The King's Mages

Character Appearances Include: King Jonathan IV, Queen Thayet, Numair Salmalin, Daine Sarrasri…

New Characters: Elerissa, Etynn, Rika, and more…

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to the talented Tammy Pierce!

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Elerissa of Dead Man's Cliff picked up her leather-bound journal and left the royal university library at a run. Mithros, I'm going to be late again, she thought, running down the empty hallways.

Finally she was at the Mage's Quarters, where students lived during their study period. She quickly entered her room, which was the last one on the right and closed the door behind her before she pulled off her "off duty" clothing. She donned her solid green robe with black and red trim, signifying that she was a Master Healer, and an Adept in War Magic.

With one last check at her reflection in the adjoining dressing room, she rushed out of her room, only to walk right into a human wall.

"Oh, Etynn!" she growled, pushing her twenty-one-year old brother out of the way and locking her door shut with a spell. "What in Mithros' name are you doing here?"

"Rika sent me to find you," he replied cheerfully. Etynn, too, was a Master Healer. "Master Numair and Lady Mage Daine were also wondering." He started following his sister down the hall into the Royal Banquet Hall.

"Great. So they know that I'm late," Elly muttered, clearly annoyed. "Who am I sitting with?"

"The people I named before."

"So… Rika's family?"

"Yes."

"And who are you sitting with?"

They had stopped in front of the intricately designed double doors. Elly could hear the king speaking. And then laughter from the crowds.

"My year mates."

Without further ado, Elly opened the door enough so she and Etynn could get through. Several heads at the back - mostly novices - turned and stared. She ignored them, looking for friend.

"They're over there," Etynn said, pointing to the right, exactly in front of the king's dais.

She bit her tongue and strolled to the side, making next to no noise.

"Could you be any later?" Rika asked, a smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, shut up," she muttered, nodding to the two famous mages across from her. "What's the king said?"

"Eat up." Rika pointed to some servants carrying platters of delicacies.

Rika Salmalin was two years younger than her, but extremely intelligent with a really powerful Gift. She was adopted by the black robe mage, Numair Salmalin, when she was ten, and then by the Wildmage, Daine, quite recently after the two of them married. Although, even before then, Daine treated Rika like a daughter.

"What kept you, Elerissa?" Master Numair asked, forking a mouthful of food into his mouth. He got a nudge from his pregnant new bride, who looked disgusted at his table manners.

"Ah, I was reading in the library, sir," she replied. "About the dampening spells used during the Immortal Wars."

Numair instantly dived into an extended explanation and description of what happened. Daine and Rika shared a look, and both shook their heads.

As the evening wore on, the chatter became quieter, until King Jonathan the Fourth stood up, with her majesty, Queen Thayet, at his side.

"As many of you know, the war against Scanra has claimed many lives," the King's voice boomed throughout the room. "And we honour those in our hearts until we can mourn properly. Many mages were killed during their duty, and we need those who just graduated to the Master or Adept rank to step up and volunteer to take their place. We will send somebody with a letter if you have been chosen to come forth. I bid you good night. May Mithros protect you." Before the king stepped off the dais, he nodded at Numair once.

"So mote it be," came the expected chorus.

Tremors of conversation started breaking out. Numair and Daine stood up, just as Daine's lower half turned into that of a dolphin's. Numair caught her with both hands. Several heads turned, and some paled. Elly tried not to gape like the novices.

"Um, Lady Mages, can we have a talk in one of those private study rooms?" Numair asked, now carrying Daine towards the door. It was more of a command than a question.

The two girls exchanged a questioning glance before following him out the door.