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

by Donald Wigboldy

  “You are still an apprentice,” the dragoness answered as she moved to sit on the other side of Katya. “Of course, we are all here to learn, so I guess that makes all of us apprentices or novices.”

  Her warm smile proved that the girl was merely teasing, though Katya thought that she was also correct in a way. It was strange to hear Cheleya use humor like that and remember that she was also more than she appeared to be. To every sense she had, Katya could only see a nice, young girl who was beautiful both inside and out.

  “I still wish you would teach me to fly, Cheleya. I don’t mind being called a novice or whatever, if I could learn something so amazing. You’re lucky, Iris,” the youngest of the three girls said with only a mild bit of jealousy. “Everyone keeps telling me that novices don’t get to learn new magic like this, but it’s all new to me! Why would this be different except that the teachers don’t understand it yet?”

  Looking on her with pity along with Iris, Cheleya said quietly, “You are here almost every afternoon. Are you telling me that you haven’t picked any of it up yet?”

  Eyes blinking in shock at the dragoness’ observation, Katya was uncertain how to respond. Iris suddenly smiled and added, “I wouldn’t put it past her. You know those diplomat wizards are very devious, I hear.”

  Frowning at the redhead even though she knew that it was a joke, Katya turned back to Cheleya and stated, “I come here to watch and to learn my spells. You don’t think that I am devious, like Iris said, do you?”

  The older blond threw her arm over the younger girl’s shoulder and said, “I don’t know as much about being devious as some; but if I were here everyday watching, I think that I would have managed to learn a couple spells by now.”

  Laughter from Iris didn’t make Katya feel any better, but the apprentice stopped long enough to ask, “Have you learned any of the spells, Katya?”

  Sighing at the other two girls, Katya took a moment before standing up to smooth the front of her dress. She turned to face them and ordered, “Dragon claw.”

  Aiming the magical summoning upwards, a crimson claw reached into the air more than ten feet before the novice released the spell.

  “Dragon shield,” was the next spell. An overlapping of scales formed a glistening shield in front of her hand. “Dragon scale,” she added the armor of the dragon mages. Choosing pink instead of the more common red or black, Katya was more closely aligning her choices to her friend Cheleya.

  Standing with her, Iris clapped at the quick demonstration, but the dragoness’ brow furrowed slightly as she asked quietly, “And have you learned to create the wings?”

  The shield and armor disappeared from the novice and she breathed deeply. “I was too worried that someone would catch me to try them, but, yes, though mine look different from yours.”

  “Well, you have done most of the work already, so we may as well see them too,” Cheleya stated with a shrug.

  “Dragon wings,” the younger girl called her magic and bit her lip as she sought approval from her friend and unofficial mentor in dragon magic.

  Iris pursed her lips and whistled appreciatively at a pair of blue feathered wings. Like the wings of a Southwall sparon, her azure wings fluttered in and out with the girl’s worry over the fact that she had been told not to learn dragon magic by Ylena and had still managed to learn several of the spells in secret.

  Other students in the art noticed the girl and began to walk over to look at the unusual set of wings summoned by the novice.

  “I didn’t know we could create bird wings,” Arrimus complained as he joined the class as they took an unscheduled break to see the unofficial student’s wings.

  Kel’lor followed with his arms crossed before his massive chest and answered, “No one told you to choose the same wings as ours. Mine look like a mar’goyn’lya’s when I am in human form. Cheleya chose a classic type most of our predecessors used. She does like to change their color with her mood though.

  “If you can create wings of differing kinds that still work, then go ahead. Dragon mages don’t adhere to the same rules as most wizards. We fly and enjoy the freedom. Those stuck on the ground can’t imagine what we can and will always be confined by their lack of imagination.”

  Cheleya frowned at the gargoyle and retorted, “We are hardly the rebels that you describe. You and Mor’treya have always worked more rigidly while we fly. That is why you always lost too.”

  Giving a grunt that tried to brush off the little girl’s comment, Kel’lor clarified, “I am just saying that no one said their wings had to resemble mine or yours. I enjoy the freedom of flight, though I am a mar’goyn’lya so maybe it is just my opinion because I have always flown.”

  Waving off the gargoyle, Cheleya smiled at Katya and said, “Well, let’s try them out. You still haven’t dared to try them from what you said.”

  Katya nodded and felt butterflies in her stomach. Not only was she found out, now she was being surprised with a test in front of everyone.

  “Dragon wings,” Cheleya ordered her pink shimmering wings and lifted into the air. Hovering above the others, the dragoness called out, “Dragon claw,” and lifted the younger girl into the air. The blue wings faltered in her magical grasp.

  Gasping as the two launched past the edge of the roof. Katya’s surprise turned to joy quickly. She was flying, even if it was because of the other girl.

  “Get ready, Katya,” Cheleya implored. “Spread your wings and feel how they catch the wind, then flap them. I don’t want to release you before you are ready.”

  They had risen higher than the tower and Katya wondered why Kel’lor had made the others use that instead of doing what she was now. Tethered magically to the dragoness, the younger girl felt the wind and movements of the air with her wings. It was a sensation that no one could truly prepare for. Like a bird, she could feel them wanting to carry her through the air.

  “I’m ready,” Katya called out looking up at the other blond.

  “I’m right here, so don’t worry,” Cheleya added as the magical grip released the other girl’s waist.

  The shift was frightening at first for the first time flyer. She had wanted to try flying even before figuring out the wing spell. Once learned, Katya had only tested the push of the summoned extensions and played with holding the magic as long as she felt comfortable.

  As a novice, there were few spells being taught to her that required long uses of her power, so it had taken several tries to figure out how to maintain the wings for longer than a minute or two. She had also only figured out the spell a few days ago. Like Cheleya had guessed, it hadn’t taken her long to figure out a few of the dragon spells, but flying was more than just learning magic. It involved learning to maintain the spell, manipulating the wings and figuring out how to hold her position with the rest of her body.

  Katya wobbled in the air and only the strength of her wing thrusts kept her aloft at first, but she had been watching and learning as much as she could without actually doing the work. While imagining things with her mind was good, it was nothing like she had imagined either.

  As a stronger breeze caught her face making her body and wings want to turn to go with the flow. Katya let her instincts take her on the wind and she moved forward much smoother than she would have thought. Looking down, the girl wasn’t frightened, but noticed that she was already crossing above the roof.

  The other dragon mage students looked up attentively, but with smiles that let her know that they already understood what she was just beginning to feel. It was like the word her brother had used to take her mind on the wind with his magic, freedom.

  Opening up some speed her body shifted and bent as the girl tested out how to turn. The wind held her wings and seemed to guide the flyer into the correct angles. It almost felt natural to Katya as she realized that she was truly flying now.

  A glance to the ground revealed that she had risen higher into the air, but fifty feet or hundred, it no longer mattered if she should fa
ll; but Katya didn’t want to fall. It was a minor worry shoved aside in the joy of the flight and magic.

  “You’re doing pretty well for your first time,” Cheleya stated mirroring her flight. The dragoness was too strong a flyer to be shaken by Katya’s fledgling abilities, but they were already past White Hall’s city walls looking over the fields where farmers worked.

  Eyes lifted at the shadows crossing the ground below and men pointed to their fellow workers shouting. Whether it was with fear or amazement, Katya couldn’t tell. Word of the new dragon mages must surely have escaped the city by now. The others had been flying for a week, though most of the beginners rarely moved out beyond the school’s outer walls.

  Why they would wish to contain themselves, Katya couldn’t understand. A grin was plastered on her face and she cried out to Cheleya gleefully, “This is so much fun!”

  Cheleya grinned back at her knowing that Katya was a similar soul. They had become friends quickly and the dragoness had made sure to find a way to room with her to continue deepening their relationship. Now sharing flight, the dragoness wondered why she had told her friend no when she had asked to be taught. While the school had said that novices weren’t supposed to learn the magic until they were at least confirmed as apprentices, Cheleya had felt the kindred nature in the younger girl and knew she could truly soar.

  Like Piotr and Niklaus who had shared a womb, Katya was like her sister, though she had once been a che’ther.

  “Can you turn back into the wind and fly towards the school?” Cheleya asked curiously. She had felt the wind and knew that Katya had followed the air instinctively. It was nearly the way she had started about a year ago.

  The mar’goyn’lya had always held control of the air, but the che’ther using their transformation amulets could join them using dragon magic. Cheleya had challenged those who were naturally gifted with flight and proved as good a flyer as any gargoyle. As a human she was lighter and more maneuverable than the heavy bodied creatures. Their strength was greater, but if they couldn’t touch her, all their speed and strength was for nothing.

  Katya made an easy turn and noted the change in the air flowing against her body and wings. It wasn’t distressing, just different. With a moment to adjust, the girl was flying into the wind almost as smoothly as she had joined with it.

  As they neared the school, the two girls began to descend. Katya wasn’t sure if she could land properly. Even with a natural feel for flying, landing was a bit trickier still. Many of the students still needed assistance from Kel’lor and Cheleya using their magic.

  “Dragon claw,” the dragoness called out linking them together once again. “Don’t worry. I can guide you, if you have trouble.”

  Katya nodded refusing to look away as she planned to implement what she had seen from the others still learning the process. The distance shrunk quickly and the girl tried to use her wings to slow down enough to avoid injury on the hard stone roof. Her timing was off, however, and Katya felt the tug of Cheleya’s claw shifting her weight to slow the girl just before her feet touched the ground.

  She was down and her friend landed gently only a moment later on her bare feet as she adjusted for stopping Katya.

  “Good job,” Cheleya told her as the remainder of the class jogged the short distance between them since Katya had chosen to land before worrying about running into them.

  “Thanks, it was so much fun!” the younger girl repeated her earlier sentiment and looked back up at the sky wondering how long it would be before she could try it again.

  Iris came over giving her an enthusiastic hug and asked, “Was that really your first try at flying or have you been doing it in secret?”

  Looking up to the taller redhead as the other girl released her, Katya replied, “I figured out how to make the wings a few days ago, but I was afraid to try flying without someone like Cheleya there to make sure I didn’t kill myself.”

  She finished with a nervous laugh and noted Kel’lor and Falconi Martina looking stern in contrast to the younger students who looked so pleased with the display. The large gargoyle complained, “I had better not hear complaints from her teachers because you let her fly.”

  Cheleya put her hands on her hips tilting her head to the side and asked, “Did you allow it? I didn’t see you anywhere near Katya. Now stop complaining and tell her what a good job she did for her first time flying.”

  Frowning at the order, the large creature finally growled, “You did well for your first try.”

  Just to throw Kel’lor off, Katya moved closer to hug his waist saying happily, “Thanks, Kel’lor! I will make sure that no one thinks you were my official teacher or anything, though I was watching you all trying out your spells; but it wasn’t like you had anything to do with it directly. At least that is what I would tell anyone who might have a complaint anyway.”

  She could feel him stiffen and knew enough about the mar’goyn’lya and che’ther to know that neither race was overly affectionate. When your skin was so thick or covered in scales, the tactile senses were muffled making such gestures less effective save for times like this when she was intentionally trying to embarrass the big man.

  As Katya pulled away, Kel’lor cleared his throat and shook his head, “Yes, well, as long as they know that it wasn’t me who let you learn the magic intentionally, then I guess that only you will be in trouble when your mentor learns of this.”

  Drawing back in surprise with a slightly exaggerated gasp, the young novice replied, “You are going to tell on me?”

  Kel’lor pointed to the air and stated, “If you wished to avoid being noticed; flying over the school repeatedly in the bright sunlight might not have been your best choice. Also there are many witnesses here as well.”

  Moving towards those most likely to pass along the information to Ylena and the other diplomat mentors, Katya smiled at Martina and the full wizards studying dragon magic.

  “I don’t think they care that much,” she stated and felt a slight surge in her magical aura. It wasn’t intentional, though allowed by the girl as she noticed it. There was no glossing over of the eyes, however, since Katya wasn’t trying to use her magic to coerce them so much as adding to her persuasiveness. Her voice seemed smoother, her eyes more intent and her smile more winning.

  Smiles and nods broke through on most of those gathered there, but Falconi Martina remained dour and stated, “We shouldn’t need to tell your teachers. You can do so yourself, young lady.”

  Katya’s lower lip stuck out slightly in a petulant fit, but the girl recovered quickly due to her training. “I suppose that I should. Maybe I can get permission to become a regular member of the class, since I already know some of the magic. Much of what I need to know comes after being able to get into the air, if I haven’t missed what they have been teaching.”

  “The spells are secondary to the time spent in the air learning how to read the winds and move your body. Also strengthening your mind to maintain the wings for long periods is needed since no one has ever figured out a way to bind the spell without using some magic to continue using the constructs,” Cheleya agreed in more detail.

  Waving off the issue, Martina left the matter to Kel’lor and the others. She was a high ranking battle mage, but this was in affect a wizard issue and out of her jurisdiction. Everyone knew that Katya wouldn’t be able to hide the fact that she was flying for long, if she continued to do so near the school grounds anyway.

  “Can we go again?” Katya asked ignoring the other problems. If she was going to be in trouble anyway, then a second flight and maybe more might as well be taken. The girl doubted whether it was one or ten, that she could get into more trouble.

  Cheleya started to shake her head, but stopped to shrug. “If you feel strong enough to go again, I can take you. Maybe Iris will join us?”

  The apprentice grinned and soon the three were aloft. Despite a few days extra turns at flying the two novice flyers were about equal; but with their friend Cheleya w
ith them it became more about fun than thinking of the magic.

  Niklaus sat on the bench watching his brother working with the field shrike. The nature novice looked as skilled as those considered full wizards to the cadet, but he had seen his brother do amazing things with his magic since last Fall and maybe as a new battle mage he wasn’t the best judge. Still, his twin released the shrike only to have it return over and over as he exercised the bird.

  Piotr didn’t have to say a word and very seldom did he gesture beyond lifting his gloved hand to have the large bird land. It would turn around or look at him and all the while the nature novice never batted an eye or looked worried that he would be pecked or otherwise injured. To Niklaus, such control was impressive; but he hadn’t intruded on his brother’s free study time to just sit watching.

  “That’s a pretty big bird. Do you think it would be hard to turn into one and fly?”

  Piotr glanced to his twin as he lifted his hand sending the field shrike back into the air. The bird was a cousin to the even larger black shrikes found north of the wall. Carrion birds mostly, they were known to take down rabbits and even young deer if they were starving. Their large wings were enough to lift their prey and drop them to the ground. The damage from the fall would kill the animals and once it had cooled they would land and begin to eat.

  It was a grim fact passed on to the children who lived close to the wall. Some said that they would even grab children who were unattended, which made many a parent keep their eyes on the sky when their little ones were outside. Kids would soon forget as they played, but if there were large black wings in the air, parents would call them inside out of fear.

  The field shrike was a smaller bird, perhaps half the size of the mountain shrikes. Their diet was comparable to their larger cousins, but beyond rabbits, only cats or maybe a stray lamb would likely ever be a target. At half the size, they could only lift about half the weight after all.