Thallian attempted to remain quietly hidden in his chambers for the rest of the day. He had no other pressing tasks until the evening, when he would walk among the sheep and goats and ensure none were ill or wounded before he retired for the night. Later in the season there would be more work to be done, so he took advantage of the easier day to hide away and hope that nothing would come of his interaction with Dracole. He hoped the man wouldn't bring any accusations against him. If he did, Thallian would be certain to explain that the man had attempted to force himself on Thallian. Would Dracole dare to risk such a thing?

He soon learned that the answer would be yes, the man would risk so much to expose Thallian as someone with magic.

In less than two hours his father appeared at the door to his chamber, throwing it open without knocking or otherwise warning Thallian that he intended to enter. Thallian startled up from the bench beneath his window, where he had been sitting and fretting. His father closed the door heavily behind him. As he turned, Thallian caught a glimpse of the club his father carried with him for protection when he traveled with the market wagons. He then turned his full, hate-filled glare onto Thallian, his powerful frame appearing to take up most of the room. Despite his age and the gray in his hair and beard, Uprine Fieldsman still sparked fear in the heart of his youngest child.

"Dracole says you used magic on him," Uprine said, his tone hard with hatred.

"He tried to force me to have sex with him," Thallian said quickly, before his father could say anything more.

"What does that matter?" his father demanded. "You'd still go on to marry and have children even if you were fucking another man as often as your own wife, just like your brother."

This was news to Thallian, but he wasn't going to ask which of his brothers Uprine was referring to.

"I would rather you fucked a hundred men a day than play with magic," Uprine went on. "There will be no magic here, not on my estate. Not in my house. When Dracole first came to me I had half a mind to beat you senseless and have you dumped somewhere you would never return from. I still will, if you try anything," he warned, holding up the club. "But your mother cares too much. We knew this day would come when we saw your eyes as a babe. They're the same blue as her mother's were. She wants you to go to Algoma City, where her mother went to learn about her magic. There's a place there that will take in people with magic and train them so they don't accidentally do harm, but will be more likely to do it intentionally, I say. Magic is nothing but evil, used to corrupt and destroy. You'll go with the next caravan to Algoma City, and you'll never come back here. Not while I'm still living. What your brothers say about it when I'm gone is of no concern to me, but I hope they have some sense."

Thallian nodded silently. He supposed being sent away somewhere completely new would be better than staying and risking his father's wrath - or death.

"Next departure is in four days, taking cheese to the waystations in the Pass," his father continued. "You'll go with Paxton, and when he turns to come home, you'll go on and find your way to Algoma City. I'm sure the way from there is dangerous, but someone with magic should be safe."

Thallian had the distinct feeling that his father didn't care if he was safe or not.

"Until your departure, you do not leave this room. Your baths and meals will be brought to you. When you leave you will take only what you can fit in one satchel. You will be given some money to help you on your way. Consider it your inheritance, and thank your mother for it. Understood?"

Thallian nodded. "Yes."

"Very good," Uprine said with a growl. He opened the door and stormed out, closing it loudly behind him.

The moment the sound of the slamming door died away, Thallian flopped down on his soft bed with a heavy sigh and attempted to sort through his emotions, unsure if this was going to be the end of his life or the beginning of a new one.