A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  * * * * *

  Dragging Nera by her arms, the guards brought her before her father. Struggling all the way, Nera tried to break free of her captors. They tightened their grip, angering the girl further. The blood rising to her face, she bared her fangs at the men.

  Lord Orva waved his hand. “Release her,” he commanded them.

  The guards immediately let go of her, and she snatched her arms away from them. Turning to one of the guards, Nera spit in his face. He clenched his jaw in anger, but said nothing. A severe look from Lord Orva reminded him of his duty to the family. He backed away without harming the girl while the second guard loosened her bonds.

  “Leave us,” Orva demanded. Staring into his daughter’s eyes, he said, “How could you bring such shame on our family?”

  Swallowing hard, Nera replied, “You’re the shameful one! You call it honor, but it’s your pride that matters. You care more for your pride than your child.”

  “What would you know of honor?” he asked, shaking his head. “Disappearing with a slave?”

  “I’m of age,” she reminded him. “I can do whatever I want.”

  “You most certainly cannot,” he replied. “You will obey me until the day I die!” He raised a hand to strike her, but she did not flinch. Lowering his hand, he said, “Your teacher visited me and told me what happened. It cost me a great deal to buy her silence.”

  “I don’t care who knows I helped a slave,” Nera replied, her chin held high. “I’d do it again if I had to.”

  “To save face, your teacher has put out the rumor that you left school for health reasons,” he said, ignoring his daughter’s words. “So we have a bit of time while I search for an appropriate husband for you.”

  Her eyes wide, Nera looked over at her mother, who was now visibly pregnant. “Are you going to let him sell me off?” she asked.

  “You’re not cattle, my dear,” her mother replied. “If you won’t be attending the College, it’s time you were married.” Stroking her husband’s arm, she said, “Perhaps the baby will be the wizard you’ve always wanted in the family.”

  Nera grunted in frustration. How could her mother condone this? “I’m a free woman!” she shouted. “I’m not some slave you can sell into marriage!” Fuming with anger, she tried to walk away, but Orva grabbed her arm, holding her in place.

  “Let go of me!” she demanded.

  Without releasing his grip, he said, “You will do as you’re told and marry whomever I desire. You have a duty to this family, and you will not bring shame on us again.”

  “If I marry, my duty will be to my husband,” she reminded him. “I’ll do everything I can to expose you as a liar and a swindler.” She was not ignorant to his business dealings, and she knew he was involved in questionable practices. It wouldn’t take much to ruin his name should such accusations be brought about by his own daughter.

  “Your husband is irrelevant!” he shouted. “I will own him as I do you. Don’t expect you’ll be living a life of luxury after this stunt.”

  Nera narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She knew exactly what he meant. He would sell her in marriage to a lesser noble, one he could control. The pair would live at the mercy of her father, dependent on him for all their funds.

  “Guards!” Orva called. “Take her to her room and make sure she remains there.”

  The guards grabbed her arms and forced her to walk forward. “I’m not your slave!” she cried. “You can’t do this to me!”

  “You are a disgrace to this family,” he replied. “When you’re ready to cooperate, you will be released.”

  Fighting all the way up the stairs, she called back, “Then I guess I’ll be locked up forever!”

  Shoving her inside her room, the guards closed her door and took positions outside. Nera cried out in anger, not knowing what to do next. She would not marry anyone at her father’s insistence, that much was certain. No matter how far she had to run, or how many times he dragged her back, she would resist him. She would not be broken.

  Pacing across the room, she swished her tail and tried to think of a way to escape. Eventually they’d have to open the door to feed her. Perhaps she could make a run for it then. Sitting near the window with a huff, she stared out at the stars. Tears formed in her eyes, and she felt embarrassed at the weakness. No, tears are not a weakness, she told herself.

  As she stared into the darkness, her thoughts turned to Kwil. How readily he had accepted his role as a slave. To be completely under the control of another person was unfathomable, but here Nera was in the same situation. Her father was determined to keep her in his grasp despite her being of age. Maybe if she seemed cooperative, she would have an easier time getting away. If her father trusted her again, he wouldn’t watch her every move.

  The thought of playing along made her ill, but it was worth a try. It might be her best chance for escape. Maybe then she could find her way back to Rili’s manor, if for no other reason than to say goodbye to Kwil. She didn’t want to put him in danger, but she couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. Once she was settled elsewhere, the two could keep in touch through letters.

  A smile appeared on her face as she finalized her plans. Life would not be so dismal after all. She would find work as a musician and travel the land, never revealing her family name. The freedom she craved would be hers.

  * * * * *

  Arriving at the outskirts of the Orva property, Kwil climbed down from the saddle. He was stiff and sore from his long ride, but glad to have finally arrived. Patting the horse’s side, he said, “I need you to stay here and wait for me.”

  The stallion grunted in response.

  “I’ll take that to mean you’re in agreement,” Kwil said. Their minds remained locked as long as they were in physical contact, but now that Kwil had to move away from the horse, he wasn’t sure if the magic would last. He could only hope the horse would still be waiting for him once he returned with Nera.

  Tiptoeing across the manor grounds, Kwil was thankful for the cover of darkness. Clouds had rolled in, concealing him from the moonlight, and there appeared to be no one patrolling the grounds. Getting inside the manor was necessary but risky. Anyone he encountered might raise the alarm. He could think of only one person besides Nera who could be trusted not to betray him.

  Approaching the door to the kitchens, he strained his eyes to see in the darkness. Pausing a moment, he listened for footsteps or any other sound that might betray the approach of a guard. He heard nothing. Remembering to breathe, he pulled the handle and opened the door only an inch. Inside a fire burned brightly, a sure sign that someone was awake. Please let it be Jenn, he thought.

  Opening the door a bit wider, he peered inside. The figure of an elderly woman sat churning butter for the morning’s breakfast. With a sigh of relief, Kwil stepped inside. “Jenn,” he whispered, stepping cautiously toward the old woman. He had no desire to startle her. If she cried out, he would certainly be caught.

  The old woman showed no signs of hearing him, so he tried again, this time louder. “Jenn,” he said. “It’s me, Kwil.”

  The old woman turned around and clamped a hand over her mouth. Rising to her feet, she threw her arms around the young man’s neck and squeezed as tight as she could. “By all the stars,” she said. “It’s really you.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked him over. “And you’re the picture of health too,” she added.

  “It’s good to see you,” he replied. The look of pride on the old woman’s face gave him pause. She had been so kind to him, and he didn’t realize how much he missed her until this moment.

  “Did you find your freedom?” she asked.

  “I did,” he replied. “I’m going to be a master sorcerer someday.”

  Slapping him on the shoulder, the old woman asked, “Then why’d you come back here? It’s not safe!”

  “I had to,” he said. “Nera’s in trouble.”

  “You will be too if you’re caught,” she said.
Shaking her head, she added, “Imagine a slave going free and then coming back here.”

  “Do you know where Nera is?” he asked, ignoring her comment. “I have to find her.”

  “They’ve locked her in her room,” Jenn replied. “I heard Lord Orva say he plans to marry her off.”

  “Have they mistreated her?” he wondered.

  Jenn shook her head. “As far as I know she’s been treated well, but there are guards posted at her door. Don’t you dare think of going up there.”

  “I have to find a way,” Kwil said. He turned to exit but only took one step before looking back. “Come with us,” he said. “You don’t have to remain a slave.”

  “Hush,” the old woman replied, waving her hand. “Whether I’m cooking here or somewhere else doesn’t matter. These old bones of mine are fine right here.”

  Kwil’s heart sank, but he understood. Hugging her goodbye, he said, “Be well. I’ll miss you.”

  “Go on now and be a wizard,” she said, giving him a push. She watched as he walked away, a twinkle of pride in her eyes.

  Stepping out into the darkness, Kwil made his way to the side of the manor. Looking up, he could see light in Nera’s open window. Relieved that she was still awake, he searched for a way to climb up the wall. There was no rope or ladder nearby, and he knew no spell that could make him jump thirty feet off the ground.

  Searching his mind, he tried to think of a spell that might work. Remembering an incantation that would produce a sticky resin on the caster’s hands, he had to contain his laughter. When he’d read about it, he couldn’t imagine what possible use this spell would have. Now he knew. If his hands were sticky enough, he could climb the wall without the aid of a rope.

  Repeating the incantation four times, the spell finally succeeded. A small amount of amber resin oozed from his pores, and he placed a hand against the wood. His hand stuck, but not enough to pull his weight. Again he spoke the words to produce more resin, but nothing happened. Closing his eyes, he took a few deep breaths to clear his mind. This had to work. His only other choice was to go back inside and risk running into the guards.

  Reaching deep into his magical stores, he pulled at the energy inside. Focusing his mind to the words, he whispered them to the night. With his full intentions focused on the spell, a soft green glow spread over his hands. The resin dripped from his fingers, and his feet felt sticky in his boots. Kicking them off, he placed both hands and feet against the wooden wall. Pulling himself up, he climbed without looking down. His sight focused on Nera’s window, he climbed until he could see inside.

  Hearing scratching against her windowsill, Nera grabbed a nearby vase and crept toward the window. Raising the vase to strike the intruder, she nearly brought it down on Kwil’s head. Recognizing her friend, she immediately set her weapon aside. “Kwil,” she whispered. “Is it really you?”

  Grinning, he nodded his head. “It’s me.”

  Nera couldn’t contain her excitement. She leaned toward the window and kissed his forehead. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said. Now she would not have to play along with her father’s plans. “How did you get up here?”

  Raising a hand to show her the resin, he said, “Sticky hands.”

  Nodding slowly, she asked, “How am I going to get down?”

  Kwil wasn’t sure. The spell probably wasn’t strong enough to carry the two of them.

  “Hold on,” Nera said, moving away from the window. Grabbing a tapestry of her family crest from the wall, she tossed it to the floor. Taking the rope attached to it, she returned to the window and presented it to Kwil.

  “That’s only two feet long,” he said. “That’s not going to get you to the ground.”

  Rolling her eyes, Nera replied, “Use magic on it.”

  Slightly embarrassed, Kwil took the rope in one sticky hand. Focusing his mind to the rope, he spread a soft white light over its surface. The rope began to grow, twisting itself as it stretched toward the ground. Once it was long enough, he handed it back to Nera.

  Tying the rope to her bedpost, Nera said, “All set.” Sitting on the windowsill, she grasped the rope in both hands before swinging her feet outside. Surprising even herself, Nera proved a nimble rope climber. Kwil moved slowly at her side, prepared to catch her should she fall, but she did not need his help. Her feet reached the ground in safety.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said.

  Shoving his feet back inside his boots, Kwil agreed. “The horse is this way,” he said, leading her away from the manor.

  To their delight, the horse was waiting for them only steps from where Kwil had left him. He neighed softly at the sight of Nera. Climbing aboard the saddle, they galloped away toward freedom.

  Chapter 13

  After riding through the night, Kwil and Nera found themselves near the College grounds by morning. There was little activity, most of the students having not yet risen from their beds. Kwil wondered what the day’s lessons would be, but it mattered not. In a few hours, they would be back at Rili’s house, where he could continue to learn.

  “We don’t want to linger here,” Nera cautioned. “My father may have paid off Mistress Tress, but that doesn’t mean she’ll actually keep her mouth shut. There could be people looking for you.” After a pause, she added, “Looking for both of us.”

  Nodding his understanding, Kwil spurred the horse forward. The path was dry, providing them with easy passage. Many other travelers crossed their path, but none paid them any heed. Kwil was grateful for that. Word of Nera’s escape had not yet spread through the area, and he hoped they could make it safely to Rili’s before it did.

  By evening, the two arrived at the manor house, and Rili stepped out to meet them. With his arms crossed against his chest, he scowled at the pair. “At least you’ve returned my horse,” he said, scolding.

  Climbing down from the saddle, Kwil said, “Forgive me, Master. I could not leave Nera to an uncertain fate.”

  Nera said nothing. She knew Rili would ask her to leave, and she was prepared for it. Her presence would bring trouble and prevent Kwil from learning. She had to leave.

  Sighing, Rili said, “I’m sorry, Kwil. I won’t be able to teach you.”

  Kwil stammered as he started to speak. “Because I disobeyed you?” he asked. “This was a special situation. Believe me, it won’t happen again.”

  Shaking his head, the master wizard replied, “It makes no difference. Her family won’t stop looking for her, and this is where they will look first. I can’t risk having trouble like that around here. It would jeopardize everything.” With guards poking around, he would likely be discovered as a proponent of abolishing slavery. His operation would be brought to a halt, and escaped slaves would have to travel weeks in the wilderness to find help.

  “Please,” Nera begged. “I will go away and never return, but you have to teach Kwil.”

  “The guards will undoubtedly return,” Rili stated. “One of them might recognize Kwil, and I’ll have no way to protect him.” His voice was full of regret. He truly wished he could help young Kwil, but it was impossible.

  “It’s all right,” Kwil replied. Turning to Nera, he added, “I wouldn’t want to stay if you left. I’d be worried about you.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she said. “I’ll join a troupe somewhere, and then I can write to you. You have to learn. Please, Master Rili, teach him.”

  “I’m finished repeating myself,” Rili replied. “Take your lute and leave this place. I’m sorry, Kwil. I will not mention to anyone that you passed this way again.”

  “Where will we go?” Kwil asked.

  “If you still want to learn magic, you might find help in the Dark Forest,” Rili said. “Mistress Seela lives in a cottage a few days’ journey from here. She took me as her apprentice when no one else would. She taught me many things, and there is much yet I did not learn. If you truly wish to learn great things, learn from her.”

  “How will I know her?” Kwil
asked, suddenly eager to get going.

  “I doubt you will encounter many Gatans in those woods, and none like Seela,” Rili replied. “She is a Feles.”

  Nera gasped in surprise. She had seen one Feles before as a child, and the sight had stuck with her.

  “What’s a Feles?” Kwil asked. The term was entirely foreign to him.

  “A Feles is a Gatan of special birth,” Nera explained. “They are small and walk on four legs. It’s said they are the manifestation of our ancestors.” Wrinkling her brow, she said, “They are usually revered, and people pay a lot of money to see them. I can’t imagine one living in obscurity in the Dark Forest.”

  “That is all I’m prepared to say,” Rili said. “You may seek her out and tell her that I sent you. Otherwise, you may go where you will.” Grabbing the horse’s lead, he walked away toward the stable.

  “Dark Forest it is then,” Kwil said.

  Nodding, Nera said, “Looks like it. Let’s get our things.”

  The two entered the manor one last time to collect their few belongings. Caressing her lute case, Nera realized how much she had missed holding it. Never again would they part—not for her father, nor any other villain who would try to destroy her spirit.

  As they exited the house and headed toward the woods, they saw no sign of Rili. Kwil wanted to say goodbye, but Nera stopped him. “I’m sure he feels bad about this,” she said. “He does want to help you, but he also wants to help other slaves. With my father’s men keeping watch over him, he wouldn’t be able to do either.”

  “I couldn’t turn my back on you, Nera,” Kwil said. “Even if it means I can’t learn magic.”

  Kwil’s loyalty made Nera feel small. Was she worthy of such dedication? “Kwil, I would see you live your dream,” she said. “I wouldn’t expect you to follow me while I pursue mine. The time may come when we are forced to part.”