The Reluctant Mage: Book One in the Zandar Series (10 page)

All students in the orphanage were required to help its operations in some way. Given that Marko had arrived mid-semester, few jobs remained. He was put on the detail to clean the Administration building. He did not mind, as it gave him a chance to talk with Baltar from time to time. He also joined a group of two other students that were more than glad to have the help.

Cleaning the offices also allowed him to hear the latest gossip. The faculty at the school often seemed to forget there were students in their midst, especially in the evenings. The topic of most interest to Marko was the progression of the war with Kastav. He overheard about many skirmishes that had taken place the months since he had been at the school. He learned that Kastav had scored a notable victory in a remote pass in the North of Bakar. That told Marko that his village would not be liberated anytime soon.

One evening, he had just finished cleaning the basement store room when he decided to walk upstairs to see if Baltar was still on duty. When he reached the top, he was disappointed to see that his lamp was off. Marko turned around and was about to climb down the stairs when he heard his name.

“Marko, is that you? Just the person I needed to see,” said Headmaster Sorrell. “Please come in.”

Marko walked into the headmaster’s office and approached his desk.

“I just received a sheet from the House Lazard. It seems that they have accepted your application for internship. Congratulations.”

Marko almost jumped for joy! His teacher told him not to get his hopes up, but it had been hard not to think about it night and day.

“That’s wonderful, Headmaster, and thank you. I was hoping I would get it, but Teacher Machon said not to get my hopes up.”

“As he should have. Did he tell you that House Lazard has never taken a student from the orphanage? We have had students intern and join many of the Minor Houses, but there is a big difference between the two.”

“No, Headmaster. Teacher Machon just said that Journeyman Pollet had several internships available and that we were to apply if interested.”

“He didn’t tell you that the Journeyman that came to lecture did it as a favor to his uncle? That uncle happens to be your teacher Marko. By giving you that slot, there is some bureaucrat in the city pretty angry that his son or daughter was not selected. Those few slots are filled by applicants throughout all of Zandar. That is why congratulations are in very good order. That is twice in a month you have brought honor to the orphanage. Keep these up and I will have to put your statue on the wall.”

“What? I mean, what do you mean about putting a statue of me on the wall?”

“I forget that you have been here less than a semester. This orphanage has been around for decades, Marko; long before Emperor Rau came to power. King Kastav’s great-great-grandfather started it via royal edict. Through the years, we have had graduates that have achieved great things. Most were in the military, but there are statues of men that made their marks in banking and trade. There is even a statue of a man that went up forty years ago because he killed a man who flirted with the queen. He was a King’s Guard. Most have deserved the honor, though. Have you ever looked at the statue above the back gate?”

Marko shook his head. “Then I encourage you to go there tomorrow and study the man. He graduated from this orphanage over thirty years ago. Made something of a name for himself in the military.”

“Now, on to other things. As an intern for House Lazard, you are expected to report to its Rau City trading house every morning before sunrise. You will be provided House uniforms that you will wear anytime you leave the orphanage property. Your pay will be one silver piece per week. The length of your contract is until the end of next semester. Should you successfully complete your internship, you will likely be offered a full time clerk position. They really don’t have a choice you know. They can’t afford to have someone who understands any part of their operations being hired by another House.”

“Now as far as the orphanage, you represent an interesting situation for us. Any internship into a Minor House is cause for an elevation for the student. That would automatically make you a brown. No one has even interned at a Major House. The closest example to this was that person I told you to study on the wall. In his case, he was accepted into the Imperial Army with a commission of Cadet. That was the rank of a graduate from the old Royal Academy. That person was a brown and he was graduated immediately.”

“The army also has an eye on you based upon your performance at the assessment. I am sure you could enlist now if that is your desire, but that would put you at a private. Officially they can’t touch you though, because you have another year to go here.”

“I talked this over with some of the other faculty and we have come to the decision to advance you to white. Your book skills are at the level of many whites and your steel skills are beyond all.”

Marko was not sure he understood what this really meant to him. “Headmaster. I don’t know how to thank you enough. How do I actually move into a white? What classes do I take, I mean, what do I do?”

Headmaster Sorrell chuckled. “Don’t worry Marko. The semester just ended. Several reds are being advanced to white, including your friend Baltar. As a white you no longer live in the barracks. Each white shares a room in the west dormitory. I have already made arrangements for the two of you to share a room. I have asked him to help you transfer your kit. You have the privilege to leave the orphanage on weekends, but remain in the city. Now go and enjoy your weekend. You don’t start your internship for several days.”

Marko slowly walked down the stairs. He could not believe how the last ten minutes changed his life. He was now on the path to a career. Arguably a shaky path, but a path nonetheless. He told himself that he would not waste this opportunity with House Lazard.

Once he exited the building, he saw Baltar waiting for him with a big grin on his face. “About time he got through with you! We barely have time to make it!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, never mind. Just follow me. I want to show you our new room.”

The west dormitory was not far from the sparring ground. In fact he realized later that he could look down on it from his bedroom window. The dormitory was reserved only for whites; those students that the orphanage believed were ready to enter into a profession in service to the Empire. It had the same red stone exterior, but the interior was framed in wood. As they entered the building Baltar told him the building had caught fire years ago. The orphanage hired the Carpenters Guild to completely rebuild the interior.

They only walked up one flight of stairs and stopped on a large landing. “Our room is the last one on the right. It is actually the largest room in the building and reserved for two senior whites. Well, those two just graduated into the Army and by some bureaucratic snafu, it was not re-assigned until today.” Baltar looked at Marko with a grin. “Since I am in charge of recommending room assignments to the Headmaster, I guess I am to blame!”

The two of them walked into a spacious room at least twenty feet square. There were two narrow beds and two desks against the walls. Instead of lockers at the foot of the beds, there were two medium sized armoires. Each had initials caved all over them.

“It’s kind of a tradition. Whites get to carve their initials when they graduate. I doubt these are original since the building burned down once. Still kind of a cool tradition. I took the liberty of having your kit transferred over.”

Marko opened the armoire, expecting to see his usual grays hanging up. Instead his eyes opened wide when he saw gleaming white shirts, pants and tunics.

“The only thing you wear that isn’t white is your boots. Just not practical. The ones you have on will do just fine for tonight.”

“Tonight? What do you mean tonight?”

“Advancement party, Marko. We were advanced today with four other reds. They have already left. We need to change and catch up.”

“Wait. Catch up to where?”

“Why, the Rusted Crown of course. That has been the hangout of whites for years. And I mean ALL whites. Let’s go!”

Marko walked through the courtyard with Baltar, still looking at his clothes. He felt self conscious in his white uniform. Even as a boy, he had worn grays and browns. It was more out of practicality than anything else. White was the worst color to wear in a smithy or excavating a cave.

As they walked out of the orphanage, Marko stared up at the statues lining the wall. “Oh, that reminds me. The headmaster told me to look at a statue on the other side of the orphanage by the exit gate. Said something about him graduating as an officer. I guess he did something heroic.”

Baltar look sideways at him. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. He was a majer when that statue was cast. He had just put down the Baraque uprising; probably saved the Royal family as a result.”

“Is he anyone famous?”

“Ever heard of Rece Rau?”

“You mean Emperor Rau!? He is a graduate of the orphanage?”

“Yep. Every student who turns white is told to go look at the statue. The point the faculty tries to make is that even an orphan can be an Emperor. That is not exactly true, of course, there can only be one Emperor and he really doesn’t want to give up his job. A better point is that orphans are given the tools and opportunity to achieve great things.”

“Think of your opportunity at House Lazard. Yes, I read his mail too. Anyway, do you think you would ever be considered for an internship if you walked up to the Lazard compound and asked? Unless you come from a merchanter family, there is no way anybody can get the kind of training that the Imperial Orphanage offers. Mark my words; you will have it tough there. I am sure there will be clerks and other that will resent you and your status. Just remember, money solves problems at merchant houses. You make enough money for them and they won’t care if you walk around town in a dress. Ah, here we are.”

They had stopped in front of a large, two story inn. Hanging from a pole in front was a large metal crown hung upside down. Nearly every inch was covered in red rust.  There was a balcony across the entire second floor complete with tables and chairs. No one was sitting outside, no doubt due to the winter weather setting in. Pretty soon he would need a jacket.

With the thought of how he could afford a jacket, they stepped into the inn. They entered a large common room with four long tables easily thirty feet long. Marko noticed that two of the tables were completely occupied. It looked to him like it was a combination of guests as well as local store owners from the neighborhood. He even saw a teacher from the orphanage eating a large roasted chicken with several men he had not seen before.

“Should we take the empty table?” Marko offered.

“No, not that one. That is reserved for the government. Soldiers mostly, but I have seen a mage or two. Our destination is upstairs.”

“I thought only whites could leave the orphanage, Baltar? How come you know so much about this place?”

“Reds can leave with permission. That’s the rule. It is amazing how many errands an assistant can run for our esteemed Headmaster Sorrell.”

Both boys laughed as they walked up stairs to the balcony level.

The balcony was small. It fit one long table about twelve feet long. It overlooked the main room of the inn. Marko followed Baltar and sat at the end of the table. It was the only space available as other whites were already sitting at the table.

Marko froze. Those weren’t just whites. There were three girls wearing whites at the table too. Now he understood why Baltar mentioned all whites would be there. He meant girls that were advanced from the girl’s orphanage too. He had heard that the girls had an orphanage not far away, but he had not seen it when he travelled with his uncle.

“Hey everyone, this is Marko. A gray in the morning and white by night! Marko this is Burrell and Tolkar. They advanced with me today. Then comes Klor and Firne. They have been whites for a semester but were kind enough to join the festivities. Ah, that’s all I know. I am Baltar by the way, for all of you at the end of the table.”

“Hi, Baltar. I’m Alma. I was advanced last semester too. I have brought these two in their gleaming new whites. To my left is Anne and that is Margaret across from me.”

“Hi. Hi.”

“Pleased to meet you three, now please pass the red berry juice. Too bad Drazen down there won’t give us ale.”

Burrell looked over the ledge. “Or let us sit with the others. It’s not like we aren’t considered adults already. Tryll just left for the army and he is sixteen.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with age,” shrugged Baltar. “Drazen knows that he will be in hot water if any of us orphans got drunk and into trouble. Pretty smart guy, come to think of it.”

Marko soon joined in the discussion with the other boys at the table. He occasionally looked over at the girls, especially Anne. He had never seen a girl look like her. The fact that he only knew about five girls from his village did not count. He did not look long for fear of her catching him staring. Everyone in Bakar had black hair. She had long light brown hair and blue eyes. She must have a good sense of humor because she was constantly laughing at Alma’s jokes.
How do I talk to her? Probably no way as long as she is on the other side of the table.

He realized that the uniforms the girls wore were different. Where the boys wore tunics over their shirts and pants, the girls wore long dresses. They looked to be of the same wool the boys wore. Both Anne and Margaret had white ribbons woven in their hair. He wondered if that was just because they were celebrating tonight.

About two marks later, Baltar gave him a nudge. “We can leave the orphanage on the weekends but we are not allowed to stay out all night. It is a mark from midnight; time for us to go.”

All the other students followed their lead. Marko noticed that if anything, the crowd had increased downstairs. He also saw that the soldier’s table was completely full.
I guess they all came off shift.

“Good night, Marko.”

He turned and saw Margaret walk past him and smile. “Ah, good night,” he stammered.

Anne looked at him briefly too and smiled before the three girls walked out of the inn.

Baltar laughed as soon as they left the inn. “Not too much experience with girls, huh?”

“Not with girls from the city. Well, ok not much experience anywhere else either. There were a few girls my age back at Bakar. There really wasn’t much time to talk. I was working at my Pa’s smithy six days a week.”

“Well now things will change for you. You have a job! That means you have a future. Trust me, that puts you in front of a lot of boys in the city.”

One thing Marko was sure of; things were indeed going to change.