'When you wake in the morning, don't expect the day to be dull and miserable; just take it as it comes. You may believe it or not, as you choose, but the simple fact is that even some of the paying Students will be as unhappy as you are at being sent away. It's true they can go home twice a year, while you will have to stay here, but they have left their friends and families behind, just as you have.
'You may find you have more in common with those boys than you think, and some of them will become your friends, as unlikely as it appears right now.
'In a few days, the other Students will begin to arrive, and the Magemasters and the other mages will return from their retreats. I know then you'll begin to find this a busy and interesting place.'
Grimm proffered only a faint smile, although he could feel a real, wide grin trying to emerge. He knew what self-pity was, and that, unwittingly, he had been wallowing in its depths.
'I'm sorry, Dalquist. I will try to be happy.'
The mage shook his head slightly. 'No, Grimm, you don't understand. Trying to be happy never works. Sometimes you will be happy; sometimes you won't. Just don't ever, ever, try to be sad. Sometimes you won't be able to avoid misery, but that will happen much more often if you go looking for it.
'There, now, could that really be a genuine smile on that boy's face? Surely not; our new Student, Grimm Afelnor, isn't allowed to smile, is he?' Dalquist punctuated this last with a mock-stern stare.
Grimm giggled and his mouth, overruling his self-imposed misery, crumpled into a genuine smile at last. 'That's silly. Nobody wants to be sad.'
'Well then; in that case, we don't need to talk about it any more, do we?'
The small boy vigorously shook his head, the point taken. Then, with an abrupt change of subject, typical of a child his age, he asked, 'Why aren't you old, Dalquist? I mean really, really old?'
The mage knit his brows for just a moment, and then his face cleared.
'If you mean I'm very young to be a mage, that's true, Grimm,' he said. 'That's because I'm a Mage Questor. Questors don't take as long to learn as other magic-users because they make their own magic. We aren't so much taught as… encouraged to develop.
'Other types of mage take much longer to win the Staff, because they have to learn a separate incantation or thought pattern for each enchantment.'
'I didn't know there were different sorts of wizard… mage, that is,' Grimm said. 'I think I'd like to be a Questor, too, if it's that quick. My Granfer was a Questor,' he added with a tinge of newfound pride.
Dalquist laughed. 'Most Students feel the same way once they find out about Questors, for that reason above all,' he said. 'But I'm afraid it's not up to you, Grimm. Only the Magemasters can determine what sort of mage you'll become, if any. A lot of Students never become full mages at all, mostly because they give up.'
The mage's expression darkened a little. 'In your case, Grimm, failure to become a mage isn't a very appealing option, believe me. As a charity boy, you have to work off the expense of your tuition before you can leave, either as a mage or as a House servant. I really don't think you'd enjoy life as a House servant at all.
'On the other hand, I wouldn't worry too much about that prospect if you work hard and apply yourself to your studies. The Prelate doesn't give charity scholarships very often, and you can be sure that he only does so when he can see the glimmerings of some sort of talent.'
The Questor smiled again. 'I'm sure one day you'll be a mage, Grimm, but neither I nor anybody else could possibly say which kind. Still, I mustn't tell you too much about the training. The Magemasters will explain all to you in good time. Is there anything you'd like to ask me that doesn't involve becoming a mage?'
Grimm thought for a minute. 'You said that you were a charity boy like me. Did you have lots of friends here? Are they mages, too?'
'I never had a lot of friends, but the ones I made are good friends still. They're still here as what we call Neophytes or as Adepts, except for two wealthy boys who left. I've promised the others I'll make a point of being present at their Acclamation ceremonies if I can, and I make the same promise to you, Grimm; if I can, I'll make a point of coming to your ceremony; whenever it happens.'
'I'd like that, Dalquist. I'll work hard, I promise. Thank you for talking to me; I really feel a lot better now. Are there any other boys like me around?'
Dalquist shrugged. 'I'm afraid I don't know, Grimm. The next term starts in two weeks; there'll be plenty of other boys around then.'
Grimm's face fell. 'Will I be all on my own for two whole weeks?' Cold fingers of loneliness began to play again along his spine.
Dalquist looked a little lost. 'There's a yard where you can play,' he suggested.
Grimm felt close to tears again. 'But I can't play by myself, Dalquist!'
Dalquist cleared his throat, his face blank. 'What sort of things do you like to do, Grimm?'
'I like to read books when I can,' replied the child, with an earnest expression on his face. 'Granfer had quite a lot, and he let me read them when my chores were finished. They were big, grown-up books. There were some about birds and animals and plants, and a lot of them had nice pictures. I can read books that don't have any pictures, though,' he hurriedly assured the mage.
Dalquist's face cleared, and he held out his hand to the boy. 'Follow me then, Grimm. I have something to show you.' He led Grimm out of his cell and into the long corridor.
There were ten cell doors like Grimm's on each side of the passageway, all of which were open and none of which showed any signs of occupancy. 'Are you sure there aren't any other charity boys like me here, Dalquist?' asked Grimm, with a slight tremor at the thought that he might be alone in this dismal corridor for a whole fortnight.
'There is a total of eleven charity Students. Although, there's only to be one other to join us this year, and I don't believe he's arrived yet. There may be other boys of about your age around, but I'm afraid, offhand, I don't know of any. If there are any, they're probably either in the recreation yard or in study rooms. Very few people bother with what I am about to show you. You'll like it, Grimm, I promise.'
Tense with expectation, Grimm followed Dalquist to the end of the dark passage. Nearly hidden in shadow was a plain wooden door. The mage opened it and led Grimm up a winding stone staircase, holding tight to the boy's hand, lest Grimm stumble and fall in the near darkness. At the top was another simple door with a gnarled, pitted black ring for a handle. Opening it, Dalquist led the young Student into what, to the child, seemed like a wonderland.
Racks and racks of books stretched to the ceiling and off into the depths of a huge room, a labyrinth of beguiling complexity, full of mystery and promise. Each rack was filled to capacity with books, and Grimm stared in awe at the wealth of literature before him, eyes nearly popping from his head.
A musty but pleasant smell filled the room, and motes of dust danced like fugitive fireflies in the soft rays of light emitted from radiant globes high above.
'This is the Scholasticate library, Grimm,' the mage said in a soft voice. 'Most Students only come here to retrieve a book, and then retreat to their cells or a crowded study room. You may use this library as you wish in your free time and, if you sit in one of the corner alcoves, you'll be left in peace to read to your heart's content.
'I was never much of a reader myself, but, when I wanted to be alone, I found that this was the ideal spot. It is always well lit and warm, even in the depths of the bitterest winter, which is more than can be said for a charity boy's cell. Do you like it?'
Grimm felt as if his eyes would burst from his head, and he felt himself unable to speak.
'Breathe, Grimm! You look like you were about to burst.'
The boy tore his gaze away from the bookshelves and looked up at Dalquist with a beatific expression on his face.
'Oh Dalquist, the books!' he cried. 'The lovely books! It's wonderful! Can I really read any of them if I want?'
Dalquist smiled. 'If you want, but to be truthful, some are a little dry and others will be a little old for you. But there is a lot to read, more than a man could read in even a mage's lifetime. Would you like me to tell Doorkeeper that you will be staying here until lunch?'
Still eying the literary bounty, Grimm breathed, 'Oh, yes, please, Dalquist. I do love books so.'
'In that case, Grimm, I'm more than happy to do so. I'm afraid I must leave you now, as I have a few duties to perform. I promise I'll try to see how you are getting on from time to time, whenever I'm here. We charity boys
