everything we needed, but the translations we recovered from the ship proved to be essential-for the first stage at least. Lord Jarrod remains confident.’
‘So you say. I’m hoping your results will prove your words. So far, your promises haven’t been worth a dog’s fart. Anyway, Cang wants to see you when he arrives. You can do your explaining to him.’
‘Very well,’ Ash stated. ‘I’ll meet you then.’
A chair scraped against wood and footsteps sounded. Samuel’s heart leapt and he readied to throw himself over the balcony, when the footsteps faded away down a hallway.
‘Damned black-cloaks!’ the mage inside muttered to himself.
Samuel crept slowly down the balcony to the far end of the tavern and then carefully climbed the rail, dropping to the yard below. He pondered the men’s conversation as he followed the alley, his thoughts disrupted only when he noticed his wicker container was gone.
‘Damned thieves!’ Samuel swore under his breath and stepped carefully into the street. There was no sign of Master Ash and so Samuel began back towards the school grounds. It seemed obvious that there was a conspiracy at work and Lord Jarrod and Master Ash were involved. Samuel had no idea who Balten or Cang were, but he did not think they were part of the Order and he had no idea what they were up to, but their words did not carry the tone of good intention. Samuel would talk with Master Glim about this; he was sure to know what to do.
Samuel hurried into the school, ignoring the horrified expressions of the old Masters at his naked chest as he passed. After returning to his dormitory and putting on another dark shirt, he made directly for Master Glim’s quarters.
Master Glim was inside dusting his room, when Samuel knocked and entered.
‘Ah, Samuel,’ the Master called in greeting. ‘What puzzle has brought you to my door today?’
‘I’ve just heard something disturbing, Master Glim, and I need your advice,’ Samuel replied.
Master Glim detected Samuel’s tone and ceased his dusting, putting his long-handled brush aside. ‘Come. It’s a lovely day. Why don’t we walk in the grounds while we talk? You seem to have some weight on your shoulders today.’
‘Actually,’ Samuel replied hesitantly. ‘It’s something that requires some privacy.’
‘Oh? Very well, then,’ Master Glim granted with a raised eyebrow. ‘What is it?’
‘Do you know of Master Ash?’
‘I do,’ Master Glim responded.
‘I followed him to a tavern, where he met another mage, who I’m sure is not of the Order. They began discussing some plot and Lord Jarrod is involved. It was all very secretive and I couldn’t hear any exact details, but I’m sure there is something going on. They’re planning something. ’
‘Samuel,’ Master Glim began solemnly. ‘Lord Jarrod is
‘But it sounds serious. They were talking about someone called Balten and all these other men.’
‘Samuel,’ Master Glim said, shaking his head. ‘I’m sure it’s not serious. I’m not surprised that Lord Jarrod is dealing outside the Order. Sometimes they do these things. It’s best to leave them to their games and concentrate on your studies. The councillors can take care of themselves. They’re schemers and plotters, the lot of them and it’s far wiser to give them a wide berth. Now, I honestly recommend that you don’t go following anyone else and mind your own business when it comes to the Council’s affairs.’ Samuel was disappointed, but Master Glim continued. ‘And don’t go telling anyone about this. You’ll only get yourself into trouble.’
Samuel realised he was getting nowhere and nodded in agreement. He felt that his teacher was merely brushing him aside, that no amount of arguing would serve to change his mind. ‘I understand, Master Glim. I’m sure you’re right. I shall see you at tonight’s class, then.’
‘Very well,’ Master Glim replied, bearing a smile once again. ‘And no more nonsense. You have a lot of study to do.’
Samuel left the magician’s quarters and made back for his dormitory. He was disappointed that Master Glim had not taken him more seriously, for he was sure there was something about to happen. The two Erics were intrigued when he told them, but after a few days with no new occurrences, they lost interest in the plot and scolded Samuel whenever he attempted to raise the subject. Several times Samuel found an excuse to pass by Dargill’s Tavern, but he could feel no hint of any magicians there. Of Master Ash, there was also no sign. The man seemed to have disappeared from the city altogether. A few discrete questions told Samuel he had left Cintar for Hammenton on the business of the Council. With no further leads to follow, Samuel finally gave up searching for a conspiracy and returned his attention to his waning studies.
One bitter morning, whilst the city was gripped by the heart of winter, Master Jod and Master Rubrick had all the Adept standing idly in the school grounds. The students stood rubbing their hands together and stamping their feet for warmth. The two Masters were talking quietly, waiting for the last of the students to arrive and take their places. The rain had stopped since the wild storm of the previous night, yet the ground was still a muddy slurry. The wind had a chilly sting to it, causing everyone-bar the Masters-to don their hoods and draw them tight around their faces.
‘Gather closer now, students,’ Rubrick then called out loudly and everyone shuffled nearer. ‘I don’t want to lose my good voice by arguing with this wind.’
Rubrick was a peculiar fellow. He had an unusual way of stringing words together and a level of patience far beyond any of the other teachers. His skin was quite olive and his eyes were slightly angled. Some said he was from the western islands or beyond, for the deep ocean was treacherous to traverse and little was known about those far flung reaches.
‘To begin today’s lesson-’ Jod began. He was much sterner and to-the-point compared with his counterpart. ‘-I would like you all to remove yer robes.’
Everybody looked to each other, unsure and they began murmuring. Samuel rubbed his hands even harder at the mere thought.
‘Come on. Get ’em off,’ Jod demanded.
‘Come along, now,’ Master Rubrick said cheerily. ‘You will see the point soon enough. Samuel, how about you start everyone off?’
Samuel nodded, after he had recovered from the shock of the very thought, and he reminded himself never to stand so near the front again. As he pulled his robe up over his head, he could feel the icy cold wind blowing against his legs. As he stood in his thin shirt and trousers, a young apprentice ran over at Master Jod’s beckoning and took the robe from Samuel’s shivering hands.
‘Quickly, now,’ Rubrick said. ‘Don’t leave poor Samuel so cold and lonely.’
Jod was marching up and down in front of the group with a mildly sadistic smile on his face. ‘Off with yer robes. Come now! Quickly! It’s not
Samuel hugged himself desperately. The wind seemed to be blowing straight through his thin shirt, as the others begrudgingly did the same. When they were all half-naked and shivering in the wind, with their thick, warm garments piled up in the beckoning doorway of their dormitory, Master Rubrick motioned for them to gather even closer, and they were all glad to do so.
‘Now listen closely,’ he began. ‘Ignore the cold and biting wind. Do not listen to the complaints of your body. Close your eyes and grasp your power-just a little. Let a little magic trickle through your veins.’
Samuel closed his eyes, biting hard to stop his teeth from chattering. In the darkness, all he could feel was the freezing wind and his body trembling. Hopefully, he would go numb soon and the discomfort would end. Perhaps he would pass out, he thought to himself. That would be even better.
He could feel magic being summoned around him and quickly tuned his mind to do the same. Innumerable sessions of practice came back to him and his mind soon found that state he required to spell and sweet magic came pouring into him. As always, it took a little effort to stop from filling himself completely, for the joy of magic was ever enticing. For a moment, the cold was forgotten but, as the initial euphoria had ended, the wind and cold came gnawing back at him.
‘Very good,’ Rubrick’s voice sounded. ‘It is no small task to summon magic with such a distraction as your own discomfort. Now, follow the flows that we dictate, gently.’
Samuel at once felt Master Jod’s power around him. It was a subtle spell, cyclic and repetitive in nature, but
