Zaza was unlike anything Lian had ever seen.
Having lived in a village all his life, Lian was unused to the population of a town, much less the kinds of personalities that frequented them, especially Zaza.
Zaza was one of two towns that stood on the road between Hyden and Kyro two major cities that house what was essentially, two different factions. In Hyden was the Mage's Academy to the southeast, while in Kyro they held the stronghold for the Warrior's Guild to the north. Further west of Kyro was the Guild cities for Hound and Raider as well.
Lian could escape the Mages and make his way to the Warrior's Guild now. And when he passed the initiate tests, because he would pass the tests, he would be a Warrior first and foremost and even the Elders could not lay claim to him.
"But how good a Warrior would you be if you threatened to kill them all if someone spoke out against your father? You know he is bound to have a bad reputation." Fen reminded him, not unkindly. Lian still wasn't very happy to have heard it.
"I know. I realize that." He snapped harshly again. He'd never felt so out of control before. Not only about his new powers, but his emotions and actions in general. Lian had been used to being totally in control of himself, but it seemed that everything had changed, even that.
"You only just turned Sixteen. You have time yet. Learn what you can and return when you are more equip to fight like the Warrior you are. Until you become a Master, the Mages only act as your guardians, you have no loyalties to them."
Lian understood the merits of it. The tests themselves were brutal and if he showed any lack of magical control he would instantly be failed. Magical lot like Mages or Wizards, only got one shot at the tests, there are no second chances with folks of magic because the magic is an advantage in the tests themselves. If you manage to fail when you already have an advantage, how do you expect to keep up with the trainees who passed without it?
He just had to stay at the Academy long enough to learn to control it. He doubted he would ever have need of it beyond that.
"Now don't say that. I'm sure power will always be power, whether it be physical strength or magical. After you finish your stent as a Warrior trainee, maybe you should go back and finish your schooling as an apprentice Mage." Lian snorted at Fen's words, the wolf's amused voice giving the strange idea a ludicrous feel to it, yet Lian couldn't help honestly thinking about it.
"I've always loved training with a multitude of weapons." Lian admitted. He remembered when he was younger and how his father's men would all attempt to teach him something new when they passed by. Lian had learned to wield nearly every weapon used in battle, though he lacked talent in quite a few of them.
With a shake of his head, Lian dismissed the thought. "But I doubt the Mages would teach me anything beyond control for free. They would want me to be at their beck and call, just like the other Mages they teach. The price to learn beyond what is needed is much to steep. I refuse to relinquish my freedom."
"Then don't learn under the Academy roofs." Fen answered smartly.
Lian stilled. The thought hadn't accrued to him.
If he really wanted to learn how to use his magic, all he had to do was find a teacher, nothing ever said that teacher had to be a Master within the Academy. The Alliance Laws were clear about the state of every Marked child, they would all be taken into the Academy once their powers set in. Yet they aren't required or allowed to pledge any allegiances to any alliance until the individual came of age. Mages usually came into power at eighteen, meaning that to get the schooling necessary for the safety of themselves and those surrounding them, they would have to pledge to the Counsel outright. This wasn't the case from Lian. His powers had set in early and so he would be taught control and live under Mage rules, but he could not be made to pledge until he turned eighteen, and by then he planned to have learned control and taken the Warrior exams, thus gaining the ability to pledge himself to the Warriors and not the Master Mages.
"You are much too bright for me, my faithful companion." Lian thought back with a sardonic smile. He felt Fen shift against his skin. It was a weird feeling, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Lian was sure that Fen could make it uncomfortable though if the mood struck him, so he laid a hand against the upper part of his chest where he knew Fen's head was.
"We will find an Inn and rest for the night. We will set out at first light." Voniya didn't raise her voice, but Lian heard her from the back of their little five party cluster.
The people walking through the town paid them little mind, obviously used to all sorts of strange people walking around cloaked and in groups. He wasn't sure whether the people around him recognized his four traveling partners as Mages, but no one even looked twice at anyone else.
Lian however, couldn't help staring.
"Don't get yerself lost now, boyo." Ashling's voice was kind as she looked back at him. Lian wanted to scowl, but truly, she had a point. Everything was bright despite the night and he found himself distracted by the sight of the people and the buildings standing tall with materials his small village had not had. Lian felt vulnerable in a way he couldn't shake. The town was lit by oil lamps suspended in the air by thin black poles rooted into the ground, but the light didn't chase away all of the shadows, it merely created more.
They hadn't been walking through the city for long when they came to a stop in front of a rather large inn. A boy leaning against the stone wall of the building smiled brightly at them as they rode nearer. As Voniya dismounted, Lian saw her hand the boy a few coins and lean in a bit to speak to him in low tones. He nodded his head fast and rushed to handle her mare.
Lian knew the boy would only be able to handle two of their horses at a time, so he dismounted Valkyrie and decided to care for her himself. Besides, he hardly had the money to pay the boy.
"Where are you going?" Voniya asked him with a raised brow as she watched him lead Valkyrie past her. Lian found himself wanting to point out that she'd actually asked the question this time, but he was tired in a deep and weary way he had not yet been in his life. This was more than physical exhaustion, that he was well used to.
He suddenly realized that since the fire and storm, he himself hadn't gotten any real rest. He'd been running on the tails of his magical burst and Lian was feeling the come-down like only training with his father had ever managed.
"I will care for Valkyrie myself." Lian said dismissively, not bothering to stay long enough to hear their opinion on the subject. Though he wasn't fast enough to escape Lybell's snort and muttered comment.
"Doing the work of a stable boy. Guess he should be used to it, he doesn't look like he has any other talents."
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