‘Three.’
Tosan’s eyebrows narrowed. He glanced at the ring on his left hand then back to Annev. ‘You are lying,’ he said, fidgeting with the ring. ‘Why? What are you hiding?’
Annev shook his head, confused by the accusation, then he realised his error.
Dammit.
‘There were only three feurog,’ Annev said, ‘but there was a fourth monster – a witch.’
‘A witch,’ Tosan said, clearly intrigued, ‘and you called these monsters “feurog”. Why do you name them so?’
‘That is what the witch called them.’
The headmaster nodded, apparently content with Annev’s explanation. ‘This witch,’ he said, leaning forward in his chair, ‘did she have a name?’
Annev gave himself a moment to remember. ‘I think … I’m not certain, but I believe her name was Kelga.’
‘Kelga?’ The headmaster shot out of his seat, his eyes suddenly ablaze with passion. ‘You are telling me that you found a woman named Kelga in the Brakewood?’ Annev had thought Tosan was fuelled by anger or hope, but at his words Annev knew precisely what the man was feeling.
Desperation.
‘I believe so. She only said it once, and she didn’t seem in her right mind.’
‘I believe you.’ Tosan’s voice was hoarse and he sat down, his face ashen, a changed man. What was once an interrogation had become a plea.
‘Did she mention my wife?’
Annev’s mouth fell open. ‘Your wife?’
‘Lana,’ he said, his voice breaking. ‘Her name was Lana. She died barely a month after Myjun was born. I thought something had driven her into a patch of blackthorn, but …’ He shook his head. ‘There were signs of a struggle. Kelga was supposed to be with her … supposed to protect her … but we never found the old woman. I searched the Brakewood and never found the wretch.’ He stared at the door to his study, his dark eyes brooding. ‘For almost two decades I have wondered what happened. Where did Kelga go? Why did she attack my wife? What happened to the one-armed son of Keos they were sent to sacrifice?’
Annev fought not to react to the ancient’s rhetorical questions. At last, Tosan’s gaze shifted back to Annev. The headmaster seemed to remember himself, and his tone shifted back to interrogation.
‘Why did you call Kelga a witch? Did she possess magic?’
‘She used dark magic to deceive us, and to control the feurog. She died attacking us.’
Tosan studied him. ‘You killed Kelga.’ Annev nodded. ‘And the merchant aided you.’ Annev nodded again and Tosan heaved a great sigh, as though some heavy burden had lifted from him.
‘So,’ he continued, ‘you killed the witch and the three feurog, and then you turned on the pedlar. You took his ears and then you killed him with his own sword.’
Annev hesitated, knowing any affirmation would be a lie. ‘No.’
‘No?’ Tosan raised an eyebrow.
‘No,’ Annev said, clarifying, ‘we did not kill all three of the feurog. Two died, but … the third creature fled into the forest.’
‘Ah.’ Tosan fingered the ears on his desk then looked up. ‘Did you take anything from the witch? Anything that might confirm her identity or prove that you killed her?’
Annev paused, trying to recall if he had. He was about to say no when he remembered the gold shard in his pocket. With a sigh of regret, he pulled it from his tunic and placed it beside the severed ears. ‘I found this near the clearing where the witch found us. If you want further proof, you will find her bones in the Brake.’
Tosan took the strip of metal, weighing it in his hands. He closed his eyes, fingers probing, then opened them in shock. ‘This is an artifact.’
‘What?’
Tosan turned the gold shard in his hands, marvelling at it, testing its edge. ‘The gold contains a magic aura. Its purpose is … unclear, but there is a malevolence to it. It almost feels alive. I’m surprised you did not feel it.’
Annev tried to recall how the metal had felt in his hands. Had he felt the tingle of some foreign magic then dismissed it as his own innate gift? Perhaps. Had he felt the malevolence that Tosan now felt? Annev thought not. Which was strange, when he had felt an evil taint to the Rod of Healing two days past.
‘I did not take the time to examine it, Elder Tosan. There were other metals in the woods, too. Different kinds. I only took the gold.’
‘Very well. Acolyte, you know the prerequisite for becoming an Avatar of Judgement is to pass the Test of Judgement. Do you know the prerequisite for becoming a Master Avatar?’
‘I thought it happened when the ancients believe the avatar is ready to advance.’
‘That’s partially true. But there are also two tests. First, the avatar must demonstrate his competency by obtaining an artifact and bringing it back to the Academy.’
‘And the second test?’ Annev asked warily.
‘The Trial of Commitment. The avatar must eliminate a target – usually one that poses a threat to Chaenbalu or the Academy.’
‘You mean, to kill someone?’
Tosan raised an eyebrow. ‘That should be an easy task now that you’ve done it a few times.’
‘Yes,’ Annev said, though he didn’t feel so certain. He hadn’t killed the pedlar, after all, and Crag had dealt the killing blow to Kelga; the only person he had killed was the feurog with the iron-encased skull, and Annev still wasn’t sure whether to count that creature as a man or a monster. He swallowed the lump in his throat, uncomfortable to know he would be tasked to kill again.
‘I’ll be frank with you, Ainnevog. I was certain you would try to slither out of your task … but I was wrong. You killed the pedlar, and you did me a great favour in destroying Kelga.’
‘And did I pass your test?’ Annev asked, eyes hopeful. ‘Have I finally earned my avatar title?’
Tosan frowned. ‘I’m sorry, was I not clear? You are not being promoted to Avatar of Judgement.’
Annev’s throat closed up. It was all happening again. As soon as his dreams were within reach someone changed the rules, taking away whatever he most wanted.
‘I cannot promote you to avatar,’ Tosan continued, ‘because you have already passed the Test of Competency and the Trial of Commitment.’ He gestured at the gold shard and the severed ears. ‘This artifact will be admitted to the Vault.’ Tosan tugged on a red rope – one of six hanging from the wall – and Annev heard a bell tinkle somewhere down the hall. He pulled the brown and black ropes as well, and while Annev heard nothing, he knew other bells were ringing elsewhere in the Academy.
‘Annev, you have passed the prerequisites for a higher office.’
Annev’s brow furrowed then his eyes widened. His throat no longer felt like it was closing in on itself, but his heart was racing even faster now. ‘Higher office?’ he repeated stupidly, feeling certain he had misunderstood.