“So. . let me get this straight. Jeslek set you the task of killing the prefect of Gallos. He told you that you had to do this to become a full mage. You distrusted him, but he raised chaos and effectively threatened you with no one around-”
“He didn’t threaten me, ser. He sent everyone else away, and he raised chaos, and I felt threatened-”
“Wise of you,” murmured Kinowin.
Sterol glanced sharply at the tall overmage, then back at Cerryl. “And you rode to Fenard alone-”
“No, ser. He gave me an escort, a half-score of the lancers Klybel didn’t want.”
“Did you know that?” Sterol pursued.
“No, ser. I felt it. He made the escort leader an undercaptain just before we left, and we were sent off before Anya and Fydel returned.”
“Who was this undercaptain?” asked Kinowin.
“His name was Ludren, ser.”
“That’s enough for me, right there.” Kinowin offered a tight smile. “Ludren is a good man, but he can’t lead.”
“Ser. . after they left me. . or I left them, the Gallosians got them. I found that out later.”
“How did that happen?” asked Kinowin.
“We were almost surrounded. I told Ludren to take the men and ride away, that they couldn’t help me, and I wanted to give our lancers a chance. They-the Gallosians-were bringing up archers. .” Cerryl shrugged. “I rode until it got dark and I could hide. I hoped they’d get away.”
“Then what did you do?” asked Myral quickly, for which Cerryl was grateful.
“When it got dark and there was a diversion, I sneaked into Fenard.”
“A diversion?”
Cerryl offered a guilty smile. “I used chaos to make a big fire out of some rubbish not far from the gates. They all went to look, and I rode into the city. Maybe someone saw me, but not too close.”
“I’ve heard enough.” Kinowin turned to Sterol. “What do you want?”
“I think that we should hear what Jeslek has to say.”
Cerryl’s heart sank, but he kept his face impassive.
Sterol rang the bell again, and the same messenger arrived. “Summon the overmage Jeslek. He is to appear here immediately.”
“Yes, High Wizard.”
“He will appear and charge us all with attempting to entrap him,” said Derka after the boy had left.
“Of course.” That was all Sterol said.
The silence stretched out in the tower room.
“Derka. . why don’t you attempt to scree who might be prefect of Gallos now?”
The stooped and silver-haired mage stepped over to the table with the glass, then concentrated.
Cerryl watched as the mists formed, then swirled away to reveal the image of an older man, standing by the desk Cerryl recalled.
“You know the man?” asked Sterol.
“I think he might be Syrma. . I didn’t see him well. . but he was the one who arranged for Sverlik to be murdered. The room is the prefect’s private study. That’s where. .”
“Where you destroyed Lyam?”
“Yes, ser.”
“That is the current prefect,” Derka said quietly.
“It’s not Lyam,” said Sterol. “So you, young Cerryl, are convinced you killed Lyam, and Lyam is dead.” He nodded. “Not all bad, by any means.”
“It may give Gallos some pause,” suggested Kinowin.
“It will take more than that, unhappily,” answered Sterol. “In that, our friend Jeslek is correct. But it is a beginning, and one that has not cost too dearly. Not so far.”
After another period of silence, the door burst open.
“Sterol. . I am not. .” Jeslek bowed. “Fellow mages. . I am surprised. .” His eyes glittered as he beheld Cerryl, but showed none of the surprise he had mentioned. “So. . the deserter has returned. I say that he should have no mercy.”
Sterol smiled, a chill expression that did not include his eyes. “Young Cerryl has been telling us an interesting tale, Jeslek, one that other events have confirmed. He says that you set him the mage’s task, and that he removed the prefect of Gallos as that task and returned.”
Jeslek bowed. “I must beg to differ. I would not have sent Cerryl out on such a test. His mathematicks are deficient, and he has not been a student nearly so long as necessary. And I would not have done so without informing you.”
“The prefect of Gallos is dead,” said Derka.
“And I knew of this so-called test long before Cerryl returned,” Myral added mildly.
“You said nothing.” Jeslek glanced from Sterol to Myral.
The older balding mage smiled crookedly. “What could I say? I could do nothing. If Cerryl failed to return, he would not have suited the Guild. In that, you were correct, Jeslek. But now that he has, I see no sense in wasting his talent, especially since he has resolved the problem of Lyam.”
“Why would I have set such a preposterous test?” Jeslek glanced at Sterol, then at Cerryl, ignoring both Derka and Kinowin. “This puppy has no real ability. .”
As Jeslek gathered chaos, Cerryl focused not on repelling or blocking the force, but on channeling it around him.
Whhhstt!
Cerryl shivered but held as fire sheeted around him and vanished.
Chaos filled the room, Kinowin raising almost the power of Jeslek, his gray eyes as hard as the granite stones of the tower.
“Enough!” snapped Sterol. “Enough of this charade.”
Cerryl wanted to protest that Jeslek’s chaos had not been a charade but a last-moment effort to destroy him. Instead, he waited.
“I said enough, Jeslek.” An aura of menace and dark red chaos enfolded Sterol-and Kinowin and Derka, and even Myral. “He has shields enough to stop your incidental rage, and that’s more than most of the young mages. You have just proved that he belongs in the Brotherhood. Again.”
Jeslek’s eyes hardened, even as he bowed.
Cerryl couldn’t escape the feeling that in some way Sterol had set him as a weapon against Jeslek. Maybe that’s what you’ve been all along.
“For once, Jeslek-you have gone too far. Cerryl may indeed be deficient in his mathematicks, as you have alleged. And he may not be the most powerful of the younger mages with chaos. But he can stand up to you for at least a while, and his actions prove he has ability and he is loyal to Fairhaven-and, unlike some, he has never lied.” Sterol laughed. “It would not hurt to have a young mage you cannot intimidate. Not at all.”
Jeslek’s sun-gold eyes raked across the group. Then he laughed.
Cerryl’s eyes crossed Jeslek’s, and at that moment Cerryl knew that Jeslek had known Cerryl had succeeded, and would return to Fairhaven.
“Ah. . loyalty over ability,” Jeslek said. “Was it ever thus with you, Sterol. Still. . you are the High Wizard, and you are supported.”
“Yes. I am.” Sterol’s smile was full and cold. “Cerryl will be inducted as a full mage at the next meeting, and so far as I’m concerned already has those privileges. The rest of us will discuss how to proceed to salvage the situation in Gallos.” Sterol glanced toward Cerryl. “You may go. You could use some food and some cleaning.”
Cerryl inclined his head. “Thank you, honored Sterol. And you, Myral.”
Jeslek’s eyes glittered. “Good day, mage Cerryl.”
“Good day, overmage Jeslek.” Cerryl smiled faintly. “I thank you for all that you have taught me.”
“Good day.”
Cerryl bowed to the older mages and slipped out through the ironbound oak door and onto the landing. His legs were not quite shaking as he made his way down the stairs.
Leyladin and Lyasa found him in the commons, where he was gathering himself together.
“When did you get back? What happened?” demanded Lyasa.
Leyladin merely smiled gently.
“Please sit down.” Cerryl gestured to the empty chairs across from him. “It’s almost impossible to explain.” He smiled. “Thank you both for getting word to Myral. Without that, things might have been. . more complicated. .”
“You still haven’t told me what happened.”