Magician (9 page)

Tomas put down his plate, troubled. “I
don’t know. It’s just that sometimes I think this will
all somehow change. You’re going to be a magician, maybe travel
over the world, seeing other magicians in faraway lands. I’m
going to be a soldier, bound to follow my lord’s orders I’ll
probably never see more than a little part of the Kingdom, and that
only as an escort in the Duke’s personal guard, if I’m
lucky.”

Pug became alarmed. He had never seen
Tomas so serious about anything. The older boy was always the first
to laugh and seemed never to have a worry. “I don’t care
what you think, Tomas,” said Pug “Nothing will change. We
will be friends no matter what.”

Tomas smiled at that. “I hope
you’re right.” He sat back, and the two boys watched the
stars over the sea and the lights from the town, framed like a
picture by the castle gate.

Pug tried to wash his face the next
morning, but found the task too arduous to complete. His left eye was
swollen completely shut, his right only half-open Great bluish lumps
decorated his visage, and his jaw popped when he moved it from side
to side. Fantus lay on Pug’s pallet, red eyes gleaming as the
morning sun poured in through the tower window.

The door to the boy’s room swung
open, and Kulgan stepped through, his stout frame covered in a green
robe. Pausing to regard the boy for a moment, he sat on the pallet
and scratched the drake behind the eye ridges, bringing a pleased
rumble from deep within Fantus’s throat. “I see you
didn’t spend yesterday sitting about idly,” he said.

“I had a bit of trouble, sir.”

“Well, fighting is the province
of boys as well as grown men, but I trust that the other boy looks at
least as bad. It would be a shame to have had none of the pleasure of
giving as well as receiving.”

“You’re making sport of
me.”

“Only a little, Pug. The truth is
that in my own youth I had my share of scraps, but the time for
boyish fighting is past. You must put your energies to better use.”

“I know, Kulgan, but I have been
so frustrated lately that when that clod Rulf said what he did about
my being an orphan, all the anger came boiling up out of me.”

“Well, knowing your own part in
this is a good sign that you’re becoming a man. Most boys would
have tried to justify their actions, by shifting blame or by claiming
some moral imperative to fight.”

Pug pulled over the stool and sat down,
facing the magician Kulgan took out his pipe and started to fill it
“Pug, I think in your case we may have been going about the
matter of your education in the wrong way.” Searching for a
taper to light in the small fire that burned in a night pot and
finding none, Kulgan’s face clouded as he concentrated for a
minute; then a small flame erupted from the index finger of his right
hand. Applying it to the pipe, he soon had the room half-filled with
great clouds of white smoke. The flame disappeared with a wave of his
hand “A handy skill, if you like the pipe.”

“I would give anything to be able
to do even that much,” Pug said in disgust.

“As I was saying, I think that we
may have been going about this in the wrong way. Perhaps we should
consider a different approach to your education.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pug, the first magicians long
ago had no teachers in the arts of magic. They evolved the skills
that we’ve learned today. Some of the old skills, such as
smelling the changes in the weather, or the ability to find water
with a stick, go back to our earliest beginnings I have been thinking
that for a time I am going to leave you to your own devices. Study
what you want in the books that I have. Keep up with your other work,
learning the scribe’s arts from Tully, but I will not trouble
you with any lessons for a while I will, of course, answer any
question you have. But I think for the time being you need to sort
yourself out.”

Crestfallen, Pug asked, “Am I
beyond help?”

Kulgan smiled reassuringly. “Not
in the least. There have been cases of magicians having slow starts
before. Your apprenticeship is for nine more years, remember. Don’t
be put off by the failures of the last few months.

“By the way, would you care to
learn to ride?”

Pug’s mood did a complete
turnabout, and he cried, “Oh, yes! May I?”

“The Duke has decided that he
would like a boy to ride with the Princess from time to time. His
sons have many duties now that they are grown, and he feels you would
be a good choice for when they are too busy to accompany her.”

Pug’s head was spinning. Not only
was he to learn to ride, a skill limited to the nobility for the most
part, but to be in the company of the Princess as well! “When
do I start?”

“This very day. Morning chapel is
almost done.” Being Firstday, those inclined went to devotions
either in the Keep’s chapel, or in the small temple down in the
town. The rest of the day was given to light work, only that needed
to put food on the Duke’s table. The boys and girls might get
an extra half day on Sixthday, but their elders rested only on
Firstday “Go to Horsemaster Algon, he has been instructed by
the Duke and will begin your lessons now.”

Without a further word, Pug leaped up
and sped for the stables.

P
ug
rode in silence.

His horse ambled along the bluffs that
overlooked the sea. The warm breeze earned the scent of flowers, and
to the east the trees of the forest swayed slowly. The summer sun
caused a heat shimmer over the ocean. Above the waves, gulls could be
seen hanging in the air, then diving to the water as they sought
food. Overhead, large white clouds drifted.

Pug remembered this morning, as he
watched the back of the Princess on her fine white palfrey. He had
been kept waiting in the stables for nearly two hours before the
Princess appeared with her father. The Duke had lectured Pug at
length on his responsibility toward the lady of the castle Pug had
stood mute throughout as the Duke repeated all of Horsemaster Algon’s
instructions of the night before. The master of the stables had been
instructing him for a week and judged him ready to ride with the
Princess—if barely.

Pug had followed her out of the gate,
still marveling at his unexpected fortune. He was exuberant, in spite
of having spent the night tossing and then skipping breakfast.

Now his mood was changing from boyish
adulation to outright irritation. The Princess refused to respond to
any of his polite attempts at conversation, except to order him
about. Her tone was imperious and rude, and she insisted on calling
him “boy,” ignoring several courteous reminders that his
name was Pug. She acted little like the poised young woman of the
court now, and resembled nothing as much as a spoiled, petulant
child.

He had felt awkward at first as he sat
atop the old grey dray horse that had been judged sufficient for one
of his skills. The mare had a calm nature and showed no inclination
to move faster than absolutely necessary.

Pug wore his bright red tunic, the one
that Kulgan had given to him, but still looked poorly attired next to
the Princess. She was dressed in a simple but exquisite yellow riding
dress trimmed in black, and a matching hat. Even sitting sidesaddle,
Carline looked like one born to ride, while Pug felt as if he should
be walking behind his mare with a plow between. Pug’s horse had
an irritating tendency to want to stop every dozen feet to crop grass
or nibble at shrubbery, ignoring Pug’s frantic kicks to the
side, while the Princess’s excellently trained horse responded
instantly to the slightest touch of her crop. She rode along in
silence, ignoring the grunts of exertion from the boy behind, who
attempted by force of will as much as horsemanship to keep his
recalcitrant mount moving.

Pug felt the first stirring of hunger,
his dreams of romance surrendering to his normal, fifteen-year-old’s
appetite. As they rode, his thoughts turned more and more to the
basket of lunch that hung from his saddle horn. After what seemed
like an eternity to Pug, the Princess turned to him. “Boy, what
is your craft?”

Startled by the question after the long
silence, Pug stammered his reply. “I . . . I’m
apprenticed to Master Kulgan.”

She fixed him with a gaze that would
have suited her had an insect been found crawling across a dinner
plate. “Oh You’re that boy.” Whatever brief spark
of interest there had been went out, and she turned away from him.
They rode awhile longer, then the Princess said, “Boy, we stop
here.”

Pug pulled up his mare, and before he
could reach the Princess’s side, she was nimbly down, not
waiting for his hand as Master Algon had instructed him she would.
She handed him the reins of her horse and walked to the edge of -the
cliffs.

She stared out to sea for a minute,
then, without looking at Pug, said, “Do you think I am
beautiful?”

Pug stood in silence, not knowing what
to say. She turned and looked at him. “Well?”

Pug said, “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Very beautiful?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Very
beautiful.”

The Princess seemed to consider this
for a moment, then returned her attention to the vista below. “It
is important for me to be beautiful, boy. Lady Mama says that I must
be the most beautiful lady in the Kingdom, for I must find a powerful
husband someday, and only the most beautiful ladies in the Kingdom
can choose. The homely ones must take whoever will ask for them. She
says that I will have many suitors, for Father is very important.”
She turned, and for a brief moment Pug thought he saw a look of
apprehension pass over her lovely features. “Have you many
friends, boy?”

Pug shrugged. “Some, Your
Highness.”

She studied him for a moment, then
said, “That must be nice,” absently brushing aside a wisp
of hair that had come loose from under her broad-brimmed riding hat.
Something in her seemed so wounded and alone that moment, that Pug
found his heart in his throat again. Obviously his expression
revealed something to the Princess, for suddenly her eyes narrowed
and her mood shifted from thoughtful to regal In her most commanding
voice she announced, “We will have lunch now.” Pug
quickly staked the horses and unslung the basket. He placed it on the
ground and opened it.

Carline stepped over and said, “I
will prepare the meal, boy. I’ll not have clumsy hands
overturning dishes and spilling wine.” Pug took a step back as
she knelt and began unpacking the lunch. Rich odors of cheese and
bread assailed Pug’s nostrils, and his mouth watered.

The Princess looked up at him “Walk
the horses over the hill to the stream and water them. You may eat as
we ride back. I’ll call you when I have eaten.”
Suppressing a groan, Pug took the horses’ reins and started
walking. He kicked at some loose stones, emotions conflicting within
him as he led the horses along. He knew he wasn’t supposed to
leave the girl, but he couldn’t very well disobey her either.
There was no one else in sight, and trouble was unlikely this far
from the forest. Additionally he was glad to be away from Carline for
a little while.

He reached the stream and unsaddled the
mounts, he brushed away the damp saddle and girth marks, then left
their reins upon the ground. The palfrey was trained to ground-tie,
and the draft horse showed no inclination to wander far. They cropped
grass while Pug found a comfortable spot to sit. He considered the
situation and found himself perplexed. Carline was still the
loveliest girl he had ever seen, but her manner was quickly taking
the sheen off his fascination. For the moment his stomach was of
larger concern than the girl of his dreams. He thought perhaps there
was more to this love business than he had imagined.

He amused himself for a while by
speculation on that. When he grew bored, he went to look for stones
in the water. He hadn’t had much opportunity to practice with
his sling of late, and now was a good time. He found several smooth
stones and took out his sling. He practiced by picking out targets
among the small trees some distance off, startling the birds in
residence there. He hit several clusters of bitter berries, missing
only one target out of six. Satisfied his aim was still as good as
always, he tucked his sling in his belt. He found several more stones
that looked especially promising and put them in his pouch. He judged
the girl must be nearly through, and he started toward the horses to
saddle them so that when she called, he’d be ready.

As he reached the Princess’s
horse, a scream sounded from the other side of the hill. He dropped
the Princess’s saddle and raced to the crest and, when he
cleared the ridge, stopped in shock. The hair on his neck and arms
stood on end.

The Princess was running, and close in
pursuit were a pair of trolls Trolls usually didn’t venture
this far from the forest, and Pug was unprepared for the sight of
them. They were humanlike, but short and broad, with long, thick arms
that hung nearly to the ground. They ran on all fours as often as
not, looking like some comic parody of an ape, their bodies covered
by thick grey hide and their lips drawn back, revealing long fangs.
The ugly creatures rarely troubled a group of humans, but they would
attack a lone traveler from time to time.

Pug hesitated for a moment, pulling his
sling from his belt and loading a stone, then he charged down the
hill, whirling his sling above his head. The creatures had nearly
overtaken the Princess when he let fly with a stone It caught the
foremost troll in the side of the head, knocking it for a full
somersault. The second stumbled into it, and both went down in a
tangle Pug stopped as they regained their feet, their attention
diverted from Carline to their attacker. They roared at Pug, then
charged. Pug ran back up the hill. He knew that if he could reach the
horses, he could outrun them, circle around for the girl, and be
safely away. He looked over his shoulder and saw them coming—huge
canine teeth bared, long foreclaws tearing up the ground. Downwind,
he could smell their rank, rotting-meat odor.