by Lisa Cassidy
“He could still be all right,” Alyx said.
A tense silence fell, and she knew they were all thinking what she was. If Brynn had just gotten lost in the dark, he should have made it back to DarkSkull by now.
“Why did he even take Brynn?” Finn kicked the bottom of Tarrick’s bed in frustration. “I know he and Fengel claim to have been trying to help us up there, but if Galien had just left him with us he might have been all right.”
“It was chaotic, and Brynn was pretty far from the rest of us,” Dawn said. “It’s possible Galien thought the best thing was to get Brynn clear while assuming Fengel had the rest of us looked after.”
“I am… sorry,” Tarrick said stiltedly. “You must all be very upset. I know he was a good friend. I am sorry that I couldn’t do more to stop him being taken.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Dawn said. “No more than it is my fault, or Alyx’s.”
“We’ll be back tomorrow,” Alyx promised as they rose to leave.
As soon as the passing healer mage spotted Finn on his feet and moving, he was pronounced as fine and ready to be discharged.
“No riding or strenuous activity for two weeks,” she warned him. “And your master has excused you all from classes for the next week.”
“No classes?” Finn’s face fell.
“Which means no sparring classes,” Dawn said pointedly.
He brightened. “All right!”
They stepped out into the afternoon sunlight to find a servant waiting for Alyx.
“Master Howell would like to see you, Initiate,” he said politely.
“Just me?”
“Yes, he said to tell you he’s in the usual room.”
“Mysterious as always.” Dawn sighed.
“Maybe he wants to talk to you about your power,” Finn said eagerly. “Have you used it since that night?”
“No,” Alyx told him. “I don’t remember it very clearly, and I haven’t felt a shred of magic since it happened.”
“I didn’t see what happened very well either.” He frowned, then glanced around and lowered his voice. “But you destroyed that man’s face. You must have some sort of warrior power.”
“Finn, please!” Dawn snapped at her brother. “Can’t you imagine how Alyx must feel?”
Alyx had flinched at Finn’s casual words, and he turned to her with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t blame yourself for what happened. You saved my life.”
“It’s fine,” she mumbled. “I’d prefer not to think about it.”
“You should go,” Dawn pushed her away after a reassuring hug.
“I should.” She sighed. “I’ll find you later.”
Chapter 26
Wishing she were going anyplace else, Alyx went up to the room where they learned from Howell every Seventhday. The door was closed, so she knocked and entered, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
Howell sat on one of a cluster of chairs by the window where he usually taught them. He looked up at her entrance and smiled.
“Alyx, come in and take a seat.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, crossing the large space to one of the other chairs. Her gaze remained firmly on the floor, but she saw Howell shifting in his seat before he spoke.
“If it helps, I completely disagreed with Master Romas’ chosen course of action. I didn’t want to send you up there, and after you were ambushed, I tried to convince him to allow you to return here rather than follow the fleeing attackers. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did.”
Alyx nodded, unable to find words to respond.
Howell changed the subject. “Do you know why I asked you here today?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t.”
“When Dawn was giving me a report about the events of that night, she told me that when you were under attack outside the tower, you summoned a concussive energy ball just as Tarrick does?”
“Yes, sir. That’s how I killed the warrior trying to kill Finn and Tarrick,” Alyx said reluctantly.
“Dawn also indicated that, for a brief moment, you communicated with her telepathically?”
“I don’t really remember clearly; I was panicked and afraid, and so was she. I might have just been yelling,” Alyx said.
“Please try to remember.” Howell’s voice had become firm. “Alyx, I know it’s difficult, but it’s very important that you try.”
Alyx looked at him a moment then nodded, taking a deep breath before thinking back to that night. “Brynn and I were running up the tower stairs to light the signal fire. I heard Dawn scream for help in my mind…”
“Did Brynn hear the same call for help?” he interrupted.
“I don’t know, he never said he did.”
“And then what happened?”
“I told her I was coming, and then I went back while Brynn kept going up.”
“I see.” Howell stroked his beard contemplatively. “Would it surprise you to know that Dawn told me she heard you respond to her call for help? That she also heard when you shouted at them to get down before loosing the energy ball at the man attacking her brother?”
Alyx tried to focus on the memories without seeing the head exploding in her mind’s eye. “I remember. I felt the power in my arms… it was so hot, like my arms were on fire, and somehow I knew it would be big. I shouted aloud for everyone to get down before I lost control and it exploded out of me.”
“According to Dawn, you didn’t shout it aloud. You shouted it into their minds. Finn agrees with her account.”
“It all happened so fast. I must have shouted it aloud. How else would they have heard me?”
Howell nodded and sat back in his chair. “Would you try to summon another energy ball for me?”
“Now?”
“Yes, please, without the others around.”
Alyx looked down at her hands, trying to remember how she’d summoned the power in the first place. The only thing she remembered clearly was how scared she’d been that Tarrick and Finn were so close to death, and how angry she’d felt. After that it had just happened.
Still staring at her hands, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on summoning that green-white shimmer, tried to focus on the white-hot heat she’d felt in her hands.
Nothing.
She couldn’t even feel a glimmer of power. Her hands remained cool and skin-coloured.
Eventually she opened her eyes. “I can’t.”
“Okay.” Howell seemed unperturbed by this. “I’m picturing something in my mind now, can you see what it is?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking Dawn to do that?”
“Just try, Alyx.”
Sighing, she closed her eyes again and concentrated fiercely on Howell, opening her mind for anything that might be coming through.
“All I see is black,” she said in irritation.
“Okay.”
Now Howell stood. He walked across to the cupboards lining the far wall, opened one and took out a small yellow ball. He came back and passed it to her. It was soft and squishy in her grip.
“Now hold your right hand out, palm facing upwards, and place the ball on your palm, please.”
Alyx held her hand up and did as instructed, placing the yellow ball in her open right palm. She was feeling increasingly silly, but Howell was as calm and unperturbed as always.
“Now, I would like you to try and use your mind to lift the ball into the air, making it hover above your palm.”
“What? Why?” Her patience finally gave out.
“Do as I say, Alyx,” he said firmly. “Don’t close your eyes, just focus on the ball sitting in your hand. Use your mind to push at it, see it hovering above your palm. Focus all your concentration on that.”
Alyx took a deep breath, turning her gaze to the ball sitting on her right palm. She ignored the ache beginning in her arm, and focused all her attention on the ball. She remembered how it felt in her fingers, held that sensation in her mind, then pus
hed outwards, visualizing it lifting off her palm.
A strange thing happened. She felt a slight tingling in her mind, a faint buzzing sensation. Then, her vision of the ball rising became reality. The yellow ball hopped on her palm, rising into the air for a brief second, before dropping back.
Alyx eyes flew to Howell in astonishment. He continued stroking his beard in contemplation.
“Did I just imagine that?”
“No, you didn’t.” He smiled slightly. “I presume you’re aware of my mage talent?”
“You’re a telekinetic, aren’t you? You can move objects with your mind.”
“Yes, which is exactly what you just did.”
“You mean my mage talent is the same as yours? I’m a telekinetic?”
“Not exactly. The other night you could summon a concussion blast, as well as communicate telepathically with Dawn.”
“But I couldn’t do that today.”
“No.” Howell rose again and walked towards the window, leaning against the sill. “Alyx, I believe you are a mage of the higher order.”
Alyx laughed. “Me? I don’t even know what those are, really, except that Galien is one of them.”
“Yes, he is, the only one currently at DarkSkull, except, it turns out, for you,” he said. “Mages of the higher order are extremely rare.”
“What are they, exactly?” Alyx still had no idea what Howell was on about.
“A mage that can absorb the powers of those around them,” he replied. “Just as you absorbed and used Tarrick and Dawn’s powers that night, and how you absorbed and used mine just now. A mage of the highest order is an extremely powerful entity, Alyx, one who can absorb whatever power is around them.”
Alyx’s mouth fell open. “I didn’t realise just how much of a threat Galien was to us.”
“You will be a match for him, in time.”
“But how can I be one of these mages? It’s been almost a year, and no power has emerged until now.”
“People are different, and power comes to them at different times. For Brynn and Tarrick, who grew up amongst mages, it came faster, being more natural to them. For you and the twins, it came more slowly. This is no indication of how powerful you are.”
“Lord-Mage Casovar…”
“Yes, he is a mage of the higher order, the first we’d had at DarkSkull in years before Galien.” Howell sighed. “But aside from those two…well, there were only two mages of the higher order alive, Alyx. Now there are three.”
“Oh.” That shocked her. For so long she’d thought the idea she was a mage ridiculous. To now truly realise she was one, and a powerful one at that, was difficult to process.
“We always knew there was a chance you’d be powerful, given who your mother was,” Howell said. “But I didn’t quite expect you’d be this powerful.”
“Wait... you knew my mother?” Alyx gaped at him.
“Of course. We studied together at DarkSkull.” Howell frowned. “I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”
“I knew she studied here,” Alyx said. “But I don’t know much else about her. She died when I was five.”
Howell’s eyebrows shot to the roof, and for an instant his calm features looked completely stunned before the expression faded.
“I see,” he said, then frowned. “I had thought you and Ladan had been talking.”
“Ladan?” Alyx was confused; what had Ladan to do with anything? “He’s been very protective of me, but he doesn’t talk much.”
“You are a mass of surprises, Alyx Egalion,” he murmured. “Your mother was a mage of the higher order. You should have known that. I wonder why your father never told you.”
“He wanted to protect me.”
Howell’s eyebrows raised again.
“I mean…” Alyx hesitated. “I don’t know why I said that, it’s just a feeling.”
“You are undoubtedly right. There is so much you don’t know, I wonder whether that is a good thing? Maybe it is.”
“Wait.” Realisation clicked. “That’s why everyone has looked at me so speculatively since I arrived. You, Master Romas, even Master Rothai. I didn’t understand why, but you were all waiting to see if I was like her.”
“Yes, we were.”
She sat down again. “How did she die? Was she one of the disappeared mages?”
“The council doesn’t know how she died,” he said carefully. “What did you father tell you?”
“That it was an accident. I never asked for details because...” Alyx’s voice trailed off and she gave an irritated sigh. She didn’t want any part of the mage world, even if her mother had been in it. Curiosity wasn’t going to help; her mother was long gone. “None of this matters, sir. I’m not coming back here.”
“Whether you study here or not, your ability will see you hunted. Two of the mages who disappeared in the past eight years were mages of the higher order.”
“Master Howell, if I never return here, then nobody will know that I’m a mage of the higher order, yes? I don’t intend to use magic in the future. I’ll be fine.”
“If that’s what you think, I won’t argue.” He spoke in a knowing tone that irritated Alyx. “One more word of warning.”
“Go ahead.”
“The Taliath, as we knew them, are gone. Should that ever change, steer clear of them.”
“Why?” She was even more mystified than she had been.
“Let’s say that a Taliath and a mage of the higher order are not a good mix, and leave it at that.”
If Alyx had seriously thought she would meet one of the fabled Taliath, she might have pursued the matter with Howell. As it was, however, the Taliath were all dead and she was a month and a half away from leaving the mage life forever.
She rose and went to the door, pausing before leaving.
“Howell, I detest this place.” Bitterness edged her voice and she couldn’t stop it. “I’ve been attacked and mistreated. My friend has been taken and might be dead. Keep your precious mages away from me. I’m done. I’m going home, and I’m not coming back.”
The door slammed behind her.
Chapter 27
“Howell really thinks you’re a mage of the higher order?” Tarrick asked in awe.
Alyx rolled her eyes. “Yes, but don’t we all have some questions about Howell’s sanity? Tarrick, you’re a far more powerful mage than I am.”
“Clearly I’m not.” Tarrick seemed to be fixated on the idea that Howell was right, and that Tarrick may have been associating with something as precious as a mage of the higher order this whole time. It probably had something to do with his parents’ disappointment in him, but Alyx didn’t like it. She was leaving, after all, and was only going to disappoint him.
“I don’t think you should tell anyone else about this,” Finn said soberly. “All mages are in danger, but if mages of the higher order are as rare as you say, you’re likely to be a target.”
“I’m not going to say anything,” she promised. “In fact, I plan to do my best to forget all about this wretched year.”
“Do you think Master Romas would allow Lieutenant Caverlock and the other Bluecoats to stay at DarkSkull Hall as protection?” Dawn asked in concern.
“That’s not necessary.” Alyx said, exasperated. “Can we please leave this alone? I’m going home in a month, and then all this will be over.”
“I don’t…” Tarrick began, then stopped at a quelling glance from Dawn, who changed the subject.
“So, how about those exams coming up?”
“We should be fine,” Finn chimed in. “We’ve been studying that History of Mages book hard.”
Everyone at the table stared at him.
“You mean, you’ve been studying the book hard,” Tarrick said.
“Maybe.” He grinned. “But I can help you.”
“Something to look forward too,” Tarrick grumbled. “Sitting around inside in this beautiful weather memorizing a dusty old tome.”
“It’s actually
quite interesting…” Finn began eagerly.
Tarrick groaned and lowered his head to the table with a thump, cutting Finn off.
“I think studying will be a welcome break from all that’s happened lately,” Dawn said loyally. “Alyx and I would appreciate your help, Finn.”
“Yes, that would be lovely, thank you,” she said. All thoughts of passing her final exam had fallen from her mind after recent events.
Ladan’s familiar figure appeared at the entrance to the dining hall. Surprised by his wave and gesture to come over, Alyx rose.
“I’ll be back soon,” she promised Tarrick.
She caught up to Ladan in the hall outside where he waited for her.
“You’re all right?” he asked, his hard gaze giving her a once-over. “I know they let you out of the healers’ rooms, but—”
“Ladan, I’m fine. I promise. What did Howell want to see you about the other...” her voice trailed off as she spotted the bulging saddlebags sitting at his feet. “Going somewhere?”
A sharp nod. “Home. It’s time.”
That made no sense. “But it’s not long until the end of the year and your magic hasn’t broken out yet.”
“It won’t.”
“You can’t know that for certain.”
“Trust me, I know. And now it’s time for me to leave.” He shifted. “The Blue Guard will get you home safely and I need to get back to Widow Falls. There are urgent issues that need my attention.”
“You’re not telling me the whole truth,” she said softly.
Frustration burned on his face. “I wish I could stay, that’s the truth. But I learned something recently and... well, I truly believe you’ll be safer if I’m gone.”
“Why?” It didn’t make any sense. He’d been so insistent on protecting her, and after everything that had just happened, he was leaving?
“It’s better you not know. I need you to trust me when I tell you I’m certain I’m protecting you better by leaving.” Bitterness twisted his face at those words, and she sensed they held deeper meaning.
Alyx hesitated. “Is it to do with my family? Howell said something today that indicated you know more about me, or about my mother. I dismissed it at first, because the implication seemed silly, but then I thought about how you’ve been so fixated on protecting me. My whole life, I’ve heard stories that you’re merciless, that you’ve killed people in cold blood. Yet, despite being remote, you’ve never shown anything but kindness to me. I don’t understand why.”
