Magus (Advent Mage Cycle) (35 page)

Hayden blinked at this. Sheer delight exploded over his face. “There’s another one?!”

“Yes, Rheijennaan is her name. I’m sure you’ll meet her later. How old are you, Hayden?”

Hayden drew himself up proudly. “I’m twelve, sir.”

“Twelve, eh? Then you’re not quite old enough to enter the Academy.” He hummed to himself, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully.

I could tell he was scheming something, and hastily interrupted before he could get any notions permanently lodged in his head. “I gave my word to Hayden that he could be adopted into my family, Sire.”

Guin shot me a look. “You have a habit of adopting people, Garth.”

“It’s my parent’s influence,” I admitted. “My mother would adopt the world if she could figure out how to do it. But Hayden has no family—not even in name. I swore to him that if he would come back with me, I would give him my name.” As an afterthought I added, “Besides, he’s going to need to live with someone that can understand him. He has no idea how to speak Hainish.”

Guin’s forehead crinkled at this thin reasoning. There were plenty of Jaunten couples that would be willing to adopt Hayden, and they wouldn’t have any problem understanding him whatsoever. “Very well, Garth. I will honor your sworn word.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Thank you, Sire.”

“Hayden, you are a lucky young man. Garth’s family is the best of people, and is sure to welcome you. I will visit later this week to see that you are properly settled in with your new family.”

I made a mental note to warn my mother about that. Having a King drop in for a social call unannounced would surely give her heart failure.

“Before I take Hayden over there, Sire, I should tell you what else we discovered.”

Guin slowly went taut in his chair. “Another Mage?”

I shook my head. “No. Almost better, really. There was a cave that Hayden used as his…well, safe haven I guess is a good way to put it. Anyway, inside the cave were mounds of memory crystals, and books, and weapons, and almost everything else you can imagine.” Guin looked suitably impressed by this, but I relished adding, “It all dates to before the Magic War.”

A beggar being given a bag of gold could not have been more ecstatic than Guin in that moment. “Are you sure?” he demanded, nearly bouncing in his seat.

“Positive,” I assured him firmly. “Chatta took a quick peek inside one of them. We crated it all up, and I brought it all back with me.”

Guin licked dry lips. “How much is there?” he asked hoarsely.

“It fills my sitting room.”

I seriously thought he was going to faint. “That much?”

I love surprising Guin like this. It isn’t easy to do; it takes luck, skill, timing, and the element of surprise. I don’t pull it off often. That’s why I enjoy it so much when I do. “Who do you want me to give it to?”

Guin gave an audible sigh of regret. “I suppose by rights it belongs to the Trasdee Evondit Orra.” He thought about it a moment and ordered, “Trade all of that for the right to keep Hayden.”

Now that was sneaky. “With pleasure, Sire.”

“How did your meeting with the Coven Ordan go?”

For several minutes I filled Guin in on our visit. He was as surprised about my lineage as I had been—yet another thing I needed to inform my family of—and was darkly satisfied with the confirmation of the Watchman Pools.

“Can you turn off the Pools?” Guin was thinking so hard, I think smoke was coming out of his ears.

“I’m not really sure that’s a wise idea,” I admitted uneasily. “Ley lines are a very complicated thing. If you move one, or shut one off, a dozen are affected. Chahir is just now beginning to regain its original strength—I’m deathly afraid that tampering anything will destroy or damage that growth.”

“Surely there’s a way…” he trailed off.

“I need to ask some very pointed questions of the experts on pools. Neither Chatta nor I know enough to make any plans at this point.”

“Go speak with the Sojavel Ra Institute,” Guin advised. “That’s the main research facility for magic in Hain. If anyone will know the answer to your questions, it will be them.”

I hadn’t realized we
had
a research facility for magic. But now that he brought it up, it made all kinds of sense for there to be one. “Shouldn’t I be taking the ‘treasure load’ to them as well?” Surely they were the most capable hands to receive all that knowledge.

“The Trasdee Evondit Orra will probably order just that,” Guin admitted. “But run the idea past them first.”

“Understood.”

Guin extended a hand to Hayden. After an uncertain beat, Hayden slipped his hand into that large, adult handshake. “I will see you later, Hayden,” Guin promised in a low voice. “And if there is anything that you need, don’t hesitate to call upon me.”

Hayden was definitely overwhelmed. Guin has that effect on people, sometimes. “T-thank you,” he managed.

Guin nodded and released him before returning his attention to me. “See him settled before you do anything with your treasure load.”

I bowed in agreement.

“Oh, Garth…,” the King grinned at me slyly, as if paying me back for my revelation about the cache from the cave. “Perhaps when you have finished briefing the Council, you should swing by and pick up Trev’nor, before heading home. He was so disappointed when
I
had to tell him
you were leaving on your last jaunt. I’m sure he will be excited to meet his new brother.”

Trev’nor! I mentally slapped myself on the back of the head twice. He would go crazy when he met Hayden, another brother and a fellow Mage to boot! Trev’nor spoke Chahirese, and was picking up the Hainian language and customs fast. Besides, his not-exactly-subtle brand of affection and friendship was just what Hayden needed. I had no doubts that he and Hayden would be inseparable in no time, despite the difference in their ages.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I grinned back at him in return. I should have known I wouldn’t be able to hold an edge on Guin for long. With that the King gave us a farewell wave, picked up the cookie he had been hiding under the cover of his book, and went back to his research. I smiled to myself, shook my head, and reached for the door handle. Some things never change.

~*~

I took Hayden with me to the Trasdee Evondit Orra. The first five minutes were civil. They talked to Hayden, put him to the triangle test, and confirmed that, yes, he was an Elemental Mage. Unusually, he was a well-rounded Elemental Mage, with equal capabilities in each element and no special affinity for one in particular. To be able to turn any element to his will was an amazing feat. When he was fully trained, this boy would be a force to reckon with.

Everyone in the council spent a few moments
oohing
and
ahhing
over this development, delighted by such a rarely talented Mage.

It went downhill from there.

En-Nelle of Tain, as usual, was the problem. Her voice was sharp and irate, squawking like a bat trapped in full sunlight. “Magus Rhebengarthen, you do not have the authority to make decisions about the futures of Mages!”

I settled into a parade rest, just looking at her. “Lady En-Nelle, Hayden is not old enough to attend the Academy yet anyway. He is more advanced at this stage than most, but by no means is he ready to actively use magic. You have no use for him at this point. What possible harm can come from him being adopted into my family?”

O’danne started chuckling, which earned him a dark glare from En-Nelle. “Garth, my boy, I think Chatta is rubbing off on you. That was quite blunt.”

It
was
rather undiplomatic in tone. “I gave this boy my word that he would be adopted by my parents,” I said in a soft tone. Everyone in the room abruptly shut up and tensed, staring at me in surprise. “I will not allow my honor to be forsworn because of ridiculous pride. Hayden doesn’t understand Hainish, or have any idea how to cope with this culture. He needs a grounding, something he understands, until he can come to terms with his magic and this country. En-Nelle of Tain, surely you can comprehend
that
.”

“I suggest listening to him, Nellie,” Doss suggested in a firm tone. “Garth knows from personal experience what the transition is like. Besides—” he gave me a subtle wink “—
I
don’t care to make an enemy of the Advent Mage.”

That ludicrous title again….

I decided it was time to switch tactics. “Besides, I thought you would be more interested in the items we found in the cave.”

That got her undivided attention. “What items?”

I described the find in casual terms. Each of them assembled in the council chambers was hanging on my every word, as avid as a starving man watching a steaming plate of food. When I finished, I think En-Nelle was actually drooling.

“Where is it now?” she asked eagerly.

“Oh, I brought it with me,” I assured her casually. “It’s in Hain.”

That didn’t exactly answer the question, and she knew it. She frowned thoughtfully at the boy standing so quiet and nervous at my side.

“All I want is Hayden,” I said with calm emphasis. “I’ll happily deliver everything else wherever you want it.”

Her greed did her in. One untrained Mage couldn’t compete with the knowledge I had hidden in my sitting parlor. She quickly backtracked. “Rhebengarthen, you do have a point about the young Mage. Feel free to make any arrangements you feel necessary. But he
will
attend the Academy as soon as he turns fourteen.”

That firm tone didn’t even make a dent with me. “Of course, Lady En-Nelle. Where would you like me to put the memory crystals and such?”

“Bring them here, for now. Are you returning immediately to Chahir?”

“No, I’m staying overnight.”

“Then come again tomorrow morning. I want to examine everything first. If there’s too much for us to handle here, I will have you take it to the Sojavel Ra Institute.”

Guin certainly called that one. I bowed in agreement, and ushered Hayden out the door.

Hayden hadn’t understood a word of that discussion, so I had to recap it for him as we went back to the Palace. It took bare minutes to transport the lot of it back to the Academy. The Trasdee Evondit Orra fell on the crates like ravaging wolves. I quickly escaped before any fur could start flying, taking Hayden to safety with me.

I explained to Hayden about Trev’nor, and how he came to be living in Del Hain, on the brief hop over to his home. We surfaced on the street, just outside his yard, where he was playing with a ball. When he saw me, he let out a shriek of delight, and made an impossible leap over the fence into my arms.

“Garth!” he screamed into my ear, as he hugged life out of me. “I didn’t know you were coming home!”

When I finally managed to get enough air to get my words out I replied, “It was a surprise. I’ve brought you a new brother!” With that, he scanned quickly over my shoulder and spotted Hayden. Trev’nor immediately let go of my neck and dropped to the ground. Using his most polite manners he bowed and introduced himself. “I am Trev’nor,” he solemnly intoned, in perfect Chahirese.

Hayden’s eyes went wide as he took in his new brother, and stammered, “Thank you for the gift of your name. I am Hayden.”

With the formal introductions over, Trev’nor launched himself into Hayden’s arms, and Hayden returned his embrace like his life depended upon it. I had known that Trev’nor would respond like this—maybe it was the Tonkawacon influence, but he just adopted everyone around him. At this moment, such complete acceptance was exactly what Hayden needed.

Trev’nor pulled back, and started asking a million questions of his new brother, which Hayden was trying to answer just as quickly. Tension bled from his face and shoulders as Hayden realized that Trev’nor honestly thought of him as a brother now. The most beautiful, breathtaking smile softened his face.

I just stood there with tears standing in my eyes, thanking the gods for the gift of family.

~*~

My parent’s house looked as it had last time, only slightly more lively. I had a suspicion that everyone was home this time, unlike last time. When I opened the door, I called in, “I’m here!”

“Garth!” Asla was the first to appear, running toward me.

I caught her in a quick hug, pleased to see how energetic she looked. The last time I’d seen her, she was still recovering from her daughter’s birth. It had taken a few months for Asla to really come to grips with what almost happened to her and her son, Aral. Not every woman has to face being turned in by their own husband to be burned at the stake.

But being adopted into the family truly helped her. She was much livelier now, laughing and smiling more easily. It did my heart good to see it. Healing
was
possible, given enough time, support, love and patience.

She drew back, smiling brilliantly up at me. “I never expected to see you back so soon! Or…
are
you back?”

“Only overnight,” I answered. “Is Night here?”

“I was out when he visited,” she admitted. “He took Da out for some kind of shopping that Mom insisted on.” Asla reached down and gave Trev’nor a bear hug and added, turning to Hayden, “This must be the young Mage.” She dropped down to Hayden’s level, expression curious but friendly.

“Hayden, this is my sister Asla,” I introduced. “Asla, this is Hayden. He is an Elemental Mage.” For Hayden’s benefit, Trev’nor leaned over and whispered into his ear, “Hayden, Asla is an adopted sister, too!”

He perked up at this, looking very interested.

Asla nodded in confirmation. “Yes, I am. I understand that you will soon be my adopted brother, too. Is that right, Hayden?”

Ah, so my parents
had
agreed. I hadn’t expected anything different, but it was nice to have that confirmed.

Hayden was torn between smiling and crying, I think. “Yes, I am,” he whispered with a thick voice.

Asla just smiled at him. “Then, welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.” There were definitely tears standing in his eyes.

“Garth!” my mother exclaimed, appearing from upstairs. “There you are; it’s about time. Where’s my new son?”