Page 49 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘Your enthusiasm is unsettling. Will you tell me what you found, or is it a secret only the Court of Aether can know?’
‘Secret . . . no, you have the right to know who you are. But gods—a vivamancer? Oh my, my bright, untrained gem, you will be a sensation at the university,’ he said as he stood. My remark about the lizard was becoming less amusing with each passing moment.
‘Sensation? Like a stuffed striga1 or the corpse of a basilisk?’ I asked, fear turning into sarcasm while I tried to unravel his ramblings.
‘No, my dear. Like a mage of the High Order, which you are about to be. You need training, and lots of it, but that will come after the geas.2 The king cannot refuse me.’
Ciesko’s agitation was becoming worrisome.
‘What are you talking about? Geas? Am I a threat?’ I asked, wondering if I should slap him to get some sense out of him.
‘There’s nothing to worry about, my dear. And the danger can be contained. I will arrange everything for you. Please excuse me. I must look into it before the Court of Aether does something stupid. Your situation is . . . precarious, but it’s no bother. I’ll cut your ties with the Brotherhood and train you myself. That’s for the best.’
‘What if I don’t agree?’ I asked cautiously.
‘Dear child, did I ask for your agreement? A vivamancer’s power is too volatile for you to be allowed free rein,’ he said with a benevolent smile. I coughed, my throat constricting.
‘What . . .? Wait! What’s a damn vivamancer?’ I reached out, trying to grasp the older man’s hand, but he was already rushing away. Still, my words made him pause.
‘A rare magic, unseen, erased from this part of the world . . . until now. And I’m the one who discovered you! We’ll need to confirm it, of course, but I know I’m right. Gods, everybody believes your kind is extinct. Where does your family live?’
‘We lived on the Orcish Steppe. My father raised horses there . . .’ I said, still utterly confused. The arch healer, however, looked like a dragon had dropped a treasure in his lap.
‘That would explain it. Wild magic is strong there, especially around the Grey Peaks Mountains.’ He rubbed his chin, wearing a thousand-yard stare. ‘How could we have missed you? Never mind, don’t say a word to anyone. It is paramount to your safety. Not even Riordan or the king must know until it’s safe. I will let you know.’
I gritted my teeth, trying to remain calm despite my heart hammering so hard I could feel my pulse in my throat. Was this why I couldn’t light a single flame despite being able to see aether? A word he’d used in his jumbled speech had also stood out and concerned me the most—erased.
He’d said my type of magic had beenerasedfrom Tir ha Mor, and I was afraid to ask who’d done that and why. If my ability were as rare as he claimed, would the same thing happen to me? Or would I be prodded and probed until I wished for death?
I’d wanted to learn, to find a mentor, but in gaining both, my life had taken another turn on fate’s twisting road.
‘Master Ciesko. I haven’t decided if I wish to pursue magic, but if I do, I promise you’ll be the first to know,’ I said, bowing myhead respectfully, hoping that would be enough to curb the old healer’s enthusiasm.
It wasn’t.
He was still talking to himself in a distracted, self-absorbed manner, as if I wasn’t a person but an object to be studied.
I found it hard to breathe.
Ciesko must have noticed because he was suddenly by my side, a hand on my back, coaxing me to inhale. I felt the strands of his magic shifting around my body while he spoke softly, as if to a child.
‘You’re overwhelmed. I’m sorry, it’s a lot to take in. Rest, and don’t worry. Vivamancy is a gift that must be nurtured. The king might be holding you here now, but the force of creation will always find a way. Fate brought you to me for a reason . . .’ He paused, placing his hand on my cheek in a fatherly gesture I hadn’t expected from a stranger. ‘You were born a mage, raised to be a killer, but in the end, only you can determine who you become. All I ask is that you give me a chance to show you the way.’
I swallowed hard, but my panic subsided.
Ask? You are not asking but pushing me where you want me to be, I thought, forcing a smile. I wasn’t a young apprentice who could be moulded to his expectations, and I wouldn’t discard half of my life on his whims.
Ciesko waited patiently for my response, his expression filled with empathy. I knew he expected my enthusiasm, but all I could manage to do was play for time. I pulled away, letting the mage’s hand drop to his side.
‘Master Ciesko, thank you for everything, but I cannot give you an answer right now. There’s my current situation to deal with first.’
‘Yes, but—’
A loud knock interrupted our conversation, the door opening to reveal Riordan.
‘Master Ciesko, are you finished? The king is losing patience, and if I have to hold him back any longer, I’ll end up in an early grave,’ he said without looking at me.
‘Riordan, does that mean I can see the king?’ I asked.
