Marcus stopped at the base of the Grand Stair and sighed before saying, “I should be here for you, Gavin, but events are occurring elsewhere that also require my attention. See Bella in the library; she will be able to help you learn what you need to know about duels. I will return when I can.”
Marcus stepped back and spoke a Word of Transmutation, “Paedryx.” Gavin felt the surge of his power take hold as a sapphire arch rose out of the floor. When the arch was just a bit taller than Marcus, it flashed and became a doorway to another place. Gavin saw structures that looked to be made of crystal and surrounded by trees, before Marcus stepped through the gateway. With Marcus’s passage, the gateway vanished.
A full three floors of the Tower could only be accessed through a pair of massive double doors on the fifth floor. Those floors housed the College’s library. While the library held copies of books and scrolls from a wide range of subjects, the library’s primary purpose was to catalogue and house the finest collection of works on the Art in the known world. Scholars traveled from across the world to spend a day researching specific topics within the library’s halls; none were turned away, and few were disappointed.
Gavin approached the library’s circulation desk and found himself facing Mistress Bella Roshan, the Curator of the Library. Bella Roshan was a tall woman, her eyes nearly being even with Gavin’s. Her golden blond hair was now predominantly gray, and age had wrinkled her features just a bit. Still, her sky-blue eyes sparkled with a zest and love of life uncommon even in people Gavin’s age. The blue robe she wore indicated her philosophy toward the Art as being scholarly, but the embroidered runes ringing the cuffs of the sleeves were black, signifying she had never chosen to specialize in a specific School.
“Well, upon my word,” Mistress Roshan said as Gavin approached, “I never expected to have a wizard of House Kirloth walk through my doors.”
Gavin felt a slight flush color his cheeks before he held out his hand and said, “I’m Gavin Cross.”
Mistress Roshan accepted Gavin’s hand and shook it. “I’m Bella Roshan, Curator of the Library. I hear you’ve been helping the newest class of students, my nephew among them.”
“Oh, you’re Wynn’s aunt?” Gavin asked. “He hasn’t mentioned he had family working at the College, but then, he doesn’t really slow down for extended conversations.”
“Yes, well…that’s Wynn. What brings you to the library so early?”
“Marcus sent me,” Gavin said. “He said you might help me learn what I need to know about duels.”
“Ah, yes. You created quite the stir. It’s all people have been talking about since yesterday afternoon. Come with me. I know just the book you need.”
Bella stepped out from behind the massive curved desk and started walking toward a section of shelves on the main floor.
“You said everyone was talking about my duel. Is there anything you can tell me about what was being said?”
Bella looked over her shoulder for a moment as she led Gavin down the aisle between rows of bookshelves. “Well, as I said, a certain portion of the students aren’t all that happy with you, but I know a great many more are. Whether anyone will admit it or not, that boy’s depredations have been going on for far too long, and I know more than a few young ladies who are praying for you to carry the day.”
“If everyone knows about this, why hasn’t anything ever been done?”
Bella stopped and turned to face Gavin. “Gavin, there is a difference between knowing and proving, and given his family connections, there would have to be an incredible amount of proof.”
“So, the signed statement of Lillian Mivar means nothing? I caught him trying to assault her; in some ways, I almost wish I’d killed him right there.”
“Oh, no, young man. That would have been an altogether worse situation. Your mentor could have gotten away with it, but you? Killing him outright just might have sparked the civil war certain magisters are afraid of.”
Gavin frowned as he looked at Bella. “I don’t understand. Marcus has never said anything about a coming civil war in Tel.”
“That’s because he spends a lot of time and effort preventing it,” Bella said.
Bella resumed walking. She passed one more bookshelf, before she turned down a row. She walked about half-way down the bookshelf and pulled a thin volume from among the many.
“Here you go,” Bella said, extending the small book to Gavin. “There are reading desks right over there.”
“Thank you,” Gavin said as he started to walk past her but stopped. “What do you think? Is there a civil war brewing in Tel?”
“I hope not,” Bella said with a sigh. “That has too many ways to go very wrong. A civil war in Tel would quite possibly splinter the Society as well, and if that splintering spiraled out to involve the other races, we could have a war on our hands unlike anything the world has seen since the Godswar. What’s going on in Vushaar right now would look like an afternoon tea party.”
Gavin frowned. “Is there something happening in Vushaar?”
“I’ll say,” Bella said. “Terris Muran has a civil war on his hands. Normally, I’d call it an uprising, but the opposing force is led by one of his own generals. I received a letter from a friend in the capital the other day, who said it looked like they were preparing to lay siege to the capital. Terris sent his daughter away to keep her safe, but her ship sank during a storm on the Inner Sea.”
“Thanks again,” Gavin said as he nodded and turned toward the reading desks.
“Not a problem, Gavin. Bring it up to the desk when you’re done, and I’ll have one of our student assistants re-shelve it.”
Gavin found a reading desk that he thought would suit him, and the chair surprised him by being more comfortable than it looked. Gavin placed the book Bella had given him on the desk in front of him and began to read.
Chapter 29
At the appointed time, Gavin met Valera and Rolf at the main-floor landing of Grand Stair. What surprised him most was the small horde of people gathered behind Valera.
“Uhm,” Gavin said, his eyes a little wide, “I wasn’t expecting the crowd.”
Valera allowed herself a small smile. “Duels are public, Gavin. Besides, several people are interested in seeing the results first-hand.”
Just then, Lillian, Wynn, Braden, and Mariana arrived from their families’ suites. Gavin smiled just a bit at seeing his friends arrive, and Torval Mivar, Lyssa Cothos, Carth Roshan, and Sypara Wygoth walked through the main doors of the Tower and joined the group.
“Are you both ready to proceed?” Valera asked.
Rolf gave a choppy nod and a stammered “Yes.”
Gavin shrugged. “Why not? I don’t see any reason to wait longer.”
Valera led the group down into the deeper levels of the Tower. The route was second nature to Gavin, but the deeper they went, the more Rolf trembled, fidgeted, and gnawed at his lower lip.
About twenty minutes after leaving the main floor of the Tower, the group approached the massive door that allowed access to the arena. As they approached, the arena’s spectral watchman faded into view.
“Ah, Young Kirloth,” it said, addressing Gavin in its measured, wispy voice, “I perceive quite the crowd behind you; have you come to use my hall as a training venue?”
“I’m afraid not,” Gavin said. “We come before you in need of your services as Master of the Field.”
“Ah, I see. Very well; let us proceed.”