Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (18 page)

“I was brought here by Gideon. Tovrik sent him to the town I was staying in as a kind of test. Who can say what would have happened if Gideon had not noticed my little act was helped with magic.”

“What did you do?” Both she and Vaughn had started to grin.

“Well, I was a bard, you see. Not a very good one to tell the truth. My playing was never as good as my words and not all folks liked my voice. Danarians are not so loved in some places. So I needed something more and I found out that I could do a few tricks to make the tales come to life a bit. Say a shining light would glow at the right time or the tables would shake as I told of the giant’s footsteps. Thankfully, in most taverns and inns I went to folk were drunk enough to think it was just my telling that took them in so much. Though more than once I had to flee before they could get the rope or start the fire. Anyway, that’s how Gideon found me.”

“Why did Gideon say you were an artless bard? To my ears it sounds that you were quite an imaginative one.”

“I am artless in the sense that though I be magical I have no art. I am no charmer, as you can tell no doubt.” Caleigh smirked appreciatively. “I am not an Illusionist, nor am I good with herbs and such and I would not even wish for a talent in sorcery. Therefore I am artless. Some see that as a curse I prefer to think of it as freedom. I am not tethered to any post.”

“Is that common amongst wizards?”

“I think the words ‘common’ and ‘wizards’ make for very uneasy friends at any time. A wizard’s power is as individual as the person.”

Tovrik and everyone else had long since departed the room and Caleigh and Vaughn followed suit wandering in no apparent direction back to the common area. Aethelbald had resumed his game with the wooden chips, oblivious to the room around him. Vaughn eyed him calculatingly for a moment. “So, now I’ve told you I have no art you might question what my role here is.” In truth no such thought had occurred to Caleigh but she let it pass to avoid interruption. “Not all magic fits into one of the four arts. Has Gideon told you this?”

“Yes, he said that elemental magic was possible for all wizards though your art would make you favour some elements more than others.”

“Ah good, so you know this already? Well, being artless myself you could say that elemental magic was my art. But don’t think the elementals of magic stop with water, fire, air and earth. There is energy and substance and the flow of time as well, but before I start sounding like Gideon I’ll just say there’s plenty to wizardry even without an art.”

“I doubt it not.”

“I’m also responsible for training in battle magic. At least I would be if any initiates ever came to practice.” Vaughn was speaking at Aethelbald now and slowly he began to notice.

“Something wrong?”

“I thought you could aid me in demonstrating the finer points of battle magic to Caleigh.”

“Me? Now?”

“Not now, shall we say tomorrow after lunch?” Vaughn said turning to Caleigh.

“Yes, of course though I’m not sure how I am meant to pass my days here yet.”

“Let me explain that to you as I show you the rest of Elevered then.”

“I would be most grateful.”

“Remember, tomorrow after lunch.” Vaughn repeated as they left.

Caleigh sat with Ceol throughout the evening meal, which was nearly as busy an occasion as at Crowbridge. The air of it was quite different there was not the heady, ribald, high spirits of Cynric’s hall. The conversation was at both a lower pitch and a higher level and for the most part Caleigh did not involve herself with it. She felt the need instead to stay close to those with whom she had travelled and barely a day ago had faced terrible danger. So much had filled her head since then that the events seemed farther removed than they were. One look at Ceol’s heavy brow was a sharp reminder of how close it still was.

The next morn he was gone and Caleigh’s new life at Elevered was to begin in earnest. From Vaughn she had gleaned how her study would progress. According to him most scholars used the morning, when the mind was fresh, to engage in research then after lunch, when the mind slowed but the body quickened, they found it helpful to do more practical activities. For those who served under Sir Edgar this meant physical training; for the wizards this often meant spell practice. The evenings were a time for review and reflection and it was at this time that the students decided which books to take from the library.

Though Vaughn insisted that this was merely the typical pattern and that it was her choice how she filled her hours, it seemed like a good way to begin. This morning then was a time to research and study the ideas behind magic, time to consult one of the masters about their art. Caleigh wondered about this. Part of her was interested to know about other arts. Could she do any of what Gideon or Tovrik could? Would she be able to learn what Dana knew? The appeal was strong and she knew there would be a time for it, nonetheless, her instincts told her that for now her best path to success lay in consolidating the skills of her own art and thusly headed for the Enchantment wing of the great library.

Aethelbald was not there. This in itself was not curious, it was relatively early and Aethelbald’s habits were firmly established. The strangeness in it was that Aethelbald had finished his breakfast before she and had told Rosamund that he was intending to go straight to the library. He certainly wasn’t to be seen in the common room or loitering about the sleeping chambers. This Caleigh knew because her quarters were on the same floor of the south-west tower, along with those of Ellie and Rosamund.

Ignoring this thought, Caleigh set about the modest, by the library’s standard, collection of volumes and scrolls pertaining to Enchantments. She amassed a small pile of these and arranged them about one of the study tables. From this selection her eyes was drawn first to a sheaf of parchments with pictures as well as text. The first line read: When studying the mysteries of Enchantment it is first important to know what can and what cannot be learned by each scholar. This seemed an ideal place to start.

Reading on, the piece went on to separate the Art into three distinct Disciplines or Paths. Few could master all three and even those who could, would struggle to make progress. This was less encouraging. On the other hand, with every Art there were some spells that many wizards could master. Where intuition was less important than study or a knowledge of magic the intricacy of the spell would yield itself to the right kind of mind. Did this mean she could learn some or most of Gideon’s tricks, she wondered, before reminding herself today was about Enchantment.

Further in, the text revealed what it hinted about in the introduction. Enchantment as an Art contained the paths of Charisma, Elementalism and Fatalism. Of the three only Elementalism could be learned by all wizards, yet it required the most study to master. Charisma unveiled itself more easily but only to those who were born with that quality. An Enchanter who was not naturally charismatic would never get far along that path. Lastly, there was Fatalism, which while less intellectually demanding than Elementalism, required an intuitive power far greater. The text concluded that this was the most demanding of all the three paths.

As she continued it became increasingly evident that the magic she had performed so far lay in the Charisma Discipline. This tallied too with what Gideon had told her and the observable effects of the spells she had cast. She found it interesting that this was also one of the Disciplines that many who did not think of themselves as wizards became well-versed in. The author even went on to speculate that many of history’s great heroes may well have unconsciously been invoking this magic in performing their famed deeds.

What did this mean for her, Caleigh questioned. The positive side seemed to be that she had every reason to expect her swift progress to continue. The negative side was the nagging doubt that this might be the only kind of magic she was able to do. If so many great heroes had never shown any other kind of magical talent it seemed to follow that perhaps that a talent in Charisma did not translate into a talent for magic in general.

Putting these thoughts aside, she ploughed on into the description of Elementalism Discipline. This path, unsurprisingly, related to the ability to charm and control the elements. Considering what both Gideon and Vaughn had told her about Elemental magic being a fundament shared by all wizards it made sense that this should be the aspect of her art that was accessible to most wizards. There was promise in this here at least was some part of her Art that she might not have to develop on her own.

The pages finished with a description of Fatalism; the Discipline in her Art that made Caleigh most uneasy. Her thoughts went back to Ranevark’s letter to Caerddyn and his hints that he might be able to alter the fates. This seemed a Godlike power and one with terrible consequences if misused. Accordingly, the author of the text apparently confirmed her theory. Fatalism was a dangerous path that dealt with the power to bless and curse in equal measure. If anything it was a comfort to know that this was the path most difficult to walk, power that great was not to be handed out easily.

19. The First Tasks

After lunch Vaughn led Caleigh to a room above the library with complex runework arrayed across its wrought copper and brass double doors. “This is, arguably, the most magical room in the castle. If it were not so, it would have been ravaged long ago by all the spell work that goes on in here. Worry not; no harm will befall you beyond these doors.”

“That is good to know.”

“Gideon tells me you’re uneasy about using magic as a weapon.”

“I am, or I was. I like not the thought of using my powers to cause harm but after what happened in the woods I am persuaded of its need. If I hadn’t any powers to call on I think Dana and I, at least, might be dead now. Anything that can help me keep safe those I care about is worth knowing.”

“Sure, and remember too, there are times when magic is the least harmful weapon available. Many of the most effective fighting spells fall far short of causing lasting wounds.” Vaughn winked at Caleigh encouragingly. “Shall we go in?”

The opening doors revealed a room like a banquet hall bereft of furnishing or tables and, unlike a banquet hall, its floor was covered with woven thatch that felt soft underfoot. Standing by what looked akin to a weapons rack stood Gideon, arms folded and leaning against the wall, and a nervous-looking Aethelbald.

“Ho there Gideon, I was not expecting you.”

“It was not my plan to be present but this one came to me mid-morning begging for my assistance. He seemed to think it was your intent to use him as some kind of living practise dummy this afternoon.”

“How could you think that, Aethelbald?” Vaughn asked in mock horror.

“Apparently he thought he was to be chastened for his laziness.”

“Perish the thought.”

“Worry not; I reassured him that this should not be his concern.” Gideon continued sardonically while looking sidelong at the sullen Aethelbald. “In truth his concern should be what Caleigh will do to him once they start practising.”

“Come now, you have chided Aethelbald quite enough.” Caleigh interceded. “As this is my first practice it is I who should feel most concerned.”

“Now that you say it Caleigh, it is well that Gideon is here. Perchance you and I should show something closer to a fair contest.”

“You flatter yourself.” Gideon retorted with a smirk.

“I know.” Vaughn moved over to the armour rack and Caleigh could now see it was filled with a range of wands and staffs as well as a series of padded surcoats of different sizes. Both Gideon and Vaughn donned the latter of these without prompting and replaced their outer robes over the top. “You may wonder why we use padded armour instead of mail or leather.” Vaughn said narrating the process. “That is for a number of reasons. Firstly, metal armour seems to interfere with most wizards’ magic.”

“Unless you are a Dragonard.” Gideon commented.

“Let’s keep it simple, shall we? Secondly, when a wizard is fighting another wizard sharp edges are less of a concern than impact blows, as you will see, and thirdly, we don’t stand our ground like a knight does so anything that inhibits movement too much is a bad thing.”

“And fourthly, heavy armour does not match our robes fittingly.” Gideon interjected.

“There is that as well.” Vaughn drew out two wands about a foot and a half long and tossed one to Gideon. “Now, if you and Aethelbald can make sure you stand outside of the white markings you will be protected from any stray spells.” Gideon paced towards the far end of the room and Vaughn the other. “I think we should start at the beginning.” With those words Vaughn flicked his wand and white spark seemed to connect from it almost instantaneously with Gideon’s hand causing it to twitch uncontrollably for a second so that he dropped his wand. At once Caleigh was put in mind of the shock one can get from a door handle on certain days. She had no time to expand on this thought for with no pause in between Gideon extended his hand and Vaughn was tipped onto his back with his legs flailing in the air. Both she and Aethelbald winced but Vaughn appeared to be unhurt when he righted himself. “Easy there, Gideon.”

“You struck ere I was ready. I was only repaying in kind.”

“I thought it good if they were able to see that one in effect. After all, this is supposed to be teaching.”

“Of course.” The two mages smiled at each other and then immediately swished their wands about their person. Watching carefully, Caleigh was able to spot shimmering walls and waves flowing up around them then disappearing just as suddenly.

“Did you not say that no harm could befall anyone here?” Caleigh inquired at this.

“No lasting harm.” Vaughn clarified. “So, anyway, what you just witnessed was the most basic fighting spell. A little spark and a little jolt can oft be enough to make your enemy drop his weapon or miss his shot.”

“Or spill his drink.” Gideon added.

“That too. For this reason we’d mostly aim it at his hand.”

“Why not start with something more powerful?” Aethelbald asked.

“You need to work up. Powerful spells are only possible once the energy really starts flowing. More powerful wizards can get there quicker but nobody starts with their best blast unless the spell is contained within an enchanted item. But that’s another subject. After our little exchange Gideon and I should be feeling more power than before so...” A bolt of energy like to the slenderest fork of lightning arced out from Gideon’s wand into Vaughn’s knee region where it dissipated around an invisible barrier.

“Thought I’d show the next step up. This is teaching, after all.” Gideon explained. Vaughn grinned ironically. “Yes, he’s right. That spell is essentially an enhanced form of the spark but instead of sending a little jolt it makes the muscles it hits go numb.”

“Which is why I went for the knee.”

“Why the knee? Surely the head is best.” Aethelbald questioned.

“Come here.” Vaughn beckoned. Aethelbald stepped over the white line and Vaughn hit him on the knee with the shock spell. At first it seemed to do nothing but when Aethelbald tried to retreat back over the line the affected leg folded beneath him bringing him to the floor. “In its advanced form this spell should be able to stun someone into sleep like a true punch to the chin.” Athelbald rolled himself over the white line fearing further demonstration.

“Do these variations count as distinct spells? After all, you told me you could not cast the same spell in quick succession.” Caleigh addressed to Gideon.

“Yes, they are distinct enough and in this way you can unleash a string of spells that are similar in origin.”

“For example though I cast the shocking form just moments ago...” Vaughn darted his wand towards Gideon and in a flash a red bolt of energy raced towards Gideon almost faster than the eye could track. Gideon was ready for it and he stood with his wand placed horizontally across the upheld palm of his other hand sending the projectile flying back the moment it made contact. Just as quickly. Vaughn pointed his wand downward and sped sideways in a blur. Gideon shot out at his new location with the binding cord he had shown Caleigh before, snaking it around Vaughn’s ankle. Before he could pull him downwards though Vaughn slashed his wand at the cord and it vanished allowing him to stumble backwards still on his feet. Gideon now thrust him palm outwards again and this time Vaughn had no defence and was projected backwards against the double doors with terrifying speed. His back did not make contact with the doors rather he seemed to bounce off a soft surface falling instead onto his knees and forearms.

From this prone position he waved his wand in a figure of eight motion and now Gideon was floored, though not nearly so violently, instead seeming carried on a heavy tide and tumbling to a stop. Vaughn was on his feet without appearing to have moved at all. A crack sounded out and Caleigh’s eyes were drawn to a pot she had not paid note to before. It fell apart into many pieces and out of it poured sand. The sand did not pour on the ground it fell into a stream as though being sucked to a space above Vaughn’s hand.

Gideon too had regained his feet by this time and from his wand came a streak of magenta flame that made Vaughn spring backward out the way so that it collided with another pot behind him exploding in a cloud of heated vapour. Now Vaughn took his chance to attack and drew back his hand, which held a solid ball of collected sand. Upon its release this sand burst into flame and it was as a fireball it came at Gideon. Mere inches before it made contact it exploded into a shower of flaming sand grains spraying over a large grey shield that had appeared in mid-air.

Expecting a counter attack at once Vaughn directed his wand at the uncollected sand turning it into a wall of crystal standing between him and any spell Gideon might cast his way. This quick thinking was not enough for Gideon’s next attack came not from ahead but from above as in a great flash forked lightning shot down from the ceiling and stuck him even where he crouched. For a moment Caleigh was concerned until Vaughn blinked and propped himself up on his back, exhausted but uninjured. “I yeild.” He said holding up a weary hand in surrender. Gideon bowed towards him then turned to Caleigh with a happy expression.

“That was amazing.” Aethelbald cheered.

“I’m glad you think so.” Gideon answered then turned back expectantly to Caleigh.

“Boys.” Caleigh sighed with a shake of her head. Both Vaughn and Gideon looked at her with disbelief. “Misunderstand me not, I agree with Aethelbald but...”

“But what?” Said Vaughn and Gideon in unison.

“Were we not meant to be learning the simplest spells to begin with? I could not even say which spells you were using there.”

“She has a point.” Vaughn conceded rising to his feet. “Shall we start from the beginning again?”

By the time the day was at an end Caleigh had made meaningful progress creating an energy spark that could travel at a reasonable speed. Her aim required much work, nevertheless, she was encouraged. Aethelbald, for whom this was not a first try, was more accurate and his wand work was quicker yet the power to successfully disarm was not yet in him. Even when Gideon dropped his shielding he was able to keep hold of his wand whereas on the occasion Caleigh was able to hit, Vaughn dropped his wand with such a start that he refused to practice without protection thereafter.

That night Caleigh took some of the reading material from the Enchanting wing with her to bed yet in the event found her gaze blurring after less than a minute. It had been a long day and a tiring one too. When sleep came she dreamt of Loreliath and for once it was not a vision, just one of the many things on her mind.

If the first few days at Elevered seemed impossibly long the next few weeks skipped past at alarming speed. Amidst her research and practice Caleigh could not tell one day from the next. Some changes she did note in her surroundings, though. Firstly, Tovrik was not as widely seen a presence as he appeared to be initially. From all she could gather he spoke with her more often than any others save Gideon and Sir Edgar. Oft he would leave the castle on an errand and would return days later with little fuss or mention of his absence. Some might have regarded this behaviour as remote; to Caleigh’s eyes it spoke of a man with much on his shoulders. Another absence was that of Gideon. The day they had practised in the duelling room was the last she saw him in that time. For the most part she relied on her own study of her art and on Vaughn for her furthering progress in elemental magic. In the evenings she would still most often spend time with Ellie, Dana and Penric and to this group were added Rosamund and Aethelbald. During these evenings Caleigh was to find out how the pair of them came to Elevered.

“I didn’t even know I was gifted for the longest time.” Aethelbald told. “It was clear with Rosamund. Since she was about twelve she had been able to draw and paint wonderful pictures. I could never do anything like that.”

“So what made you realise?” Asked Ellie. The siblings seemed to sag at the question. Caleigh remembered at once what Tovrik had said about peril and tragedy bringing about a gift.

“You need not say if you do not wish.” She assured.

“No, it is not a secret.” Rosamund conceded taking up the story. “Aethelbald started going out more when he was around fourteen and he discovered he was always very lucky in games of chance so he played them as oft as he could. One night he woke me on his way out of the house and I pursued him to dissuade him from going. No sooner had we stepped outside than the tree that grew beside our house toppled and crushed it completely.”

“Your parents?”

“They were killed as too would we have been had we stayed in our rooms.” Caleigh put her hand on Rosamund’s shoulder. “After that we had to use our gifts to survive. So I sold my pictures while Aethelbald used his good luck to bring in the extra coin we needed. That was how Tovrik found us. Aethelbald was gambling in one of the taverns and this time the men he was playing against refused to believe he could just be lucky and accused him of cheating. They were about to set on him when Tovrik overheard what was happening. By chance he was in that tavern on that night and was in place to intervene and persuade the men to let him be.”

“I couldn’t believe my luck either when I got away without harm. Tovrik didn’t seem to think it was simple luck and when I told him I had a sister with a special gift for pictures he made me bring him to her.”