A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  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.

  Chapter 6

  Racing across the campus as fast as her paws could carry her, Nera barely took notice of the students in her path. She pushed them aside without remorse as she hurried to warn her friend. If she couldn’t get him to safety before Mistress Tress sent the guards, they would both face severe punishment—and Kwil might lose his life.

  Charging up the steps to her dormitory, she shoved open the door and stepped inside. Kwil hopped from his seat, a look of surprise on his face. Struggling to catch her breath, Nera crossed the room and took the book from his hands, tossing it on the bed.

  “We have to go now!” she warned, still out of breath.

  “What’s happened?” he asked.

  “I made a terrible mistake,” she replied, turning her back to him. Grabbing at the bags in her closet, she flung them out onto the floor and began shoving clothes inside one. “Bring whatever you need, but not too much.”

  “I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Kwil remarked, still uncertain what had occurred. He grabbed a bag and placed the clothes Nera had gifted him inside. Rolling up two blankets, he secured them to the bags before asking, “Can you tell me what happened?”

  Nera paused momentarily. “I’m an idiot,” she stated. “I told one of my teachers about you. I thought she was open-minded and would agree to help you learn.” Shaking her head, she said, “She’s just like all the others, and I put your life in danger by speaking to her.” Rushing to Kwil, she took his hands in hers. “Can you ever forgive me? I’ve ruined everything.” She hung her head, staring at the floor.

  Kwil swallowed hard, realizing the idyllic life he had enjoyed here at the College was at an end. His secret was out, and now if he didn’t leave, he would be put to death. Looking at Nera, he wondered what had prompted her to make such a decision. He had asked her not to speak of him to anyone, fearing that this exact scenario might occur. With a sigh, he said, “I understand why you did it, Nera. You wanted to help me.” Reaching out, he hugged his friend close to his heart. How could he be mad at her? She had already risked so much for him, and she’d given him opportunities he never dreamed possible. He had already learned more over the past few weeks than in his entire lifetime.

  Nera sobbed against his shoulder, grateful for her friend’s forgiveness. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated.

  “There’s no need to be,” Kwil responded. “You’ve given me so much already.”

  Wiping away her tears, Nera said, “We’d better finish packing.” She turned her attention to her lute, tucking it away neatly in its case.

  “You could probably talk your way out of this,” Kwil said. “I have to leave, but you could stay.”

  Nera looked up, wrinkling her brow. “Haven’t you been listening all this time? I don’t want to be a master wizard. I don’t need this school.”

  “But your family,” Kwil argued. “They’ll be angry if you run away. You might never see them again.”

  Straightening her bag onto her back, Nera replied, “You’re my family now, Kwil. My parents wanted an obedient child to bring them renown among their friends. That isn’t me.” Inside, she realized this meant she would never meet the kit her mother was carrying. The poor child would have to endure the same upbringing she had—one where she wasn’t free to pursue her dreams. “My only regret will be not meeting my little brother or sister,” she said. “But anything’s possible, right?” Picturing the toddling little kit brought a smile to Nera’s face.

  Kwil nodded slowly, looking into his friend’s eyes. How easily she would give up her comfortable life to join him in his exile. Each day she proved herself more and more his friend. “If you’re sure,” he said.

  “Of course I am,” she replied. With a smile, she added, “Do you think you could survive out in the wilderness without me?”

  Kwil didn’t know, and Nera had few skills for surviving in the wild either, thanks to her life as a noblewoman. Not once had she slept anywhere other than in luxury. Still, her determination was something to be admired, and Kwil knew he was better off with her at his side. “Let’s get going then,” he said.

  “All right,” she replied, “but you can’t take all those books. Choose two that you haven’t already read.”

  “I’ve read them all,” he admitted.

  “Then leave them,” she said. “We’ll find new ones. The destination I have in mind should be full of them.”

  Leaving the majority of her possessions behind, Nera led the way as the pair descended the steps and walked out onto the campus. “That’s the shortest way to the road,” she said, pointing to the east.

  With a nod, Kwil continued to follow her lead. They passed the lake unnoticed, but when they decided to take a shortcut through some garden beds, the campus guards took notice. One of them shouted at Nera, prompting her to run.

  “Run!” she shouted to Kwil. Tress could have already alerted the guards about her and Kwil, and she wasn’t about to take any chances.

  Kwil dashed along beside her, the guards giving chase for only a few yards before giving up. Trampling a garden bed wasn’t too serious of an offense. Apparently Nera’s teacher had kept her word to give her time to turn in Kwil herself. At least she wasn’t a liar on top of being a bigot.

  The pair made it safely to the road before stopping to look back.

  “It isn’t too late to change your mind,” Kwil said.

  Nera’s shoulders dropped as she looked at her friend. “I told you I’m coming with you,” she said. “If anyone saw a human running around loose, they’d assume you were a runaway slave. Who knows what they’d do to you?”

  Seeing the logic in her argument, Kwil
did not protest. He was happy for her company, but he felt bad that she would have to live a life of exile. Looking across the road, he peered into the woods. “Where do we go from here?” he asked. “I don’t think those woods look too inviting.”

  “No, they don’t,” Nera replied. “We’ll have to follow this road. It’s only about twenty miles or so to the next town. Just past it lives a man who might be able to help us.”

  “Who?” Kwil wondered. “Can he be trusted?” After being forced to flee the College, he wasn’t eager to trust any Gatan other than Nera.

  Motioning for Kwil to follow, Nera began the long journey down the road. “He’s something of an outcast,” she explained. “Master Rili is his name, and he came from a poor upbringing. He had to prove himself to study magic.” Pausing in her march, she placed a hand on Kwil’s shoulder. “That makes him a kindred spirit.”

  “Our situations aren’t exactly the same,” he pointed out. “How do you know we can trust him?”

  Continuing her march, she replied, “There are rumors he’s part of a movement to end slavery in Gi’gata.”

  “But that’s only a rumor,” Kwil said, growing anxious. “How can you be sure?”

  “I can’t,” Nera admitted. “But we have to try something. Our options are limited, and I think this is the best one.” Her confident demeanor belied no trace of the doubt in her mind. How would Master Rili react to a slave seeking shelter? Nera couldn’t say. All she knew was that Rili lived apart from others for a reason. He was a misfit, and those kind of people tended to stick together. Besides, if trouble reared its ugly head again, she was sure the two of them could outrun it. No city guards would patrol Rili’s area, and it would take hours for him to fetch them. By then the pair would be gone, searching for a safe place to hide. Unfortunately, if Rili was not obliging, Nera had no idea where to turn next. That information she kept to herself.

  As they moved along the dirt road, the clouds gathered overhead. A gentle mist soon gave way to a downpour, forcing the two to take cover beneath the trees.

  “This is all we needed,” Nera remarked.

  “At least it will keep anyone from following us,” Kwil said, looking on the bright side.

  “I suppose so,” she replied, pulling her cloak from her bag. Fastening the clasp around her neck, she pulled the hood over her head. “You should wear that cloak I gave you.”

  Kwil had forgotten he owned the garment. Rummaging in his bag, he pulled out the woolen cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders. The hood proved a fine barrier against the rain, which slowed after half an hour. The two took to their feet once more, their shoes sticking slightly in the mud as they walked.

  A light drizzle continued to plague them, so they kept their hoods up for the next several miles. Only a few wagons crossed their paths, none of them stopping to inquire if the two would like a ride. Merchants were always wary of travelers who might steal their goods, and nobles in their carriages would offer no assistance to those who traveled by foot.

  Trudging along on the muddy road, the two chatted to fill the silence. Nera spoke mostly of her music and the songs she intended to learn. Kwil listened intently, all the while trying to put the day’s events behind him. He could not focus long enough to talk about magic. He was grateful to his companion for filling the gaps in their conversation.

  Eventually the sun moved low in the sky and the rain relented, giving way to a cloudy, orange sky. With the ground too wet to camp for the night, the pair agreed to continue walking until morning, or until their aching feet forced them to stop.

  As the sun disappeared from the horizon, Nera paused, throwing a hand in front of Kwil. Staring into the distance, she narrowed her pale green eyes.

  “What is it?” Kwil asked. He did not share the Gatan’s innate ability to see in low-light conditions.

  “I saw figures moving among the trees,” she said.

  “Animals?” Kwil wondered. He had no idea what sort of wild creatures might dwell in the woods, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. If they were dangerous, he had no way of protecting himself or his friend. He had never held a weapon, and none of the spells he had studied were intended for fighting.

  Nera shook her head. “They were Gatans,” she replied. “They moved from the road to the trees. I don’t see them now, but I don’t think they went far.” Every hair on her neck stood up as she tried to steady her breathing. Whoever these people were, her gut told her they were not friendly.

  Straining to see, Kwil couldn’t make out anything except blobs that were probably trees. With the moon hidden behind the clouds, he could not rely on his vision. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he focused his mind to the path ahead. Finding it clear, he attempted to move his thoughts toward the trees, but he could not hold the spell. “I don’t see anything on the road,” he said, slightly defeated.

  “They’re there,” Nera replied. “I can’t see them anymore, but I can hear them whispering. They’re watching the road. I don’t think it’s safe to go on.”

  “What do we do?” Kwil asked. Going into the forest at night was dangerous. He preferred to stay close to the road.

  “I’m not sure,” Nera said, looking toward the trees on the opposite side of the road from the men. She didn’t want to be in the woods any more than her companion did, but they had limited options. With a sigh, she said, “We don’t have much choice.”

  “We could stay here awhile,” he suggested.

  Nera didn’t like that suggestion either. Time was not on their side. They needed to make it to Rili’s house before anyone could figure out where they were going. The snap of a twig caught her attention, her ears turning themselves toward the noise. From the darkness, a firm hand grasped her shoulder, and she tumbled to the ground.

  “Nera!” Kwil cried, taking a step forward. The rough grip of a stranger, his fingers clasped against Kwil’s cloak, held him in place.

  Three men surrounded the pair, all of them dressed in black, their catlike eyes gleaming in the darkness. “You two are up past your bedtime,” one of them said, laughing. Flashing his yellowed fangs, he added, “I’ll be relieving you of your money and jewelry.”

  Nera rose to her knees and said, “We don’t have any money.” The statement was only partly true. She had brought enough to purchase food and necessities, but she didn’t have any to spare.

  “A woman who dresses her slave in such a fine cloak has far more money than sense,” the brigand replied, gripping the back of Kwil’s neck. “Hand it over, and no one gets hurt.”

  “I don’t know about that, Boss,” one of the shadowy figures said. “I’d like to have a go at that girl. She’s a sweet one.” Audibly licking his lips, the Gatan focused his gaze on Nera.

  Kwil, who had stood frozen throughout the encounter, knew he had to do something. Though a slave would be executed for attacking a Gatan, he had to protect his friend. Reaching deep into his magical stores, he summoned a fire in his belly. The heat rose through his body, seeping through his skin. The thug’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he felt the heat against his hand. Smoke arose between the two, his companions staring in disbelief.

  Nera took advantage of the distraction and grabbed a hefty branch from the ground. Swinging it with all her might, she connected with the nearest brigand’s skull. He dropped to the ground unconscious. Swinging at the second man, she slammed the branch into his midsection, and he doubled over, clutching at his ribs.

  The third bandit grabbed for Nera, knocking her to the ground and wrestling the branch from her hands. Kwil took a deep breath and focused his mind to the flames inside. Though he did not know the proper spell for such magic, he willed the heat to obey him. It flew from his fingertips, lighting the brigand’s fur ablaze. The man thrashed on the ground, desperately trying to extinguish the flames.

  Nera hopped up from the ground and grabbed Kwil by the arm. “Let’s go!” she shouted. The two flew toward the forest, disappearing within the black.

 
Chapter 7

  Stumbling through the darkened forest, Kwil did his best to keep stride with his nimble companion. The pair ran a few miles before stopping to catch their breath. Nera leaned forward, her hands against her knees, while Kwil constantly turned his head, searching the night for every sound that crept into his ears.

  “It’s all right,” Nera reassured him. “I don’t hear or see any sign of those men.” Coming to his side she patted him on the back. “Good job back there.”

  Shaking his head, Kwil still couldn’t believe what he’d managed to do. “I took one of the spells I learned that was designed for lighting candles,” he said. “It shouldn’t have produced enough heat to do that.”

  “Well, whatever you did, it worked like a charm,” she said. “Those guys didn’t know what hit them.” She slapped his back once more before plopping herself on the ground. “How about lighting us a fire?”

  Kneeling next to her, he replied, “Are you sure that’s a good idea? They might see it and come back.”

  “True, but it’s getting really cold, and we don’t want to freeze. If someone finds us huddled together, things could get ugly fast.” Scanning the ground for rocks or twigs, she fashioned a neat pile for her companion to light.

  “Maybe I can camouflage the fire,” he said, steadying himself and closing his eyes. Pulling magic through his body, he summoned the same heat he had tapped into before. Placing his hands on one of the rocks, he transferred the heat onto its cold surface. The rock began to heat, its surface taking on an orange glow. Soon, a fire roared to life, spreading to the other rocks and sticks. The magical flame did not consume the wood. Instead, the objects held the flame, preventing it from spreading into the forest.

  Sitting back on his heels, Kwil finally opened his eyes. The glow was almost hypnotic, allowing him to enter a trancelike state. Focusing his mind to create colors, he summoned dark blue, green, and brown to cover the burning embers. Those passing by would see nothing of the fire—only Kwil could detect it beneath the illusion he created.