Chapter 2 - GwenA Chapter by Confused AuthorIntroduction of Gwen our second main character.
Westmage Castle, Airlin
Gwen woke slowly feeling the morning rays of light heat the bedsheets she lay under. The viola and daisy flowers were blooming filling the air with their sweet fragrance. It took a few minutes for her to work up to nerve to extricate herself from the warm covers. A pale foot explored the air outside the comfort of her little world. It was cold, but not freezing in the early spring air. Slipping out she padded over to the window and pushed it open. Outside was a beautiful view from the northeast corner of Acolyte Tower. It overlooked the game forest and Crane lake half a league distant. The name was from the small stream that fed the body giving it the vague shape of the animal in question. Inhaling the spring smells helped chase away the worry in her breast. Today was The Summoning that all First years took. They’d spent the last 2 months drilling the spell into them all. It was supposed to be the first spell every student learned. Gwen knew the ritual words like an old nursery rhyme. Breakfast would be starting soon and she needed to get dressed. Gwen changed into a thick white blouse and black ankle length skirt. She brushed at the flower pattern on the shirt before reaching for the Mage cloak. All Students wore the black cloak to indicate their status in and around Westmage. The inside was lined with a brown satin fabric. Clasping it together was her family broach. The dragon head over a crossed sword and wand was the emblem of the Drakin line. Finally she slipped feet into a pair of black soft soled shoes. A mirror hung just above the dresser and she checked her appearance. Just budding into adulthood Gwen was barely putting on womanly curves. She picked up a brush and ran it through her jet black hair. She was average height with a slender athletic body. Her friends were already pushing out dresses and getting looks. Sadly she hadn’t quite started growing yet. Then Gwen caught herself and her lips went into a frown. She reflected once again that it was either be destined to marry that oaf Georgi. Gwen was 14 for goddess’s sake, it was far to soon to think about that. Besides she really didn’t care for the boy, he was so ugly and arrogant. Why had her parents promised her to their first born. Just to smooth over some political maneuver that happened almost 30 years ago. Gwen Drakin was the first female of the family and she wasn’t about to be anyone’s consolation prize. She cursed suddenly irritated and dropped the brush with a clatter. Food would put her in a better mood for today. Pushing open the door to her suite she came into the girl’s common room. It was a place were the females of her year could talk and study together. Three girls were already heading towards the stairs down. “Marin, Vera, Wendi wait up.” She called and the women stopped. Marin and Wendi turned and smiled at her approach. Vera too turned but the face she made wasn’t entirely so friendly. They hadn’t gotten along for the past couple of months. At least she wasn’t as bad as Ashley. “I'm so excited.” Wendi squealed as the other girl approached. “For The Summoning?” Gwen asked. “Oh sweet goddess I hope its something cute.” She immediately replied and all 4 giggled. “Maybe you’ll summon a zombie.” Vera announced and hands went to mouths in horror. They’d heard that happened once a dozen years ago. The teachers had been forced to put the creature down and the student banished from school. “Don’t even say that!” Marin balled as the four girls headed down. “I want something normal, like a cat.” Said Marin next but Gwen couldn’t agree. “That’s so boring,” she thought. At least familiars would live as long as the Mage did. It was pretty common to get a regular animal of some kind. Birds were especially useful for being able to scout and deliver messages. Magic could always be used but good old avian messages were more secure. In the common hall porridge and muffins were set out. Gwen couldn’t each much as the nervousness in her stomach took her appetite. So she nibbled on the muffins while the girls talked. Looking around she noticed most of the First Year students were already here. The boys table was already full with early risers. Closer to the back of the room sat the older students. “What do you want Vera?” Wendi said picking up the conversation about familiars again. Vera was a slightly rotund girl from the Longbow family and tended to be a little caustic with others. Still she thought about it fractionally while she spooned porridge. “Something with a good nose would be useful, a Helhound would be perfect.” Vera answered in a utilitarian way. The other three gaped again in shock. Helhounds were universally nasty beasts even as familiars. Wild ones were hunted down and killed if they wandered to close to villages. Then Gwen spied Edward enter the hall and she stopped to stare. He was tall and good looking but she’d never worked up the courage to speak to him. He was old nobility from when the Airudites took power. Her own house only given favor two generations ago. In a word, she was new blood. “Your staring at him again.” Wendi said startling Gwen out of her thoughts. She blushed bright red for a few seconds. “Am not.” “Why don’t you just talk to him.” “Because we don’t get to just talk to boys, you know the rules. Besides I'm already promised.” She said darkly and the girls frowned sympathetic. Georgi was also enrolled and she hated running into him. As part of the old nobles he was a true b*****d. Speaking of the demon the boy he waddled into the Hall. Gwen ducked behind her friends but it was too late. She’d been spotted and he came over with a bowl of porridge. “Morning Betrothed, I'm glad I caught you before the summoning.” Georgi said in a nasally voice. The young boy weighed probably 300 stones and had pot marks on his face. He had brown hair carefully combed up into a high peak style. It was his pride and joy. He wouldn’t be so bad if his attitude wasn’t worse than his looks. “Its not to late to quit the school, just marry me. It would be truly embarrassing if my wife brought something awful into the world.” He continued and anger flashed in Gwen’s stomach. It was just like him to assume to least of her. “I will be a mage.” She politely said back but some ice had crept into her voice. She really disliked the man as he constantly insulted her. Secretly Gwen knew she was already a better magician than him. He was in another class but had spied him in practice once. It was her deepest hope that being a mage might let her escape her fate. This really was a delaying action. When she came of age she’d be forced to wed the vile twit. “Reconsider Darling, it would help your family in court to have another on their side.” Her house had a seat like every other noble family and they were all supposed to be equal. That wasn’t always the case though as the devision of old and new families always split the assembly. Gwen’s dread at the coming ritual was fading quickly. Now she was possibly looking forward to bringing a zombie forth. Maybe she’d get really lucky and summon a plague beast. If the gods truly favored her it might be an Aspect of Madness. The girls nearby were looking the other way and pretending not to listen in. “I'm going to summon something amazing, you wait and see.” She said with certainty. Georgi made a face that said he rather doubted it. With cooling bowl of porridge in hand he went back over to the boys table. Gwen’s eyes watched his egg shaped form retreating. She’d throw herself from the tower before she was forced to marry him. “Oh goddess could he be any less of an a*s.” Marin exploded when he was out of earshot. “Could he smell any less is what I'm wondering.” Vera said next making a face. That cheered Gwen up a little but she was done eating. “Lets go, I'm eager to get to class now.” Gwen said sliding from the high backed chair. “I agree,” About an hour later 50 people were standing around outside by the teacher. The sun had done a wonderful job of warming up the grass and chasing dew away. It smelled fresh and clean today without a hint of clouds in the sky. Gwen stood amid a group of girls near the edge of the ritual site. It was a series of magically enchanted concentric circles. By far the oldest part of the castle. Something left over from the golden age of wizardry. One small ring was off to the side but within the warding field. Kronis the evocation teacher was moving towards the front of the group as he counted everyone present. With an easy eager sounding voice he boomed at them all. “You’ve done well learning the Summoning spell. Just remember that you will feel it draw on your mana heavily. This is what continues to power the wards and binding. The faster you complete the ritual the better. You’ll be called one at a time so everyone can have a sit while we wait.” He paused here as students gratefully sat down. Kronis instantly noted the standing forms of three other teachers around the glade. Turning back to his students he smiled at their expectant stares. “We’ll start with the boys,” he announced and started calling off names. “Edward Titanborn,” he called first of course. The boy got up from his group and went to the small circle. Taking out a elvenwood wand he cleared his throat before starting. With a measured wand wave the old words flowed from Edward’s lips like he was born to speak them. That might have just been Gwen’s imagination though as she watched him. As he spoke blue and white light grew to emanate from the runes in the circle. Weeds that had managed to poke up through the cracks instantly blackened from the energies. As the slight burning smell filled the air a spring breeze took it away. Still Edward continued the minute long spell. Some said tiny variations in tone and intent are what made the familiar’s random. Other more faithful wizard’s suggested that the summons were fated to each mage. They would determine the path they might take in life. Gwen certainly thought that true for the poor boy who’d summoned that zombie. A black sphere hung in the air now above the greater magical circle. It was both warding, containment, and the binding in a mass of enchanted stone. Seconds later a red medium sized fire drake appeared before them. It was about the size of a horse with enormous wings to keep it aloft. The crowd of onlookers shot up in fright as the predatory eyes found them. Edward though was smiling as the beast shot a blast of fire against the protective ward. As he continued to chant the beast turned it’s gaze on the boy. Now was the dangerous part, it was a contest of wills. This was why the zombie had to be put down, it had no will but the urge to kill the living. Edward kept up the spell for another 30 seconds as the Drake tried blasting the boy with fire. But as the words ended the beast went still blinking rapidly. “Your name shall be Tulwar,’ he announced as the drake’s head bowed in submission. The ward and protections faded and the crowd tensed. Wands were casually palmed as Edward turned to them. “Go into the forest and hunt, don’t burn it down.” He said next and the beast launched itself into the air northward. Gwen secretly fell in love Edward just a little bit more. His familiar was so awesome and fitting for him. The circle was made that large just for monstrous summons but they often left a vague aura of fear in the air. Other students starting going next and it became partly a show as creatures appeared. A cat, followed by a small raven, and a dwarf sized rock elemental. Elementals were as rare as Drakes and the teachers looked alert as it appeared. Another poor teen summoned a cricket to the amusement of all. Still the tiny creature was bound and the student sat down again. It would be no great familiar but insects could still be useful for scrying places. Soon though Georgi’s name was called and Gwen perked up. It was not her usual way to wish ill on others but she prayed he got something small and poisonous. Maybe she would get lucky and it would bite him one evening. The large boy stood in the circle and started the chant. The runes glowed and the portal came into being. As the black sphere disappeared again it left behind something all shivered to see. It was an imp, a tiny fire demon that lived in the higher levels of Hades. “How very fitting for you,” she thought darkly. Still everyone knew that demons had large wells of magic. Now though was the test of wills as the boy and demon locked eyes. Beads of sweat ran down Georgi’s face as a long minute dragged on. Tension once again filled the air but finally the imp shook his head. The wards came down. “You’ll be called Fireforge,” he said as the imp came up to him. Gwen once muttered under her breath, “What a pretentious name for a demon.” Now others were being called and she couldn’t help but glance at the large boy from time to time. It was a tragically good familiar however fitting its nature. Those demons came with a host of small useful abilities like blinking and calling up fire balls. They were no where near the size a drake could put out but still. Nervousness welled up inside Gwen again as she remembered what she’d told him earlier. Others were entering the circle again as the show went on. A boy she knew as Howes actually summoned a Pegasus. They were rumored to dwell in cloud top meadows. Now that would be just her ticket, she’d get on her beast and fly away. It was a beautiful winged creature and the girls in class squealed jealously as he lead it towards the stables. The ladies in class were being called now and she waited for her turn. Wendi was up and she sang the spell in a clear high voice. The ancient stones glowed again and the ground was completely clear of vegetation by now. The black sphere appeared and the crowd once again went silent. A giant dire wolf appeared and Gwen looked thoughtful. It was the size of a large mule and immediately went into a defensive posture. Vera sitting next to Gwen made a very rude noise. Turning the other girl had a flinty jealous look in her eye. If Gwen recalled it was the same familiar her grandfather had. The enormous creature let out a snarl and charged the blond girl. She took a step back involuntarily and almost left the small circle. “Don’t leave the ward!” the teacher bellowed from behind her. “I uhh, I don’t…” Wendi started to stammer like she’d rather choose another. The creature terrified her but another word from the older man stopped her. “Continue!” Picking up the spell from where she left off the wolf gazed at the child. It was obvious though the large predator was winning the contest. The young girl didn’t have the fight in her like the beast. A minute more passed before Wendi did step back. It was as if she were physically pushed from the smaller ward ring. Wands from older teachers immediately raised but the wolf leapt at the students. The crowd scattered as the creature swept past them towards the north woods. Fire strikes and a patch of grass instantly froze just behind the white and gray wolf. It dodged right and ran past the archway towards freedom. There were still shouts as nobody expected a simple beast to best the will of any Mage. The girl laying on the ground was sobbing as realization dawned on her. Without a familiar she’d be expelled, proven she lacked the conviction to work magic. One of the older teachers cast a jump spell and chased after the escaped familiar. “Enough!” bellowed Kronis as it seemed the danger was over. The teachers hadn’t been on the ball as the morning had worked to high noon. He called another girl who’d already summoned her familiar to take Wendi back to the Acolyte Tower. It wasn’t spoken but the tone suggested she start packing. “Gwen Drakin,” he called next and she gulped. Just great to be called right after that disaster. Fairies danced in her stomach and made her want to run. Tension racked the yard as she entered circle. Suddenly she did hope for something normal, a dog maybe. “Please not a demon,” Gwen thought as she glanced over at Georgi. Vera was there and for once she gave an encouraging head nod. Maybe she wasn’t such a mean girl after all. Taking in a long breath she didn’t start for at least two minutes. Not until she felt she could control her voice enough to begin. Still as she tried she couldn’t quite hide the slightly tremor in the words. At least these only started the protection wards. As the spell went on she sank herself into the flow. The mana inside her was being drawn out by measures. They’d said it would take almost everything in the casting. Still it surprised even her as she felt her body grow tired from sudden exhaustion. It was if a drain had appeared in her mana pool. Words spill from her lips as she fought to stand erect. She’d watched almost every other student stumble from the circle after wards. Gwen would not be the one to fall unconscious. Then it appeared floating just above the ground. The black sphere was small at first but quickly grew to about the size of a carriage. Silence had reigned during this conjuring except the words of magic coming from Gwen. Now though people once again took in another breath as the portal blinked out. © 2015 Confused Author |
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Added on January 13, 2015 Last Updated on February 13, 2015 AuthorConfused AuthorWAAboutIm older than i should be to start writing novels. I attribute my reading of thousands of books to my middling ability. more..Writing
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