Competitions Read Free Page B

the two groups. Beyond that she’d already divided her strength into more than two parts, so a pair of moments later the two groups were calm again. This time Algus waited longer than he had the first time, but eventually had to give in.
    “Two masteries, then,” he granted, his words on the cool side. “Quickly now, you people, division two.”
    One person came from each of the former groups, and now there were three groups containing two people each. Jovvi had to brace herself against the renewed anger, wondering if the testing authority realized that
this
was the hardest part of the problem. Multiple members of multiple groups was a very tricky exercise in balance, and small beads of perspiration formed on Jovvi’s brow before she had all three groups calmed again. The beads of sweat grew larger while Algus made her hold the groups, but once again he was eventually forced to acknowledge her accomplishment.
    “All right, that’s three,” he just about snapped, apparently finding it difficult to maintain his own balance. “But there’s still one to go, so don’t congratulate yourself quite yet. You people, division three.”
    The six people spread out to stand individually, which came as a relief for Jovvi. If Algus thought handling six individuals was harder than three pairs Jovvi wasn’t about to correct him, but she did make something of a production of it. She let the ranting and raging go on for a moment before bringing it under control, then clenched her fists as she held the six with her power. She wanted her “struggle” to be clear to Algus, who would certainly wait as long as possible before ending the test. He did wait longer again while Jovvi held the six with only a small amount of effort, but finally his voice came to end it.
    “Much to my astonishment, that’s four masteries,” he said, now sounding honestly surprised. “You have my congratulations, Dama, for showing yourself superior to most of those of the gentle sex. Would you care to rest now?”
    “Yes, with a cup of tea, if you please,” Jovvi replied faintly after releasing the six subjects. Actually she felt fine, but if Algus wanted to believe her exhausted, that was something else she wasn’t about to argue.
    “Here, take my arm,” Algus said after hurrying over to her, his interest now a good deal more intense. “We’ll have the tea together, and perhaps a sweet cake as well. Or anything else you might wish. Your company honors me, Dama, and it would please me to see to your needs.”
    Jovvi gave him a wan smile as she leaned on his arm, perfectly well aware of which needs of hers Algus would most prefer seeing to. It would be silly to tell him at once that he hadn’t a prayer of making it into her bed, not when there were things she hoped to learn from the man.
    But one thing she’d already learned, and the point was rather significant. Algus now called her “dama” rather than the condescending “lovely child” he’d
been
using, which meant quite a lot. Gaining those masteries had earned her another step upward, and one that was important enough to change Algus’s attitude. If it had been a negative step he would have been a lot less ingratiating, which meant her theories about moving ahead being the best way were proving themselves.
    Jovvi took a deep breath of fresh air as Algus led her outside, but still had to fight down a brief flash of frustration. So her theories had proven themselves
so far
; that didn’t tell her how much farther they would take her. She still didn’t know how good good-enough would turn out to be, but she’d better find out before everything fell apart…
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Rion Mardimil, Air magic
     
    Rion sat in the fresh air after enjoying his meal, a pleasant change from the circumstance found with the sessions he’d moved beyond. The food served for lunch at the sessions had been abominable, nothing a man of breeding and culture would accept for long. Here, though… The