Chapter One

 

CHAPTER 1

Tepin woke to sunlight glaring into the window of the room her and her father had rented at the inn. Sounds from the city where filtering in from time to time. It was early morning so business in Lafarin hadn't picked up for the day. She brushed a lock of long black curly hair out of her hazel eyes and looked around the room. Many things were as she remembered them from the night before except it was daylight and looked much different than it had when it was lit by candles. It was more colorful and a lot dirtier, shes saw that the second bed in the room was empty and poorly made. Her father was awake and probably downstairs. She got up and grabbed her clothes from the little dresser that was offered by the inn and set herself to changing. Dressed in brown hide trousers and tunic she went back and found her boots. Pulling them on she realized she would have to ask father for a new pair these where starting to hurt her feet. She was small for her age but growing fast. She sat at the looking glass and brushed shoulder length hair. It was curly, unruly and loved to tangle. She tide it into a bushy ponytail with a ribbon. She admired her handiwork in the looking glass to be sure it looked good and thought about what it may be like to be older. She imagined her young features looking more like her mothers. Maybe she'd look a lot like her. Everyone said she did. She had her mothers eyes and everyone thought them lovely. She looked at her cheeks. Her mother didn’t have freckles! She wrinkled her nose at her reflection and sighed. She stood and began packing everything in her bag. This would be the last time she'd see this room she hoped. Slinging the bag over her shoulder she closed the door to the room behind her and made her way downstairs.

Chairs sat atop a dozen tables with their feet in the air which stank of ale. At least those that weren't being set upright and on the floor by a fat redheaded barmaid. It was the innkeepers wife probably. She was sweeping a polished hardwood floor. Businesses where often run by whole families. Her family were farmers and grew cotton nearly a days travel from the inn where they'd spent the night. She didn't see her father anywhere in the main room and asked the woman where she may find him.

“You must be Tepin, He's in the side room child. He's ordered breakfast you may wish to join him before its cold. That way love,” she pointed the way. The woman seemed nice enough. But hospitality was important when running an inn. Tepin wound her way through tables to the side room all the chairs where down in this part and there were half as many tables. Her father sat at the table sipping tea. He was a strong man, tanned and tall. His eyes where a match for Tepin's complimented by sandy brown hair and a smile when applied that would have charmed a wild bear. Her father wore his hides also, although it was spring it wasn't quite warm enough for the cotton clothes that her mother had worked all winter to make for them.

“Morning Papa,” she said as she sat with him.

“Good morning child,” he replied, “I was about to send the barmaid for you. Eat you have a big day ahead.”

Tepin filled her plate with ham and potatoes. Seemingly too much, but anyone that knew her well enough wouldn't doubt shed finish the meal and then ask for more. Buttering some bread she asked, “Why do I have to do this Papa?”

“Everyone at the age of twelve has to be tested for magic. It's the kings law,” her father explained.

“But why,” she insisted wolfing down a potato.

“Mages are powerful, without proper training they can become a danger to themselves and to other people. They also have a place of power in the kingdom of Talendria. They protect the people,” he explained.

“What if I don't want to be a mage,” she asked? In fact she didn't. She was quite happy to handle her morning chores and be a farmer. She didn't want an apprenticeship and she certainly didn't want to do anything that didn't include feeding the chickens. She had chores to do at the farm and thought the whole thing a complete waste of time.

“You would still need training. After that, when your an adult you can do what you please. Until then you'll do what your told,” her fathers voice only held mild warning. “You will obey the kings command,” she nodded,” The good side of this is, magic is a rare gift and runs in families most generally. I for one would be incredibly proud of my daughter where she discovered to have magic. Finished,” he asked pointing to her plate? When it came to meals Tepin was never really finished but didn't want to be late. She figured that the sooner this was done the better and nodded. They got up and walked into the main part of the in her father paid the barmaid and thanked her for her hospitality. She followed her father out of the inn and up the empty main street towards Halden keep.

Lefarin was a huge city divided into six districts that made a half circle around the palace. Halden district was one on the northern part of the city facing the sea. Normally she'd have thought the trip to Lefarin to be exciting, knowing that the destination would make it worth while. Shed have taken the opportunity to shop with her mother or visit the pier marveling at the magnificent ships docked there talking with strangers from afar. Unfortunately the trip hadn’t been a normal one. Her mother wasn't here. No crops where being sold no shopping was to be done and there was no time for the pier. The morning air was cold and Tepin was shivering abit as they approached the gate to the keep. Her father spoke to the guard quietly who nodded opening the gate. Father and child winded their way through the keep to the sages study.Bayin Mayenford's knuckle never touched the door before it opened. He'd intended to knock and announce there arrival. Its opening caused him to miss the door completely.

"Come in please," said the whispery old bit of leather that had opened it, “Tepin Mayenford isnt it,” she nodded and was escorted into the room. “Master Mayenford, This will take several hours, please come back at noon,” and closed the door. She thought him completely rude at closing the door in her fathers face. The old man was bald, wore a black robe and smelled of tonic. Tepin could easily compaire him to a buzzard with the way he moved about, general temperment and beady eyes that never stayed on one thing for long. She sat for hours answering the old sages questions played victim to magical devices being waved in front of her and waited while each device was thoroughly examined. Some of them she couldn't describe others looked like medallions or charms. Sometimes crystals where held up in her face. She was glad shed only have to go through this one time. He took down her name along with answers to the never ending questions. Tepin found the whole thing rather pointless actually. If no one in her family possessed magic why should she? He never once answered her queries to wether she possessed the gift or not. She decided, since the old sage showed very little emotion that didn't ring of bored duty, that she like most held no magic. Fair enough for her, she hadn't wanted it to start with. She was more concerned with her duties on the farm and learning to read and write.

Noon brought a knock at the door. Her testing appearently completed she'd sat and waited for a small eternity, with nothing to do but stare at the rude old wrinkled buzzard who sat reading a book. She'd tried talking to him at one point only to have recieved a cruel glare. Hearing the knock the sage stood and opened the door and invited her father in. She was never so happy to see him. The balding man sorted though scrolls on his desk and came to one tied in a ribbon a different color than all the rest. He untied it and rolled it open.

"Not often.. no not often indeed," mumbled the old man while scanning the documents.

"Master Mayenford, your daughter tested negative for the common magic's such as earth air fire etc.."

"I see," her father replied seemingly glad that the outcome would keep his daughter with his family.

"however," her fathers eyes raised, "she tested positive for a rare form of magic. She's been set to an apprenticeship with Romah Indri. I'll be notifying him today and he'll be visiting your farm this summer to take Tepin off to study."

"..Positive? My daughter is a mage?"

"Yes Master Mayenford she is indeed. Until the first week of summer she is dismissed" Rejoicing her father lifted his daughter high from her seat.

"I’m proud of you," he shouted before setting her down again, "Lets set for home, your mother will want to learn of this!" They left the sages offices and the now wide eyed old man staring behind them. Tepin blinked in disbelief. She was a mage? How could this be? Her world had just come to an absolute end.

After returning to her farm and chores her mother upon her fathers insistance becan teaching Tepin to read in earnest. He'd told his wife that all other concerns where second. Tepin insisted on completing her chores every day and her father grudginly agreed. She didn't want to be lazy and he didn't want his daughter to take on her apprenticeship not knowing how to read. Over the two months that fallowed Tepin was reading and writing as well as her mother. She spent days trying to convince her parents that magic wasn't for her. She wanted to be a farmer. She even tried suggesting an apprenticeship as a taylor only to have both her parents lecture her on the law each time. Her reluctance to be a mage slowly faded when she realized the esteem it brought her. In the nearby village merchants would discount her purchases. People she'd never actually spoken to were suddenly her friends and everyone seemed very proud of the little farmgirl Tepin who would one day become a powerful mage. Her friends where excited over it too. They insisted she write to them and teach them magic spells and could they have a magical charm made by her when she learned to make them? By late spring she'd given up trying to get out of her unfortunate situation. By the first week of summer she was looking forward to her apprenticeship if just to be away from all of this.

The first day of the first week of summer brought no news. No one arrived and everyone became worried. Three more days passed and still no word. It was late one night while everyone was sleeping that a knock at the door woke her father.

"What do you want at this hour man,” Bayin asked when he opened the door.

"I’m Romah Indri."

Surprised her father let the man in apologized for his rudeness and asked him to wait a moment while he woke the house. the gray clothed man waited patiently as all three came downstairs. Tepin had woke rubbing her eyes and dressed quickly at the announcement that her future mentor had finally arrived excitement flooded through her as she ran down the stairs.

"Hello master Romah" she said politely with a curtsy.

The tall graying man stood quietly and nodded. His didn't look much older than her father. He had eyes that seemed to have seen too many terrible things. They seemed searching and critical but not unkind. He had a small scar on his chin. Though he smiled it seemed a rare thing and there was a sadness about this man.

"Good evening little one," he answered, "Something for you. a test really. If you like the gift tell me." He extended his hand and offered her a small rock. it was glowing somehow wrong the light from it was cold, empty, and hallow but to Tepin it was the prettiest glow shed ever seen. Her parents at the sight of the thing stepped back a few paces each. Not wanting to be anywhere near it. It was cold as she closed her hand around the alluring little stone. she told the man she loved it.

"Good," replied Romah. "You've passed the final test. Get your things and meet me outside.

"Sir" her father interrupted. Romah looked to the farmer peacefully. "Just what type of magic will you be teaching our daughter? And what was that rock?"

"The rock is a way to see in the dark, a lamp of sorts forged by magic. The magic is that of death. Your daughters gift is only for that. Her gift is very rare and as you noticed frightening. I’m sure you don't want her exploring her powers here untrained?" Both parents looked at each other astonished and shook their heads.. no of course not.

Tepin returned with her bag that had been packed for days. Her parents seemed reluctant to touch her at first then hugged and kissed her goodbye. She stepped out the door with Romah.

"I’m sorry it took me so long to reach you little one. I was pressed with matters of province. And there was some contention as to who would be training you. We'll be taking a shadow gate back to Gathria. It wont take long but it will be a bit uncomfortable. Keep that stone out and follow me," he talked calmly as the walked to the woods. m. She kept the stone held high and he raised his free hand waving it past a tree. The shadows from the moonlight and Tepin's glowing stone shifted twisted and curled themselves into a gaping whole in the air sitting just above the ground before them. They walked forward into it and vanished. Tepin's stomach churned. In three steps they walked, then floated, then walked again and set foot on solid earth an orb of shadow collapsing to wisp that blew away behind them. A thousand questions came to Tepin's mind and she didn't know which to ask first she settled for "What was that?"

"That, little one, was a shadowgate. A means to travel great distances in a short period of time. Welcome to Gathria. This is the capitol of my province" She looked around at the dusty village. "That tower there is my home and now yours too until your apprenticeship is completed" They walked through the streets of the village till they finally made it to the tower. It took them some time and the tower was far larger than it looked from the entrance of the village. The door creaked open and they climbed the stairs each flight took them a floor higher she learned there where eight and shed have the entire sixth floor to herself. Romah's chambers where on the seventh. She wasn't allowed on the eighth He showed her to her floor and insisted she save her many questions until morning in the meantime she was to sleep her lessons would start then along with her chores. She,used the stone she was given to light her way. It filled the rooms with shadows. She found a room on her floor with a cot in it and changed for bed her mind ringing with a thousand questions that she would have to wait for answers for. What was her magic? What was Gothria? What would she learn first? She put the stone in the pocket of her trousers and tucked under the quilt of the cot as the room darkened. It took forever to finally sleep.

She woke to the sound of rain against glass the smell of dust in her nose and the sight of a little shadow dancing on her pillow. Like a little man standing there made all of shadow except his eyes. His eyes where each a small orb of amber light. He was doing a little jig just in front of her nose. She jumped back pulling blankets around her more out of bashfulness then fright the little shadow fell from the bed hitting the floor with a poof and an incomprehensible grumble from a high pitched voice. She slowly peeked over the side of the cot to see it picking itself off the floor and dusting itself off. It seemed to be cursing. Breakfast. He never spoke it. But she somehow knew it was what he was saying. Follow the little shadow man waddled towards the door Fallow. Breakfast. Tepin was stunned in her mind she knew he was speaking. In her mind she knew what he said. How was he doing it? She knew that with magic that almost anything was possible, but never once had she dreamed of this. The messages came over and over each one more insisting than the last. She pulled her pants and tunic on and finally her shoes and followed the little shadow as it walked through her door. She had to open it for herself and followed him down a flight of stairs to the floor below. A tall slender man dressed in a gray tunic and trousers was sitting at the table nibbling bacon and sipping delrig root tea.

“Good morning little one. I see you met Choba. Come eat and I'll tell you as much as I can this morning.

She sat at the table and took some bread that was offered. Choba climbed up on the table and sat cross legged in front of her plate while she scooped eggs potatoes and a few strips of bacon onto it. While she ate Romah began explaining to her.

“Your in Gothria, if you remember from last night. Each mage is charged with a province to protect. Some share the responsibility with local lords and soldiers to keep the peace in the province. That's not the case here. I’m responsible for all of it. You and I each have a special brand of magic. Not the common earth magic or fire magic or water magic. Ours is more rare but no less powerful. I have powers over shadow and you dominion over life. You control manipulate and draw power from that which is or was once alive. I mold and shape shadow to my whim and you commonly use the fading life or 'half life' to work magic. Shadow is drawn to both us. Like Choba here.”

“What's Choba,” asked Tepin around a mouthful of eggs

That, for some reason, drew a chuckle from her mentor. “Choba.. I haven't quite figured out what he is actually. He wandered into the tower one day shortly after I took over protection of the province. Creatures of death and shadow are drawn to shadowmages. He's probably a spirit given shadow form who likes to be helpful. He's not a demon by any means. He stays here earning his keep by delivering messages for me.” Romah smiled sipping more tea. “You'll be having chores as well. In exchange I'll teach you and let you have use of my library. You'll learn more from me than you will from the library. On your floor you have a library of your own. Its empty. Its your responsibility to fill it. Either by copying books and scrolls you've found in my library or items you've found on your own. Mind you I don't expect you to find much of use in my library as our magics are different and the books I've collected are often specific to shadow magic. Knowledge of death magic is kept quite secret. Not many books exist on the subject as many consider it an evil art. Most people like your parents are either un-nerved or very frightened of our form of sorcery.”

“They were scared?” that gave light to her parents hadn’t been eager to have any contact with her.

“They had a moment of pause and surprise for certain. You can use Choba's services to deliver letters to them if you wish. The sooner they come to understand that magic isn't good or evil the better for you. And them. It took the people of Gothria some time to come to understand that however frightening my magic seemed it was used for a good cause. They came around and even take pride in the shadow army that protects them.”

“You have a shadow army?” She stopped eating and nearly dropped her fork. Choba seemed to think her reaction was funny and began a high pitched giggle pointing and rolling on the table having a fine time at expense of Tepin's astonishment.

Romah chuckled too “Oh yes over a thousand strong and hard to defeat. They've held back the Jentarin raids several times and with great success. At times of great need they’re called upon by the king.”

“How did you make an army of shadows?”

“By animating the shadows giving them a form of half life, you'll learn that in time. First learn to manipulate life magic. I'll lend you some books on the subject today.” He wiped his mouth on a cloth and stood. “Until then you have chores to do. Choba will follow you around giving instructions from a list I've given him. I need to take care of some unfinished matters. I'll be in the village most of the morning.” He threw on his cloak and left the room leaving Tepin and Choba watching him leave. She turned to Choba who jumped up and down on the table. Clean he wanted her to clean the table and ,as she soon discovered, The remainder of the tower! She set about following the little taskmaster who would jump on one thing then another giving instructions. Stack these books, bring in firewood, sweep the floor. Make the beds. It went on for hours the list must have been miles long. Finally she ignored his attempts to get her to wash another pot and sat down on the floor closing her eyes to ignore him. She rested there for what seemed an hour and finally opened her eyes to see the little shadow sitting on the floor in front of her. Better? Better? What did the little slave driver mean?

“Tell me I’m almost done?”

Almost came the answer he bounced off the pot she failed to clean and she went back to work the last few chores led her to the sixth floor.. her floor. There instead of bouncing off of this or that with instructions simply sat on the desk that was in her empty library. “

“Done,” she asked? Done came the silent reply she sat down with him and lay her head on her folded arms. So that would be her mornings.. no chickens to feed no goats to milk.. cleaning and five massive floors of it. She must have dozed off because she didn't hear Romah return and startled awake when he knocked on the library door.

“Come in,” she stood. “Forgive me I fell asleep, “ she excused as he entered with a wrapped bundle and several scrolls in his arms. He set the scrolls and bundle on her desk.

“The package is for you and the scrolls need to be returned to me. I see Choba kept you busy. I didn't expect you to finish all five floors by lunchtime.” The wiry mage grinned at her “Should I add more to the list for tomorrow?”

Tepin wide eyed shook her head no praying he wouldn't add the other three floors to the list. He laughed.

“It'll be easier tomorrow I haven't had anyone in here to help in quite some time. The time for manual labor is over for the day. Now you start the mental labor. Learn little one.” he left the room with Choba following him. He called back “Id recommend copying the scrolls so you have your own I want mine back in four days” she looked at the scrolls and the bundle. There where two scrolls and the bundles contained blank books quills ink and a small pouch with a note. She had to make copies of both and had two days for each one. She set the pouch aside and piled her blank books left of her desk she opened the smaller of the two old scrolls that her mentor had left for her. Tepin picked up a blank book an inkwell and quill and set to copying the first scroll. The first was runes. She worked on it for hours copying letter for letter stopping her transcribing only for lunch. Runes where symbols which when envisioned by the spell caster and there meaning was understood would cause an effect. Simple spells called cantrips contained only one or two runes and could be cast with a thought. More complicated spells contained thousands of runes and took days to cast from a scroll or tablet. Shed finished half of the scroll before Choba came to escort her to dinner. She was excited when she sat down with Romah Indri at dinner time. Talking about each rune she'd learned about with him. He was disheartened to find shed been transcribing as she was reading and told her so. He'd given her the scrolls for four days so she could read them first and then make a copy. In this way she could learn the scrolls and reinforce the memories by transcribing. He offered to let her keep the scroll on runes for another day.

“Did you open the pouch,” asked Romah

“The heavy one, no, I was busy with the scrolls”

“Your welcome to go into the village if you want. The people will be happy to meet my new apprentice. Choba will go with you. Use the pouch wisely. I'll be on the top floor not to be disturbed”

“Yes sir,” answered Tepin

“Master Indri?” she said as he started away

“Yes child?”

“Why wasnt I given apprenticeship with a mage that had my form of magic?”

“Your magic is very rare, There are no other mages with your ability in the kingdom at least,” he answered, “They had to settle for a magic which is a close cousin to yours.”

She finished her dinner and looking out the closest window realized the sun had just begun its setting. She ran to her floor and shuffled scrolls out of the way in the pile shed created that morning to find that pouch. The note attached to it said “Your allowance apprentice. Spend this well” she opened the pouch and poured it into her hand gold coins poured out. Gold coins not coppers or silvers. Her father would sell his whole harvest for a token few of these. She counted fifteen gold coins, called crowns, in all. She took one and put it in her pocket and put the rest back in the pouch and into a drawer in her desk. She raced down five flights of stairs Choba running to keep up. She reached the tower entrance and opened it. It wasn't locked. She thought about that as she started down the path towards the main road. Of course it wasn't locked who wanted to rob a mage who commanded the very shadows? Who dared? She suddenly realized she missed her family. It was custom of course to send children off to apprenticeships. At the moment she considered it a cruel tradition. She would write to her family when she got back to the tower. Finding the main road she turned to Choba realizing she had no idea what was where. Shed never been to this village before, nor to this province!

“Can you show me to village square or the commons?” The little creature seemed confused by this at first then did a little hop and started off. She followed him. They had to be going in the right direction as there where sounds of a merchants calling as she was drawing nearer. A few moments and several turns through the village and they'd made there way to the bustle of the marketplace. A dozen tents where out each owned by a traveling merchant most shop keepers doors where wide open to indicate that there businesses that surrounded the tents where open for the day. A fountain stood in the middle of the square. The sound of the water splashing off of polished stone from it could be heard throughout the marketplace. She wandered around the tents looking at all the wares. One merchant was selling hides another fish. Another was selling cloth and threads. Her mother had taught her the basics of clothes making so she paused for a moment at that one to examine the colored fabrics laid out.

“You there child” she heard over the general din. She looked around to see a merchant from one of the shops waving to her. She approached him. “You're the lass Magus Indri chose for an apprentice aren't you? He mentioned you'd be coming into town at some point.”

“Yes sir I am” she answered, “And you are?”

“Jufflan Mires, young lady come in come in!” she entered the shop to realize it was the butchers shop. Meats hung on hooks and where displayed on tables for all to see and purchase. The shop had been open all day so there wasn't much of a selection left. The pudgy butcher handed her two satchels. “Both of these are for you. Send Master Imbri my regards.”

“What's in the bags,” she asked

“Bone chips lass. Master Indri has been coming here for years. Just last month he told me he'd be getting an apprentice and you'd need these he didnt say why. So I made a special effort, I did. You've enough chips there to last you a while I believe.”

“how much do I owe you?”

“Oh nothing child. My service to the community it is, and an honor at that! Enjoy your evening sweet one.” He walked with her back to the door as she left the shop. She jumped nearly a foot as he bellowed for everyone outside that his meats where the finest cuts in town. Tossing the satchels over her shoulders and rubbing an ear she walked back into the marketplace. She looked into one shop and then another learning what was where. Tepin went back to the tents and found the fabric merchant was tearing down for the night. No business from him she figured and wandered to another tent this one selling treats. She bought some pastries with the gold she'd brought a dozen honey cakes and got most of her change back in silver scepters and copper shields. She headed for the tower since everything was closing down for the evening. Choba who'd made himself scarce till now popped out of a shadow and led the way. The apprentice, upon returning to the tower made her way up to the kitchen letting the little shadow man know that some of the pastries where for her mentor as well and that he should tell the mage when he saw him. She set them out and saw Choba wander into a shadow cast by a candle on the wall and vanish. Tepin made her way to her room leaving behind two pastries and a satchel. Now what did she do. She had, as usual, a thousand questions. He didn't want to be disturbed she remembered his instructions. She set the mage's satchels down wondering what little chips of bone where used for in her special variety of magic. She'd give them to him in the morning and pose her questions. The scrolls needed tending to. Another day had been given to compensate for her foolishness and she planned to use the time wisely. She picked up the smallest scroll which had been the source of her attention for the better part of the day. Opening it she began to read. Time passed and the room darkened. The once farm girl was captivated by the runes set her glowing stone out to flood the room with light. Darkness wouldn't impede her and she refused to stop reading until the text was finished. Hours cast moonlight into the room and the air slightly chilled. She had accounted for the need for light but not her need for sleep.

She woke with the sun her head hurting. the little shadow that walked was no where to be found. Tepin brushed hair out of her face and realized shed fallen asleep at her desk. It was morning She was up earlier than she had been the day before and there was no sound from the floor below where the kitchen was. She looked at the scroll and set herself to finishing the final few chapters. Engrossed by the lessons the scroll offered she didn't see him arrive. Smiling from accomplishment she rolled the scroll. Shed completed her fist lessons. her gaze turned up and she saw the wiry shadow sitting crossed legged on her desk. Breakfast. Tepin wondered how and when he'd arrived and how long he'd been sitting there just letting her read.

“When did you get there?” The little form made a simple shrug hands up.

“How long where you there?” another little shrug was the answer.

Apparently the little aberration didn't have any sense of time. Or simply didn't care. She set the scroll aside and stood up. She entered the kitchen to see her mentor in the same place he'd been sitting the day before.

“Master Imbri?” he looked up smiling at her and she continued, “The butcher gave me two satchels. I looked in them and found nothing but little bone bits. What are they for and why do I need them?” She was nervous of asking questions of the mage. Something about him made her shy.

“Thank you little one. And yes its about time for your first lessons. Eat and I'll teach. The pastries where splendid by the way. That money, however, is for you, Not me. I have plenty and even though the gesture was as sweet as the honey the pastries where made with, unnecessary.” she felt hurt what was wrong with being nice? She sat and filled her plate and took a pastry from the platter on which they had been placed. She ate while he explained.

“Mage's don't contain magic. We manipulate its power. For some forms of magic that power may come from heat, another form of magic may have the power taken from thought, yet another may take from motion. Shadow magic is a misnomer and so is necromancer but they are the only words we have for this rare gifts. You manipulate life force or spirit. A simple touch of failing life taken from sya a bone chip can be turned to an amazing amount of raw power to benefit you.” he held up a bone chip from the satchel. “Rather than use a living being because the taking of life force from the living is painful and traumatic, you may use objects that have died. Every dead thing still contains a touch of life. It wanes over time and takes many years to become truly dead. To become completely devoid of any life energy. Do you understand so far?”

She thought she did and asked, “So i cant manipulate death but we take the little bits of life left in dead things?”

“Correct little one. Bone is a sturdy thing it takes decades to turn to ash and until then contains the life energy of the deceased. Bone is also a greedy material. Its structure absorbs magic cast into it, hoarding it. When that magic is manipulated correctly the bone may actually return to life.. a half life as an object may only be living once. “

“That's how you created the shadow army,” added Tepin suddenly sorry for interrupting.

“Put basically, Yes.” grinned the mage. “You're a fast learner, there'll be no chores today as I have some practical magic to teach you. You'll need some bone chips from your satchel a dozen should do.”

“practical magic,” she asked?

“Hands on, “he explained. I'll be teaching you to cast spells. Have you read the scroll on cantrips?

She hadn’t known what the other scroll was. Shed never looked.

“No sir”

“Well then your in for a treat, today I'll teach you to use the life energy from bone chips. To turn it into the fuel for simple spells called cantrips. Cantrips are the building blocks of magic. You'll learn to absorb manipulate and expel life energy.”

“I’m not sure I’m..”

“ready?” the mage interrupted her. “Tepin hear me now, “ his tone was firm but gentle. “My mentor was a very cautious man. He had me buried in scrolls for months before teaching me the simplest of things as how to draw energy from the shadows. He taught me many things ,for certain, but slowly. Everything had a barrier of books and scrolls to get past before he'd instruct me. When I finally learned to cast a cantrip I realized that I could have done it from the start. Waiting had been pointless. I hated him for it. Now answer me. Would you like to learn magic? Or bury yourself in scrolls and books?”

She thought about it and answered “I want to learn magic”

“Then meet me on the top floor with your bone chips. We'll begin when your ready.” He stood and left the kitchen. Tepin finished her pastry and set herself to cleaning the table. She was nervous and excited all at one time. She never once had thought shed be a mage. Never guessed shed one day learn magic. She thought shed be married to a farmer or towns boy when she grew older. Here she was about to climb three flights of stairs for her first magic lesson. She finished clearing the table and took to her floor to gather what she needed.

The eighth floor had been forbidden two days ago. She took a calming breath and pushed the door open. It opened to a room full of scrolls her mentor was standing in a circle ornately carved into the stones of the floor. He gestured her to come in.

“Tepin you really must learn to trust me.” He gestured to the satchel of bone chips shed brought with her. “You wont need quite that many. Leave them by the door and bring a handful into the circle with you.” She did as she was instructed scooping out a handful of chips and putting them in her pocket leaving the rest behind. She stepped into the circle.

“Sit with me little one and hold a chip in each hand” he sat and she joined him sitting much the way Choba often did on the stone floor.

“Close your eyes and listen.” she did so and he explained how to use her minds eye he touched her forehead and the spot tingled. It was the focus point he had touched she needed to imagine the bone chips in her hands and cause that spot to tingle without the touch. She finally managed it and told him so.

“We'll see if you have. Every mage can feel his source of magic. For each mage the feeling is different so I cant describe what you'll sense when you've done it. Imagine the chips now radiating from fading life.” she did as she was told and nodded “in this hand,” he tapped her hand imagine the life moving into you let it become part of you.” The warmth she felt was barely noticeable but it was there.. she pulled it with her mind from the bone chip absorbed it. The spot on her forehead tingled madly as she did the chip shifted in her hand. Now take energy from yourself and push it into the chip in your other hand. Make it glow brighter. She did so the tingling in her “minds eye” lessened and the chip in her other hand felt warmer.

“Lets see if you've succeeded. Open your eyes and open your hands.” she did so the bone chip in her right hand had turned to ash. The one on the right was glowing slightly and the glow was fading.

“Well done little one! You got it on your first attempt. Now I'll be back in an hour. Sit here and practice using a fresh bone to replace the ones you've drawn life force from. Repeat it until you can do it without thinking. She was elated. It really was a simple thing to learn she smiled, closed her eyes and practiced. Without her mentors instruction it was a little more difficult than it had been before. After a half dozen failed attempts and she finally found a pattern of feelings and thoughts that made it work. Before Romah returned she had created a small pile of ash and the chip in her left hand was glowing furiously. She had a huge grin on her face when he sat down with her again. She held up the glowing chip proudly. He took it from her palm and held it up looking around the room at all of the shadows the little bone was casting.

“Very well done indeed. How many chips did you use to make this glow?”

“Nine I think” she answered happily. He nodded and handed it back to her.

“Time for a rest then. Go outside get fresh air. Come back when your not full of excitement”

Again she did as she was told. She was learning quickly that her mentor gave instructions for a reason and there had to be a good one for calming down but she couldn't decide what it was. As she left the tower warm summer air filled her senses. It had only been a couple of hours but it felt like an eternity had passed. She sat in the grass near a tree and listened to the birds for a time. Her mind boiling with questions. She thought about each one and let them pass from her mind. It was nearly lunchtime before she was no longer as excited as she had been over her successes. She went back inside wondering what was next. She returned to the top most floor of the tower, he was still sitting in the circle. She joined him.

“Are you ready little one,”he asked? She nodded that she was and he began “Magic must be cast on an object to work at all. Either a rock, a bone, an animal or even a person. I manipulate shadow with the power of light using it to command objects in the world. You manipulate life magic to do the same. We'll start with simple cantrips and go through several of them.” She nodded and the lessons began for the next two hours she learned to draw life to her to infuse an object with it. She used there power to move objects, shatter them, and bind them back together. Each time shed used the mental image of runes to focus life energy to a task. She learned that each rune had its own purpose. Later learned that it wasn't the rune but the meaning and purpose of it that helped her manipulate life energy to an effect. She realized that magic needed purpose and said so. Her mentor explained that magic without it was simply chaos. By lunchtime her mind was reeling and they stopped to eat. They talked over lunch about Gathria, its people, its neighbors about the expectations that wizards had in the world. She wondered why mage's didn't rule the world.

“Oh its been tried! In ancient days there where mage's that tried to conquer the world. Bitter and horrible wars erupted. Mage's are few and even though they are gifted and obviously powerful they find themselves quite easily outnumbered by fearful or angry peasants. Now we adhere to being public servants. Helping to protect the people rather than dominate them.” the mage grinned and gave the girl a playful wry look. “Your not planning to take over the world are you?”

“No, Sir.”

“Good, I'd hate to have to take you over my knee” his tone was a one of mild warning and Tepin got the message. The thought that he just may do it brought her attention and her eyes to her potatoes quiet readily. The mage changed the subject. “Have you written to your parents?” She cursed. Shed forgotten shed wanted to do that the night before. “They probably miss you little one. Choba will deliver it for you. Take the time to write to them.”

Choba bolted into the room and launched himself to the table top. Jumping up and down for attention. The wizard sat up straight. “We have company Tepin. Follow me and stay behind me.”

Tepin had never seen so many soldiers. They where being led by a man who handed the mage Imbri a parchment. Romah read it and dropped it at his feet. He looked hurt angry. He turned to Tepin without looking at her. “Pack your belongings little one... We leave today.”

“Where are we going?” she asked suddenly worried.

“Pack your belongings child!” The mage had barked the order this time. She, not willing to tempt luck again made for the tower to do as she was told. She finished in a very short time. She'd brought very little to start with and only had collected some blank books which she tied in a bundle near her bag. Her door opened an hour after she had finished.

“Forgive my temper little one.” The mage was standing in her doorway

“I should have done as I was told.. I’m sorry,” she answered.

“The king has died, his son has ascended to the throne. The boy studies the old religion and sees Magic as an abomination. He's ordered all mages out of the kingdom or face being fugitives.”

Tepin was stunned. “Where will we go?”

“I know a place far from the kingdom that I once found while wandering through shadows way the Choba does. I've magically sent my belongings to that place, I'll send yours also and then we'll travel by way of shadowgate ourselves. The men downstairs are here to take over. They intend to see that its done and that we are gone today. I fear you may not see your family again for a very long time.” That thought stunned her. She had no idea what to say to that. Anger and hurt swelled in her. She bit her lip to fight back tears.

“Are you ready? Is everything packed,” he asked. The girl nodded that she was. A tear was streaming unbidden down her cheek. He looked to her bags his hands reached over them and they surrounded by shadow and vanished from sight. “We need to go downstairs and outside to show them that we've left. I've half a mind to leave them wondering for a day or so if we are really gone but there's no point to it.” Tepin followed him out. The soldiers stood waiting much as they had before. Her mentor raised his hand whispering runes and shadows from all around condensed on a single spot formed an orb taller than both of them. Neither said anything as they vanished into the swirl of shadows leaving the soldiers to scratch there heads and wonder.