White Hall (The High King: A Tale of Alus Book 10)

by Donald Wigboldy

  The high wizard seemed to be looking at the air between them more than at the novice trying to achieve his wish. Gesturing to the cadet, Herrol asked, “Do you only know how to change into a bear?”

  “I started with the lynx they have in the zoo,” Nicklaus replied and wished that he had ignored Piotr and tried a few other animals as well. A couple others he was thinking of could also come in handy in the future.

  “Try that form then. The falconi’s office has begun to feel a bit small already for so many. At least a lynx is smaller than a brown bear,” High Wizard Herrol stated barely looking at the cadet. It was almost as if the wizard didn’t want to look at the mage, but then again he didn’t really look at Piotr either.

  Unsure if he should be offended by the high wizard’s apparent distaste for him, Niklaus decided it was worth doing as he was asked. “Mind to mind, lynx,” the boy said using the words which seemed to work for creating the bear though with the other animal’s name in its place.

  His mind focused on the feel and look of the lynx and Niklaus’ vision lowered as his body became that of the mountain cat. He was looking up at everything and the boy wished that he had become a bear instead. At least as a bear, he could stand without having to put his paws on something.

  Sitting on its haunches, the lynx looked around at the men and women before him. Herrol smiled slightly as his eyes seemed to see something as they followed an invisible line from Piotr to Niklaus and back again several times.

  “It is as I thought. The twins share power to an extent. Niklaus may only hold a mage’s strength in him; but at least near Piotr, the two seem to share magic between them. There doesn’t look to be a lot of power flowing to the cadet when he needs it, but I have a feeling that together they can adjust if they were ever to practice sharing power between them.”

  Niklaus released the animal form as his brother replied, “I was near Nik when he first transformed. He was trying to transfer his mind to Lyras, but he became a bear at least thirty feet from me or more in the courtyard.”

  The white wizard shook his head as if what the boy said didn’t matter. “Once he knows and understands a new spell, Niklaus may not need the extra boost in power. The other mage has translated quite a few wizard spells. Those who have watched him try believed that the first tries took more effort and probably more magic on his part. Once the mage used his new spell a few times, the spells seem to have taken less effort.”

  Falconi Garrett nodded, “He seemed capable of wizard level spells when he visited on the way to Hala. I heard that he was able to defeat some of the other promising duelists with those spells.”

  As if the battle mage had meant it as a jab, High Wizard Herrol frowned before trying to sound gracious as he replied, “From the reports I heard, he did well enough at Windmeer for the ravens to ask him to attend the tournament.”

  “...and he finished fourth but only because he pulled out early,” Falconi Martina added.

  “But this isn’t about him. That mage may be completely unique to our situation. Niklaus and his tie to his twin may be something altogether different. I would like to have a couple of our healers and researchers do some tests with the two,” Herrol said trying to lead the conversation back to where he felt more comfortable. “Getting baseline information now, we can follow as they progress in their training and see if there is a link for the twins.”

  Martina asked, “Even if there is a link between them, has there been other cases worth wasting the time interfering with their training to see if there is? It would be like spending time looking at Falcon Sebastian’s brain to see if he is different from the rest of us. No one is creating new magic, so that would be a waste of resources.

  “These boys don’t need the extra poking and prodding from your researchers, do they?”

  Garrett shook his head at his second in command, “If High Wizard Herrol thinks that it is worth taking the time to see what connection being a twin has to their magic; then we will just have to make room in their schedules to do the testing. I am sure that he wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time on worthless tests for a unique case.”

  Surprised by the mage’s admonishment of his second, Herrol nodded to his battle mage equivalent at the school. “Thank you, Falconi Garrett. I do believe that such research may bring new insights into our magic and possibly the relation between us as well.”

  “Then we will work out the details later and let the boys go back to their studies,” the falconi stated.

  Glad to be free, Piotr led the way ahead of his brother, who couldn’t help a little smirk at the disruption he had caused.

  “Why do you look so happy?” the younger twin asked. “Now we will have wizards researching our connection or whatever, and our usual studies and classes.”

  “Well being special isn’t exactly a bad thing, is it?” Niklaus chuckled in response. “If they want to see what else we can do as a team, maybe when you learn more spells, we can work to see if I can learn them as well. I wouldn’t mind finding out I can do more magic because we’re twins. If I have to be here, the more cool stuff I can do the better.

  “You, little brother, have to work harder to figure out your spells so I can come learn them from you,” he finished with a grin.

  “Or you’ll screw up my spells and bumble into something else like shape changing?” Piotr grumbled.

  “So bitter,” Niklaus laughed. “But seriously, maybe we can become a special team together. At least then you’ll always know I have your back and I’ll know that you have mine as we move forward.”

  “I doubt that you need me to watch your back, Nik,” Piotr replied with a shake of his head. “You have Xara, Jeraan and Uliya in a pretty tight group, so I’m sure that you’ll be fine.”

  “True,” the elder twin stated with a nod and a smile. “By the way, how is that cute air apprentice doing that seemed so into you on the way to White Hall? I haven’t noticed her with you lately.”

  Shrugging he replied, “She’s an apprentice and I’m a novice. I never see her except maybe for a few minutes after dinner. Right now I just have my books and my classes.”

  “That’s a shame. I thought you might have a steady girlfriend with her,” Niklaus said before they exited the base of the tower. “Well, morning classes are about to begin. I guess I’ll see you later then.”

  Piotr watched his brother heading towards the room taken over by the mages. In turn, the novice nearly dragged his feet heading towards his own class. He wondered if Niklaus wanted to be part of this research thing of Herrol’s because for the first time in their lives the twins were no longer around each other as much. Piotr was a wizard and Niklaus a battle mage. Normally those two groups would be busy with their individual studies until they graduated in a few years, but as twins they might be together once more.

  Unsure if he wanted his independence from his brother, the boy wandered off to his classes.

  “Did Niklaus get in trouble for fighting?” Briahnna asked as the novices grouped together waiting for their fire wizard teacher to show up for their class. New wizards always started with fire for the basics of elemental casting. If they didn’t have the temperament for fire, they would be broken up to their respective trainers in short order for their element, or in Katya’s case, diplomacy magic. “You didn’t get in trouble because of him, did you?”

  “Why would he get in trouble for what his brother did?” Job asked less inclined to believe that could happen.

  “I didn’t get in trouble exactly,” the boy in question responded ending the questions quickly. “They think there is a special bond between us as twins. He might be able to share power from me and vice versa, I suppose.

  “High Wizard Herrol wants research wizards and healers to take a look at us while we go to school. I don’t why, but he does.”

  Katya looked thoughtful and conjectured, “Maybe if they find a link between twins, they might find similar things between siblings with magic. Bas took me on a trip in the air w
ith his magic. If I have some air magic potential, it might be easier than for someone without and such. Who knows though?”

  At the sound of the door closing, the seven novices gathered around Piotr’s table looked up and surprise could be found on most of their faces as a young wizard in red strode to the front of the room. Patting the air, the blonde haired fire wizard said to the class, “Easy now, yes, I am not your usual instructor, but I think that you will survive this class even so.

  “Do we have any confirmed water novices in the class?”

  Lyssa tentatively raised her hand and the wizard shook his head, “Well, maybe not you, I’m afraid.”

  Giving the girl a moment for her eyes to grow large, he chuckled and added, “I am kidding. For those of you who don’t already know, I am Fire Wizard Magnus. Some say THE Magnus, because I won the Winter’s Edge tournament.”

  He waited for a moment and frowned jokingly, “What no applause? Again I am just kidding.

  “You may have heard news that we have new novices that arrived yesterday, so they are going through the wonderfully fun orientation class and your instructor, Fire Wizard Irrom, has been called on to act as a mentor this morning.”

  While he spoke, the young man placed seven lamps on the desk closest to the front. Though wizard school rarely had a desk needed for teachers, it was still there just in case. Magnus made sure to spread the lamps across the top before continuing, “Now as we know from...” he gestured to Lyssa and she stated her name, “Lyssa, not every one of you will become a fire wizard and some will always have more difficulties with that magic because they are attuned to the opposite element or for you nature lovers, fire can be a counter intuitive magic for you.

  “Still we begin with fire magic, because in a fight, nearly everyone can use fire, while someone using water might be in a field with little moisture to use their power.”

  Magnus nodded to the water novice and said, “Not to pick on Lyssa, but I am sure that you have found that you can summon fire and we can all concede that a fireball can be thrown over long distances. Water is limited, but can also be very powerful near rivers, lakes and the sea.

  “Now let’s see what you have mastered so far. Day one was lighting a lamp. I want each of you to light a lamp.”

  Job and Lyssa started to get up. They had lit their lamps on their desks on the first day after some difficulty, so they assumed this was the same lesson repeated.

  Holding up his hand, Magnus shook his head. “No, no, do it from there. I am sure that you can all light a lamp by now, but sitting inches from a lamp is no challenge. A fire wizard will manipulate flame for hundreds of yards if he has the power and skill. When you can strike beyond the reach of arrows, then you will be safe and definitely not before.

  “Do you know the chief cause of deaths among wizards in the field?”

  Briahnna answered hesitantly, “Arrows?”

  Magnus nodded. “Wizards can use shields, but an archer can often catch them off guard or catch you from an angle you aren’t protecting. The next issue is letting enemies get too close. Killing an orc hundreds of feet away to move to the next is much better than waiting until they are nearly on top of you.”

  Looking to Katya, the wizard stated, “Fire wizards have always fancied their guild as the war wizards, but a battle mage in an enclosed area is too quick for us. We don’t learn to use swords the way they and the soldiers do. This is why we train you to use your magic from the greatest distance you can.

  “If you can’t manage to light a lamp from under thirty feet away, or twenty or ten; you will die unless there is someone else to save you.”

  Sweeping his arm towards the lamps, Magnus ordered, “Flame.”

  Fire appeared in all seven lamps at once.

  “Extinguish,” he added reversing the course of his hand putting out the lamps in a single pass.

  “They don’t want me teaching you battle mage casting, but understand it. Now each of you pick a lamp and light it.”

  Katya used the proper gestures keeping her attention on the lamp of her choice. It lit with a pop of fire lifting nearly to the top of the glass.

  “Control, Katya. Extinguish it and light it with half the power you just used,” Magnus ordered walking behind the table. The girl had been the first and accomplished the task as quickly as any wizard should. Unfortunately for Katya, her magic, even contained by the crystal, was still more than she could fully control.

  Putting out the flame, the blonde haired novice watched as Alec, the boy from Windmeer castle, lit his lamp next. It was done precisely and Katya frowned wishing she could do the same. Briahnna followed, but her flame was a little more than she expected.

  “I don’t know your name, boy,” Magnus said to the young novice. Katya nearly laughed thinking the wizard was barely out of boyhood himself, though her mother said some boys never truly became men.

  “Alec?” the boy with the brown hair said hesitantly brushing his bangs from his forehead nervously.

  “Good work. Now try working on your speed. This type of casting won’t equal mage style words of power, but the faster you are with this the easier it will be if you decide to try to learn both.”

  The novice looked confused and asked, “Why would I choose to learn from battle mages?”

  Though new to the school, few wizards thought battle mages were their equals. Even new wizards like Alec seemed to share those views.

  “Don’t be close minded, Alec. I was a ranked fire wizard before I chose to learn from the mages. They are becoming more powerful with new spells coming from the owl.

  “If we as wizards don’t continue to grow, they will surpass us though their magical auras are insignificant to ours,” Magnus stated before cuffing the shorter boy on the back of the head. “Now stop wasting time and work on your spell."

  Lyssa, the water wizard, began to look frustrated soon. Everyone else had the spell working to one degree or another. Most had lit their lamps and put them out ten or more times before Magnus stood behind her.

  Tears were lurking behind her lids as the girl fought her magic.

  “It’s too far for me,” she mourned quietly.

  “You are letting it be too far for you. You have the power to do it. A battle mage could light it from here and you are more powerful than they are.

  “Since you know the spell, I won’t repeat the patterns needed to make the flame. Believe in yourself and remember that distance isn’t a limit of magic. Your control of your magic is the only limit.

  “See the flame and let your magic reach out to it. Now light the lamp.”

  Katya was surprised at how the young wizard was both gentle and firm at the same time. She had managed to limit the puff of flame by the third try earning his praise. If Lyssa would just listen to Magnus and believe in herself, the water novice would light it as easily as the others, she was sure of it.

  Two more tries and she succeeded crying out, “I did it!”

  Magnus nodded. “I told you that you could. Now put it out and repeat the process. The more you all do this the more control you will have. It is merely repetition that makes such a thing as easy as you saw me do it.”

  By the time the class was over, the novices were all sweating, like they had just been running to warm up in the winter cold. Katya thought it was odd to sweat and feel tired when she had sat on a stool half the time. They didn’t walk around except to stretch their legs for a moment, but magic was as draining as working hard with her hands.

  They were dismissed by Magnus and told to read the next three spells readying them for the next class.

  Katya waited a moment even telling Briahnna and Lyssa that she would catch up with them in a minute.

  Looking at the young girl, Magnus furrowed his brow with curiosity.

  “Is there something I can do for you, Katya?”

  She had multiple questions and wondered where to start. “From what I have heard about you, I assumed that you would dislike battle mages. You have been c
hampioning them since we came to White Hall, including my brother, who I thought you actually hated.”

  Chuckling, the man dressed in his red wizard robes sat on the front of the desk and shrugged. “Well, I can’t say that I ever hated him. I certainly disliked your brother at times, through no fault of his, I suppose.

  “When you have been taught from the beginning that you are better than another type of person, it tends to be upsetting when they prove you wrong. We’re wizards. We have the power, not them. Our magic can move mountains, while they’re lucky to dig a ditch.

  “Such were the opinions and stories passed onto me before your brother. I’m sure many wizards and even those without magic still believe that. A belief like that doesn’t just go away in a year, even if someone proves exceptional.”

  “But you were a bully to my brother, weren’t you?”

  Wincing, Magnus was moved to sigh and said, “It wasn’t just to him. I was an apprentice at the top of my class. Other apprentices followed me and we all believed that mages were garbage.

  “When your brother finally decided to prove a point to me on our trip to Windmeer, it opened my eyes but it also made me want some kind of revenge for the humiliation of losing to him.”

  “You are a wizard and a cadet beat you? I admit that I have seen my brother do amazing things, but how did he defeat you?” the girl wondered.

  Breathing out a longer sigh, the young man put on an air of regret. “In my folly of believing that fire wizards were the real war wizards, I allowed myself to enter a duel ring with him.”

  “A wizard’s duel ring?” she asked in confusion.

  With a laugh the man shook his head. “If only it had been a wizards’ duel, I would have saved myself from the dissolution of my beliefs.

  “No, I fancied myself a great swordsman. Most wizards will get some amount of weapons training to defend themselves in close if the need arises. My fellow apprentices and I fought in the rings often and fancied ourselves excellent duelists; but I had never fought a mage or even a soldier.