The Way of Sacrifice, page 9
This did break Bess’ concentration, and she said, “Excuse me, Mage Marin…”
She got no further than that as a ball of compressed air filled her mouth and held her jaw and tongue so tight they could not move. Marin said, “I did not ask you to talk, Apprentice. Bosun, please instruct my apprentice that instant obedience to her master is paramount. Today we will begin with three lashes, I expect them to leave a mark.”
When Bess felt the gag disappear, she stood and moved to the side of the room for her punishment. The Bosun said nothing but did as instructed. When he’d finished, there were three evenly spaced, parallel welts marking Bess’s back. Bess returned to her place and began the breathing exercise again, this time with her eyes open. After a minute, Marin said, “Now, focus on the middle or longest finger of your left hand.”
Bess focussed but kept it centred on the first finger of the left side. She’d only had it in place for less than a second when she was thrown sideways by a powerful slap to her right cheek. Marin hadn’t moved but had sent a compressed wave of air. Nothing Marin had done before had been as violent, and it was almost a minute before Bess staggered back to her knees. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth where her jaw had been slammed shut and cut into her inner cheek.
In the same even tone of voice Marin. “Apprentice, that is the first consequence of outright disobedience. As it was your first time, I held back. Bosun, five lashes, I believe my apprentice hasn’t benefited as much from such lessons as I’d anticipated.”
When Bess was asked to focus on her middle finger, she did as instructed. She was sure from Michael’s instructions that the weakening of the barrier, although not immediately measurable, had been shown to have an effect from a single session of focus. Already Bess had spent two eightdays on two of her fingers, and those would be weaker than the rest of her barrier. She just hoped that the bulging Michael had talked about wouldn’t occur. Bess knew Marin was purposefully weakening the mage Bess might eventually become and just hoped no permanent damage was done before she arrived at the academy and was out of Marin’s hands.
Five more times throughout the morning, Bess’ attention wavered as Marin began to teach her and bombard her with noise, heat, cold, pinches and slaps. Bess had received almost fifty light lashes, and her back was covered in welts. Despite the Bosun’s care, he’d actually torn the skin twice as he ran out of space.
At the end of the session, Marin said, “Apprentice, I will not tolerate such a sloppy performance in the coming days. Dinner is arranged for this evening at the end of the third watch. Instead of coming here, you will meet me on the upper deck with the Captain. Fiona has no time to make you presentable, so I expect you to prepare yourself. The Bosun will let you go five minutes before the end of the watch to give you an opportunity to prepare. Go now, and next time I expect a more obedient apprentice.”
As before, Bess left the room with the Bosun, but this time he stopped her before she could hurry off to get out of her robes. He said, “Bess, there is no time for that today. You have your work clothes underneath so you can take your robes off when we get to your work station. Come with me.”
“Aye, aye, bosun.”
The Bosun led Bess to the galley. She’d been here twice before and been given the task of washing the dirty pots and pans, scraping off what she imagined was years of caked-on grime until the pots shone. This time, the Bosun walked past the preparation area and into a room of the ship Bess hadn’t been in previously. As the Bosun knocked on the closed door, he said, “This is the ship’s laundry. Mistress Marthasgel washes and cleans all the bedding, uniforms and linen for the officers and guests.”
An older woman who Bess guessed was in her forties opened the door and said, “Well, if it isn’t my favourite officer. How can I help you, Bosun?”
The Bosun turned to Bess and said, “Wait here.”, then moved into the laundry, shutting the door behind him.
Bess’ back ached, and until now she’d been able to almost ignore it with the constant barrage of words and magic from Mage Marin, then, on the walk, as she was concentrating on following the fast-moving Bosun. Suddenly, left standing on her own with nothing to do, it gave the pain the opening to let Bess feel the damage that had been done to her. She tried to think of something to occupy her mind but couldn’t think of anything. Fortunately, the Bosun took only a few minutes to discuss things with Mistress Marthasgel, and the door reopened before Bess could fall too much under the power of the pain.
He said, “Bess, you are assigned to help Mistress Marthasgel for this watch. She will release you just before the end of watch bell. Obey her like you would me.”
“Aye, Aye, Bosun.”
Mistress Marthasgel ushered Bess in and closed the door. The room had large wooden barrels full of water and a stove on one side heating a large water-filled kettle. There were also several stations with tubs and washboards. Turning to Bess, she said, “So, Bess, you should call me Mistress Janiya. Before I let you do anything with the officers’ clothes, I want to see how well you know how to wash. Have you ever washed clothes before?”
“Yes, Mistress Janiya, I often washed my family’s clothes.”
“Well, we’ll see. Take that robe off then wash it using that board over there. Make sure to rinse it properly. When you’re done, bring it to me to look at. If it isn’t done correctly, I’ll make you do it again.”
Bess hurried to do as she was told and didn’t see the look of concern on Janiya’s face when she saw the streaks of blood on Bess’s shirt. It had stuck to the open wounds as the blood dried out. As Bess began to clean the robes, Jacinta looked through her pile of rags and found an old shirt and some long pieces of cloth she could use for bandages. Moving over to Bess, she said. “Before you do that I want to make sure you don’t get blood on anything I’ve cleaned. Take off your shirt and let me put something on your back to stop the bleeding.”
Bess said, “Aye, aye, Mistress Janiya.”
Bess carefully removed the top. Mistress Janiya looked down and said, “Don’t you wear a bra?”
“Normally Mistress Janiya but not to my lessons with Mage Marin. It gets in the way of her discipline. I usually rush back to my berth and put one on.”
“Make sure you be careful when you put it on so you don’t pull the skin apart even more.”
Mistress Janiya took a small jar of ointment that she used whenever she burnt herself on the kettle, and after cleaning Bess’ back she used this, then some small cloths as padding before wrapping the longer ones around Bess’ torso. Once that was done she gave Bess a different bar of soap and said, “You should use this with cold water to get the blood out of that shirt. Now hurry up and get to work or else you won’t get any work done.”
As she washed her robes and shirt, she was grateful for the Bosun once again. She’d realised over the last few eight days that he was basically a good and kind man and she’d not felt any ill will toward him for the lashes. She knew he was being as gentle as he could while doing everything Marin required. When she’d washed and rinsed her robe and shirt, Janiya checked them and then hung them to dry before setting Bess working on a basket of dirty laundry. An hour before the end of watch, Janiya said, “Do you know how to press the creases from a garment.”
“No, Mistress Janiya, I’ve never seen it done.”
“Well, there isn’t much time to teach you but let me show you using your robes. Next time you’ll know what to do. Bring them here.”
“Aye, aye, Mistress Janiya.”
After Janiya had ironed the robes, she had Bess iron her exercise shirt then said, “Before you go, wash your hands and face then come let me deal with your hair. I don’t approve of young women running all over the place with their hair looking so wild. I’ll show you how I expect it to be done in future.”
Bess did as she was told. Janiya also gave her a small bottle of the ointment to keep. She knew the Bosun, like Peter, was trying to help her. Bess was released in time to go back to her room and get a bra, then dress in her robes before heading to the upper deck and appearing alongside Mage Marin just before the visitors arrived.
With the Diplomat General and Captain Justice was an Apprentice Navigator, a young noble, Lord Tertian Piercing Wang whose social rank of Lord Tertian was the Heptatic equivalent to an Earl. This time when she was introduced, Bess gave the correct bow to each of the three visitors. Marin then led the way to the meal where at each stage Bess not only knew which utensils to use but when it was and wasn’t appropriate for her to speak. When she did ask or answer questions, she did so clearly, carefully and with due deference to those she was talking to.
Three hours later she stood slightly behind Marin as the three visitors made their way across the gangway back to the Prosperity. Bess knew she owed a debt of gratitude to Peter, Wen and Aroon for all they’d taught her the night before. When Marin withdrew her use of aether, and as the Severance got underway Marin turned to Bess and said, “We will discuss this in the morning Apprentice. I believe you have much to learn. You have no duties until you come for lessons tomorrow. Goodnight.”
Despite the almost gentle way Marin released Bess from duty, Bess shuddered a little at the complete lack of feeling in the words. She made her thoughtfully down the ladder to her berth. Marin’s plan to have her disgrace herself had failed, and she wondered what new scheme Marin would devise to get back at Michael.
Chapter 14
Bess didn’t sleep well and several times during the night woke in terror from one dream or another which she wasn’t able to remember. In the end, she rolled up the hammock and sat on her sea chest breathing as Michael had first taught her and trying to quell the growing apprehension that she felt. When the bell finally rang for the change of watch, Bess put the robes on over the top of her exercise uniform and made her way up to Marin’s rooms.
As the start of watch bell rang, Fiona opened the door. Seeing Bess, she ushered her into Marin’s apartment. Marin was in her usual position, but the Bosun was missing. As Bess moved to her place, Marin said, “Good morning, Bess, please begin breathing as you did yesterday.”
After a few minutes, Marin said, “Fiona, would you please send word for the Bosun?”
Bess could see Marin looking at her carefully as she settled into the rhythm from the day before. She’d expected Marin to say something, but instead, she waited. There was a knock on the outer door and the most experienced Bosun’s Mate, Jason entered and stood in front of Marin. He said, “ I beg your pardon Mage Marin, it is unusual for the Bosun not to be at his post when the bell rings. The door to his berth was latched shut from the inside. After we broke down the door, it appears he suffered from some malady during the night. The ship’s doctor will do a more thorough examination but suggests he either had a heart attack or a stroke.”
Marin was looking straight at Bess as she said, “That is terrible news, Bosun’s Mate. The Bosun usually attends me to help discipline my wayward apprentice should the need occur. Please have one of the Bosun’s Mates bring the whip used for ship discipline. I will wait until they arrive.”
Bess struggled to maintain her breathing as she thought of the Bosun. He’d been kind to her even though he’d hardly spoken except to give her orders. Her eyes started to burn as tears formed. Before the first one fell, Marin said, “Life is fragile, Bess. People are fragile. Most of them pass through our lives with little or no meaning even as their words and actions touch us in one way or another. Others do very little, or so it seems, and yet their effect is magnified by the importance we give to them, or that they give to us.
“I had known the Bosun since he was as young as you. He was just beginning his career and worked for my father. Over the years his path has crossed mine several times, and I helped him to get this job, here on the Severance. He had two years left on his contract then he was planning to retire to a seaside town and watch his son and young daughter grow up as he grew old with his beautiful wife, Rasheen.
“Unfortunately, it seems that he forgot to be careful of who he offered his loyalty to. Michael did something similar when he was younger. He and I had the opportunity to be even stronger than we are, but he chose to seek greatness on his own. He chose a different path. His path has consequences, as has the path you choose. Yours, as I have said before, is entwined with his and you will share the consequences he has earned. I suggest you be very careful who you allow to attach their path with yours, Bess. I doubt you want them to join you, as I and others use you to bring down Michael Firestorm.”
Marin did nothing else until one of the younger Bosun’s Mates arrived with a whip. After instructing him as to her requirements, she began explaining the ways aether could be manipulated to make something slow or stop. Bess’ first lash of the day occurred when Marin explained how it was possible to stop a man’s heart as he slept. Bosun’s Mate Wing wasn’t as practised as the Bosun had been and his first lash brought a bead of blood to the surface. The second and third lashes were when Marin wondered aloud exactly where Bess had found the clean clothes with which to bind her wound from the day before.
After six hours, Bess’ back was crisscrossed with a web of thin streaks. None of them did much more than tear the flesh, but Bess knew they wouldn’t heal by the next day. As she left, Marin said, “Wing, please assign Bess here to duties as you see fit. She must be kept active for the next two shifts, perhaps you should assign her to work with young Peter. It seemed to me that they were becoming quite close.”
Bess hurried to her berth to put her robes away and then with her tears still unshed she rushed onto the deck where Bosun’s Mate Wing sent her up the rigging to help Peter. Bess didn’t enter into the friendly banter as before but ignored Peter’s attempts at conversation, going so far as to tell him to stop bothering her. By the time the watch was finished, Peter was furious and stormed off as Bess was given a bucket and told to scrub the deck until it was time for her to retire for the night.
The next five days continued in the same manner with Bess keeping her distance from everyone and speaking shortly with anyone who tried to break her out of what seemed like a sullen spoilt temper. Some of the sailors who had come to like the competent young mage-to-be changed their minds and started to play the tricks reserved for unwelcome workmates.
Bess soon found the section she was assigned had some of the ropes cut, at times the mast she was on had been oiled, and once the ropes she needed to tighten a sail had had small slivers of glass and iron threaded through the fibres and her hands were ripped as she pulled. Each time, she replaced the ropes or cleaned up the oil without making a sound. She might not have friends, but she wasn’t going to let someone else be hurt because of her.
At the end of the fifth day, as she approached her berth, she noticed her door was slightly ajar. There was nothing she could do except approach with more caution. When she looked inside, she saw Major Greenmount sitting on her sea chest. Wen waved Bess in and asked her to shut the door.
Wen said, “Bess, I want to thank you for what you did for Peter and the other young sailors in that section. Most of them are third and fourth children of well-to-do families and have not lived long enough to know the wickedness that often resides in the hearts of people. Peter cannot understand what would make you turn against him when he needed you most. The man who was like a father to him had died, and you shunned him instead of caring and easing his hurt. It is eating him up at the moment for he’d grown more than fond of you. After we dock late tomorrow, I hope to set him straight, but he hasn’t the temperament to hide his feelings.”
“Major Greenmount, I suspect it is best if he holds on to his resentment. The cause of my problems is over twenty years in the making and will not run its course until I and another are brought to ruin. Perhaps when he can control his actions, you might tell him I wept with him and for him. On the other hand, I think he is safer if he continues to feel hatred toward me. I know he was not vicious like the others, but neither did he stop them. Any change in his behaviour, now, or in ten years, could cause him harm.”
“You are wise, Bess. Can I do anything to help?”
“Yes, Major Greenmount. Forget me. I am tempted to cling to you for comfort, but it weakens my resolve. The promise has been given to use my friendships against me. Therefore, I must continue on alone. Let me go, and I will have one less person whose life can be held as a ransom above my head.”
“Then, as far as the world knows, you are nothing to me. In my heart, however, I will hold on to another truth. That truth is that you are as family to me for your kindness. Farewell Apprentice, I will listen for news of you as the years go by.”
With that, Wen left the room and left Bess more alone than she’d even felt back in the highland bothy. At least her parents only ignored her, they weren’t actively working to bring about her downfall and eventual death. For a moment, Bess wondered if the pig farmer scenario would have been better. In the end, though, she valued all that Bat, Megan, Michael and others like the Bosun had done to help her on the way and committed herself to keep working at becoming a mage that would make them proud.
When Bess arrived at Marin’s door the next morning, she was ushered in as usual. Marin wasn’t sitting in her usual chair but was standing by the window looking out over the ocean. Bosun’s Mate Wing was standing against the wall. Bess stood at attention and waited. As the minutes dragged on, Bess was tempted to relax but knew that Marin was able to perceive what was happening behind her by using her aether.
After twenty minutes, Marin turned and sat in front of Bess. She said, “If nothing else you have learned to wait. I wonder how you would have succeeded had I remained at the window for an hour, or perhaps for two. How long would you wait before the inevitable cramping of the legs or the itch under your nose became too intrusive? What sacrifices would you make to achieve relief?
