Nakor shook his head. No, your old life ended that day. What youve been living these last two years has been an existence. You were healing and learning, but you had no purpose.
Now I have a purpose?
A far greater purpose than you suppose, said Nakor. There is much to learn, but you have time. I remember the impatience of youth, he added with a grin. You appear to me to be more patient than most boys your age, yet I know you still want questions answered, positions made clear, and motives revealed. But all in good time.
Since coming under Roberts care I have felt as if I were moving in a direction unknown to me, Talon said. I have grown, I think
Much, according to your teachers.
Are you now one of my teachers?
Nakor shrugged and stood up. Well see. Now, I hear your new companions returning, so Ill leave you to get to know one another.
As he reached the door, two young men of roughly Talons age entered the room. Seeing Nakor, they stepped back to let him pass, bowing their heads slightly in respect. You have a new boy to share your quarters with, Nakor said as he passed.
Yes, Master Nakor, said one of the two boys, a fair-haired, broad-shouldered boy with green eyes and a dusting of freckles across his nose.
The other young man had dark hair, but was fair-skinned, and Talon couldnt tell if he was attempting to grow a mans beard or if he had just done a poor job of shaving the day before. He had almost black eyes which narrowed slightly at the sight of Talon. He threw himself down on the bed against the same wall as Talons, while the lighter-haired boy took the bed opposite.
Im Demetrius, he said. He pointed to the dark lad and said, Thats Rondar. He doesnt talk much. They spoke the Kings Tongue, which seemed to be the preferred language on the island.
Rondar nodded, but kept silent.
Im Talon, said Talon.
Demetrius returned the nod. Heard of you. You managed to avoid being killed by three death-dancers. Impressive.
Talon sat back on the bed, leaning against the wall. I dont even know what a death-dancer is.
Rondar said, Bad.
Very bad, agreed Demetrius. Conjured beings, using the souls of the damned. One mission, to kill a specific person. Very hard to avoid one, but three
Impressive, said Rondar.
Talon said, Have you been here a long time?
Five years, Demetrius replied. My father used to make potions and poultices in a village down in the south of Kesh, near a city called Anticostinas. Well, it was hardly a city a big town, really. Some priests of Guis-Wa denounced him as a heretic because he was using magic, even though I didnt see much magic involved, just a lot of herbs, plants and common sense. But one night some drunks from the city came out and burned the house to the ground, killing my family. I wandered around for a while until I ran across Nakor, who showed me some tricks.
Turns out my father wasnt a magician, but maybe I am. So Im here to learn.
I lost my family, too, Talon said. He looked at Rondar, who looked at Demetrius and nodded once.
His father is the chief of a band of Ashunta horsemen down in northern Kesh. Very good horsemen
Best, added Rondar.
good hunters
Best, repeated Rondar.
Talon grinned. Well see about that!
and otherwise a bunch of opinionated, unwashed barbarians who treat women like cattle and cattle like pets.
Rondar shrugged. True.
Talons grin widened. How does he get along with Miranda?
Demetrius laughed. Shes educating him as to the proper respect to show to women.
Rondars expression darkened. With a sigh of resignation, he rested his chin on his arms and said, Painfully true.
Talon said, Howd you get here?
Rondar rolled over. He was quiet for a moment, and then spoke as if talking at all was a trial to him. My people are horsemen. If you cant ride and hunt, no women. No women, no children. He put his arm across his eyes as if remembering was fatiguing. Men who cant ride are less. Less than men. They gather firewood, help with the cooking, raise the boys.
Talon glanced at Demetrius. What do the women do?
Demetrius grimaced and said, Theyre property.
They make babies. Men raise boys.
Demetrius said, Its a close thing as to whats worth more to an Ashunta horseman, a good horse or a woman.
Rondar said, Depends on if there are more horses or women around. He rolled over again and leaned on his elbows. His dark eyes looked hard at Talon. We have our ways, he said. Im not a good rider, but the shaman says I have talent. So, I go live with the shaman. He looked as if he had reached the limit of his patience and said to Demetrius, You tell him.
Demetrius made a wry expression and said, The home of the Ashunta is in the west of the Empire, rolling grasslands no one else wants, but a good way for slavers and renegades to move around without running foul of the Imperial army. Our friend and his master were off gathering herbs for some sort of ritual when a band of slavers happened on them. The shaman was too old to be worth anything, but our strapping young friend here was a prize for the auction blocks.
Nakor bought me, Rondar offered. He talks too much.
Talon smiled. Who, Nakor or Demetrius?
Rondar said, Yes.
Demetrius reached over and gave Rondar a playful slap to the back of the head. Our taciturn friend here is actually a very good fellow, despite his pretence of being a man of few words hes glib enough when one of the girls is in the mood to listen to his nonsense.
Rondar lifted his head and grinned. True.
Talon said, About the girls
Rondar and Demetrius exchanged glances, then with one voice said, Alysandra! and burst into laughter.
Talon felt himself flush, but kept his smile fixed on his face. What about her?
Demetrius said, I heard shed been in to tend you from time to time.
Rondar said, Every boy wants her.
You two as well? asked Talon.
Demetrius said, Everyone has a try when they meet her. Shes different. But she has a way of making you a friend and feeling like an idiot for trying to get her off alone somewhere.
Rondar sighed. Shes worth a lot of horses.
Talon laughed. You sound like youre in love.
Rondar said, True. Everyones in love with her.
Who is she?
No one knows, said Demetrius. Or at least, no one who knows is talking. Shes been here longer than either of us, and shes obviously someone special. Ive heard her talking to a lot of outlanders in their languages, and she spends a lot of time alone with Miranda.
Why is that special? asked Talon.
Demetrius rose as a bell sounded. Supper, he announced. Well talk on the way.
They left through the door with Rondar a step behind. Talon moved carefully, but could keep up as long as Demetrius kept to a casual walk.
You know Miranda is Pugs wife? asked Demetrius.
Talon nodded. I know their sons.
Pug is the ruler for lack of a better word of this place. But Miranda is his equal in just about every way. And some say shes a more powerful magician. All I know is she spends a little time with every student here, but a lot of time with Alysandra.
Pug is the ruler for lack of a better word of this place. But Miranda is his equal in just about every way. And some say shes a more powerful magician. All I know is she spends a little time with every student here, but a lot of time with Alysandra.
Talon said, So, thats why shes special.
Rondar said, Took a lot of words for you to get it, Talon.
Talon laughed. I know.
So, if you want to take your chance with Alysandra, no one is going to blame you.
True, said Rondar.
But dont expect to get anywhere.
Talon caught sight of Alysandra ahead, talking to two other girls. To his two new friends he said, One thing my father taught me: there is no reward without risk, and you can only fail if you dont try.
Hug, said Rondar.
What? asked Talon.
Demetrius shook his head. No, kiss on the cheek.
What are you talking about?
Alysandra will let you court her, my friend, supplied Demetrius. I think shes secretly amused by the attention. And shes very sweet. I dont think she has a mean thought in her, but by the end of the first evening you court her, shell have you swearing that youll be just like a brother to her, and youll know that youre never going to get your arms around that slender waist, and just before she turns you around and points you back to your own quarters, youll either get a tiny hug, one so brief youll barely feel her next to you, or a fluttering kiss on the cheek, with her lips hardly touching your face. A kiss on the cheek is considered a badge of achievement among the lads here.
As if sensing she was the object of this conversation, Alysandra looked back over her shoulder. When she saw Talon and the others, she smiled.
Talon glanced at his friends, both of whom were avoiding eye contact with the young woman. So he returned his gaze to her and gave her the broadest smile he could. She held his gaze for a step longer, then dropped her eyes and turned back to her companions.
Rondar said, Ill wager a copper its a hug.
Demetrius said, Done. I wager a kiss on the cheek.
Talon lowered his voice. Ill take both those wagers, for Ill have more than a kiss on the cheek from her.
Determination, said Demetrius. I like it!
Humph, was Rondars inarticulate comment.
Talon watched the slender girl as she entered the common building where the students ate their meals. Ill have much more, he said quietly, to no one but himself.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Purpose
THE HORSES RACED ACROSS THE MEADOW.
Nakor and Magnus watched as Talon kept low against the neck of his mare, pushing her as much with will as with any skill as a rider. Rondars gelding pulled slowly away as he stayed fluidly poised on two stirrups, his back straight and his hands light upon the reins.
Nakor said, For someone who was counted a bad rider by his people, Rondar seems to know his way around a horse.
Magnus nodded as he said, You know more about the Ashunta than I do, but arent they counted as the finest horsemen in the world?
Best light cavalry, certainly. The Empire had to bring fifteen legions into their lands to subdue them in the end. They were key to Keshs conquest of the western Empire two centuries ago, but a revolt by Ashunta chieftains ended that. Nakor studied the riders, while Demetrius stood whooping and cheering a short distance away. Talon will be a very good horseman soon.
This I understand, Nakor Magnus waved his hand slightly in the direction of the two riders Talon learning languages, riding, swordsmanship, the rest but why are you including him in the classes on magic with the others?
Nakor grinned at his former student. Magic? There is no magic.
Magnus tried not to laugh, and failed. You can debate that with Father until the universe ends, but we both know your stuff is just another way of looking at the process of using magic.
Its more than that, and you know it, said Nakor. Its a way to free the mind of preconceived notions. He paused, Besides, he added with a chuckle, it was your father who first said there is no magic.
Are you or Father ever going to tell me how he knew to send that message to you with James on his first trip to Kesh? You two hadnt even met.
Hes never told me how he knew. Nakor replied. There are things your father trusts to no one, not even to your mother.
The Black Sorcerer, said Magnus with a sigh. Its too easy to forget its not just a role to terrorize sailors who get too close to this island.
No, its far more than that, as your grandfather knew.
Magnuss grandfather, Macros, had been the first magic-user to employ a Black Sorcerer to secure the islands privacy. He also had been an agent for Sarig, the lost god of magic, and had given Sorcerers Island to Pug and Miranda.
Nakor and Magnus were as highly placed as one could be within the Conclave of Shadows, yet neither fully understood the deepest mysteries of the organization. Magnus had once asked his father who should take control if anything happened to him, and Pug had replied cryptically that everyone would know what to do if that should happen.
Magnus turned his thoughts back to the matter at hand. Still, magic or stuff, youve not told me why Talon is studying the mystic arts.
True, I havent.
Nakor, are you planning to irritate me all day?
Nakor laughed. No, I just forget sometimes you have a problem with the concept of humour. He pointed towards the other end of the meadow, where the race had ended and the three boys were standing, awaiting instruction. Talon needs to know as much as he can about any potential enemy. Our enemies have relied on the black arts for years, and Talons ability to survive the attack of those three death-dancers gave me an idea.
Magnus was silent. He knew that had he been alone in the hut, those death-dancers most likely would have killed him. He had speculated late into the night with his father why the enemy had taken such a bold step and why he had been selected as the target, but in the end all they were left with was speculation.
Magnus said, You want him able to recognize magic?
If possible. Years ago, Lord James, Duke of Krondor, told me he could always feel the hair on the back of his neck rise when someone was using magic. He also talked about his bump of trouble, his ability to sense something was about to happen that was bad. It was a special intuition that saved James on several occasions.
You think Talon might have that ability?
I dont know yet, but it might prove useful to have someone who is not obviously a magic-user, but who has some sense of it, who can enter places that will have wards set against magicians, and yet be able to act with some knowledge.
Seems a vague enough motive for subjecting the boy to extra hours of study, especially since it will only be in the abstract and he will never be able to put that knowledge into practise.