Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (8 page)

“In what way?”

“For one, it may determine how to defend against the spell, which is crucial in a contest between two wizards. Recognising a spell correctly may save your life.”

“I hope I will not have cause to fight any wizards.”

“As do I, but given what lays ahead of us there seems little chance of that hope being realised.” He moved over to the stool and for once righted it by hand. “I will knock this stool over three times with three different spells and I want you to concentrate on the differences.” Gideon walked back to his usual casting position then held out his wand once more. With a lazy waft his wand swished back and the chair toppled over, skidding a short way across the floor. At once Gideon walked over and replaced it in its original position then returned to where he had stood before. Holding his wand in his left hand he made a quick gesture with his right and the stood toppled again and rolled over on its side. Again, Gideon reset the chair and himself and made the tugging action with his wand that Caleigh recognised from her earlier efforts to see the spell. As before the stool fell back but did not move forward on this occasion. “As you can see the effect was apparently very similar. Did you notice the differences?”

“You made different gestures to cast them.”

“Yes, that is one difference and a useful one in identifying spells. What about the effects?”

“Well, with the first spell you seemed to simply knock it back.”

“Good, keep going.”

“The second spell…I would say it was more lifted than knocked.”

“Very good, and the third?”

“It was more like a trip than a push.”

“Excellent, and which of the three would you say was the most powerful?”

“I think the second. You hardly put any energy into it and it still moved farther than on the others. I did not see any of them though.”

“You know what to look for now, at least.”

Such proved true for the next time Gideon performed the spell he had been demonstrating prior Caleigh was able to see a slim silvery, translucent cord form between the stool leg and Gideon’s wand, like a ghostly string or a thick length of spider’s silk. When Gideon pulled back the wand the stool fell over just as it would if pulled by a string from the leg. Caleigh quickly understood what Gideon had meant before, though seeing the cause made the magic no less extraordinary or amazing it did explain the effect. Indeed now she could see the spell the effect was not only understandable but possible to predict as well. In a tangible way she felt she had made meaningful steps across the divide between the magical and non-magical world.

9. Testing her Powers

If for the first half of the month Caleigh’s learning had been passive, absorbing theory and watching Gideon’s demonstrations, the latter part was anything but. Confident now that Caleigh was able to perceive the spells he had shown her Gideon then set her the task of appreciating her own powers visually. Through much effort she was eventually able to see her charm, or rather the charisma charm, as a faint pink shroud of smoke clinging to her skin like a heavy scent. Thereafter she was able to note its spread out from her and parting in different directions where it hit the curve of Gideon’s defensive barrier, perceivable for the first time as a result of this effect.

Now she watched her charisma charm expand around her and trickling over the balcony she stood on and drop down into the main concourse between the kitchen and the courtyard, where most of the hall’s activity passed through. Thinking back to her lessons with Gideon she smiled, “Why do you shield yourself from me?” She had asked.

“You must realise not everyone will willingly let you work your charms upon them. You must learn to recognise and overcome such barriers.”

“I realise that is true in the long term, for now would it not be better if I could test the power of my charm without defences?”

“You would not learn much from that. For you, naturally beautiful and appealing as you are, being able to charm me would be little achievement. If you want a real test you should try to charm someone who does not like you.”

That had been very revealing by Gideon’s standards, in quick succession he had let on that he thought her beautiful and that he liked her. It was good to know that there were some basic passions beneath the exterior of purely intellectual interest.

A merry spirit entered her head like a warm breeze and Caleigh realised that someone friendly was approaching from close behind. She turned and saw Ellie a mere yard from her right shoulder. Her friend had made barely a sound, and now she thought of it the occasions when Ellie had surprised her had been numerous, it was little wonder that she was able to sneak up on Emma during one of her spy-hole sessions.

“How goes it?” Ellie greeted.

“Well, and how are you?”

“Duties have become much duller in your absence. I came to thank you for the new set of flowers you left me. What are you doing?”

“I’m working my charm.” Caleigh said cheekily.

“Really? Should you not try speaking to people for that? Or you could show some cleavage as you are oft wont to do.” Ellie teased.

“I do not do that!”

“Well, only in a nice way. After all, ‘tis hard not to with your proportions” Ellie slipped her arm around Caleigh’s waist to show that she was being playful.

“What I meant was I…” Caleigh dropped to a whisper, “am practising my magic.”

“Oh, I am sorry, have I spoiled your concentration?” Ellie apologised. Caleigh fixed her brow and looked down past her toes to where the aura of her charm had trickled under the banister and had begun to swirl about on the floor below.

“It does not seem so.”

“Oooh, you have got good at this, are you able to talk and…” She searched for the word, “magic, at the same time?”

“I know not, I have never tried before.” Keeping check on the ghostly-fine vapour it appeared to be undiminished. “It seems to be possible though.”

“What is the purpose of this, then?”

“Watch…” Clod the stable boy entered the concourse and walked through the vapour that was invisible to him slowing as he did so and then nervously looking up and stumbling slightly when Caleigh smiled back at him. As if to prove this was no fluke both Master Garrick and one of Sir Marc’s riders passed through within a minute and had similar, though slightly more composed, reactions.

“You are doing that to them?” Ellie asked after it happened again.

“Yes.”

“You really are studying then, I said you were.”

“What does that mean?” Caleigh asked tensely, fairly certain what the answer would be.

“Well the story Sir Marc told was that Tovrik wants to recruit you for his shows, they say that having a beautiful assistant will draw greater crowds, and that Gideon is teaching you what your role will be.”

“I assume the rumours are different though?”

“Do you want to know?”

“I think I can guess; would I be using my wiles to influence Sir Marc so I can be excused genuine labours?”

“That is part of it; you are also fooling him because you are lying with Gideon…”

“Of course”

“And Robin Stronghand, and maybe Penric as well.”

“So I am all but a whore by these rumours? How did I ever deserve this unkindness?”

“Oh, you should not think like that. It is just jealousy in truth, think of it thus, all those men are hale, handsome and not short of interest. They are simply crediting you with doing what they wish they could do if they had your face, body and charm.” Caleigh laughed and kissed her friend on the cheek appreciatively.

“You make whoring sound like nice, innocent fun.” Emma and her cook friend Greta emerged into the room from the kitchens. “I suppose they are the ‘they’ who have been spreading the rumours.”

“Yes but pay their words no heed. Just look at them, what chance would they ever have to get dashing knight between their knees?” 

“No, I think I will speak to them.” Caleigh moved off and descended the steps into the main part of the room, making sure that her spell was still in motion all the way. This was just the kind of test Gideon had mentioned and she was not going to let the chance pass. “Hello Emma.” She said planting herself in the path of the head of chambers.

“Hello Caleigh, not practising today?” Greta sniggered openly at the way Emma emphasised the word ‘practising’.

“Not until later. I wanted to let you know how sorry I am that I’m not able to help more with duties now, ‘tis not fair on you, I know but I cannot go against Sir Marc’s wishes.”

“No, well we are finding a way of coping, worry not.”

“Oh that is good. I feel embarrassed to be absent when there is so much to do.”

“Why should you be unhappy? You’ve obviously won the lord’s favour.”

“Sir Marc and Dame Edith have been very generous to me; I know I little deserve it.” Emma began to squirm slightly at Caleigh’s sunny innocence.

“No doubt, you’ve earned your favour.” Greta put in.

“What do you mean?” Caleigh suddenly looked shocked, “I’d hate anyone to think that there was some kind of sordid arrangement. Sir Marc has been so kind, he does not deserve that.” Enveloped by Caleigh’s charm her hurt bewilderment was impossible to resist.

“I’m sure that’s not what Greta meant, is it Greta?”

“Oh no, I meant that…they are probably just grateful for…for your work here.”

“Oh, that is a relief. For a moment I thought everyone believed me some kind of…some kind of whore,” Caleigh said with effort, “simply, because people have been good to me.”

“No, nobody thinks that. People just like to talk, that is all.” Emma said lamely.

“That is well, can you imagine how that would feel? It is good to know that the people here are not so unkind.”

“Yes, everyone is kind here.” Greta agreed with a pained attempt at conviction.

“Well, I shall let you get on as I’m sure you have much to do. It was good speaking to you.” Emma and Greta shared their platitudes and wandered towards the courtyard uncertainly; trying to seem though they had somewhere urgent to be.

Ellie stood in their place next to Caleigh wearing an amused grin. “They will start being unkind again soon enough, you realise.”

“Perhaps, though mayhap they will think twice afore doing so and feel a little more guilt, if they do. Anyway, that was not the purpose.”

Gideon nodded approvingly when he told of her test and its result. “That is excellent; you consciously used your powers to affect an unfriendly person in a positive way, although, you were too nice to them.”

“They have not done me any great harm. I merely wanted them to know how hurtful they were being.”

“What I mean is that for a true test of your powers it would have been better if you made no attempt to be conciliatory, then you would know that the effect was entirely due to your spell and not the reasonableness of your words.”

“I have no wish to force people to be kind to me.”

“For now it is enough for you to persuade people towards something they might do naturally; ultimately though, the power of Enchantment is to bend the desires of others to your will.”

“Surely it is wrong to do that?”

“Is it? People try to make others share their dreams or follow their creed all the time. Is that any different? Magic is not inherently good or evil; it is the purposes for which it is used that decide that.”

“Well, controlling others seems to me an ill purpose.”

“Perhaps, if it were for its own sake alone. That is not the only end that exists though.” There was a moment’s pause as he framed the words. “Imagine that you came upon a raiding army attacking a village, amid the destruction you see a warrior with his sword raised over a cowering child ready to strike. Would it be wrong to change his heart from this course and instead shelter the child from harm?”

“That is different, that would be showing him the right thing to do.”

“But he does not want to do the right thing. If you let him follow his heart, he would strike that child down and commit further pillage without hesitation.” Caleigh hesitated, unable to reply at once and Gideon took the chance to continue. “I concede that such a situation would be extremely rare, however if you have not trained yourself in this skill then were you to find yourself confronted with this you would be unable to intervene for the good. Also, rare as this particular scenario might be, there are many more likely situations where this ability to change the desires of others would be to the good of those involved; persuading a man not to beat his wife, a thief to return what he had stolen or an enemy to halt the blow that would kill you.”

“Hmmm, those are fair points but I still believe that controlling others’ hearts has many bad ends too.”

“That I do not deny; power is not without peril. Indeed this is precisely where I wanted to begin today.  Magic, as we mentioned, is not good or evil it is power waiting to be mastered. This is the first temptation, for the power of magic has no limit and therefore complete mastery can never be possible, yet still many brilliant and wise wizards have fallen prey to the desire for complete domination. Can you imagine why?”

For Caleigh, who had never desired mastery over anyone or anything this was a difficult question. Nonetheless her powers of empathy were such that she knew not everyone thought as she did on this.

“I imagine that power is seductive and that for some there can never be enough to satisfy them.”

“A perfect answer, as usual. From this great unlimited reserve we draw power first in the form of a thought, a wish, or a desire. Everyone, gifted or no, has these thoughts all the time and for most they will remain merely thoughts. To go further the thought must become a purpose, a willingness to make the desire come true. Then the thought is put into words and becomes stronger. Have you ever noticed that saying a thought out loud or writing it down on parchment seems to make it more real? Then, at last the thought becomes a deed. For the ungifted this will be an action: for the gifted it is a spell.

Thus far you have learned how to concentrate your native gifts into something malleable. I may say this is a considerable achievement in such a short space of time. When Tovrik gave me this task I had imagined we might be at this stage by the end of our time. In truth, for that reason I was unsure why he gave this task to me.”

“Why do you say that? It seems clear to me that Tovrik considers you his right-hand.”

“I am not being modest; I may well be his most talented student. That does not mean I am the best teacher, no doubt others would have made this journey more easily comprehensible for you. I have tried to tell you theories yet near everything I have said is contradictable.”

“That cannot be helped we are only at the beginning.” Said Caleigh comfortingly. “I am sure Tovrik knew his mind clearly when he appointed this task for you.”

“Yes, however, we have come farther than I anticipated and this is good for us both. You have learned to harness your native talent; before this month is up let us see if you can learn how to turn this into spell-casting. There are two techniques I want you to master; what we might call the arrow and the shield. We will start with the arrow and then if there is time begin on the shield.”

“If I am to defend myself as people warn I must would it not be better to start with the shield?”

“No, if it is a choice it is better that you know how to shoot back than stand your ground.”

“What am I to do if a wizard uses this arrow against me then?”

“Move out of the way. Two wizards duelling is far more like two archers facing each other than swordsmen. If you were faced with an archer, I might add an archer with an endless supply of arrows, all a shield will do is keep some arrows at bay; it will do nothing to stop him shooting. The only way that will happen is if he is shot himself.” Gideon saw Caleigh’s brow crease. “Let’s not take this metaphor too far though; we are not referring to actual arrows here, more the ability of a wizard to direct his spells as though they were arrows shot from a bow. You will not learn to wound anyone for some time yet.”