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Authors: Martin Hengst
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was muttering the words of a spell. Somewhere behind her, Baris called a warning, but it was too late. A fine green mist crept from Janessa’s palms, wafting over Volinette’s face.
The mist seemed to claw at her nose and mouth, slipping into her no matter how much she fought against it. The thin green tendrils seemed to wrap around her stomach from the inside, clenching it in a grip like a vice.
Helpless against the power of the spell, Volinette gasped for breath that seemed to burn in her lungs. She opened her mouth to cry out, but the only thing that came was a thick green bile that spilled down the front of her tunic and onto the floor by her slippers.
Janessa and the others crowed with laughter, jumping back away from the mess Volinette was making, unable to stop herself from retching. She collapsed to the floor, doubled over against the pain that wracked her. Volinette was only vaguely aware of Master Casto’s return. He rushed to her side, invoking a counter-spell that eased her misery. However, no spell could undo the humiliation she felt at being cowered on the floor in a pool of her own vomit.
“What is the meaning of this?” Master Casto demanded, still standing over Volinette’s pain-wracked body.
“She tried to attack me, Master,” Janessa simpered. “I was merely defending myself.”
Though Halsie, Nixi, and Syble were quick to back Janessa and her story, Volinette took some reassurance in both the loudness and vehemence of Baris’s defense of her. Much to her disappointment, the rest of the apprentices seemed content not to take sides, perhaps afraid of what might become of them if they did.
“You’ll need to see the Quartermaster and get new clothes, Volinette,” Master Casto said, helping her to her feet. She wasn’t so sick that she couldn’t see him wince when he helped her up. A fact that only deepened the sense of shame and humiliation she already felt. “Baris will go with you. Return here once you’ve had time to clean up.”
Volinette wanted to argue, to tell him that it was unfair that she should miss out on any instruction because of the unwarranted attack Janessa had made on her. By the time she felt strong enough to say anything though, Baris had a hand under her arm and was guiding her from the training room toward the commissary.
They didn’t say much on their way to the Quartermaster’s office. Volinette was too angry to form much of a coherent argument, and Baris was smart enough to keep his mouth shut until she’d regained her equilibrium.
The Quartermaster was a stout old man with a huge, bushy white beard and a tunic that bore the faded crest of the Merchant’s Guild. After getting a whiff of Volinette, he demanded that they conduct business at arm’s length. She was asked for her measurements and gave them, miserably. The Quartermaster disappeared into the back room of the dispensary and reappeared with an armful of garments, which he pointedly handed to Baris.
As they walked back toward the girls’ dormitory, Baris flipped through the clothing. There was a simple linen tunic and breeches, both in a natural brown, and a tightly braided rope belt to cinch the tunic closed.
“Not much to look at, are they?” he groused. “No flair, whatsoever.”
“I’ll just be happy that they’re clean and dry.”
Of all the ways Volinette had imagined her first day of classes at the Academy, the reality of it hadn’t even made the list.
Chapter Six
“I don’t know how much more I can take, Baris. She’s awful. Every time Master Casto looks away, she’s doing something horrid. I just can’t take it anymore.”
Baris swung his legs and stared out at the waves breaking against the beach. They’d been sitting on the breakwater since mid-morning, and now the sun was nearly halfway to the western horizon. After a long minute, he glanced at Volinette and shrugged.
“Syble isn’t exactly an ideal partner either, you know. I have no idea
The mist seemed to claw at her nose and mouth, slipping into her no matter how much she fought against it. The thin green tendrils seemed to wrap around her stomach from the inside, clenching it in a grip like a vice.
Helpless against the power of the spell, Volinette gasped for breath that seemed to burn in her lungs. She opened her mouth to cry out, but the only thing that came was a thick green bile that spilled down the front of her tunic and onto the floor by her slippers.
Janessa and the others crowed with laughter, jumping back away from the mess Volinette was making, unable to stop herself from retching. She collapsed to the floor, doubled over against the pain that wracked her. Volinette was only vaguely aware of Master Casto’s return. He rushed to her side, invoking a counter-spell that eased her misery. However, no spell could undo the humiliation she felt at being cowered on the floor in a pool of her own vomit.
“What is the meaning of this?” Master Casto demanded, still standing over Volinette’s pain-wracked body.
“She tried to attack me, Master,” Janessa simpered. “I was merely defending myself.”
Though Halsie, Nixi, and Syble were quick to back Janessa and her story, Volinette took some reassurance in both the loudness and vehemence of Baris’s defense of her. Much to her disappointment, the rest of the apprentices seemed content not to take sides, perhaps afraid of what might become of them if they did.
“You’ll need to see the Quartermaster and get new clothes, Volinette,” Master Casto said, helping her to her feet. She wasn’t so sick that she couldn’t see him wince when he helped her up. A fact that only deepened the sense of shame and humiliation she already felt. “Baris will go with you. Return here once you’ve had time to clean up.”
Volinette wanted to argue, to tell him that it was unfair that she should miss out on any instruction because of the unwarranted attack Janessa had made on her. By the time she felt strong enough to say anything though, Baris had a hand under her arm and was guiding her from the training room toward the commissary.
They didn’t say much on their way to the Quartermaster’s office. Volinette was too angry to form much of a coherent argument, and Baris was smart enough to keep his mouth shut until she’d regained her equilibrium.
The Quartermaster was a stout old man with a huge, bushy white beard and a tunic that bore the faded crest of the Merchant’s Guild. After getting a whiff of Volinette, he demanded that they conduct business at arm’s length. She was asked for her measurements and gave them, miserably. The Quartermaster disappeared into the back room of the dispensary and reappeared with an armful of garments, which he pointedly handed to Baris.
As they walked back toward the girls’ dormitory, Baris flipped through the clothing. There was a simple linen tunic and breeches, both in a natural brown, and a tightly braided rope belt to cinch the tunic closed.
“Not much to look at, are they?” he groused. “No flair, whatsoever.”
“I’ll just be happy that they’re clean and dry.”
Of all the ways Volinette had imagined her first day of classes at the Academy, the reality of it hadn’t even made the list.
Chapter Six
“I don’t know how much more I can take, Baris. She’s awful. Every time Master Casto looks away, she’s doing something horrid. I just can’t take it anymore.”
Baris swung his legs and stared out at the waves breaking against the beach. They’d been sitting on the breakwater since mid-morning, and now the sun was nearly halfway to the western horizon. After a long minute, he glanced at Volinette and shrugged.
“Syble isn’t exactly an ideal partner either, you know. I have no idea
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