Dawn of Dusk

Marshal was packed and ready to go. Tomorrow he would test for guild membership. Today for the first time in his life he would learn and make use of a teleporting spell. The problem of a teleporting spell is that you have to know where you want to go before you can get there. Marshal had never been to Landsend where the guild headquarters was located. The lake next to it had something magical in the water that makes a magician’s abilities greater. Thorak, Koripak, and other sorcerers and wizards teleported themselves there every day to get their drinking water. Until only recently, Marshal had been drinking out of the well at Koripak’s home. It was only the last few weeks that Koripak had been sharing the water that he got from Dragon Lake. It is said that dragons once bred in the waters of the lake and that they left traces of their magical essence in the water. Other legends state that the water springs from the center of the earth where the heart of magic lies, and that the sooner the water is taken, the stronger the magical power bestowed upon the drinker.

Koripak placed the memory of Dragon Lake into Marshal’s head. Marshal said good-bye for the fiftieth time. Koripak started to feel emotional. He told Marshal to be on his way.

Marshal took one last look around; he looked at the castle where he had grown up. He could see the Blue Mountains in the distance to the west in the land of the Giants. The straits between the lands were clear and a sailing ship made its way through the rocky waters. It was a ship of Men, not of Giants. There were trees nearby that gave off a fresh scent this time of year. He looked at the stream as it went bubbling by with the trout that he had snatched out with magic on occasion for dinner. He looked east where there was a copse of trees that he had always pretended was the Elven Woods when he was younger. He gave everything one last lingering look; as if bidding them all farewell. He turned back to Koripak, gave him a hug and whispered in Koripak’s ear, “You were always a father to me. You will always be my father.” He then turned away, chanted the spell to himself, and vanished.

Koripak looked for a few seconds at the spot where Marshal had been standing. A solitary tear ran down his cheek as he said, “And you will always be a son to me.” Then he turned and went back into his house. For the first time in a long time, he had dinner to fix.

Marshall began to think something was wrong. He could not feel anything, not even the tears he knew were running down his cheeks. He could not see anything, he could not hear anything, and the only sensation he was getting was one of forever falling. Suddenly he was standing on the shore of a lake so large that he couldn’t see the other side.

He walked over to the shore, reached down and dipped some water. He tasted it and felt the sweetness of the magic call out to him. Yes, it was from Dragon Lake so he knew he must have arrived. He looked around and a very large building, certainly not a castle, but a large building very near by.

He headed for it and was soon met by a wizard coming to greet him.

“Hello, my name is Tantak I am the Sentry of the Test, for the magician’s guild. Since I don’t know you, and you arrived by magical means, I assume you are here for the testing.”

“Uh, yes, I am my name is Marshal, I came to be tested so I can be apprenticed.”

“Well that is all fine and good young man, but before you apprentice yourself out, let’s make sure you get into the guild first, eh?”

Marshal blushed in embarrassment and looked down at his feet. “I didn’t mean to be presumptuous sir,” he said, “but I feel pretty confident in my abilities.”

“Nothing wrong with confidence now, is there boy?” Tantak asked as he picked up one of Marshal’s bundles. “Tell me boy, the person who instructed you, did he agree to take you back if you fail your test and need further training?”

“Uh, I, I don’t know. We never discussed what would happen if I didn’t pass. Should we have?”

“Lands sakes, boy, you know your abilities better than I do. Lots of times though, if a youth is not doing well in his or her studies, they are sent to test with the understanding that they will not be allowed back if they fail. I have to know this so I can place you up for training somewhere else with another wizard, if you fail.”

“Well my teacher was...”

“Land sakes boy, don’t you know anything? You don’t tell who your instructor was. To make sure that the test is completely fair, no one is supposed to know. Tomorrow the Wizards and Sorcerers will be arriving. Four guild members will be assigned to each candidate. At least one will be a grand wizard or comparable level. The others will vary from Accepted Apprentices to Wizards; Sorcerers will often attend to assist us with testing and so forth. After you have been accepted into the guild and hold the level of apprentice, you may divulge your teacher of your basic training if you wish. Most do not however, it is past and they are moving on to new things by then.

I do need to know some things however, how long have you been studying.”

“About three years.”

Tantak gave him a sidelong glance, “I don’t think there are many candidates coming to be tested who have only been studying for three years. How old are you boy? ”

“Why, is that a long time? I wanted to come and test six months ago but my master said I was not ready yet.”

“No three years is not a long time, in fact it is a very short time. Most of those coming for test have been studying for five to seven years. Many of them do not succeed the first time and return a year or two later.”

“Well I guess I am ready or I wouldn’t be here.”

“Indeed. Will you need your Grimoire, or will you be working from spells you know.”

“I know all the spells in my Grimoire.”

Again Tantak gave Marshal a hard look as if looking right through him.

“Okay, the rules, you are not to use magic until your testing tomorrow. If you do you will be caught. If you get caught, and you will if you do, you will not be allowed to test tomorrow. During the test you may use any spells within your ability to cast. If your Grand Wizard asks you to divulge your teacher, do so without question immediately. You will not be asked unless it is important. Lastly if at anytime you wish to stop testing, say so. It is better to stop and go back to learn more than to be harmed or killed because you are not ready and are too proud to say so. Are there any questions?”

“Yes, how many are here to be tested?”

“You all always ask the same question. So far three others have arrived. Two of them have tested before and another that like you is testing for the first time.

By the way, have you been drinking any water from Dragon Lake?”

“Yes, for the last couple of weeks, my master allowed me to drink it to prepare for the test. I was amazed that it strengthened my ability so much.”

Tantak laughed, “Most people remember when they have to work.”

They entered the building. Inscriptions covered the walls from ceiling to floor. There were additional inscriptions on the floor and on the ceiling. Tantak noticed that Marshal was studying the inscriptions.

“Can you read any of them?”

“Yes, they are warding spells, stronger than any I have ever seen. There are some in Man’s tongue, some in Elven, and some in another language that I don’t know.”

Tantak’s eyes widened in surprise, “Can you read Elven?”

Marshal’s mouth dropped open. “Yes, I don’t know how, but I can read them.”

“The other language is Ancient Dwarven. They speak in Man’s language know, except for their magic. We always have at least one Elf and one Dwarf as members. This building is warded against every type of magic we can. We even have a Gnome who is a member for warding purposes although Gnome magick is more a toy than real magic.

“Why is it warded so strongly?”

“To keep what is happening here secret. No magician coming here to practice some new spells needs worry that someone will spy on him or her and take their credit for a new spell.”

They had gone up a flight of stairs and into a long hallway. Every four or five paces was a door on each side of the hall. Tantak opened a door and motioned Marshal into the room. Inside was a small room with a bed, a water pitcher, a washing bowl some towels and some lye soap. A small empty chest was on the far wall as was a window looking out on the lake. The floor was bare and it also had inscriptions on it but as he looked at them they vanished. He looked up at Tantak questioningly.

“So we can keep track that no magic is performed by any candidate. Marielmak, one of the tower apprentices will be by shortly to take you on a tour of the tower. It really isn’t a tower, just a big building, but tower sounds more impressive, and most people never visit here.”

“Thank-you, I am looking forward to the tour.”

“Remember, no magic. It will cost you if you do, even if it is to warm your cold soup.”

“I’ll try to remember, thank-you.”

Tantak closed the door behind him. Marshal walked to the window and looked out. From this height, he could make out the far side of the lake. Two or three small villages rested on the shore of the lake. Each had its Lords manor standing predominantly in the center of town. Since use of the lake was prohibited to those who did not use magic, each village happened to be where a stream or river emptied into the lake.

Farther off in the distance he could see the mountains that made up the Mangoso Divide. Beyond that, laid the Bermaldine Wastelands, a desert that to Men’s knowledge had no end.

He stuck his head out the window and looked to his right. He could see the mountains to the south that marked the edge of Karrondor. Beyond them was the Southern Sea. The kingdoms of the south were across the Southern Sea, but it was only a day’s voyage to the south by ship in normal weather.

He looked left, across the plains, he saw in the distance a line that he assumed must be the Krakowal River that ran right into the city of Karron. The plains had a slight roll to them but they were basically flat.

He went back and unpacked his things into the chest and washed up, although he had done almost nothing since he had bathed this morning in Koripak’s castle. He lay down on the bed and thought about the test he would take in the morning. He felt butterflies begin to fill his stomach and tried to think about something else but, it was useless.

He was greatly relieved when a knock came to the door and a young apprentice was at the door. Marshal assumed it was Marielmak, and he wasn’t disappointed.

“Hi, welcome to the tower. I’m Marielmak and I have been asked to give you a tour of the tower. Would you like to come?”

Marshal nodded. “There are a few others I want to take as well. Come on, they are just down the hall. Marshal went with him and they soon had a group of seven including Marshal. Marielmak spoke, “You must understand our rules. First, of course for you and the other candidates for membership, there is no magic, no exceptions! Second, and this rule will always apply here, is no politics. If your country happens to be at war, and you are court sorcerer and you run into the court sorcerer of the opposing country, you would leave the war at the doors of the tower. Third, there is no contention here; Magic and contention do not go together. Fourth, no alcohol consumption is allowed. Not here, not in the privacy of your own home, nothing. A magician must always be in complete control. It is too easy to lose control of your magic, or make a mistake when one is using alcohol. Fifth, and last, you must control your emotions. If you cannot do this, or learn to do this, you will not be given guild membership and you will not be allowed to learn the higher magical arts. It would not do, to kill someone with a thought in anger; and once the higher arts are mastered, that is possible.

If you can not or will not abide by these rules, you are invited to depart before morning. If you take the test, you will be required to take the oath before the guild. A spell similar to a warding spell will be placed upon you at that time and if the rules are broken, then your magic is effectively shut down. Are there any questions?”

A fairly pretty blonde girl in clothes that looked very expensive raised her hand. Marielmak nodded.

“If we are accepted into membership, do we stay here, or do we go live with a master?”

“Good question. Some of you will remain here. Others will be accepted as apprentices right away. Either way you will be trained by a Master Magician or higher.”

Marshal raised his hand. “Yes,” Marielmak said.

“Will we have a chance to interview with the masters and grand masters who will be taking apprentices?”

“Some like to get to know the apprentices first, others like to simply pick an apprentice that strikes their fancy. You will probably speak with some of them.”

“Are there any other questions?” The candidates looked each other over but no one raised a hand. “Very well, we will begin the tour.”

He began walking back down the hallway, toward the stairs. The entire second floor was living quarters. The rooms at the end of the hall that they were coming from were the rooms reserved for candidates. Closer to the stairs were rooms that were about the same size, but, that were more comfortable looking. These were the rooms of the accepted apprentices. On the other side of the stairway were rooms for the master level and above magicians. The head of the guild and the staff lived in very comfortable rooms on the third floor. On the remaining area of the third floor was a large assembly room. While not dramatically ornate, it had an elegance that was very calming.

On the fourth floor were rooms that could be used for practicing new spells. These rooms did not have any windows, but were lit by stones in each corner of the room. Marielmak explained that two of the rocks were sun stones. The other two rocks were moonstones. The sun stones glow during the day and the moonstones glow to a lesser degree during the night. By adding more sun stones the room would glow brighter, but it never got quite as bright as the sun at noon. They then went down to the first floor where there were eating facilities, conference rooms and the formal treaty room. Marielmak explained that in the civilized world any treaties were signed by the respective parties in this room. Each corner of the room had a door that went to an antechamber that had a door to the outside as well. Usually those participating in a treaty would arrive in one of the antechambers and then be escorted into the treaty room at the same time. Each room in the building almost without exception had wardings on all four walls, ceiling, and floor. Marshal decided that the magicians felt privacy was very important.

They ended up in the dining area and it just happened to be at dinner time. Each of the candidates received dinner which consisted of boiled beef, boiled potatoes, bread, field peas, and a type of fruit that Marshal had never seen before. Marielmak told him that it was called an orange. Marshal thought that it should be called a yellow since it was a yellow color, not orange, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

After dinner they were escorted into one of the conference rooms. There they met Tantak, sentry of the Test at the magician’s guild in Landsend, Ferthak, the head of the Magician’s Guild elected for life by guild members, and Marterlak the keeper of the spells of the magician’s guild. Tantak, Ferthak, and Marterlak explained the testing procedure to them very slowly and carefully, lest any person make a mistake that would be the fault of the testers. The seven candidates drew numbers from a pot for the order of the testing, Marshal got number four.

Marshal looked over the other candidates and made his evaluation of each of them. He hoped that each of them would be successful.

First was the blonde woman in the fine clothes that had asked the question earlier. She appeared to be of noble birth and being talented in magic would probably give her a lock on court sorcerer in her country. Her name was Canthar.

Second to be tested was an unclean man of probably forty years old. He wanted to be a magician more than anything, but apparently did not have enough talent to qualify for further instruction but nevertheless returned every year to try again, his name was Sterpal.

The third person that was to be tested was from the southern continent by his looks and dress. He had skin almost as dark as Marshal got when working outside everyday during the summer and wore very light clothing. His name was Ricaral and he always had an expression on his face that reminded Marshal of someone enjoying a private joke.

The woman who would go fifth was probably in her early twenties. She had indicated to Marshal that she had been tested once before and had been taken to a new instructor who had helped her understand magic better. She really felt ready to succeed this time and was confident that she would. She had made a point to let Marshal know that her room was right across the hall from his. She was very pretty and paid Marshal a lot of attention she told everyone that her name was Vientar. Before the end of the evening, she had made Marshal blush more than once.

The sixth candidate was named Bestemal. Bestemal was curt, and quiet. He only answered those questions that were put to him. Marshal thought he had evil eyes and he wore a beard that came to a point on the end of his chin. This was his first test but he had been studying for much longer than Marshal had. He had studied for fifteen years and felt as ready as he could. When it became evident that Bestemal would not talk with Marshal, Marshal decided to talk with Toverar.

Toverar was an orphan like Marshal. She had been left in front of the door of a woman that lived in Cryarlac down near the area where the Mangoso Divide and the Krakowal River split. She appeared to be about Marshal’s own age and seemed as dedicated to magic much as Marshal was. It seemed as though they had barely begun to speak when Tantak indicated that it was time to retire.

They all went up to bed; Marshal began washing when he heard a knock on his door. He put his shirt back on and went to the door. Vientar was standing there in her night clothes. The way that the material clung to her skin distracted Marshal. He managed to look her straight in the eye and concentrated on looking nowhere else.

Marshal sighed, “What can I do for you Vientar?”

“I am a little excited and can’t sleep, I was wondering if I could join you for a little while to talk.”

“Well, Vientar, we have only been upstairs for a few minutes, maybe if you tried to lie down, you would find you are more tired than you think.”

Vientar smiled and moved her body in a very distracting way. “Well, I know myself pretty well. I haven’t tried yet because I know it is a waste of time. Besides, we didn’t get to talk privately and that would be nice don’t you think?”

“Marshal went through a few moments of indecision and then he said, “Vientar, you are very pretty and you seem to be a nice enough person but, tomorrow is the most important day of my life so far and I am not going to go into it tired or not alert, maybe another time.”

He expected Vientar to be angry but she smiled and said, “Okay, see you in the morning.”

She turned away and Marshal began to close his door when he noticed she wasn’t heading across the hall, but down it. Out of curiosity he closed the door almost all the way and watched.

She stopped in front of Ricaral’s door and knocked. Ricaral came to the door. He looked her over very deliberately twice and said, “Vientar, how can I help you?”

“I am a little excited and can’t sleep, I was wondering if I could join you for a little while to talk.”

Ricaral looked down the hallway both directions and opened the door wider for her to come in, and then the door closed and latched.

Marshal closed the door, took off his shirt and finished washing. He turned down the lantern and climbed into bed. He did some relaxation exercises and drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, Marshal awoke, poured himself some wash water and washed quickly, dressed in clean clothes, and went down to the first floor to eat. When he arrived in the dining area, Canthar, Sterpal, and Vientar were talking, the table had a few empty chairs so Marshal headed toward them after getting his breakfast.

“May I join you?” He asked.

Everyone answered affirmatively, and Vientar moved over so he could sit next to her. He sat down and began to listen in on the conversation. He was not surprised to find the subject of the conversation to be the test that they would all take later.

Since Vientar and Sterpal had all been tested before, the others were trying to get as much information as they could about the procedures of the test itself. Vientar was in her element as she loved being the center of attention and everyone seemed to be giving it to her. While they awoke, Bestemal and Toverar arrived; Toverar chose to sit on the other side of Marshal which made him glad that Vientar had moved over when he arrived. If she hadn’t, Toverar would have been sitting next to Bestemal or between Vientar and Canthar.

He took advantage of a lull in the conversation to ask about Ricaral.

“Has anyone seen Ricaral this morning?” He asked, avoiding Vientar’s eyes.

“I haven’t seen him since dinner last night,” Vientar said.

“Neither did I,” the others chorused.

Trying not to show any reaction Marshal said, “Maybe he just slept in this morning.”

About that time, Marielmak arrived at the table. “Where is Ricaral? I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t be up at this hour.”

“Every one says they haven’t seen him since dinner,” Vientar quickly replied. “Do you think maybe we should go check on him?”

“No, I’ll do that, the rest of you need to go to the treaty room. Enter by the southwest antechamber. They are almost ready to begin the testing. I’ll probably see you before hand, but if not, good luck to you all.”

Marielmak arose and went upstairs while all the rest took their dirty dishes to the cleaning area and headed to the treaty room. When they entered the southwest antechamber, Tantak was there to talk to them.

“I see that we are one short, I assume that is where Marielmak has gone.”

They all nodded.

“Good, then we will all be together shortly, I want to cover a few of the protocols of the testing today. Many of our grand masters are here to help with the testing. If you recognize any of them do not acknowledge them, and do not expect them to acknowledge you. If you see your teacher, do not expect them to be any easier on you than they would be on someone else. It is important to those of us in the guild that the standards be maintained. I would fail my own mother if I thought for a moment that she was not qualified to continue her studies as an Accepted Apprentice.” He paused for effect then said, “You will each be assigned a team of examiners. The teams have already met and discussed their tactics on how they will test you. Remember it is their responsibility to truly test your limits; they will try to kill you. I hope that they don’t succeed, but, they will try. Your magical curfew will remain in affect until your test begins. At the beginning of the test you will be given two minutes to use your magic before the team begins to test you. Use it for protection or whatever you need.

As soon as Marielmak arrives with Ricaral, we will go into the treaty room and make the introductions. Your scepters and wands will be brought to you as you will need them for the test. Are there any questions?”

Marshal looked around the room and noticed each of the candidates. All looked nervous, especially Sterpal. He felt a little nervous himself but, was surprisingly calm. He was more concerned about Vientar lying than he was about the test. He told himself that she didn’t want the whole world to know she had been with Ricaral and he understood her thinking on that.

After few minutes, Marielmak came into the room, went up to Tantak, and whispered something into his ear. Tantak looked surprised, but then turned to the group and said, “We will now go into the treaty room.”

“What about Ricaral?” Canthar asked. “Isn’t he coming?”

“No,” Tantak said, “he will not be taking the test.”

Marshal figured that Ricaral had decided he wasn’t ready yet, put Ricaral out of his mind, and began thinking about his test. He rose and walked into the treaty room, never to be the same again.