" Very little of it, most of it probably stems from an incident when I escorted a client's daughter around town. She's one of those people who wanted to see everything, including several seedy taverns. Throw in a few nosy nobles and you've got the source of your rumors. I do agree with the part about me doing many things not becoming a person of my stature, because, for some reason, I don't find spending most of my time pretending to be interested in other stuffy nobles during one of their stuffy parties very interesting," he mimicked the tones she had used to describe her own teachers.
To Marcius's surprise, she let out a rather girly giggle at the statement, her hand clamped over her mouth in a somewhat flimsy attempt to contain her amusement. She looked much better when she smiled, and he wished she would do it more often.
"I feel your pain. Not much better at the Academy. Anyway, before we had digressed, the noble woman's account did not cast a favorable light upon you. So when I felt myself sufficiently armed with information, I bluffed my way into your father's presence, and then asked a few questions. The thing that threw me off was how quick he was to give honest answers. And then you came up, the supposed apprentice to an Arch Magus, a position that would be highly desirable at the Academy. I felt rather indignant to say the least."
"What made you change your mind?" It was time to take control of the direction of this encounter. He let her lead long enough.
"Your bold statement after my appraisal of the Arch Magus's judgment. It's been a long time since anyone had treated me as an equal. Most nobles that I have known would have sputtered at the breach of etiquette, and then had me thrown out. Or they would have just taken the abuse for fear of breaching etiquette themselves. Perhaps I have been among the company of other wizards for too long, but I found the verbal jousting refreshing. It was nice to run into a noble who didn't play the games that typically run their lives."
Marcius's heart skipped a few beats at the compliment. The look of respect on her face seemed genuine. "So what is it that you want of me?"
She took a shallow breath and visibly steeled herself. "Well, I am to get your Master to sign a magical contract, saying that he won't do any brazen breaches of magic. That is the main reason we look down upon rogue wizards. They have a penchant for flaunting their power, often hazardously. It makes all magic users look bad, so if you could at least talk to him, convince him to not blow me into little pieces, it would be much appreciated. If I could return to Aralene with these papers signed, I would be out of your hair within the week."
She stood up and walked to the desk behind Marcius, pulling out what he could only presume was the contract. She then retrieved her seat on her bed, making a show of inspecting the papers.
Marcius let loose a deep sigh of relief. That didn't seem too hard, but a thought occurred to him, something that made his blood tingle in alarm. His eyes creased and he threw what he hoped was a hard, pointed stare at the still distractingly attractive women in front of him. "How do I know you're just not using me to find out where he is? Then get a mob of wizards from the Academy to take him out or something like that? Throw a few compliments, wear a garish outfit, and hope the dumb apprentice takes the bait?"
"I could have just cast watcher spells on you if I wanted to do that, Marc. I wouldn't have talked to you directly. Plus, you already admitted to being his apprentice. An action, if I was an inquisitor, which would allow me to take you in and punish you for practicing magic without permission from the Academy. I'm not here to punish you or your master. The Academy has been moving toward acceptance and trying to get people not to view us, and magic, in such a negative light."
Chastened, he mumbled an apology, which she promptly waved away. "No need. You have every right to be suspicious. Just talk to him, please. I would be most grateful."
"I'll do what I can. I can't promise you anything. I must say it feels weird that you came all this way to get a piece of paper signed. . . even it is magical. Now, if I may take my leave, I've a rather early morning appointment tomorrow. But before I go, may I ask a favor? A test of faith per say?"
She raised an eyebrow, "Let me see your familiar before I go."
The look on her face turned stiff, but gradually grew softer, "Alright, but this is a major leap of faith," she said after a few agonizing moments.
A black as coal raven suddenly fluttered to her soft ashen shoulder, he regarded Marcius imperially with blood red eyes before quickly vanishing into thin air again with a shrill squawk. "Satisfied?"
A little taken aback by the speed of the encounter with the familiar, Marcius simply nodded. He stood up, stretching a bit to get the feeling back into his legs and backside. He paused at the door. "Good night, Alicia, I wi-."
A hand stopped him as he turned; she was unexpectedly close to him, face to face. He hadn't even heard her move. She had to crane her neck to look at him since he was taller. Her teeth met behind her parted lips as she considered him, head askew, eyes black in the shade of the doorway.
He could feel her hand splayed against his chest to hold him in place, still warm through his shirt; the heat of her body tangible by her proximity. His feet felt rooted to the floor, and he prayed that she couldn't feel the rapid beating of his heart pounding against his chest. The scent of her tickled his nose.
"Next time we meet Marc," she whispered, finally shattering the silence with the softest of voices, "I have a test of faith for you. Until then, may whatever god you worship watch over you." At that, she pushed the contract in his hand and gave him a little nudge the rest of the way through the door, which she then shut with a sense of finality.
He clutched his hand to his chest as he sought refuge against the hard stone wall, waiting for his still thumping heart to calm down. Only then realized he had been holding his breath. Never before had the quiet life of a trade prince looked so appealing. He wasn't sure if he could handle situations such as the ones throughout this day, constantly. Getting into a bar fight, dealing with Freddy, and then hanging around in a very complicated woman's bedroom. The latter felt the most life threatening, as luck would have it. To think, he was only an apprentice, what was in store for him when, and if, he became a full wizard?
Once his breathing had returned to normal, he ventured outside and hailed a coach. Before long he was at the entrance to his family estate. He threw the driver a bit extra for his troubles, and doggedly made his way through the cold night into his estate.
It was late, so he had to let himself in the back way typically reserved for the now sleeping servants. Tiptoeing, he eventually snuck into his room. Deciding that he wasted enough time, he flopped onto the bed without changing his clothing or taking off his boots, pausing only to throw the contract onto his dresser. He could mull over events in the morning.
Chapter 04
Alicia stared at the hard wooden door after she had closed it, and her eyes had achieved the glassy appearance of one who was looking but not really seeing. She ran through the conversation with the rogue wizard's apprentice in her head, barely acknowledging the now recognizable black raven that appeared once again, perched on her shoulder.
He interests you. Despite the warnings the Academy gave, you find him and his family likable.
The bird gave her an affectionate nibble on the ear. She absentmindedly stroked the plumage on its neck as she mulled over the familiar's words. Aye, Karhol, they're a mystery, I wish I could have met them under different circumstances. Not often that you meet someone with honest eyes, someone who doesn't seem to have a hidden agenda. Maybe I have been at the Academy too long.
The familiar arched his head up to redirect the scratching, his dark red eyes coming to rest upon her face. Then why did you lie to him, Aly?
She stopped scratching the bird as she thought over the question, which caused Karhol to flap his wings crossly. She ignored it. It always surprised her how much like herself the black bird sounded in her head. With a small sigh she responded, I have no choice. Anyway, I told the truth about everything. Everything but the tracking spells. I doubt as an apprentice that he knows one must have physical contact for an extended period of time. She rubbed the fingers that had held Marcius in place. It's not a big deal. The Academy just wants a location in case he ever does go awry, right? Just because I tricked him into allowing me to place a tracking spell, doesn't mean I betrayed them does it? The words sounded hollow in her head, unconvincing even to her.
Karhol gave a small squawk, flitting to land on the table next to the doorway where she still stood, and sauntered over to the edge. Amazingly for an animal, he somehow managed to work a bemused expression on his face. Alicia wondered if it was merely a trick of the lighting. I know not much about the habits of humans, besides you Aly. He always said the nickname as a term of endearment, something that always tugged a vestige of a smile on her lips. But what little I can gather, particularly about this family, they are quick to trust, but even quicker to hold a grudge. Even if everything else about your proclaimed admiration is true, I doubt that will be the first thing he looks to when he learns of your deceit. I sense doubts in you about the honesty of the Academy's motives?