Falcon held it up to look at, “It’s too big,” he said.
“No, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Now come on,” said Rocious as he took off walking. Falcon slipped the robe over his head then struggled to catch up without tripping.
Again they were waiting in the antechamber to King Dominick’s throne room. This time Falcon did not need to piss nine million times, nor did they wait for several hours. After only fifteen minutes, the herald announced them correctly. Dominick and his extended council filled the edges of the throne room. In the center of the room waited six Masters of the Path in full white robes on the throne room floor. Two of them had robes with colored hem and lining similar to Rocious, one with dark blue hem and the other purple.
“Praetorian Lockland, I’m glad to see you are well,” said the master with purple-accented robe followed by a respectful bow of the head.
“Praetorian Connelly,” said Rocious bowing his head respectfully in response.
“We hear that you have identified an attuned. I presume this boy is the one?” asked Connelly.
“Yes. This is Falcon Reed, son of Count Reed,” answered Rocious.
“How long have you trained him?” asked Connelly.
“I have not,” answered Rocious.
“But you’re certain?” asked Connelly.
“Yes,” answered Rocious.
Connelly knelt and motioned for Falcon to come closer.
“Falcon, do you know why we are here?” asked Connelly.
Falcon looked up at Rocious then moved closer to Connelly, “To see if I am attuned,” answered Falcon.
“Yes, but how?” asked Connelly. Once Falcon reached Connelly, Rocious joined the other masters.
“I don’t know,” said Falcon.
“To start walking the path of the attuned you must be able to sense the very fabric of our world. Concentrations of raw emotion, or more simply put, magic. Some refer to us as empaths but here in the realm of Lora we use the term attuned pathos once you begin training, or one day the title Master. Myself and the other masters gathered here have dedicated our lives to identifying, training and testing all attuned who wish to become pathos. Would you like that Falcon?” asked Connelly.
“Yes,” answered Falcon immediately.
“Good. What we need then is to test your ability to sense the presence of magic. Do you understand?” asked Connelly.
“You mean like seeing or hearing, but for magic,” answered Falcon.
“Yes, Falcon, precisely like that. Each of the attuned has this ability manifest differently. For myself it is like the world radiates an endless array of color. For Praetorian Lockland, it is like the world sings to him.” Connelly paused watching Falcon closely for a moment.
“Today, Falcon, we do not need to know how you do it, we need only know if you can,” said Connelly.
Falcon nodded his head, “Okay, what should I do?” he asked.
“Very simple, you find this,” said Connelly. He flicked his fingers and there was a small vial between his fingers.
“What is that?” asked Falcon.
“This is magic, more precisely it is a container for magic,” said Connelly twirling the vial between his fingers and handing it to Falcon.
“It’s warm,” said Falcon.
“Yes, it’s warm. Are you ready?” asked Connelly putting his hand out for the vial.
“I think so, just find that vial,” said Falcon.
“Yes, just find the vial filled with magic,” said Connelly.
Connelly twirled the vial between his fingers and then it disappeared. The other masters joined Connelly to form a circle around Falcon. Falcon looked around at the masters, waiting for a signal to begin. Half a minute passed before Falcon realized they were the ones waiting on him. Falcon rubbed the back of his head then pointed to Connelly.
“Very good,” said Connelly revealing the vial.
Connelly twirled the vial before it disappeared again. Connelly flicked his fingers and had two vials. He passed one to the masters on his left and another to his right.
“Find it again,” instructed Connelly.
This time Falcon did not wait, he pointed to Connelly. Connelly grinned before he revealed the vial again. The next time the masters passed the vials several times before hiding them. This time Connelly gestured for Falcon to find the vial again. Falcon turned around and honed in on three of the masters. He took a few seconds and looked back and forth between them.
“Is this a trick?” asked Falcon.
“No,” answered Connelly.
“Okay,” said Falcon. He then pointed to one of the masters.
“Are you sure?” asked Connelly.
“Yes,” answered Falcon.
All three of them revealed vials and passed them back to Connelly. He twirled them in his fingers and one by one they disappeared.
“Why did you not choose one of the others?” asked Connelly.
“They don’t have the vial you showed me,” answered Falcon.
Connelly snapped his fingers, “Splendid,” said Connelly.
Without a word the masters moved to the far side of the throne room to discuss. While Falcon waited he looked around the room for the first time realizing how many people were watching. As he looked at all the faces in the room he was struck with a simple fact. In a room filled with people making decisions about his life he did not know anyone; he was all alone in a room full of strangers.
Falcon closed his eyes. He missed his home and did not want these strangers to see him cry. He listened for any sign they had finished discussing how well he had done with the test. He heard the beating of his own heart and opened his eyes to realize they had finished and were now watching him.
Connelly walked over to him and knelt, “It is quite obvious that you have the potential to be something great— ” Connelly stopped due to a few whispers.
The room became quiet again, “But greatness is not something that is achieved from birthright or chance— ” Suddenly Connelly was gone. Falcon blinked but he had simply disappeared leaving nothing but a tiny bit of dust and smoke. Falcon looked around the room and Lord Blundus Longfellow was gone as well.
As quickly as he left, Connelly was back kneeling in front of Falcon as if nothing had happened, “Sorry for the interruption. Where was I?”
Falcon blinked a few times unsure what had happened, “Birthright or chance,” he said.
“Ah, yes, it will take hard work and careful guidance to walk the path. Hard work is your responsibility,” Connelly motioned toward the other masters, “guidance is ours,” finished Connelly as the other masters joined him in front of Falcon.
“Everyone here is qualified to teach you if you wish. With the exception of Praetorian Lockland, we have all dedicated much of our lives to helping others walk the path. We each run schools that can house and guide you. But you must know, once you start walking the path you must finish your training. A partially trained attuned can be dangerous and it is this council’s responsibility to eliminate that danger. It is your choice who will train you,” finished Connelly.
Falcon looked around the room full of strangers again. Rocious was the only person he knew in the slightest. “What about Praetorian Lockland?”
Rocious opened his mouth but Connelly spoke first, “Praetorian Lockland has yet to pass on his knowledge but he welcomes the opportunity.”
“Do I need to choose now?” asked Falcon.
Again Rocious opened his mouth but Connelly stopped him with a look, “Yes,” answered Connelly.
Falcon looked at each of the masters, they were pleasant enough and each looked to be powerful. But they were strangers. All except Rocious.
“Praetorian Lockland, will you be my guide?”
“Yes,” said Connelly. “He will, but fear not if you require another’s guidance, you need only ask. There is one last thing.”
Connelly turned and motioned toward one of the other masters then took his place next to them.
The first master stepped forward, placed his hand on the ground and closed his eyes. At first nothing happened, but then the doors to the throne room slammed open to allow a pack of five enormous wolfhounds to rush to the master’s side. He stood and led his wolfhounds out of the throne room.
The second master stepped forward, touched his forehead and a chair flew across the room, scooped him up and floated out of the room.
The third master stepped forward and bowed to Rocious. He waited for Rocious to bow his head before he stood up. He extended his arms with his palms facing upward. With a breath he summoned two balls of flame above his palms. He took another deep breath and the flames spread across his hands then to his arms. The flames cast filled the hall with a sudden warmth but his robes remained unburnt. He bounced his eyebrows at Falcon, let the flames engulfed his entire body then walked out of the room wreathed in flame.
The fourth master bent to the ground and touched the solid stone floor as if it was made of sand. The master gathered a few handfuls of sand and worked them into a chalice made of glass. He handed the chalice to Falcon and walked out of the room.
The master with the blue-accented robes closed his eyes and waved his hand through the air. Behind his hand drops of water began forming and falling to the ground. He bent down and touched the liquid. When he lifted his hand a spear of ice formed. He twirled the spear masterfully then tossed it into the air. It broke apart in mid air creating a shower of snowflakes in the whole room. There was a wave of awed gasps from the king and his council. The master then smiled and left the throne room.
Connelly and Rocious were the only two left. Connelly rolled up his sleeves and showed his hands to Falcon. Connelly snapped his fingers and was holding a piece of candy that he then tossed to Falcon. The moment Falcon caught the candy Connelly disappeared. Falcon looked closely at the place Connelly had been standing and realized he was wrong earlier. It was not smoke or dust that he left behind, it was a fading cloud of shadows.
Rocious walked in front of Falcon and asked him. “Do you understand?”
“Everyone’s path is different,” answered Falcon.
Rocious nodded, closing his eyes to listen for the magic around him. Like eavesdropping on a distant conversation he honed in on the sound. Instead of using rage or anger as he normally did to call magic in a fight, he used his pride. Pride in his mastery of the path. Pride in his knowledge that although he had never been a guide like the others he had surpassed them long ago. Rocious let that pride consume him and with it came the magic from the all over the castle complex.
Rocious opened his eyes, took a deep breath and the entire castle fell into complete darkness. He had extinguished every source of heat and flame in the castle complex. Using a small bit of magic he created two balls of flame to lead Falcon and himself out of the throne room door.
“What the hell am I going to do with you two!?” shouted the king.
“I thought we would stay here,” said Rocious.
“After that stunt you pulled earlier, I can’t imagine what would happen if you were to stay here. I’d lose all of my servants,” shouted Dominick.
“The stunt I pulled?! I warned you about the kid before we even got in this mess, so don’t go putting this on me,” said Rocious.
“You call that cryptic note a warning? How was I supposed to know you had a generations-old secret sitting in the damn antechamber?” complained Dominick.
“I did what I could,” answered Rocious getting up to leave.
“Are you two finished? Perhaps you can continue this after the children retire?” asked Dominick’s wife Octavia. She was sitting between her two sons at a side table in their private dining area. The queen had grown accustomed to her husband and Rocious arguing about something Rocious had done due to his constant need to remind everyone, including her husband, what he was capable of before they tried to order him around. Which left her to put out the fires, sometimes literally.
“Fine, I’ll take the boy with me in the winter but you figure out what to do until then,” said Rocious.
“He’s your student, he can stay with you,” said Dominick.
“Perhaps you two will argue after we eat?” said Queen Octavia ushering Falcon and her boys to sit at the table.
“A meal may calm our tempers,” said Dominick.
“As long as we’re past the little ‘lights out’ incident,” agreed Rocious taking a seat across from the children.
After dinner they moved into a larger sitting room with a balcony that overlooked much of the city. It is beautiful, but it’s not Home, thought Falcon. He took in the view for a few moments and then moved inside leaving Rocious and Dominick to their bickering. Falcon was used to Paul’s parents arguing on occasion and their arguing seemed similar. It was just an argument on the surface, neither was truly angry, so he ignored them. Besides, he was more fascinated by all the weapons that decorated the walls of the sitting room. There were no weapons anywhere in his father’s hall.
“Which do you prefer?” asked Fafnir, the younger of the king’s two sons.
“I don’t even know the difference. In Reed they use a flexible straight sword but my dad never let me learn,” answered Falcon.
“How did he expect you to defend Reed?” asked Drake, the older of the king’s sons, as he took a two-handed bastard sword from the mount on the wall. It was still too big for him but he handled it confidently enough.
“It’s too big. I prefer these,” said Fafnir taking a pair of identical gladius that were also too big for him.
“Do you know how to use them?” asked Falcon, fascinated that the two boys were allowed to play with the swords.
Fafnir twirled the swords and took a goofy stance, “Father has us practice every day,” said Fafnir drawing a laugh from his brother.
“Maybe I can learn too,” said Falcon.
“Praetorian Lockland will decide what you learn,” said Drake as he put back the sword using great care.
“He hasn’t taught me anything yet,” said Falcon glancing skeptically to the balcony. Rocious did not seem to want to teach him anything.
“Lessons are sometimes hidden in simple tasks,” said Drake.
“Falcon!” called Rocious with a scowl on his face as he entered the room.
Falcon looked down and walked over to Rocious, “Yes, sir?”
“Do not waste your energy with those toys,” said Rocious.
“It wouldn’t hurt the boy to learn to defend himself,” said Dominick, joining them.
“He doesn’t need to swing a club to do that,” said Rocious.
Tired of the arguing, Dominick did not take the bait for another meaningless feud.
“Falcon, we’ve decided that you will be staying here in the castle with us. Each morning Praetorian Lockland will meet you in the main courtyard after first meal,” said Dominick.
“Yes, Sire. Master Lockland will be teaching me empathy?” asked Falcon.
“Don’t worry, I have your lessons planned until winter,” answered Rocious revealing his perfect white teeth.
“After your lessons for the day, Praetorian Lockland will escort you back to the courtyard.” Dominick met Rocious’s eye, “Prior to evening meal. You will then join my family and I for dinner. My sons study histories and numbers three days a week. You will join them. The seventh day you are free to entertain yourself,” said Dominick.
“Yes, Sire,” said Falcon.
“Octavia, would you mind?” said Dominick gesturing for her to leave with the three boys.
“Come on, it’s time for bed,” said Octavia gathering the boys and leading them out. At first Falcon did not realize that meant him too.
As soon as they were alone, Rocious took a half-filled bottle of brandy from a side table and went back to the balcony overlooking Dominion. Dominick gave him a few minutes to drink alone and then joined his friend on the balcony. They watched the beautiful lights of Dominion in silence until Rocious finally spoke.
“T
his is a mistake. His emotions are volatile, and I don’t know how to teach anyone,” said Rocious.
“It’s a risk I am willing to take,” said Dominick flatly.
“You risk too much,” said Rocious, taking a long pull from his bottle and handing it to Dominick.
“Do you know how I was able to end the duke’s war?” asked Dominick staring down at the brandy.
“You’re smarter than everyone else,” answered Rocious without hesitation.
“Because of my friends,” said Dominick putting his hand on Rocious’s shoulder.
Falcon had been training with Rocious every day for three weeks, and he still had no idea what he was learning. Every day he read the same book about words he already knew, and every day Rocious told him to keep reading, as if he was going to find something new in the book. The book had twenty-two pages with one word on each page. Each word had a description and a symbol. After reading the book until midday, he would eat. When he finished eating Rocious had him write the symbols and the words until his hands hurt. If he messed up the symbol, or wrote the wrong symbol, Rocious said nothing, he simply smacked him in the head. Training sucked.
History lessons were just as boring but at least they were different each day. Plus he was not alone in his suffering. Fafnir was a terrible student and constantly finding some irrelevant question to annoy their instructors. Drake was the opposite. He engaged the instructors with detailed questions and even studied after they were dismissed. Falcon was so used to the repetitive lessons with Rocious that he found history easy to pay attention to.
The last lessons of the day were numbers and, surprisingly, Falcon found that he liked those lessons. After Rocious’s lessons they were easy for him to remember. Especially compared to the two other boys. Fafnir was always trying to look at his work. In a class of three it was quite obvious. Drake became frustrated easily when he made mistakes, which were frequent and often lead to more mistakes. Falcon rarely, if ever, made mistakes with the numbers. Learning them felt merely like a way to pass the time. Plus, he could do the sums in his head to torture Fafnir with nothing to cheat from.
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