Chapter 09: Magic Lessons
Sam stared at the candle in front of her. Her task was to kindle it with her Gift. Master Numair had told the class that this would be one of the basic skills for a mage. And those who's Gift allowed them to make fire, were tested by him with this task. Most of them were already educated enough to do such an easy spell. But there were always some families who didn't care for the magical talents of their children.
Sam seemed to be one of those children. Most members of her family had the Gift. In every generation of the Pinehollow family, there was at least one war- mage. And in this generation, Sam was the person who seemed to develop this power. Master Numair was surprised how fragmentary the girl had been educated. Her uncle seemed to have concentrated her education on fighting skills and theoretical stuff. 'It's dangerous that somebody with such a great power has hardly any control over it.'
Sam herself didn't feel comfortable at all. Magic was the only lesson she didn't like. The rest she was able to manage. She was never able to finish all her homework, but nobody could do that. But magic was something completely different for her. She understood the spells, how they worked and how they were created. But when she had to use them, she felt an aversion she didn't understand herself. All the other pages where able to do it as if it would be nothing. What was wrong with her?
She noticed that Master Numair stood next to her.
"Why don't you try it?" He asked in a friendly voice.
Sam frowned. "I don't think it's a good idea." She felt that the other pages were staring at her secretly.
Master Numair smiled at her. "Nothing can happen. It's an easy spell. Not dangerous at all. It's not bad if it doesn't work at the first try. If you want to use your magic properly, you will have to practise."
Sam looked at him and sighed. Then she started to recite the spell slowly and quietly. With every syllable she added she felt a pressure that grew more and more. 'That was a fault. That can't be normal.' She tried to concentrate on the spell.
She finished the last word. The spell was complete.
Suddenly the pressure broke free. Sam heard an explosion and felt herself slammed against the wall.
For a couple of minutes she saw nothing but darkness and stars. When she was able to see properly again, she looked around.
Most of the pages had been flinged at the floor. Master Numair still stood next to her table, his face and clothes black from dust and soot. Sam stared at her table. It was burning. A huge fire ate her table.
"Very interesting. Indeed, very interesting."Master Numair murmured, scratching his head. He looked at Sam. "Could you repeat that?"
All pages stared at him groaning.
Sam lifted her eyebrows. Her whole body hurt. "If you want me to. Which part of the furniture do you want me to burn now?"
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Numair Salmalin was confused. He didn't understand why a simple spell caused such a reaction. He had tried to find it out for the rest of the lesson. It had been quite difficult to hold up a shield to protect the rest of the room from Sam's explosive magic. 'If she learns to control her Gift, she would be a great war- mage.' he thought. 'But what is the problem? I can't perceive her Gift exactly. She has different talents. Not only war- magic. I see some plant- magic, too. And maybe she has the second sight.' He started to smile dreamy. 'It will be interesting to watch her develop her skills.'
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It was long after midnight. Nat was still awake. He wasn't able to sleep. The bruises on his body were aching. He had been beaten up, again. Nat was really depressed. 'In two years I will be a squire. Until that I will have to endure this.'
He got up. 'It doesn't help me to lie in bed when I'm not able to fall asleep. I will go outdoors.'
The night was fresh and quiet. Nat sneaked to a small park near the Pages' wing.
Suddenly he heard a silent noise. He hid behind a tree. In the moonlight he saw a small shape. The person seemed familiar.
Nat's eyes widened. 'Sam! What is she doing here?' He decided to follow her.
At the end of the park there was a group of small trees. Nat hid behind a hedge and watched Sam. Somebody was waiting for her. A woman.
'Who is that. She's a commoner, that's clear, maybe a servant. But her clothes are a bit strange. Not the actual fashion. Who is she? And what has she to do with Sam?'
Sam and the woman talked. It seemed that the woman told Sam something very important. Then both turned round and went into the little wood.
Nat was not sure what he should think about it. He decided to follow them. He tried to make no noise, which wasn't easy because it was dark and there were a lot of twigs on the ground. Suddenly he was pushed from behind, and he fell down. A hand gripped his hair and lifted his head. A knife was pressed to his throat. He lay on the ground, not able to move without being killed.
"What do you want here?" Sam's voice was cold as ice.
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Ok. I know. I'm a really bad girl. Please don't kill me. I only want to create an exiting story.
Ok. I confess. I enjoy it.
For those who wanted to know it, my mother tongue is German.
Don't be afraid because of the following chapters. I will hurry with the rest of the story. In September school starts again (my last school year), and I won't have much time. So I will try to write as much as possible during my holidays.
I have the story complete in my mind. I only have to write it down.
Here are some spoilers:
1 There will be much more fighting. (I hope I'm able to describe the fighting scenes).
2 There will be romance in it. (I must warn you. I like complicated relationships.)
3 There will be a new country I've created myself. (Because I don't know which of the original countries I could take. Don't blame me for that.)
4 There will be a big bad enemy.
Curious? Then go on reading.