by Logan Jacobs
“It was a house a few doors down from us,” I replied.
“So I understand,” he noted. “Dark magic was involved.”
“Yes,” I agreed, “That’s what I’ve heard.”
“Ah, of course,” Maderel said. “The halfling used to be in the city guard. No doubt he still has contacts there.”
We stared at each other in silence. My curiosity got the better of me, especially after Pebbles Gravel’s claims, and I checked to see what Maderel’s mana looked like. It was the blue of a water mage, but there were other colors as well. Probably as a result of learning the other elements.
“It was Pebbles Gravel,” I finally said.
“Oh dear,” Maderel replied sadly. “I was afraid she didn’t believe that her husband died in an accident.”
“Did you know she was a mage as well?” I asked.
“There have been some members of the Gravel family who were mages,” Maderel replied. “Mostly earth mages, obviously. A few even attended the Academy. We never had any indication that Pebbles had any particular talent for magic.”
“Maybe she was hiding it,” I suggested. “Especially once she took up dark magic.”
“Perhaps,” Maderel agreed. “I gather you were involved somehow in this attack?”
“They knocked me out with a drug of some sort and then took me into that house,” I replied. “When I woke up, I was tied to a chair, and Pebbles introduced herself.”
“I’ll guess that she was seeking some sort of revenge for the death of her husband,” Maderel said calmly. It was maddening in a way. I wanted him to express some sort of anger or remorse for how I had been treated. But, I reminded myself, this was Maderel when he was in the Tower.
“She knew about the Shodra,” I asserted. “She knew Murillo had hired the Shadow Foxes to retrieve them, and she knew that we had taken them to Speir Mountain. She also knew that we had killed him.”
“It seems Pebbles was more deeply involved than we believed,” Maderel sighed.
“Involved in what?” I asked. “Whatever that association was that Murillo mentioned?”
“We suspected that Murillo was involved in a group that was looking to overthrow the government and replace it with one controlled by mages,” Maderel explained. “Specifically, dark mages. We knew about the other Gravels. In fact, that’s probably how they met. But, as I said, we never saw any sign that Pebbles knew about the group or had any involvement.”
“She planned to hold me hostage in exchange for the Shodra,” I continued. “She seemed to think that you would trade them for me.”
Maderel’s gaze drifted towards a painting of a man on horseback, racing across a vast plain. The man wasn’t much more than a blur, but the horse was rendered in incredible detail. It was an intriguing painting, and I often wondered why it was stuck between two bookcases, and not on the wall across from his desk, where he could see it every time he looked up.
“I don’t know why she would believe that,” Maderel finally said. “She knows that the Academy cannot afford to lose the Shodra now that they have been reclaimed.”
“She said some other interesting things as well,” I replied.
“Did she?” Maderel asked. There was heat in the question, and I looked more closely. Maderel’s mana had shifted closer to red, and I saw him flex his fingers for a moment. And then, just as quickly, he was back in control. His mana shifted back to blue, and his icy cool demeanor was back.
“She claimed that you had a secret army of mages that you were training,” I laughed. I tried to keep my tone light to make it seem like the idea was totally preposterous to me while I focused on Maderel’s mana. “She also said that you were training manipulators.”
“The Academy kills manipulators,” Maderel replied. His own mana was shifting colors again.
“I know,” I agreed. “She seemed to think that you were finding them before the Academy did and sending them somewhere to keep them safe.”
Maderel shook his head. He looked just like the favorite uncle that you had somehow disappointed.
“I don’t know where she would have gotten such a bizarre notion,” he sighed. “But, as we discussed the other day, people who aren’t properly trained often go insane when they try to use magic.”
“So there aren’t any secret manipulators out there in the world somewhere?” I asked.
“You sound disappointed,” he pointed out.
“Well,” I conceded, “It would be interesting to see what they see. Plus, I can only imagine the bounty we could collect on one.”
Maderel studied me, and I had that unnerving feeling again that he was looking at my mana.
“Why would you say that?” he finally asked.
“You haven’t wondered?” I retorted. “I mean, if even half the stories about them are true, it must have been some pretty incredible magic they pulled off.”
“Yes,” Maderel agreed. “And it nearly destroyed the world. I don’t think anyone wants to see a repeat of that.”
“True,” I conceded and then paused briefly. “What happened to your other students?”
“What do you mean?” Maderel asked. He even managed to look confused, though his mana still showed firm control.
“The other students like me,” I explained. “What do they do after they train with you?”
“Whatever they want to do,” Maderel replied with a shrug. “A few have joined guilds, but most have larger expectations. One now runs a mage school in Morelia, for example, and another serves as an advisor to Queen Seranda of Lysantia. Have you been thinking about your own future?”
“Maybe,” I hedged. “Pebbles had me thinking about a lot things.”
“Well, I am glad you’re alright,” Maderel said, and there was real concern in his eyes for just a moment. “It would be tragic if we lost you now, before you’ve really had a chance to explore your potential.”
“We?” I asked curiously.
“We,” Maderel said as he held his arms out wide. “A mage is a gift to the world. Our powers can provide so much for the people that inhabit it.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Alas, most do not,” Maderel sighed. “It’s one of the lessons I try to instill in my own students.”
“I like that,” I admitted. “A mage is a gift to the world.”
Maderel actually smiled. A real, genuine smile. And for just a heartbeat, something blue flashed in his mana. I felt myself freeze, but when I looked again, it was gone. I convinced myself I hadn’t seen it. Not for that single nanosecond. I was positive I would know if he were a manipulator.
“So, Marv told us that a lot of people were upset when they heard about dark magic being used,” I finally said. I studied his mana, but there was no more blue to be seen.
“They expect to encounter it outside the city walls,” Maderel explained. “But inside the wall, the Academy is supposed to prevent any and all black or dark magic. It’s a bit of a bad moment for us, to have this happen now.”
“You don’t seem very worried,” I pointed out.
“Well,” Maderel said with a small grin, “the perpetrators are all dead, and we are hunting their accomplices even as we speak.”
“Murillo had more supporters?” I asked in surprise.
“The Gravel family has extensive operations throughout Evreas,” Maderel replied. “And they’ve been building both their magical and their rock empires for years. But you needn’t worry. We have matters in hand.”
“Huh,” I remarked. “But you didn’t know they were here.”
“An oversight,” Maderel observed. “It won’t happen again.”
“Good to know,” I replied, though I wasn’t very impressed with what I had seen of the Academy so far, at least as far as Murillo’s group was concerned. Murillo himself had been able to slip out of the city without anyone in the Academy noticing for days, and now Murillo’s wife and several of his supporters had been able to sneak into the city and kidnap me.
“We
should set a schedule for our next lessons,” Maderel said. He leaned back in his chair and took on a more contemplative air. He looked at the bookshelves again and nodded to himself. “I want to expand beyond air magic, just so we can see what else you can do. Read the next two chapters in Vullox, and then we can discuss fire magic at our next meeting. Let’s see, I’m leading the alchemical class in the morning session tomorrow, but perhaps the afternoon.”
“We have a bounty,” I interrupted. “We’ll be out of the city for the next three or four days.”
Maderel leaned forward again and drummed impatiently on his desk. He scowled at me, and then at the bookcase again. Finally, he stood up and walked over to the neatly arranged collection of books. He pulled another hefty tome from the shelf, which he dropped on the desk in front of me before returning to his own seat. Merlin jumped at the thud, but stopped his growl when he saw Maderel’s icy stare.
“Well, since you’ll have some extra time before our next meeting,” he declared, “You can start on Lackland’s Treatise on Fire Magic. There are a few exercises at the end of chapter one that are designed to help you find your connection to fire. If you have the time while you’re riding around the countryside, you might want to practice these.”
“Sure,” I replied as I picked up the book. “Should I send you a message when we’re back?”
“That would be acceptable,” Maderel agreed.
“Maybe Emeline will have some tips,” I added as I dropped the book into my pack.
Maderel didn’t respond, and I looked up. I couldn’t quite interpret the look that was on his face, but it didn’t seem to threaten death and destruction at least.
“Be careful,” he finally said.
It was a simple statement, but the icy glint was gone from his eyes, and I could see he was sincere. The High Mage persona had been replaced with the interesting travel companion for a few seconds at least.
“I will,” I promised him.
Maderel nodded as I stood up. I gathered my cloak, my pack, and Merlin. As I opened the door to the hallway, I was happy to hear the usual noise of life from the Academy. Students rushed by, intent on their own conversations. Professors moved at a more solemn pace, but still with a sense of purpose. I even nodded hello to a few people that I recognized as I made my way back to the lobby.
Marv was still on duty, much to the displeasure of the growing line of visitors at the desk. I could see he was thumbing through the register still, and his pad of paper sat nearby. An exasperated panthera woman passed me, clutching her hall pass in her hand and muttering a few choice swear words under her breath.
Maruk and Aerin were still on the far side of the lobby. Maruk was speaking, but Aerin sat in stony-faced silence. There was still a bit of red at the tips of her ears, and I could guess what the topic of conversation was.
“She still won’t tell you what happened?” I asked as I joined the elf and the orc.
“Not a word,” Maruk sighed. “And Marv the troll-killer has been too busy to provide any more information.”
“Well, someone else must remember,” I mused. “Obviously, it was quite the scene.”
Aerin glared at me but refused to speak.
“Perhaps if we were to ask at the Healer’s Guild,” Maruk agreed. “I think I know just the person. She’s a lovely woman named Darlene who’s been running their free medical clinics for the poor for ages.”
“Don’t you dare,” Aerin growled.
A cheer went up in the lobby, and I looked back over my shoulder. Lain had returned to the desk, and Marv was ceding his position as keeper of the lobby. Lain smiled at the crowd, and then quickly set to work.
“How did it go?” Aerin asked.
“I have a new book to read,” I replied. “Let’s get back to the hall. We can talk more there.”
The walk back to the hall was almost pleasant. Some of the clouds had moved on, and patches of blue sky could be seen. Most of the snow had been cleared from the sidewalks and roads, and a few local farmers had even set up a market for their winter vegetables. We slowed down while Maruk perused their wares, and we ended up carrying a sack of mushrooms and several winter melons the rest of the way home.
Home was surprisingly quiet. Much of the work was done, and Yvaine had put a hold on the last bit that remained until we were finished with our quest. The designer and contractor had been more than understanding, especially after receiving the sizable advance that Yvaine had paid each of them.
There was a collection of travel packs in the front hall, along with various weapons and pieces of armor. Lena stepped around the corner as we closed the door, carrying another satchel.
“We’re ready to go whenever you are,” she said as she added her pack to the pile.
“I just need to add a couple of things to mine and I’ll be ready,” Aerin replied as she moved to the stairs.
“I need to settle on something for dinner at the Constello estate, and I’ll be ready as well,” Maruk agreed.
“But I thought we wanted to leave quickly,” Lena replied in a puzzled tone.
I tried not to laugh, but Aerin was unable to contain herself. Maruk’s expression alternated between offended and shocked, while poor Lena stood there looking clueless.
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” I finally gasped as I joined Aerin on the stairs. We sprinted up the steps while Maruk turned his somber gaze on the honey-blonde elf.
“Selecting appropriate clothing for a fine dining experience is not a trifling matter,” I heard Maruk intone.
“I could help you,” Lena volunteered.
I stopped halfway up in the hopes of hearing Maruk’s response, but Aerin tugged me up the stairs. I gave her butt a quick squeeze and then ducked into my own room to pack. I’d already laid out what I wanted to take, but I hadn’t been able to find the large pack I liked to use on these longer trips.
After prowling around the room, I finally found my travel pack buried under one of Merlin’s many collections of shiny objects. I dumped the assortment of trinkets, amulets, silverware, and even snuff boxes, onto the floor. Shiny objects bounced in all directions, and Merlin gave me a quick hiss before running after his horde. While he gathered up his curios, I tossed clothing and books into my own pack, along with the paper and pen set that had become so crucial to the Shadow Foxes. I also added a small bag of peppermint candies that I’d hidden from Merlin. He loved them almost as much as the horses, and I figured it was an easy way to keep them both in line.
I returned to the front hall and found that most of the Shadow Foxes had already gathered there. Maruk was missing, as was Lena.
“Don’t tell me she’s actually helping him pick out dinner clothes,” I said in surprise.
“No,” Aerin snorted. “But she did manage to burn a hole in the shirt he had picked out. So now she’s trying to repair it, and Maruk is trying to select a new outfit.”
“How did she burn a hole in one of his shirts?” I asked.
“He was going to iron it,” Yvaine sighed. “But apparently Lena used the iron for something she was doing in the lab and forgot to clean it off before returning it to the laundry room.”
“Oh,” I mused. “Did it change color as well?”
“Not yet,” Emeline replied. “But I’m betting it will be something really bright and ugly before the end of the day.”
“Too bad Maruk won’t take the shirt with him, just so we could see what happens to it,” I laughed.
“I could suggest to Lena that she just take it with us, so she can keep working on it,” Emeline said slyly.
“Oh, let’s do that,” Aerin agreed.
Emeline and Aerin scampered from the room, and I slid over next to Yvaine. I touched a lock of her glossy dark hair that hung artfully near her ear. She smiled at me as she leaned in closer to me, and my nose filled with her scent. My hands traced along her jawline and then I closed my lips softly over hers.
“The navy blue will have to suffice,” Maruk’s voice
boomed from the stairs. Yvaine and I stepped apart and watched the orc descend the stairs with his oversized pack and his favorite shields.
“The navy blue will be fine,” Yvaine assured him. “It works in any season.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true,” Maruk sighed. “Well, I must say, I packed quite quickly, I think, given the delays caused not by me.”
“Lena looked miserable,” Yvaine said. “I know she feels terrible about what happened.”
“She has all that equipment in her lab,” Maruk chuffed. “I don’t understand why she keeps using other items from around the hall.”
“We can talk to her about it,” Yvaine replied. “Maybe when we get back to the city.”
“This is the second shirt she’s ruined,” Maruk pointed out. “No, third. And it’s always my shirts. She’s never done anything to Gabriel’s.”
“Mine are pretty basic,” I replied. “Just sort of wash and wear. There’s no real opportunity for her to do something to them. Except the jam from our visit to Maderel’s estate. I couldn’t wear that shirt for a couple of days.”
“But she didn’t destroy it,” Maruk replied. “Once the itch was gone, it was the same exact shirt.”
“True,” I admitted.
“So I’m to be punished for having taste,” Maruk moaned.
Emeline, Aerin, and Lena returned then. Lena blushed and refused to meet Maruk’s stare. I noticed she carried a bundle of cloth which she quickly added to her own pack. Emeline and Aerin were both smiling, and Aerin even hummed a small tune.
Yvaine, at least, had remembered to send for the horses, and the stable owner’s son waited patiently outside with our mounts. The boy was probably ten years old, but he was already infatuated with Yvaine. He ignored the rest of us in order to help Yvaine into the saddle and even removed a spot of mud from one of her boots. Yvaine gave the kid a stunning smile and a pat on the head that left him grinning from ear to ear. He even stood in front of the guild hall and waved goodbye until we were out of sight.
The city gate was busy today, and leaving turned out to be a slow chore. After the attack near our hall, the guards were on the lookout for anyone who might be a dark mage. It wasn’t clear what the criteria was, and I was pretty sure that Pebbles Gravel would have made it through the line without any problems.
