The Bronze Mage (30 page)

Although magic does exist in the three kingdoms, mages are still rare. Magical ability is not genetic, so a mage is as likely to be born to a farmer as to a king. The ratio of mages to non-mages stays around 1:5,000.

The kingdoms each average about a million residents, of which some two hundred are mages. Of these about fifty are children or still in training and twenty are above the age of 70 and not typically active in their craft. Of those remaining, in Xentia and Westphal about a third are employed by the government. These work for the nobility, or for the kingdoms' equivalent of the postal service, or as guards along the borders that the kingdoms share with the empires. In Valstadt, because of their long southern border, nearly half of working mages are employed by the government. Other mages work as physicians or as merchants, creating and selling enchanted objects, creams and potions. Because permanent enchantments are very difficult and time-consuming to cast, the vast majority of enchantments are temporary.

Visible Magic

Magic, both its potential in ingredients and its existence in spells, is visible to mages. Spells are often referred to as being "woven" because of the patterns the magic acquires during the casting of a spell. The purpose of most spells can be discovered by those who recognize the patterns, although with enough time and talent a mage can disguise a spell. Similarly, a spell's caster can be identified by someone familiar with that mages's magic. This is more along the lines of recognizing an artist by studying a series of paintings than identifying a criminal by matching DNA or fingerprints.

Ways to Weave Spells

Although mages can see magic, they cannot interact with it directly. They must use ingredients that contain magic potential to cast spells. Because of this, the typical mage's study is littered with potted plants and dried herbs, caged or preserved animals, bits of mineral and other paraphernalia. All mages can perform all kinds of magic, although they often specialize according to their occupation or preference. Ability levels vary according to how clearly a mage sees magic and whether or not s/he can strengthen the magic while casting a spell. Most mages are very close to the average ability level, so the most effective mages are typically those who through study or experience understand the interactions of various ingredients best.
 

A few times in the history of the three kingdoms, a mage has been born who can directly interact with magic. Mage James of Xentia is one. These mages can weave much more intricate spells, thus making them more difficult both to identify and to break. Direct interaction also allows such a mage to weave spells more quickly and with less effort than other mages.

Magic Sensers

Mages are not the only ones who can see magic. Magic sensers can also, though typically not as clearly as mages. In the population, magic sensers are three times more common than mages. Although they can see magic and magic potential, they cannot manipulate it to weave spells. Even if they followed a spell's "recipe" exactly, nothing would happen. However, gifted magic sensers may see a simple spell clearly enough to discover what will break it. Strong magic sensers (those with better magical "vision") are often hired by non-magical merchants to identify enchanted objects or to collect ingredients with magical potential for sale to mages. A mage may hire a magic senser as an assistant.

Education

All those with magical ability are trained in a specialized school located in southeastern Westphal. Everyone who can see magic is sent there as soon as their ability is confirmed, or the autumn after they turn twelve if they are discovered before then.

Mages study for ten years. Magic sensers are usually sorted out and sent home within a few years, so the School of Magic, which covers the first three years of training, is twice as large as the nearby College.
 

Outsiders tend to use the titles "school" and "college" interchangeably, referring to either or both of the institutions. Students did not.

Magical Items

Although spells can only be cast by mages, anyone can use an enchanted item. Thus a merchant may use a cologne imbued with a charm spell, or a guard may lace a prisoner's drink with a truth potion, or a duchess may apply a cream illusion spell to make herself more beautiful. Malicious spells are outlawed in all three kingdoms, with the strictest laws in Valstadt and the least restrictive in Xentia. Both the mage who cast the spell and the person who knowingly uses it are legally culpable.

Excerpt from
THE GREEN-EYED MAGE

CHAPTER ONE

RETURN TO XENTIA

It couldn't be a good sign that Tabitha was aware of James's approach before his horse became visible on the road. They had agreed to meet at an inn just outside of Salbren. He wanted to escort her into the city the next day. The gesture traditionally indicated a union of preference rather than an arranged marriage, but she suspected he was just impatient to check on the spell. She sipped her wine, wishing it were more effective at steadying her nerves, afraid it would lead her to babble like an idiot. Watching his horse slowly grow large enough to become recognizable, she realized her fingernails were cutting crescents into her palms and forced herself to relax. Melanie, her older sister who was a mage-in-training, was watching Tabitha with fascination. Not her, the spell.

"What?" Tabitha asked.

"I can see it change. It's growing lighter and more fluid." She turned to follow Tabitha's gaze out the window. "That's him, way out there?"

Tabitha nodded. Twice, since Melanie hadn't turned back to see her the first time.

"That's amazing. Can you feel any difference?"

Tabitha tore her eyes from the window. "I don't really want to talk about it here. Want to go for a walk?"

"You need to wait here. It will look better that way."

"Don't know how well that will work. He's either forgotten to compensate for the pull or doesn't realize he needs to when he's that far away." The tug was feeling more insistent. Tabitha had to unclench her jaw and pry her fingers off the bench.

"Wow," Melanie said.

"Now what?"

"It's like the spell is trying to connect to him, or an invisible wind is blowing it that way."

"It and me, too." Tabitha muttered as she forced her fingers to release the table's edge. "I wish he could tell when it was doing this."

Suddenly, the tension slid away and she felt herself rising to leave. She saw Melanie's jaw drop and realized her sister must have seen the spell activate. Hurrying out of the inn and down the road, Tabitha saw James break into a canter. It was a nice touch, making it look like they were both anxious to see each other. He slowed as he approached, leaned over, and swung her up in front of him. While she caught her breath, he inspected the spell.

"You shouldn't have waited so long," he said.

"'Hello' to you, too. It wasn't easy arranging a wedding in less than two weeks."

He snorted. "If you'd left with me, I'll bet your father and King Fenril would have worked out the details by morning."

"Or" Tabitha countered, "my father would have declared war on King Fenril. He isn't happy about this even as it stands."

"There wouldn't be a rush if someone had told me earlier that I'm the only one who can keep you alive."

"Yes, well, no one really wanted to write that letter: 'Dear Mage James, Thanks for returning our daughter after you kidnapped her two years ago. However, the spell you left on her is malfunctioning. If you promise to fix her, you can keep her.'"

James raised an eyebrow. Tabitha expected him to correct her about the spell. It hadn't malfunctioned. Rather Tabitha had a rare reaction to James's magic, called an affinity, that made a permanent spell grow stronger when it wasn't used. In the long term, affinity was deadly. It was also deadly in the short term, if mages persistently tried and failed to break the spell.

Instead, he said, "It was easier to risk your life at the College of Magic?"

"You're not a real favorite with my family," Tabitha sighed.
 

They reached the inn yard. Tabitha allowed the groom to help her down. James also dismounted and handed the man his reins. Tabitha led James back to the table where Melanie awaited them.

"Princess Melanie," James greeted her, bowing politely.

Melanie didn't answer, apparently engrossed in whatever the spell was doing. When she finally took notice of James, her expression smoothed into a formal mask.

"Mage James," she returned, rising from her seat.

"We have a private dining room upstairs. Dinner will be served there," Tabitha said, looping her arm through her sister's and leading the party away from the curious crowd.
 

Once they were in the room, Tabitha dropped Melanie's arm and slowed to a stop. James crossed to the windows, which were open to admit any breezes that might wish to alleviate the heat. Melanie stepped away from Tabitha, her unfocussed gaze indicating that she had resumed studying the spell. Melanie muttered to herself occasionally, but since Tabitha, like most people, had neither studied magic nor was able to see it, she turned from her sister to James.

James was studying Tabitha. She blushed, but refused to lower her eyes. If he could stare, then so would she. It took a conscious effort not to move closer to him. She knew the pull would go away if she touched James, but that was embarrassing. Especially in front of her sister. Tabitha's family had agreed to the wedding out of necessity. They all wanted to believe that was also Tabitha's only motivation. She hadn't been brave enough to admit any more than that she trusted James. Infatuation with this mage was only for the weak and foolish.

"You look pale," he said.

"So do you," she retorted, laughing.

This teased a smile out of him. "I'm always pale. By mid-summer, you're usually much darker.

"It's been an unusual summer." Then, in the hopes of reminding James to counteract the pull she was feeling without having to ask specifically, she said, "So how long do you think it will take to weaken the affinity?"
 

James's smile vanished. "At least a year, Tabitha, maybe longer."

"I don't mean enough to break the spell. I know that will take time," she said hastily, hesitated, then gave up and explained, "I was just wondering when it might stop pulling on me."
 

"It may take awhile, unless I use it frequently." He called her over to his side. She didn't try to fight the compulsion, but was embarrassed by Melanie's rapt attention. "You dislike that."

Tabitha shrugged. Although she hated being moved around like a game piece, it felt good when the spell activated, like pressure being released. He wrapped her arm around his and the pull disappeared. She wished she could forget about the affinity and believe James really wanted to marry her. This would have been easier without Melanie analyzing her like a laboratory experiment.

When dinner was served, James seated Tabitha, then drew his chair quite near hers. Beneath the table his leg leaned against hers. This dissipated the pull, but raised the color in Tabitha's cheeks. She told herself not to be silly. They were getting married tomorrow. Still, it was very distracting.

James did most of the talking during the meal. He described their schedule for the morrow, the arrangements he had made with King Fenril for a week afterwards in one of the king's favorite hideaways, James's suite in Salbren castle that they would share. Tabitha was beginning to realize how permanent this change would be. She wasn't sure if she was ready.

Eventually the food was cleared and the servant had left. They vacated the table. James settled Tabitha on a footstool, seating himself on the chair behind her. He sent Melanie for Tabitha's brush. That she went to fetch it without complaint indicated her interest in the magic he would be weaving. Melanie wasn't typically biddable.

"Can't it wait until we have no audience?" Tabitha protested.

"I need to either work on the spell or use it. Your choice."

Tabitha didn't bother answering. He knew which she preferred.

Melanie returned, handed James the brush and seated herself to the side, so she could watch. He carefully dismantled the elaborate construction that Tabitha's maid had woven Tabitha's hair into and Melanie's magic had protected over the two day journey here. Tabitha closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation as her aching scalp relaxed. Then James started working on the spell. Tabitha gasped. The sensation of pressure being released was much more intense, almost painful. It was quickly followed by a spreading numbness, then the more familiar electricity. By the time he finished, Tabitha felt like an overcooked noodle.

James wrapped his arm around her for support as Melanie led them back to the sisters' room. When they arrived and he backed away, Tabitha felt more than wobbly. She clutched a chair for balance.

"She's going to need some help," James noted. Tabitha thought she heard a laugh in his voice, but decided to ignore it. "I'll wait outside. Let me know once you have her in bed."

"I think not. We'll see you in the morning," Melanie assured him.

"If I put her to sleep, the affinity will weaken all night long. She'll need me to wake her, but it's the least intrusive way to use the spell." James didn't wait for a response, leaving Melanie staring after him with a frustrated expression that made Tabitha smile in sympathy.

Then Tabitha realized that he'd just walked away and she was okay. The pull was gone or, more likely, he was finally compensating for it. That was a relief. She'd begun to think that having him nearby was causing more problems than it was solving.

CHAPTER TWO

WEDDING

The next morning Tabitha waited until she heard the door close before opening her eyes. She felt good. Better than she had since she and James had parted at the college. She hadn't admitted it to anyone, but she'd already begun seeing trees again whenever she got over-tired. It wouldn't have been many days before she would have lost consciousness and been trapped in the enchanted forest the affinity pulled her into when it became too strong-- with James giving her a big "I told you so" as he dragged her back to reality.