did. Otherwise you wouldn’t be trying to avoid me.”
“I’m not trying to avoid you.” I finished off the chicken
leg still in my hand. “You’re the one ordering me about like
some servant.”
His mouth opened in surprise. “I always order you about
like a servant. It never bothered you before.”
I frowned and ate a bite of the stew. “It’s always bothered
me. You just never noticed.”
After staring at me for a long moment, he said,
“Something’s clearly bothering you. I don’t have time to guess
what it is, so you’d better just tell me.” He grimaced and
added, “That is, if you want.”
I swallowed and put down my spoon. “One,” I finally said.
“I only found one of my swearers.”
He fixed me with a look of disbelief. “How hard did you
look?”
I rubbed at my eyes. “Not very. I got sidetracked by Papa.” “I take it that was a bad thing.”
“You could say that.” I told him the story of Papa’s
injuries and how I had healed him.
He drummed fingers on the table, then reached across to
take one of my spice cakes. “You had him right there, helpless
in a bed, and it never occurred to you that this might be the
perfect opportunity to cast the gilded tongue spell?” He ate the
cake in one bite.
“Didn’t seem any point in it, when he was unconscious and
near death. And then once he awoke, I lost my temper and
forgot.”
“This temper thing again.” He shook his head. “You became
my apprentice over a slip of your temper too, as I recall. And
there have been a dozen or so instances of the same happening in
the last year.”
Now it was my turn to grimace. I stirred the stew around
and around, just so I wouldn’t have to look at him. “I know. I’m
sorry. Control of my temper isn’t something I was born with.” He took another spice cake. “Didn’t you ever read Halsey’s
Treatise on Wizardcraft Technique? ‘Restraint, then, is a
learned skill. You can either control yourself or be controlled.
For if you are not in command of yourself, then who is?’” “You know as well as I do that Halsey was cast out as a
heretic after he wrote that book,” I said. “Necromancy, was it?
I don’t think you should put any stock in his words.” Triumph
filled me for remembering that trivial piece of information. “I think you understand what I’m saying, Mullins. Halsey
said that control is vital to the correct practice of magic, and
that a wizard without control is more dangerous than a drunk man
with an ax. You’re going to get yourself in trouble at some
point if you don’t learn to rein yourself in once in a while.” This time I put the spoon down and looked at him. He held
the spice cake in his hands, sleeves rolled to the forearm, his the spice cake in his hands, sleeves rolled to the forearm, hisBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 67
eyes dark and serious and settled on me. Concern overwrote his features, and I felt ashamed at myself. “Very well,” I said, hoping he could see the sincerity in my own eyes. “I’ll work on it.”
He gave me an appreciative glance. “Good. In the meantime, you’re going to have to go back to Waltney tomorrow.” He ate the cake, again in one bite.
“Yes,” I said with a sigh. “I know.”
“But not alone. I’ll go with you.”
As much as I’d wanted his help yesterday, today I couldn’t
help feeling he believed I couldn’t do it on my own. “You don’t need to. I can take care of this on my own.”
He shook his head and ran a hand over his chin. “Can you? I’m not so sure.”
“That’s a challenge if I ever heard one. Prepare yourself to be proved wrong.” I rose. “I’d probably better get some sleep.”
“Just a moment.” He held a hand up. “I haven’t even gotten to the news I spoke of. You missed a visit from Grandfather this evening.”
“Oscar was here?” I dropped back into my seat
involuntarily. It felt like forever since I’d talked to the master’s grandfather. “Did you talk to him about all this?”
“I did. He’s on the tail end of an assignment, but came when he got my note. He’s been out of touch with Robenhurst and when he got my note. He’s been out of touch with Robenhurst andBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 68
the Council, but he’ll need to report in there anyway once his assignment ends. He’s pledged to have a talk with the PMW.” “Discreetly, I hope.”
“Of course discreetly. He seems to think he can talk Robenhurst out of creating a gender spell.”
I felt my face brighten as hope lit a lamp under me. “Do you think he can?”
He shrugged. “Stranger things have happened when it comes to Grandfather. And he and Robenhurst have always seemed to be particular friends. I’d say if anyone can talk him into anything, it’d be Grandfather.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“As do I.” He pulled a parchment from his pocket, folded, and carefully opened and smoothed it out on the table before him. “And now the second piece of news. We received a letter from the testing committee today, sent at the behest of Robenhurst. The PMW wants us to know that he is not entirely without feeling.” He raised a brow at me, as though not impressed with the statement, and then turned back to the missive and read, “‘To help those who unfairly failed the gender test, there will be a makeup trial at the end of the week. As you may be aware, offering more than one trial day in a month is an unprecedented event. PMW Robenhurst is anxious to help those ambitious underwizards to continue moving forward who were unfairly accused of being boys by the faulty gender spell. unfairly accused of being boys by the faulty gender spell.Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 69
Please consider attending.’”
I raised an eyebrow as he lowered the letter. “He’ll have
another gender spell ready. It must be a trap.”
“Maybe,” the master said. “And maybe not.”
“But how can we know for sure?” I didn’t like the idea of
going into another trial with the possibility of being hauled
away by Council guards at the end of it again.
“Observation. If it looks like they’re performing gender
spells again, we can come up with a ruse for you to miss your
trial. Illness, perhaps, or an emergency.”
I bit my lip. “As long as we don’t raise any suspicions.” His eyes rested on me. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I can be
quite a good liar when I have to be.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a terrible liar. I can always
tell.”
“That’s not true. I excel at lying.”
I shook my head, too tired to argue.
He frowned. “Be careful in Waltney tomorrow. Now get along
to bed, will you? It’s late and I’m exhausted.” He jerked his
head at the door.
But he wasn’t really exhausted, and I could tell. That was
his way of dismissing me without saying it was for my benefit.
Grateful, I stumbled from the room and hoped that my thoughts
weren’t in such a jumble that I couldn’t sleep.
#
Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 70 CHAPTER SIX Why I have to go? Ivan gestured at me after poking me in the arm to catch my attention. Rather stay home and read book. I learn about thunderstorms.
I shook my head. “Because if you don’t come, Master Wendyn will. He thinks I can’t do this alone, and I can.”
If I come, you not alone.Ivan stared at me ske
ptically.
He had a point. “All right. Yes. If you come I won’t be alone. Just don’t do anything to help, all right? And then it’ll be almost like you’re not here.”
Master Wendyn had been very stern this morning, determined to come with me. Not until I’d suggested taking Ivan along had he backed off even a little bit. It was the only way he’d allow me to go.
Ivan frowned, and for a moment I thought he was going to turn me down and retreat to the library with whatever weatherrelated book he was reading this week. But finally he shrugged and wiped the back of his hand across his nose. Can I make it rain where we go?
“Yes,” I said. “You can most definitely make it rain in Waltney. Preferably right above Papa’s head.”
He shook his head. Why you hate your father? You lucky. I don’t have one.
I stared at Ivan in surprise, caught off guard by his words. I had to look down, as he was still shorter than me, but words. I had to look down, as he was still shorter than me, butBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 71
not by much. He’d grown in the last few months, gaining several inches on me. It wouldn’t be long until we stood eye to eye. He did have a point about Papa. What right did I have to complain about my imperfect father when Ivan had no parents at all? At least I’d known my family.
“You two have enough food for whatever this mysterious outing of yours is?” Cat asked, sticking her head out of the kitchen as we exited the breakfast room.
We always just called anyone in the kitchen position of cook “Cook,” but since Cat—short for Catherine Germane—had come on a few months back, she’d made a point of asking everyone to call her by her first name. She was a middle-aged woman with faded brown hair, a pleasant face, and a feisty personality.
Ivan patted his stomach and the bag slung over his shoulder. I be full for two weeks.
I translated what he’d said for her benefit and added, “You’ve taken care of us well.”
“More like spoiled you,” Mrs. Pitts grumbled as she passed, her arms piled with dirty linens. Today was wash day. “Children need discipline and self-control, that’s what.”
“They also need food,” Cat said. “Old bat,” she muttered, once Mrs. Pitts had gone out of earshot.
I choked on a laugh, then pulled Ivan after me down the hall.
Down in the room of doors, I shed my wizard robes and undid Down in the room of doors, I shed my wizard robes and undidBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 72
the tie that pulled my hair back. It tumbled around my face, and I fluffed it out more, then removed the spell that deepened my voice. I could feel Ivan’s eyes on me, and though I knew it was silly, I couldn’t help asking, “How do I look?”
He tilted his head to the side and observed me seriously. Finally he gestured, Can’t say. Master Wendyn told me I be stupid to answer if you ask that.
“Hmph,” I said, and led the way through the wizard door to Waltney.
The cottage echoed with emptiness as we stomped through into the kitchen.
This your home? Ivan gestured.
I led the way out into the warm summer day. “Sort of,” I told him. “But not for a long, long time. Not since Gavin died.”
Gavin? Ivan gestured. Your brother?
“Yes, Gavin was my brother.” I turned down the road that headed into town.
Detritus crunched underfoot. It was odd to be walking so near the Midnight Wood and talking about Gavin with Ivan, the one who had always reminded me of my brother. It was almost like they were both here.
How old when he died?
“Nine. He would have turned…fourteen on his next natalis.” I shook my head in disbelief.
I think I fourteen.
Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 73 I blinked and stared at him in surprise. “You’re fourteen? Do you know your natalis, Ivan?”
No. I guess my age. I count winters I remember.
“And you counted fourteen?”
No. Counted eleven, maybe twelve. But I was a baby before that.
I exhaled a burst of breath. “You may be right, then.” I brightened. “Why don’t we make up a natalis for you? So we have a day to celebrate and have pudding?”
He brightened too. Really? Can we do that?
“Sure. Why not? When do you want to celebrate it?”
He thought about it seriously for a minute before gesturing, Tomorrow.
“Tomorrow?” I repeated. “Why so soon?”
Never had a natalis before. Want to celebrate now.
Something in me panged for the little boy Ivan had been, unwanted and unloved. He deserved to have a nice natalis.
“Very well,” I said. “I’ll talk to Master Wendyn.”
Ivan smiled, and something in me lightened. Impulsively I suggested, “Race you to that rock.”
He grinned. Big one? Straight ahead?
I didn’t answer his question, in favor of cheating. “One, two—go!” I yelled, and took off running.
Of course, I'd forgotten one very important thing—how to run in a dress. Ivan followed right on my heels, at least until run in a dress. Ivan followed right on my heels, at least untilBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 74
I tripped on my skirts and sprawled on the road while he sprinted past me. I picked myself up, tugged my skirts up to my knees, and followed as quickly as I could. But it was no use. I'd already lost.
Ivan collapsed on the road wheezing and laughing in his own silent way. I collapsed next to him and examined my skinned palms ruefully.
“Not fair,” I said. “Look what happened.”
Reward for cheating, he gestured with a grin.
I shrugged, because he was right. “I suppose. Should we—” But I didn't get any more out, because a cart rolled around
the corner, and Ivan and I scrambled to our feet to move out of the way as a horse clip-clopped its way past us, the cart rumbling over the rough road, jostling side to side on the rocks.
“Avery?” A voice called from the back of the cart, and I looked up to see Papa waving, his broken leg still swathed in bandages and propped up on a block of wood.
Apparently my healing spells had worked even better than I originally thought.
“You’ve been to the cottage, haven’t you?” he asked, as he signaled and the driver rolled to a stop. “Or maybe—to the graves?”
I blinked and stared at him. “No.” I hadn’t once thought about visiting Mama and Gavin’s graves. It surprised me to about visiting Mama and Gavin’s graves. It surprised me toBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 75
realize it.
“Oh.” He looked disappointed. “Who's this?” His eyes took
in Ivan.
“He’s a friend,” I said, frowning. “And we’re not here to
see you. At least, not right now. This is an unfortunate
coincidence.”
He sighed and folded his arms. “Don't be so defensive. You
and I both know you have nothing tying you to Waltney but me. So
why pretend you’re here for any other reason?”
“You said yourself there’s Mama and Gavin. And I like them
a whole lot more than I like you. Now, I have business to attend
to. Move on, driver.” I pulled Ivan behind me and moved off the
road, just as I realized I had just completely and utterly
failed at controlling my temper. Bones.
Ivan tugged at my sleeve even as the driver started the
cart forward. That your father? Ivan gestured. Spell him? Right. The gilded tongue spell. The whole reason why I came
here. I looked back at Papa as the cart moved away.
“Come on, Avery. You don’t want to talk to your own
father?” Papa called to us.
“Later,” I muttered to Ivan. I knew I was procrastinating
the inevitable—talking to Papa—but for the time being I was all
right with that. I’d deal with him later.
“Why are you
always so unforgiving?” Papa shouted. “That’s
going to catch up with you one day!”
We rounded the corner, and Papa's voice melted away until
we were left with the infinitely more pleasant noises of the
forest.
****
By the time we arrived in Waltney, the day had started to
warm. I veered toward the clerk’s office where Zimmer worked, a
brick building that had changed little since I’d seen it last,
except for the addition of a few pots of flowers.
“Wait here, Ivan,” I said, pointing at the steps. “This
shouldn’t take too long.”
You need help? he gestured, his expression too innocent.
Master Wendyn said you need help.
“Very funny.” I pointed at the steps again. “I’ll be back.” The door’s hinges creaked as I pushed it open and stepped
across the threshold. I’d been inside this office only twice in
the past—once to ask Quinn Zimmer to swear on my behalf for the
cost of a bribe, and again when I came back after the deed was
done and cast a forgetful spell on him.
Not much had changed inside. Stacks of paper littered a
desk near the window, and a lanky man unfolded himself from the
chair behind it, his pale red hair rising like the sun in the
morning as he stood. “Can I help you?”
I blinked. “Roddy?”
He stopped and stared too. “Avery Mullins? I thought you
were dead.”
Quinn’s son, a young man just a few years older than I,
stood before me, with pale red hair and lashes so blond they
blended into his skin. He wasn’t supposed to be working here at
the clerk’s office with his father. He’d once assured me that
his greatest ambition in life was to work the land, not to sit
behind a desk.
I gestured down at myself. “Not dead. Very much alive.” He came around the desk and gave me a look up and down.
“You grew up. And not bad looking.”
I blushed and looked away. Roddy was the first boy I’d ever
kissed, and I should definitely not be thinking about that right
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