by Sever Bronny
“No, don’t tell her!” Leera suddenly cried. She fell to her knees, hands together in prayer. “Please, Mr. Harvus, don’t tell her. We’ll do anything—”
Harvus adjusted his hairpiece. What was once an amusing gesture suddenly appeared malicious.
“Quite right that you beg, because I know for a fact Mrs. Stone would not be pleased. In point of fact, I am confident she would separate you two far, far apart.”
Leera whimpered.
“I know how you speak about me behind my back,” Harvus went on, “I have excellent hearing and awareness and I am awfully cognizant of your witty little comments and cruel japes.” He glanced skyward once more, one hand holding the rucksack, one over his heart. “The gods know how I put up with your cruel natures, they do. You are a wicked pair inciting nothing but more wickedness, and it must come to an end immediately.”
He reached into the rucksack and withdrew the Orb of Orion, holding it before him like a prized hen.
“Mr. Harvus, please—” Leera was in tears now. “Don’t tell her—”
Mr. Harvus’ lips thinned. “Perhaps you should have thought of that first, my dear.”
“Mr. Harvus,” Bridget said, “we shouldn’t trouble Mrs. Stone with this kind of news.”
“I wholeheartedly agree, Bridget. I hate to do it, but it really is for their own good—”
“We’ll stop!” Leera said. “We won’t … look at each other that way.”
Augum shook his head in protest, mouth still as silent as the grave. No way was he going to do what Harvus says. He wasn’t that afraid of what Mrs. Stone would say on the matter either—in fact, he was sure she would accept it … at least, eventually.
“This is for your own good, Augum and Leera,” Mr. Harvus repeated. “Mrs. Stone, are you there?” A moment of tense silence passed. “Mrs. Stone, do you hear me? This is Leopold Harvus.”
A tinny voice sounded from within the orb. “Yes, I hear you,” Mrs. Stone replied, huffing as if she was in a run. “Is something the matter? Now is not a good time.”
“I am afraid there indeed is something the matter, Mrs. Stone. Leera Jones and Augum Stone are … how shall I put this delicately … frolicking in an untoward manner.”
Leera placed a hand over her mouth, barely able to breathe. Bridget, looking pale, squeezed her shoulder.
“Is it affecting their studies?” Mrs. Stone asked between gasps.
Harvus’ face lit up with victory. “Why, yes it is! Precisely that, Mrs. Stone! Do you give me the authority to discipline the pair—appropriately of course?”
“I must place my trust in you to do the right thing, Mr. Harvus, as I am in quite the predic—” Suddenly there was a tinny explosion and the orb fell silent.
“Mrs. Stone?” Leera cried out. “Mrs. Stone—!”
Augum felt a horrible tingle creep down his spine while Bridget’s hand shot to her mouth.
Mr. Harvus’ face went all sensible again as he carefully placed the orb back in the rucksack. “As you can plainly hear, the archmage is quite busy. There is a reason she has entrusted me with your care—my sound judgment.” He used Telekinesis to float the rucksack back to Augum, who yanked it from the air.
Harvus dusted off his gloved hands. “You have another year before you may be allowed to ask for her hand in marriage, Augum Stone. Until then, you are not to look at each other that way. If I ever catch either of you cavorting in an unwholesome manner, you will be punished. And do not think for one moment I will not separate you entirely. Only Augum is essential to the quest. As such, from here on, Augum will be sleeping in separate accommodations with me, for clearly without supervision you two will run amok.”
Augum could hardly believe what he was hearing. He shook his head in protest while mouthing the word “No!”
“You have not earned the right to speak yet, Augum. You are going to sit over there—” Harvus pointed at a log, “and read the appropriate chapter that you neglected thus far. As long as I am able, I will not let your youthful infatuations murder people through negligence of your duties. This frivolity ends now.”
“Mr. Harvus,” Bridget began softly, “do you not think you’re being a touch unfair?”
“I am surprised to hear a word of protest from you, dear Bridget, seeing as he is placing you directly in the path of danger. I would think you to possess a sensible nature that sees how important Augum’s place is, and how he is squandering opportunity after opportunity to take charge of his destiny, and most probably the destiny of so many others—all because some silly fling with nothing more than a common—” He stopped himself and cleared his throat authoritatively.
“The Arinthian Line must be protected from itself,” he said. “ ‘When thy fallen can’t be slain, when lion children rise again, when fires burn from east to west, blood of kin can vanquish death’.”
Augum remembered his great-grandfather’s last words—identified by Mrs. Stone to be an ancient witch poem—all too well. But he’d be damned if anything or anyone would keep him away from Leera—prophecy or no prophecy. Stupid poem or not.
“If it was not for the Legion coming today,” Harvus said, “I would parade you both through the town so everyone may see your shame.” He smoothed his robe. “Now, Leera—since you have not bothered to study—and we plainly know why now—you will sit down with Bridget and learn the correct pronunciation. And just so both of you know how serious I am about you two not touching—” He placed his gloved hands on Leera’s squirming shoulders. “Concutio del alarmo duo tactus dolor Augum Stone,” then performed the same spell on Augum, replacing his name with Leera’s. Augum could barely stand still with the loathing he felt for the man.
“That was an advanced off-the-book extension of the Object Alarm spell. When you two touch in any way, not only will I hear an alarm, but your touch will cause each other pain. It really is for your own good.” Harvus stood back with a satisfied nod. “And now that that is over with and settled, let us return to your studies.”
Augum and Leera locked gazes for a moment. Her eyes reflected the longing sorrow he felt.
Humiliation
Augum must have read the same paragraph a hundred times, yet nothing had sunk in—that is how clouded his thoughts were with anger. How dare Harvus stick his nose in their business! Who was he to tell him and Leera they were not to see each other in that way, or to touch! Yet every plan Augum formulated came up against the same obstacle—Mrs. Stone had given the man free reign, and regardless of what was happening, their studies were incredibly important.
When Jengo came to the cabin, his face contorted with a puzzled expression at their silent melancholy. Mr. Harvus acted as if nothing had happened at all—he was almost cheerful when he told Jengo to join Augum in study.
Jengo sat his tall frame on the log beside Augum, giving him a friendly elbow nudge. “How’s it going? Saw Haylee. She’s in a state. Wouldn’t say what’s bothering her though. Why’s she not training anyway? Oh, and turns out we all get to live for now. Those Legionnaires are either crazy fools or really are on our side. Even sat for lunch with Mr. Haroun! Everyone is saying they’re the real thing, all nice and stuff, though I still wouldn’t trust them—” Jengo suddenly realized Augum was hardly paying any attention to him. He glanced to where Augum was staring—at Leera, who sat a distance away with Bridget, the pair being tutored by Harvus.
“What’s going on?”
Augum pointed at his mouth and made a vague gesture.
Jengo’s voice dropped to a scandalized whisper. “Did Harvus mute you? Really? Why in Sithesia would he do that? How are you supposed to study?”
Augum surrendered a bitter shrug.
Jengo glanced over at Harvus. “I hate that man,” he said, before raising his voice. “Mr. Harvus! Sir, I can’t study the book with Augum because he can’t talk!”
Mr. Harvus sighed, gestured to the girls to wait, and paced over. Even the way his potbelly jiggled irritated Augum.
Harvus stopp
ed before them. “Are you going to concentrate on Jengo for once and not just yourself, Augum, as you are want to selfishly do? The poor boy is still stuck on the 1st degree. I suppose it is not entirely your fault, for I fear him rather … slow.”
Augum only glared.
“I see. I take umbrage at the fact that you do not realize I am doing all of this for your own good.” He sighed. “You are a petulant brat. And I do not appreciate the black look, Augum Stone. Repair it immediately.”
But Augum made his glare that much fiercer.
“As you wish. Then you will simply have to learn the hard way that I am not to be trifled with,” and he turned his back, returning to the girls.
Jengo gaped. “I don’t believe it, what a—I’m only stuck because he’s an awful teacher. I mean, the worst. And what in the Unnameables happened before I got here, anyway?”
Augum took a deep breath and gestured for a quill.
Jengo felt his robe. “Hold on, isn’t there one in your cabin?”
Augum nodded, making the shape of a table with his hands.
“All right, be right back—and don’t you do anything, otherwise you’ll just get into more trouble.” When Harvus turned his back to make a particular point to Bridget and Leera, Jengo tiptoed to the cabin, quickly coming back with a quill and ink. “Here, use the back of the book or something.”
Augum hesitated but opened the back cover to a white page and quickly started writing.
Jengo read what he wrote, finally blurting, “He what? He can’t … he can’t make you stop seeing each other. He just … he just can’t do that!”
Augum placed a finger over his lips just as Harvus glanced at them. Augum quickly pretended to be studying, nodding his head sagely at Jengo. Soon as Harvus turned back to the girls, he continued scribbling.
Jengo’s face fell. “Ah, so he also found out what you were saying behind his back. That explains a lot. He’s really sensitive about that dead animal on his head.”
Augum cracked a smile and nodded before continuing to write.
“Well we can try, but it’s not going to be easy,” Jengo said after reading Augum’s writing. He glanced back. “Turn the page, quick—”
In his haste, Augum accidentally slammed the book closed. As he rifled through, searching for the right chapter, Harvus’ shadow appeared.
“What are you two doing?” Harvus asked in an eerily calm tone.
Augum gestured between himself and Jengo, then at the book.
Jengo flashed a fraudulent smile. “We’re studying, Mr. Harvus.”
“Are you now? And why do you need a quill?”
Jengo picked up the quill from the ground. “Oh, this? Uh, we were going to write out the spell words.”
Harvus’ voice turned sweet. “Write out the spell words. Indeed. On what parchment, pray tell?”
When Jengo had no answer, Harvus held out his hand. “Hand me the book, please.”
Augum glared at Harvus.
“Augum, are you refusing to hand over the book to your mentor?” The glint in Harvus’ cold eyes was unmistakable. Seeing no choice in the matter, Augum surrendered the book.
Harvus idly flipped through the pages with his gloved hand, beady eyes occasionally flicking to them, while Augum and Jengo sat absolutely still.
Having gotten through halfway, Harvus stopped, gave them a certain look, and flipped to the back page. “Ah, here we are,” and slowly began to read aloud so Bridget and Leera could hear. “ ‘Harvus won’t let me and Leera like each other—’ ” He shook his head. “Poorly written at best, my dear boy. The correct word should be ‘allow’, as in, ‘Mr. Harvus will not allow Leera and I to cavort improperly’.”
His eyes flicked to Augum a moment before he continued, making each word sound as if it had been written by a dumb child. “ ‘He overheard us talking about him and is mad’.” He chuckled to himself, a sound wholly unnatural. “Well I am not ‘mad’, as you put it, Augum, I am merely doing the right thing—preventing you from soiling yourself. Now let me see here, what else did you scrawl? Oh, yes. ‘We have to find a way to fire that manure-eating squirrel-haired bastard as soon as possible’.” Harvus’ eyes swept to Augum like a spider descending on its web-bound prey.
Augum shrank a little, barely conscious of the girls watching.
“Not only did you ruin the back of a very expensive book, but you have slandered my good name, and—without cause, mind you—wish me fired.” Harvus gently closed the book. “I see. After everything that I have done for you. After all the extra hours of training, the toil, the patience I have exhibited. After all the sacrifices I have made …” He held up the book with his gloved hand. “This is how you repay me?”
Augum pointed at his own mouth, wanting to tell Harvus he did want him fired, that he did think he was a manure-eating squirrel-haired bastard, and that he had no right whatsoever to treat them this way—
Harvus slowly drummed the book with two fingers. “I see we shall have to simplify things. A child is unable to learn at an advanced level when he lacks basic discipline. Augum Stone, you will not have the privilege of touching this book, since you obviously cannot help but desecrate it. And since you cannot seem to control that tongue of yours even when mute, you leave me but little choice.”
Harvus held the book under the crook of one arm while digging into a pocket with the other, fishing out a bar of tallow soap.
Augum immediately got to his feet, but Harvus reached out, using Telekinesis to arcanely hold him.
“Open wide please, Augum, it is for your own good.”
Augum’s mouth was forced open with expert Telekinesis. He watched helpless as the soap floated over, jamming into his mouth. His lips closed around the bar and locked in place. His eyes watered from the strain of trying to force the bar of soap out. He wanted to gag but could not. He felt the bitter sting of humiliation, reminding him of being trapped with Erika in Evergray tower. The pair of them had to be cut from the same sadistic cloth.
Behind Harvus, Bridget grabbed Leera, preventing her from rushing over, something Augum was grateful for—she did not need to go through this agony again.
Harvus made a show of tearing out the last page of the book before handing the tome to Jengo. “I shall keep this as evidence. You may show Augum the pages, but he is not to touch the book itself. He has to earn that privilege back. Do I make myself clear, Jengo?”
Jengo would not look at Augum, his voice solemn. “Yes, Mr. Harvus.”
Harvus hovered over Augum, watching him. “The less you struggle the better, my dear boy.” He sighed. “See, what you need to realize, Augum, is that there is a high probability—and hopefully I am terribly wrong here for all our sakes—that Mrs. Stone may not come back. Let us be honest with ourselves, the Legion have all the scions but one, which therefore means they will have nothing better to do than hunt for her. I will thus be the only person able to teleport you to the library, or protect you from the Legion. You are the Lord of the Legion’s son, which apparently gives you a chance to stop him.” He leaned forward a little. “Or so I am told. Frankly, the more time I spend with you, the more I think you are just an ordinary, lazy, and wicked boy—a sinner of the worst kind. I can only hope you do not take after your father.” He shook his head in that irritatingly slow way of his. “This I can only hope …”
Harvus finally walked back to the girls, impatiently bidding them to continue training.
Augum glanced skyward, wishing Mrs. Stone would teleport back and have Harvus choke himself with his own gloved hands. How could she leave them with this twisted man? But was she in danger? What was that noise they heard from the orb?
Jengo glanced at Harvus before stealing a look at Augum’s mouth. He quickly averted his eyes and began rifling through the book. “We, uh, we should really get going here, Augum. Don’t want to, uh, upset Mr. Harvus anymore, you know?”
Augum slumped back on the log, defeated. Jengo was clearly afraid of the man, not that Augum could bl
ame him. And as much as he loathed it, Harvus was right again—if something did happen to Nana, he would be the only one capable of teleporting them to Antioc, or protecting them. The thought whitened Augum’s knuckles, but it was true. If it came down to it, he’d rather see Leera and Bridget safe, even if that meant keeping Harvus around and putting up with his revolting methods of teaching. At least for now …
His eyes wandered to Leera, sitting on the other side of the stream. She glanced up as if sensing his gaze, only to look away as Harvus made a gesture. Trapped, he leaned over the book and tried reading the same paragraph again.
* * *
It was well past suppertime when Mr. Okeke and Mr. Goss wandered down to the valley, Leland holding their hands.
“Ah, Mr. Okeke and Mr. Goss!” Mr. Harvus called in an unusually sprightly tone. “I suppose you have come to call us to supper, have you not?”
Mr. Goss flashed a brilliant smile as he hoisted his blind son. “We have, Leopold. How is the training going?”
When Mr. Goss glanced his way, Augum averted his face, feeling the awful prickle of shame. He prayed Mr. Goss had not seen the soap in his mouth.
“It is not going as well as I had hoped, Mr. Goss,” Harvus replied in false sorrow-filled tones while rocking on his heels. “I am afraid we are behind a little and will be late for supper. There is, however, a small matter I wish to discuss. I need another cabin built immediately, one for myself and Augum, so that I may take a more direct hand in their studies and prevent any future transgressions.”
“Transgressions, Leopold?” Mr. Goss’ voice was suddenly full of concern. “What kind of transgressions?”
“I am afraid Augum and Leera have been … acting inappropriately with each other. I am sure you know what I mean.”
Augum caught Leera looking at him from across the stream. She was beet red.
Mr. Goss stiffened. “They have? Oh, dear me—”
“Yes, my sentiments exactly, Mr. Goss. They are placing everyone’s lives at risk by neglecting their studies. Instead, they choose to focus their energies on … idle, devilish fancies, if I may be so bold as to say.”
