A Slave to Magic (12 page)

Nera heard these
words from the back room and knew she had erred in entering the town. Of course
her father would send guards, and the townspeople would be well aware that she
was new to the area. She had put herself, Kwil, and Rili in grave danger. She
should have left once Kwil was accepted as Rili’s student. Without a thought to
her own safety, she opened the rear door and ran toward the forest.

“I’ve no idea who
you’re talking about,” Rili said to the man.

“Don’t make this
more diff—” he started to say.

“She’s running out
the back!” a second guard called, cutting him off.

The guards ran for
their horses, determined to cut Nera off before she could find a hiding place.

Kwil approached
Master Rili from behind. “What’s happened?” he asked.

“It seems Nera’s
family has sent some people to fetch her,” Rili replied.

Kwil couldn’t
believe his ears. “You’re not bothered by that?”

“She isn’t my
concern,” Rili replied. “She’s a noble lady, and her family won’t stand for her
hiding in the woods.”

His casual manner
infuriated Kwil. “We can’t let them take her!” he shouted, immediately stepping
toward the door.

Rili grabbed Kwil’s
arm and held tightly. “Listen,” he said. “You’re a slave. My slave as far as
they know. If they think you had anything to do with her running away, they
will drag you back with her, and her father will execute you. Don’t be an
idiot.”

Master Rili’s
argument was convincing. Kwil knew interfering could mean his death. But Nera
needed him. If their situations were reversed, he knew she would risk
everything to help him.

Seeing that Kwil
was still uneasy, Rili added, “Her parents won’t hurt her. They want her home,
and that’s the end of it. Don’t worry.”

The guards easily
caught up with Nera, who punched the first guard the moment he dismounted. His
nose dripping with blood, he grabbed her arms and held them tightly. “We’ll
have no more of that!” he shouted. Though he was angry, he knew better than to
harm the girl. A single scratch on her would result in severe punishment from
Lord Orva.

The second guard
arrived a moment later and hopped down from his horse. Using two straps of
leather, he bound Nera’s hands and feet, preventing her from running away.
Together the two men lifted her onto the saddle, seating her sideways.

“Let me go!” Nera
screamed, struggling to free her hands.

“Be still!” the
guard demanded. “And no screaming or we’ll gag you.”

Nera narrowed her
eyes at the man but said nothing. They rode past Rili’s cottage, and she caught
a glimpse of Kwil being dragged back inside by Rili, who was no doubt using
magic to increase his strength. Wishing she had the power to speak to him
without words, she thought,
I’ll be all right, Kwil. Take care of yourself,
and become the master wizard you’ve always wanted to be.
She fought back
her tears, not wanting her captors to see her break down. If her father had his
way, she would never see Kwil again. He would likely marry her off and send her
away, where she would live out her days as a prisoner in her own home.

D
espite Master
Rili’s reassurances that Nera would be fine, Kwil could not stop worrying about
her. He slept little that night, and tried to focus on his reading the next
day, but his mind wandered back to his friend and her well-being. He had to do
something. Who knows what her father had in store for her? Kwil knew him to be
a cruel man, and his anger toward his daughter could be severe. Nera did not
want to return to her parents’ home, and that was all the reason Kwil needed to
act.

As the sun finally
began to set, Kwil made up his mind to rescue her. Rili had finished his dinner
and was now soaking in his tub, giving Kwil the opportunity to move about the
grounds unseen. Fastening his cloak around his shoulders, he crept out into the
night. Though he wasn’t a good rider, he knew he would need to borrow his
master’s horse. Otherwise, he was in for a long walk, and Nera might already be
sent away by the time he reached the Orva manor. If he didn’t act now, he might
never find her.

Approaching the horse
with caution, Kwil did his best to stay calm. He had worked with horses, but
they intimidated him with their size and strength. If the stallion sensed his anxiety,
it would put the animal on edge. Taking deep breaths, Kwil reached for the
saddle and placed it on the horse’s back. “Easy, boy,” he said as he fastened
the buckles.

Satisfied with the
saddle, Kwil tried to pull himself onto the horse. His foot missed the stirrup,
and he fell to the ground, landing on his backside. The horse snorted and looked
away. Brushing the straw from his cloak, Kwil said, “Don’t laugh.” Shaking his
head, he tried again, this time successfully landing in the saddle. With a
gentle nudge, he urged the horse forward, but it stood its ground. Grabbing a
mouthful of alfalfa, it chewed lazily, unconcerned for the young man’s plight.

“We have to go,” he
said. “Nera needs us.”

The horse was
unconvinced. Kwil tried digging his heels harder, but the stallion would not
budge. Obviously his horsemanship skills left a lot to be desired. He had spent
time as a groom, but he had never been a trainer or a rider. The only option
left to him was magic. Searching his mind for the correct spell, he laid a hand
on the horse’s neck. Whispering a few words, he released white magic from his
fingers, the light traveling over the stallion’s body. With a whinny of
agreement, the horse reared on its hind legs, forcing Kwil to hold on tightly.
The steed burst forward, racing into the darkness, its eyes lit with magical
light.

They raced beneath
the moonlight, the young sorcerer giving only mental directions to the horse.
Amazed at the effectiveness of the spell, Kwil’s heart pounded with
exhilaration. Their two minds had connected, allowing the horse a clear view of
its destination, while Kwil felt the surge of adrenaline brought on by the
horse’s exertions. Never before had he experienced such freedom. The stallion
loved to run, and it shared the young man’s determination to rescue his friend.
Working as one, the two galloped through the night, racing on till dawn.

* * * * *

Dragging Nera by her arms,
the guards brought her before her father. Struggling all the way, Nera tried to
break free of her captors. They tightened their grip, angering the girl
further. The blood rising to her face, she bared her fangs at the men.

Lord Orva waved his hand. “Release her,” he
commanded them.

The guards immediately let go of her, and she
snatched her arms away from them. Turning to one of the guards, Nera spit in
his face. He clenched his jaw in anger, but said nothing. A severe look from
Lord Orva reminded him of his duty to the family. He backed away without
harming the girl while the second guard loosened her bonds.

“Leave us,” Orva demanded. Staring into his
daughter’s eyes, he said, “How could you bring such shame on our family?”

Swallowing hard, Nera replied, “You’re the
shameful one! You call it honor, but it’s your pride that matters. You care
more for your pride than your child.”

“What would you know of honor?” he asked, shaking
his head. “Disappearing with a slave?”

“I’m of age,” she reminded him. “I can do whatever
I want.”

“You most certainly cannot,” he replied. “You will
obey me until the day I die!” He raised a hand to strike her, but she did not
flinch. Lowering his hand, he said, “Your teacher visited me and told me what
happened. It cost me a great deal to buy her silence.”

“I don’t care who knows I helped a slave,” Nera
replied, her chin held high. “I’d do it again if I had to.”

“To save face, your teacher has put out the rumor
that you left school for health reasons,” he said, ignoring his daughter’s
words. “So we have a bit of time while I search for an appropriate husband for
you.”

Her eyes wide, Nera looked over at her mother, who
was now visibly pregnant. “Are you going to let him sell me off?” she asked.

“You’re not cattle, my dear,” her mother replied.
“If you won’t be attending the College, it’s time you were married.” Stroking
her husband’s arm, she said, “Perhaps the baby will be the wizard you’ve always
wanted in the family.”

Nera grunted in frustration. How could her mother
condone this? “I’m a free woman!” she shouted. “I’m not some slave you can sell
into marriage!” Fuming with anger, she tried to walk away, but Orva grabbed her
arm, holding her in place.

“Let go of me!” she demanded.

Without releasing his grip, he said, “You will do
as you’re told and marry whomever I desire. You have a duty to this family, and
you will not bring shame on us again.”

“If I marry, my duty will be to my husband,” she
reminded him. “I’ll do everything I can to expose you as a liar and a
swindler.” She was not ignorant to his business dealings, and she knew he was
involved in questionable practices. It wouldn’t take much to ruin his name
should such accusations be brought about by his own daughter.

“Your husband is irrelevant!” he shouted. “I will
own him as I do you. Don’t expect you’ll be living a life of luxury after this
stunt.”

Nera narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She knew
exactly what he meant. He would sell her in marriage to a lesser noble, one he
could control. The pair would live at the mercy of her father, dependent on him
for all their funds.

“Guards!” Orva called. “Take her to her room and
make sure she remains there.”

The guards grabbed her arms and forced her to walk
forward. “I’m not your slave!” she cried. “You can’t do this to me!”

“You are a disgrace to this family,” he replied.
“When you’re ready to cooperate, you will be released.”

Fighting all the way up the stairs, she called
back, “Then I guess I’ll be locked up forever!”

Shoving her inside her room, the guards closed her
door and took positions outside. Nera cried out in anger, not knowing what to
do next. She would not marry anyone at her father’s insistence, that much was
certain. No matter how far she had to run, or how many times he dragged her
back, she would resist him. She would not be broken.

Pacing across the room, she swished her tail and
tried to think of a way to escape. Eventually they’d have to open the door to
feed her. Perhaps she could make a run for it then. Sitting near the window
with a huff, she stared out at the stars. Tears formed in her eyes, and she
felt embarrassed at the weakness.
No, tears are not a weakness,
she told
herself.

As she stared into the darkness, her thoughts
turned to Kwil. How readily he had accepted his role as a slave. To be
completely under the control of another person was unfathomable, but here Nera
was in the same situation. Her father was determined to keep her in his grasp
despite her being of age. Maybe if she seemed cooperative, she would have an
easier time getting away. If her father trusted her again, he wouldn’t watch
her every move.

The thought of playing along made her ill, but it
was worth a try. It might be her best chance for escape. Maybe then she could
find her way back to Rili’s manor, if for no other reason than to say goodbye
to Kwil. She didn’t want to put him in danger, but she couldn’t stand the
thought of never seeing him again. Once she was settled elsewhere, the two
could keep in touch through letters.

A smile appeared on her face as she finalized her
plans. Life would not be so dismal after all. She would find work as a musician
and travel the land, never revealing her family name. The freedom she craved
would be hers.

* * * * *

Arriving at the outskirts
of the Orva property, Kwil climbed down from the saddle. He was stiff and sore
from his long ride, but glad to have finally arrived. Patting the horse’s side,
he said, “I need you to stay here and wait for me.”

The stallion grunted in response.

“I’ll take that to mean you’re in agreement,” Kwil
said. Their minds remained locked as long as they were in physical contact, but
now that Kwil had to move away from the horse, he wasn’t sure if the magic
would last. He could only hope the horse would still be waiting for him once he
returned with Nera.

Tiptoeing across the manor grounds, Kwil was
thankful for the cover of darkness. Clouds had rolled in, concealing him from
the moonlight, and there appeared to be no one patrolling the grounds. Getting
inside the manor was necessary but risky. Anyone he encountered might raise the
alarm. He could think of only one person besides Nera who could be trusted not
to betray him.

Approaching the door to the kitchens, he strained
his eyes to see in the darkness. Pausing a moment, he listened for footsteps or
any other sound that might betray the approach of a guard. He heard nothing.
Remembering to breathe, he pulled the handle and opened the door only an inch.
Inside a fire burned brightly, a sure sign that someone was awake.
Please
let it be Jenn
, he thought.

Opening the door a bit wider, he peered inside.
The figure of an elderly woman sat churning butter for the morning’s breakfast.
With a sigh of relief, Kwil stepped inside. “Jenn,” he whispered, stepping
cautiously toward the old woman. He had no desire to startle her. If she cried
out, he would certainly be caught.

The old woman showed no signs of hearing him, so
he tried again, this time louder. “Jenn,” he said. “It’s me, Kwil.”

The old woman turned around and clamped a hand
over her mouth. Rising to her feet, she threw her arms around the young man’s
neck and squeezed as tight as she could. “By all the stars,” she said. “It’s
really you.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked him over. “And you’re
the picture of health too,” she added.

“It’s good to see you,” he replied. The look of
pride on the old woman’s face gave him pause. She had been so kind to him, and
he didn’t realize how much he missed her until this moment.

“Did you find your freedom?” she asked.

“I did,” he replied. “I’m going to be a master
sorcerer someday.”

Slapping him on the shoulder, the old woman asked,
“Then why’d you come back here? It’s not safe!”

“I had to,” he said. “Nera’s in trouble.”

“You will be too if you’re caught,” she said.
Shaking her head, she added, “Imagine a slave going free and then coming back
here.”

“Do you know where Nera is?” he asked, ignoring
her comment. “I have to find her.”

“They’ve locked her in her room,” Jenn replied. “I
heard Lord Orva say he plans to marry her off.”

“Have they mistreated her?” he wondered.

Jenn shook her head. “As far as I know she’s been
treated well, but there are guards posted at her door. Don’t you dare think of
going up there.”

“I have to find a way,” Kwil said. He turned to
exit but only took one step before looking back. “Come with us,” he said. “You
don’t have to remain a slave.”

“Hush,” the old woman replied, waving her hand.
“Whether I’m cooking here or somewhere else doesn’t matter. These old bones of
mine are fine right here.”

Kwil’s heart sank, but he understood. Hugging her
goodbye, he said, “Be well. I’ll miss you.”

“Go on now and be a wizard,” she said, giving him
a push. She watched as he walked away, a twinkle of pride in her eyes.

Stepping out into the darkness, Kwil made his way
to the side of the manor. Looking up, he could see light in Nera’s open window.
Relieved that she was still awake, he searched for a way to climb up the wall.
There was no rope or ladder nearby, and he knew no spell that could make him
jump thirty feet off the ground.

Searching his mind, he tried to think of a spell
that might work. Remembering an incantation that would produce a sticky resin
on the caster’s hands, he had to contain his laughter. When he’d read about it,
he couldn’t imagine what possible use this spell would have. Now he knew. If
his hands were sticky enough, he could climb the wall without the aid of a
rope.

Repeating the incantation four times, the spell
finally succeeded. A small amount of amber resin oozed from his pores, and he
placed a hand against the wood. His hand stuck, but not enough to pull his
weight. Again he spoke the words to produce more resin, but nothing happened.
Closing his eyes, he took a few deep breaths to clear his mind. This had to
work. His only other choice was to go back inside and risk running into the
guards.

Reaching deep into his magical stores, he pulled
at the energy inside. Focusing his mind to the words, he whispered them to the
night. With his full intentions focused on the spell, a soft green glow spread
over his hands. The resin dripped from his fingers, and his feet felt sticky in
his boots. Kicking them off, he placed both hands and feet against the wooden
wall. Pulling himself up, he climbed without looking down. His sight focused on
Nera’s window, he climbed until he could see inside.