Well, maybe there’s some justice in the world after all.
‘Four other initiates are similarly afflicted. The sudden onset of this condition among so many is … improbable.’
A thought came to me, and a sudden hope came on its heels. ‘What if we’re all suffering some kind of temporary illness? Maybe I’m not—’
‘Your magic has faded gradually, over weeks and months. This is a natural occurrence for those called to the life of the Sha’Tep. What is happening to the others is not natural.’
Considering how casually Osia’phest spoke of my becoming Sha’Tep, I couldn’t imagine anything I cared about less than Tennat’s suffering, but I still found myself asking, ‘What do you think is weakening them?’
‘There are poisons known to cause such symptoms … though the formulations are complex and known to only a few. However, it’s not impossible that a particularly clever and determined person might uncover them, given time and motivation.’ There was something in the old spellmaster’s eyes as he gazed at me … Was it concern? No. Suspicion. It was as if he was waiting for me to confess something. ‘Your house has feuded with that of Tennat in the past, has it not? One cannot help but note that most of those afflicted come from families who support the House of Ra, or who might make their own claim the title of clan prince.’
‘You can’t possibly think that I—’
Osia’phest put up his hands. ‘I make no such accusation. I know you to be a good lad, though reckless and, forgive me, somewhat callow at times. But what I have noted, so too will others. They may seek justice even in the absence of proof.’ He took in a deep breath and seemed to hold it for a while. ‘A people bound together by magic, and yet so often we seek to unleash the worst of that magic upon each other.’
I was trying to imagine any way in which this day could get any worse. Without success. I stood up and grabbed his arm. ‘Master Osia’phest, I didn’t do anything to anyone. I’m not responsible.’
He gently took my hand away. ‘Kellen, I’m afraid there is a great deal of difference between not doing something and not being responsible for it.’
I spent the next few hours watching and listening as Master Osia’phest ran the other initiates through recitations of incantations, hierarchies of mystical strictures and endless meditations during which, I was quite confident, Osia’phest took a few naps.
After a while I found it impossible to keep my own eyes open during the endless droning and repetition. Each time I opened them, I instinctively looked over at Tennat across the way, expecting to see him charging at me, his hands blazing with magic. But he never moved. Sometimes he would glance back at me, but he never said anything. That suited me just fine.
What had happened to dampen his magic? And what about the others? I knew I hadn’t caused their sickness. There was one explanation that didn’t require anything nefarious: fear. Magic requires perfect concentration and indomitable will. Emotional trauma made those almost impossible, and Tennat had done quite a bit of sobbing last night.
‘You look pleased with yourself,’ Panahsi said, rousing me from a brief doze.
‘I didn’t see you coming.’ I shuffled over on the bench to make room for him but he didn’t sit down. He had his arms crossed in front of him and I noticed right away that something had changed with him. ‘You sparked your ember band … That’s great,’ I said, struggling to inject sincerity into my voice.
He nodded with grim satisfaction. ‘Did it this morning.’
‘How did you do it? Maybe you could help me later. I have some ideas about how I might be able to—’
Panahsi cut me off with a sneer, which was an unusual expression for him and looked just comical enough that for a second I thought he might be joking, until he said, ‘You know what, Kellen? I’ve figured out why you don’t have any magic.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘Because you don’t deserve any.’
He took a step closer to me, his wide frame blocking out the sun. ‘Magic is the gift of the Jan’Tep. Not the Daroman. Not the Berabesq. Not whatever you are.’
I stood up, rather too quickly, and all my various cuts and bruises from the night before came screaming back at me, making me dizzy. ‘I’m just as much a Jan’Tep as you are,’ I said, and tried to push him away. It was stupid for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that Panahsi had been, up until that day, my best friend. He was also very heavy. My shove didn’t move him an inch. His sent me reeling back over the bench.
‘You sided with that Daroman woman over your own people, Kellen.’
I looked up from the ground, past Panahsi, to where the other initiates were doing a poor job of pretending to be oblivious to what was happening while sneaking quick glances towards us. Tennat, sitting on the bench on the other side of the oasis, wasn’t pretending at all. It was the first time I’d seem him smile all day.
I got to my feet. With the bench between Panahsi and myself I decided to try a different tactic. ‘They were going to hurt that woman, Panahsi. Is that what magic is for? To lord it over and torment people who don’t have any?’ Oh gods, please let that not be the case or I’m completely screwed for life.
‘Ra’fan says she’s a spy.’
‘Ra’fan is an idiot. So’s his father and so’s Tennat, who nearly crippled you last week in case you’ve forgotten.’
‘Tennat beat me because he’s strong, just like the rest of his family. He’s going to be a mage who fights for our people. Just like I need to be.’
That made me snort. ‘Panahsi, you’ve got more potential than Tennat’s whole family. You’re going to be three times stronger than—’
‘Not if I keep hanging around with you I won’t,’ he said, his palms open by his sides.
My people learn not to clench our fists when we get angry. It makes it harder to form the somatic shapes needed for attack spells.
‘Are you going to beat me up, Panahsi?’ I asked.
He hesitated. ‘I could, you know. Even without magic. I’m stronger than you, Kellen.’
‘I never said you weren’t.’
For a moment he just stood there as if he was about to say something else, or was waiting for me to say something, but neither of us did and so he just turned and walked away from me, back to the other initiates. I couldn’t hear what he said to them, but I doubted he was singing my praises, because a few of them laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
It should have been obvious to me what was going on, but I’m a little thick sometimes. It was Tennat who illuminated things for me when he came over shortly after Panahsi left.
‘I told them you’d come today,’ Tennat said, coughing through the words.