Pug pulled over the stool and sat down, facing the magician. Kulgan took out his pipe and started to fill it. Pug, I think in your case we may have been going about the matter of your education in the wrong way. Searching for a taper to light in the small fire that burned in a night pot and finding none, Kulgans face clouded as he concentrated for a minute; then a small flame erupted from the index finger of his right hand. Applying it to the pipe, he soon had the room half-filled with great clouds of white smoke. The flame disappeared with a wave of his hand. A handy skill, if you like the pipe.
I would give anything to be able to do even that much, Pug said in disgust.
As I was saying, I think that we may have been going about this in the wrong way. Perhaps we should consider a different approach to your education.
What do you mean?
Pug, the first magicians long ago had no teachers in the arts of magic. They evolved the skills that weve learned today. Some of the old skills, such as smelling the changes in the weather, or the ability to find water with a stick, go back to our earliest beginnings. I have been thinking that for a time I am going to leave you to your own devices. Study what you want in the books that I have. Keep up with your other work, learning the scribes arts from Tully, but I will not trouble you with any lessons for a while. I will, of course, answer any question you have. But I think for the time being you need to sort yourself out.
Crestfallen, Pug asked, Am I beyond help?
Kulgan smiled reassuringly. Not in the least. There have been cases of magicians having slow starts before. Your apprenticeship is for nine more years, remember. Dont be put off by the failures of the last few months.
By the way, would you care to learn to ride?
Pugs mood did a complete turnabout, and he cried, Oh, yes! May I?
The Duke has decided that he would like a boy to ride with the Princess from time to time. His sons have many duties now that they are grown, and he feels you would be a good choice for when they are too busy to accompany her.
Pugs head was spinning. Not only was he to learn to ride, a skill limited to the nobility for the most part, but to be in the company of the Princess as well! When do I start?
This very day. Morning chapel is almost done. Being Firstday, those inclined went to devotions either in the Keeps chapel, or in the small temple down in the town. The rest of the day was given to light work, only that needed to put food on the Dukes table. The boys and girls might get an extra half day on Sixthday, but their elders rested only on Firstday. Go to Horsemaster Algon; he has been instructed by the Duke and will begin your lessons now.
Without a further word, Pug leaped up and sped for the stables.
CHAPTER FOUR
Assault
PUG RODE IN SILENCE.
His horse ambled along the bluffs that overlooked the sea. The warm breeze carried the scent of flowers, and to the east the trees of the forest swayed slowly. The summer sun caused a heat shimmer over the ocean. Above the waves, gulls could be seen hanging in the air, then diving to the water as they sought food. Overhead, large white clouds drifted.
Pug remembered this morning, as he watched the back of the Princess on her fine white palfrey. He had been kept waiting in the stables for nearly two hours before the Princess appeared with her father. The Duke had lectured Pug at length on his responsibility toward the lady of the castle. Pug had stood mute throughout as the Duke repeated all of Horsemaster Algons instructions of the night before. The master of the stables had been instructing him for a week and judged him ready to ride with the Princess if barely.
Pug had followed her out of the gate, still marveling at his unexpected fortune. He was exuberant, in spite of having spent the night tossing and then skipping breakfast.
Now his mood was changing from boyish adulation to outright irritation. The Princess refused to respond to any of his polite attempts at conversation, except to order him about. Her tone was imperious and rude, and she insisted on calling him boy, ignoring several courteous reminders that his name was Pug. She acted little like the poised young woman of the court now, and resembled nothing as much as a spoiled, petulant child.
He had felt awkward at first as he sat atop the old grey dray horse that had been judged sufficient for one of his skills. The mare had a calm nature and showed no inclination to move faster than absolutely necessary.
Pug wore his bright red tunic, the one that Kulgan had given to him, but still looked poorly attired next to the Princess. She was dressed in a simple but exquisite yellow riding dress trimmed in black, and a matching hat. Even sitting sidesaddle, Carline looked like one born to ride, while Pug felt as if he should be walking behind his mare with a plow between. Pugs horse had an irritating tendency to want to stop every dozen feet to crop grass or nibble at shrubbery, ignoring Pugs frantic kicks to the side, while the Princesss excellently trained horse responded instantly to the slightest touch of her crop. She rode along in silence, ignoring the grunts of exertion from the boy behind, who attempted by force of will as much as horsemanship to keep his recalcitrant mount moving.
Pug felt the first stirring of hunger, his dreams of romance surrendering to his normal, fifteen-year-olds appetite. As they rode, his thoughts turned more and more to the basket of lunch that hung from his saddle horn. After what seemed like an eternity to Pug, the Princess turned to him. Boy, what is your craft?
Startled by the question after the long silence, Pug stammered his reply. I . . . Im apprenticed to Master Kulgan.
She fixed him with a gaze that would have suited her had an insect been found crawling across a dinner plate. Oh. Youre that boy. Whatever brief spark of interest there had been went out, and she turned away from him. They rode awhile longer, then the Princess said, Boy, we stop here.
Pug pulled up his mare, and before he could reach the Princesss side, she was nimbly down, not waiting for his hand as Master Algon had instructed him she would. She handed him the reins of her horse and walked to the edge of the cliffs.
She stared out to sea for a minute, then, without looking at Pug, said, Do you think I am beautiful?
Pug stood in silence, not knowing what to say. She turned and looked at him. Well?
Pug said, Yes, Your Highness.
Very beautiful?
Yes, Your Highness. Very beautiful.
The Princess seemed to consider this for a moment, then returned her attention to the vista below. It is important for me to be beautiful, boy. Lady Marna says that I must be the most beautiful lady in the Kingdom, for I must find a powerful husband someday, and only the most beautiful ladies in the Kingdom can choose. The homely ones must take whoever will ask for them. She says that I will have many suitors, for Father is very important. She turned, and for a brief moment Pug thought he saw a look of apprehension pass over her lovely features. Have you many friends, boy?
Pug shrugged. Some, Your Highness.
She studied him for a moment, then said, That must be nice, absently brushing aside a wisp of hair that had come loose from under her broad-brimmed riding hat. Something in her seemed so wounded and alone that moment, that Pug found his heart in his throat again. Obviously his expression revealed something to the Princess, for suddenly her eyes narrowed and her mood shifted from thoughtful to regal. In her most commanding voice she announced, We will have lunch now. Pug quickly staked the horses and unslung the basket. He placed it on the ground and opened it.
Carline stepped over and said, I will prepare the meal, boy. Ill not have clumsy hands overturning dishes and spilling wine. Pug took a step back as she knelt and began unpacking the lunch. Rich odors of cheese and bread assailed Pugs nostrils, and his mouth watered.
The Princess looked up at him. Walk the horses over the hill to the stream and water them. You may eat as we ride back. Ill call you when I have eaten. Suppressing a groan, Pug took the horses reins and started walking. He kicked at some loose stones, emotions conflicting within him as he led the horses along. He knew he wasnt supposed to leave the girl, but he couldnt very well disobey her either. There was no one else in sight, and trouble was unlikely this far from the forest. Additionally he was glad to be away from Carline for a little while.
He reached the stream and unsaddled the mounts; he brushed away the damp saddle and girth marks, then left their reins upon the ground. The palfrey was trained to ground-tie, and the draft horse showed no inclination to wander far. They cropped grass while Pug found a comfortable spot to sit. He considered the situation and found himself perplexed. Carline was still the loveliest girl he had ever seen, but her manner was quickly taking the sheen off his fascination. For the moment his stomach was of larger concern than the girl of his dreams. He thought perhaps there was more to this love business than he had imagined.
He amused himself for a while by speculation on that. When he grew bored, he went to look for stones in the water. He hadnt had much opportunity to practice with his sling of late, and now was a good time. He found several smooth stones and took out his sling. He practiced by picking out targets among the small trees some distance off, startling the birds in residence there. He hit several clusters of bitter berries, missing only one target out of six. Satisfied his aim was still as good as always, he tucked his sling in his belt. He found several more stones that looked especially promising and put them in his pouch. He judged the girl must be nearly through, and he started toward the horses to saddle them so that when she called, hed be ready.
As he reached the Princesss horse, a scream sounded from the other side of the hill. He dropped the Princesss saddle and raced to the crest and, when he cleared the ridge, stopped in shock. The hair on his neck and arms stood on end.
The Princess was running, and close in pursuit were a pair of trolls. Trolls usually didnt venture this far from the forest, and Pug was unprepared for the sight of them. They were humanlike, but short and broad, with long, thick arms that hung nearly to the ground. They ran on all fours as often as not, looking like some comic parody of an ape, their bodies covered by thick grey hide and their lips drawn back, revealing long fangs. The ugly creatures rarely troubled a group of humans, but they would attack a lone traveler from time to time.
Pug hesitated for a moment, pulling his sling from his belt and loading a stone; then he charged down the hill, whirling his sling above his head. The creatures had nearly overtaken the Princess when he let fly with a stone. It caught the foremost troll in the side of the head, knocking it for a full somersault. The second stumbled into it, and both went down in a tangle. Pug stopped as they regained their feet, their attention diverted from Carline to their attacker. They roared at Pug, then charged. Pug ran back up the hill. He knew that if he could reach the horses, he could outrun them, circle around for the girl, and be safely away. He looked over his shoulder and saw them coming huge canine teeth bared, long foreclaws tearing up the ground. Downwind, he could smell their rank, rotting-meat odor.
He cleared the top of the hill, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His heart skipped as he saw that the horses had wandered across the stream and were twenty yards farther away than before. Plunging down the hill, he hoped the difference would not prove fatal.
He could hear the trolls behind him as he entered the stream at a full run. The water was shallow here, but still it slowed him down.
Splashing through the stream, he caught his foot on a stone and fell. He threw his arms forward and broke his fall with his hands, keeping his head above water. Shock ran up through his arms as he tried to regain his feet. He stumbled again and turned as the trolls approached the waters edge. They howled at the sight of their tormentor stumbling in the water and paused for a moment. Pug felt blind terror as he struggled with numb fingers to put a stone in his sling. He fumbled and dropped the sling, and the stream carried it away. Pug felt a scream building in his throat.
As the trolls entered the water, a flash of light exploded behind Pugs eyes. A searing pain ripped across his forehead as letters of grey seemed to appear in his mind. They were familiar to Pug, from a scroll that Kulgan had shown him several times. Without thinking, he mouthed the incantation, each word vanishing from his minds eye as he spoke it.
When he reached the last word, the pain stopped, and a loud roar sounded from before him. He opened his eyes and saw the two trolls writhing in the water, their eyes wide with agony as they thrashed about helplessly, screaming and groaning.
Dragging himself out of the water, Pug watched while the creatures struggled. They were making choking and sputtering noises now as they flopped about. After a moment one shook and stopped moving, lying facedown in the water. The second took a few minutes longer to die, but like its companion, it also drowned, unable to keep its head above the shallow water.
Feeling light-headed and weak, Pug recrossed the stream. His mind was numb, and everything seemed hazy and disjointed. He stopped after he had taken a few steps, remembering the horses. He looked about and could see nothing of the animals. They must have run off when they caught wind of the trolls and would be on the way to safe pasture.
Pug resumed his walk to where the Princess had been. He topped the hillock and looked around. She was nowhere in sight, so he headed for the overturned basket of food. He was having trouble thinking, and he was ravenous. He knew he should be doing or thinking about something, but all he could sort out of the kaleidoscope of his thoughts was food.
Dropping to his knees, he picked up a wedge of cheese and stuffed it in his mouth. A half-spilled bottle of wine lay nearby, and he washed the cheese down with it. The rich cheese and piquant white wine revived him, and he felt his mind clearing. He ripped a large piece of bread from a loaf and chewed on it while trying to put his thoughts in order. As Pug recalled events, one thing stood out. Somehow he had managed to cast a magic spell. Whats more, he had done so without the aid of a book, scroll, or device. He was not sure, but that seemed somehow strange. His thoughts turned hazy again. More than anything he wanted to lie down and sleep, but as he chewed his food, a thought pushed through the crazy quilt of his impressions. The Princess!
He jumped to his feet, and his head swam. Steadying himself, he grabbed up some bread and the wine and set off in the direction he had last seen her running. He pushed himself along, his feet scuffing as he tried to walk. After a few minutes he found his thinking improving and the exhaustion lifting. He started to call the Princesss name, then heard muted sobbing coming from a clump of bushes. Pushing his way through, he found Carline huddled behind the shrubs, her balled fists pulled up into her stomach. Her eyes were wide with terror, and her gown was soiled and torn. Startled when Pug stepped into view, she jumped to her feet and flew into his arms, burying her head in his chest. Great racking sobs shook her body as she clutched the fabric of his shirt. Standing with his arms still outstretched, wine and bread occupying his hands, Pug was totally confused over what to do. He awkwardly placed his arm around the terrified girl and said, Its all right. Theyre gone. Youre safe.