The Way of Sacrifice, page 12
The young woman in the third pair of leaders called out, “Apprentice Bess Highland.”
Bess stepped out from behind the table and took two steps toward the section leader when a ball of compressed air slammed into the centre of her back, driving her down to the ground. Bess just managed to tuck her head and get her arms in front of her, but even so, her forehead still hit the ground with a thunk. Mage Marin said, “It seems the young apprentice is not aware of all the necessary etiquette. Apprentice, the correct response is, ‘Present, Section Leader’. Only then should you step forward.”
Bess calmly came to her feet and, without touching her throbbing head, stepped back to her place. After bowing politely to Marin, she calmly said, “Present, Section Leader.”
Bess then walked quickly but steadily to stand behind the pair of leaders. One of the first pair of leaders stepped forward and began calling out names. None of the leaders had paper, and it was clear they had memorised their list of students. Each of the students answered correctly and made their way to stand along the wall. When fifty students had been called out, one of the fourth-year leaders led the students out of the room, with the other leader taking up the rear. Bess had taken note of the names and realised they were read out alphabetically according to the second name.
When her leader began calling names, Bess waited until a student called Kyle Glassier had made their way to the line, then stepped out and walked to put herself behind him. She knew it was a risk but didn’t trust Marin not to take it out on her if she didn’t take her place as expected. She worked hard to maintain her breathing and almost sighed with relief when the leader called out, “Haru Iso, Third Lordling of Mount Spire.”
Two names later, and she had to hold back a groan as the leader said, “Jeremy Janusson, Second Lordling of Freehold.”
Bess took care not to look toward Mage Marin but kept her gaze fixed on Kyle Glassier’s head until her section had left the room. Once outside, she maintained her breathing pattern but also concentrated on memorising where they were headed. Her section leader led them down several flights of stairs and then along a corridor to a large room deep underground. In the room were fifty thin square rugs laid out in ten rows of five and a cupboard in one corner.
The student who had called out the names said, “In your current order, and beginning at the far front square, you should take your place in the centre of a mat.”
The students did as they were asked, and Bess found herself in the centre of the fifth row. A few of the students began to fidget, but Bess came to a position of parade rest and stood facing forward but with her eyes on the leaders. The leaders stood at the front of the room, and the girl said, “My name is Jazlyn Brightriver, First Ladyling of Bright River. You will call address me as Leader Jazlyn.”
The other leader said, “My name is Thomas Hunter. You will address me as Leader Thomas. All other section leaders are to be addressed as Leader followed by their name if you know it. If not, then ‘Leader’ without their name will be sufficient.”
For the next thirty minutes, the two leaders outlined the rules of behaviour that was required of all students. After ten minutes, one of the students fidgeted only to scream and clutch her arm. Jazlyn was moving her right hand, and the girl who screamed was silenced as her jaw slammed shut. Without emotion, Jazlyn said, “You will not fidget, move or shuffle during instruction. When there are no chairs or desks, you will sit or stand as instructed. Should you fail to show the appropriate self-control expected of a student, then you will be punished. It is expected that students accept their punishment without hysterics or undue commotion.”
As the girl resumed her position, Thomas continued from where he’d been interrupted. Twice more, the leaders punished students who couldn’t stay still. When they finished speaking, a Mage entered the room. Bess could see from his robe that his chosen major in magical studies was focused on electricity. It was something she’d been taught by Mage Michael, although he had never used it as far as she knew except for the few times he’d lightly shocked her to distract her. Mage Marin had been less sparing, and Bess was aware of how it could be used to cause pain. Major Greenmount had described some of the wonders that used electricity, but Bess had yet to see evidence of its use at the academy.
The mage was tall with long black hair which had bright yellow ends and was cut in a jagged pattern to frame his face. He stepped in front of the two leaders. He said, “My name is Mage Gabriel Dynamo, and this section has been placed under my care to educate you regarding general magical theory. You will refer to me at all times as Mage Dynamo. After I take the roll, I will begin. Apprentice Bess Highland.”
Bess came to attention and said, “Present, Mage Dynamo,” before returning to the at-ease position. Mage Dynamo’s eyes became cold as he looked at Bess. He paused momentarily before working his way through the others in the class. When he’d finished, he stood in front of the class, looking them over silently.
Chapter 3
As Mage Dynamo’s silent inspection stretched into its fifth minute, a student in the third row shifted their shoulders to relieve the cramp that had formed. Mage Dynamo seemed to slide along the floor instead of walking until he was standing in front of the student. As he looked her over, there was no emotion on his face that Bess could see. There was none in his voice as he spoke, “Student Madeline Draper, it seems you have volunteered to be our first example. That which we call magic is something that can safely be manipulated by one whose body and mind are under their conscious control regardless of the circumstances. You can do nothing about the discomfort of a cramp, the irritation that comes from the dust which blows in your eye or the pain from a tooth that has an abscess forming beneath it. What you must be able to do, however, is have mastery over your response. If you shift to relieve the cramp, blink to remove the irritation or wince at the unremitting pain, it should be because that is what you have chosen to do.
“Now, Leader Jazlyn and Leader Thomas gave instructions that you were not to fidget, move or shuffle during instruction. It is essential for all those wishing to be mages to follow instructions. This means that your movement was either evidence of your lack of appropriate self-control or it shows your willful disregard of those placed over you by the emperor. I do hope it is the first as we can help you learn self-control. If it was the second, then there is only one option open to us, which is to end your worthless existence.
“So, let me ask you a question. Did you willfully disregard the lawful instructions of those placed over you by your emperor?”
Bess could see the student trembling as she answered, “No, Mage Dynamo.”
Bess had to force herself not to wince or move as sparks arced into Madeline, seemingly from thin air. Her muscles spasmed, and still twitching, she crashed to the floor. Mage Dynamo waited a moment then said, “When answering a question, Madeline, it is expected that you will use a fully constructed and intentionally precise sentence rather than using the shortened ambiguities of the uneducated. For example, ‘I did not willfully disregard the lawful instructions of those placed over me by my emperor, Mage Dynamo.’ Or, you might have said, ’No, Mage Dynamo, I don’t accept Leader Jazlyn’s authority.’ So, Student Madeline Draper, stand on your feet and answer my question. Did you willfully disregard the lawful instructions of those placed over you by your emperor?”
Madeline stumbled to her feet and, coming to attention, stammered, “I did not willfully disregard the lawful instructions of those placed over me by my emperor, Mage Dynamo.”
“Much better, then you must be lacking in the appropriate self-control to be a mage. This is something I can help you learn. Do you want me to help you learn such control, Student Madeline?”
Madeline was silent for a moment then said, “I would like your help to learn self-control, Mage Dynamo.”
“Good, good. There are two ways we teach such control, Madeline. One is through instruction and practice, and the other through the application of rewards and punishments. Often these go hand in hand, as you have already experienced. This then is the punishment for your earlier disobedience.”
As he finished speaking, Mage Dynamo sent electricity arcing into Madeline for a second time. This time he maintained the spell until Madeline screamed and fell to the ground, twitching and unconscious. Mage Dynamo returned to his position at the front of the class. He said, “While we wait for Student Madeline to recover, I suggest you ponder that lesson in silence and without movement.”
Altogether it was another five minutes before Madeline had recovered enough to stand and resume her place. In that time, no one moved. Mage Dynamo looked around the room and said, “To help you to gain mastery over your thoughts, words, and actions, we begin with the easiest first. You need to master your body. To do this, we teach you how to breathe, and we insist that you are clean, healthy, and fit.”
Mage Dynamo waved a finger at Leader Jaclyn who removed a metronome from the cupboard. Mage Dynamo then began to instruct the students how to breathe. This took much longer than when Michael had started teaching Bess as he had to repeat the instructions until all fifty students were breathing in unison. He’d had to stop numerous times to correct and discipline students who, for one reason or another, had trouble maintaining the rhythm.
When Mage Dynamo noticed that Bess had no trouble, he’d started sending small sparks to zap her in different parts of her body. While this hurt, it was less than Mage Marin had done on a good day. Except for the small involuntary tremors the sparks caused, Bess kept herself still and her breathing even and in time with the metronome. Even so, after two hours, her muscles ached, and one on her thigh had begun twitching continuously. Only the eightdays of exercise and her experience with Mage Marin kept her from giving in and trying to relieve the pains and cramps.
When the students had managed to breathe as instructed for half an hour without a fail, Mage Dynamo said, “That is better, although most of you haven’t even begun to understand the control that is required. Apprentice Bess, join me at the front and face your classmates.”
Bess gave the precise nod necessary to acknowledge the order, then stepped forward and turning came to attention facing the class. She could see that fatigue and pain had stripped the anger from most of their faces. Jeremy’s, on the other hand, clearly attributed everything he’d been feeling to her. He added this to the hatred evident in the glare he aimed at her.
Mage Dynamo said, “Apprentice Bess’ master has obviously helped by giving her instruction before coming to the academy. It has been my practice to use the foremost student as the benchmark for my expectations. As long as the apprentice breathes according to the pattern shown in today’s lesson, I shall apply electricity to her to disrupt the pattern. At the same time, I shall apply the same amount of electricity to each of you. How long you suffer will depend on Apprentice Bess.”
Bess kept her face still but could see the demands in most of the students’ eyes for her not to draw this out. For the first time since entering the room, Mage Dynamo began to move his right forefinger. As he began drawing small circles down near his thigh, Bess could feel the sparks sizzling across her midsection and begin moving up her body as it grew in intensity. At the same time, she could see the small arcs as current ran along the bodies of the students in front of her and even between them.
Within a few seconds, some students had begun moving and lost control of their breathing. After ten seconds, students began sitting down or making noises as the pain took hold. After twenty seconds, all except Bess, Jeremy and two others had lost the pattern. At thirty seconds, Bess was the only one still keeping the pattern and ten seconds after that, she was the only one standing. Many were twitching uncontrollably, and several were screaming while others had lost control of their bladders. One grabbed her head in agony, and where her left hand touched her skin, it began to turn blue before freezing solid. The pain made her pull her hand away, bringing with it some of her frozen cheek. She looked at her hand and opened her mouth to scream, but Jazlyn was there and forced her mouth open with air before dragging her from the room.
Bess lost control of her limbs after one minute. As she dropped to the floor, there was a flash as a student screamed. Electricity flowed from his mouth and arced into the two students on either side before it returned to him, setting him on fire. Thomas stepped over, and the fire went out like a match when someone blows on it. Bess lost consciousness soon after that. She wasn’t unconscious for more than a few seconds, but it had been enough for her breathing to lose the pattern.
As she regained consciousness, she shook her head, then struggled to her feet and began the pattern again. Mage Dynamo came and stood in front of her and, in a soft voice, said, “Bess, they will come to hate and despise you even as I truly despise Michael with every part of my being. Just as your existence brings them added pain and misery, so one day, it will be added to Mage Firestorm. As you struggle to succeed, so will his pain be amplified. Already I think that he does not deserve you. Still, Mage Marin warned me not to fall into the trap of seeing you as an individual separate from your master. Already I see the truth of her words. Now, return to your place.”
Bess acknowledged the order, and stepping between and over the moaning bodies, she took her place even as her legs threatened to buckle underneath her. As the students began recovering, they saw Bess standing in her place and at attention and slowly fought their way upright before returning to their places. Some of them looked around, and the charred remains of the student who had made his breakthrough and the scorched limbs of the two on either side of him made them gag before bending and vomiting their breakfast at their feet.
Finally, when everyone was upright, Mage Dynamo said, “I trust that was instructive. If you lose control, then you may allow the aether in you to escape. Unless this is controlled, you can hurt or kill those around you. In some cases, the aether will rebound and change or kill you. Without control, you have no defences against the actions of others. Besides educating you on the control required in our students, Apprentice Bess has managed to whittle down this cohort by two. Student Kira Gardener had a small breakthrough, and if she can learn to control it, she will live; it is not a large enough breakthrough to permit her to become a mage. Just like that, she is gone and will live her life toiling in an insignificant trade. Student Dean Carverson, Third Lordling of Sands’ End, is dead from an uncontrolled breakthrough, and just like that, he is gone. Learn control, or you will join them.
“You have fifteen minutes to get cleaned up, and then I expect you to be lined up on the northernmost exercise field ready to begin bringing your weak and almost useless bodies under your control. Go.”
As the others slumped, Bess came to attention before nodding toward the mage and Leader Thomas, then stepping around the other students left the room before the other students were aware of what she was doing. Several called out, but she ignored them and strode away, heading for the stairs to take her back towards the dining room. From there, she was reasonably sure she could find the exercise field using the maps she’d memorised.
She had no idea where the room assigned to her was, so she had nowhere to leave her robes. As she approached the exercise field, she paused in a small recess and removed them, then folded them to carry. Arriving at the field, she found a low sitting bush and placed the robes under the overhanging branches, then moved to the middle of the field and stood at ease to wait.
She’d been waiting for three or four minutes when students began to stumble onto the field. She knew exactly how they felt but let none of it showed in her stance. Instead, she chose another one of the more difficult breathing patterns Mage Michael had shown her and worked to calm herself. More than half the students were still wearing their robes, and they paused as they saw her and the others in their exercise clothing. Bess could see the fear hit them, and while she sympathised, there was nothing she could do. Several left the field at a run, while others just slumped and moved wearily towards Bess.
Several of the students looked around, checking for the leaders or mages, and when they couldn’t see them, they hurried toward Bess. Two of these were Jeremy and the tall boy she’d hit before breakfast. She had realised he was a part of her section until she’d turned to face the class. Like Jeremy, he’d been one of those to last the longest.
Michael had explained that the staff had no problem with students fighting as long as it was done out of sight, no one was too hurt to attend classes, and it did not involve actual rape or murder. Half the breakthroughs came from such disturbances. Knowing she couldn’t escape, Bess stood her ground and was soon surrounded by a group of six students, with Jeremy standing right in front of her. His face was flushed with rage and filled with hatred. As he leant in and opened his mouth to say something, she used her shin and kicked him as hard as she could in his privates. She moved quickly to her right to avoid the vomit that flew from his mouth and was able to drive a fist into another student’s nose before she was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. All those standing around started to kick and stomp on her. As she’d fallen, she’d tucked her knees to her chest, hid her face between clenched fists and tried to maintain her breathing.
It seemed like hours, but it was less than a minute before her attackers hurriedly stepped back as they saw Leaders Jazlyn and Thomas approaching. Bess staggered to her feet. Several kicks to the back had opened one or two of the gashes from lashes she’d received on the Severance, and she had sharp pain radiating down either side of her spine. Blood dripped from a cut on her above her right ear, and despite trying to protect her hands, she suspected the smallest finger on her left hand had been broken.
