A Question of Simple Magic

Mayoi, Omishan
Snowreap 10, 516 P.Y.

Today I completed apprentice ranger training with distinction. Master Gimlar offered me a post in the Forward Guard where I could continue on to becoming a Master. Although this would be an elevation in rank for me, I humbly declined his offer. I believe that when my service here has been fulfilled, I will be more capable of earning the coin necessary to bring my family out of the shelter and into a protected city, by acquiring mage skills. After a long quizzical look, Master Gimlar gave me his leave to enter into mage training. Before dismissing me, he handed me a Lower Ranger sash, assigned me to a Mayoi contingent and informed me that I would still be required to perform ranger duties during my mage apprenticeship.

Saylah of Thistledown

"The carving is adequate enough but you obviously didn't attune it correctly." Master Brunim turned the staff over repeatedly, examining it with his long boney fingers. "I've been observing you since midday." Clearing his throat as was his habit he continued, "You've yet to produce a single enchantment or cast a simple spell using this." He tossed the flawed staff on the workbench beside where they stood. "You'll need to begin again."

Saylah considered herself dismissed. She bowed and walked toward the pile of untouched tree limbs on the far side of the hut. She searched through the stack for a limb that was her height as required. Having found two, she chose the sturdier one. Her face was awash with disappointment as she went back to the workbench and began the task again. As she had done before, she began by removing the limb's outer bark. She'd been provided with a short carving knife that possessed a sickle handle. Its blade was curved and razor sharp. Before long, a pile of shavings lay at her feet. Next, she used a course white stone to smooth the surface and rub away any protruding knots. As she worked, she focused all of her attention on the staff that she was crafting. In a hushed melodic voice, she whispered the attuning enchantments. "Feran nar. Omal nar. Sehan hara nar." She labored carefully tuning out the world and those around her. She whispered the words necessary to bind the staff's power to her, its life force to her and its initiation of magic only to her.

When she reached the top of the staff, she changed to a small, oblong shaped stone. As instructed, she left the natural branching and forking of the upper branches in place. The limb that she had selected had two thick branches at the top that forked. The stout branches each contained two smaller branches jutting at right angles on adjacent sides. They looked like small arms reaching out to each other. Continuing to murmur the enchantment for attuning, she rubbed each branch carefully. The inner branches were thin and fragile. If she broke either of them, she would have to start again. The upper part of the staff needed to be handled gently until the petrifaction ceremony was performed.

Saylah worked well into the evening - past the other Mages toiling at their tasks and past the evening meal. She emerged from the crafting hut into the light of a half moon. Her moss green and brown robe blended into her nighttime surroundings. The orange flames of the hut's fire pit turned her long braided locks to gold. Adjusting to the darkness, she blinked her green feline-like eyes. Fatigue showed in the dark smudges beginning to ring her eyes with a faint puffiness. Possessing good posture and a height taller than most human females, she carried herself with pride. Standing in the doorway, half silhouetted by the moonlight with her newly crafted staff in hand, she was an impressive sight.

Walking down the small incline to where the mages practice their spells of fire and projectile weaponry, Saylah hoped that she'd made this staff correctly. "I did feel more in tune with the spells this last time," she thought to herself. When she reached the final path to the practice area, she could hear the distant voices of other mages off to her left. They were still in the main room of the mage hall, having not retired to their assigned quarters in the back. The Mayoi Allegiance Hall was built into a large mountainside. Its interior was constructed from a series of caves. Muffled voices drifted up and out of the cavern that served as the central gathering room. She imagined some of her new companions chatting by one of the three hearths exchanging stories of the day's events. Others she thought may have already retired to their sleeping chambers located off the winding tunnels of the cave's interior. Members of the guard that were on duty for the night-watch would be perched in the wooden tower that protruded from the center of the cavern, while the others were stationed on the planked terraces that comprised the three levels up to the surface. Wishing that she was done and inside, Saylah descended the ladder leading down to the beach to practice.

The moon cast just enough light for Saylah to make her way. The sand beneath her sandaled feet glittered like shards of glass. The tide lapped lazily at the shoreline. The fresh scent of moist salt air filled her lungs. In the distance, she heard a male Darkenfowel coo its nighttime mating call. Before long, there were several coos returned. Approaching the circular arena where spells of fire were practiced and cast, she chose the starter line closest to her. She positioned herself behind the line drawn into the sand as a marker. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly and focused her attention on the Lugian-high pile of scorched straw and logs before her. "This is a simple spell," she told herself in an attempt to bolster her confidence. "You've cast it before using the Teaching Staff, you can cast it now with this one." To form and propel a small bolt of flame, known as Fraha Menar, was an easy incantation and the first offensive spell taught to all mages. Its ease was such that no words of inducement need to be said to cast this magic. On occasion, you would see a mage uttering the words during a cast, marking them as an apprentice.

With her staff in her right hand, Saylah extended her arms out to the side. Speaking the words, "Fraha Menar," she quickly thrust her arms out in front of herself as if she'd thrown something. Nothing happened. She looked at the unlit pile of wood ahead of her and back to the top of her staff, and sighed with disappointment. Repeating her gestures, she said loudly and with more conviction, "Fraha Menar!" Again, no flame shot from her staff to light the pile of wood in front of her. After two more attempts, she looked about herself confused and disheartened. Her eyes burned from the long day's work and her stomach grumbled loudly. Disappointed, she turned her back on the practice arena and headed for her cot to sleep. Walking back the path she'd come, her shoulders drooped and her staff dragged, leaving a long snaking line in the sand behind. "It will be better on the morrow," she whispered into the darkness.

The morning Watch Master shouted the wake-up call. "Rise faithful followers! A new day begins." Watch Master Kilmer walked quickly up and down the tunnels that contained the allegiance sleeping chambers. "Rise faithful followers! Rise!"

Saylah sat up on her cot and swung her legs over the side. The stone floor was cool on the soles of her feet. She stretched and yawned in an effort to chase away the desire for more sleep. Looking across from her, she saw that her chamber mate Mariposa, was still sleeping. "Wake up Mari." Mari grumbled and rolled over. Saylah rose and shuffled over to Mari's cot and nudged her on the shoulder. "Get up or you'll be late."

Mari rolled on to her back and rubbed her eyes. "My thanks."

The chamber that Saylah shared with Mariposa was similar to all the other mage apprentice chambers. Two small wooden cots topped with fragrant Wey leaves and a thick sleeping pelts, were set on opposite sides of the wall. White netting, now worn and stained hung over each cot. A course wooden table sat against the far wall where two washbasins and personal items lay scattered on the surface. Two rows of pegs lined the walls on either side of the table. Robes, shawls, capes and other assorted clothing of varied lengths and colors hung from the pegs.

After rinsing her face in the tepid basin water, Saylah looked at the robe already hanging on the wall and decided on a fresh one, which she removed from the trunk at the foot of her cot. As she was not assigned to ranger duties for the day, she selected a lightweight robe made of tan and brown, which she wrapped into place and secured with a rope belt. With quick fingers, she braided her hair into a single plat that reached midway down her back. Slipping into her leather sandals, she looked over to see Mari's progress. "You'd better hurry Mari."

Mariposa smiled at her chamber mate who often acted like an elder sister. "I am. I'll be along shortly." Pulling on her robe she added, "You go ahead."

"Fine. I'll see you soon." Saylah headed into the central hall and got in line for a plate of warm oats from the cooking hearth. Her bowl in hand, she sat down at the closest table and began eating. She took a portion of bread and cheese from the tray passed around the table. When she was finished with the morning meal, she headed back to her chamber and took her staff from its leaning position on her side of the doorway, and went in search of Master Brunim.

Saylah took the surface portal and walked to the hut reserved for mage crafting. Master Brunim wasn't inside the hut. A mage whose name she didn't know suggested that he might be behind the hut at the smith forge. As Saylah made her way around the back of the hut in search of the crafting Master, her stomach began to feel uneasy. Her palms perspired but not from the heat, as there was a cool breeze blowing. Seeing Master Brunim bent over the forge working a piece of iron, she waited to gain his attention.

Putting his shaping hammer aside, he stood and turned to Saylah. "Correct this time I suspect?"

"It is my hope," Saylah replied as she handed him her staff for examination.

He rolled the staff over then stood it up next to Saylah to judge its height. He examined the top of the staff closely and ran a finger up and down each branch. "The forming is much better than yesterday's attempt." He handed the staff back to Saylah. "Have you worked with it yet?"

Saylah hesitated before answering. "A little - late yester eve after I crafted it."

"And?"

Saylah looked at the staff in her hand instead of Brunim. "The spell didn't cast."

Master Brunim grunted and resumed his former task. "Best make your way to the arena. The Petrifaction Ceremony is at sunset. Without an initiate staff, you can't continue with mage training."

Saylah bowed and walked away. As she passed the crafting hut, she saw Mariposa through one of the windows. She stopped for a brief second to see what her training mate was doing. Mariposa was seated crossed legged on the dirt floor. She was bent over her staff with a small chisel in her hand. Saylah realized that Mariposa was carving symbols into her staff that would identify it as her. Marking wasn't necessary, as attuning prevented anyone other than the mage who'd formed the staff from wielding it. The decorative designs were a sentimental tradition. Saylah sighed with a hint of envy and proceeded down to the arena.

A dozen or so mages were in the area. Most where talking amongst themselves, newly initiated staffs in hand. A few were practicing their skills with Fraha Menar, trying to see how quickly they could successively cast the offensive spell. Saylah walked around the circle and chose a spot on the same side as the shore, away from the rising sun. With her toes touching the marker drawn into the sand, she raised herself up and focused on her target. "You can do this," she told herself. "Apprentice mage today - learned enchanter tomorrow." She took a deep breath. Her arms moved swiftly out in front of her as she pointed her staff at the woodpile ahead. "Fraha Menar." No flame appeared but smoke curled from the top of her staff. "I suppose that's a start."

Three more attempts produced the same unsuccessful result. Saylah was now conscious of the eyes on her. A few of the mages were watching her closely. In the eyes of some, she saw empathy, in the others she saw disdain for the human, supposedly from a line of legendary enchanters who couldn't cast the simplest of spells. The control and power she felt with a bow in her hand entered into her mind's eye. She saw the fall of enemies mightier than herself; their lifeless bodies at her feet. She felt the surge of pride when she'd helped Defenders take down a foe and the scouts whose lives she'd saved as they came running for protection. She questioned the path she'd chosen. Mayhap she was meant to be a ranger and not a mage. After all, she'd been offered to train as a Master Ranger. Her refusal now rang painfully in her ears. What would become of her now? She couldn't earn gold for her family if she left her service here as a Lower Ranger. She could join the Shelter Guard patrol and give her family a slightly better life, but not one on the surface.

Ashamed and loathe to continue, Saylah half-heartedly decided to try again. When her attempt failed, she closed her eyes to the pain welling up inside of her. The waves crashing to the shore echoed like laughter in her ears. She sensed all eyes on her and refused to open her own. Standing still as a stone for several minutes, she started at the sound of someone close behind her. She thought to herself that it was probably her newfound friend Mari, coming to offer sympathy. She was embarrassed to find Master Brunim there.

"You are not focused, Prentice Saylah." He looked at her long and hard, waiting for some response but none came. "I know you capable of summoning the control necessary to call Fraha Menar. I have seen you do this."

"I'm not sure what is wrong." Looking at the staff held in both hands that leaned horizontally across her thighs, she continued. "Perhaps it is an ill made staff again." She paused before continuing, "But perhaps not."

"No, the staff is true. The problem lies with the Mage in whose hands it rests."

Saylah felt slapped by words that echoed her own thoughts. She saw the dreams for her family slipping through her hands like hot sand. She thought back to Master Gimlar's offer and felt the fool for thinking herself capable of training to be an enchanter. A ranger assignment in the Forward Guard was a coveted position, an opportunity now lost to her because the available posts were filled. "What shall I do now?" She thought to herself.

Facing Master Brunim she said, "I'm at a loss." A plea for help was in her eyes. "I am trying, Master."

Master Brunim had watched the myriad of emotions passing across Saylah's face. He sensed the worries that plagued her. Not an outwardly expressive man, he remained restrained in his empathy but offered her counsel. "Today is not the moment that will release your family from the shelter. It is but a fragment of the journey to that end." He paused before continuing, "A minor splinter in time before the goal is met." He moved closer and rested his withered hand on her shoulder. "Yet it must be realized fully and lived with deliberateness." He looked into Saylah's eyes hoping to see an understanding of what he said - and thought that he did. With a small smile he added, "Do not hurry ahead from this moment to the next. Be what is unfolding in front of you," he spread his arms wide, "here and now." Addressing all of the mages that were present he said, "As a mage you must be able to call forth your enchantments at will." Turning Saylah back around to face the task in front of her, he encouraged, "Now try again."

Saylah began to think of all the things that depended on her accomplishing this task - but then, what the master had said made her clear her mind. She stared down for a long time with unseeing eyes. She used her will to slow down the beating of her heart and steady the rhythm of her breathing. She lifted her head toward her target with narrowed eyes. Her staff was held tightly in her right hand as she stretched her arms wide. With a quick fluid motion, she thrust her arms and staff forward. Using her mind and not her lips, she called forth the power of Fraha Menar. She felt heat rise in her belly and radiate up from within and outward to her arm and into her out stretched staff. An oblong flame shot from the top of her staff, the red and orange fire glowed as it sailed the distance, setting an unlit portion of the woodpile on fire. Relief consumed her and her confidence rose. She turned to Master Brunim who indicated with his head that she should continue. Filled with a new confidence, Saylah squared her shoulders, inhaled and cast another fiery bolt. Twice as large as her first attempt, the second bolt set the entire pile of wood into an uproar of flames that popped and sizzled from the intensity of the heat. A couple of mages standing nearby jumped back in surprise. Saylah beamed.

Master Brunim was impressed. "There now, your staff has been initiated." He smiled warmly at her joy. "If you hurry, you have time to mark it as your own before the evening ceremony."

Overcome with happiness, Saylah forgot protocol as she raced to the crafting hut in victory. When she reached the crafting hut, she stopped to take a deep breath and savor the moment. There was pride in her eyes as she began carving the ancient symbol of her family's people. Next she would add her father's familiar name for her - curious rabbit.