gods?”
“It seems to me that you see everyone’s faults except our own, High Mage,” Araevin said sharply. Despite his determination to remain calm, he was growing angry. The Durothil mage’s smug self-assurance was exactly the sort of myopic view that had driven Araevin to seek his answers beyond Evermeet’s shores in the first place. “You don’t know humans as well as you think.”
“Nor do you, if you love them so well,” Aeramma retorted.
The noble-born high mage started to frame a more severe reply, but Philaerin raised his hand. He glanced at Kileontheal then at Aeramma. Araevin sensed the lightning-swift flicker of thought from wizard to wizard, and bleakly wondered if Aeramma’s thoughts were anything he would care to hear. He settled for clasping his hands before his belt, and waiting. Outside, the surf
boomed like distant thunder.
When the high mages appeared to arrive at some consensus, they returned their attention to Araevin.
“We did not call you here to ask you to explain your travels among humans, Araevin,” Philaerin said. “We have been considering your request to take up the study of high magic for some time now, and we have arrived at an answer.”
Araevin steeled himselfagainst the uncertainty in his stomach. He’d waited two years to hear the response of Tower Reilloch’s high mages. Hewas confident ofhis lore, and he’d proven himself in his service with the Queen’s Spellguard years before, but still … no one was made a high mage unless those who already held that exalted rank concurred in the decision.
This is where Aeramma puts me in my place, he thought bitterly.
“You have demonstrated competence and care with your Art in the years that you have studied at Tower Reilloch. Your skill rivals that ofany other wizard in our circle who is not a high mage already, and your scholarship is even more noteworthy,” Philaerin continued. “All in all, we consider you an excellent candidatefor the study of high magic.
“However, you are onlytwo hundred and sixty-six years of age. We would like you to continue your studies here at the Tower for another fifty years or so before we will begin to share with you the power that has been placed in our care.”
“Fifty years?” I have been selected! he thought, with no small relief, but at the same time, he almost groaned aloud at the thought of the wait. He inclined his head to Philaerin and said, “Thank you, Eldest, for your confidence in me. But that is a long time, even by our measure. What am I expected to learn in that time that I do not know now?”
“To tell the truth, Araevin, I do not know,” Philaerin said with a sigh. “You have shown an excellent grasp of your studies in the Art, and I believe you could embark on the higher studies tomorrow and not fail. But you know as well as I that, questions ofskill aside, we do not make high mages of those who are still young, or those whom we do not know well. Your passion does you credit, but you are so young, and you have spent so much time away from Evermeet. We do not think it unreas6nable to see what Evermeet and time might teach you.”
Araevin did not attempt to conceal his disappointment, but he accepted the decision with a curt nod. Arguing his case would certainly not convince Philaerin to let him begin sooner. “As you wish, Eldest. I look forward to beginning my studies, when it is time.”
“We know you are nearly ready, Araevin,” said Kileontheal, not unkindly. “I do not know of a single high mage who began his studies before his three hundredth birthday, and many of us do not take it up until we are a
full five centuries in age.”
“You are, of course, welcome to continue your studies in another Tower,” Philaerin added. “But I hope you will remain here. You have much you could teach our younger mages. Your time will come, sooner than you think. We
will wait.”
Araevin could think
“It seems to me that you see everyone’s faults except our own, High Mage,” Araevin said sharply. Despite his determination to remain calm, he was growing angry. The Durothil mage’s smug self-assurance was exactly the sort of myopic view that had driven Araevin to seek his answers beyond Evermeet’s shores in the first place. “You don’t know humans as well as you think.”
“Nor do you, if you love them so well,” Aeramma retorted.
The noble-born high mage started to frame a more severe reply, but Philaerin raised his hand. He glanced at Kileontheal then at Aeramma. Araevin sensed the lightning-swift flicker of thought from wizard to wizard, and bleakly wondered if Aeramma’s thoughts were anything he would care to hear. He settled for clasping his hands before his belt, and waiting. Outside, the surf
boomed like distant thunder.
When the high mages appeared to arrive at some consensus, they returned their attention to Araevin.
“We did not call you here to ask you to explain your travels among humans, Araevin,” Philaerin said. “We have been considering your request to take up the study of high magic for some time now, and we have arrived at an answer.”
Araevin steeled himselfagainst the uncertainty in his stomach. He’d waited two years to hear the response of Tower Reilloch’s high mages. Hewas confident ofhis lore, and he’d proven himself in his service with the Queen’s Spellguard years before, but still … no one was made a high mage unless those who already held that exalted rank concurred in the decision.
This is where Aeramma puts me in my place, he thought bitterly.
“You have demonstrated competence and care with your Art in the years that you have studied at Tower Reilloch. Your skill rivals that ofany other wizard in our circle who is not a high mage already, and your scholarship is even more noteworthy,” Philaerin continued. “All in all, we consider you an excellent candidatefor the study of high magic.
“However, you are onlytwo hundred and sixty-six years of age. We would like you to continue your studies here at the Tower for another fifty years or so before we will begin to share with you the power that has been placed in our care.”
“Fifty years?” I have been selected! he thought, with no small relief, but at the same time, he almost groaned aloud at the thought of the wait. He inclined his head to Philaerin and said, “Thank you, Eldest, for your confidence in me. But that is a long time, even by our measure. What am I expected to learn in that time that I do not know now?”
“To tell the truth, Araevin, I do not know,” Philaerin said with a sigh. “You have shown an excellent grasp of your studies in the Art, and I believe you could embark on the higher studies tomorrow and not fail. But you know as well as I that, questions ofskill aside, we do not make high mages of those who are still young, or those whom we do not know well. Your passion does you credit, but you are so young, and you have spent so much time away from Evermeet. We do not think it unreas6nable to see what Evermeet and time might teach you.”
Araevin did not attempt to conceal his disappointment, but he accepted the decision with a curt nod. Arguing his case would certainly not convince Philaerin to let him begin sooner. “As you wish, Eldest. I look forward to beginning my studies, when it is time.”
“We know you are nearly ready, Araevin,” said Kileontheal, not unkindly. “I do not know of a single high mage who began his studies before his three hundredth birthday, and many of us do not take it up until we are a
full five centuries in age.”
“You are, of course, welcome to continue your studies in another Tower,” Philaerin added. “But I hope you will remain here. You have much you could teach our younger mages. Your time will come, sooner than you think. We
will wait.”
Araevin could think
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