Arram’s head was still buzzing at the thought of the costly bracelet Yadeen wanted him to make—who would pay for the materials?—when he reached Cosmas’s workroom. The master was seated at the worktable, papers strewn around him. Looking up, he smiled and waved Arram to the breakfast laid out by the window, then bent over his paperwork again. Arram knew the signs. He settled Preet to her own second breakfast and served himself, sketching the arrangement of his beads on their chain as he ate. When finished, he put the dishes where the master’s runners would pick them up and refilled his own teacup as well as the older man’s.
Their time was nearly done and Arram was reading when Cosmas sat back with a sigh. “Finally! I have to say, my boy, working out a schedule for your summer and autumn terms was no small task! I have only one question, and I am certain you will not be happy with it. You must give up one of your present classes—tribal magic or advanced charms. You may have one but not both.”
“Sir? Why? I like both!” Arram protested.
“And your teachers like you, which is something I never thought to hear from Urukut. He is not the easiest of instructors.”
Arram smiled. No, the teacher of tribal magic was not particularly easy, but he knew a great deal and warmed up considerably to a student who was truly interested.
“No, our problem is that Master Ramasu wishes to take you for three classes in a row,” Cosmas explained. “You are to begin work in the infirmary that serves city people outside the Lion Gate. Lindhall says that since you live in his quarters, he is certain that you will continue to learn there. That leaves you with a choice. Either you will continue with advanced charms, or take Urukut’s class instead.”
Arram ground his teeth. He loved both classes, but only one of them had Faziy. “I suppose I’ll stay with Faziy and advanced charms, if that’s all right, Master.”
Cosmas blinked for a moment, then said, “But, Arram, that’s not possible.”
Preet uttered a questioning whistle. Like Arram, she was confused.
“Why, I would have thought…Well, you have been busy. Faziy has been hired away from us, if you can believe that!” Master Cosmas explained. “The Inlands Trading House has offered her far more than the university can pay to inspect and price charms for the market. It’s a splendid opportunity for her,” he added gently. “You know very few mages do well in terms of payment, particularly those who are so young. Chioké recommended her for the post. Promise you will congratulate her.”
Arram drank the last of his tea. “Of course I will, Master. I’ve just been learning so much from her.”
Cosmas sighed. “It’s true. She is very learned, and we shall miss her.” He shook his head. “Shall we say charms with a new instructor, or Urukut?”
“Master Urukut, please, sir,” Arram replied glumly.
When Arram walked into Faziy’s class that afternoon, she immediately recognized the source of his sad look. “No, no, no!” she cried. “You must feel happy for me, Arram! You must! I’ll be able to bring the rest of my family here, and you know I miss them!” Preet flew over to the instructor’s shoulder and twittered in her ear. “Preet is happy for me, aren’t you, pretty bird?”
That made Arram smile. He loved Preet, but she was a drab little thing, nowhere near pretty.
Faziy lifted a small black velvet bag, a sign they were about to begin. “Tell me you wouldn’t jump at work that would pay you as much as the university pays a master like Lindhall or Yadeen,” she challenged Arram.
He gawped at her. “That much?”
“University teachers accept use of university tools, libraries, and supplies as part payment,” she informed him. “And housing, for the ones who don’t mind students everywhere. The outside world is always profitable. I’d be a fool to turn away an opportunity like this! Now, tell me what manner of charm I hold, how strong it is, what it is made of, and how long it will last.”
Arram sighed and did as he was told. He would have to find excuses to visit her at her new place of work. She was so much more amusing than many of his teachers, love them though he did. Suddenly he sat up straight. “Will the lightning snakes follow you into the city?”
She laughed. “Of course they will! Once they take a liking to a person, they stay! Now, your practice, if you please.”
—
That evening Arram and his friends were discussing preparations for the spring term examinations over supper when Ozorne returned from the palace.
“Where have you been?” Varice asked as she and Gissa rose to kiss him on the cheeks. “We thought you’d be back last night.”
Ozorne slumped into a chair between Varice and Arram. “Stiloit sailed with the fleet at dawn this morning,” he said. “His weather mage said they’d have the best sailing of the summer in the next month, and Stiloit told Uncle he was going. There was a group of pirates off the southwest coast he just missed last year, and he means to take them.” Ozorne yawned. “I saw Mother back to the palace and had a long nap.” He undid a pouch from his waistband. Opening it, he drew out a fan decorated with gold lace. A gold tassel dangled from the end. “Stiloit heard you love fans,” he told Varice with a grin.
“Oh, sweet goddess,” Varice whispered, opening it. The fan glittered in the lamplight.
He handed the pouch to Arram. “He wanted you to have this. He said there is no point in getting you juggling tools, since you seem to just pick up anything—toys, spoons, bowls. He thought this might be more useful.”
Arram drew out a good-sized mortar made of a hard, ripple-filled gold and golden brown wood. It was dense and heavy in his hands. Arram recognized it at once. “Lifewood,” he said. “Great Mithros, this is…it’s an amazing gift!” And there was another object in the pouch: a lifewood pestle. Healers cherished lifewood tools. Even those with no magic could draw healing from lifewood, while those who worked spells with tools made from it increased their power several times over.
“I think my cousin likes you two,” Ozorne said, smiling. “I will say this—he has good taste.”
Varice laughed and fanned Ozorne. Arram, speechless, could only turn his new tools over in his hands. They were perfect for someone about to start work for three hours a day in an infirmary for residents of Thak City.
THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY OF CARTHAK
The School for Mages
The Upper Academy
SCHEDULE OF STUDY, SUMMER–AUTUMN TERM, 438 H.E.
Student: Arram Draper Learning Level: Independent
Second Morning Bell
Stone Magic—Yadeen
Third Morning Bell
Fire Magic—Cosmas, breakfast supplied
Morning Classes
Medicines; Thak Gate infirmary—Ramasu, instructors
Fourth Morning Bell to Lunch
Lunch—Noon Bell
Afternoon Classes
Tribal Magic—Urukut Ahilep Illusions: Small Animals—Dagani Water Magic—Sebo
Plants—Hulak
Supper—Seventh Afternoon Bell
Extra Study at Need