Lynn Flewelling - The Bone Doll's Twin

“No, she must make amends to her own gods somehow for creating the demon. I don’t think she could go against that. Short of killing her, I doubt we could force her away.”

“Nor should we.” Iya stared at the river, lost in thought. “I’ve never told anyone this before,” she said softly, “but my own master studied the Old Magic. It’s more powerful than you know.”

“But it’s forbidden!”

Iya snorted. “So is what we are attempting, dear boy. And why do you suppose I sought her out in the first place? Perhaps it’s the fate of the wizards of our line to do what is forbidden when necessary. Perhaps it is what Illior intends for you.”

“You mean I should learn from her?”

“I believe I can undo the magics she wove on Tobin. But what if I’m wrong? What if I die before the time comes, as Agazhar did with me? Yes, it might be best if you learn from her what must be done, and in her way.”

“But her price?” Arkoniel’s chest tightened at the thought. He tried to believe it was purely revulsion.

Iya’s lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. “Offer her something else.”

“What if she refuses?”

“Arkoniel, I taught you what my master taught me; that celibacy preserves our power. I have practiced it since I undertook the craft. There are those who stray, however, and not all of them have been weakened by the experience. Many, but not all….”

Arkoniel felt as if the earth were opening up under his feet. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this before?”

“Why would I? As a child you didn’t need to know. And as a young man in your prime? It was too dangerous, the temptation too real. I was nearly as old as you are now when I began my training, and no virgin. The tides of the flesh are strong, make no mistake, and we all feel their pull. Once a wizard gets past the first life and feels his power strong in him, it becomes easier to bear. The carnal pleasures pale in comparison, I promise you.”

“I will refuse her, Iya.”

“You will do what you will do, dear boy.” Iya took his hands between her own and looked into his face; her skin was cold as ivory. “There’s so much more I’d hoped to teach you. Before Afra I imagined that we had the rest of my life together. You are my successor, Arkoniel, and the finest student I’ve ever had. We’ve known that for some time, Illior and I.” She patted the bag hanging over her shoulder. “But Illior has other plans for you just now, as we’ve both seen. For the time being you must take what lessons you can find and make of them what you can. If Lhel can teach you, then learn from her. Barring all else, you must keep watch and learn if she has any ill intent toward the child.”

“Your answer is no answer at all!” Arkoniel groaned, more confused than ever.

Iya shrugged. “You’re not a child anymore, or an apprentice. There comes a time when a wizard must learn to trust his own heart. You’ve been doing just that for some time now, though you don’t seem to have noticed yet.” Smiling, she tapped him on the chest. “Listen to this, my dear. I believe it to be a good, true guide.”

Arkoniel felt a sudden chill of premonition. “That sounds almost like a farewell.”

Iya smiled sadly. “It is, but only to the boy who was my student. The man who’s stolen into his place needn’t fear losing me. I like him too much for that, and we’ve a great deal of work to do together.”

“But—” Arkoniel groped for words. “How will I know the right things to do, to help Tobin and protect him?”

“Do you think Illior would have sent you here unless you were worthy of the task? Now, then. Are you going to keep an old woman outdoors all night or may we go in now?”

“Old woman, eh? When did that happen?” Arkoniel asked, slipping his arm through hers as they walked up the hill.

“I’ve been wondering that myself.”

“How long can you stay?”

“Not long, judging from the demon’s reception. How has it treated you since it broke your arm?”

“Surprisingly well. It knocks the furniture around now and then, but Tobin appears to have some control over it. According to Nari, it has been much quieter since Ariani’s death.”

“Very odd. You’d think it would be just the opposite. In all my years, Arkoniel, I’ve never seen a spirit quite like this one. It makes one wonder …”

“What?”

“Whether it will surprise us again when we try to break its bond with Tobin.”

They returned to the keep, intending for Iya to share Arkoniel’s room for the night. As soon as they set foot inside the hall, however, they could feel the demon’s malevolence closing in around them. The air thickened perceptibly and the hearth fire guttered and burned pale.

Nari and the others of the household gathered around the hearth looked up in alarm.

“Be careful, Iya. There’s no telling what it will do,” Tharin warned.

The ominous weight of silence drew out, and then they heard something clatter loudly to the floor at the far end of the room near the high table. Another clatter followed and Iya cast a light in the air, illuminating the room enough to see the silver plate being knocked from the shelves of the sideboard. One by one, platters and bowls slid off with a thud or clank onto the rushes. Each object moved by itself, but Arkoniel could easily imagine the wild, surly child he’d encountered at the bottom of the meadow, watching them over its shoulder and smiling spitefully as it reached for the next salver or cup.

The strange performance continued, and each successive dish flew a little further from the sideboard, veered a little more in their direction.

“That’s quite enough of that!” Iya muttered. Striding down the hall, she stopped just short of the sideboard and sketched a circle of white light on the air before her with her crystal wand.

“What’s she doing?” asked Nari.

“I’m not certain,” Arkoniel said, trying to read the sigils Iya was inscribing into the circle. It looked something like a banishing spell a drysian had tried to teach them, but the sigils taking shape in the circle were not what he recalled.

Perhaps Iya was mistaken in her weaving, for just then a heavy silver platter flew from its shelf and collided with the circle. Pattern and wand exploded in a sudden burst of blue-white fire. Iya cried out, clutching her hand to her side.

Blinking black spots from his vision, Arkoniel ran to her and pulled Iya away as the demon scattered the remaining silver around the room, then began overturning benches. Arkoniel wrapped his arms around her and pulled her head down, trying to shield her. Then Tharin was there, doing the same for both of them.

“Outside!” Iya gasped, trying to push them off.

They staggered out into the courtyard with the rest of the frightened servants, then looked back in through the open doorway to see tapestries flying through the air. One landed on the open hearth.

“Fetch water!” Mynir shouted. “It means to set the house afire!”

“Go to the barracks. You can sleep there,” Tharin ordered, then dashed back into the house to aid the others.

Arkoniel helped Iya to the dark barracks house. A brazier stood just inside the door and he snapped a finger over it, kindling a small blaze. Narrow pallets lined the walls and Iya sank down on the closest one. Arkoniel gently took her wounded hand and examined it in the flickering light. A long red burn marked where the crystal wand had laid against her palm. Small cuts and fragments of the wand peppered her fingers and knuckles.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Iya said, letting him pick out the shards of crystal.

“Yes, it is. Lie down. I’ll go get a few things and come right back.”