“High Wizard, I present the candidates for induction as full mages and members of the Guild.” Esaak inclined his head, then stepped back and to the side.
Sterol let the silence draw out for a moment before speaking. “Bealtur, Heralt, and Myredin…you are here because you have studied, because you have learned the basic skills of magery, and because you have proved you understand the importance of the Guild to the future of all Candar…”
Cerryl smiled at the words that deviated not at all from those Sterol had employed when Cerryl himself had stood before the dais.
“…we hold a special trust for all mages, to bring a better life to those who follow the White way, to further peace and prosperity, and to ensure that all our talents are used for the greater good, of both those in Fairhaven and those throughout Candar.” Sterol paused, surveying the three. “Do you, of your own free will, promise to use your talents for the good of the Guild and for the good of Fairhaven, and of all Candar?”
There were three quiet assents.
“And do you faithfully promise to hold to the rules of the Guild, even when those rules may conflict with your personal and private desires?”
“Yes,” answered the three simultaneously.
“Do you promise that you will do your personal best to ensure that chaos is never raised against the helpless and always to benefit the greater good?”
“Yes.”
“And finally, do you promise that you will always stand by those in the Guild to ensure that mastery of the forces of chaos-and order-is limited to those who will use such abilities for good and not for personal gain and benefit?”
“Yes.”
“In the powers of chaos and in the sight of the Guild, you are each a full mage of the White Order of Fairhaven…”
A shimmering touch of chaos brushed the sleeves of the three, and the red apprentice stripes were gone.
“Welcome, Bealtur, Heralt, and Myredin…” Sterol offered a broad smile and looked across the assembled group. “Now that we have welcomed the new mages, our business is over, and all may greet them.”
Scattered murmurs broke out across the chamber.
Sterol glanced down at the three. “I’m very pleased that all of you have succeeded. You have different talents, and in the difficult days before the Guild we will need each of those talents, I suspect.”
Cerryl waited for the older mages to congratulate the three before he stepped forward, beginning with the dark-eyed and curly-haired Heralt. “Congratulations, Heralt.”
“Thank you. You and Kinowin made it easier.”
Cerryl offered a smile. “Don’t forget the High Wizard. He seeks talent.” With a nod, Cerryl stepped up to Bealtur. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The goateed young mage’s words were polite, even, and without warmth.
“And congratulations to you.” Cerryl nodded politely at Myredin. Myredin nodded back, his intense and slightly bulging gray eyes fixed somewhere beyond Cerryl.
Cerryl stepped back and to the side, back along the pillars on the north side of the chamber.
“I have a good feel about Heralt, too.”
Cerryl turned. Kinowin and Myral stood behind the pillar. Myral inclined his head, and Cerryl joined the two.
“I’m sure you guessed that Kinowin wanted you to be seen,” said Myral. “He could have told the story without you.”
“I’m your protégé, ser?” asked Cerryl.
Kinowin smiled, almost ironically. “We need you to be seen and heard. I suggest you have something to say at the next meeting. Something that sounds most reasonable, with which few will disagree. Something about trade.”
“Me?”
“You.” Myral coughed, covering his mouth with the gray cloth he carried everywhere. After a moment, he added, “You have the shields to stand against Jeslek’s anger, and he knows that. You have no ties to the traders of Fairhaven or elsewhere, and it is important that you be seen to have a mind.”
Whether I do or not…whether I’m just an ignorant orphan determined and lucky enough to have become a mage.
Kinowin lowered his voice more. “Jeslek will be High Wizard by fall, if not before.”
“Why not you?” blurted Cerryl.
“Your judgment of character is sound,” said Myral with a chuckle, “but not of age. Kinowin is closer to my age than to Jeslek’s. For him to use power as Jeslek does would kill him within a handful of years.”
“We’ll talk more later,” said Kinowin, “but this is one of the few places where the three of us could talk for a moment without much notice.” He raised his voice. “Thank you, young Cerryl.”
“I did what I thought best,” Cerryl replied with a bow, his voice also pitched to carry beyond the pillars.
Myral coughed and covered a smile as the young mage bowed again and turned, walking back along the pillars.
“Cerryl? Have you a moment?” The words arrived with the impact of the trilia and sandalwood fragrance used by Anya.
Cerryl offered a head bow to the red-haired mage. “For you, Anya, I always have time.”
“Obvious but gracious, Cerryl, and I thank you for the effort.”
“When one is young and unskilled as I, what else can I do?” He offered a shrug. “How might I help?”
“I was curious, just curious, mind you, about your encounter with the old woman. Were you given any instructions for situations such as that?”
“No. No one ever mentioned that I’d ever deal with old farm people. I was told about traders and haulers, and how to set up the medallions, and the general rates for wagon and cart sizes.” Cerryl looked guilelessly at Anya, which was not difficult, since he spoke the truth.
“Why did you wish to warn off the old woman?”
“I didn’t see any sense in destroying her cart and taking her baskets. They would add little to the treasury and would create bad feelings.”
Anya nodded. “Yet you would judge when to break the rules?”
“I was not aware of breaking the rules.” Cerryl could feel that Anya’s questions were far from idle curiosity. “Anyone may bring a cart to the guardhouse to get a medallion, and gate guards are not allowed to destroy carts without medallions that do not come to the gates.”
Anya laughed. “You could be more dangerous than Jeslek.”
Cerryl bowed again. “I fear that I lack the mass of chaos that Jeslek can bring to bear upon all who would oppose him. Thus, I must think as best I can before I act.”
Anya touched his shoulder. “Just keep thinking, Cerryl, and there will always be a place in the Guild for you.” She flashed her brilliantly insincere smile, touched his shoulder again, warmly, and ducked away.
Cerryl wanted to wipe his forehead but didn’t. The implication of Anya’s remarks was certainly clear enough. He had thought that his life would get easier once he was a full mage, but he was beginning to have doubts about that, especially with all the undercurrents within the Guild.
And then to find out that Kinowin was far older than Jeslek-perhaps nearly so old as Myral? That was hard to believe, but Myral’s words had held the feel and ring of truth, and that worried Cerryl.
XV
AS CERRYL CROSSED the courtyard in the early afternoon, his eyes went to the blonde-haired figure in green in the shadows behind the fountain.
“Leyladin!” He hurried over to her. “When did you get back?”
“Late last night.” Her smile warmed him. “I slept for a while. I knew you were on duty early. Myral said you’d be here sometime after midday.”
“I have to report to Kinowin for the first few days on summer duty. That’s where I was. Tomorrow will be the last day of that.”
“Have you seen him? Today?”
Cerryl grinned. “Just left his quarters.”
“Could I entice you into something to eat at the house?” The green eyes danced.
“You could.” You could entice me into more than that…“I haven’t eaten much today.”