“You have a lay-person’s understanding of the Guild,” he said.“And there is no time for me to lesson you.But hear this much.”He reached with his power and clamped down hard so that she could not move.Her eyes widened.
“I am the Guildmaster of the Mage Guild of Edenrich,” Forterran said firmly.“As such I control the Guild, and it is within my power and authority as Guildmaster to punish those who violate our rules and laws.There is no appeal, no higher power.You, as an apprentice and a journeyman, and yes, even as a master, are under my authority, and the authority of those I place over you.”He eased up just a bit.“Do you understand me so far?”
She managed to nod, but her eyes never left his.
“I will not hesitate to destroy you if you represent a threat to me and mine.”Forterran spoke simply and slowly.Best to make an impression now, before this chit went much further.“Eventually, you may gain the powers you seek, but the road is long and rocky before you, and you will not have the power to challenge me for many years.”
She shook her head.“I would never—”
“Yes, you will,” Forterran released her.“At some point, they all do.You will think yourself smarter, faster, more capable, and you will try.”He snorted.“Even Ritathan did, in his time.”
Her eyes filled with tears at that and he cursed himself for a fool.He hated a woman’s tears.Made him feel so damn helpless.Forterran dug in his pocket, pulled out a hanky, and offered it to her.She muttered her thanks, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, then twisting the fabric between her hands.
Thankfully, she grew quiet after that and remained silent for the rest of the trip, only occasionally wiping her eyes, lost in thought.
They reached the Guildhouse gates in no time, for which Forterran was grateful.He wanted no more tears, no more dramatics.
His wife was waiting for them and some of the tension in Forterran’s shoulders eased when he saw her.Obeda opened the door, her round face and soft smile both warm and welcoming.Her eyes lit up when she saw Halithe.
“You got her,” she said, offering Halithe a hand out of the carriage.“Any trouble?”
“There will be,” Forterran said as he followed.“Eventually.”
Obeda nodded and smiled at the girl as she drew her into the warm hall.Halithe stood there with hanky and chains filling her hands.
“I’ve packed supplies for you,” Obeda said.She picked up a cloak from a chair and drew over Halithe’s shoulders.“Everything you should need.Tunics and trous, they are far more practical than skirts.”Her voice dropped for Halithe’s ear alone but Forterran heard “moonpads” and “babysbane.”
Not a conversation he wanted to be involved in.
“Am I going somewhere else?”Halithe clutched Ritathan’s chains tighter, probably to keep her hands from shaking, Forterran thought.
“Come,” he said, hustling her down the hall.“Out here,” he added as he opened a large wooden door and ushering her into a small garden.
His people had readied two pack horses, well loaded, as well as two riding horses, both stamping in impatience.It appeared his instructions had been carried out.
“Apprentice,” a deep voice called, and beside Forterran, the girl jerked and spun toward the sound.
Ritathan stood there, dressed for the cold, his songbirds in a cage by his side.His normally stern face was wide with a smile, and he held his arms open to his apprentice.
Thank the powers, she was his problem now.
Chapter Seven
Guildhouse, Guild of Mages
Edenrich
Halithe’s heart leapt even as her mouth dropped open.
“I see you brought my chains,” Ritathan said.“Excellent.”
Halithe couldn’t help herself.She dropped the chains, ran over, and flung herself into his arms.“Alive, you’re alive!”she shouted.
“Oof,” Ritathan grunted at the impact, but his arms closed around her, warm and wonderful, surrounding her with the familiar scent of incense and old books.“Yes,” he said.“Did I not tell you that not everything is as it appears?”
“But,” she gaped, holding on to him, still not sure the world was tilted right.He was alive, standing there, and— “But you melted.”
Ritathan shrugged.“The hardest part was the smell, actually.”
