A/N: All right, I'm being bad and starting another story without finishing the rest of them. Oh well. This story takes place a year before Alanna and George go to visit Thom at the university. It takes place in either 1st-person or 3rd-person, and I expressly apologize. My muses are being uncooperative J. Well, I hope you like. I'm going on a trip and won't have a chance to update, but I hope you enjoy. And by the way, I am not updating till I get 5 reviews. Nice ones. Thoughts are shown like 'this' and dialogue is "this." ~Kris
Chapter OneThom's Legacy
I look around the room that has come to be home, and wonder what I will do without Kristen. She left two hours ago, because of them; the Daughters that ran the convent our parents had sent us to. They had sent her to the palace in Corus to find a husband. Ha! Kristen, married? With children? The idea is laughable, not because she is anything less than perfect (Goddess, is Kristen perfect!) but because the idea of me being an acceptable aunt is hilarious.
They want us to become ladies, our parents said. Well, in my case, it is a lost cause. I play pranks, I ride bareback, I neglect my embroidery, and I even, Mithros forbid, go off for hours without a chaperon and pick fights with the village boys. Quite frankly, being ladylike bores me. What good will neat stitches do me if raiders attack our fief? The Daughters apparently don't see things eye-to-eye with me, since they ignore my protests completely.
I have only been here for three years. I'm thirteen, Kris sixteen. Urgggggghhhh!!!!! I have made it my purpose in life to drive the Daughters completely mad. I figure, if this place and the lessons are going to rob me of what little sanity I have, I may as well return the favor.
No matter how much my three-years-older sister annoyed me, I miss her already. Kristen may have been proper, but she never prevented me from slipping out at night when she was my roommate. We were not sisters; we were friends, a special league where for a short time it doesn't matter if your parents don't care what you do, or if you haven't two coppers to rub together. You have each other. And that's all you need.
I will get a new roommate. Knowing the Daughters extreme fondness for my disobedience, they will probably assign one of the prefects to my room. Just my luck. Oh, and I won't even be in the room when whoever it is arrived, because I had to meet with the First Daughter to arrange a punishment.
I had snuck into the village and gotten into a brawl with an obnoxious lout on my way back. He'd ended up with a broken arm. I got a black eye. Yep, you really can learn a lot when you neglect schoolwork, practice punches and bribe a few boys to teach you how to fight.
I walked down the hall, towards the door to the First Daughter's sitting room. This wouldn't be pleasant; it was my third offence this month. I came to a T-shaped turnoff. I started down the left, glancing back towards the right-handed path. That led to the area the Mithran priests used most of the time. We had some of our lessons with the younger boys, but the older ones focusing mainly on becoming priests or sorcerers had their own classes. 'It's not fair!' Part of me screams every time I walk by. 'I want to be a sorcerer too! I want control on my magic! Not just the cookery and healing and thread magic they teach the girls, real magic!' But it isn't ladylike.
"You were warned about this, Audra." the First Daughter remarks coldly to me. We are seated across from one another, for a lady does not stand while making conversation. She gives me a well-bred glare. She really does resemble her chambers. They are as stiffly correct as she is. "You will be confined to the convent for another three months. However, since this method of punishment does not seem to be successful, we shall have to find some other means, now won't we?" I'm not about to dignify that with an answer. She continues sweetly, "I think that unless these little excursions of yours stop occurring, I will have to remove the training of your Gift from your lesson course."
Thank the Goddess my face is trained to show no emotion, because even I'm not sure what my expression would have been. I was shocked, horrified, and angry. My face, had I given it the freedom to do as it pleased, could probably have been bottled and sold as poison. 'But you can't do that!' The impulsive voice in the back of my mind shrieks. 'That isn't fair!' Another, more reasonable voice, one that rarely visits me, pipes up with, 'Be quiet, nod and say it won't happen again!'
If Kristen had witnessed this scene, she would have laughed herself sick. I was completely speechless, a first for my usually clever mind. I promised then and there never to snap at someone when they took a while to say something. I was having an empathy experience. My Gift, or my freedom? How was I supposed to choose between the two aspects of life that meant the most to me? I didn't think I could live at the convent for another three years without my chance to do whatever I wanted, even if only for an hour. On the other hand, if I lost the magical training, I would have no legit excuse to use my Gift at all, which would lead to poltergeist fits as it built up and found no release. Then again, the amount we girls were taught was so small; I couldn't even heal the bruise around my eye.
The First Daughter continued to wait for my answer, a self-satisfied smirk on her face. She had me trapped, and she knew it. Gritting my teeth until my jaw ached, I finally replied, "Then you may discontinue my magical training, Daughter Riesa." The look on her face was priceless, but since a lady must never look shocked unless there is a reason bad enough to faint over she quickly recovered herself. "If I might have your leave to retire to my bedchamber? I feel quite weary." I inserted an obviously fake yawn to punctuate how tedious I found all of this.
"Get out of my sight!" Daughter Riesa screeched. 'Well, I may have done a lot to bother her since I came here, but I've never heard her raise her voice before.'
Sixteen-year-old Thom of Trebond yawned widely, then immediately arranged his face into an accurate expression of stupidity. It would never do if Master Si-cham were to suspect him of being anything more than an idiot. He inwardly smirked; the class was now being lectured on the dangers involving the words of power. Thom knew all of this already; in fact, he could probably have passed the exam for his Mastery if it wouldn't have been an unnecessary risk. It might alert his twin's "smiling friend."
'Mmm…I think I'll study some more tonight.' He decided, than had to stifle a groan. Thom had finished the book he had stolen out of the library and would have to sneak back into the library tonight if he wanted another book on sorcery. 'Damn. Even with an invisibility spell, more and more of the masters are spending time in the library at all hours of the day.' He almost grinned. Thom may have been proud, but with good reason. It was quite within his skill to slip in unnoticed.
Audra headed back towards her bedchambers, visibly enraged. Fists clenched, breathing rapidly through grinding teeth, matters did not improve when a novice prevented her from entering her room. Audra stared at the novice and tried to shove past her, but the novice had evidently been forewarned by the teachers and effectively blocked her.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." The novice went pale at the deadly, venomous tone and stepped aside. Audra entered her room, spun about, grabbed the novice by the collar and started demanding answers.
"Where is my bed? Where are my possessions? Why have my things been tampered with? Who ordered this?" It came out very garbled and Audra's spit flew through the air as she shook the novice. "Well?"
"Stop it this instant, Lady Audra!" one of the Daughters bustled over disapprovingly and glared at her. "How dare you mistreat this novice? That is not how a true lady acts."
"Whoever said I was a lady?" Audra inquired, seeming truly interested.
The Daughter ignored her quip and proceeded with, "Your items have been removed. You are to have no luxuries. Since you seem to appreciate the rough, unrefined way of life, Daughter Riesa has decreed that you shall live in the garret above the Mithran cloisters. You are to sup with the males, study, and so forth. This will continue for the next six months. Daughter Riesa hopes to show you how uncivilized it is. Just don't come crawling back to us before the six months are over. Once you realize your error, pray to the Goddess for forgiveness." She glared again than added, "Come along, I have to show you to your new chambers."
The Daughter grabbed Audra's arm and began walking back in
the direction of the First Daughter's chambers, but taking the right-handed
path this time. Audra let herself be pulled along, wondering if they actually
thought this was punishment. A chance to study with the boys! Who cared if she
couldn't have any luxuries? This was excellent!
They went up and down stairs,
through a maze of corridors, and finally appeared in front of a plain wooden
door. She vaguely thought that the Daughters must hope that she would never
find her way back and would spend six years away instead of six months. Not that she would mind.
"You are not to disturb any of the students, be they novice or adept. Cordially thank Master Si-cham for allowing this, this, madness tomorrow morning at breakfast. Do not pester the masters, and do not come pleading to any of the Daughters. We are under orders to ignore any and all pleas from you. Here is the key to your room. They begin the day an hour before we do; be sure you are up on time. You should be on level with most of the classes except the Gift, and that is irrelevant. Goddess have mercy and we are all praying you see the error in your ways." She turned to leave.
"What do you mean, my not being on level in the training of my Gift is irrelevant?" Audra had stopped short before putting her key into the lock. Now she intently stared at the Daughter.
"Lady Audra. You just told Daughter Riesa you would discontinue using your Gift, did you not?" she disappeared before the stunned thirteen-year-old could pull herself together.
Audra opened her door and almost shrieked that there must have been a mistake. It was a windowless room. Dust balls littered the corners and the mattress reeked of mildew. For the first time, she considered what she had gotten herself into. She would learn how to use her Gift, if she had to do it on her own, then so mote it be.
Thom's amethyst colored magic flared as he silently picked the library lock. The library was completely deserted…no wait. A small girl crouched on the floor, one of the books in her hands. He was about to put the shackles of air on her and make up an excuse to Master Si-cham as to why he'd been in the library when an odd idea struck him. Maybe, just maybe. Thom tested her for the Gift. Sure enough, magic was shown to be flowing around her, a gloriously soft and warm gold. Then he began frowning. 'By the Goddess,' he thought, 'she's got almost as much Gift as me.'
Audra glared at the sorcery book in frustration. All of the spells it contained were much too difficult. She knew how to conjure light and fire and almost nothing else. Considering that the university had two libraries and this was the advanced one, Audra was beginning to doubt she would ever learn to use her Gift. Well, it wasn't her fault that the other library was in a separate building across the road, and therefore inaccessible. She would have to try and bribe one of the novices into teaching her some more of the basics. 'But that won't work. I'll be reported for bothering them, and they'll all have to study for their exams. They'll be too busy.' She angrily slammed the book shut with a loud clap.
Instantaneously, Audra found herself floating in midair, arms and legs frozen to her sides. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand made of purple light covered her mouth and she couldn't make a sound. She felt herself slowly being turned around and ended up facing a redheaded man. The purple hand was connected to him by a stream of purple light, as was the binding spell. He was staring at Audra in amazement.
"Has your Gift ever been trained?" he snapped out sharply, than shook his head and said, "even if it has been trained, it isn't much. You should have had sensing spells up. You would have found me than instead of letting me find you." The subject was changed abruptly. "Never mind. I'm taking you where we can talk. Don't make so much noise unless you want to be caught." Audra dropped a few feet closer to the ground and was pulled along after the man when he began walking. She silently, and rebelliously, watched the stone floor soar past beneath her. He led her to a richly furnished room. It was decorated in red and gold, complete with plush carpet and plump chairs. Had she been able to make noise, Audra would have sighed with envy.
The man stared at her with bright amethyst eyes. His beard, she noticed now, was as red as his hair. "Don't consider shouting for help. Answer my questions truthfully and we'll see if I let you go." He tugged a small pouch from his robes and took a pinch of powder out of it. "Are you a thief?" he began, eyeing her steadily.
Audra glared at him. He had forgotten to take the spell-hand off of her mouth. He realized this almost immediately, flicked purple fire at the corners of the room until it spread and cover all of the perimeter surfaces, and removed his "hand."
"Who are you? Let me stand on the ground!" she snarled in reply to his earlier question.
"Answer me!" Audra gulped. It occurred to her that he was used to having his orders obeyed. "Are you a thief?"
"Yes." She said as deliberately as she could.
"Liar. So the answer is no." she stared at him, shocked. 'How can he tell?' "What is your name? Why were you in the library?"
She knew, looking at the proud, determined gaze the man had, he would discover the truth one way or another. "Audra of Queenscove. I was in the library because…because……………I was." Even if he would get all of the information he wanted eventually, her stubborn streak insisted that there was no reason eventually had to mean now.
"Let's try that again. Why were you in the library? I most sincerely disbelieve that you 'just were'." His voice had turned sarcastic.
Everything, the changes, the despair involving her Gift, the helpless sensation of walking past the Gifted classes without being able to attend, bubbled over. "Fine. I was in the library because I wanted to learn, though for some reason I doubt everyone will believe me." Her voice started matching his for sarcasm. "And I might ask you the same question." An interesting piece of gossip she'd overheard came back to her. "Aren't you the one that's supposed to be the class idiot? Thom of Trebond or whatever? But why would you be in the library; and you worked complex magic on me…" Audra's face flushed and her eyes began to sparkle. "It's all an act! I don't know why yet, but I know enough."
Thom went white under his beard. 'Whoa, she's sharp. I think I'll give her run for her money.' He grinned as yet one more question he'd neglected to ask formed in his mind. "I take it you're one of the girls at the convent. How did you get through the Mithran cloisters to the library?"
Audra threw her chin up in the air and snapped, "Because they sent me here for six months, and I don't care because I hate being a lady!"
Thom's heart wrenched. She sounded so much like Alanna. He was ten years old again, and Alanna had cried, "Do you think I want to be a lady? 'Walk slowly Alanna. Sit still Alanna. Shoulders back Alanna.' As if that's all I can do with myself!"
'She's definitely a lot like Alanna.' Thom thought with amusement. He now could vaguely remember her from his lessons with the girls when he was younger. She was the only one that didn't spend the class giggling.
Audra drew in a harsh, grating breath, then spilled the rest of her disappointing life in this stranger's lap. "And I really want to be a sorceress but no one will let me and the books in the library are all too hard and I can't even use my Gift because I've never been trained and they want me to be a lady."
Thom's first coherent thought was, 'Scratch that. Audra's more like me than Alanna.' The second was, 'She's never been trained. She has enough power to destroy everything in this building if she loses control, and she's never been trained. What imbecile dared let her grow so powerful and never gave her a way to release that power?' He was about to ask this last question, than another terrifying thought struck. 'What if 'Lana's smiling friend finds how powerful she is? Audra could be desperate enough to accept his help and teaching. Then he could use her power to make him stronger. And if that happens, the king, queen, and prince are very dead. And then he gets the throne. I'll have to make sure he doesn't get his hands on her. I have to keep her here, in my sight most of the time. But what do I have to offer her, to keep her here? I can't tell her about the smiling friend of mine.'
"Listen to me." For once in his life, Thom made sure there was no cynical edge to his voice. "I'll train you. No, don't interrupt. I know one of your secrets and you know one of mine. In exchange for your silence about my real abilities, I'll teach you to do magic."
"But you'll have to study for your exams—you'll be too busy to bother with me." Audra protested, not understanding why she wasn't jumping at this chance. Maybe it was the way his eyes hinted that he wasn't telling her everything.
Thom began to worry in earnest. Maybe she wasn't so desperate that she wouldn't weigh the pros and cons first. "Lady Audra…." He had no idea what he was going to say.
"Ahem. I prefer Audra, thanks."
Blessed inspiration struck. "I could probably pass my mastery if I wanted to." He informed her dryly. "I've been studying by myself for years. I can spare the time to explain things to you." Another horrible thought came to him. Absently Thom removed the shackles of air off of Audra, who sank to the floor with a relieved sigh. He ignored her, save to send a precautionary locking spell at his window and door. 'If I feel so strongly about keeping her away from Roger, why didn't I See it? I should have; I See most of the really important events before they happen.' He gave a hollow laugh. 'Perhaps she's not important. Of course she's important—the amount of Gift she has rivals mine—and with Roger watching me, that's a very scary thought.'