Magic Study Read online

  I found Esau’s field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau’s neat hand.

  In the morning, Irys scrunched up her nose when she entered my rooms. “Perhaps I’ll show you the bathhouse first. We’ll send your clothes to the laundry and get you some fresh ones.”

  I laughed. “Bad?”

  “Yes.”

  Irys and I went to another marble building with blue columns all around. The bathhouse had separate pools for men and women. Washing the road grime from my skin felt wonderful. The laundry mistress took my tattered and stained clothes. Nutty’s outfit, my white shirt and black pants all needed mending.

  I borrowed a light green cotton tunic and khaki-colored pants. Irys told me the Keep had no particular dress code for classes and everyday events, but special functions required an apprentice robe.

  After I combed and plaited my hair, we walked to the dining room for breakfast. Gazing around the Keep, I could see a pattern in the inner layout. Paths and gardens wound their way past marble buildings of various size and shape. Barracks and student housing ringed the main campus. The stables, laundry and kennels lined the back wall of the Keep. Horses grazed in a large fenced pasture next to an oval training yard.

  I asked Irys about the four towers.

  “The Master Magicians live in them.” She pointed to the one in the northwest corner. “That one is mine. The one in the northeast corner near the stables is Zitora Cowan’s, Third Magician. The southwest one is Roze Featherstone’s, and the southeast one is Bain Bloodgood’s, Second Magician.”

  “What if you have more than four Masters?”

  “In the history of the Magician’s Keep, we have never had more than four. Less, yes, but never more. It would be a wonderful problem to have. The towers are huge so there would be plenty of room to share.” She smiled.

  Three people sat in the dining room. Rows and rows of empty tables lined the long room.

  “When school starts, these tables will be filled with students, teachers and magicians. Everyone eats here,” Irys explained.

  She introduced me to the two men and one woman eating breakfast. Gardeners on break, they were just a small part of the vast force needed to tend the landscaping.

  We ate, I pocketed an apple for Topaz and Irys took me to her chambers. After climbing what seemed like a million steps and passing ten levels of rooms, we emerged at the top. The circular room’s windows stretched from floor to ceiling. Curtains, long and lacy, blew in the hot breeze. Colorful cushions and couches in blues, purples and silver decorated the bright area. The place was ringed with bookshelves, and the air held a fresh citrus scent.

  “My meditation room,” Irys said. “The perfect environment to draw power and to learn.”

  I walked around, looking outside. She had a magnificent view of the Keep and, through the northeast facing windows, I could see rolling green hills pockmarked with small villages.

  “That’s part of the Featherstone Clan’s lands,” Irys said, following my gaze. She gestured to the center of the room. “Sit down. Let’s begin.” Irys sat on a purple cushion, crossing her legs.

  I perched on a blue pillow across from her. “But my bow…”

  “You won’t need your bow. I’ll teach you how to draw your power without relying on physical contact. The power source surrounds the world like a blanket. You have the ability to take a thread from this cloth, pull it into your body and use it. But don’t take too much or you’ll bunch up the blanket, warping the source and leaving some areas bare and others with too much power. It’s rumored that there are places where there are holes in the blanket, areas of no power, but I haven’t found any.”

  I felt her power spread from her like a bubble. She raised her hand and said, “Venettaden.”

  The power slammed into me. My muscles froze solid. I stared at her in a growing panic.

  “Push it away,” she said.

  I considered my brick wall, but knew it was no match for her strength. Once again, I drew down my marble curtain and severed the flow of power. My muscles relaxed.

  “Very good,” she said. “I took a line of power and shaped it into a ball. Then, using a word and a gesture, I directed it toward you. We teach the students words and gestures for learning purposes, but really you can use anything you want. It just helps focus the power. And after a while you won’t need to use the words to perform the magic. It becomes instinctive. Now, your turn.”

  “But I don’t know how to pull a thread of power. I just concentrate on the feel of my bow’s wood and then my mind somehow detaches and I project it out to other minds. Why does that work?”

  “The ability to read thoughts is another thread of power linking two minds, forging a connection. Once the link is made, it remains there and reconnecting is easy. For example, consider the link between us, and between you and Topaz.”

  “And Valek,” I said.

  “Yes, Valek, too. Although with his immunity to magic, I think your link with him must be on a subconscious level. Have you ever read his thoughts?”

  “No. But I haven’t tried. Somehow I always knew what he was feeling.”

  “A survival instinct. That makes sense, considering his position in Ixia, and since he decided if you would live or die on a daily basis.”

  “That survival instinct saved me a few times,” I said, remembering my troubles in Ixia. “I would find myself in a tight spot, and suddenly it seemed another person had taken control of my body and impossible things would happen.”

  “Yes, but now you have control and you can make those things happen.”

  “I’m not so sure—”

  Irys raised her hand. “Enough of that. Now concentrate. Feel the power. Pull it to you and hold it.”

  I took a deep breath, and closed my eyes for good measure. Feeling a little silly, I focused on the air around me, trying to sense the blanket of power. For a while nothing happened. Then, I felt the air thicken and press against my skin. I willed the magic to gather closer. Once the pressure grew intense, I opened my eyes. Irys watched me.

  “When you release it toward me, think of what you want the power to do. A word or gesture will help and can be used as a shortcut for the next time.”

  I pushed the power, and said, “Over.”

  For a moment nothing happened. Then Irys’s eyes widened in shock, and she fell over.

  I ran to her. “I’m sorry.”

  She peered up at me. “That was odd.”

  “Odd how?”

  “Instead of pushing me over, your magic invaded my mind, giving me a mental command to fall.” Irys settled herself back on the pillow.

  “Try again, but this time think of the power as a physical object like a wall and direct it toward me.”

  I followed her directions, but the results were the same.

  “It’s an unorthodox method, but it works.” Irys tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s work on your defenses. I want you to deflect my power before it can affect you.”

  In a blur of motion she aimed a ball of energy toward me. “Teatottle.”

  I jumped back and put my hands up, but I wasn’t fast enough. My world spun. Streaks of color swirled around me before I could position my defenses. I was flat on my back, looking up at the sloped ceiling of the tower. An owl slept on a nest in the rafters.

  “You need to keep your defenses up at all times,” Irys said. “You don’t want to be caught unaware. But then again…” Irys smoothed her shirt. “You kept Roze from going deep into your mind.”

  I shied away from that subject. “What does Teatottle mean?” I asked.

  “It’s a nonsense word,” Irys said. “I made it up. No sense alerting you to what I planned to do. I use those
words for attacks and defensive moves. But for practical matters like fire and light, I use real words.”

  “I can make fire?”

  “If you’re strong enough. But it’s tiring work. Using magic is draining, some types more than others. You seem to be able to connect with other minds without a lot of effort,” Irys said. “Perhaps that is your specialty.”

  “What do you mean by specialty?”

  “Some magicians can only do certain things. We have magicians who can heal physical injuries and others who can help with mental trauma. Some can move large objects like statues, while others can light fires with minimal effort.” Irys played with the tassels on her cushion. “Sometimes, you’ll find someone who can do two or three things, or a hybrid talent like Leif who can sense a person’s soul. For you, we’ve discovered that not only can you read minds, but you can also influence a person’s or animal’s actions. A rare talent. That’s two abilities.”

  “Is that the limit?” I asked.

  “No. Master Magicians can do everything.”

  “So why is Roze called First Magician and you’re Fourth?”

  Irys gave me a tired smile. “Roze is stronger than I am. We can both light fires. While I can only make a campfire, she has the ability to set a two-story structure ablaze.”

  I thought about what she had said. “If a magician only has one talent, what do they do when they finish their training?”

  “We assign magicians to different towns and cities, depending on what is needed. We try to have a healer in every town at all times. Other magicians cover several towns, traveling from place to place to help with projects.”

  “What would I do?” I asked, wondering if a useful place for me existed. But, at the same time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a useful place in Sitia.

  Irys laughed. “It’s too soon to tell. For now you need to practice collecting power and using it. And practice keeping up your defenses.”

  “How do I keep my wall up without draining myself?”

  “I imagine my defensive wall, which resembles this tower room. I make it solid and strong, and then I make it translucent so I can see out of it, and then I don’t think about it anymore. But when magic is directed toward me, my barrier solidifies and deflects the attack before my consciousness is even fully aware of it.”

  I followed her instructions and created an invisible barrier in my mind. Irys tested it at unexpected times throughout the morning and it held. The rest of the time I practiced gathering magic, but, no matter how hard I tried, my magic could only affect two things. Irys and the owl sleeping in the rafters.

  Irys’s patience amazed me, and, for the first time since coming to Sitia, I felt hopeful that mastering my powers might be within my abilities.

  “That was a good start,” Irys said as lunchtime neared. “Go eat, and then rest this afternoon. We’ll work in the mornings and you can practice and study at night. But tonight you need to see the Stable Master and pick out a horse.”

  Did I hear her right? “A horse?”

  “Yes. All magicians have horses. Occasionally you’ll be needed somewhere fast. I had to leave my horse, Silk, here during my mission in Ixia. When you called for help, I had to borrow a horse from May’s father. How else do you think I got here so fast?”

  I hadn’t even thought about it. I had been so wrapped up in my own misery at the time. Following Irys’s directions, I located the dining hall. I ate lunch then went back to my rooms where I collapsed into bed and fell asleep.

  That night after dinner, I sought out the Stable Master. I found him at the end of a row of stalls, cleaning a leather saddle. A small stocky man, his wild brown hair fell past his shoulders like a horse’s mane. When he glared up at me, I suppressed my smile.

  “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m busy?” he asked.

  “I’m Yelena. Irys sent me.”

  “Oh, right, the new student. I don’t know why Fourth Magician couldn’t wait until everyone’s back to start your lessons,” he muttered to himself as he put the saddle down. “This way.”

  He led me past the stable. Topaz poked his head out of his stall.

  His big brown eyes looked hopeful. Apple? he asked.

  Irys had been right. I reconnected with Topaz without any conscious effort. Or had he connected with me? I would have to ask her about that. I gave him the apple in my pocket.

  The Stable Master turned around. “You just made a friend for life,” he said, snorting in amusement. “That horse loves food. I never saw a horse take such pleasure in eating before. You can train him to do just about anything for a peppermint.”

  We went past the hay barn to the pasture. The Stable Master leaned against the wooden fence. Six horses grazed in the field.

  “Pick one out. Makes no difference which one, they’re all good. I’ll go find your instructor.”

  “You don’t teach?” I asked before he could go.

  “Not in the middle of the hot season when everyone but me is gone,” he said with annoyance. “I’m too busy mucking out stalls and fixing tack. I said to wait, but Fourth Magician wanted it right away. Good thing one of my instructors came back early.” He mumbled some more as he headed toward the stable.

  I studied the horses in the field. Three were dark brown like Topaz, two were black, and one was copper with white on the legs from the knees down. Knowing nothing of horses, I guessed it would come down to color. The copper-and-white horse looked over at me.

  Like her, Topaz said. She go smooth and fast for Lavender Lady.

  How do I get her to come over? I asked.

  Peppermints. Topaz looked lovingly at a leather bag hanging near his stall. The Stable Master had disappeared. I went back to the stable. Taking out two mints, I gave one to Topaz, and took the other back to the field.

  Show Kiki peppermint.

  I held out the mint. Kiki glanced at the other horses, and then moved toward me. When she came closer, I could see she had a white face with a patch of brown around her left eye. Something about her eyes seemed strange. It wasn’t until she sucked the peppermint from my palm that it struck me. Her eyes were blue. I had never seen that before, but that didn’t mean much. I knew next to nothing about horses.

  Scratch behind ears, Topaz suggested.

  The mare’s long copper ears were cocked forward. I stood on tiptoes and rubbed my fingernails behind them. Kiki lowered her head and pressed it against my chest.

  “What do you think, girl?” I asked out loud. I couldn’t hear her like Topaz. While rubbing her ears, I pulled a thread of power and projected my mind to her. Be with me?

  She nudged me with her nose. Yes.

  I felt Topaz’s pleasure. We go smooth and fast together.

  I jumped when I heard the Stable Master behind me.

  “Found one already?” he asked.

  I nodded without looking at him.

  “That one came from the plains,” he said. “Good choice.”

  “She must pick another,” said a familiar voice.

  I turned. Dread curled in my stomach. Cahil stood next to the Stable Master.

  “And why would I listen to you?” I demanded.

  He smirked. “Because I’m your instructor.”

  11

  “NO,” I SAID. “YOU WILL not be my instructor.”

  “No choice,” said the Stable Master. He glanced at Cahil then me, looking puzzled. “There’s no one else and Fourth Magician insists you start right away.”

  “What if I help you muck out the stables and feed the horses? Will you have time to teach me then?” I asked the Stable Master.

  “Young lady, you already have plenty to do. You’ll be mucking and caring for your own horse, as well as studying your lessons. Cahil’s been a stable rat since he was six. No one, other than me…” He grinned. “…knows more about horses.”

  I planted my hands on my hips. “Fine. As long as he knows more about horses than he does about people.”

  Cahil cringed. Good.

>   “But I keep this horse,” I said.

  “She’s a walleye,” Cahil said.

  “A what?” I asked.

  “She has blue eyes. That’s bad luck. And she’s been bred by the Sandseed Clan. Their horses are difficult to train.”

  Kiki snorted at Cahil. Mean Boy.

  “A silly superstition and an unfair reputation. Cahil, you should know better,” the Stable Master said. “She’s a perfectly good horse. Whatever’s going on between you and Yelena, you’ll have to work it out. I’ve no time to babysit.” With that, he stalked away, once more muttering to himself.

  Cahil and I glared at each other for a while until Kiki nudged my arm, looking for peppermints.

  “Sorry, girl, no more,” I said, holding out my empty hand. She tossed her head, and resumed grazing.

  Cahil stared at me. I crossed my arms over my chest, but they seemed an inadequate barrier between us. I would have preferred thick marble walls. He had exchanged his traveling clothes for a plain white shirt and tight-fitting jodhpurs, but he still wore his black riding boots.

  “You’ll have to live with your decision about the horse. But if you’re going to fight me every time I try to teach you something, let me know now, and I won’t waste my time.”

  “Irys wants me to learn, so I’ll learn.”

  He appeared satisfied. “Good. First lesson starts now.” He climbed over the pasture’s fence. “Before you learn how to ride a horse, you must know everything about your horse from the physical to the emotional.” Cahil clicked his tongue at Kiki, and when she ignored him, he approached her. Just as he came up beside her she turned, knocking him over with her rump.

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Every time he tried to get near, Kiki either moved away or bumped into him.

  His face red with frustration, Cahil finally said, “The hell with this. I’m getting a halter.”

  “You hurt her feelings when you said she was bad luck,” I explained. “She’ll cooperate if you apologize.”