A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  A gentle snow began to fall as the two prepared to begin their search for Master Rili’s home. Luckily the wind stayed light, and the snow was powdery instead of ice.

  “Should we get back on the road?” Kwil asked. “If the snow gets heavier, we might lose our way in the forest.”

  Glancing toward the road, Nera said, “Let’s stay here for now. We can keep the road in sight and move over if the snow starts getting deep.” Staying safe was more important to her than following the road, but the snow would likely keep other travelers at home. The road might be safer than she thought.

  For nearly an hour they traveled through the forest. Thankfully the snow remained light, and they moved with surprising ease. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Rili’s home or any type of path that might lead them to it.

  “Maybe we should try the other side of the road,” Kwil suggested.

  “Agreed,” Nera replied. They had already gone farther from town than she had anticipated. They should have seen some sign of Rili by now, assuming the rumors she had heard about him were true. Crossing the road seemed a better idea than climbing another tree for a look around. She wasn’t sure she wanted to take the risk of falling while Kwil was not at a hundred percent. His poor treatment at the hands of the town’s citizens might have temporarily affected his magical abilities.

  With caution they approached the road, looking each way before darting across. No one saw them, save the ever-watching eyes of a single owl. They pressed on through the woods, directing their footsteps back in the direction of the town.

  An object darted past Kwil, his eyes catching only the slightest glimpse. “Was that a hummingbird?” he wondered. The strange creature made a loud buzzing sound, but it was too cold for most insects to be active.

  Not having seen the winged being, Nera replied, “It’s winter. The hummingbirds have all gone.”

  “Something flew past my head,” he stated.

  “It was probably just a leaf,” she replied. Normally, she wouldn’t give the matter a second thought, but the buzzing returned, this time beside her own head. As the noise grew more intense, she turned to find a black-and-white furry creature hovering just behind her. It was about three inches long with insectlike wings and a long, protruding stinger on its abdomen. “Ahh!” she screamed, flailing her hands to swat the beast away.

  Kwil looked over at his companion, neglecting where his feet were about to step. His boot landed near the roots of an aging pine, where the menacing creatures made their nest. A swarm of furry fliers emerged, surrounding the hapless travelers. Kwil waved his arms, hoping to deter the beasts from such large prey, but it was no use. One of them plunged its stinger into his arm, the sensation of fire spreading throughout his body.

  “Run!” Nera shouted, bounding away from the nest. Both of them darted through the underbrush, ignoring any obstacles in their path. All that mattered was outrunning the stinging monsters.

  The buzzing devils pursued, matching pace with the two hapless wanderers. Determination gleaming in their coal-black eyes, they charged on, occasionally lunging their stingers toward the pair. One managed to make contact with Nera’s cloak, but the wool was too thick to allow the stinger to penetrate. The creature worked itself free and continued its pursuit.

  Shoving past low branches and leaping over roots, Kwil and Nera pressed on. Their hearts pounding and their lungs screaming for them to stop, they ran, fueled only by adrenaline. Kwil’s arm throbbed where the stinger had landed, and a large purple welt formed on his skin. Ignoring the pain, he ran on, barely able to keep pace with his nimble companion.

  Nera leapt higher with each passing root, swatting her hands in the air the entire time. Though she was well ahead of the buzzers for the time being, she believed she could feel them brushing against her fur. Only the sound of Kwil’s footsteps behind her let her know he was still keeping pace. Hoping his awkward human legs would not fail him, she continued her flight.

  “Water!” Kwil cried, pointing to the right. A large pond remained unfrozen, its ice-cold waters far more inviting than the stingers.

  The two rushed toward the shore, slipping on the dampened leaves that surrounded it. Kwil did not hesitate to jump, landing feet-first in the frigid water. Nera paused, her eyes wide. Placing her foot in the water up to the ankle, she felt hundreds of needles piercing her skin. Wondering whether she should take her chances with the angry fliers, she withdrew her foot and shivered.

  “Come on!” Kwil shouted. “They’re still coming!” The beasts had no trouble catching up to the Gatan, and her only choice was to join her companion in the water.

  Looking over her shoulder, Nera’s fear of the buzzers renewed. Taking in a deep breath, she jumped into the icy water. Submerged to her neck, she felt safe from the stingers, but her breath was stolen away. Thankfully, the monsters preferred not to follow. For them, becoming wet meant they could not fly, and that meant certain death. They buzzed away, content that the intruders were far from their nest.

  Shivering, the pair made their way to the bank and climbed out onto dry land. Kwil made it out with little trouble, but Nera’s soaked fur made her heavy. Her hands grasped at the ground, trying to pull her freezing body from the water. Kwil grabbed onto her arms and pulled, nearly dragging her out of the lake. Her teeth chattered, and ice crystals formed on her exposed fur.

  “You have to build a fire,” she squeaked out.

  Nodding, Kwil gathered a sloppy pile of fallen leaves and held his hand above it. Trying his best to focus his mind, he reached for the heat inside himself. Nothing happened. Opening his eyes was difficult. They felt like they were frozen shut. “I’m too cold!” he said, panicking. Both of their lives depended on his ability to cast this spell, and he was failing.

  Nera managed to move her freezing body to his side and came to her knees. Grabbing his hands, she squeezed them tightly. “Use my energy,” she suggested.

  Though he’d never tried to pull energy from another creature, Kwil had read it was possible. Clearing his mind of thoughts of cold, he attempted to tap into Nera’s heat. He found none. She was colder than he was, and he could find no warmth inside her to project into the fire. “It’s not working,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

  Nera let go of his hands and placed both of hers against his face. Looking into his eyes, she said, “You can do this, Kwil. I believe in you.”

  Trying again, Kwil found it impossible to calm his mind. He was too cold, and felt only the desire to lie down and rest. But a fire burned in Nera’s eyes. Determined not to let her down, he reached out instinctively, placing his hands against the sides of her head. Placing his forehead against hers he drew not heat but confidence. His mind began to clear, thoughts of cold and death disappearing into the frigid, winter air. Summoning the heat inside his gut, he forced it up through his hand. Gesturing to the leaf pile, he projected the fire, red magic erupting from his fingertips. An ember glowed to life within the leaves, its life-giving warmth caressing the frozen travelers.

  “You did it!” Nera cried, clapping her hands. As the words escaped her lips, Kwil collapsed, teetering over onto his side. “You can’t sleep now,” she said, shaking her head. Grabbing him by his shoulders, she shook him violently.

  His eyes opened, and he steadied himself before the fire. Nera began disrobing, eager to get the wet clothes away from her fur. Kwil turned his head to allow the woman her modesty.

  Slinging her cloak over a limb, she said, “Don’t worry about that now. You should get those wet clothes hung up over the fire too.” Grinning, she added, “Before they stick to your pink skin.” After stripping down to her undergarments, she sat cross-legged on the ground, rubbing her arms and legs.

  Rising to his feet, Kwil removed his cloak and shirt, but wouldn’t go so far as to remove his pants. There was a lady present, after all. The fire’s warmth found its way to his bare skin, soothing the tightness that had crept into his muscles. His magical energy renewed, he decided to aug
ment the fire. Placing his hand over the top, he projected more heat, increasing the output of the flames. Though it appeared unchanged, the increase in warmth caused their icy clothes to steam.

  “Nice,” Nera commented, watching. “We’ll be dry in no time.”

  “That was the plan,” Kwil replied with a smile. His confidence heightened, he was eager to get dry and go looking for Master Rili. His future lay somewhere in these woods, and he was ready to find it.

  Chapter 9

  After returning to the road, it wasn’t long before Nera spotted a worn path, partially concealed by layers of dried leaves. Pointing, she shouted, “Look! That must be the way!”

  The pair broke into a run, anxious to finally meet the master wizard who they hoped would take them in. Winding along the narrow path, they finally spotted a manor house nestled in the distance.

  Kwil paused. “I thought you said he was a poor man.” Judging by the size of his home, Kwil couldn’t believe that rumor had been true.

  “I guess he isn’t anymore,” Nera replied, staring at the house. It was smaller than her own family’s home, but sufficiently large to mark the wizard as well off. A large garden jutted off to the side, but luckily, she spotted no slaves tending it. “Come on,” she said. They’d come this far, and she was eager to speak to Rili, regardless of his wealth. “Master wizards are probably paid quite nicely,” she suggested.

  Kwil did not reply but followed his friend up the path to the manor.

  Arriving at the door Nera said, “Let me do the talking.”

  Having no intention of addressing the wizard without permission, Kwil happily allowed her to speak on his behalf. He stood behind her and slightly to the side, hoping to avoid notice.

  Knocking loudly upon the wooden door, Nera announced her presence at the manor. Doing her best to appear refined, she straightened her back and held her head high. To her surprise, Master Rili himself answered the door in lieu of a servant. His hooded cloak and sparkling green eyes gave him away instantly. With the unmistakable air of a master wizard, his black-and-white fur radiated magic.

  “Yes?” Rili looked her up and down. He did not spare a glance at Kwil.

  Clearing her throat, Nera said, “I have come seeking your instruction, Master.”

  Rili scoffed. “I’m afraid you’re out of luck. The College is that way.” He pointed a well-manicured finger in the direction of the road and slowly pushed the door to close it. Nera’s foot stopped him. Scowling, he asked, “Is there something else?”

  “Please,” she began, “I can’t go back to the College. You’re the only person who will understand my predicament. May we come in?”

  At the word “we,” Rili glanced over at the slave standing silently near one of the marble columns decorating the front of the manor. “You and your slave?” he asked, curious.

  “Yes,” she replied. “I must speak with you. It’s a matter of life or death.” She hoped those words would gain her entry into the master’s home. Outside she felt too exposed to reveal her secret.

  Pushing the door aside, Rili sighed. “Come in, I suppose.” Moving aside, he observed carefully as Nera and Kwil stepped inside. Gesturing to Nera, he said, “Have a seat.”

  Moving to a velvet-covered chair, Nera made herself comfortable. Kwil took a position behind her, standing at the ready as a slave was expected to do.

  Taking a seat across from his guests, Rili asked, “Now what is this urgent life or death business?” The two were certainly an unusual arrival to his home. Visitors were extremely rare, save those who came to deliver supplies. The wizard preferred his solitude in order to focus on his work.

  Nera wasn’t sure where to begin, but she knew she had to tell the truth. There would be no keeping secrets from this man. Trust was key—without it she couldn’t know that Kwil would be safe. It was best to know where Rili stood right away, in case they needed to make another escape. “I,” she started, “we, would like to study magic with you.”

  Rili stared blankly at the girl. “Who’s we?” he asked. She couldn’t possibly be referring to herself and the slave. She must have some other person in mind.

  Raising her hand, she patted Kwil’s arm. “This is Kwil, and I am Nera. We are both interested in learning magic.” Though she wasn’t truly interested for herself, she thought it might increase Kwil’s chances if she was learning too. If Rili thought he would be spending too much one-on-one time with a human, he might not be so keen on the idea. Once he saw that Kwil was progressing far beyond Nera’s abilities, Rili would hopefully warm to the idea.

  Jumping to his feet, Rili stammered a moment before asking, “A slave? You want me to train your slave?” The entire notion was ludicrous. He had already spent a small fortune aiding runaway slaves by funding their departure on trustworthy ships. The work was dangerous, and the few ships’ captains willing to take on such an endeavor demanded a hefty sum. Rili did not agree with Gi’gata’s attitude toward slavery, but taking one into his home would be madness.

  “Please hear me out,” Nera said in a calm tone. To her surprise, Rili relaxed a bit and sat back down. “Until a few days ago, I was a second year student at the College,” she explained. “Kwil was my servant. He learned from my books, and he has a natural talent for magic. I made the mistake of asking one of my teachers to help him. She wanted to have him killed.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Rili responded. “You would likely be imprisoned as well.” After a pause, he said, “You’re asking me to shelter two criminals and contribute to their crime.” He shook his head, trying to figure out why they’d come to him. Most people left him in peace, and he preferred it that way. His upbringing and training as a sorcerer had not been easy, thanks to his low birth. He had to fight for everything he accomplished, and now these two strangers had arrived and asked him to risk losing everything. Being involved in this criminal act could cost him his freedom, or possibly his life.

  “We wouldn’t be here if we had anywhere else to go,” Nera went on. “I’ve heard about you, your past difficulties, and that you were sympathetic toward slaves.” Staring into his eyes, she could not tell whether she was reaching him at all. “Kwil, show him what you can do.”

  Hesitating a moment, Kwil decided it was for the best. Rili didn’t seem eager to take him on as a student, so he had to prove he was worth the effort. Reaching into his magic, he whispered an incantation and waved his fingers in a precise motion. Five books removed themselves from the shelf behind Rili, shuffled three times, and took their rightful places back on the shelf. Finishing the spell, Kwil’s eyes darted between Nera and Rili.

  Nera pleaded, “He deserves to learn. Please, Sir.”

  Still staring at the books, Rili turned slowly back toward his guests. His eyes fell on Kwil, and he shook his head. “In all my studies I’ve never encountered a human wizard.” Pausing, he rubbed a finger against his chin. To Nera, he said, “We are an egotistical bunch, we Gatans. We assume that the races of other lands are inferior, but that isn’t the case. Wherever this young man is from, his people obviously practice magic. Our people declare it impossible because we wish it were so.”

  “Does that mean you’ll teach him?” Nera asked, trying to quell the excitement in her voice.

  “Him?” he asked. “I thought you wanted to learn as well.” Now he understood. She was here only to help her friend.

  Nera bowed her head. “I have no talent for magic,” she admitted. “Kwil is the one who really needs you.”

  “All Gatans are capable of magic,” Rili replied. “If you have no desire to hone the skill, I will not force you. But Kwil must prove himself a worthy student. Simply shuffling books isn’t good enough. He must prove he has the ability to think—to find solutions to impossible tasks. Only then will I agree to teach him.”

  “I will take any test you give me,” Kwil stated boldly. “Please, name the task, and I will find a way to carry it out.”

  Rili admired the slave’s dedication. He was eager to
learn, and that made him worthy of a chance. Despite never having taken on an apprentice before, Rili considered himself up to the challenge. It didn’t take long for him to decide on an appropriate test of Kwil’s cunning. “You must draw water from the well out back without using any type of bowl or cup. Bring the water inside to me, and I will determine if you are a worthy student.”

  Motioning for them to follow, Rili led his guests toward the rear of the manor and opened the door to the garden. Silently he watched as the two filed out in the cold. Shutting the door behind him, he went back inside to sit by the fire.

  “He’s not going to watch?” Nera asked. She expected him to stand over Kwil’s shoulder and scrutinize his every move.

  With a shrug, Kwil replied, “It doesn’t matter. He’ll know.” Approaching the well, Kwil peered inside. A single bucket attached to a rope descended into the depths. “It’s an ordinary well,” he declared. Now the question was which spell to choose.

  “Can you use the same spell you used on the books?” Nera asked. As soon as she said it, she knew it was the wrong answer. Rili would never make it that easy.

  “I’d have to control each molecule of water individually, since it doesn’t stick together the way a solid object does,” Kwil explained. No, there was another solution. All he had to do was find it.

  Nera moved toward the well and sat on its edge. Preparing to swing her feet around, she said, “Lower me down like you did when I fell out of the tree. I’ll cup it in my hands.” A proud smile graced her lips, satisfied with her own cunning.

  Kwil shook his head. “It will leak through your fingers. There won’t be any left by the time we reach the door.”

  “Then I’ll get a mouthful,” she said, dangling her feet over the well’s edge.

  “I can’t risk lowering you in there, Nera,” Kwil said. “Not without Rili here to save you if I fail.”