The Blood of Heroes

Chapter 1

Instructors

The assailant flicked up his heel and flung a boot knife underhanded. The spectators gasped as it hissed toward the girl—then it veered away and tumbled harmless across the sand.

That is the power of a simple fender, Sura sam Bailar told the crowd of first- and second-year apprentices. Behind her, her partner and love Mik sim Mikhile retrieved his boot knife and stood a few reaches away. Sura took a wooden practice ball from a bag slung over one shoulder as she continued. Any weapon, once it leaves the attacker’s hand, is subject to Air. So, a fender works with arrows, crossbow bolts, thrown spears, thrown knives—or thrown practice balls. She whirled and flung the ball hard at Mik, but it, too, veered away.

You see, it’s more than a mere exercise spell, said Mik, picking up the lesson. But as simple and effective as it is against light missile weapons, it’s not meant for hand to hand combat. He and Sura each drew a wooden peg and tossed them at each other; they fell without striking. But they drew another peg and poked each other with them as the apprentices laughed.

After a few seconds, they broke off. Remember, it’s a good defensive spell, but it doesn’t make you invincible, Sura explained. Have your mentors all taught you how to raise a fender? Ah, good. There are practice balls in the bag behind you. Pair off and take turns using your fender to deflect the ball. Start off easy; I don’t want anyone getting hurt. No Pepper games in this lecture! We’ll let you work on this for a few minutes, then we’ll cover one or two more defensive spells.

Their students chattered as they selected practice balls and lined up in pairs. Sura and Mik moved a few of them farther apart, but mostly stood and watched.

They’re doing pretty well, Mik murmured.

Tell you true, I like working with the junior apprentices, Sura replied.

They do tend to be more respectful than our fellow intermediates.

Can you believe we’re already third-year?

Sometimes, I wonder how we’ve managed to learn anything at all, with all our going and doing, said Mik.

Ow! Ow! A boy fell, clutching his chest. The others paused in their practice to see.

That’s the boy who’s been following Portia around, Sura rasped. You see to him, I’ll ask Portia what happened.

Yar. They hustled over. Sura caught Portia sam Perin as she took a step forward; Mik knelt next to her fallen partner. What happened? he asked.

I’m all right, the boy grumbled, looking sullen.

Indeed. Mik sent to Sura, He was acting. Probably hoping for a little sympathy from Portia. Look, he continued. Portia has chosen a friend of mine. She’s not a trifle.

Eh? The boy forgot to pretend to be hurt. I thought Westmarch girls didn’t choose.

Only in the ways that matter, said Mik. If you want a Conclave Romance, look to another girl, eh?

Sura gave Portia a disgusted look. Fishing for sympathy, she said. If he gives you any trouble for the rest of the Gathering, let me know. Mik and I will see to it.

I didn’t think I threw it that hard, said Portia, suppressing a smile. Let me see if I can do this. Charn started to show me how before the Gathering. She focused her magic on the ball and Lifted it. The ball wobbled and darted, as if it were alive and trying to escape. It took a long time for me to get this much right, she said, as the ball floated to her hand.

Mik had trouble with Lifting at first, too, said Sura. Ironically, when I was helping Mik practice his Lifting at first, we found that Lifting a heavier object is easier to control. Its affinity to Earth makes it more stable.

I’ll remember that, when it’s my turn to teach, Portia replied, inspecting her ball. Are they made here in Queensport? Good workmanship. Portia came from a family of woodworkers, and had not yet shed the habit of studying the products of her family profession. This is the best lecture I’ve attended so far. They should use more apprentices as instructors. I’ve learned more in half a session than in the other three combined.

All is well, Mik called, pulling the boy to his feet. Back to your practice. We’ll give you a few extra minutes if you need them. He ambled over to the girls. I suppose we’ll let him go this time, he said.

Indeed, said Portia. Sura has already told me you’ll see to him if he tries anything else. What will you show us after we finish this?

Disarmament spells, said Sura. Again, it’s mostly applying what you already know to other uses. The Creator made it easy for a young mage to defend herself.

After the session finished, many of the apprentices clustered around Sura and Mik. Most offered thanks for an informative lecture and left; others had questions, only some of which pertained to the lecture. With other lectures starting shortly, everyone soon made their way back inside.

So you two were the ones who stopped the winter campaign, said Portia, walking with the instructors. And you weren’t even apprentices?

I was an apprentice at the time, said Sura. "But it was all Mik’s doing. I didn’t even meet Mik until after it all happened. I never thought I’d be impressed by a boy… until one rode an ice dragon to my door. That was impressive."

The three of them laughed. If my uncle hadn’t seen the ice dragon with his own eyes, I don’t think I’d believe half of the other things you two have done, said Portia.

It has been a long two years. Mik squeezed Sura’s hand. I’d do it all again, though.

Eh. Portia quickened her steps. I have that elemental boundaries lecture next, and I’m going to be late. What’s next for you two?

We’ll meet with our observers, said Sura. The two mages that were watching off to the side? They’ll tell us how they thought it went, offer suggestions, cha cha cha.

Or ask us to run through the lecture again with them, Mik added. Our mentor provides lessons for the mages and senior apprentices. But if they’re watching us, they might not be able to attend that lecture.

Ha. I have to go. Portia trotted away.

I like her, said Sura. She has spine, especially for a Westmarch girl.

From what Charn has said in his letters, she’s a good influence, Mik replied.

Maybe he won’t grow up with that Westmarch arrogance, then.

He doesn’t have that, anyway. He’s a fourth-generation sorcerer.

Yar, but he’s still a boy. And so are you. At least you’re mine. Sura gave Mik the look that always stopped his mind. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now let’s see what the observers have to say.

• • •

At last year’s Gathering, Sura and Mik had been too busy with instruction to attend any of the traditional apprentices’ games. This year, many apprentices already understood basic combat magic, so their lectures were not so crowded with eager adolescents. Their days were busy, but not busy enough to keep them away from other activities.

Still, the junior apprentices stopped what they were doing whenever the peer instructors made an appearance, and the Pepper games were no exception. Practice balls stopped flying, and calls of Show us how it’s done! flew from all quarters.

Sura, expecting this, led Mik to a pair of waist-high pillars set the customary twelve reaches apart. The juniors, and many intermediates, crowded the safety line as the couple scrambled atop the pillars.

Pepper is about skill and control, of course, said Sura, projecting her voice as she did during a lecture. Those of you who attended yesterday’s lecture know that many simple spells can be used as a weapon or shield. She tossed the ball and used her magic to make it hover before her. And… we can use the same ball for other games of skill. Mik held his arms out, and Sura sent the ball hissing toward Mik. The apprentices gasped as it spun around his arms, legs, and torso in tight circles before stopping in front of him.

The onlookers applauded, and Mik took the ball. This game is like Pepper in several ways, he said. You want to bring the ball as close as possible to your opponent, without touching. But your opponent doesn’t catch the ball. If you want to, ah, encourage your opponent to try harder, that’s acceptable. And this game requires a good deal of trust. He shot the ball across the gap, and wove it in a complex orbit around Sura before he brought it to a stop.

We invented this game during our time in Sartir, the land beyond the Sea of Storms, Sura continued. We were playing Pepper one afternoon, and our mentor came to see, so we started showing off. This drew a chuckle from the attentive crowd. The skill and control needed to play this game is also useful in combat. An intermediate apprentice, or a skilled junior, could use the same technique to defend herself against several opponents easily enough with a practice ball or round rock.

What do you call it? someone called.

Sura and Mik looked at each other for a moment; they had never bothered to give it a name. Dragonflight, Mik replied, making up something on the spot. The Oakendrake had brought Sura the practice ball in her moment of need, after all. So who wants to try it?

A clamor went up, spectators trying to find a trusted partner before anyone else. Finally, a dozen pairs were ready to try their skills. Start off easy, Sura admonished them. You don’t want to hurt your friends. In fact, you might want to raise a fender, just to be safe.

Yar, Mik added. Like how beginning scratch duelists use bodkins instead of knives. No shame in that.

What’s a scratch duel? a girl called out.

Mik, you should have thought of a better analogy, Sura said, but with a smile. She raised her voice. A game boys play in the North.

You know scratch dueling? a voice behind Mik asked. He turned to see a senior apprentice, a Northerner. Oh, the Northerner continued, recognizing Mik. My Lord and Lady. He sketched a bow. What are you showing the sprouts here?

A variation of Pepper we invented, Mik replied. Hoy, you’re… you’re Irbor?

Aye. Irbor sim Torba. The Northerner grinned. Your mentor taught us some mighty combat magic last summer. Will ya be joining the colonists in Isenbund after the Gathering?

Mik looked at Sura, who gave him a tiny nod. Lady Sura may be taking charge of her House in Dacia after the Gathering, he replied. She has not yet decided, though.

It will be a glorious summer for those chosen, said Irbor. I only hope I can be among them.

Winter won’t be quite so glorious, Sura thought. Luck to the bold, Irbor, she said, quoting a common Northern proverb. In the meantime, find a partner and show us your skill?

Irbor looked at the younger apprentices, sending practice balls in wide loops around their partners. Aye, I think I could show the sprouts a thing or two. He bowed again and departed.

Mik stifled a laugh as a practice ball bounced off a fender and shot away in a random direction. The horrified apprentice let her ball drop and roll in the grass, and ran to retrieve it.

• • •

I wish Antel could have come to the Gathering, Lady Sura, I’d love for you to meet him. This is the longest I’ve been away from him since we met—it’s like the opposite with Charn. I’d only see him two weeks, and now I miss Antel for two weeks.

You’re not falling behind on your studies, I hope, said Sura. And this isn’t the Alliance. I’m ‘Sura’ here.

Of course I’m not falling behind. We study together… like you and Mik.

Well, good. And I hope you’re being careful. You’ll be a good mage someday, and I’d hate to see you fall away for… for any reason.

Isa blushed and was quiet for a long moment. Her response sounded defensive. Sometimes, I’m more worried for you, when it comes to that. You and Mik live together.

Sura laughed. Father made it clear long ago what he expects. He wards our doors and scrys. He allows us some private time, but not much at once.

Isa changed the subject. I hope you’ll do a proper tour of the Alliance. You’ll spend most of your time with the other Houses, of course, but maybe you’ll find the time to see your friends when you reach Ugar.

Isa, I haven’t decided whether I’ll take the Seat, Sura reminded her. I vowed to never return, remember?

But that was because they were going to make you marry that Lord! They said you can choose your own mate, and I know who you’re going to choose. I know I would, in your position. So what does it matter?

The knives will be out. All the time. Mik and I need to focus on our studies, not worry about the next assassination attempt. And you need to focus, too. You can’t spend all your time with your new boyfriend.

I know, I know. Isa threw up her hands. I’m so glad Charn found someone else, even if it was before I knew. She’s a quiet one, though.

Compared to you, anyone is quiet, Sura thought with a smile. Westmarch girls have to pick their moment to speak or act. Portia attends most of our lectures, and she’s a good student. She’ll make a good mage. Her Earth magic is strong, especially for a second-year apprentice.

Oh?

Indeed. In the defensive spells lecture, she nearly turned her spear handle back into a tree. The Protectors choose our primary element, but I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t end up with a brown sash.

In the dining hall, Mik poured two cups of tea and brought them to the table where Portia sat waiting.

This is strange, a boy serving me tea, she said.

I’m a son of the Matriarchy. Mik waved at the wall. And outside this Keep is the capital of the Matriarchy.

I know. This all feels… I don’t know. Daring?

How? Mik asked, looking around the dining hall. Sura knows we’re here. She said I should spend some time with you, so you can tell me about Charn."

I know, she said again. What I meant was, it seems a little daring to sit and talk with the notorious Mik Dragonrider.

One of the better things about sorcery: you can mostly ignore politics.

Mostly. Portia looked around and lowered her voice. But the Prince still wants to have you tried for violating The Treaty. Supposedly, he tried to have you extradited from Stolevan, and your Queen ignored him. Not even a rejection. Charn and Zharcon made sure your ship got away clean when you visited Westmarch last year, you know.

Truly? Charn didn’t mention that in his letter. They shouldn’t have taken the risk.

Your mentor is the father of Zharcon’s daughter. Charn thinks he means more than a temporary liaison to her. She’s willing to take a few chances for you three. She slid a letter across the table. This is from Charn. He didn’t dare to tell you everything through the regular mail, in case the Prince is having it looked through.

Mik turned the letter over. Is this something only I’m supposed to see?

Nar. Charn didn’t want the Prince to see it, is all. You can open it now if you want.

All right. Mik broke the seal and brought out the letter. He recognized Charn’s hand from previous letters.

Mik, I hope this letter finds you well and safe at the Gathering. Last I heard, you were somewhere in the North, or maybe Koyr. Zharcon named her baby Mara (sunrise), and they are both doing well. Somehow, Zharcon finds time to keep me moving forward with my studies, and I find time to help Portia with hers. I take care of Mara during nursery duty sometimes. She reminds me of Sura in some ways. Maybe you or Sura will end up being her mentor.

I don’t trust anyone but Portia, or maybe another mage, to keep this private. I’ve included an account of how the navy impressed the mentor and I into helping catch you when you were in Westmarch. They didn’t find us much help, though. Fortunately, they never found out how much the mentor hindered them!

It’s a long sail from the Reach to Port Joy without stopping in Westmarch, so I hope you got to safe harbor all right. The Prince is searching all ships flying a Conclave flag, and random ships under other flags, hoping to catch you. At least the Westmarch mages are better respected now, especially after that incident last year. Still, you’ll have to look over your shoulder, wherever there is a Westmarch embassy or consulate.

I hope you’re better after that trouble in