MageLife (36 page)

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a great deal of satisfaction every time he winced.

“To all Seniors, we would like to restart efforts to increase our holdings. We are facing increased pressure to expand from the lower council. Please do all in your power to expand your regions, increase trade and productivity. Use your resources carefully, we don't have as much to spare as we would like.” Velar’s voice came from Orb.

“End of message.” Orb said.

Jase looked between me and over my shoulder at Orb, I assumed. “That said nothing about Nelar. In fact, that said nothing about anything really.”

“I don't have to explain myself to you or to him. I'm well within my rights to handle this matter in the way I have chosen. Aren't I Orb?” Rysan said smugly, the effect was ruined by the wince he made as his lip split again.

“You are, technically correct sir. I feel it is…” Orb said.

“I didn't ask how you feel Orb. Now Mage Representative, I want you out of my town by dawn. Dismissed.”

I stood looking at Rysan for a moment, my mouth twitched in an attempted grin.

“Didn't you hear me? Get out of my sight.”

I turned and walked out, passing Orb who was flickering again. Steps followed.

“Not you Jase, I want a word with you.”

I left on my own.

I walked back to the academy is a daze, my skin still felt cold with fear, the risk of having my links severed, I would have just been a knack.

I found myself dragging my feet over the paving as I realised something. The early morning sun shone through the clouds, illuminating the tops of the buildings. This was my home, and I was being forced to leave it. Nelar? I'd never heard of it. Some tiny little backwater no doubt. This was my home, I had ties here. My family, who I admittedly never saw, lived a short distance from where I stood. I had visited the market with them long before I wanted to be a mage. the academy where I now resided had been my prison, while of my own making it was still a cage, had become my home filled with my family, Jase and Sophia, Airis and Lyphia.

I sighed as I thought about Lyphia, there was no way I could take her with me. She had her work here, and I had mine. It was debatable if I could take anyone with me. I didn't know what I would be doing, exile that's what this really is.

I passed people in the streets with smiles on their faces, I received many a nod and greeting. I didn't feel like it but I forced a smile onto my face and nodded back.

I walked with as much speed as I could, I didn't want the people to think there was something to be running away from, but I did want to get home quickly. Sophia should be awake, I knew Airis would be, that boy never really sleeps.

What would I tell them, ‘sorry kids I have to leave because I killed a mage and punched Rysan in the face repeatedly," I didn't think that would go down too well.

I looked at my home. The looming mage academy made of stone blacker than night, its high walls stared back at me revealing nothing, the people in the street walked by as if this massive edifice wasn't here, it was normal, a part of their lives, nothing to be remarked upon. For me it had always been more, even as a child it had been a constant it was visible everywhere in town, it was the core that Westhaven had grown from, once just a breeding ground for knacks to feed and provide for the mages, now it was a relic struggling to be relevant to them, is this what we were? Were we needed anymore? Yes we did good work, but many were not entirely as good as they proclaimed. Men like Rysan who followed the rules except when it suited them, men like Selac who broke them for profit and pleasure. Would the world be better off without us? I didn't know.

I stepped inside the lobby to see a woman arguing with the receptionist. I aimed for the corridor I needed and walked as fast as I could. I didn't need to be a part of anything today. It wasn't my problem.

“There he is!” a voice announced, the sign of relief that accompanied it was also announced.

“That’s Mage Tristan Sodden?”  The woman that had been arguing with the receptionist said in a tone laden with doubt.

“Mage Representative, yes that’s him.” the receptionist said.

I didn't make it to the corridor without notice, the arguing woman headed right for me. I stooped and plastered a blank but hopefully polite expression on my face.

“What appears to be the problem... madam?”

“You are the mage that abducted my niece” she accused me, her finger inches from my nose.

I could only stare at her.

She was an older, medium built woman, short red hair, with grey eyes. She looked familiar. She also looked really angry.

“I have no idea where you have gotten that idea from but I assure you that is not the case. Mages do not abduct children.”

“You have my niece. I requested she be sent to me so that I can care for her, but no one answered my letter. That is kidnap at the very least.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Sophia Leif, daughter of my brother. Who are you talking about?”

“I wasn't talking about anyone. I was saying we don't abduct children. This now makes far more sense.”

“Are you sure I'm talking to the right person. This one appears to be an idiot.” Sophia's aunt called over her shoulder at the receptionist.

The receptionist, who I should really learn the name of, paled and nodded solemnly.

“Miss Leif, I don't really care who you are right now, I have a lot to do. But please remember that I am a Mage, you should treat me with respect.”

“Why?”

I didn't have an answer for her.

“I guess it doesn't really matter, not all of us are worthy of respect, but a word of caution, not all mages are restrained either.”

She did nod at that, slowly. The first bit of thoughtfulness I'd seen from her.

“If you will follow me, I can take you to see Sophia. There have been issues regarding her care, which I'm going to have to tell you about, but that can wait until you have seen her.”

I started off down the corridor.

The woman matched my pace

“Why did she pass into the hands of a mage? She should have been with her family.”

“Her family died, we sent out the call for relatives the night they died. No one, and I mean no one, came forwards to claim her. She is my apprentice. My responsibility. I claimed her. Where were you?” I said.

“I was at home. I don't live in Westhaven I'm from Greenlaw. I was coming to visit my brother and his wife. I've not been here for years. Sophia was a baby when last I came. I sent a letter ahead of me. But it turns out they were dead before it arrived. I don't know what happened to it.”

“Sophia doesn't know you then?”

“I don't know what she remembers or what she was told. It’s a long journey. I can’t make it as often as I would like. I have work commitments.”

“What do you do?”

“What are you doing?”

“I'm getting to know you.”

“You haven't even asked my name, its Clarise by the way.”

“It’s been a rough day, I'm sorry that I'm not at my best.”

“And my niece is in your care? You’re hardly more than a boy yourself what do you know about raising a child?”

“Do you have any of your own?”

“No but that's hardly any business of yours.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I work for the wizard council.”

“So do I, but that doesn't answer my question now does it?”

“If you must know I work in a teaching capacity.”

“Teaching what?”

“Magic of course.”

“How? You aren’t a mage or a wizard.”

“I don't need power to teach. I can see you are bursting with it, and I'll bet you know nothing.”

“Hey, that's not true. I do well enough.”

“Magic isn't just about power is about knowledge and thought.”

I groaned as the line reminded me of something Jase had said.

“There we go, you are exactly like some of my students. Disdaining knowledge over power.”

“No, you just reminded me of my master.”

We reached the door to my apartment. I turned to her.

“Now let's cut the lecture short. I want what's best for Sophia. I'm not convinced you have the space in your life for a child but I have to leave soon. So I'm not overwhelmed with choices, that I can dismiss you out of hand.”

I raised a hand to cut her off.

“Don't interrupt me. I'm in earnest about this. You speak with great pride about you work but there is no mention of a husband or children in your life. There is no warmth apparent in you. You have been harsh and dismissive to me. A grown man and a mage to boot. I have fears as to what you would do to a child in your care. There are things I will discuss with you once Sophia has seen you but do not think that you can lay claim to her without her consent. Am I clear?”

“How dare you, she is mine by blood. I can claim her by the laws of the wizards themselves.”

Not really, you can't. I thought. I felt a smile curve my lips in response

“You arrogant child.” she raised her hand to slap me.

I grabbed it, “I've already been in this position today. Make no mistake, it will be something you regret. The law isn't as clear cut as you might think. Now I'm going to release you and you are going to calm down. I won't take you in to see her in this state.”

She pulled her hand out of my grasp and stood glaring at me before nodding shortly.

I opened the door and walked in, leaving the woman

Inside was Sophia and Airis both seated at the dining table. Lyphia was talking into a mirror. She absently waved at me before walking back towards the bedrooms.

“Good morning Sophia, Airis. I'm sorry I had to leave so early.”

“Tristan, we saw you weren't here but Lyphia said you would be back soon enough.”

“I have someone here to see you Soph she says she is your aunt. Her name is...”

“Aunt Clarise? Really? I thought she lived far away, I never met her. And dad didn't like her much.”

“Well, that sounds like her. She has come to see you. I left her in the hall to give you a moment to process the news.”

She sat looking at me blankly for a moment, then nodded, looking me straight in the eye.

I smiled at her then I turned and gestured Clarise into the room.

She stepped in with a kind of trepidation as if she was walking into a room of wild animals. She stopped just inside and looked, really looked at Sophia.

“You look just like your mother. I'm so sorry child. I wish I could have been here sooner, then you wouldn’t have needed to be with strangers.”

“They aren't strangers. Airis is my friend, he’s looked after me and we play and have fun. Tristan is nice, he is my master, but he isn't mean or bossy. He loves me. And Lyphia is very pretty and we dress up and talk and stuff. I miss mum and dad but I'm not with strangers. You are family, but I don't know you. You are a stranger. So I would have been with strangers if you had taken me away. I would have been away from my home and I wouldn’t be able to come back or see the places that I saw when I went shopping with mum. Or the places I went to with dad. And all my friends from school would be here and I would be away.”

“Shush child. I'm not a stranger. I came to take you away from all this. I live in Greenlaw do you know of it? It’s a big city on an island. It floats above the ocean. Have you seen the ocean?”

“No but Tristan will take me, won't you Tristan?”

I stood there wanting so much to tell her I would, but I couldn't

“Tristan is something wrong?” Lyphia asked from the other side of the room. She had just re-entered, the mirror in her hand just a blank mirror now.

“No, could I have a word with you though. Work stuff.”

“Of course. Sophia, Airis be good for this lady. We won't be a moment.”

The kids nodded.

I fixed Clarise with a glare. I hoped she got the message. I then walked to the table grabbed the letter and went to my room with Lyphia.

As soon as the door was shut she asked “what’s wrong? You left so early this morning and without saying a word.”

“Orb came. I was summoned to appear before Rysan and be judged for my actions. It didn't go as well as I had hoped.”

“But you were in the right.”

That doesn't matter. What is right anyway? I still killed a mage and apparently he was Rysan's friend. It didn't help that I punched the Rysan a bit.

“You punched Rysan a bit?”

“Eh, just a little bit.”

“You are a very stupid man.”

“I have my moments yeah. Well Rysan wanted to kill me on the spot. Then he wanted to strip my links, which I didn't think was possible.”

“It is, most go mad though. My father mentioned it’s like having a part of your mind just torn away. You don't even know what is lost but you can feel the hole,"

“That's what happened to him?”

“Not quite, but the generalities are the same. It wasn't done to him so much as his oath had merged with one of his lesser links. I don't know the details I doubt he does either. Anyway that isn't the subject at hand. You aren't dead and you are still a mage. So what punishment have you been given?”

“I’ve been reassigned. I have to aid the expansion efforts in a place called Nelar, I've never even heard of it.”

I have but I can’t place it, did you get told anymore? How long will you be gone? Is it permanent?

“I have until dawn to be out of town, on my way I assume. I didn't really want to press for details, it was a bit touch and go if I would even walk out for a moment or three.”

“What are you going to tell Sophia? She will want to come with you. Is she allowed?”

“I don't know really I don't. I have no information about the place, other than it’s not a good place to go, Rysan was gloating about sending me there.”

“Appeal to the wizards. Explain the situation.”

“They won't believe me, I've been an active for how long now? A few months. Rysan has been here for years and he served the council before coming here. Who would take the word of such a junior mage over a senior? It’s not like I've even got a perfect record as it stands. Suspended for medical within a week of service. Disobeying a lawful command. I have years of my debt still to serve. It’s just not going to happen. Even if they did believe me. I've just killed another of their servants, I would be pissed in their shoes.”