Runic Apprentice, page 8
part #1 of The Rune Mystic Series
He wasn’t sure what to do about that, or even if there was something he could do. It was a different culture in the mage guilds and towers, one he didn’t fully understand yet. He wasn’t sure he could fight it, or what would happen if he did, besides making Caley miserable, which was the last thing he wanted to do.
Chapter Ten
After a hot bath, he managed to make his way down to the dining room.
Lia grinned, she was the only one in the room, and he took a seat across from her.
“So, how was your first day?” she asked in mock innocence, with a knowing look in her eyes.
He laughed, “I didn’t know you were so cruel.”
She giggled, “That good, huh.”
He nodded, “It was harder than I expected, but probably worse for the others. I’m used to using my arms all day. There’s a trick in blocking out the pain, ignoring it really. Lunch for two?”
He dug in.
Lia said, “There was some emergency, supposedly. Cassandra is in a meeting with the other tower heads. Sam…” she shrugged, “he’s probably down in the city.”
There was something more to that, the Sam part, a disgust in her voice that was barely perceptible, but he could tell she really didn’t want to talk about it. So, he focused on the first part, after he swallowed.
“Supposedly?”
Lia gave him a measuring look, then said, “Inter-tower politics most likely. I shouldn’t say it, but Master Mage Tanner of the fire guild can be… disruptive. Fire mages are one of the deadliest by discipline, most of their magic is related to martial pursuits. Except for us though, since we can access fire through runecraft. He really hates the fact Cassandra is a better fighter, but there’s a whole lot more fire mages than there are of us.
“Air, Earth, and Water are more diverse in utility, though they’re just as deadly in a fight against a non-mage. Of course, there’s a balance to everything, fire mages have real trouble against us, and water mages. I got off point, I guess what I’m trying to say is do your best to avoid mages from the fire guild, they’re an arrogant lot.”
He nodded, “What aren’t you telling me?”
She smirked, “It’s your second day, figured I’d give you a week before hitting you with all the realities. Fine. You know we all work for the king, not everyone thinks we should. Tanner is one of them, of course it’s not usually talked about since it’s treason to even discuss such ambitions as breaking free from the crown. I know Cassandra thinks the idea is foolish, and doesn’t get on with Tanner at all, though she tries to hide those political realities from the rest of us.”
“The rest of the towers?”
She shrugged, “They’re split, but none of the others are as, forgive the pun, hotheaded about it. Their ambitions are kept in check, for stability.”
He snickered, “Fire mage, hot headed. Nice. Why do we work for the king, I mean, do you know how that happened?”
She raised an eyebrow, “Maybe you should read some books in the general library, I imagine you didn’t learn much about history growing up in Bayside?”
He shook his head.
She said, “Suffice it to say that mages once ruled Reton a long time ago, and apparently we weren’t very good at it. They say we abused our power, and treated non-mages as little better than slaves, that we considered they were beneath us.”
She made a face, “I’m not sure how true that is, victors write the history books, but I don’t feel that way. Neither does Cassandra, about non-mages I mean, but clearly Tanner does. Anyway, the people rebelled at some point. Non-mages can’t hope to face a ready mage, but there are ways. We can’t be at our best at all times, and our magic does get exhausted until we can recoup it.
“Regardless, the mage population was decimated, and they surrendered to the new upstart government, the current king’s family. We are servants of the people now, in theory. We work for the king, and we live under strict rules. Our population has recovered to the point where some people have unhealthy ambitions. The rumors are that Tanner very much resents being under the yolk of a non-mage king, but that he’s always outvoted by the other guilds when he brings up… alternatives.”
He asked, “Is that why competition is so fostered, and a part of our culture and traditions, keeping the guilds separate I mean?”
She tilted her head in question.
He shrugged, “It would make a good control mechanism. We’re all kept apart, and in competition. Far too busy to look toward the king and who rules our lives. Busy with competing for the best opportunities and to foster the king’s approval of us over the other six disciplines. It would seem unlikely the guild heads would ever agree on making such a radical move, or trust one of the others with rule, not under the current setup.”
Lia asked, “What made you think of that?”
He sighed, “I think my friendship with Caley has run its course, someone took exception to us getting along before sword practice. I’m not saying it’s wrong, or even unnecessary, and it might as Neal told me and only has to do with the mage population issues in cross-breeding disciplines. But… it feels like more than that to me. Competition isn’t bad, it makes us better mages, but without the balance of cooperation it focuses us all on inter-rivalries. I’m just wondering who made up those rules, was it the king’s family who led the rebellion? That would explain a lot.”
Lia asked guardedly, “Do you like her?”
He smirked, “Like her, like her? No. She’s just a friend. I’m still getting over what I lost when I discovered I was a mage, that kind of thing isn’t even on my mind right now.”
Lia shook her head, “To answer your question, I’m not sure. It’s possible, but there’s nothing in the history books on what the guilds were like before, when they ruled.”
“You said the other guilds were split?”
She shrugged, “It’s just rumors, the guild tower masters don’t really share what they speak about in their council. Sun, the master of the Death guild, and Kaitlyn, mistress of the air guild are said to side with Tanner. If not to the point of taking over the kingdom, to the point of wanting to demand the rights to decide our own fates. We are forced to serve, so in a way I can even relate to that second point, but at the same time our power begets a responsibility, and power corrupts. Maybe there should be checks on that power, our power.
“Jace, master of the water guild, along with Mistress Aubrey of the life guild, and Mistress Elisha of the Earth guild all side with our Cassandra, from what I’ve heard. As I said, outvoted, four to three, on pushing for any changes.”
He nodded, “I imagine they’d had no choice long ago. Giving in kept the mages alive, and I imagine they even liked the rules, because of the low numbers repopulating would be important, and that means getting us all in the same place.”
She grimaced, “Don’t remind me.”
It was his turn to tilt a head.
She sighed, “My parents have been after me to find a match. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but rune mages are almost extinct.”
He nodded, sensing dangerous ground, he didn’t even comment.
She smirked, “Worried?”
He laughed, “Not at all. I just wouldn’t presume to give you advice, in that area. You don’t have to answer, but what is Sam doing that you disapprove of?”
She sighed, “It’s not what, it’s who.”
He tilted his head, and then blushed when he realized what she’d meant.
He asked carefully, “I got the impression you didn’t return his interest?”
She nodded, “I don’t. I’d be happy for him if he met his match out in the city.”
He felt confused.
She giggled, “You’re an innocent, aren’t you? The lover he’s meeting is of the kind that requires a donation from his monthly stipend.”
Oh, damn. No wonder she hadn’t wanted to talk about it. He’d been aware of that sort of thing of course, but he’d never been tempted. The only one he’d ever wanted was Celane, and he wouldn’t betray the memory of what they had by cheapening himself. He would wait until he found his match.
He wasn’t really sure how he felt about Lia yet, she was obviously beautiful, more than that, she was stunningly beautiful and more than alluring on a physical level, but looks didn’t make a good match he knew. She seemed nice enough too, levelheaded, friendly, but real too. But his head and heart were still too turbulent to begin to figure that out, and while Lia obviously didn’t find him objectionable that didn’t mean she was attracted either. It was all very complicated, especially since her convenient dating pool was exactly two people. Him, and a philanderer. Obviously, neither of them were ready for anything like that, and they hardly knew each other.
He dropped it at that point, and he changed the subject. Not even wanting to understand why Sam was doing that, if he was smitten with Lia. Sam seemed like a good guy, but… he wasn’t quite sure anymore.
As for the rest, he was attracted to her despite himself, even more so as he learned about her and realized she was a good person and not just a pretty face. That made her even more stunning in his opinion. Of course, that attraction was accompanied by guilt and confusion, because he still hurt, and missed Celane more than he could express.
A friendship was more than good enough for now, and about all he could deal with.
“So, any other tips on the guild gossip? Or who I should avoid? Ancient history?”
She smirked, and then shook her head, “We don’t have all that much going on in our tower, with just four people, at least not that way. You already know Sam’s foible. I don’t know much about the other towers or people in them, outside of what I’ve shared.”
He asked deadpan, “What’s your foible?”
She gaped at him for a moment, then smiled when she saw his twitching cheeks.
“You already know, I can’t swing a sword right to save my life, literally.”
He nodded, “But you excel at magic?”
She blushed, then nodded, “I grew up here though, which gave me an advantage that way, one that won’t really last past apprenticeship. I do have a large amount of magic, more so than most.”
“What was that like?”
She shrugged, “I have nothing to compare it to. What was it like growing up in a small village, and apprenticing to a blacksmith?”
“Challenging at times, but also satisfying to build something with my own hands that would make a difference for someone.”
She sighed, “Sounds nice. I grew up here, so I’m used to it. I’d never even considered that our society as mages was built by a non-mage to keep us at each other’s throats rather than look without. It almost seems obvious in hindsight, if it’s true. Maybe it just took an outsider’s eye to see it.”
She hesitated for a second, and then said, “I’m glad you’re here, it was somewhat lonely growing up with just Sam and our parents. Of course, Cassandra was a teenager at the time, so I knew her long before she became what she is now.”
He nodded, “I’m glad I’m here too. I’m enjoying the company.”
She blushed, and said, “But you miss your family, and old life.”
He shrugged, “Yes, but that doesn’t make the other untrue.”
They were both a little flustered and feeling exposed at so obviously extending a hand of friendship, and admitting they liked each other’s company if only on that level, so he changed the subject again.
“Have you noticed there are runes everywhere in the building?”
She nodded, “It’s old. The towers and central building are from the time before when we ruled. No one uses it anymore, but runes are more than spells, they used to be the written language used by all mages. Our language. Now, not so much, we all use the common language just like everyone else.”
Oh, that explained it.
“Have you ever heard of mystics? It came up on the ride here, but Neal didn’t believe they ever existed.”
She snorted, “Idiot. Sorry, I mean Neal, not you. Yes, the mystics were the rulers. The reason there aren’t any now was it was a hereditary ability, much like being a normal mage, and they were all killed in the opening moves of the rebellion. They were high priority targets, because they were the rulers. They’re the ones that built the libraries, and they could create new spells. That gave them a lot of political capital over the normal mages.”
Hmm, maybe not all of them died, maybe one of them ran rather than being executed, and made a family in Bayside? Surely, they didn’t get all of the mystics. He suspected that meant his entire family line had been rune mystics, that never triggered their magic and lived out their lives as non-mages. He kept that guess and insight to himself, he wasn’t ready to share the truth about himself.
“But they weren’t more powerful?”
She shook her head, “Not really. They just had an intuitive understanding of magic that we lack. They created new spells, and it’s said they could feel the magic of others, not just their own, and they could determine what spell an enemy was casting. But no, they weren’t more powerful in magical capacity, how much magic they could hold, and they had to work hard to grow it just like everyone else.”
Oh, he’d felt Cassandra cast runes that morning when she monitored him, and even got an impression what the spell did, other mages weren’t capable of that?
“Speaking of that, how did that go this morning?”
He replied, “Channeling practice? It went okay, she called it a good start. I lasted about an hour. I have a long way to go.”
Lia smirked, “I’d say that’s good. Often, it takes days before someone can channel for the first time. The hour part won’t change either, you’ll just be channeling more magic, faster, for the same amount of time as you grow.”
That made a certain amount of sense.
Lia asked, “So, make any plans yet for your first competition?”
He smirked, “I have a couple of ideas, but I’m sure they’re doomed to fail. How many people compete, I mean some will be on assignment, right?”
Lia said, “Yes, anyone here and not off on a mission is required to compete. The only exception are the tower masters who oversee the whole thing, and the winners of the last competition who will be busy guarding the king until they’re relieved by the new winners. Oh, and Jaren. The weapons master is the only other mage with a permanent assignment, outside of the tower masters. Usually it’s between one to two hundred of us.”
“So, almost two thirds will miss it.”
Lia nodded, “But things get arranged so they’ll be in the next one, or the one after. Everyone is required to do it, save the exceptions I already explained, at least four times a year. Assignments are given out in a rotation that ensures at least that much, but usually more.”
“So, what is your strategy?”
Lia smirked, “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
He laughed, “Yes, yes I would.”
She giggled, “I’ll be a mage shortly, so I have enough magic to cast all the protection spells for the length of the competition, and then some. I also don’t use a sword. My strategies won’t really help you.”
He echoed her first complaint of their conversation, “Don’t remind me.”
She seemed pleased by that, that he’d miss her when she was assigned a post or mission, and out of reach for a while.
He said, “Shield, speed, and strength. I also plan to use the environment with what magic I have left that I can spare.”
He noticed the time had flown. He’d been having a good time, not to mention getting some good information. All wasn’t as it appeared on the surface, which he supposed was true of anything. Just… more so, in a place where so much power and ambition must live, and right at the king’s side.
“Class soon,” he mentioned, and dug into lunch with a will. He’d need the energy to stay focused in class.
Lia followed suite.
Chapter Eleven
They noticed as soon as they left the tower, the energy seemed off. There were a lot more people in the hallways. Not just the apprentices, but there were mages running about with shocked or confused looks on their faces. They exchanged a wondering glance of their own, and he realized by her surprise that this truly was something different.
She’d been raised in the tower after all, she’d know.
They picked up the pace a little bit, and they walked in the classroom just a small walk down the hallway from the tower entrance. Relatively, given the size of the place.
Sam looked up from his seat, he must’ve come straight there from his time in the city.
Lia asked, “Know what’s going on?”
Sam shook his head, “The tower’s been a hornet’s nest, but I just got back a few minutes ago. I figured why get rumors when we can find out from Cassandra what the truth is in just a few minutes.”
He and Lia nodded, and took their seats. There was a nervous energy in the building, and even in their class. Several possibilities occurred to him, including war, but he pushed them out of his head. No point in borrowing trouble, when Cassandra was due any moment and could fill them in.
Except, the time for their class came and went, while they waited in a nervous uncomfortable silence. It was almost ten minutes later, when a frazzled Cassandra walked into the classroom briskly, and he’d never seen the tower mistress weary before.
Lia asked, “Mistress?”
Cassandra sighed, as she took her place behind her desk in the front of the classroom.
“King Daniel has been killed, assassinated with poison. The palace is in an uproar. The four mages that were guarding him are also dead of poison, which is shocking because one of them was a life mage, and he should’ve been detecting poison before every meal. Their deaths get us off the hook, they won’t blame us for the act itself, but at the least, we’re guilty of negligent carelessness.
“We might never know what happened, the royal guards are investigating the servants and the kitchen. There are a lot of suspects, including our two neighboring kingdoms, but no sure answers.”
