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Authors: Christopher Nuttall
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situations for you over the next few months and you will learn from them. By the time exams roll around, I expect you to have mastered the basics. If you haven’t, there will be no point in going for the exams.
“There are other spells that you are also expected to master,” she continued. “One spell cuts down on your own...emotional reactions, which can interfere with your work. Another prevents further infection, although there are dangers involved with casting the spell. A third is a very basic truth spell. You’ll discover, if you go into healing, that quite a few people lie about what happened to them. This can be dangerous, particularly if knowing the cause of the injury is required to fix it.”
Alassa stuck up a hand. “Can you give us an example of that, please?”
Lady Barb didn’t look pleased at being interrupted, but she answered the question anyway.
“Quite a few curse wounds come from trying to break into a magician’s property,” Lady Barb explained. “In that case, speaking with the magician who created the spell can be quite useful—but the victim may not want to be publicly identified as a would-be thief. Other curses, including those used by angry husbands or wives, need the active cooperation of the caster to break. And then there are the diseases that are spread through sexual contact, where we need to heal everyone involved.”
She smiled, rather dryly. “Healing is a dirty job, no matter the prestige that comes with it,” she warned. “Those of you who wish to stay in this class can read An Introduction to Healing , which you will find in the medical library next door, over the rest of the week. You will find it a good introduction to what we are going to cover—and where it will lead. If you decide that you don’t want to carry on after reading the book you may leave. No one will hold it against you.”
Emily watched as Lady Barb cast a handful of healing spells on Paddy, all more complicated than the spells Emily had learned last year. Some of them seemed automatic, others required careful fiddling...rather like dismantling a set of charms, she realized. Maybe the two disciplines were closer than she’d thought.
“Formal classes will begin on Monday,” Lady Barb concluded. “If you don’t come back, I honestly don’t mind.” There were some chuckles from the students. “But if you do, I expect you to work.”
Alassa tugged at Emily’s arm as the students began to disperse. “You coming to dinner?”
“I need to talk to Lady Barb,” Emily said, quickly. She should have mentioned it to Alassa earlier, but there hadn’t been an opportunity. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“We’ll see you at dinner then,” Alassa said. She winked, mischievously. “I have teamwork to plan.”
Emily rolled her eyes. Alassa’s new obsession might be fun for her, and those who enjoyed team sports, but not for anyone else. But then, Emily had never actually played...
“Good luck,” Alassa said. “See you at dinner.”
Chapter Six
E MILY,” LADY BARB SAID, WHEN THEY were alone. “What can I do for you?”
Emily hesitated. Lady Barb...was a complex person, someone who had seemed to dislike her at first, but had also helped her to overcome some of her demons. Her lessons in combat, both magical and physical, had been painful, yet they had also been very welcome. And she’d never known Lady Barb to be less than completely honest with her. No one else, even the Grandmaster and Void, had been so honest.
And there was her resemblance to Sergeant Harkin...
“I need to ask you a favor,” Emily said. She wasn’t sure what to say. “And I need some advice.”
Lady Barb quirked an eyebrow, then nodded and strode over to a desk in the far corner of the room. It must have had some aversion spells on it, Emily realized as she followed her tutor, because she hadn’t realized it was there until Lady Barb had drawn her attention to it. There were two chairs, one on
“There are other spells that you are also expected to master,” she continued. “One spell cuts down on your own...emotional reactions, which can interfere with your work. Another prevents further infection, although there are dangers involved with casting the spell. A third is a very basic truth spell. You’ll discover, if you go into healing, that quite a few people lie about what happened to them. This can be dangerous, particularly if knowing the cause of the injury is required to fix it.”
Alassa stuck up a hand. “Can you give us an example of that, please?”
Lady Barb didn’t look pleased at being interrupted, but she answered the question anyway.
“Quite a few curse wounds come from trying to break into a magician’s property,” Lady Barb explained. “In that case, speaking with the magician who created the spell can be quite useful—but the victim may not want to be publicly identified as a would-be thief. Other curses, including those used by angry husbands or wives, need the active cooperation of the caster to break. And then there are the diseases that are spread through sexual contact, where we need to heal everyone involved.”
She smiled, rather dryly. “Healing is a dirty job, no matter the prestige that comes with it,” she warned. “Those of you who wish to stay in this class can read An Introduction to Healing , which you will find in the medical library next door, over the rest of the week. You will find it a good introduction to what we are going to cover—and where it will lead. If you decide that you don’t want to carry on after reading the book you may leave. No one will hold it against you.”
Emily watched as Lady Barb cast a handful of healing spells on Paddy, all more complicated than the spells Emily had learned last year. Some of them seemed automatic, others required careful fiddling...rather like dismantling a set of charms, she realized. Maybe the two disciplines were closer than she’d thought.
“Formal classes will begin on Monday,” Lady Barb concluded. “If you don’t come back, I honestly don’t mind.” There were some chuckles from the students. “But if you do, I expect you to work.”
Alassa tugged at Emily’s arm as the students began to disperse. “You coming to dinner?”
“I need to talk to Lady Barb,” Emily said, quickly. She should have mentioned it to Alassa earlier, but there hadn’t been an opportunity. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“We’ll see you at dinner then,” Alassa said. She winked, mischievously. “I have teamwork to plan.”
Emily rolled her eyes. Alassa’s new obsession might be fun for her, and those who enjoyed team sports, but not for anyone else. But then, Emily had never actually played...
“Good luck,” Alassa said. “See you at dinner.”
Chapter Six
E MILY,” LADY BARB SAID, WHEN THEY were alone. “What can I do for you?”
Emily hesitated. Lady Barb...was a complex person, someone who had seemed to dislike her at first, but had also helped her to overcome some of her demons. Her lessons in combat, both magical and physical, had been painful, yet they had also been very welcome. And she’d never known Lady Barb to be less than completely honest with her. No one else, even the Grandmaster and Void, had been so honest.
And there was her resemblance to Sergeant Harkin...
“I need to ask you a favor,” Emily said. She wasn’t sure what to say. “And I need some advice.”
Lady Barb quirked an eyebrow, then nodded and strode over to a desk in the far corner of the room. It must have had some aversion spells on it, Emily realized as she followed her tutor, because she hadn’t realized it was there until Lady Barb had drawn her attention to it. There were two chairs, one on
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