L. Modesitt - Colors of Chaos

“…more than fair,” came a murmur from somewhere.

“…demon-damned peasants.”

“…ignorant beasts.”

“Yet,” continued Kinowin, his voice strengthening to silence the murmurs, “this peasant woman had no interest in his fairness or the laws. All she wanted was the easiest way to market and the most coins. Was she that different from the late Prefect Lyam? Or from all the smugglers who try to avoid taxes and tariffs? We meet, and too often, I think, we forget that the rules of law, and the need for such rules to ensure prosperity, they are merely nodded at even by those in Fairhaven. Too often our merchants take for granted the smoothness and the directness of our roads. Too often we do not see the anger at us, because we have forged a glorious city and prosperity for all Candar. Too often we would rather be loved than respected.” Kinowin paused. “Before I let Cerryl resume his seat, are there any questions?”

A tall mage halfway back in the chamber rose. “You said that this woman called us ‘White ninnies.’ Did she use those words?”

“Yes, she did. She also said that she had rights under the land that no man dressed in white and riding in a gold carriage could take away.”

Another mage-Isork-stood. “Did she actually say that the Black angels should take you?”

“Yes.”

Isork sat down.

“Perhaps we should send Eliasar to Gallos sooner rather than later,” suggested Fydel from the middle of the chamber, Anya practically whispering in his ear as the square-bearded mage spoke.

Sterol stepped back onto the dais from the columns at the south side of the chamber, waiting for another round of murmurs to die down. “The Council has decided that Eliasar should not depart until closer to harvest.” He turned and gestured to Cerryl. “Remember what happened at the gates. Cerryl attempted to handle the old woman gently. The guards know that, and they will tell others. Unhappily, there will always be those who respect little but force. There will always be those who do not pay willingly for the prosperity and peace that the Guild has provided Candar. There will always be those who believe the lies and deceptions of the Black Isle. We cannot make all our people happy, but we can make them respect the Order. And that we will do.

“Many of you know that the overmage Jeslek is working in Gallos to ensure that the new prefect will indeed respect the Guild. We are also building more warships to patrol the gulf and the Eastern Ocean. All Gallos-and the Black traders-will respect Fairhaven before we are done. That will be the occasion to send Eliasar and the lancers.” Sterol laughed. “Shortly, I will begin assigning mages to those warships that will be completed sometime this winter, and the Black traders will pay tariffs or they will not trade with Candar.”

Kinowin nodded to Cerryl, who stepped down and back to his seat.

Sterol gave a nod to Kinowin, who returned it with one barely perceptible.

“Now that our business is complete,” Sterol said in a warmer tone, “let us bring in the new mages.”

Sterol waited on the dais, Kinowin to his right, as Esaak escorted the three figures in the tunics of student mages forward and down the center aisle of the chamber.

“High Wizard, I present the candidates for induction as full mages and members of the Guild.” Esaak inclined his head, then stepped back and to the side.

Sterol let the silence draw out for a moment before speaking. “Bealtur, Heralt, and Myredin…you are here because you have studied, because you have learned the basic skills of magery, and because you have proved you understand the importance of the Guild to the future of all Candar…”

Cerryl smiled at the words that deviated not at all from those Sterol had employed when Cerryl himself had stood before the dais.

“…we hold a special trust for all mages, to bring a better life to those who follow the White way, to further peace and prosperity, and to ensure that all our talents are used for the greater good, of both those in Fairhaven and those throughout Candar.” Sterol paused, surveying the three. “Do you, of your own free will, promise to use your talents for the good of the Guild and for the good of Fairhaven, and of all Candar?”

There were three quiet assents.

“And do you faithfully promise to hold to the rules of the Guild, even when those rules may conflict with your personal and private desires?”

“Yes,” answered the three simultaneously.

“Do you promise that you will do your personal best to ensure that chaos is never raised against the helpless and always to benefit the greater good?”

“Yes.”

“And finally, do you promise that you will always stand by those in the Guild to ensure that mastery of the forces of chaos-and order-is limited to those who will use such abilities for good and not for personal gain and benefit?”

“Yes.”

“In the powers of chaos and in the sight of the Guild, you are each a full mage of the White Order of Fairhaven…”

A shimmering touch of chaos brushed the sleeves of the three, and the red apprentice stripes were gone.

“Welcome, Bealtur, Heralt, and Myredin…” Sterol offered a broad smile and looked across the assembled group. “Now that we have welcomed the new mages, our business is over, and all may greet them.”

Scattered murmurs broke out across the chamber.

Sterol glanced down at the three. “I’m very pleased that all of you have succeeded. You have different talents, and in the difficult days before the Guild we will need each of those talents, I suspect.”

Cerryl waited for the older mages to congratulate the three before he stepped forward, beginning with the dark-eyed and curly-haired Heralt. “Congratulations, Heralt.”

“Thank you. You and Kinowin made it easier.”

Cerryl offered a smile. “Don’t forget the High Wizard. He seeks talent.” With a nod, Cerryl stepped up to Bealtur. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” The goateed young mage’s words were polite, even, and without warmth.

“And congratulations to you.” Cerryl nodded politely at Myredin. Myredin nodded back, his intense and slightly bulging gray eyes fixed somewhere beyond Cerryl.

Cerryl stepped back and to the side, back along the pillars on the north side of the chamber.

“I have a good feel about Heralt, too.”

Cerryl turned. Kinowin and Myral stood behind the pillar. Myral inclined his head, and Cerryl joined the two.

“I’m sure you guessed that Kinowin wanted you to be seen,” said Myral. “He could have told the story without you.”

“I’m your protégé, ser?” asked Cerryl.

Kinowin smiled, almost ironically. “We need you to be seen and heard. I suggest you have something to say at the next meeting. Something that sounds most reasonable, with which few will disagree. Something about trade.”

“Me?”

“You.” Myral coughed, covering his mouth with the gray cloth he carried everywhere. After a moment, he added, “You have the shields to stand against Jeslek’s anger, and he knows that. You have no ties to the traders of Fairhaven or elsewhere, and it is important that you be seen to have a mind.”

Whether I do or not…whether I’m just an ignorant orphan determined and lucky enough to have become a mage .

Kinowin lowered his voice more. “Jeslek will be High Wizard by fall, if not before.”

“Why not you?” blurted Cerryl.

“Your judgment of character is sound,” said Myral with a chuckle, “but not of age. Kinowin is closer to my age than to Jeslek’s. For him to use power as Jeslek does would kill him within a handful of years.”

“We’ll talk more later,” said Kinowin, “but this is one of the few places where the three of us could talk for a moment without much notice.” He raised his voice. “Thank you, young Cerryl.”