“I could have my pick of old men,” Cara replied. “Most of the men worth anything are normally paired while they are in the Tower. The only people not betrothed or married are commoners and high nobles like Russell and Farrah.”
“Monica is single, sort of,” Jonathan replied.
“Because she is pining over Russell like any girl would who had half a chance,” Cara said. “I wanted to know more about the new initiates that just came in.”
“No one is on the level of Blaine Gillespie if that is what you are asking,” Jonathan replied. “Two of the boys are stronger than you are but I am sure you could defeat them as they are right now. There is another one that is weak in power, both of his parents are mundanes but he has a special spell unique to him. The others would not stick out in your class and is no different from what you are used to.”
“Do those girls out there have a chance?” Cara asked.
“I am not stupid,” Jonathan said. “Who sent you in here and why to me? Your class hates, fears and respects me. Red would be easier to talk to.”
“People in the Tower have been talking about those girls,” Cara said. “Just like they used to talk about you.”
“About me?” Jonathan asked.
“When I first came to the Tower, I heard you were some commoner who thought he was better than nobles,” Cara said. “Many people said you got lucky and you had no real skill. You were no one anyone should be worried about, I thought this as well. Until you nearly killed Prince Xalen and it took the rest of the Big Four to stop you. Xalen and I flirted, the reason we stopped was because of that witch Poppy and because I would not let anyone speak ill of you.”
“Stop your lying,” Jonathan replied. “You despised me just as much as anyone.”
“It still did not change the fact that you killed a dragon,” Cara said. “And you know how to use your magic. Everyone who was dismissing you did so to make themselves feel better, not because it was true. Just like they are dismissing those girls down there, saying they have no chance to land any mage.”
“That is ridiculous,” Jonathan said. “There are not many female mages around and the juniors only have one in their entire class. Every girl I have seen down there is beautiful, rich and noble. I think they stand a good chance of landing almost everyone here outside of Blaine Gillespie.”
“You as well?” Cara asked.
“So that is why you are really in here,” Jonathan replied. “I am not closed off to the idea if that is what you are asking. As of right now I am more focused on my work than I am some silly girl. You can report that back to whoever sent you.”
“I sent me,” Cara replied. “While you do not have the pedigree of some, I heard you have a good chance of making Mage Commander. Whoever is with you stands a good chance of becoming an instructor here at the Tower and their life would be set.”
“Mage Commander is a title for idiots,” Jonathan replied. “Mage Commander isn’t something special. If I asked for the position right now it would be given to me.”
“The Mage Commander makes as much as the Tower Mage,” Cara said. “It is a good position and that Mage is in charge of all mages sent to fight.”
“Mage Commander is not a position I have to fight for,” Jonathan replied. “If I asked for it right now I think that coward Kevin Wilson would retire. Once you take Mage Commander, the only way you can leave the post is by death or retirement. The Mage Commander takes that position knowing that while they cannot be challenged for the position, they also cannot hold any other mage job in the kingdom.”
“So,” Cara replied.
“It means I would be stuck there,” Jonathan replied. “The Queen does not want the Mage Commander worried about their future career. The Queen wants the Mage Commander focused only on combat. It is a good position to dump someone like me at. I would only be focused on the military aspect of being a mage. I have taken down a dragon and commoners would flock to me to be under my command.”
“Then it is a win win for the kingdom,” Cara said not understanding.
“It is a lose lose for commoner mages,” Jonathan replied. “They would still be the first sent to die. The Mage Commander does not determine who gets sent to him. Whoever the Archmage is could legally execute commoner mages he or she doesn’t like by sending them to me to die. I could be sent to die since there is no rule the Archmage has to send me anyone. I could be alone out there and out of everyone’s hair.”
“The Archmage wouldn’t do that,” Cara said.
“This one wouldn’t,” Jonathan said. “But everyone before him would have. I would get no guarantee which is the reason I am staying as far away from that position as I can.”
“Xalen used to talk about you getting that position,” Cara said. “He said he didn’t like you but that the position was made for someone like you after what you did to the Blood Priests.”
“I am sure he did,” Jonathan replied. “And he probably made sure it got into all the right ears so you all would come tell me about it. Even Russell and Farrah have hinted to it. I want to be Archmage, the only consolation is Tower Mage. I would rather be nothing instead of Mage Commander, I do not care who you tell about that or my reasons for not taking it.”
“So you would give up a sure position in the kingdom?” Cara asked.
“Of course I would,” Jonathan replied. “Mage Commander will be there whenever I want it. Xalen and Russell both know I want to be Archmage. Both of them also know that I stand a good chance of getting it with what I have done already and what I will continue to do. We have other battles going on with the barbarians, I plan on getting out there whenever we have a break from the Tower and getting it in.”
“If you were the Archmage I think you would stand a good chance of landing a noble girl,” Cara replied.
“I can land a noble girl right now if I wanted to,” Jonathan replied. “I have seen what is around here. I am better looking than most outside of Russell and Xalen. I already come from a bit of money and I am the Queen’s Champion. Outside of this place I am as famous as a mage could be and my children will be strong. I even have the Queen’s favor, the Archmage’s favor and the Tower Mage likes me. Anyone who thinks I could not land a noble girl is deluding themselves.”
“You didn’t land Farrah,” Cara said then covered her mouth.
“Sure didn’t,” Jonathan replied. “All it took was a barony and apparently that isn’t rock solid.”
“It isn’t?” Cara replied
“Why do you think all of those pretty rich girls are out there?” Jonathan asked. “Or why did Russell Golad come down there and focused his attention on me? Russell just left here angry that I wasn’t at breakfast smiling in the faces of those ladies I danced with last night. I represent change that no one wants to see coming. A commoner as Archmage would end the disparity. Commoner mages would make the same money as noble mages. Commoners and nobles would both be sent out to various assignments fairly instead of sending the commoners to die then asking for noble help.”
“How would some noble girl change that?” Cara asked.
“Because then everyone would know I was willing to play the game,” Jonathan replied. “I would no longer be a commoner, commoners around the kingdom would not look up to me. My children would fall in line with being noble mages and behave as such. They would have all the preconceptions about commoners that you all have. I would have to look up to other nobles, after all they could help my kids get places.”
“You would still have to look up to nobles no matter who you married,” Cara said.
“Do I look up to any of them now strictly because of their title?” Jonathan asked. “You have seen me, Xalen and Russell together.”
“No you do not,” Cara replied.
“What about Duchess Golad?” Jonathan replied. “She invited me to her home and I left early.”
“All you are doing is sabotaging yourself,” Cara replied. “Why would you want to be enemies with any of them? Russell a
nd Xalen could open doors for you that are closed now.”
“And what would that cost me?” Jonathan replied. “I wouldn’t become Archmage because it just wouldn’t be right for a former commoner to go up that high. I would have to listen like a good little boy. I would be safe with a big home and more money than I know what to do with but what about the little guy? What about mages like Red? Guys that have little power and do not want to marry noble.”
“Why wouldn’t they want to marry someone with a lot of money?” Cara asked. “It seems stupid to want to stay a commoner when you have a chance to be a noble.”
“You do not know their struggle,” Jonathan replied. “They could have had a girl or boy that they loved from back home. Not everyone sees magic as this great gift. Last year we lost two students from the mountains, both wished they were back home with the girls they liked instead of here. If they were given the choice, both would have married mundane commoners.”
“Then they would be stupid,” Cara replied. “They would have been better off marrying in their new station. They were nothing special and they had Duke Golad sponsoring them. You might be able to be more selective but they couldn’t.”
“Yes they could have,” Jonathan replied. “Most male mages I have seen are nothing special to look at and both were almost my height and as put together as Russell. They stood a good chance in getting a mage girl to fall for them, even a noble one.”
“Your friend Red doesn’t,” Cara said admitting defeat.
“Probably not,” Jonathan admitted. “But that is on him. Whatever he decides I will support him.”
“Jonathan my parents are going to be here,” Cara replied. “They were upset that me and Xalen did not work out and blamed me. Blaine and I would never work, I need someone striking to be with.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with me,” Jonathan replied.
“I want you to meet my parents,” Cara said.
“What?!?” Jonathan said choking.
“I want you to meet my parents,” Cara replied. “It would get them off my back and would get everyone off of yours as well.”
“You cannot be serious,” Jonathan replied.
“I am,” Cara replied. “Everyone wants you to be with a noble, even our future king. He is going to be a bit mad when he thinks I am that person but he will stop his war with you. Russell would leave you alone and Duke and Duchess Golad would also be happy.”
“You are insane,” Jonathan replied. “Everyone would be gutted that I am dating a noble mage girl. Especially one from two mage parents.”
“They would,” Cara admitted. “But it would be believable. No one would doubt us being together. We have our history, but it is like you said. There are preconceived notions about commoner mages, none would doubt that you tried to get the only single mage noble girl here.”
“And all you get out of it is your parents leaving you alone?” Jonathan asked. “I am not stupid. You were always thinking and scheming last year. What else do you get out of it?”
“A lot of secret suitors,” Cara admitted. “The amount of people who would go for me would shoot up. Who wouldn’t want to embarrass Jonathan the Lightning?”
“You have a deal,” Jonathan replied. “It is all the better if some mage out there goes out of their way to get back at me. Good luck to you. Now how is this going to work?”
“You need to write me a letter,” Cara replied. “It has to say that you want to be with me. Perhaps brag about killing Quevin Wilson and how much stronger you are than other mages. Just seem full of yourself and confess you are interested. Maybe talk about a kiss you gave me at the end of last year.”
“That sounds nothing like me,” Jonathan replied.
“But it does sound like what everyone thinks about you,” Cara replied. “I will use magic to make the letter look worn and I will leave it somewhere that it could be found by a snoop.”
“Like who?” Jonathan asked.
“Poppy,” Cara replied. “We don’t like each other and she is loving every bit of it. I can take some of the letters she brags about from Xalen out of her room. She would know it is me and search my room. She could find your well worn letter and one I am writing to you about not being happy you were dancing with mundanes.”
“Works for me,” Jonathan replied. “I will have it for you by tonight.”
CHAPTER 7
Midnight Fights
Jonathan had finished his letter and it took no time at all for the fall out to happen. It hadn’t been more than a few hours before Red found him in his room right before whatever activity was supposed to happen between Madame Hawking’s people and the new commoners. Jonathan was going over different ways to train his students to duel, he had always just been stronger than the person he was going against so strategy had never really been an issue. He would have to come up with something since Rebecca and Davin would most likely beat everyone if it was due to strength. Jonathan would have to put away his studies since Red entered his room without knocking with one of the biggest grins he had ever seen.
“Tell me that you have not been kissing on Cara Underwood?” Red said laughing.
“What are you talking about?” Jonathan said as he feigned ignorance.
“It is all over the Tower,” Red replied. “An instructor has been getting his jollies off with an initiate.”
“And you think it is me?” Jonathan asked.
“Poppy found a note and you know how that one is,” Red said. “Her and Cara hate each other, she even found a note Cara was writing to her Dearest Jonathan.”
“And Poppy blabbed to whoever she could,” Jonathan finished.
“Of course she did,” Red said. “You know Russell and Farrah hate her. She rubbed it in Farrah’s nose. Cara went after her immediately when she heard what was going on and blasted her across the room and demanded a duel. Monica denied it and took hold of the letters and read them herself. All that gasping she did made me run over here. It was the perfect way to send the Golads off.”
“What did Russell say?” Jonathan asked.
“He was pissed for a moment,” Red said. “Went into some spill about girl mages being for noblemen. I didn’t stay after that, I wanted to see you.”
“I don’t have anything going on with Cara and you better not say anything,” Jonathan replied. “She thinks pretending to date me would make her more desirable to the men out there. It would also get her parents off her back. Well they might hate me but at least they would not fight with her over finding someone.”
“What do you get?” Red asked.
“I get to chap noble ass,” Jonathan replied. “I know right now there are some that are angry as hell. Cara said once they get over it, that they would be happy that I was with a noble. Maybe they would stop all of the nonsense that they have been doing.”
“I bet your big blondie is pissed,” Red said. “I wish I could have seen what Farrah thinks of the entire thing. You already had people pissed at you for missing breakfast.”
“Russell came to threaten me for not going,” Jonathan laughed. “He thinks I am still hung up on his sister and wants me to be with one of them out there. If I was, he made it seem like I would be in his good graces, as if I give a damn.”
“Well the girls were a bit disappointed,” Red replied. “Three people asked about you but I could tell in their eyes that more people wanted to. One of them was that sour faced shrew Grace.”
“What did she want?” Jonathan asked. “I thought she was too busy being too perfect for a commoner.”
“She is,” Red replied. “But after Russell baked her last night by saying mundane girls were trash, she changed her mind. Do you know there is a rating system going around?”
“Rating system?” Jonathan asked.
“Those birds next door are rating all of the single people here including you and me,” Red replied. “I didn’t rate too high, like I give a shit. You rated decently though, you even beat some of the nobles.”
“Well your ranking was enough to have a lot of people out there looking for you,” Red replied. “Grace told me to tell you that you were barely passable but she was willing to give you another dance.”
“What are they supposed to do today?” Jonathan asked. “I don’t keep up with whatever Madame Hawking has planned.”
“Regular tutoring,” Red replied. “They will help them learn their letters.”
“We don’t have enough students for all of that,” Jonathan replied.
“Only a few of them are coming over,” Red replied. “I am supposed to be out there as a chaperone with Madame Hawking.”
“How was your favorite student today?” Jonathan asked. “He still picking fights?”
“Oh I almost forgot about that,” Red said laughing. “He wants to have it out tonight. He punched out Julian during breakfast which really pissed the farmboy off. Julian got his licks in but he was no match for Tobin. I told Julian a way to get square with him.”
“What did you tell him?” Jonathan asked.
“I told him magic could do it,” Red replied. “He just needs to earn how to read first.”
“That one seems like he is going to make the most of this,” Jonathan replied. “Glad to see he stood up to Tobin.”
“Me too,” Red said. “But Tobin has bitten off a bit much. He smashed Bradley in the face and knocked him cold.”
“Ha!” Jonathan laughed. “I wanted to smash Bradley in face many times. I bet that stuffy shirt is good and pissed.”
“He is supposed to be meeting Tobin tonight,” Red replied. “Every student is probably going to be there.”
“Well that went quicker than I thought,” Jonathan replied. “I just knew Tobin would wreak havoc for a week or so before he got the pit beat out of him. It hasn’t even been three days.”
“How do you think Bradley is going to handle him?” Red asked. “You think he is going to go crazy like Gerald Morningstar?”
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