“You can't refuse. A student has no choice in the matter.” He unrolled the parchment and held it out for Justan to see. “I have the council's signatures.”
Justan ignored the scroll. “When you are around, I never have a choice!”
“I am here to help you.”
“Sure you are. You always say you are here to help me, but somehow I don't feel much gratitude when you push me around against my will.”
“Understandable. Completely understandable. I realize that when I took you away from the BattleAcademy I used some underhanded tactics, and I feel terrible about it. I really do.”
“No you don’t.” Justan snapped. “You are one of those people who think that the end justifies the means.” The wizard flinched at that remark. Perhaps it came too close to the truth.
“But Edge, surely you understand by now that what I did was in your best interest. Look where you are. In the greatest school of magic in the known lands. You have had great opportunities to gain knowledge and hone your magical abilities as well as your physical ones. You couldn’t have accomplished that at the academy.”
Justan had to acknowledge that Valtrek was at least partially right. “For some reason I don't feel too blessed by it right now.”
“Edge, I am not saying that what I did was right. It wasn’t. And if I had the chance to do it again, I would have approached the situation differently,” Valtrek said. Justan realized that the wizard was beginning to succeed in diffusing his anger again and he steeled himself.
“Look, it doesn't matter. I need to leave here tonight and I need to take the rogue horse with me. If you stand in my way, I will fight you.”
Valtrek looked at the determined face of the young man in front of him and nodded. “I knew I made the right decision. Edge, when I told you that I was here to help you, I meant it. You see, I know what you are.”
“What do you mean?” Justan looked at the man guardedly.
“I have figured out the nature of your magic ability,” Valtrek said with a sparkle in his eyes. “You have bonding magic.”
“Bonding magic?” Justan had studied for countless hours in the library trying to figure out his powers, but he had never heard of bonding magic.
“Yes,” said Valtrek. “It is a very rare power, so we don't know very much about it. Fortunately, I have had personal contact with two wizards that have that talent to some degree and I know more about it than most. You see bonding magic is interpersonal magic. It's an ability to bond, to link with another being on a level far deeper than we could ever achieve with standard magic. Once you have bonded with a being, you are linked with it soul to soul forever.”
Justan digested the information. He had thought that his link with Gwyrtha was strange and he had never been able to explain it, but he had assumed that it had something to do with the magic within her. Justan never imagined that it was a special skill that had come from him. It seemed obvious now that he thought about it.
“But how does this bonding work? I look with my mage sight and I don't see any link between me and Gwyrtha.”
“Gwyrtha? That's the beast's name? Hmm . . . Well, to answer your question, bonding magic is different than any other form. It doesn't use the standard mix of elements. Like the magic of the Bowl of Souls, it is invisible to a wizard's eye. We don't completely understand why.”
“But how did you know that I had this kind of magic?” Justan was so interested in what the wizard was saying that he had let his guard down again.
“You have been giving off clues about it ever since I watched you battle Sabre Vlad's son, Qenzic, in the arena. During the fight you were pulling energy from everyone in the crowd and using it to help you.”
“But how?”
“Remember what I told you earlier. Bonding magic is an interpersonal magic. It acts on its own, sending out magic feelers, influencing the people and creatures around you. It isn't a magic that you can completely control consciously. It might even be why the Scralag was drawn to you.
“I think that it was that day in the arena that your bonding magic came into full bloom. In the past, you were always a loner, pushing people away. But during the journey here it was like you were a different person. You started pulling people towards you.”
The wizard’s words rang true in Justan’s mind. He truly had felt different during the journey. He thought that the wizard’s timeline was off, though. Justan felt that his attitude had begun to change the moment Jhonate had pulled him up off of the ground in that alley.
“When you first came here and went through the various magical tests, I had no idea why your abilities seemed so different than the others,” Valtrek continued, relaying the excitement he felt at finally being able to tell Justan about his findings. “It wasn’t until earlier this afternoon when you were named that I had my suspicions. You see the one big link between you and every other bonding wizard I have heard about is that you have all been named.”
“Really? Everyone that has ever had this bonding magic has been named?”
“Every single one that I know about. But no one else on the council made the connection right away because the circumstances around your naming were so odd. I must admit that I still don’t understand why you were named this early or why you were named twice, but when you were so concerned about the well being of the rogue horse we brought in, that pricked my mind.
“You claimed that you saw the rogue horse in the forest with the elves and that they made you promise not to tell us. I knew that there was more to it than that because the story was ridiculous. If the elves were keeping such a big secret from us, there was no way that they would let a stranger see it. Elves are too good at keeping secrets for that one to get out. You also knew too much about the beast. You described it in great detail and kept calling it ‘her’.”
When he saw the incredulous look on Justan’s face, Valtrek smiled. “I may not be Locksher, but I am no fool. I knew that if my suspicions were true, you would come tonight, so I sent the guards away and waited for you here. The moment you came in, everything fell into place. I knew that somehow, you bonded with the rogue horse and that’s why it was lurking around the school.”
“But Professor-” Justan’s mind was whirring, processing all of the revelations.
“You must refer to me as Master. You are my apprentice now.”
Justan frowned. He still didn’t like the idea of being apprenticed to Valtrek. “Well it doesn’t matter. I can’t be your apprentice and stay at the MageSchool now. I have to take Gwyrtha out of here. I can’t stand the thought of her cooped up in this stable and being experimented on. I appreciate the help that you are trying to give me, but I have no choice but to take her out of here, even if it means I have to defeat you.”
Before Valtrek could reply, a voice came from the darkness outside the reach of the lantern.
“He’s right, Professor.” A lithe form came into the light. “Every rogue horse kept in captivity has grown sick and died. This is why the wizards don’t understand how their magic works.”
“Qyxal?” Valtrek folded his arms and glared. “How long have you been listening?”
“I was here before Justan, I mean- ‘Sir Edge’ arrived. I have heard everything.” The elf held a quarterstaff in front of him. “And I will fight along side him against you to free her if needed.”
“Yes, Valtrek, I won’t allow you to manipulate me further.” Justan said and steeled himself for the fight that he knew was going to begin. The wizard frowned at Justan’s disrespectful use of his name, but he saw the look of menace in the countenances of the two students in front of him and sighed.
“Relax, both of you. I am fully aware of the situation and I am not going to allow this amazing creature to waste away here at the school.” He pulled another document from within his robes. “Since Edge is my apprentice, I have complete control over his training. Unfortunately, given the nature of his magic ability, there isn’t anyone here at the MageSchool that has the ability to
train him as he deserves. This is a document authorizing him to leave the school and be tutored abroad.”
“Really?” Justan took the document from the wizard. “The council is actually allowing Gwyrtha to leave?”
“Actually, the document allows you to leave the school, but the wording of it states, ‘and take all of his possessions with him’.” Valtrek smiled. “I believe that Gwyrtha qualifies.”
“I am surprised that you were able to convince the council to do that much,” Qyxal remarked.
“Fortunately, the entire council’s signatures are not required for such a journey to take place. I only needed three council members and Professor Beehn and Master Latva were happy to oblige once I told them of my plans.”
“I don’t believe it.” Qyxal said.
“Wait a minute.” Justan pointed down to some writing on the piece of parchment in his hand. “Who is this ‘Master Coal’?”
“Master Coal is one of only two bonding wizards known to be alive and the only one who is going to be able to teach you.” The wizard shrugged. “Your contract at the school was for two years and only one has passed. You still owe us a year and you will spend it with Master Coal. This way you have kept your commitment with the BattleAcademy. After your time is up, you can decide if you still want to return there.”
Justan looked at Valtrek in stunned silence. Had he been wrong about the wizard the entire time? It was an unsettling thought and a hard one to digest. He had hated the man for over a year. “Master Valtrek, I-I . . . I suppose that I owe you an apology. I must admit that I have been resenting you from the moment we left Reneul.”
“I don’t blame you at all, Edge.” Valtrek smiled and for the first time Justan was open enough to see the true warmth reflected in it. “It is I who owe you an apology. The tactics that I used when we first met alienated you from me. It was bad enough that I have had to stay away from your teaching here at the school so that you would actually learn. The anger you held against me was stunting your growth and it is my fault.”
“Thank you,” Justan said, accepting the apology for what it was. He still didn’t completely trust the wizard, but what Valtrek had done for him tonight had earned back some of his respect.
“And Master?” He nearly winced as he said it, the title sounded so strange in his mouth. “Please tell Vannya that I am sorry for the way I treated her as well.”
Qyxal shook his head in disbelief. “You mean that this whole time, you have been mad at Vannya just because she is his daughter?”
“Daughter? No, but I thought she was . . . oh.” Justan’s face turned red.
“Oh no!” Qyxal moaned in recognition. “I understand it now!” He burst out laughing and placed a hand on Justan’s shoulder. “She told me that you were being mean to her but I never knew why. You thought that they were lovers!”
“What?” Valtrek said, aghast. “You thought Vannya and I were . . . We don’t make a spectacle of the fact that she’s my daughter because we don’t want the other students to feel that there is any favoritism involved. But what on earth made you think otherwise? She is barely older than you for goodness sake!”
“I saw the two of you embracing in the dark one night and . . .” Justan was truly embarrassed, but not about offending Valtrek. “Oh, I have treated her horribly.”
Justan felt terrible. Here she was, an intelligent, beautiful girl who had just wanted to be his friend and he had practically spat in her face. He had thought that she was a pawn when really she was just like him. She was a student in a school where her father was on the High Council. Just like he had struggled in Faldon’s shadow, she was trying to get along on her own merit. And unknowingly he had treated her like the students in the Training School had treated him.
“Master Valtrek, please tell Vannya that I am very sorry for the way that I treated her. She didn’t deserve any of it.” He had an idea. “Actually, give me a moment.”
Justan rummaged through his pack and pulled out a piece of paper and a bottle of ink to write with. As he scribbled a note, Valtrek turned to the elf.
“So what about you, Qyxal? You seem like you are ready to leave as well.” The elf was dressed in light leathers and had a full pack strapped to his back.
“I heard about the rogue horse from Jeffrey and as soon as he described it, I knew that Gwyrtha had somehow been captured. I didn’t know how she had come so close to the school, but I was prepared to set her free and take her back to my people. Gwyrtha is well loved by my clan and we made a promise long ago not to let her presence be known. As it is, I wish that Justan had not told the council anything about it.”
“His name is Edge now.” Valtrek reminded the elf. “Since you know about his name, it is a grave insult to call him anything else unless he requests it from you, understood?” The elf nodded. “Actually, it’s a good thing that you brought it up because if you two are going to be traveling together, you might want to figure out what you are going to call one another. It wouldn’t be a good thing for people to see a man of his age with two naming runes. No one would believe it and you would draw too much attention to yourselves.”
Justan came back with the letter in hand and handed it to the wizard. “You mean Qyxal is coming with me?”
“Do either of you have any objections?”
“I think it’s great.” Justan blurted. He was glad that he wouldn’t have to take this trip alone.
Qyxal wasn’t so sure. “I was planning on leaving anyway and it would be an honor to escort Edge and Gwyrtha anywhere, but this also means that I would leave the school without a representative from my clan. There would be nothing I could do to repair the damage caused by Gwyrtha’s leaving.”
“It will be alright,” Valtrek soothed, raising his hands consolingly. “I will tell them that you are going along on an errand for me. I will also use my position to smooth things over. Besides, once you two are long gone, I will tell them everything that happened tonight. That way they couldn’t possibly stay angry at your people.”
“But my studies-.”
“Master Coal is an excellent teacher and he knows about much more than just bonding magic. I promise that it will be worth your while.”
The elf nodded reluctantly.
Justan walked over to the heavy bolted door. “We need to let Gwyrtha out now. She has been held in there for too long already.”
“Very well.” Valtrek pulled out a heavy iron key and unlocked the door. The hinges were well oiled and the door opened with barely a creak. The light from the lamp pierced the gloom, illuminating the rogue horse on the floor within.
Gwyrtha was lying on her side with her eyes closed. Her chest rose and fell slowly and her breathing was that of deep slumber. Her legs were shackled to the floor and a heavy chain hung from hook set in the ceiling to an iron collar around her neck.
Qyxal rushed forward to unshackle her while Justan checked her for wounds.
“They didn’t hurt her,” he pronounced.
“Of course not,” Valtrek scoffed. “A rogue horse is far too valuable to be treated roughly. What do you think we are? Dwarven bandits?”
Qyxal spoke to Justan as he worked on the locks with a pick that he had pulled from under his belt. “Tell me, Sir Edge.” He remembered to use the name this time. “How did you actually bond with Gwyrtha?”
Justan relayed the story beginning with his fight against the moonrats and Valtrek listened intently as Qyxal worked on the locks.
“I am finished.” Qyxal said, pulling the heavy collar from around her neck. He turned to the Wizard. “Release the spell.”
“Wait.” Justan stepped back. “I wouldn’t want to be standing by her when she wakes.”
Valtrek wisely stood behind Qyxal and mumbled under his breath. With a snap of his fingers, the spell was broken.
Gwyrtha leapt from the floor like a cat on fire. With a roar, she swiped at the air around her with her deadly claws and wicked teeth.
“Gwyrtha, it’s okay. I’m here.�
� Justan sent soothing thoughts to her. She growled for just a moment, then walked forward and nudged her head against his chest. Justan embraced her and scratched her fondly behind one horselike ear. “I am sorry that I didn’t listen when you called out to me.” It won’t happen again.
“Amazing.” Valtrek whispered at seeing the spectacle of this huge beast nuzzling his apprentice so gently.
“She is happy to see you,” Justan said to Qyxal. Gwyrtha approached the elf and nudged him with her snout. Qyxal smiled and hugged her.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was outside?” he asked. “I could have helped you keep her safe.”
“Honestly I thought about it several times. I wasn’t sure how much you knew about Gwyrtha in the first place and your people had made me promise to tell no one at the school.”
Valtrek came out of the darkness with a full pack in his hands.
Messenger of the Dark Prophet (The Bowl of Souls: Book Two) Page 23
