"Him?” Corerilla asked.
"Her father, I mean her foster father. He is one of them—a Tieri."
"She was persecuted by the other children because she was the daughter of a Wanderer? So she stayed away from them. What about school?"
"He taught her. Didn't want her to learn our ways. I finally got Valeria to send her for the last year. Valeria is her foster mother from our village. Aetria came in to school but left before it finished for the winter."
"Why did she leave?” Corerilla asked, staring at Aetria.
"She was...” Brusilla's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She was what, Sorceress Brusilla?"
"She was thrown out of school for cursing Ludreena."
The mention of her old enemy's name brought the memory of that sad incident back into Aetria's mind as if it had just happened. Ludreena had snatched her stuffed dragon Rajii away while Aetria had sat alone under a shade tree during a break in classes. Aetria gave chase and caught the girl by her apron strings. Ludreena was the biggest girl in the school, and a lot bigger than Aetria. That didn't stop Aetria. She lost the ensuing fight, but not by much. She got Rajii back. Ludreena kicked her while she was down, and Aetria foolishly yelled a Tierian obscenity at the older girl.
"That must have been a very hard school if they banished children for swearing, Sorceress,” Corerilla said, a slight smile on her lips.
"Not swearing—cursing. She put a Tierian curse on Ludreena. At least her parents thought so. Ludreena got very ill after the fight, and the village believed it was due to Aetria's curse. I told them it was probably due to the fight, but they wouldn't listen."
"So Sorceress Aetria was shunned and treated badly by her own village as a child."
"Yes, but not by everyone. She—"
"Thank you, Sorceress Brusilla. Magess Trelana may want you to come back and testify again, so I hope your stay here at Inhestia is a pleasant one.” Corerilla signaled for Verdilan to come and assist Brusilla.
Mage Kelristo got there first, and the two older sorcerers walked slowly to the southern door, heads bowed close to each other in a lively conversation Aetria wished she could have heard.
Where was Corerilla going with this information?
While Mage Kelristo finished escorting Brusilla out of the room and returned to his seat, Aetria asked Trelana the obvious question about the two.
"I had not yet started my teaching career at Inhestia when Ulana and Kelristo suffered their burnouts. I was told that when Ulana escaped from Inhestia, Kelristo's heart was broken by her loss. For a year he was withdrawn and moody. Brusilla returned to Inhestia for her Sorceress training, and Kelristo's interest in life picked up the moment she was introduced as his newest student.
"They would have become lifemates, but Brusilla was dedicated to serving her village and would not give up her position. Neither would Kelristo. It has been a long-distance romance ever since. Maybe now that she can retire, she will come join him here. The Council hopes that is so. The very first available Healer went to Torrelon for that purpose."
"Novice Verdilan is her replacement?"
"You know him? Of course, he was one of your Novices, wasn't he?"
"Yes, a most serious and caring young man. He will make an excellent Healer for my village."
Corerilla did not wait for Kelristo to take his seat, calling out for the next witness the moment he reached his chair. “I call Sorceress Halista to give testimony before this hearing."
The name of her old commander and friend sent a surge of alarm through Aetria. As she feared, Halista entered through the southern door, looking as large as any pregnant woman Aetria had ever seen. Halista waved away her escort, an anxious-looking Novice Healer, and walked awkwardly to the waiting chair.
Sitting down heavily, she smiled at Corerilla. “You can have whatever time you need, Counselor, but I suggest you make it fast. General, Ma'am, surprised and pleased to see you."
Sonja returned her smile. “If we need to interrupt this hearing for a birthing, I can't think of any more qualified attendants than the Mage Healers present. I would, however, prefer that you did so in the comfort of your quarters."
"You and me both, Ma'am."
Watching the interplay, Corerilla knew she had to be very carefully with her witness. “Sorceress Halista, you were the commanding officer of Novice Aetria prior to her return to Inhestia."
"That is true. She was in my company for a year prior to the incident at the Battle of Saphradea."
"How would you characterize Sorceress, I mean, Novice Aetria's service at that time?"
"She was quite a handful,” Halista said, looking at Aetria beside her. “I have never known a more enthusiastic and dedicated young officer. She volunteered for everything."
The friendship was obvious between the two Sorceresses.
"I have information that then-Novice Aetria even went out with the skirmishers at night—without your knowledge."
Halista looked sharply at Corerilla. She carefully considered her answer. “She went out once without my knowledge and permission. I corrected that breach in protocol as soon as she returned, as I did for every one of my Novices learning to be army sorcerers. She only required one time to get the message, unlike others."
"Are you saying that all of your sorcerers went out with skirmishers at night?"
"No, I said that all of my sorcerers went astray early in their service and required correction."
"But going out with night killers? Is that normal for sorcerers?"
Aetria was as puzzled by the path of Corerilla's questions as Halista looked. “No, but most sorcerers don't involve themselves totally in army life. Aetria had a passion for knowing what goes on in all facets of a campaign. She had a deep concern for how the common troops lived and fought. They trusted her more than any other sorcerer.
"The commander of the skirmishers came to me,” Halista continued, “and asked specifically if I would release her for going out with them after the first time. They respected her skills and found her ability to terrorize the enemy with ‘spell horrors,’ as they called them, was very handy. I allowed her to do so for several months before we got too busy with the upcoming Saphradean campaign."
Corerilla paced away from her normal spot near the left of the general's table. She turned and looked at Halista, tilting her head ever so slightly. “You said, ‘They respected her skills.’ You mean her Power use or what?"
Halista responded carefully. “The skills they referred to were her ability to move silently in the night and blend in with their own movements. Her skills in illusions were beyond a doubt superb, but it was her defensive training that made her valuable to the skirmishers. We tried assigning other sorcerers to the same duty, as it was having a serious effect on the Hermanians’ morale, but most could not keep up with the skirmishers."
"What defensive training do you refer to, Sorceress?"
"Her Tierian training."
"Oh! You mean the infamous Tierian Thief skills?"
"I didn't call it that."
"No, you did not, I did. So, for several months Novice Aetria ranged the battle lines at night unsupervised by a senior sorcerer, alone, in the company of non-sorcerer night killers."
Halista's rising anger could be heard in her voice. “I told you I allowed her to do so, and I also had Commander Pleates’ permission. He was very interested in her work."
"Thank you for pointing that out. Adept Pleates was the commanding officer of the sorcerer regiment?"
"Yes, you know he was."
"Please calm yourself, Sorceress Halista. What I know and what you can substantiate might be two different things. The Council is seeking the truth here. Please tell us who recommended that Novice Aetria be given the task of covering the Kelrossian Lancers at the final battle with the Saphradeans."
"Adept Pleates designated her as the supporting Illusionist for the task of covering the diversionary feint. I told him Aetria had been under a lot of pressure for on
e so new to the regiment and suggested a more senior Sorcerer for the job. He disagreed with me and ordered that Aetria be given the job as he had originally planned."
Corerilla picked up a scroll from a small table she had placed near her and seemed to study it for a moment. “Please tell us what actions Adept Pleates ordered after Aetria's grid burnout—the one that occurred at the final battle."
Shifting in her chair, Halista tried to find a more comfortable position to ease the cramp in her back. Aetria's look of concern prompted Halista to murmur to her not to worry, it wasn't time.
"He ordered that Aetria be returned to Inhestia by the quickest means for evaluation of her condition by Mage Kelristo,” the very pregnant Sorceress then said aloud. “He said he was concerned that the honor of the Order was at stake, and that it would appear one of our own had failed to carry out her orders. He was going to assume responsibility for her ‘mistake,’ having placed her in the position where she could fail. He told the commanding general he had changed the plan at the last minute, so it would look like we ordered the ‘elephant’ charge."
"Thank you for your testimony, Sorceress. You can now return to your Healers’ care, as it looks like you are not comfortable sitting in that chair. We may have need to call you again, but for your sake, I hope not."
Halista stood, gave Aetria an awkward hug and waddled from the room. Corerilla waited until the door thumped shut before she picked up a scroll from her table and walked over to the general's table. She handed the scroll to Novice Holendal.
"My next witness could not be present due to circumstances I'm sure you will understand. He has submitted a sworn affidavit in his place. I call General Amexis Parlinto to give testimony before this hearing. Please read the general's statement, Novice Holendal."
Holendal stood up, unrolled the scroll and looked at it. A look of panic crossed his face and he swallowed hard. “I'm sorry, Counselor, but it is in Saphradean. I can't read—"
"The translation is on the next scroll, Novice."
Holendal's face burned red with embarrassment, his voice faltering in his confusion and shame. He coughed once and began again. “Here is my sworn testimony before the Mage Council of Delmathia concerning certain events that occurred during the final battle between the kingdom of Delmathia and the Principality of Saphradea.
"As Commander of the Center, I was informed the Delmathians were planning to mount an attack on our forces, and that I could expect a feint at my position by a squadron of Royal Guard ‘Elephant’ Cavalry. We knew that no such ‘Elephant’ squadron existed in the order of battle for Delmathia. I was to feign a panicked retreat and shift my forces to the real threat from the real Royal Guard on our right flank. When I asked the source of this information, I was told it came from within the Delmathian army.
"When the time of the attack came, I executed my orders and found, to my dismay, that the Heir had taken it upon himself to bring his royal party into my area of battle without notifying my staff or myself of his intention to do so. The fake Delmathian Royal Guard captured him while my forces were driving the real Royal Guard from the field. Sworn by me this day, Amexis Parlinto, General, Army of Saphradea."
Retrieving the scroll from the Novice Provisioner, Corerilla offered it to Mage Meldoran, who declined to take it, saying that General Borlock should see it first. As she handed it to Sonja, Corerilla asked, “General Parlinto did command the center at the battle, did he not, General?"
Sonja nodded, taking the scroll and reading the first page, in the original Saphradean. She handed the scroll back to the Counselor, making no comment. Corerilla gave it to Meldoran. She turned and looked at Trelana.
"I call Magess Trelana to give testimony before this hearing."
Trelana showed no surprise at the call. She awaited Corerilla's questions.
"After Aetria's return to Inhestia, did she tell you about any change in her spell casting ability?"
"Yes, she did,” answered Trelana in a calm voice. “She said she seemed to sense an aura around sorcerers. I told her our concerns about changes in spell casters after a grid burnout and admonished her to keep me advised of this new sensing. Mage Kelristo and I discussed it, and he examined Aetria. It was our belief she was over-sensitized to the Power by her burnout, and that it would fade with time. It did."
Corerilla moved to stand in front of Aetria and looked hard at her, while asking Trelana, “You said it faded with time. How do you know this?"
Aetria's heart stopped.
"She said it faded the way we thought it would,” Trelana answered. “During the next four years of intense study and exercises, I never saw a change in her spell casting or lack of control. I had no reason to doubt her word."
"No, you didn't. And when she returned several months ago after the death of Adept Pleates, had she not had another grid burnout?"
"Yes."
"Did she tell you about any change in her spell casting?"
Trelana's patience seemed infinite. Perhaps she was more used to Corerilla's method of questioning.
"She told me she sensed a buzzing associated with the use of a source. I did not sense the same, and she said my personal source gave her the same buzzing. It seemed to me it was a similar case of over-sensitization, and again, Mage Kelristo agreed with me. Aetria is one of the few sorcerers who has ever survived more than one grid burnout, so we had to believe this was an expected result."
"Did you tell her to keep you advised of any change, like the first time?"
"Of course I did,” Trelana replied, a little testily.
"I am not doubting you, Magess, I just wanted to make sure she was warned. Has she said anything to you about changes in her abilities since then?"
Trelana looked at Aetria for a moment then returned her eyes to Corerilla. “No, she has not."
"Thank you, Trelana. I may have further questions for you later on. I call Sorceress Felora to give testimony before this hearing."
All eyes turned toward the door, watching the Provisioner Sorceress enter the room and take her seat next to Aetria. She gave Aetria a warm smile, her eyes filled with sympathy for her sister classmate. She sat perkily in her chair and gazed at the Council Counselor.
"Sorceress Felora, Sorceress Aetria and you were the women's student leaders until her departure for the Army with Adept Pleates last spring, were you not?"
"We were."
"Please tell us what you observed of Sorceress Aetria's mood a few weeks prior to her departure from Inhestia."
"Aetria was very unhappy. She spent several nights crying by herself in her room. I tried to help her, but she told me she had to handle it by herself."
Pacing slowly by Aetria's table, Corerilla placed herself next to Felora, looking over the petite woman at Aetria. “Did you know the true cause of Sorceress Aetria's unhappiness?"
Felora looked at Corerilla, and seeing her staring at Aetria, looked to her left at Aetria. Her classmate and fellow instructor was looking at her expectantly.
"She..she was not advanced to Adept candidacy by her Mentor, Magess Trelana."
"Did she say why she was not advanced?"
"She said the Magess wanted her to return to the army and prove herself capable of exercising control of her Power usage. That upset her very much."
"Returning to the army upset her?"
"Oh, no. She loved the army. Not being advanced was what upset her."
"Thank you, Sorceress Felora. You may be recalled by Magess Trelana for questions later on."
Felora stood to her feet quickly, happy to be released by the Council. She stepped over to Aetria, putting her arms out for a hug. Aetria stood and embraced her former colleague. Felora whispered to her that she had told the truth, hadn't she? Aetria told her that she had and not to worry. The small woman hurried from the Council chambers.
"I call Novice Fernonia, Lieutenant of Sorcerer Guards, to give testimony before this hearing,” Corerilla intoned.
A Guard Lieutenant? Aetria thought.
The beautiful young woman marched into the room, stunning in her tight fitting black leather armor. Where sorcerer robes tended to hide the wearer's body contours, armor accentuated it. Fernonia filled out her armor well. Her officer rank sash held a stripe of Novice gray running down its length, something Aetria had never seen in a Sorcerer Guard, who were until this time strictly non-sorcerers. The Council did not seem to be disturbed by that fact. Fernonia stood by the witness chair instead of sitting.
"Please be seated, Lieutenant."
"I prefer to stand, Ma'am."
"I prefer you sit, Novice Fernonia,” Meldoran said.
She sat down stiffly at the edge of her chair, her back rigid. She did not look at Aetria. Aetria noticed that Fernonia's hair, which had been so long and beautiful before being singed off by the explosions, had grown back to the length of her own. It had been recently trimmed, so Fernonia was adopting a different hairstyle since becoming a guard.
"Lieutenant, you were a classmate of Novice Recanlin's, were you not?"
Aetria wondered why Corerilla always made a statement into a question.
"Yes, I was."
That's why, Aetria thought. You always get a positive answer.
"One night, when your recruit company was on the way to join the army, an incident occurred involving Novice Recanlin. I believe you were relieved from guard duty that night by Recanlin. Do you recall the night I am speaking of?"
"Yes, vividly."
"Did you talk with Novice Recanlin about what he did that night that caused him to leave his guard post, subsequently to be found by Sorceress Aetria?"
"All of the Aggressors did. After hearing about his dumb mistake, we ganged up on him for making us look foolish. We asked him why he did it."
"And he said, what?"
"He said he was thinking about the new meditation techniques Sorceress Aetria was teaching us. Reckless always wandered aimlessly when he was thinking. He did it here at Inhestia all the time. We should have foreseen it and taken care of the problem before he embarrassed the Aggressors in front of the Adept."
"Reckless is?"
"Sorry, Novice Recanlin."
Wild Sorceress Page 27
