discuss your insubordination—again—at a later time,” the man continued.
“I’m sure we will, Mage Simshar, I’m sure we will.” Lucien crossed his legs and leaned lazily back in his chair.
Mage Simshar stared at him a moment longer before Nina said, “We should get started.”
“Of course,” Simshar said. “We’ve been delayed long enough. I assume you both understand why you’re here?” he said, addressing Aspen and Isak. They both nodded.
“Who is this?” An orc, Mage Gurk, on Simshar’s right pointed at Aspen. She’d seen a few orcs on the couple jobs she’d done in Rivendell, the borough in the Bronx where the orcs, elves, and dwarves lived. This one looked the same as them; massive body, big enough to make his stone chair appear tiny. His skin was slightly tinted green and covered with faint white scars and blue-inked tattoos. A single jagged tooth jutted from his lower jaw, a golden ring hanging from it.
“I’ve never seen her before,” the orc continued.
“None of us have ever seen her before,” Xavier said coolly. “Would you care to enlighten the Council as to when you started taking apprentices, Lucien? We weren’t aware you’d made a request to do so.”
“I’d love to,” Lucien said lightly, “but I noticed the Mages Etienne and Mage Don Jones aren’t here, and I’d hate to have them miss—”
“Lucien,” Simshar rumbled and the room seemed to squeeze in on them, pressure bearing down on Aspen’s lungs. Beside her, Isak shifted uncomfortably.
“The missing Council members will be informed of the proceedings. They have given me the power to vote in their place. Now answer.”
Lucien’s lazy smile stayed on his face. “Very well. She is a…recent apprentice. I think she has some potential, and since the Council insisted I put up an apprentice of my own for the new seat…”
“An apprentice you should have acquired months ago,” Gurk added.
“I have an apprentice,” Lucien insisted. “She’s standing right in front of you. If you don’t like my choice then we can call this off and I can find another. Though it may take some time…”
Years, Aspen thought. He’d drag out the next selection process as long as he could. It was a wonder he hadn’t already, though the Council had probably anticipated that.
The other Mage’s expressions told her she’d guessed right. The edges of Nina’s mouth were shaped in an almost-smile. Like she was shocked—or impressed—at what Lucien was doing.
“If she’s your choice, then we accept her,” Simshar said eventually.
“Fantastic,” Lucien said, not sounding like it was fantastic at all. But he still held that dazzling smile.
“When do we begin?” Aspen said. “The test, I mean.”
“You’re that eager to lose?” Isak chuckled.
Aspen shot him a dark look. “If by lose you mean kick your sorry butt halfway across New York, then yeah.”
“There won’t be any butt-kicking,” Nina interjected as Isak chuckled again. “That’s not how the spot for a Mage position works anymore.”
“You have both been selected to compete for the newly created eighth seat on the Council of Mages,” Gurk said. “Normally, a spot is filled when a Mage dies or retires, and their apprentice takes over. Since we need a new position—”
“Why?” Aspen said.
“Lucien, does your ‘apprentice’ know when to hold her tongue?” Gurk snapped. “Or have you not taught her that particular trick yet?”
Lucien was covering a grin while pretending to look thoughtful. “How careless of me.” He waggled a finger at Aspen. “Bad apprentice. No more interrupting.”
Gurk lurched from his seat, stopped only by Nina pulling on his arm.
“Your mockery of the Council goes too far, Lucien!” Gurk warned, one thick hand pounding his armrest. “You may have power and ability, but both are squandered on you. You are a disgrace to the Mages—”
“Enough, Gurk,” Simshar said in a bored voice. Apparently, these sorts of outbursts were common. “Girl, hold your tongue. Lucien, just…stop being yourself. Continue, Gurk.”
Gurk readjusted his girth in his seat while Nina perched apprehensively at the edge of her chair, waiting for him to spring up again.
“As any competent master should have informed you prior, the new Mage position is necessary to keep the protective wards up around the city, as well as to assist in maintaining peace between the magical boroughs.”
Peace. Right. If these Mages had actually stepped even a foot into the boroughs they lorded over they’d learn that there was very little ‘peace.’ Mostly grudging acceptance, mixed with a healthy dose of seething and fear directed at the Mages who were supposed to be making their lives better.
“With respect, Mage Gurk,” Isak spoke up, “the wards around the city seem strong.”
There was some uncomfortable shifting among the Council. Lucien and Nina exchanged a significant look.
“We wish to keep it that way,” Simshar finally said. “And we need help to do so, which is why the eighth position is necessary. There are…tensions in some communities. Many beings outside the city, dark forces, wish us ill. We need help to cope with this new demand.”
Another uncomfortable pause. Aspen pieced it together.
“There’s something happening right now, isn’t there? Something that’s threatening the wards.”
“That’s not your concern,” Nina said. “You are here to complete the assignment we set before you and prove yourself worthy to be a Mage.”
“I wonder…” Xavier finally spoke, causing Isak to straighten up. Aspen noticed Xavier had been brooding silently in his seat, his piercing gaze lingering on her and causing her skin to prickle. “What kind of magic does she possess? Is she a druid? A witch? Surely, she is in control of some sort of elemental magic, or has an ability for spellslinging? Only the strongest apprentice for our meticulously selective Lucien.”
All eyes turned to Lucien. Aspen held her breath.
“She’s a spellslinger, like me,” Lucien said easily.
Aspen watched Nina’s eyes narrow almost as fast as her stomach plummeted. Gurk grunted. Xavier didn’t react, save for a small smile playing on his lips. “Is that right?”
“Strange, I didn’t sense the power of a spellslinger from her,” Simshar said.
“Lucien—” Aspen started but Gurk growled her into silence.
“Her potential will be made clear in the assignment,” Simshar said. “Your task, apprentices, will test not only your magical ability, but your fitness to take the seat of a Mage. Be warned, just because you do better than your opponent in the assessment does not mean the Council has to vote you into the new position.”
He glanced at Aspen as if to say, ‘definitely not.’
“For your assessment, you will go to each of the seven boroughs. There, you will seek out and confer with one of the leaders of that borough. You must use magical skill and intelligence not only to find the borough and make your way into it, but convince the Heads to give you one of these.”
He held up a flat, bronze token shaped like a large coin. “The leaders of each borough will only give you one if they think you’re worthy enough to receive it. On top of this, each borough may issue their own challenge to prove yourself to them. Only when you have collected all seven tokens will you come back here and we will assess your performance.”
“You’re having us play fetch?” Aspen said.
“By the ancients, is she just as mouthy as you, Lucien?” Nina said, aghast.
Gurk had stood, his warning growl growing to a full, angry roar. Lucien was trying not to laugh, though he was failing miserably. “Yep, looks like I chose well after all.”
“You will—Gurk, sit down,” Simshar
demanded. “You will collect these tokens,” he went on firmly. “Your masters will not help. You cannot interfere with your competition—”
“Does threatening me to make me drop out count as interference—”
“You will hold your tongue!” Gurk exploded. There was a bright flash of light and a ball of yellow magic slammed into Aspen. It was a stunning spell just like what Lucien had used before. But this time—for better or worse—Aspen was ready for it. Even by the time she hit the ground she could already feel her arms tingling as they regained feeling.
“I will not tolerate this impertinence!” Gurk was fuming. “She’s worse than him—and you.” He thrust a green hand at Lucien. “It’s always one thing or another with you, Lucien. If you’re not actively disobeying our commands then you’re undermining them behind our backs. Don’t think we weren’t aware! You treat this entire Council as a joke! You always have.”
“If that’s how you feel then by all means, disqualify her,” Lucien drawled.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I knew from the moment we foolishly voted you on this Council that you were lazy, insolent, reckless—”
Aspen pulled herself to her feet. Those behind her let out a little gasp. Isak’s eyes widened, his mouth going slack.
“Well, well,” Xavier said in a dangerously soft voice. “Now what do we have here?”
Everyone on the Council turned to look at Aspen.
“What…what is this?” Gurk said. “That stunning spell…that should have taken her out for hours!”
“Oops,” Aspen said. “I can lie back down if it’ll make you feel better.”
Nina turned on Lucien. “Care to explain?”
Lucien looked delighted. “I may have…stretched the truth about her powers.”
“Why don’t you explain to us what those are in greater detail,” Simshar said.
“Of course. She’s a Null.”
There was a long silence. Aspen felt the tension in the room rising. Isak was looking at her like she had three heads. “That explains a lot,” he muttered.
“Is this a joke?” Nina said.
“You dare bring her in here?” Gurk said.
“Are you sure of what she is, Lucien?” Simshar said. “There has not been a Null in many years.” He gave Lucien a level gaze. “You know why.”
Lucien folded his hands, looking like he was truly enjoying watching Gurk turn a deeper and deeper shade of green. “As you saw, she has an incredibly high magical metabolism. And she adapts to the magic presented to her. Each time I hit her with a stunning spell like that she recovers faster.”
“And anything stronger than a stunning spell?” Nina said.
“Haven’t tried it yet.”
“Why don’t we try it now?” Gurk said, his palm glowing again. Aspen began slowly reaching for her knife, knowing it would be worse than useless.
“Gurk, I’m sorry you don’t approve,” Lucien said with mocking sincerity.
“There’s a reason Nulls aren’t allowed in the boroughs anymore, and you know it,” Gurk spat.
“Oh, well. You said to choose a person with magical potential and I have. If you don’t like it…” Lucien held his hands up, as if reaching the only possible conclusion. “Then I guess she can’t take part in the assessment. I can have her kicked out of Ember’s Landing immediately—”
“What?” Aspen started.
“—and I’ll begin my search for a new apprentice right away. With the Council’s blessing this time, of course. I wouldn’t want any other unfortunate mishaps.”
Aspen bit her tongue. Oh, he was good, she had to give him that. Toeing the line of obedience and condescension as skillfully as a tight rope walker. She could see the other Mages muttering amongst themselves as Lucien looked on, a smug smile on his face, so sure he’d won. Aspen could practically see her short-lived dream of becoming the next Mage shattering before her. See Xavier getting away with his crimes again, as he’d done so long ago.
“Is it true?” Isak muttered while Nina, Gurk, and Simshar discussed in low voices. “That’s what you are?”
“I have no idea what I am,” Aspen answered honestly.
“How can you not know?”
“Because I don’t have a habit of making myself a magical punching bag, that’s why.”
Isak fixed his gaze straight ahead again. Aspen noticed Xavier—the slimeball—wasn’t participating in the discussion. If anything, he looked…nervous?
But almost as quickly that emotion flickered away, replaced by cold calculation. He glanced between her and the arguing Council members.
“So…what’s a Null?” Aspen said.
She heard Isak’s deep chuckle. “You’ve lived in the boroughs for how long? A Null is technically considered a magical being. Though they’re usually…” his eyes swept over her. “Usually a Norm.”
Aspen felt heat rising in her face. “Got a problem with that?”
“Never said I did. Just stating fact.”
“Maybe state it a little less condescendingly.”
“Maybe toughen up.” Isak went silent for a moment. “You’ll never survive this assessment. Drop out. Please.” He almost sounded sincere. “For your own safety.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Because it’s not something you’ll need to know when you leave the borough. Drop out.”
“I think,” Aspen said, “I’ll stay right where I am.”
Isak scowled. Aspen loved it. Norm or not—Null or not—it didn’t matter. She would win this. She would become a Mage.
If the Council would allow her…
The Council members’ voices rose. Gurk was gesturing wildly to Aspen, then to Lucien lounging comfortably in his chair. He seemed content. And why not? As the seconds passed, it was looking more and more like Nina and Simshar were siding with Gurk to exile her. Aspen’s spirits sank. After all this, after all she’d gone through, it seemed like they were going to dismiss her back on the street. Just another Norm to not bother with.
“Let her join.”
Xavier’s soft voice cut through the arguing voices.
“Excuse me?” Lucien said.
“I said, let her join,” Xavier repeated.
“Xavier, it’s not a matter of potential, but principle,” Simshar said. “To let a Norm, a Null of all things, take part in an assessment of Mages…”
“I’m advocating for principle,” Xavier said as he stood. He drew closer to Aspen, those cold eyes peering at her. “Clearly Mage Lucien is not taking the sanctity of this Council’s position seriously. He’s chosen a Null, even knowing what that means, even knowing why they’re no longer allowed among us. He’s scorned our clear directions time and time again. As his selection to this prestigious position, he chooses a nobody off the streets. A nobody who has no business sharing the ground we walk on,” Xavier went on, voice lowered so that only Aspen could hear. Aspen refused to drop her gaze from his. After a moment Xavier smirked and went on, louder, “I myself have offered my hand-picked apprentice, one I’ve trained since he was a boy. This is a game to Lucien, a game I say we indulge him in.”
“You’re sure about this, Xavier?” Gurk said.
“Very sure. After all, if my apprentice cannot beat an untrained, unskilled opponent, it would undermine all that we stand for: tradition, skill, power. The Mages are the pinnacle of magical achievement, and my apprentice will prove that.”
“If that is your wish,” Gurk said.
“Are you serious?” Lucien protested. “A second ago all of you were against it!”
“Xavier brings up some good points,” Simshar said. “Very well. Those who wish to allow Aspen to take part in the assessment…”
Gurk, Simshar, and Xavier raised their hands. Aspen’s spirits soared.
Lucien flopped back in the chair, defeated. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“The assessment, as unorthodox as this one is, will continue,” Simshar said. “Starting tomorrow, you tw
o will be on your own. Remember, no masters, no interference.”
“Yes, sir,” Isak said.
“Of course,” Aspen said happily, already thinking of a number of extremely uncomfortable traps she could leave for Isak.
“Then you are dismissed,” Simshar said. “May luck and fortune guide you.”
Gurk was still glaring at Aspen as she turned away, but Aspen didn’t care. She was in! Nothing, not even a pissed off orc, could dampen her spirits now—
“Oh, I do have one last proposition,” Xavier said.
“What is it now?” Lucien growled.
“In light of these…unusual events, I suggest we…implement the old rules.”
“Absolutely not!” Nina said immediately, at the same time Lucien’s face paled.
“What are the old rules?” Aspen demanded, but Isak remained stone-faced. “Isak? What are the—”
“It only seems prudent,” Xavier went on. “The position of Mage is nothing to joke about, as Mage Lucien clearly has. The old rules would ensure each apprentice tries their best to compete. Or suffer the consequences.”
In a flash of insight, Aspen got the alarming feeling she knew what these ‘old rules’ meant. Simshar and Gurk continued pondering Xavier’s words. Nina still looked horrified.
“You can’t seriously agree with him!” she protested. “There’s a reason we got rid of those rules.”
“And a reason they should be put back in place,” Xavier said. “To keep the lineage of Mages strong and ensure no one less-than-worthy gets through.”
“I agree,” Gurk said.
“As do I,” Simshar said.
“Absolutely not,” Nina said.
Lucien remained silent.
“It is decided then,” Xavier said triumphantly, turning to Aspen and Isak. “Whoever loses this assessment will die.”
The Bond
Xavier knew. How he knew, Aspen wasn’t sure. But judging by the wicked glint in his eye, the way he so casually announced his intent to ensure her death, told her he’d somehow recognized who she was. It was the only explanation. This wasn’t to punish Lucien, whom Xavier knew would have little to no attachment to her, or to uphold some arcane traditions none of them cared about. She’d lose. They all knew it. At the end of this, he’d get what he wanted: her out of the way. For good. Why he hated her so much was anyone’s guess, but if that was his plan, she wasn’t going to simply curl up and die.
Mage's Apprentice (Mages of New York Book 1) Page 10
