RAYMONDE.FEIST

Magician

Dedication

Thisbookisdedicatedtothememoryofmyfather,

FelixE.Feist,Inallways,amagician

TableofContents

TitlePageDedicationForewordtotheRevisedEditionMaps

Book1:PugandTomasChapterOne:StormChapterTwo:ApprenticeChapterThree:Keep

ChapterFour:AssaultChapterFive:ShipwreckChapterSix:ElfcounselChapterSeven:

UnderstandingChapterEight:JourneyChapterNine:Mac

MordainCadalChapterTen:RescueChapterEleven:Sorcerer’s

IsleChapterTwelve:CouncilsChapterThirteen:Rillanon

ChapterFourteen:InvasionChapterFifteen:ConflictsChapterSixteen:RaidChapterSeventeen:AttackChapterEighteen:Siege

Book2:MilamberandtheValheruChapterNineteen:SlaveChapterTwenty:EstateChapterTwenty-One:

Changeling

ChapterTwenty-Two:TrainingChapterTwenty-Three:

VoyageChapterTwenty-Four:

KrondorChapterTwenty-Five:

EscapeChapterTwenty-Six:Great

OneChapterTwenty-Seven:

Fusion

ChapterTwenty-Eight:EmissaryChapterTwenty-Nine:

DecisionChapterThirty:UpheavalChapterThirty-One:

DeceptionsChapterThirty-Two:

BetrayalChapterThirty-Three:

LegacyChapterThirty-Four:

Renaissance

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementtotheRevisedEditionAbouttheAuthorBytheSameAuthorCopyrightAboutthePublisher

ForewordtotheRevisedEdition

Itiswithsomehesitationandagreatdealoftrepidationthatanauthorapproachesthetaskofrevisinganearliereditionoffiction.Thisisespeciallytrueifthebookwashisfirsteffort,judgedsuccessfulbymoststandards,and

continuouslyinprintforadecade.Magicianwasallthis,and

more.Inlate1977Idecidedtotrymyhandatwriting,part-time,whileIwasanemployeeoftheUniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego.Itisnowsomefifteenyearslater,andIhavebeenafull-timewriterforthelastfourteenyears,successfulinthiscraftbeyondmywildestdreams.

Magician,thefirstnovelinwhatbecameknownasTheRiftwarSaga,wasabookthatquicklytookonalifeofitsown.Ihesitatetoadmitthispublicly,butthetruthisthatpartofthesuccessofthebookwasmyignoranceofwhatmakesacommerciallysuccessfulnovel.Mywillingnesstoplungeblindlyforwardintoatalespanningtwodissimilarworlds,

coveringtwelveyearsinthelivesofseveralmajoranddozensofminorcharacters,breakingnumerousrulesofplottingalongtheway,seemedtofindkindredsoulsamongreaderstheworldover.Afteradecadeinprint,mybestjudgmentisthattheappealofthebookisbaseduponitsbeingwhatwasknownonceasa“rippingyarn.”Ihadlittleambition

beyondspinningagoodstory,onethatsatisfiedmysenseofwonder,adventure,andwhimsy.Itturnedoutthatseveralmillionreaders—manyofwhomreadtranslationsinlanguagesIcan’tevenbegintocomprehend—founditonethatsatisfiedtheirtastesforsuchayarnaswell.Butinsofarasitwasafirst

effort,somepressuresofthe

marketplacedidmanifestthemselvesduringthecreationofthefinalbook.Magicianisbyanyone’smeasurealargebook.Whenthepenultimatemanuscriptversionsatuponmyeditor’sdesk,Iwasinformedthatsomefiftythousandwordswouldhavetobecut.AndcutIdid.Mostlylinebyline,butafewsceneswereeithertruncatedorexcised.

WhileIcouldliveoutmylifewiththeoriginalmanuscriptaspublishedbeingtheonlyeditioneverread,Ihavealwaysfeltthatsomeofthematerialcutaddedacertainresonance,acounterpointifyouwill,tokeyelementsofthetale.Therelationshipsbetweencharacters,theadditionaldetailsofanalienworld,theminormomentsofreflection

andmirththatacttobalancethemorefreneticactivityofconflictandadventure,allthesethingswere“closebutnotquitewhatIhadinmind.”Inanyevent,tocelebrate

thetenthanniversaryoftheoriginalpublicationofMagician,Ihavebeenpermittedtoreturntothiswork,toreconstructandchange,toaddandcutasIseefit,tobringforthwhatis

knowninpublishingasthe“Author’sPreferredEdition”ofthework.So,withtheoldadmonition,“Ifitain’tbroke,don’tfixit,”ringinginmyears,IreturntothefirstworkIundertook,backwhenIhadnopretensionsofcraft,nostatureasabestsellingauthor,andbasicallynoideaofwhatIwasdoing.Mydesireistorestoresomeofthoseexcisedbits,someoftheminordetail

thatIfeltaddedtotheheftofthenarrative,aswellastheweightofthebook.Othermaterialwasmoredirectlyrelatedtothebooksthatfollow,settingsomeofthebackgroundforthemythicunderpinningoftheRiftwar.TheslightlylengthydiscussionoflorebetweenTullyandKulganinChapterThree,aswellassomeofthethingsrevealedtoPugonthe

TowerofTestingwereclearlyinthisarea.Myeditorwasn’tsoldontheideaofasequel,then,sosomeofthiswascut.Returningitmaybeself-indulgent,butasthiswasmaterialIfeltbelongedintheoriginalbook,ithasbeenrestored.Tothosereaderswhohave

alreadydiscoveredMagician,whowonderifit’sintheirintereststopurchasethis

edition,Iwouldliketoreassurethemthatnothingprofoundhasbeenchanged.Nocharacterspreviouslydeadarenowalive,nobattleslostarenowwon,andtwoboysstillfindthesamedestiny.Iaskyoutofeelnocompulsiontoreadthisnewvolume,foryourmemoryoftheoriginalworkisasvalid,perhapsmoreso,thanmine.Butifyouwishtoreturnto

theworldofPugandTomas,torediscoveroldfriendsandforgottenadventure,thenconsiderthiseditionyouropportunitytoseeabitmorethanthelasttime.Andtothenewreader,welcome.Itrustyou’llfindthisworktoyoursatisfaction.Itiswithprofound

gratitudeIwishtothankyouall,newreadersandoldacquaintances,forwithout

yoursupportandencouragement,tenyearsof“rippingyarns’couldnothavebeenpossible.IfIhavetheopportunitytoprovideyouwithasmallpartofthepleasureIfeelinbeingabletosharemyfancifuladventureswithyou,weareequallyrewarded,forbyyourembracingmyworksyouhaveallowedmetofashionmore.Withoutyouthere

wouldhavebeennoSilverthorn,ADarknessatSethanon,FaerieTale,andnoEmpireTrilogy.Thelettersgetread,ifnotanswered—eveniftheysometimestakemonthstoreachme—andthekindremarks,inpassingatpublicappearances,haveenrichedmebeyondmeasure.Butmostofall,yougavemethefreedomtopracticeacraft

thatwasbegunto“seeifIcoulddoit,”whileworkingattheResidenceHallsofJohnMuirCollegeatUCSD.So,thankyou.Iguess“I

didit.”Andwiththiswork,Ihopeyou’llagreethatthistimeIdiditalittlemoreelegantly,withalittlemorecolor,weight,andresonance.

RAYMONDE.FEISTSanDiego,California

August1991

BOOK1

PugandTomas

Aboy’swillisthewind’swill,Andthethoughtsofyoutharelong,long

thoughts.—

LONGFELLOW,MyLostYouth

•CHAPTERONE•

Storm

THESTORMHADBROKEN.Pugdancedalongtheedge

oftherocks,hisfeetfindingscantpurchaseashemadehiswayamongthetidepools.Hisdarkeyesdartedaboutashepeeredintoeachpoolunderthecliffface,seekingthespinycreaturesdrivenintotheshallowsbytherecentlypassedstorm.Hisboyishmusclesbunchedunderhislightshirtashe

shiftedthesackofsandcrawlers,rockclaws,andcrabspluckedfromthiswatergarden.Theafternoonsunsent

sparklesthroughtheseasprayswirlingaroundhim,asthewestwindblewhissun-streakedbrownhairabout.Pugsethissackdown,checkedtomakesureitwassecurelytied,thensquattedonaclearpatchofsand.The

sackwasnotquitefull,butPugrelishedtheextrahourorsothathecouldrelax.Megarthecookwouldn’ttroublehimaboutthetimeaslongasthesackwasalmostfull.Restingwithhisbackagainstalargerock,Pugwassoondozinginthesun’swarmth.Acoolwetspraywokehim

hourslater.Heopenedhiseyeswithastart,knowinghehadstayedmuchtoolong.

Westward,overthesea,darkthunderheadswereformingabovetheblackoutlineoftheSixSisters,thesmallislandsonthehorizon.Theroiling,surgingclouds,withraintrailingbelowlikesomesootyveil,heraldedanotherofthesuddenstormscommontothispartofthecoastinearlysummer.Tothesouth,thehighbluffsofSailor’sGriefrearedupagainstthe

sky,aswavescrashedagainstthebaseofthatrockypinnacle.Whitecapsstartedtoformbehindthebreakers,asuresignthestormwouldquicklystrike.Pugknewhewasindanger,forthestormsofsummercoulddrownanyoneonthebeaches,orifsevereenough,onthelowgroundbeyond.Hepickeduphissackand

startednorth,towardthe

castle.Ashemovedamongthepools,hefeltthecoolnessinthewindturntoadeeper,wettercold.Thedaybegantobebrokenbyapatchworkofshadowsasthefirstcloudspassedbeforethesun,brightcolorsfadingtoshadesofgrey.Outtosea,lightningflashedagainsttheblacknessoftheclouds,andthedistantboomofthunderrodeoverthenoiseofthewaves.

Pugpickedupspeedwhenhecametothefirststretchofopenbeach.Thestormwascominginfasterthanhewouldhavethoughtpossible,drivingtherisingtidebeforeit.Bythetimehereachedthesecondstretchoftidepools,therewasbarelytenfeetofdrysandbetweenwater’sedgeandcliffs.Pughurriedasfastaswas

safeacrosstherocks,twice

nearlycatchinghisfoot.Ashereachedthenextexpanseofsand,hemistimedhisjumpfromthelastrockandlandedpoorly.Hefelltothesand,graspinghisankle.Asifwaitingforthemishap,thetidesurgedforward,coveringhimforamoment.Hereachedoutblindlyandfelthissackcarriedaway.Franticallygrabbingatit,Puglungedforward,onlytohave

hisanklefail.Hewentunder,gulpingwater.Heraisedhishead,sputteringandcoughing.Hestartedtostandwhenasecondwave,higherthanthelast,hithiminthechest,knockinghimbackward.Pughadgrownupplayinginthewavesandwasanexperiencedswimmer,butthepainofhisankleandthebatteringofthewaveswerebringinghimtotheedgeof

panic.Hefoughtitoffandcameupforairasthewavereceded.Hehalfswam,halfscrambledtowardthecliffface,knowingthewaterwouldbeonlyinchesdeepthere.Pugreachedthecliffsand

leanedagainstthem,keepingasmuchweightofftheinjuredankleaspossible.Heinchedalongtherockwall,whileeachwavebroughtthe

waterhigher.WhenPugfinallyreachedaplacewherehecouldmakehiswayupward,waterwasswirlingathiswaist.Hehadtouseallhisstrengthtopullhimselfuptothepath.Helaypantingamoment,thenstartedtocrawlupthepathway,unwillingtotrusthisbalkyankleonthisrockyfooting.Thefirstdropsofrain

begantofallashescrambled

along,bruisingkneesandshinsontherocks,untilhereachedthegrassytopofthebluffs.Pugfellforwardexhausted,pantingfromtheexertionoftheclimb.Thescattereddropsgrewintoalightbutsteadyrain.Whenhehadcaughthis

breath,Pugsatupandexaminedtheswollenankle.Itwastendertothetouch,buthewasreassuredwhenhe

couldmoveit:itwasnotbroken.Hewouldhavetolimptheentirewayback,butwiththethreatofdrowningonthebeachbehindhim,hefeltrelativelybuoyant.Pugwouldbeadrenched,

chilledwretchwhenhereachedthetown.Hewouldhavetofindalodgingthere,forthegatesofthecastlewouldbeclosedforthenight,andwithhistenderanklehe

wouldnotattempttoclimbthewallbehindthestables.Besides,shouldhewaitandslipintothekeepthenextday,onlyMegarwouldhavewordsforhim,butifhewascaughtcomingoverthewall,SwordmasterFannonorHorsemasterAlgonwouldsurelyhavealotworseinstoreforhimthanwords.Whileherested,therain

tookonaninsistentquality

andtheskydarkenedasthelate-afternoonsunwascompletelyengulfedinstormclouds.Hismomentaryreliefwasreplacedwithangerathimselfforlosingthesackofsandcrawlers.Hisdispleasuredoubledwhenheconsideredhisfollyatfallingasleep.Hadheremainedawake,hewouldhavemadethereturntripunhurriedly,wouldnothavesprainedhisankle,andwould

havehadtimetoexplorethestreambedabovethebluffsforthesmoothstonesheprizedsodearlyforslinging.Nowtherewouldbenostones,anditwouldbeatleastanotherweekbeforehecouldreturn.IfMegardidn’tsendanotherboyinstead,whichwaslikelynowthathewasreturningempty-handed.Pug’sattentionshiftedto

thediscomfortofsittingin

therain,andhedecideditwastimetomoveon.Hestoodandtestedhisankle.Itprotestedsuchtreatment,buthecouldgetalongonit.Helimpedoverthegrasstowherehehadlefthisbelongingsandpickeduphisrucksack,staff,andsling.Hesworeanoathhehadheardsoldiersatthekeepusewhenhefoundtherucksackrippedapartandhisbreadand

cheesemissing.Raccoons,orpossiblysandlizards,hethought.Hetossedthenowuselesssackasideandwonderedathismisfortune.Takingadeepbreath,he

leanedonhisstaffashestartedacrossthelowrollinghillsthatdividedthebluffsfromtheroad.Standsofsmalltreeswerescatteredoverthelandscape,andPugregrettedtherewasn’tmore

substantialshelternearby,fortherewasnoneuponthebluffs.Hewouldbenowetterfortrudgingtotownthanforstayingunderatree.Thewindpickedup,and

Pugfeltthefirstcoldbiteagainsthiswetback.Heshiveredandhurriedhispaceaswellashecould.Thesmalltreesstartedtobendbeforethewind,andPugfeltasifagreathandwerepushingat

hisback.Reachingtheroad,heturnednorth.Heheardtheeeriesoundofthegreatforestofftotheeast,thewindwhistlingthroughthebranchesoftheancientoaks,addingtoitsalreadyforebodingaspect.ThedarkgladesoftheforestwereprobablynomoreperilousthantheKing’sroad,butrememberedtalesofoutlawsandother,lesshuman,

malefactorsstirredthehairsontheboy’sneck.CuttingacrosstheKing’s

road,Puggainedalittleshelterinthegullythatranalongsideit.Thewindintensifiedandrainstunghiseyes,bringingtearstoalreadywetcheeks.Agustcaughthim,andhestumbledoffbalanceforamoment.Waterwasgatheringintheroadsidegully,andhehadtostep

carefullytokeepfromlosinghisfootinginunexpectedlydeeppuddles.Fornearlyanhourhemade

hiswaythroughtheevergrowingstorm.Theroadturnednorthwest,bringinghimalmostfullfaceintothehowlingwind.Pugleanedintothewind,hisshirtwhippingoutbehindhim.Heswallowedhard,toforcedownthechokingpanic

risingwithinhim.Heknewhewasindangernow,forthestormwasgaininginfuryfarbeyondnormalforthistimeofyear.Greatraggedboltsoflightninglitthedarklandscape,brieflyoutliningthetreesandroadinharsh,brilliantwhiteandopaqueblack.Thedazzlingafterimages,blackandwhitereversed,stayedwithhimforamomenteachtime,

confusinghissenses.Enormousthunderpealssoundingoverheadfeltlikephysicalblows.Nowhisfearofthestormoutweighedhisfearofimaginedbrigandsandgoblins.Hedecidedtowalkamongthetreesneartheroad;thewindwouldbelessenedsomewhatbythebolesoftheoaks.AsPugcloseduponthe

forest,acrashingsound

broughthimtoahalt.Inthegloomofthestormhecouldbarelymakeouttheformofablackforestboarasitburstoutoftheundergrowth.Thepigtumbledfromthebrush,lostitsfooting,thenscrambledtoitsfeetafewyardsaway.Pugcouldseeitclearlyasitstoodthereregardinghim,swingingitsheadfromsidetoside.Twolargetusksseemedtoglowin

thedimlightastheydrippedrainwater.Fearmadeitseyeswide,anditpawedattheground.Theforestpigswerebad-temperedatbest,butnormallyavoidedhumans.Thisonewaspanic-strickenbythestorm,andPugknewifitchargedhecouldbebadlygored,evenkilled.Standingstock-still,Pug

madereadytoswinghisstaff,buthopedthepigwould

returntothewoods.Theboar’sheadraised,testingtheboy’ssmellonthewind.Itspinkeyesseemedtoglowasittrembledwithindecision.Asoundmadeitturntowardthetreesforamoment,thenitdroppeditsheadandcharged.Pugswunghisstaff,

bringingitdowninaglancingblowtothesideofthepig’shead,turningit.Thepigslidsidewaysinthemuddy

footing,hittingPuginthelegs.Hewentdownasthepigslippedpast.Lyingontheground,Pugsawtheboarskitteraboutasitturnedtochargeagain.Suddenlythepigwasuponhim,andPughadnotimetostand.Hethrustthestaffbeforehiminavainattempttoturntheanimalagain.TheboardodgedthestaffandPugtriedtorollaway,butaweightfell

acrosshisbody.Pugcoveredhisfacewithhishands,keepinghisarmsclosetohischest,expectingtobegored.Afteramomentherealized

thepigwasstill.Uncoveringhisface,hediscoveredthepiglyingacrosshislowerlegs,ablack-feathered,cloth-yardarrowprotrudingfromitsside.Puglookedtowardtheforest.Amangarbedinbrownleatherwasstanding

neartheedgeofthetrees,quicklywrappingayeoman’slongbowwithanoilclothcover.Oncethevaluableweaponwasprotectedfromfurtherabusebytheweather,themancrossedtostandovertheboyandbeast.Hewascloakedand

hooded,hisfacehidden.HekneltnexttoPugandshoutedoverthesoundofthewind,“Areyou’right,boy?”ashe

liftedthedeadboareasilyfromPug’slegs.“Bonesbroken?”“Idon’tthinkso,”Pug

yelledback,takingaccountofhimself.Hisrightsidesmarted,andhislegsfeltequallybruised.Withhisanklestilltender,hewasfeelingill-usedtoday,butnothingseemedbrokenorpermanentlydamaged.

Large,meatyhandsliftedhimtohisfeet.“Here,”themancommanded,handinghimhisstaffandthebow.Pugtookthemwhilethestrangerquicklyguttedtheboarwithalargehunter’sknife.HecompletedhisworkandturnedtoPug.“Comewithme,boy.Youhadbestlodgewithmymasterandme.It’snotfar,butwe’dbesthurry.Thisstorm’llgetworse

aforeit’sover.Canyouwalk?”Takinganunsteadystep,

Pugnodded.Withoutawordthemanshoulderedthepigandtookhisbow.“Come,”hesaid,asheturnedtowardtheforest.Hesetoffatabriskpace,whichPughadtoscrambletomatch.Theforestcutthefuryof

thestormsolittlethatconversationwasimpossible.

Alightningflashlitthesceneforamoment,andPugcaughtaglimpseoftheman’sface.Pugtriedtorememberifhehadseenthestrangerbefore.HehadthelookcommontothehuntersandforestersthatlivedintheforestofCrydee:large-shouldered,tall,andsolidlybuilt.Hehaddarkhairandbeardandtheraw,weather-beatenappearanceof

onewhospendsmostofhistimeoutdoors.Forafewfanciful

momentstheboywonderedifhemightbesomememberofanoutlawband,hidingintheheartoftheforest.Hegaveupthenotion,fornooutlawwouldtroublehimselfwithanobviouslypennilesskeepboy.Rememberingthemanhad

mentionedhavingamaster,Pugsuspectedhewasa

franklin,onewholivedontheestateofalandholder.Hewouldbeintheholder’sservice,butnotboundtohimasabondsman.Thefranklinswerefreeborn,givingashareofcroporherdinexchangefortheuseofland.Hemustbefreeborn.Nobondsmanwouldbeallowedtocarryalongbow,fortheyweremuchtoovaluable—anddangerous.Still,Pugcouldn’tremember

anylandholdingsintheforest.Itwasamysterytotheboy,butthetolloftheday’sabuseswasquicklydrivingawayanycuriosity.

Afterwhatseemedtobehours,themanwalkedintoathicketoftrees.Pugnearlylosthiminthedarkness,forthesunhadsetsometimebefore,takingwithitwhatfaintlightthestormhad

allowed.Hefollowedthemanmorefromthesoundofhisfootfallsandanawarenessofhispresencethanfromsight.Pugsensedhewasonapaththroughthetrees,forhisfootstepsmetnoresistingbrushordetritus.Fromwheretheyhadbeenmomentsbefore,thepathwouldbedifficulttofindinthedaylight,impossibleatnight,unlessitwasalreadyknown.

Soontheyenteredaclearing,inthemidstofwhichsatasmallstonecottage.Lightshonethroughasinglewindow,andsmokerosefromthechimney.Theycrossedtheclearing,andPugwonderedatthestorm’srelativemildnessinthisonespotintheforest.Oncebeforethedoor,the

manstoodtoonesideand

said,“Yougoin,boy.Imustdressthepig.”Noddingdumbly,Pug

pushedopenthewoodendoorandsteppedin.“Closethatdoor,boy!

You’llgivemeachillandcausememydeath.”Pugjumpedtoobey,

slammingthedoorharderthanheintended.Heturned,takinginthe

scenebeforehim.Theinterior

ofthecottagewasasmallsingleroom.Againstonewallwasthefireplace,withagood-sizehearthbeforeit.Abright,cheeryfireburned,castingawarmglow.Nexttothefireplaceatablesat,behindwhichaheavyset,yellow-robedfigurerestedonabench.Hisgreyhairandbeardnearlycoveredhisentirehead,exceptforapairofvividblueeyesthat

twinkledinthefirelight.Alongpipeemergedfromthebeard,producingheroiccloudsofpalesmoke.Pugknewtheman.

“MasterKulgan…,”hebegan,forthemanwastheDuke’smagicianandadviser,afamiliarfacearoundthecastlekeep.Kulganleveledagazeat

Pug,thensaidinadeepvoice,giventorichrolling

soundsandpowerfultones,“Soyouknowme,then?”“Yes,sir.Fromthecastle.”“Whatisyourname,boy

fromthekeep?”“Pug,MasterKulgan.”“NowIrememberyou.”

Themagicianabsentlywavedhishand.“Donotcallme‘Master,’Pug—thoughIamrightlycalledamasterofmyarts,”hesaidwithamerrycrinklingaroundhiseyes.“I

amhigher-bornthanyou,itistrue,butnotbymuch.Come,thereisablankethangingbythefire,andyouaredrenched.Hangyourclothestodry,thensitthere.”Hepointedtoabenchoppositehim.Pugdidashewasbid,

keepinganeyeonthemagiciantheentiretime.HewasamemberoftheDuke’scourt,butstillamagician,an

objectofsuspicion,generallyheldinlowesteembythecommonfolk.Ifafarmerhadacowcalveamonster,orblightstrikethecrops,villagerswereapttoascribeittotheworkofsomemagicianlurkinginnearbyshadows.IntimesnottoofarpasttheywouldhavestonedKulganfromCrydeeaslikeasnot.HispositionwiththeDukeearnedhimthetoleranceof

thetownsfolknow,butoldfearsdiedslowly.Afterhisgarmentswere

hung,Pugsatdown.Hestartedwhenhesawapairofredeyesregardinghimfromjustbeyondthemagician’stable.Ascaledheadroseupabovethetabletopandstudiedtheboy.Kulganlaughedatthe

boy’sdiscomfort.“Come,boy.Fantuswillnoteatyou.”

Hedroppedhishandtotheheadofthecreature,whosatnexttohimonhisbench,andrubbedaboveitseyeridges.Itcloseditseyesandgaveforthasoftcrooningsound,notunlikethepurringofacat.Pugshuthismouth,which

hadpoppedopenwithsurprise,thenasked,“Ishetrulyadragon,sir?”Themagicianlaughed,a

rich,good-naturedsound.

“Betimeshethinksheis,boy.Fantusisafiredrake,cousintothedragon,thoughofsmallerstature.”Thecreatureopenedoneeyeandfasteneditonthemagician.“Butofequalheart,”Kulganquicklyadded,andthedrakeclosedhiseyeagain.Kulganspokesoftly,inconspiratorialtones.“Heisveryclever,somindwhatyousaytohim.Heisa

creatureoffinelyfashionedsensibilities.”Pugnoddedthathewould.

“Canhebreathefire?”heasked,eyeswidewithwonder.Toanyboyofthirteen,evenacousintoadragonwasworthyofawe.“Whenthemoodsuitshim,

hecanbelchoutaflameortwo,thoughheseemsrarelyinthemood.IthinkitisduetotherichdietIsupplyhim

with,boy.Hehasnothadtohuntforyears,soheissomethingoutofpracticeinthewaysofdrakes.Intruth,Ispoilhimshamelessly.”Pugfoundthenotion

somehowreassuring.Ifthemagiciancaredenoughtospoilthiscreature,nomatterhowoutlandish,thenheseemedsomehowmorehuman,lessmysterious.PugstudiedFantus,admiringhow

thefirebroughtgoldenhighlightstohisemeraldscales.Aboutthesizeofasmallhound,thedrakepossessedalong,sinuousneckatopwhichrestedanalligatorlikehead.Hiswingswerefoldedacrosshisback,andtwoclawedfeetextendedbeforehim,aimlesslypawingtheair,whileKulganscratchedbehindbonyeyeridges.Hislongtailswung

backandforth,inchesabovethefloor.Thedooropenedandthe

bigbowmanentered,holdingadressedandspittedloinofporkbeforehim.Withoutawordhecrossedtothefireplaceandsetthemeattocook.Fantusraisedhishead,usinghislongnecktogoodadvantagetopeekoverthetable.Withaflickofhisforkedtongue,thedrake

jumpeddownand,instatelyfashion,ambledovertothehearth.Heselectedawarmspotbeforethefireandcurleduptodozeawaythewaitbeforedinner.Thefranklinunfastenedhis

cloakandhungitonapegbythedoor.“Stormwillpassaforedawn,I’mthinking.”Hereturnedtothefireandpreparedabastingofwineandherbsforthepig.Pug

wasstartledtoseealargescarthatrandowntheleftsideoftheman’sface,showingredandangryinthefirelight.Kulganwavedhispipein

thefranklin’sdirection.“Knowingmytightlippedmanhere,you’llnothavemadehisproperacquaintance.Meecham,thisboyisPug,fromthekeepatCastleCrydee.”Meecham

gaveabriefnod,thenreturnedtotendingtheroastingloin.Pugnoddedback,thougha

bitlateforMeechamtonotice.“Ineverthoughttothankyouforsavingmefromtheboar.”Meechamreplied,“There’s

noneedforthanks,boy.HadInotstartledthebeast,it’sunlikelyitwouldhavechargedyou.”Heleftthe

hearthandcrossedovertoanotherpartoftheroom,tooksomebrowndoughfromacloth-coveredbucket,andstartedkneading.“Well,sir,”saidPugto

Kulgan,“itwashisarrowthatkilledthepig.Itwasindeedfortunatethathewasfollowingtheanimal.”Kulganlaughed.“Thepoor

creature,whoisourmostwelcomeguestfordinner,

happenedtobeasmuchavictimofcircumstanceasyourself.”Puglookedperplexed.“I

don’tfollow,sir.”Kulganstoodandtook

downanobjectfromthetopmostshelfonhisbookcaseandplaceditonthetablebeforetheboy.Itwaswrappedinacoverofdarkbluevelvet,soPugknewatonceitmustbeaprizeof

greatvalueforsuchanexpensivematerialtobeusedforcovering.Kulganremovedthevelvet,revealinganorbofcrystalthatgleamedinthefirelight.Puggaveanahofpleasureatthebeautyofit,foritwaswithoutapparentflawandsplendidinitssimplicityofform.Kulganpointedtothe

sphereofglass.“Thisdevicewasfashionedasagiftby

AlthafainofCarse,amostpuissantartificerofmagic,whothoughtmeworthyofsuchapresent,asIhavedonehimafavorortwointhepast—butthatisoflittlematter.HavingjustthisdayreturnedfromthecompanyofMasterAlthafain,Iwastestinghistoken.Lookdeepintotheorb,Pug.”Pugfixedhiseyesonthe

ballandtriedtofollowthe

flickeroffirelightthatseemedtoplaydeepwithinitsstructure.Thereflectionsoftheroom,multipliedahundredfold,mergedanddancedashiseyestriedtofastenuponeachaspectwithintheorb.Theyflowedandblended,thengrewcloudyandobscure.Asoftwhiteglowatthecenteroftheballreplacedtheredoffirelight,andPugfelthisgaze

becometrappedbyitspleasingwarmth.Likethewarmthofthekitchenatthekeep,hethoughtabsently.Suddenlythemilkywhite

withintheballvanished,andPugcouldseeanimageofthekitchenbeforehiseyes.FatAlfanthecookwasmakingpastries,lickingthesweetcrumbsfromhisfingers.ThisbroughtthewrathofMegar,theheadcook,downuponhis

head,forMegarconsidereditadisgustinghabit.Puglaughedatthescene,onehehadwitnessedbeforemanytimes,anditvanished.Suddenlyhefelttired.Kulganwrappedtheorbin

theclothandputitaway.“Youdidwell,boy,”hesaidthoughtfully.Hestoodwatchingtheboyforamoment,asifconsideringsomething,thensatdown.“I

wouldnothavesuspectedyouofbeingabletofashionsuchaclearimageinonetry,butyouseemtobemorethanyoufirstappeartobe.”“Sir?”“Nevermind,Pug.”He

pausedforamoment,thensaid,“Iwasusingthattoyforthefirsttime,judginghowfarIcouldsendmysight,whenIspiedyoumakingfortheroad.Fromyourlimpand

bruisedcondition,Ijudgedthatyouwouldneverreachthetown,soIsentMeechamtofetchyou.”Puglookedembarrassedby

theunusualattention,colorrisingtohischeeks.Hesaid,withathirteen-year-old’shighestimationofhisownability,“Youneedn’thavedonethat,sir.Iwouldhavereachedthetowninduetime.”

Kulgansmiled.“Perhaps,butthenagain,perhapsnot.Thestormisunseasonablysevereandperilousfortraveling.”Puglistenedtothesoft

tattooofrainontheroofofthecottage.Thestormseemedtohaveslackened,andPugdoubtedthemagician’swords.Asifreadingtheboy’sthought,Kulgansaid,“Doubtmenot,

Pug.Thisgladeisprotectedbymorethanthegreatboles.Shouldyoupassbeyondthecircleofoaksthatmarkstheedgeofmyholding,youwouldfeelthestorm’sfury.Meecham,howdoyougaugethiswind?”Meechamputdownthe

breaddoughhewaskneadingandthoughtforamoment.“Nearasbadasthestormthatbeachedsixshipsthreeyears

back.”Hepausedforamoment,asifreconsideringtheestimate,thennoddedhisendorsement.“Yes,nearlyasbad,thoughitwon’tblowsolong.”Pugthoughtbackthree

yearstothestormthathadblownaQuegantradingfleetboundforCrydeeontotherocksofSailor’sGrief.Atitsheight,theguardsonthecastlewallswereforcedto

stayinthetowers,lesttheybeblowndown.Ifthisstormwasthatsevere,thenKulgan’smagicwasimpressive,foroutsidethecottageitsoundednoworsethanaspringrain.Kulgansatbackonthe

bench,occupiedwithtryingtolighthisextinguishedpipe.Asheproducedalargecloudofsweetwhitesmoke,Pug’sattentionwanderedtoacase

ofbooksstandingbehindthemagician.Hislipsmovedsilentlyashetriedtodiscernwhatwaswrittenonthebindings,butcouldnot.Kulganliftedaneyebrow

andsaid,“Soyoucanread,aye?”Pugstarted,alarmedthat

hemighthaveoffendedthemagicianbyintrudingonhisdomain.Kulgan,sensinghisembarrassment,said,“Itisall

right,boy.Itisnocrimetoknowletters.”Pugfelthisdiscomfort

diminish.“Icanreadalittle,sir.Megarthecookhasshownmehowtoreadthetalliesonthestoreslaidawayforthekitcheninthecellars.Iknowsomenumbers,aswell.”“Numbers,too,”the

magicianexclaimedgood-naturedly.“Well,youare

somethingofararebird.”Hereachedbehindhimselfandpulledoutonevolume,boundinred-brownleather,fromtheshelf.Heopenedit,squintingatonepage,thenanother,andatlastfoundapagethatseemedtomeethisrequirements.HeturnedtheopenbookaroundandlayituponthetablebeforePug.Kulganpointedtoapageilluminatedbyamagnificent

designofsnakes,flowers,andtwiningvinesinacolorfuldesignaroundalargeletterintheupperleftcorner.“Readthis,boy.”Pughadneverseen

anythingremotelylikeit.HislessonshadbeenonplainparchmentwithlettersfashionedinMegar’sbluntscript,usingacharcoalstick.Hesat,fascinatedbythedetailsofthework,then

realizedthemagicianwasstaringathim.Regaininghiswits,hebegantoread.“Andthentherecamea

sum…summonsfrom…”Helookedattheword,stumblingoverthecomplexcombinationsthatwerenewtohim.“…Zacara.”Hepaused,lookingatKulgantoseeifhewascorrect.Themagiciannoddedforhimtocontinue.“Forthenorthwas

tobeforgot…forgotten,lesttheheartoftheempirelan…languishandallbelost.AndthoughofBosaniafrombirth,thosesoldiersstillwereloyaltoGreatKeshintheirservice.Soforhergreatneed,theytookuptheirarmsandputontheirarmorandquitBosania,takingshiptothesouth,tosaveallfromdestruction.”Kulgansaid,“That’s

enough,”andgentlyclosed

thecoverofthebook.“Youarewellgiftedwithlettersforakeepboy.”“Thisbook,sir,whatisit?”

askedPug,asKulgantookitfromhim.“Ihaveneverseenanythinglikeit.”KulganlookedatPugfora

moment,withagazethatmadehimuncomfortableagain,thensmiled,breakingthetension.Asheputthebookback,hesaid,“Itisa

historyofthisland,boy.ItwasgivenasagiftbytheabbotofanIshapianmonastery.ItisatranslationofaKeshiantext,overahundredyearsold.”Pugnoddedandsaid,“It

allsoundedverystrange.Whatdoesittellof?”Kulganoncemorelooked

atPugasiftryingtoseesomethinginsideoftheboy,thensaid,“Alongtimeago,

Pug,alltheselands,fromtheEndlessSeaacrosstheGreyTowerMountainstotheBitterSea,werepartoftheEmpireofGreatKesh.Fartotheeastexistedasmallkingdom,ononesmallislandcalledRillanon.Itgrewtoengulfitsneighboringislandkingdoms,anditbecametheKingdomoftheIsles.Lateritexpandedagaintothemainland,andwhileitisstill

theKingdomofIsles,mostofussimplycallit‘theKingdom.’We,wholiveinCrydee,arepartoftheKingdom,thoughweliveasfarfromthecapitalcityofRillanonasonecanandstillbewithinitsboundaries.”“Once,manylongyears

ago,theEmpireofGreatKeshabandonedtheselands,foritwasengagedinalongandbloodyconflictwithits

neighborstothesouth,theKeshianConfederacy.”Pugwascaughtupinthe

grandeuroflostempires,buthungryenoughtonoticeMeechamwasputtingseveralsmallloavesofdarkbreadinhearthoven.Heturnedhisattentionbacktothemagician.“WhoweretheKeshianCon—…?”“TheKeshian

Confederacy,”Kulgan

finishedfortheboy.“ItisagroupofsmallnationswhohadexistedastributariestoGreatKeshforcenturies.Adozenyearsbeforethatbookwaswritten,theyunitedagainsttheiroppressor.EachalonewasinsufficienttocontestwithGreatKesh,butunitedtheyproveditsmatch.Toocloseamatch,forthewardraggedonyearafteryear.TheEmpirewasforced

tostripitsnorthernprovincesoftheirlegionsandsendthemsouth,leavingthenorthopentotheadvancesofthenew,youngerKingdom.”“ItwasDukeBorric’s

grandfather,youngestsonoftheKing,whobroughtthearmywestward,extendingtheWesternRealm.SincethenallofwhatwasoncetheoldimperialprovinceofBosania,exceptfortheFreeCitiesof

Natal,hasbeencalledtheDuchyofCrydee.”Pugthoughtforamoment,

thensaid,“IthinkIwouldliketotraveltothisGreatKeshsomeday.”Meechamsnorted,

somethingclosetoalaugh.“Andwhatwouldyoubetravelingas,afreebooter?”Pugfelthisfaceflush.

Freebooterswerelandlessmen,mercenarieswhofought

forpay,andwhowereregardedasbeingonlyonecutaboveoutlaws.Kulgansaid,“Perhapsyou

mightsomeday,Pug.Thewayislongandfullofperil,butitisnotunheardofforabraveandheartysoultosurvivethejourney.Strangerthingshavebeenknowntohappen.”Thetalkatthetableturned

tomorecommontopics,for

themagicianhadbeenatthesouthernkeepatCarseforoveramonthandwantedthegossipofCrydee.Whenthebreadwasdonebaking,Meechamservedithot,carvedtheporkloin,andbroughtoutplatesofcheeseandgreens.Pughadnevereatensowellinhislife.Evenwhenhehadworkedinthekitchen,hispositionaskeepboyearnedhimonlymeager

fare.Twiceduringdinner,Pugfoundthemagicianregardinghimintently.Whenthemealwasover,

Meechamclearedthetable,thenbeganwashingthedisheswithcleansandandfreshwater,whileKulganandPugsattalking.Asinglescrapofmeatremainedonthetable,whichKulgantossedovertoFantus,wholaybeforethefire.Thedrake

openedoneeyetoregardthemorsel.Heponderedthechoicebetweenhiscomfortablerestingplaceandthejuicyscrapforamoment,thenmovedthenecessarysixinchestogulpdowntheprizeandclosedhiseyeagain.Kulganlithispipe,and

oncehewassatisfiedwithitsproductionofsmoke,hesaid,“Whatareyourplanswhenyoureachmanhood,boy?”

Pugwasfightingoffsleep,butKulgan’squestionbroughthimalertagain.ThetimeofChoosing,whentheboysofthetownandkeepweretakenintoapprenticeship,wasclose,andPugbecameexcitedashesaid,“ThisMidsummer’sDayIhopetotaketheDuke’sserviceunderSwordmasterFannon.”

Kulganregardedhisslightguest.“Iwouldhavethoughtyoustillayearortwoawayfromapprenticeship,Pug.”Meechamgaveoutasound

somewherebetweenalaughandagrunt.“Bitsmalltobeluggingaroundswordandshield,aren’tyou,boy?”Pugflushed.Hewasthe

smallestboyofhisageinthecastle.“MegarthecooksaidImaybelatecomingtomy

growth,”hesaidwithafaintnoteofdefiance.“Nooneknowswhomyparentswere,sotheyhavenonotionofwhattoexpect.”“Orphan,isit?”asked

Meecham,raisingoneeyebrow,hismostexpressivegestureyet.Pugnodded.“Iwasleft

withthePriestsofDala,inthemountainabbey,byawomanwhoclaimedshe

foundmeintheroad.Theybroughtmetothekeep,fortheyhadnowaytocareforme.”“Yes,”injectedKulgan,“I

rememberwhenthosewhoworshiptheShieldoftheWeakfirstbroughtyoutothecastle.Youwerenomorethanababyfreshfromtheteat.ItisonlythroughtheDuke’skindnessthatyouareafreemantoday.Hefeltita

lessereviltofreeabondsman’ssonthantobondafreeman’s.Withoutproof,itwashisrighttohaveyoudeclaredbondsman.”Meechamsaidina

noncommittaltone,“Agoodman,theDuke.”Pughadheardthestoryof

hisoriginahundredtimesbeforefromMagyainthekitchenofthecastle.Hefeltcompletelywrungoutand

couldbarelykeephiseyesopen.KulgannoticedandsignaledMeecham.Thetallfranklintooksomeblanketsfromashelfandpreparedasleepingpallet.Bythetimehefinished,Pughadfallenasleepwithhisheadonthetable.Thelargeman’shandsliftedhimgentlyfromthestoolandplacedhimontheblankets,thencoveredhim.

Fantusopenedhiseyesandregardedthesleepingboy.Withawolfishyawn,hescrambledovernexttoPugandsnuggledinclose.Pugshiftedhisweightinhissleepanddrapedonearmoverthedrake’sneck.Thefiredrakegaveanapprovingrumble,deepinhisthroat,andclosedhiseyesagain.

•CHAPTERTWO•

Apprentice

THEFORESTWASQUIET.Theslightafternoonbreeze

stirredthetalloaksandcuttheday’sheat,whilerustlingtheleavesonlyslightly.Birdswhowouldraisearaucouschorusatsunriseandsundownweremostlyquietatthistimeofmorning.Thefainttangofseasaltmixedwiththesweetsmellofflowersandpungencyofdecayingleaves.

PugandTomaswalkedslowlyalongthepath,withtheaimlessweavingstepsofboyswhohavenoparticularplacetogoandampletimetogetthere.Pugshiedasmallrockatanimaginedtarget,thenturnedtolookathiscompanion.“Youdon’tthinkyourmotherwasmad,doyou?”heasked.Tomassmiled.“No,she

understandshowthingsare.

She’sseenotherboysthedayofChoosing.Andtruthfully,weweremoreofhindrancethanahelpinthekitchentoday.”Pugnodded.Hehadspilled

apreciouspotofhoneyashecarriedittoAlfan,thepastrycook.Thenhehaddumpedanentiretrayoffreshbreadloavesashetookthemfromtheoven.“Imade

somethingofafoolofmyselftoday,Tomas.”Tomaslaughed.Hewasa

tallboy,withsandyhairandbrightblueeyes.Withhisquicksmile,hewaswelllikedinthekeep,inspiteofaboyishtendencytofindtrouble.HewasPug’sclosestfriend,morebrotherthanfriend,andforthatreasonPugearnedsomemeasureofacceptancefromtheother

boys,fortheyallregardedTomasastheirunofficialleader.Tomassaid,“Youwereno

morethefoolthanI.Atleastyoudidn’tforgettohangthebeefsideshigh.”Puggrinned.“Anyway,theDuke’shoundsarehappy.”Hesnickered,thenlaughed.“Sheisangry,isn’tshe?”Tomaslaughedalongwith

hisfriend.“She’smad.Still,

thedogsonlyatealittlebeforesheshooedthemoff.Besides,she’smostlymadatFather.SheclaimstheChoosing’sonlyanexcuseforalltheCraftmasterstositaroundsmokingpipes,drinkingale,andswappingtalesallday.Shesaystheyalreadyknowwhowillchoosewhichboy.”Pugsaid,“Fromwhatthe

otherwomensay,she’snot

aloneinthatopinion.”ThenhegrinnedatTomas.“Probablynotwrong,either.”Tomaslosthissmile.“She

trulydoesn’tlikeitwhenhe’snotinthekitchentooverseethings.Ithinksheknowsthis,whichiswhyshetossedusoutofthekeepforthemorning,soshewouldn’ttakeouthertemperonus.Oratleastyou,”headdedwitha

questioningsmile.“Iswearyou’reherfavorite.”Pug’sgrinreturnedandhe

laughedagain.“Well,Idocauselesstrouble.”Withaplayfulpunchtothe

arm,Tomassaid,“Youmeanyougetcaughtlessoften.”Pugpulledhisslingout

fromwithinhisshirt.“Ifwecamebackwithabraceofpartridgeorquail,shemight

regainsomeofhergoodtemper.”Tomassmiled.“She

might,”heagreed,takingouthisownsling.Bothboyswereexcellentslingers,Tomasbeingundoubtedchampionamongtheboys,edgingPugbyonlyalittle.Itwasunlikelyeithercouldbringdownabirdonthewing,butshouldtheyfindoneatrest,therewasafair

chancetheymighthitit.Besides,itwouldgivethemsomethingtodotopassthehoursandperhapsforatimeforgettheChoosing.Withexaggeratedstealth

theycreptalong,playingthepartofhunters.Tomasledthewayastheyleftthefootpath,headingforthewateringpooltheyknewlaynottoofardistant.Itwasimprobabletheywouldspotgamethis

timeofthedayunlesstheysimplyblunderedacrossit,butifanyweretobefound,itmostlikelywouldbenearthepool.ThewoodstothenortheastofthetownofCrydeewerelessforbiddingthanthegreatforesttothesouth.Manyyearsofharvestingtreesforlumberhadgiventhegreengladesasunlitairinessnotfoundinthedeephauntsofthe

southernforest.Thekeepboyshadoftenplayedhereovertheyears.Withsmallimagination,thewoodsweretransformedintoawondrousplace,agreenworldofhighadventure.Someofthegreatestdeedsknownhadtakenplacehere.Daringescapes,dreadquests,andmightilycontestedbattleshadbeenwitnessedbythesilenttreesastheboysgaveventto

theiryouthfuldreamsofcomingmanhood.Foulcreatures,mightymonsters,andbaseoutlawshadallbeenfoughtandvanquished,oftenaccompaniedbythedeathofagreathero,withappropriatelastwordstohismourningcompanions,allmanagedwithjustenoughtimelefttoreturntothekeepforsupper.Tomasreachedasmallrise

thatoverlookedthepool,

screenedoffbyyoungbeechsaplings,andpulledasidesomebrushsotheycouldmountavigil.Hestopped,awed,andsoftlysaid,“Pug,look!”Standingattheedgeofthepoolwasastag,headheldhighashesoughtthesourceofsomethingthatdisturbedhisdrinking.Hewasanoldanimal,thehairaroundhismuzzlenearlyallwhite,and

hisheadcrownedbymagnificentantlers.Pugcountedquickly.“He

hasfourteenpoints.”Tomasnoddedagreement.

“Hemustbetheoldestbuckintheforest.”Thestagturnedhisattentionintheboys’direction,flickinganearnervously.Theyfroze,notwishingtofrightenoffsuchabeautifulcreature.Foralong,silentminutethestagstudied

therise,nostrilsflaring,thenslowlyloweredhisheadtothepoolanddrank.TomasgrippedPug’s

shoulderandinclinedhisheadtooneside.PugfollowedTomas’smotionandsawafigurewalkingsilentlyintotheclearing.Hewasatallmandressedinleatherclothing,dyedforestgreen.Acrosshisbackhungalongbowandathisbelta

hunter’sknife.Hisgreencloak’shoodwasthrownback,andhewalkedtowardthestagwithasteady,evenstep.Tomassaid,“It’sMartin.”Pugalsorecognizedthe

Duke’sHuntmaster.AnorphanlikePug,MartinhadcometobeknownasLongbowbythoseinthecastle,ashehadfewequalswiththatweapon.Something

ofamystery,MartinLongbowwasstillwelllikedbytheboys,forwhilehewasaloofwiththeadultsinthecastle,hewasalwaysfriendlyandaccessibletotheboys.AsHuntmaster,hewasalsotheDuke’sForester.Hisdutiesabsentedhimfromthecastlefordays,evenweeksatatime,ashekepthistrackersbusylookingforsignsofpoaching,possiblefire

dangers,migratinggoblins,oroutlawscampinginthewoods.Butwhenhewasinthecastle,andnotorganizingahuntfortheDuke,healwayshadtimefortheboys.HisdarkeyeswerealwaysmerrywhentheypesteredhimwithquestionsofwoodloreorfortalesofthelandsneartheboundariesofCrydee.Heseemedtopossessunendingpatience,whichset

himapartfrommostoftheCraftmastersinthetownandkeep.Martincameuptothestag,

gentlyreachedout,andtouchedhisneck.Thegreatheadswungup,andthestagnuzzledMartin’sarm.SoftlyMartinsaid,“Ifyouwalkoutslowly,withoutspeaking,hemightletyouapproach.”PugandTomasexchanged

startledglances,thenstepped

intotheclearing.Theywalkedslowlyaroundtheedgeofthepool,thestagfollowingtheirmovementswithhishead,tremblingslightly.Martinpattedhimreassuringlyandhequieted.TomasandPugcametostandbesidethehunter,andMartinsaid,“Reachoutandtouchhim,slowlysoasnottofrightenhim.”

Tomasreachedoutfirst,andthestagtrembledbeneathhisfingers.Pugbegantoreachout,andthestagretreatedastep.MartincroonedtothestaginalanguagePughadneverheardbefore,andtheanimalstoodstill.Pugtouchedhimandmarveledatthefeelofhiscoat—solikethecuredhideshehadtouchedbefore,yetsodifferentforthefeeloflife

pulsingunderhisfingertips.Suddenlythestagbacked

offandturned.Then,withasingleboundingleap,hewasgoneamongthetrees.MartinLongbowchuckledandsaid,“Justaswell.Itwouldn’tdotohavehimbecometoofriendlywithmen.Thoseantlerswouldquicklyendupoversomepoacher’sfireplace.”

Tomaswhispered,“He’sbeautiful,Martin.”Longbownodded,hiseyes

stillfasteneduponthespotwherethestaghadvanishedintothewoods.“Thatheis,Tomas.”Pugsaid,“Ithoughtyou

huntedstags,Martin.How—”Martinsaid,“Old

WhitebeardandIhavesomethingofanunderstanding,Pug.Ihunt

onlybachelorstags,withoutdoes,ordoestoooldtocalve.WhenWhitebeardloseshisharemtosomeyoungerbucksomeday,Imaytakehim.Noweachleavestheothertohisownway.ThedaywillcomewhenIwilllookathimdowntheshaftofanarrow.”Hesmiledattheboys.“Iwon’tknowuntilthenifIshalllettheshaftfly.PerhapsIwill,perhapsnot.”Hefell

silentforatime,asifthethoughtofWhitebeard’sbecomingoldwassaddening,thenasalightbreezerustledthebranchessaid,“Now,whatbringstwosuchboldhuntersintotheDuke’swoodsintheearlymorning?TheremustbeathousandthingsleftundonewiththeMidsummerfestivalthisafternoon.”

Tomasanswered.“Mymothertossedusoutofthekitchen.Weweremoretroublethannot.WiththeChoosingtoday…”Hisvoicediedaway,andhefeltsuddenlyembarrassed.MuchofMartin’smysteriousreputationstemmedfromwhenhefirstcametoCrydee.AthistimefortheChoosing,hehadbeenplaceddirectlywiththeoldHuntmasterby

theDuke,ratherthanstandingbeforetheassembledCraftmasterswiththeotherboyshisage.Thisviolationofoneoftheoldesttraditionsknownhadoffendedmanypeopleintown,thoughnonewoulddareopenlyexpresssuchfeelingstoLordBorric.Aswasnatural,Martinbecametheobjectoftheirire,ratherthantheDuke.OvertheyearsMartinhadmore

thanjustifiedLordBorric’sdecision,butstillmostpeopleweretroubledbytheDuke’sspecialtreatmentofhimthatoneday.EvenaftertwelveyearssomepeoplestillregardedMartinLongbowasbeingdifferentand,assuch,worthyofdistrust.Tomassaid,“I’msorry,

Martin.”Martinnoddedin

acknowledgment,butwithout

humor.“Iunderstand,Tomas.Imaynothavehadtoendureyouruncertainty,butIhaveseenmanyotherswaitforthedayofChoosing.AndforfouryearsImyselfhavestoodwiththeotherMasters,soIknowalittleofyourworry.”AthoughtstruckPugand

heblurted,“Butyou’renotwiththeotherCraftmasters.”

Martinshookhishead,aruefulexpressionplayingacrosshisevenfeatures.“Ihadthoughtthat,inlightofyourworry,youmightfailtoobservetheobvious.Butyou’veasharpwitaboutyou,Pug.”Tomasdidn’tunderstand

whattheyweresayingforamoment,thencomprehensiondawned.“Thenyou’llselectnoapprentices!”

Martinraisedafingertohislips.“Notaword,lad.No,withyoungGarretchosenlastyear,I’veafullcompanyoftrackers.”Tomaswasdisappointed.

HewishedmorethananythingtotakeservicewithSwordmasterFannon,butshouldhenotbechosenasasoldier,thenhewouldpreferthelifeofaforester,underMartin.Nowhissecond

choicewasdeniedhim.Afteramomentofdarkbrooding,hebrightened:perhapsMartindidn’tchoosehimbecauseFannonalreadyhad.Seeinghisfriendenteringa

cycleofelationanddepressionasheconsideredallthepossibilities,Pugsaid,“Youhaven’tbeeninthekeepfornearlyamonth,Martin.”Heputawaytheslinghestillheldandasked,

“Wherehaveyoukeptyourself?”MartinlookedatPugasthe

boyinstantlyregrettedhisquestion.AsfriendlyasMartincouldbe,hewasstillHuntmaster,amemberoftheDuke’shousehold,andkeepboysdidnotmakeahabitofquestioningthecomingsandgoingsoftheDuke’sstaff.MartinrelievedPug’s

embarrassmentwithaslight

smile.“I’vebeentoElvandar.QueenAglarannahasendedhertwentyyearsofmourningthedeathofherhusband,theElfKing.Therewasagreatcelebration.”Pugwassurprisedbythe

answer.Tohim,astomostpeopleinCrydee,theelveswerelittlemorethanlegend.ButMartinhadspenthisyouthneartheelvenforestsandwasoneofthefew

humanstocomeandgothroughthoseforeststothenorthatwill.ItwasanotherthingthatsetMartinLongbowapartfromothers.WhileMartinhadsharedelvishlorewiththeboysbefore,thiswasthefirsttimeinPug’smemoryhehadspokenofhisrelationshiptotheelves.Pugstammered,“YoufeastedwiththeElfQueen?”

Martinassumedaposeofmodestinconsequence.“Well,Isatatthetablefarthestfromthethrone,butyes;Iwasthere.”Seeingtheunaskedquestionsintheireyes,hecontinued.“YouknowasaboyIwasraisedbythemonksofSilban’sAbbey,neartheelvenforest.Iplayedwithelvenchildren,andbeforeIcamehere,Ihunted

withPrinceCalinandhiscousin,Galain.”Tomasnearlyjumpedwith

excitement.Elveswereasubjectholdingparticularfascinationforhim.“DidyouknowKingAidan?”Martin’sexpression

clouded,andhiseyesnarrowed,hismannersuddenlybecomingstiff.TomassawMartin’sreaction

andsaid,“I’msorry,Martin.DidIsaysomethingwrong?”Martinwavedawaythe

apology.“Nofaultofyours,Tomas,”hesaid,hismannersofteningsomewhat.“TheelvesdonotusethenamesofthosewhohavegonetotheBlessedIsles,especiallythosewhohavedieduntimely.Theybelievetodosorecallsthosespokenoffromtheirjourneythere,denyingthem

theirfinalrest.Irespecttheirbeliefs.”“Well,toansweryou,no,I

nevermethim.HewaskilledwhenIwasonlyasmallboy.ButIhaveheardthestoriesofhisdeeds,andhewasagoodandwiseKingbyallaccounts.”Martinlookedabout.“Itapproachesnoon.Weshouldreturntothekeep.”

Hebegantowalktowardthepath,andtheboysfellinbesidehim.“Whatwasthefeastlike,

Martin?”askedTomas.Pugsighedasthehunter

begantospeakofthemarvelsofElvandar.Hewasalsofascinatedbytalesoftheelves,buttonowherenearthedegreeTomaswas.Tomascouldendurehoursoftalesofthepeopleoftheelven

forests,regardlessofthespeaker’scredibility.Atleast,Pugconsidered,intheHuntmastertheyhadadependableeyewitness.Martin’svoicedronedon,andPug’sattentionwandered,asheagainfoundhimselfponderingtheChoosing.Nomatterthathetoldhimselfworrywasuseless:heworried.Hefoundhewasfacingtheapproachingofthis

afternoonwithsomethingakintodread.

Theboysstoodinthecourtyard.ItwasMidsummer,thedaythatendedoneyearandmarkedthebeginningofanother.Todayeveryoneinthecastlewouldbecountedoneyearolder.Forthemillingboysthiswassignificant,fortodaywasthelastdayoftheir

boyhood.TodaywastheChoosing.Pugtuggedatthecollarof

hisnewtunic.Itwasn’treallynew,beingoneofTomas’soldones,butitwasthenewestPughadeverowned.Magya,Tomas’smother,hadtakenitinforthesmallerboy,toensurehewaspresentablebeforetheDukeandhiscourt.Magyaandherhusband,Megarthecook,

wereasclosetobeingparentstotheorphanasanyoneinthekeep.Theytendedhisills,sawthathewasfed,andboxedhisearswhenhedeservedit.TheyalsolovedhimasifhewereTomas’sbrother.Puglookedaround.The

otherboysallworetheirbest,forthiswasoneofthemostimportantdaysoftheiryounglives.Eachwouldstand

beforetheassembledCraftmastersandmembersoftheDuke’sstaff,andeachwouldbeconsideredforanapprentice’spost.Itwasaritual,itsoriginslostintime,forthechoiceshadalreadybeenmade.ThecraftersandtheDuke’sstaffhadspentmanyhoursdiscussingeachboy’smeritswithoneanotherandknewwhichboystheywouldcall.

Thepracticeofhavingtheboysbetweeneightandthirteenyearsofageworkinthecraftsandserviceshadprovedawisecourseovertheyearsinfittingthebestsuitedtoeachcraft.Inaddition,itprovidedapoolofsemiskilledindividualsfortheothercraftsshouldtheneedarise.Thedrawbacktothesystemwasthatcertainboyswerenotchosenfora

craftorstaffposition.Occasionallytherewouldbetoomanyboysforasingleposition,ornoladjudgedfiteventhoughtherewasanopening.Evenwhenthenumberofboysandopeningsseemedwellmatched,asitdidthisyear,therewerenoguarantees.Forthosewhostoodindoubt,itwasananxioustime.

Pugscuffedhisbarefeetabsentlyinthedust.UnlikeTomas,whoseemedtodowellatanythinghetried,Pugwasoftenguiltyoftryingtoohardandbunglinghistasks.Helookedaroundandnoticedthatafewoftheotherboysalsoshowedsignsoftension.Somewerejokingroughly,pretendingnoconcernoverwhethertheywerechosenornot.OthersstoodlikePug,

lostintheirthoughts,tryingnottodwellonwhattheywoulddoshouldtheynotbechosen.Ifhewasnotchosen,Pug

—liketheothers—wouldbefreetoleaveCrydeetotrytofindacraftinanothertownorcity.Ifhestayed,hewouldhavetoeitherfarmtheDuke’slandasafranklin,orworkoneofthetown’sfishingboats.Bothprospects

wereequallyunattractive,buthecouldn’timagineleavingCrydee.Pugrememberedwhat

Megarhadtoldhim,thenightbefore.TheoldcookhadcautionedhimaboutfrettingtoomuchovertheChoosing.Afterall,hehadpointedout,thereweremanyapprenticeswhoneveradvancedtotherankofjourneyman,andwhenallthingsweretaken

intoaccount,thereweremoremenwithoutcraftinCrydeethanwith.Megarhadglossedoverthefactthatmanyfishers’andfarmers’sonsforsookthechoosing,electingtofollowtheirfathers.PugwonderedifMegarwassoremovedfromhisownChoosinghecouldn’trememberthattheboyswhowerenotchosenwouldstandbeforetheassembled

companyofCraftmasters,householders,andnewlychosenapprentices,undertheirgazeuntilthelastnamewascalledandtheyweredismissedinshame.Bitinghislowerlip,Pug

triedtohidehisnervousness.HewasnotthesorttojumpfromtheheightsofSailor’sGriefshouldhenotbechosen,assomehaddoneinthepast,buthecouldn’tbear

theideaoffacingthosewhohadbeenchosen.Tomas,whostoodnextto

hisshorterfriend,threwPugasmile.HeknewPugwasfretting,butcouldnotfeelentirelysympatheticashisownexcitementmounted.HisfatherhadadmittedthathewouldbethefirstcalledbySwordmasterFannon.Moreover,theSwordmasterhadconfidedthatshould

Tomasdowellintraining,hemightbefoundaplaceintheDuke’spersonalguard.ItwouldbeasignalhonorandwouldimproveTomas’schanceforadvancement,evenearninghimanofficer’srankafterfifteenortwentyyearsintheguard.HepokedPugintheribs

withanelbow,fortheDuke’sheraldhadcomeoutuponthebalconyoverlookingthe

courtyard.Theheraldsignaledtoaguard,whoopenedthesmalldoorinthegreatgate,andtheCraftmastersentered.Theycrossedtostandatthefootofthebroadstairsofthekeep.Aswastraditional,theystoodwiththeirbackstotheboys,waitingupontheDuke.Thelargeoakendoorsof

thekeepbegantoswingoutponderously,andseveral

guardsintheDuke’sbrownandgolddartedthroughtotakeuptheirpositionsonthesteps.UponeachtabardwasemblazonedthegoldengullofCrydee,andabovethatasmallgoldencrown,markingtheDukeamemberoftheroyalfamily.Theheraldshouted,

“Hearkentome!HisGrace,BorricconDoin,thirdDukeofCrydee,Princeofthe

Kingdom;LordofCrydee,Carse,andTulan;WardenoftheWest;Knight-GeneraloftheKing’sArmies;heirpresumptivetothethroneofRillanon.”TheDukestoodpatientlywhilethelistofofficeswascompleted,thensteppedforwardintothesunlight.Pastfifty,theDukeof

Crydeestillmovedwiththefluidgraceandpowerfulstep

ofabornwarrior.Exceptforthegreyatthetemplesofhisdarkbrownhair,helookedyoungerthanhisagebytwentyyears.Hewasdressedfromnecktobootinblack,ashehadbeenforthelastsevenyears,forhestillmournedthelossofhisbelovedwife,Catherine.Athissidehungablack-scabbardedswordwithasilverhilt,anduponhishandhisducalsignetring,the

onlyornamentationhepermittedhimself.Theheraldraisedhisvoice.

“TheirRoyalHighnesses,thePrincesLyamconDoinandAruthaconDoin,heirstotheHouseofCrydee;Knight-CaptainsoftheKing’sArmyoftheWest;PrincesoftheroyalhouseofRillanon.”Bothsonssteppedforward

tostandbehindtheirfather.Thetwoyoungmenweresix

andfouryearsolderthantheapprentices,theDukehavingwedlate,butthedifferencebetweentheawkwardcandidatesforapprenticeshipandthesonsoftheDukewasmuchmorethanafewyearsinage.BothPrincesappearedcalmandself-possessed.Lyam,theolder,stoodon

hisfather’sright,ablond,powerfullybuiltman.Hisopensmilewastheimageof

hismother’s,andhelookedalwaysonthevergeoflaughter.Hewasdressedinabrightbluetunicandyellowleggingsandworeacloselytrimmedbeard,asblondashisshoulder-lengthhair.Aruthawastoshadowsand

nightasLyamwastolightandday.Hestoodnearlyastallashisbrotherandfather,butwhiletheywerepowerfullybuilt,hewas

rangytothepointofgauntness.Heworeabrowntunicandrussetleggings.Hishairwasdarkandhisfaceclean-shaven.EverythingaboutAruthagaveonethefeelingofquickness.Hisstrengthwasinhisspeed:speedwiththerapier,speedwithwit.Hishumorwasdryandoftensharp.WhileLyamwasopenlylovedbytheDuke’ssubjects,Aruthawas

respectedandadmiredforhisability,butnotregardedwithwarmthbythepeople.Togetherthetwosons

seemedtocapturemostofthecomplexnatureoftheirsire,fortheDukewascapableofbothLyam’srobusthumorandArutha’sdarkmoods.Theywerenearlyoppositesintemperament,butbothcapablemenwhowouldbenefittheDuchyand

Kingdominyearstocome.TheDukelovedbothhissons.Theheraldagainspoke.

“ThePrincessCarline,daughteroftheroyalhouse.”Theslimandgracefulgirl

whomadeherentrancewasthesameageastheboyswhostoodbelow,butalreadybeginningtoshowthepoiseandgraceofoneborntoruleandthebeautyofherlate

mother.Hersoftyellowgowncontrastedstrikinglywithhernearlyblackhair.HereyeswereLyam’sblue,astheirmother’shadbeen,andLyambeamedwhenhissistertooktheirfather’sarm.EvenAruthaventuredoneofhisrarehalfsmiles,forhissisterwasdeartohimalso.Manyboysinthekeep

harboredasecretloveforthePrincess,afactsheoften

turnedtoheradvantagewhentherewasmischiefafoot.Butevenherpresencecouldnotdrivetheday’sbusinessfromtheirminds.TheDuke’scourtthen

entered.PugandTomascouldseethatallthemembersoftheDuke’sstaffwerepresent,includingKulgan.Pughadglimpsedhiminthecastlefromtimetotimesincethenightofthe

storm,andtheyhadexchangedwordsonce,Kulganinquiringastohiswell-being,butmostlythemagicianwasabsentfromsight.Pugwasalittlesurprisedtoseethemagician,forhewasnotproperlyconsideredafullmemberoftheDuke’shousehold,butratherasometimeadviser.MostofthetimeKulganwasensconcedinhistower,

hiddenfromviewashedidwhatevermagiciansdoinsuchplaces.Themagicianwasdeepin

conversationwithFatherTully,apriestofAstalontheBuilderandoneoftheDuke’soldestaides.TullyhadbeenadvisertotheDuke’sfatherandhadseemedoldthen.Henowappearedancient—atleasttoPug’syouthfulperspective—buthiseyes

betrayednosignofsenility.Manyakeepboyhadbeenimpaleduponthepointedgazeofthosecleargreyeyes.Hiswitandtonguewereequallyyouthful,andmorethanonceakeepboyhadwishedforasessionwithHorsemasterAlgon’sleatherstrapratherthanatongue-lashingfromFatherTully.Thewhite-hairedpriestcouldnearlystriptheskinfroma

miscreant’sbackwithhiscausticwords.Nearbystoodonewhohad

experiencedTully’swrathuponoccasion,SquireRoland,sonofBaronTolburtofTulan,oneoftheDuke’svassals.HewascompaniontobothPrinces,beingtheonlyotherboyofnoblebirthinthekeep.HisfatherhadsenthimtoCrydeetheyearbefore,tolearnsomethingofthe

managementoftheDuchyandthewaysoftheDuke’scourt.IntheratherroughfrontiercourtRolanddiscoveredahomeawayfromhome.Hewasalreadysomethingofaroguewhenhearrived,buthisinfectioussenseofhumorandreadywitofteneasedmuchoftheangerthatresultedfromhisprankishways.ItwasRoland,moreoftenthannot,whowas

PrincessCarline’saccompliceinwhatevermischiefshewasembarkedupon.Withlightbrownhairandblueeyes,Rolandstoodtallforhisage.Hewasayearolderthanthegatheredboysandhadplayedoftenwiththemoverthelastyear,asLyamandAruthawerefrequentlybusywithcourtduties.Tomasandhehadbeenboyishrivalsatfirst,thenfastfriends,withPug

becominghisfriendbydefault,becausewhereTomaswas,Pugwascertaintobenearby.RolandsawPugfidgetingneartheedgeoftheassembledboysandgavehimaslightnodandwink.Puggrinnedbriefly,forwhilehewasasoftenthebuttofRoland’sjokesasanyother,hestillfoundhimselflikingthewildyoungSquire.

Afterallhiscourtwasinattendance,theDukespoke.“YesterdaywasthelastdayoftheeleventhyearofthereignofourLordKing,RodrictheFourth.TodayistheFestivalofBanapis.ThefollowingdaywillfindtheseboysgatheredherecountedamongthemenofCrydee,boysnolonger,butapprenticesandfreemen.Atthistimeitisproperformeto

inquireifanyamongyouwishestobereleasedfromservicetotheDuchy.Arethereanyamongyouwhosowish?”Thequestionwasformalinnatureandnoresponsewasexpected,forfeweverwishedtoleaveCrydee.Butoneboydidstepforward.Theheraldasked,“Who

seeksreleaseofhisservice?”

Theboylookeddown,clearlynervous.Clearinghisthroat,hesaid,“IamRobert,sonofHugen.”Pugknewhim,butnotwell.Hewasanetmender’sson,atownboy,andtheyrarelymixedwiththekeepboys.Pughadplayedwithhimuponafewoccasionsandhadasensetheladwaswellregarded.Itwasararethingtorefuseservice,andPugwasascuriousas

anytohearthereasons.TheDukespokekindly.

“Whatisyourpurpose,Robert,sonofHugen?”“Yourgrace,myfatheris

unabletotakemeintohiscraft,formyfourbrothersarewellabletoascendtothecraftasjourneymenandmastersafterhim,asaremanyothernetmender’ssons.Myeldestbrotherisnowmarriedandhasasonofhis

own,somyfamilynolongerhasroomformeinthehouse.IfImaynotstaywithmyfamilyandpracticemyfather’scraft,Ibegyourgrace’sleavetotakeserviceasasailor.”TheDukeconsideredthe

matter.Robertwasnotthefirstvillageboytobecalledbythelureofthesea.“Haveyoufoundamasterwillingtotakeyouintohiscompany?”

“Yes,YourGrace.CaptainGregson,masteroftheshipGreenDeepfromMargrave’sPortiswilling.”“Iknowthisman,”saidthe

Duke.Smilingslightlyhesaid,“Heisagoodandfairman.Irecommendyouintohisserviceandwishyouwellinyourtravels.YouwillbewelcomedatCrydeewheneveryoureturnwithyourship.”

Robertbowed,alittlestiffly,andleftthecourtyard,hispartintheChoosingdone.PugwonderedatRobert’sadventuresomechoice.Inlessthanaminutetheboyhadrenouncedhistieswithhisfamilyandhomeandwasnowacitizenofacityhehadneverseen.Itwascustomthatasailorwasconsideredtoowehisloyaltytothecitythatwashisship’shomeport.

Margrave’sPortwasoneoftheFreeCitiesofNatal,ontheBitterSea,andwasnowRobert’shome.TheDukeindicatedthe

heraldshouldcontinue.Theheraldannouncedthe

firstoftheCraftmasters,SailmakerHolm,whocalledthenamesofthreeboys.Allthreetookservice,andnoneseemeddispleased.TheChoosingwentsmoothly,as

noboyrefusedservice.Eachboywenttostandnexttohisnewmaster.Astheafternoonworeon

andthenumberofboysdiminished,Pugbecamemoreandmoreuncomfortable.SoontherewereonlytwoboysbesidesPugandTomasstandinginthecenterofthecourt.AlltheCraftmastershadcalledtheirapprentices,andonlytwoof

theDuke’shouseholdstaffbesidetheSwordmasterhadnotbeenheardfrom.Pugstudiedthegrouponthetopofthesteps,hisheartpoundingwithanxiety.ThetwoPrincesregardedtheboys,Lyamwithafriendlysmile,Aruthabroodingonsomethoughtoranother.ThePrincessCarlinewasboredbytheentireaffairandtooklittlepainstohidethefact,as

shewaswhisperingtoRoland.ThisbroughtadisapprovinglookfromLadyMarna,hergoverness.HorsemasterAlgoncame

forth,hisbrown-and-goldentabardbearingasmallhorseheadembroideredoverhisleftbreast.TheHorsemastercalledthenameofRulf,sonofDick,andthestockysonoftheDuke’sstablemanwalkedoverto

standbehindthemaster.Whenheturned,hesmiledcondescendinglyatPug.Thetwoboyshadnevergottenalong,thepock-scarredboyspendingmanyhourstauntingandtormentingPug.WhiletheybothworkedinthestableunderDick,thestablemanhadlookedtheotherwaywheneverhissonsprangatraponPug,andtheorphanwasalwaysheldresponsible

foranydifficultythatarose.IthadbeenaterribleperiodforPug,andtheboyhadvowedtorefuseserviceratherthanfacetheprospectofworkingnexttoRulftherestofhislife.HousecarlSamuelcalled

theotherboy,Geoffry,whowouldbecomeamemberofthecastle’sservingstaff,leavingPugandTomasstandingalone.Swordmaster

Fannonthensteppedforward,andPugfelthisheartstandstillastheoldsoldiercalled,“Tomas,sonofMegar.”Therewasapause,and

Pugwaitedtohearhisownnamecalled,butFannonsteppedbackandTomascrossedovertostandalongsidehim.Pugfeltdwarfedbythegazeofalluponhim.Thecourtyardwasnowlargerthanhehadever

rememberedit,andhefeltillfashionedandpoorlydressed.HisheartsankinhischestasherealizedthattherewasnoCraftmasterorstaffmemberpresentwhohadnottakenanapprentice.Hewouldbetheonlyboyuncalled.Fightingbacktears,hewaitedfortheDuketodismissthecompany.AstheDukestartedto

speak,sympathyfortheboyshowingclearlyinhisface,

hewasinterruptedbyanothervoice.“YourGrace,ifyouwouldbesokind.”Alleyesturnedtosee

Kulganthemagicianstepforward.“IhaveneedofanapprenticeandwouldcallPug,orphanofthekeep,toservice.”Awaveofmurmuring

sweptthroughtheassembledCraftmasters.Afewvoicescouldbeheardsayingit

wasn’tproperforamagiciantoparticipateintheChoosing.TheDukesilencedthemwithasweepofhisgaze,hisfacestern.NoCraftmasterwouldchallengetheDukeofCrydee,thethird-rankingnobleintheKingdom,overthestandingofoneboy.Slowlyalleyesreturnedtoregardtheboy.TheDukesaid,“AsKulgan

isarecognizedmasterofhis

craft,itishisrighttochoose.Pug,orphanofthekeep,willyoutakeservice?”Pugstoodrigid.HehadimaginedhimselfleadingtheKing’sarmyintobattleasaKnight-Lieutenant,ordiscoveringsomedayhewasthelostsonofnobility.Inhisboyishimaginingshehadsailedships,huntedgreatmonsters,andsavedthenation.Inquietermomentsofreflection

hehadwonderedifhewouldspendhislifebuildingships,makingpottery,orlearningthetrader’sskill,andspeculatedonhowwellhewoulddoineachofthosecrafts.Buttheonethingheneverthoughtof,theonedreamthathadnevercapturedhisfantasies,wasthatofbecomingamagician.Hesnappedoutofhis

shockedstate,awarethe

Dukepatientlyawaitedhisresponse.Helookedatthefacesofthosebeforehim.FatherTullygavehimoneofhisraresmiles,asdidPrinceArutha.PrinceLyamnoddedaslightyes,andKulganregardedhimintently.Thereweresignsofworryuponthemagician’sface,andsuddenlyPugdecided.Itmightnotbeanentirelypropercalling,butanycraft

wasbetterthannone.Hesteppedforwardandcaughthisownheelwithhisotherfoot,andlandedfacedowninthedust.Pickinghimselfup,hehalfscrambled,halfrantothemagician’sside.Themisstepbrokethetension,andtheDuke’sboominglaughterfilledthecourtyard.Flushingwithembarrassment,PugstoodbehindKulgan.Helookedaroundthebroadgirth

ofhisnewmasterandfoundtheDukewatching,hisexpressiontemperedbyakindnodattheblushingPug.TheDuketurnedbacktothosewhostoodwaitingfortheChoosingtoend.“Ideclarethateachboy

presentisnowthechargeofhismaster,toobeyhiminallmatterswithinthelawsoftheKingdom,andeachshallbejudgedatrueandproperman

ofCrydee.Lettheapprenticesattendtheirmasters.Untilthefeasting,Ibidyouallgoodday.”Heturnedandpresentedhisleftarmtohisdaughter.Sheplacedherhandlightlyuponitandtheypassedintothekeepbetweentheranksofthecourtiers,whodrewaside.ThetwoPrincesfollowed,andtheothersofthecourt.PugsawTomasleaveinthedirection

oftheguardbarracks,behindMasterFannon.Heturnedhisattention

backtoKulgan,whowasstandinglostinthought.Afteramomentthemagiciansaid,“Itrustneitherofushasmadeamistakethisday.”“Sir?”Pugasked,not

understandingthemagician’smeaning.Kulganwavedonehandabsently,causinghispaleyellowrobetomovelike

wavesripplingoverthesea.“Itisnomatter,boy.What’sdoneisdone.Letusmakethebestofthings.”Heplacedhishandonthe

boy’sshoulder.“Come,letusretiretothetowerwhereIreside.Thereisasmallroombelowmyownthatshoulddoforyou.Ihadintendeditforsomeprojectoranother,buthavenevermanagedtofindthetimetoprepareit.”

Pugstoodinawe.“Aroomofmyown?”Suchathingforanapprenticewasunheardof.Mostapprenticessleptintheworkroomsoftheirmaster,orprotectedherds,orthelike.Onlywhenanapprenticebecameajourneymanwasitusualforhimtotakeprivatequarters.Kulganarchedonebushy

eyebrow.“Ofcourse.Can’thaveyouunderfootallthe

time.Iwouldnevergetanythingdone.Besides,magicrequiressolitudeforcontemplation.YouwillneedtobeuntroubledasmuchasorperhapsmorethanIwill.”Hetookouthislong,thinpipefromafoldofhisrobeandstartedtostuffitfulloftabacfromapouchthathadalsocomefromwithintherobe.

“Let’snotbotherwithtoomuchdiscussionofdutiesandsuch,boy.Forintruth,Iamnotpreparedforyou.ButinshortorderIwillhavethingswellinhand.Untilthenwecanusethetimebybecomingacquaintedwithoneanother.Agreed?”Pugwasstartled.Hehadlittlenotionofwhatamagicianwasabout,inspiteofthenightspentwithKulganweeksago,buthe

readilyknewwhatCraftmasterswerelike,andnonewouldhavethoughttoinquirewhetherornotanapprenticeagreedwithhisplans.Notknowingwhattosay,Pugjustnodded.“Good,then,”saidKulgan,

“letusbeofftothetowertofindyousomenewclothes,andthenwewillspendthebalanceofthedayfeasting.Latertherewillbeampletime

tolearnhowtobemasterandapprentice.”Withasmilefortheboy,thestoutmagicianturnedPugaroundandledhimaway.

Thelateafternoonwasclearandbright,withagentlebreezefromtheseacoolingthesummerheat.ThroughoutthekeepofCastleCrydee,andthetownbelow,

preparationsfortheFestivalofBanapiswereinprogress.Banapiswastheoldest

knownholiday,itsoriginslostinantiquity.ItwasheldeachMidsummer’sDay,adaybelongingtoneitherthepastnorthecomingyear.Banapis,knownbyothernamesinothernations,wascelebratedovertheentireworldofMidkemiaaccordingtolegend.Itwasbelievedby

somethatthefestivalwasborrowedfromtheelvesanddwarves,forthelong-livedracesweresaidtohavecelebratedthefeastofMidsummerasfarbackasthememoryofbothracescouldrecall.Mostauthoritiesdisputedthisallegation,citingnoreasonotherthantheunlikelihoodofhumansborrowinganythingfromtheelvenordwarvenfolk.Itwas

rumoredthateventhedenizensoftheNorthlands,thegoblintribesandtheclansoftheBrotherhoodoftheDarkPath,celebratedBanapis,thoughnoonehadeverreportedseeingsuchacelebration.Thecourtyardwasbusy.

Hugetableshadbeenerectedtoholdthemyriadvarietiesoffoodsthathadbeeninpreparationforoveraweek.

Giantbarrelsofdwarvenale,importedfromStoneMountain,hadbeenhauledoutofthecellarsandwererestingonprotesting,overburdenedwoodframes.Theworkmen,alarmedatthefragileappearanceofthebarrelricks,werequicklyemptyingsomeofthecontents.Megarcameoutofthekitchenandangrilyshooedthemaway.“Leave

off,therewillbenoneleftfortheeveningmealatthisrate!Backtothekitchen,dolts!Thereismuchworktobedoneyet.”Theworkerswentoff,

grumbling,andMegarfilledatankardtoensurethealewasatpropertemperature.Afterhedraineditdryandsatisfiedhimselfthatallwasasitshouldbe,hereturnedtothekitchen.

Therewasnoformalbeginningtothefeast.Traditionally,peopleandfood,wineandale,allaccumulateduntiltheyreachedacertaindensity,thenallatoncethefestivitieswouldbeinfullswing.Pugranfromthekitchen.

Hisroominthenorthmosttower,themagician’stowerasithadbecomeknown,providedhimwithashortcut

throughthekitchen,whichheusedratherthanthemaindoorsofthekeep.Hebeamedashespedacrossthecourtyardinhisnewtunicandtrousers.HehadneverwornsuchfineryandwasinahurrytoshowhisfriendTomas.HefoundTomasleaving

thesoldiers’commons,nearlyasmuchinahurryasPug.

Whenthetwomet,theybothspokeatonce.“Lookatthenewtunic—”

saidPug.“Lookatmysoldier’s

tabard—”saidTomas.Bothstoppedandbroke

intolaughter.Tomasregainedhis

composurefirst.“Thoseareveryfineclothes,Pug,”hesaid,fingeringtheexpensive

materialofPug’sredtunic.“Andthecolorsuitsyou.”Pugreturnedthe

compliment,forTomasdidcutastrikingfigureinhisbrown-and-goldtabard.Itwasoflittleconsequencethatheworehisregularhomespuntunicandtrouserunderneath.Hewouldnotreceiveasoldier’suniformuntilMasterFannonwassatisfiedwithhisworthinessasaman-at-arms.

Thetwofriendswanderedfromoneheavilyladentabletoanother.Pug’smouthwateredfromtherichfragrancesintheair.Theycametoatableheapedwithmeatpies,steamrisingfromtheirhotcrusts,pungentcheeses,andhotbread.Atthetableayoungkitchenboywasstationedwithashoo-fly.Hisjobwastokeeppestsfromthefood,whetherofthe

insectvarietyorthechronicallyhungryapprenticevariety.Likemostothersituationsinvolvingboys,therelationshipbetweenthisguardianofthefeastandtheolderapprenticeswascloselyboundbytradition.Itwasconsideredill-manneredandinpoortastemerelytothreatenorbullythesmallerboyintopartingwithfoodbeforethestartofthefeast.

Butitwasconsideredfairtouseguile,stealth,orspeedingainingaprizefromthetable.PugandTomasobserved

withinterestastheboy,namedJon,deliveredawickedwhacktothehandofoneyoungapprenticeseekingtosnagalargepie.Withanodofhishead,TomassentPugtothefarsideofthetable.PugambledacrossJon’sfieldofvision,andthe

boywatchedhimcarefully.Pugmovedabruptly,afeinttowardthetable,andJonleanedinhisdirection.ThensuddenlyTomassnatchedapuff-pastryfromthetableandwasgonebeforetheshoo-flylashbegantodescend.Astheyranfromthetable,PugandTomascouldhearthedistressedcriesoftheboywhosetabletheyhadplundered.

TomasgavePughalfthepiewhentheyweresafelyaway,andthesmallerapprenticelaughed.“You’rethequickesthandinthecastle,Ibet.”“OryoungJonwasslowof

eyeforkeepingitonyou.”Theysharedalaugh.Pug

poppedhishalfofthepieintohismouth.Itwasdelicatelyseasoned,andthecontrastbetweenthesaltyporkfilling

andthesweetpuff-pastrycrustwasdelicious.Thesoundofpipesand

drumscamefromthesidecourtyardastheDuke’smusiciansapproachedthemaincourtyard.Bythetimetheyhademergedaroundthekeep,asilentmessageseemedtopassthroughthecrowd.Suddenlythekitchenboyswerebusyhandingoutwoodenplattersforthe

celebrantstoheapfoodupon,andmugsofaleandwinewerebeingdrawnfromthebarrels.Theboysdashedtoaplace

inlineatthefirsttable.PugandTomasusedtheirsizeandquicknesstogoodadvantage,dartingthroughthethrong,snaggingfoodofeverydescriptionandalargemugoffoamyaleeach.

Theyfoundarelativelyquietcornerandfelltowithravenoushunger.Pugtastedhisfirstdrinkofaleandwassurprisedattherobust,slightlybittertaste.Itseemedtowarmhimasitwentdown,andafteranotherexperimentaltastehedecidedthathelikedit.PugcouldseetheDuke

andhisfamilyminglingwiththecommonfolk.Other

membersofhiscourtcouldalsobeseenstandinginlinebeforethetables.Therewasnoceremony,ritual,orrankobservedthisafternoon.Eachwasservedashearrived,forMidsummer’sDaywasthetimewhenallwouldequallyshareinthebountiesoftheharvest.Pugcaughtaglimpseof

thePrincessandfelthischesttightenalittle.Shelooked

radiantasmanyoftheboysinthecourtyardcomplimentedheronherappearance.Sheworealovelygownofdeepblueandasimple,broad-brimmedhatofthesamecolor.Shethankedeachauthorofaflatteringremarkandusedherdarkeyelashesandbrightsmiletogoodadvantage,leavingawakeofinfatuatedboysbehind.

Jugglersandclownsmadetheirappearanceinthecourtyard,thefirstofmanygroupsoftravelingperformerswhowereinthetownforthefestival.Theactorsofanothercompanyhadsetupastageinthetownsquareandwouldgiveaperformanceintheevening.Untiltheearlyhoursofthenextmorningthefestivitieswouldcontinue.Pugknew

thatmanyoftheboystheyearbeforehadtobeexcuseddutythedayfollowingBanapis,fortheirheadsandstomachswereinnoconditionforhonestwork.Hewassurethatscenewouldberepeatedtomorrow.Puglookedforwardtothe

evening,foritwasthecustomfornewapprenticestovisitmanyofthehousesinthetown,receiving

congratulationsandmugsofale.Itwasalsoaripetimeformeetingthetowngirls.Whiledalliancewasnotunknown,itwasfrownedupon.ButmotherstendedtobelessvigilantduringBanapis.Nowthattheboyshadcrafts,theywereviewedlessasbothersomepestsandmoreaspotentialsons-in-law,andtherehadbeenmorethanonecaseofamotherlookingthe

otherwaywhileadaughterusedhernaturalgiftstosnareayounghusband.Pug,beingofsmallstatureandyouthfulappearance,gotlittlenoticefromthegirlsofthekeep.Tomas,however,wasmoreandmoretheobjectofgirlishflirtationashegrewinsizeandgoodlooks,andlatelyPughadbeguntobeawarethathisfriendwasbeingsizedupbyoneoranotherof

thecastlegirls.Pugwasstillyoungenoughtothinkthewholethingsilly,butoldenoughtobefascinatedbyit.Pugchewedanimprobable

mouthfulandlookedaround.Peoplefromthetownandkeeppassed,offeringcongratulationsontheboys’apprenticeshipandwishingthemagoodnewyear.Pugfeltadeepsenseofrightnessabouteverything.Hewasan

apprentice,evenifKulganseemedcompletelyunsureofwhattodowithhim.Hewaswellfed,andonhiswaytobeingslightlyintoxicated—whichcontributedtohissenseofwell-being.And,mostimportant,hewasamongfriends.Therecan’tbemuchmoretolifethanthis,hethought.

•CHAPTERTHREE•

Keep

PUGSATSULKINGONHISSLEEPINGPALLET.Fantusthefiredrakepushed

hisheadforward,invitingPugtoscratchhimbehindhiseyeridges.Seeingthathewouldgetlittlesatisfaction,thedrakemadehiswaytothetowerwindowandwithasnortofdispleasure,completewithasmallpuffofblacksmoke,launchedhimselfinflight.Pugdidn’tnoticethe

creature’sleaving,soengrossedwasheinhisownworldoftroubles.SincehehadtakenonthepositionofKulgan’sapprenticefourteenmonthsago,everythinghehaddoneseemedtogowrong.Helaybackonthepallet,

coveringhiseyeswithaforearm;hecouldsmellthesaltyseabreezethatblewinthroughhiswindowandfeel

thesun’swarmthacrosshislegs.Everythinginhislifehadtakenaturnforthebettersincehisapprenticeship,exceptthesinglemostimportantthing,hisstudies.FormonthsKulganhad

beenlaboringtoteachhimthefundamentalsofthemagician’sarts,buttherewasalwayssomethingthatcausedhiseffortstogoawry.Inthetheoriesofspellcasting,Pug

wasaquickstudy,graspingthebasicconceptswell.Buteachtimeheattemptedtousehisknowledge,somethingseemedtoholdhimback.Itwasasifapartofhismindrefusedtofollowthroughwiththemagic,asifablockexistedthatpreventedhimfrompassingacertainpointinthespell.Eachtimehetriedhecouldfeelhimselfapproachthatpoint,andlike

ariderofabalkyhorse,hecouldn’tseemtoforcehimselfoverthehurdle.Kulgandismissedhis

worries,sayingthatitwouldallsortitselfoutintime.Thestoutmagicianwasalwayssympatheticwiththeboy,neverreprimandinghimfornotdoingbetter,forheknewtheboywastrying.Pugwasbroughtoutofhis

reveriebysomeone’sopening

thedoor.Lookingup,hesawFatherTullyentering,alargebookunderhisarm.Thecleric’swhiterobesrustledasheclosedthedoor.Pugsatup.“Pug,it’stimeforyour

writinglesson—”Hestoppedhimselfwhenhesawthedowncastexpressionoftheboy.“What’sthematter,lad?”

PughadcometoliketheoldpriestofAstalon.Hewasastrictmaster,butafairone.Hewouldpraisetheboyforhissuccessasoftenasscoldhimforhisfailures.Hehadaquickmindandasenseofhumorandwasopentoquestions,nomatterhowstupidPugthoughttheymightsound.Comingtohisfeet,Pug

sighed.“Idon’tknow,Father.

It’sjustthatthingsdon’tseemtobegoingright.EverythingItryImanagetomakeamessof.”“Pug,itcan’tbeallblack,”

thepriestsaid,placingahandonPug’sshoulder.“Whydon’tyoutellmewhatistroublingyou,andwecanpracticewritingsomeothertime.”Hemovedtoastoolbythewindowandadjustedhisrobesaroundhimashesat.

Asheplacedthelargebookathisfeet,hestudiedtheboy.Pughadgrownoverthe

lastyear,butwasstillsmall.Hisshoulderswerebeginningtobroadenabit,andhisfacewasshowingsignsofthemanhewouldsomedaybe.Hewasadejectedfigureinhishomespuntunicandtrousers,hismoodasgreyasthematerialhewore.Hisroom,whichwasusuallyneatand

orderly,wasamessofscrollsandbooks,reflectingthedisorderinhismind.Pugsatquietlyfora

moment,butwhenthepriestsaidnothing,startedtospeak.“DoyouremembermytellingyouthatKulganwastryingtoteachmethethreebasiccantripstocalmthemind,sothattheworkingofspellscouldbepracticedwithoutstress?Well,thetruthisthatI

masteredthoseexercisesmonthsago.Icanbringmymindtoastateofcalminmomentsnow,withlittleeffort.Butthatisasfarasitgoes.Afterthat,everythingseemstofallapart.”“Whatdoyoumean?”“Thenextthingtolearnis

todisciplinethemindtodothingsthatarenotnaturalforit,suchasthinkononethingtotheexclusionofeverything

else,ornottothinkofsomething,whichisquitehardonceyou’vebeentoldwhatitis.Icandothosethingsmostofthetime,butnowandagainIfeelliketherearesomeforcesinsidemyhead,crashingabout,demandingthatIdothingsinadifferentway.It’sliketherewassomethingelsehappeninginmyheadthan

whatKulgantoldmetoexpect.”“EachtimeItryoneofthe

simplespellsKulganhastaughtme,likemakinganobjectmove,orliftingmyselfofftheground,thesethingsinmyheadcomefloodinginonmyconcentration,andIlosemycontrol.Ican’tevenmasterthesimplestspell.”Pugfelthimselftremble,forthiswasthefirstchancehe

hadhadtospeakaboutthistoanyonebesidesKulgan.“Kulgansimplysaystokeepatitandnotworry.”Nearingtears,hecontinued.“Ihavetalent.Kulgansaidheknewitfromthefirsttimewemet,whenIusedthecrystal.You’vetoldmethatIhavetalent.ButIjustcan’tmakethespellsworkthewaythey’resupposedto.Igetsoconfusedbyitall.”

“Pug,”saidthepriest,“magichasmanyproperties,andweunderstandlittleofhowitworks,eventhoseofuswhopracticeit.Inthetempleswearetaughtthatmagicisagiftfromthegods,andweacceptthatonfaith.Wedonotunderstandhowthiscanbeso,butwedonotquestion.Eachorderhasitsownprovinceofmagic,withnotwoquitealike.Iam

capableofmagicthatthosewhofollowtheirordersarenot.Butnonecansaywhy.”“Magiciansdealina

differentsortofmagic,andtheirpracticesareverydifferentfromourpracticesinthetemples.Muchofwhattheydo,wecannot.Itistheywhostudytheartofmagic,seekingitsnatureandworkings,buteventheycannotexplainhowmagic

works.Theyonlyknowhowtoworkit,andpassthatknowledgealongtotheirstudents,asKulganisdoingwithyou.”“Tryingtodowithme,

Father.Ithinkhemayhavemisjudgedme.”“Ithinknot,Pug.Ihave

someknowledgeofthesethings,andsinceyouhavebecomeKulgan’spupil,Ihavefeltthepowergrowing

inyou.Perhapsyouwillcometoitlate,asothershave,butIamsureyouwillfindtheproperpath.”Pugwasnotcomforted.He

didn’tquestionthepriest’swisdomorhisopinion,buthedidfeelhecouldbemistaken.“Ihopeyou’reright.Father.Ijustdon’tunderstandwhat’swrongwithme.”“IthinkIknowwhat’s

wrong,”cameavoicefrom

thedoor.Startled,PugandFatherTullyturnedtoseeKulganstandinginthedoorway.Hisblueeyesweresetinlinesofconcern,andhisthickgreybrowsformedaVoverthebridgeofhisnose.NeitherPugnorTullyhadheardthedooropen.Kulganhikedhislonggreenrobeandsteppedintotheroom,leavingthedooropen.

“Comehere,Pug,”saidthemagicianwithasmallwaveofhishand.Pugwentovertothemagician,whoplacedbothhandsonhisshoulders.“Boyswhositintheirroomsdayafterdayworryingaboutwhythingsdon’tworkmakethingsnotwork.Iamgivingyouthedayforyourself.AsitisSixthday,thereshouldbeplentyofotherboystohelpyouinwhateversortof

troubleboyscanfind.”Hesmiled,andhispupilwasfilledwithrelief.“Youneedarestfromstudy.Nowgo.”Sosaying,hefetchedaplayfulcufftotheboy’shead,sendinghimrunningdownthestairs.Crossingovertothepallet,Kulganloweredhisheavyframetoitandlookedatthepriest.“Boys,”saidKulgan,shakinghishead.“Youholdafestival,give

themabadgeofcraft,andsuddenlytheyexpecttobemen.Butthey’restillboys,andnomatterhowhardtheytry,theystillactlikeboys,notmen.”Hetookouthispipeandbeganfillingit.“Magiciansareconsideredyoungandinexperiencedatthirty,butinallothercraftsthirtywouldmarkamanajourneymanormaster,mostlikelyreadyinghisownson

fortheChoosing.”HeputatapertothecoalsstillsmoulderinginPug’sfirepotandlithispipe.Tullynodded.“I

understand,Kulgan.Thepriesthoodalsoisanoldman’scalling.AtPug’sageIstillhadthirteenyearsofbeinganacolytebeforeme.”Theoldpriestleanedforward.“Kulgan,whatoftheboy’sproblem?”

“Theboy’sright,youknow,”Kulganstatedflatly.“ThereisnoexplanationforwhyhecannotperformtheskillsI’vetriedtoteach.Thethingshecandowithscrollsanddevicesamazeme.Theboyhassuchgiftsforthesethings,Iwouldhavewageredhehadthemakingsofamagicianofmightyarts.Butthisinabilitytousehisinnerpowers…”

“Doyouthinkyoucanfindasolution?”“Ihopeso.Iwouldhateto

havetoreleasehimfromapprenticeship.ItwouldgoharderonhimthanhadIneverchosenhim.”Hisfaceshowedhisgenuineconcern.“Itisconfusing,Tully.Ithinkyou’llagreehehasthepotentialforagreattalent.AssoonasIsawhimusethecrystalinmyhutthatnight,I

knewforthefirsttimeinyearsImighthaveatlastfoundmyapprentice.Whennomasterchosehim,Iknewfatehadsetourpathstocross.Butthereissomethingelseinsidethatboy’shead,somethingI’venevermetbefore,somethingpowerful.Idon’tknowwhatitis,Tully,butitrejectsmyexercises,asiftheyweresomehow…notcorrect,or…illsuitedto

him.Idon’tknowifIcanexplainwhatI’veencounteredwithPuganybetter.Thereisnosimpleexplanationforit.”“Haveyouthoughtabout

whattheboysaid?”askedthepriest,alookofthoughtfulconcernonhisface.“Youmeanaboutmy

havingbeenmistaken?”Tullynodded.Kulgan

dismissedthequestionwitha

waveofhishand.“Tully,youknowasmuchaboutthenatureofmagicasIdo,perhapsmore.YourgodisnotcalledtheGodWhoBroughtOrderfornothing.Yoursectunraveledmuchaboutwhatordersthisuniverse.Doyouforonemomentdoubttheboyhastalent?”“Talent,no.Buthisability

isthequestionforthe

moment.”“Wellput,asusual.Well,

then,haveyouanyideas?Shouldwemakeaclericoutoftheboy,perhaps?”Tullysatback,a

disapprovingexpressionuponhisface.“Youknowthepriesthoodisacalling,Kulgan,”hesaidstiffly.“Putyourbackdown,

Tully.Iwasmakingajoke.”Hesighed.“Still,ifhehasn’t

thecallingofapriest,northeknackofamagician’scraft,whatcanwemakeofthisnaturalabilityofhis?”Tullyponderedthe

questioninsilenceforamoment,thensaid,“Haveyouthoughtofthelostart?”Kulgan’seyeswidened.

“Thatoldlegend?”Tullynodded.“Idoubtthereisamagicianalivewhoatonetimeoranotherhasn’t

reflectedonthelegendofthelostart.Ifithadexisted,itwouldexplainawaymanyoftheshortcomingsofourcraft.”ThenhefixedTullywithanarrowedeye,showinghisdisapproval.“Butlegendsarecommonenough.Turnupanyrockonthebeachandyou’llfindone.Iforoneprefertolookforrealanswerstoourshortcomings,not

blamethemonancientsuperstitions.”Tully’sexpressionbecame

sternandhistonescolding.“Weofthetempledonotcountitlegend,Kulgan!Itisconsideredpartoftherevealedtruth,taughtbythegodstothefirstmen.”NettledbyTully’stone,

Kulgansnapped,“Sowasthenotiontheworldwasflat,untilRolendirk—amagician,

I’llremindyou—senthismagicsighthighenoughtodisclosethecurvatureofthehorizon,clearlydemonstratingtheworldtobeasphere!Itwasafactknownbyalmosteverysailorandfishermanwho’deverseenasailappearuponthehorizonbeforetherestoftheshipsincethebeginningoftime!”Hisvoicerosetoanearshout.

SeeingTullywasstungbythereferencetoancientchurchcanonlongsinceabandoned,Kulgansoftenedhistone.“Nodisrespecttoyou,Tully.Butdon’ttrytoteachanoldthieftosteal.Iknowyourorderchopslogicwiththebestofthem,andthathalfyourbrotherclericsfallintolaughingfitswhentheyhearthosedeadlyseriousyoungacolytesdebate

theologicalissuessetasideacenturyago.Besideswhich,isn’tthelegendofthelostartanIshapiandogma?”NowitwasTully’sturnto

fixKulganwithadisapprovingeye.Withatoneofamusedexasperation,hesaid,“Youreducationinreligionisstilllacking,Kulgan,despiteasomewhatunforgivinginsightintotheinnerworkingsofmyorder.”

Hesmiledalittle.“You’rerightaboutthemootgospelcourts,though.Mostofusfindthemsoamusingbecausewerememberhowpainfullygrimwewereaboutthemwhenwewereacolytes.”Thenturningserious,hesaid,“ButIamseriouswhenIsayyoureducationislacking.TheIshapianshavesomestrangebeliefs,it’strue,andtheyareaninsulargroup,but

theyarealsotheoldestorderknownandarerecognizedastheseniorchurchinquestionspertainingtointerdenominationaldifferences.”“Religiouswars,you

mean,”saidKulganwithanamusedsnort.Tullyignoredthe

comment.“TheIshapiansarecaretakersfortheoldestloreandhistoryintheKingdom,

andtheyhavethemostextensivelibraryintheKingdom.IhavevisitedthelibraryattheirtempleinKrondor,anditismostimpressive.”Kulgansmiledandwitha

slighttoneofcondescensionsaid,“AshaveI,Tully,andIhavebrowsedtheshelvesattheAbbeyofSarth,whichistentimesaslarge.What’sthepoint?”

Leaningforward,Tullysaid,“Thepointisthis:saywhatyouwillabouttheIshapians,butwhentheyputforthsomethingashistory,notlore,theycanusuallyproduceancienttomestosupporttheirclaims.”“No,”saidKulgan,waving

asideTully’scommentswithadismissivewave.“Idonotmakelightofyourbeliefs,oranyotherman’s,butIcannot

acceptthisnonsenseaboutlostarts.ImightbewillingtobelievePugcouldbesomehowmoreattunedtosomeaspectofmagicI’mignorantof,perhapssomethinginvolvingspiritconjurationorillusion—areasIwillhappilyadmitIknowlittleabout—butIcannotacceptthathewillneverlearntomasterhiscraftbecausethelong-vanishedgodofmagic

diedduringtheChaosWars!No,thatthereisunknownlore,Iaccept.Therearetoomanyshortcomingsinourcrafteventobegintothinkourunderstandingofmagicisremotelycomplete.ButifPugcan’tlearnmagic,itisonlybecauseIhavefailedasateacher.”Tullynowglaredat

Kulgan,suddenlyawarethemagicianwasnotpondering

Pug’spossibleshortcomingsbuthisown.“Nowyouarebeingfoolish.Youareagiftedman,andwereItohavebeentheonetodiscoverPug’stalent,Icouldnotimagineabetterteachertoplacehimwiththanyourself.Buttherecanbenofailingifyoudonotknowwhatheneedstobetaught.”Kulganbegantosputteranobjection,butTullycuthimoff.“No,let

mecontinue.Whatwelackisunderstanding.YouseemtoforgettherehavebeenotherslikePug,wildtalentswhocouldnotmastertheirgifts,otherswhofailedaspriestsandmagicians.”Kulganpuffedonhispipe,

hisbrowknittedinconcentration.Suddenlyhebegantochuckle,thenlaugh.Tullylookedsharplyatthemagician.Kulganwaved

offhandedlywithhispipe.“Iwasjuststruckbythethoughtthatshouldaswineherdfailtoteachhissonthefamil