Adept

by J. P. Larson

  I nodded again.

  Eva had Nickor and his son take seats to one side, Roland and his family to the other, both groups facing us. She then told the townsfolk they could take what space they needed behind the proceedings.

  "I'm going to say this once, and only once. I expect all of you to remain quiet. This is not a mob. If anyone turns unruly, our swordswomen will throw him out. If they require assistance, it will be of a magical nature, and no one here is going to enjoy it. Do I make myself clear?"

  "Yes, Magus Eva," was the general response.

  "Good," she said. "Now, the five of you will remain polite and calm. We will discover the facts as best we can, and then we shall see if a reasonable conclusion can be reached. Do all of you agree to be bound by my decision?"

  "Yes, Magus Eva," each side said in turn.

  "Is everyone in the schoolhouse who is expected to give evidence?" she asked.

  That required a small amount of looking about. "I believe so, Magus Eva," said the mayor.

  "Very well," said Eva. "Loralai and Lunia, please seal the doors. No one else is to enter or leave." The two of them didn't like moving away from us, but they didn't argue with her. Instead, they moved to the back of the school, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the doors.

  "Excellent," Eva said. "Is there anyone here who wishes to leave before we begin?" No one tried to leave, and then Eva said, "Very well. Everyone speaking today will do so while wearing a truth spell. Mr. Quicknight, can you tell me how many people you expect to ask to substantiate your claim?"

  "I don't understand, Magus Eva," he replied.

  "I want to know how many truth spells are required today," she replied. "Everyone speaking will do so with a truth spell, and it is one spell per person."

  "Oh," he said. "Just me, I guess."

  "So you make this accusation without your daughter speaking?"

  "Yes."

  "No," she said. "I will hear from your daughter as well. Mr. Donetouch, how many speakers in your son's defense?"

  "My son," he said. "And it is possible I will need to speak as well."

  "Just four. Very well." She assembled truth spells and sent them out to the four in question. She didn't wait for permission or tell them she was going to do it, and they were each surprised when it settled, but there weren't any complaints.

  "There," Eva said. "Ms. Quicknight, please stand and tell me a little bit about yourself."

  The girl stood, looking hesitantly. "I am Gwenda," she said.

  "Spell that, please," I inserted, and she did. "Thank you."

  "I am nineteen," she said. She paused. "I don't know what else you want to know."

  "Very briefly, have you lived in Glenwood your entire life? Do you have other brothers or sisters? Do you have friends here in the village?"

  "Yes," she said. "I was born here. I have a little brother and sister and a few friends."

  "All right," Eva said. "Thank you. Please sit down. Mr. Donetouch, your turn. The same questions."

  The mayor nudged his son. He introduced himself as Drent, twenty-one years old. He was born here and had no siblings.

  "Where is your mother?"

  "She died during childbirth, Magus Eva," the mayor said.

  "I'm sorry," Eva said. "That is a sad fate that meets far too many women. Have you married another, Mr. Mayor?"

  "No, Magus Eva, I have not."

  "All right, thank you," she said. "You may sit down, Mr. Donetouch." She waited until the boy was seated then said, "Do all five of you know the basic facts of this case?"

  "I believe so," said the mayor.

  "Then I believe I shall ask you to explain."

  The mayor stood up. "The basic facts are simple. Gwenda and Drent were sweet on each other. She now claims to be with child and demands Drent marry her. Drent feels he is too young for that responsibility." He paused. "May I make a personal comment?"

  Eva nodded.

  "Drent's self-assessment is, in my eyes, accurate. Gwenda will make a fine mother. My son is not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood."

  "I'll say," said Roland Quicknight.

  "Do not interrupt, Mr. Quicknight," Eva said firmly. "Did you have more to offer, Mr. Mayor?"

  "Drent believes he was misled by Gwenda. He claims she stated she couldn't get pregnant."

  "All right, thank you." She said. "Please sit down. Mr. Quicknight, was that a fair assessment of the situation?"

  "Are you going to make your decision based on that?" he asked.

  "I am only asking for an overview," she replied. "Was that a good overview?"

  "Yes."

  "Thank you." She paused. "Ms. Quicknight, please stand up."

  The girl stood. She looked nervous and wasn't looking at Eva.

  "Were you and Mr. Donetouch sweet on each other?"

  "Um. Not Mr. Donetouch. His son, Drent."

  Eva smiled briefly. "Drent is also Mr. Donetouch, but perhaps we shall become slightly less formal and use first names. So you and Drent were sweet on each other."

  "Yes."

  "For how long?"

  "I don't know. A while."

  "A week? A month? A year?"

  "Oh. Maybe a year."

  "Did Drent touch you without permission?"

  "No, ma'am."

  Other magi would ask for her title to be used, but Eva ignored it.

  "All right," Eva said. "Do you claim to be pregnant?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you sure you're pregnant?"

  "Um. No, ma'am. But I'm very late for my monthlies."

  "Well, we have the ability to ascertain that," Eva said. "We will see to that shortly. Were you a fully willing participant in the activities that may have led to your becoming pregnant?"

  "You're asking me if I wanted to share a bed with Drent?"

  "Yes, that is what I am asking."

  "Yes." She looked down again. "He's cute."

  I glanced at the boy in question. He didn't do a thing for me.

  Eva took a breath. "I have not yet unearthed a crime," she said. "Your father claims Drent defiled you."

  "I don't know what that means," the girl said.

  "Ah. Then perhaps you should sit, and we'll ask your father. Mr. Quicknight?"

  The girl sat, the father stood, and then he began to posture. "That whelp," and he pointed, "is an immature, spoiled brat, accustomed to having his way due to his pretty face. My daughter is not the only girl to have shared a bed with him, but she is the first to have gotten pregnant."

  "It sounds, Mr. Quicknight, that she was a willing participant. You may have a valid complaint, but I haven't heard one yet, at least not one requiring my judgment."

  "He refuses to do the right thing!"

  "Ah. And that may be a valid complaint. Let me ask you. Do you want Drent Donetouch as a son-in-law?"

  "No! Absolutely not."

  "Then you should perhaps jump for joy he doesn't offer to marry your daughter."

  That set the man back a bit, but then he said, "We are not wealthy, Magus Eva," he explained. "There are costs in raising a child, and it is unkind to expect our daughter to do so alone."

  "You will not open your home to your daughter and your new grandchild?"

  "Well, of course we will!" he said hotly. "That's not my point."

  "Then what is your point?"

  "He," and he pointed at Drent, "should pay."

  "Pay?"

  "Yes, pay. Food, diapers, clothes, books, medicines. These all cost cold, hard coin."

  "Ah," said Eva. "We have finally arrived at the crux of the situation. Gold."

  "Yes," Roland said. "Gold."

  "Very good. Sit down, Mr. Quicknight."

  "Magus Eva?" said the mayor. "May I speak?" Eva nodded, and he stood up. "My son has no job and to date, very little ambition. He has only the money I give him."

  "And so, if someone were to pay, it would not be your son, but instead it would be you."

  "She should just take t
he pennyroyal," Drent said.

  At hearing that, I hissed. Eva immediately put a hand on my arm and looked at me sharply. "We'll come back to that," she said quietly, and I nodded.

  "I'm not taking the pennyroyal," Gwenda said. "It's my baby, and I want him. Or her."

  "Good," I said quietly.

  "Please, Kia," Eva said.

  "I'm sorry."

  "She shouldn't have gotten pregnant," Drent added. "She said she couldn't."

  "Enough," Eva said. She stood up and paced for a moment. "Mr. Mayor, I believe we'll come back to you." The man nodded and sat down. "Drent, why do you believe she couldn't get pregnant?"

  "She said she was taking something to prevent it."

  I sighed. "Eva."

  She turned to me.

  "I'm going to have to testify. Truth spell."

  She nodded and a moment later, she settled a truth spell over me. It wasn't necessary, as I wouldn't have lied, but then no one could claim I had lied.

  "May I ask these questions, Magus Eva?"

  She looked at me and nodded before taking her seat. I stood up. "Gwenda, did you tell Drent you were taking something to prevent pregnancy?"

  "Yes."

  "What did you tell him you were taking?"

  "Mother gave me an extract she made."

  "Magus Eva, we're going to need another truth spell." She already had it waiting, and I watch it settle over the mother. "Nysteria," I said, "what did you give your daughter to prevent pregnancy."

  "I knew she was spending time with that worthless fool," the mother said, pointing at Drent. "So I made a paste of fennel seeds and gave it to her. She mixes a teaspoon in a cup of tea."

  "Fennel seed?"

  "Yes."

  "And where do you get the fennel seeds?"

  "We grow them in our garden."

  I sighed and turned to Eva. "Magus Eva, I have things to say about the fennel seeds. I have things to say about the pennyroyal. And I believe we should see if the girl is pregnant."

  "Perhaps we should do the latter first," Eva said. "If you do not mind, Adept Kia."

  I stood up and approached the girl. "I am going to examine you," I said. "You won't feel a thing." I didn't wait but raised my spell and sent it into her.

  It took seconds to verify she was pregnant. I looked at the child carefully for a minute or so. At this age, it was small, and features were, at best, indistinct, but my magic told me a great deal. I looked the fetus over carefully then withdrew. I stepped back, then walked around the table and whispered in Eva's ear.

  "Yes."

  "I'll ask the questions now," she said. Then, louder, "Adept Kia, is Gwenda Quicknight with child?"

  "She is, Magus Eva."

  "Can you ascertain the age of the baby?"

  "I am not a midwife," I said. "I have been trained in a variety of schools of healing, but if there were to be a birth, you understand I would demand a midwife be present."

  "I understand," Eva said.

  "I believe conception was approximately six weeks ago. Or so. I could be off by as much as two weeks in either direction."

  "Can you verify the paternity?"

  I paused. "I don't know. It's really small, Magus Eva." There was an intake from Gwenda's mother, and I corrected myself. "I'm sorry. I should speak more carefully. The fetus appears perfectly healthy, but this is a new pregnancy, and any fetus this age would be small." I paused. "But Gwenda Quicknight, when we are done here, you are my first patient back in my tent, and you will be receiving a thorough examination. Do I make myself clear?"

  "Yes, Adept Kia. Thank you."

  "You are welcome."

  She smiled. "I'm really pregnant?"

  "You're really pregnant."

  "Can you tell? Is it a boy or a girl?" She was beaming now.

  I glanced at Eva to see if she minded the interruption. She nodded to me, so I said, "I can tell. Are you sure you want to know?"

  "Please tell me."

  "You're going to have a little girl, Gwenda. Congratulations. Is there a good midwife in the village?"

  "There is," said the mayor.

  "Then I want her at the examination, if that is possible."

  "It is," said a woman from the back of the room. She stood up, and I found myself looking at a woman almost as old as Grandmama. "And I have another girl I'd like you to see before you leave, but I won't let her out of bed."

  "Eva?" I asked quietly. "Do we have time?"

  "We're here until tomorrow now."

  "I will be there, good midwife," I said. "Please come to my tent immediately when we're done, and we'll get to know each other."

  She nodded and sat down. Eva paused for a moment then turned to the girl. "Congratulations," she said.

  "Thank you, Magus Eva." The girl turned to her mother. "Mama! I'm pregnant! It's going to be a girl."

  "Yes, Gwenda," said Nysteria. She hugged her daughter. "You're going to be a good mother."

  Eva took a breath. "Gwenda, are you sure the father is Drent."

  "There hasn't been anyone else who has touched me, Magus Eva. Drent is the father."

  "Drent, do you contest her assertion?"

  "Darned right no one else touched her. Yeah, the brat is mine."

  Eva paused. Drent was an idiot. "I believe we have ascertained most of the facts, but Adept Kia had more to say. Shall we start with the fennel seed?"

  "There is a type of fennel that prevents pregnancy. It only grows along the coast, and we are too far. Whatever is growing in your garden is not liverwort and does nothing for pregnancy."

  "But-" said the mother. "I heard-"

  "You heard wrong, you silly woman," said the midwife in back. "I could have told you that."

  There was laughter around the room. Eva allowed it for a moment then held up a hand, and they quieted.

  "Did you have more to say about the fennel seed, Adept Kia?"

  "No. I believe the good midwife summed it up quite well, and it also sounds like the village is being well served. Perhaps in the future, other girls who wish to avoid pregnancy should talk to a midwife instead of her mother."

  "Well, I'm glad I'm pregnant," said Gwenda. "I didn't want to take it, anyway, but Mama made me."

  "And the pennyroyal, Adept Kia?"

  "It's a poison," I said. "And I think it's despicable to use it for aborting a pregnancy. There are herbal remedies, but I wouldn't use pennyroyal alone, and I'd be very cautious with its use at all."

  "If there are pregnancies to abort in this village, you people should know enough to come to me!" said the midwife. I decided I was going to like her. "And I'll tell you to get stuffed."

  That generated more laughter. Eva smiled slightly, in spite of the disruption.

  "Which is why no one goes to you, you old bat," said Drent. The mayor actually looked embarrassed by his son's comment.

  "Enough!" Eva yelled. "One more comment like that and you will find yourself unable to make others. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Donetouch?"

  The boy sat there belligerently.

  "Drent Donetouch," said Eva with ice in her voice. I was so proud of her. "This is where you say in a respectful tone, 'I understand, Magus Eva'."

  "I understand, Magus Eva," he said. The tone wasn't respectful at all, but Eva let it go. She paused.

  "Mr. Mayor, Mr. Quicknight, I tend to agree with your assessment."

  "His mother was a kind woman," the mayor said. "She would have raised him better than I did."

  "Shut up, Daddy," said the boy.

  "Adept Kia, please gag him for me."

  "With pleasure," I said. I threw a quick paralyze spell at the boy. He slumped in his chair then slithered onto the floor, entirely limp. "Oops. I think I got all of him."

  The mayor bent over his son, checking him.

  "He's fine, Mr. Mayor," Eva said. "It's unnerving but temporary." She turned to me. "That's a gag?"

  "He won't interrupt again," I said, entirely unrepentant. Then I shrugged. "I'm not very good
at gag spells." Which she knew, and it's probably why she had me do it.

  "Are you sure he's fine?" the mayor asked.

  "Yes," I said. "It's a temporary paralysis spell. I've been hit by that spell a few hundred times myself. As Magus Eva said, it's unnerving but temporary."

  He cocked his head. "Why would you be the recipient of this spell, Adept Kia?"

  "That's a story to share over a beer later, perhaps," Eva said. "It has to do with some of our training as magi." She paused. "I believe we have the facts of this case. We also have heard a variety of opinions. Does anyone still standing wish to contest the findings so far?"

  "No, Magus Eva," said the mayor.

  "No," said Gwenda's father.

  "Gwenda?"

  "No," she said. "I'm pregnant. He's the father. I didn't try to get pregnant, but Mama should have gone to Hasteen if she wanted something that worked. I'm keeping the baby. You can't make me take the pennyroyal."

  "No, I can't," Eva said, "and even if I could, I wouldn't. That would be an atrocity. It is your body, and only your body. On the other hand, I also cannot force Drent to marry you, although I don't believe you would want me to if I could."

  "No, Magus Eva. I don't want to marry him."

  "However, the child should not suffer because the father is, well..."

  "Magus Eva?" asked the mayor. "I may have a solution."

  "Excellent," she said. "What do you propose, Mr. Mayor?"

  "I have already proposed this once, but my offer has been rejected. I myself will pay for the reasonable needs of the child subject to a few conditions."

  "No!" said the father.

  "Be quiet, Mr. Quicknight," Eva said. "I would like to hear these conditions."

  "First, I absolutely demand Hasteen be the midwife to oversee this birth, and her word be law."

  "No!" said the mother. "Absolutely not. I will see to this birth."

  "Said the woman who gave her daughter fennel seed to prevent pregnancy," said the midwife in back.

  "Hasteen, you're not helping," Eva said. "That point was already obvious to me. Ms. Quicknight, what is your objection to Hasteen?"

  "She's a meddling hag."

  "That's no way to talk about your mother-in-law, girl!" said the midwife.

  Eva groaned. "Oh goddess, save me from small villages."

  "Once she gets her nose into my house, she won't leave," Nysteria went on. "She criticizes everything I do. Nothing is good enough for her."