magic

Bradin stood frozen staring at his master. He couldn't believe it, a mage right here in front of him. Mages tended to stay near the big cities, because they payed more for their services. what was a mage doing out in the middle of nowhere?

"you are an ice mage?" Bradin asked

"yes, i am now what type are you?" Black Ice asked him

"i i i'm not a mage." Bradin stuttered out

"of course you are." Black Ice exclaimed "you mean to tell me, that you haven't been tested?"

Bradin shook his head and said "i've been a slave since just before i was seven summers."

"oh that explains it." Black ice muttered to himself. "usually on their eighth summer children are tested to see if they have magic."

"but rarely do slaves get tested. and unless you displayed a great act of power they would never suspect you of being a mage."

"ok?" Bradin said still trying to process what was happening.

"well it looks like we will half to take you to the Earthmother's temple. i know some people who will be able to see what kind of magic we are dealing with."

"um. ok?" Bradin said

"by the way my name is Ivan, not black ice." Ivan said with a chuckle.

"Bradin." Bradin said.

"i think i will keep this for now." Ivan said holding up the grey crystal. "just so no one is suspicious. also sorry for making you mad, i just wanted to see how powerful you where."

"ok? how would making me mad show you my power?" Bradin asked confused

"right you don't know anything about magic. um... think of it this way. your magic is like water in a well. your emotions are the bucket and rope you use to get the water. the stronger the emotion the better and quicker you get the magic."

"that makes sense." Bradin said nodding.

"good, now when we get to the next town i know someone who can get us to the Earthmother's temple quickly without having to walk across the whole continent."

"how?" Bradin asked

"magic."Ivan said with a chuckle

After they had finished eating they continued down the road. every once in a while they talk to each other. Bradin just didn't know how to talk to some one like Ivan. he wasn't a slave but he didn't act like a master either. so he let Ivan do most of the talking.

Bradin learned that Ivan was from a family of six in the Northern most kingdom of Skaep. He was the only one with magic in his family, so when he was tested at eight summers his family immediately found a mage to sponsor him and off he went to the Earthmother's temple.

He also learned that if a mage was to discover someone with magic they where commanded by mage law to sponsor them. hence the reason for Ivan paying so much to get Bradin. he didn't want anyone else buying him and then having to track them down to get him.

the reason Ivan had not talked to Bradin until midday was he was hoping, that Bradin would ask where they where going. He hadn't expected him to be so patient. when they had locked eyes in the tavern he could feel a warmth, and he could see a slight halo of light around Bradin.

Because of this he suspected that his magic was either of the fire or plant type. Hence the reason for going quickly to the Earthmother's temple to get him a teacher. Technically Ivan was supposed to teach him, but an ice mage teaching a fire or plant mage was not the smartest idea.

ice just didn't mix with fire or plants. however he would be responsible for Bradin's needs until he was old enough to take care of him self or he was powerful enough to get a job and protect himself.

Soon the sun was setting in the west. They had made good progress, but it was still going to be at least two days until they reached the next city. as he stopped Bradin looked around there was just snow covered hills in either direction. Nowhere to take shelter.

"where are we going to sleep." Bradin asked no longer afraid to speak up

"watch this." Ivan said with a smirk

Ivan raised his hands and closed his eyes. when he suddenly he opened them they where shinning with a white light. he moved his hands and the snow started to move on the side of the road.

Bradin stood there speechless as he watched the snow formed a dome topped house. Ivan let his hands drop and his eyes stopped shinning. Bradin went up to the house slowly it had only one room but it was big enough for four people to sleep side by side quite nicely.

"lets get settled." Ivan said with a smile

He reached into a bag on his waist and pulled out a metal circle, the size of a slave ring. he sat it in the center of the room and said a word that Bradin couldn't hear. a fire sprung up from the circle quickly heating the room.

Next Ivan took out two wooden doors, and laid them on the ground on either side of the fire ring. again he said some word Bradin didn't hear and the wood expanded upwards and formed two beds.

The last thing Ivan took out of his bag where two blankets. He sat one on each bed and sat down on the bed closest to the door.

Ivan gestured to the other bed and said "get some sleep you need it."

"thank you." Bradin said going over to the bed.

as he got on the bed he was surprised to find the wood quite soft. he looked over at Ivan who was smiling.

"magic?" Bradin asked

"magic." Ivan confirmed

Ivan then started taking off his boots. Bradin watched confused he looked around for a bathing basin, but couldn't find one. why was Ivan getting undressed if he wasn't going to bathe?

as Ivan then took off his shirt and trousers, standing there in just a breach cloth, Bradin got a good at the tattoos that went across his body. It seemed that the tattoo started in the center of his chest right between his pectorals, and straight above his navel.

it was a filled in circle of light blue color. branching out of that circle looked like little swirling rivers. they reached out and circled each nipple, and one even circled down around Ivan's navel. The rest of the rivers went up covering Ivan's shoulders neck and face.

"the tattoo grows with my power." Ivan said as he saw Bradin looking at him. "it started out as just this circle." he said pointing to his chest.

"as i grew in power each of these rivers grew out of it."

"so the more tattoo you have the more powerful you are?" Bradin asked

"thats right."Ivan said as he got on his bed and under the blanket.

Bradin took off his shoes and got into his bed. he would have copied Ivan after all he was going to be a mage, and if that is how mages sleep then he wouldn't want to stand out. However slaves where not given breach cloths just outer clothing. If he was ever to be freed that was one of the first things he would get.

the bed was so soft it was much easier to get to sleep. however Bradin stuck to the ritual of humming his lullaby. he hummed it as he drifted off to sleep.

in the other bed Ivan didn't know why he felt so drowsy suddenly then he heard it. a gentle melody coming from Bradin. he was almost asleep when he felt it a slight spark of magic woven within the song. Ivan struggled to stay awake to fight the magic, but it was too strong. he was soon in a deep sleep.

in the middle of the night, Bradin woke up. at first he didn't know why, then he heard horses hooves clomping down the brick road. he went to the door of the house and all he could see coming towards him where torches.

Bradin rushed to Ivan and shook him trying to wake him up.

"Ivan! Ivan!" he half yelled half whispered.

Slowly Ivan woke up. "what is it?" he asked groggily.

"wake up! we have to hide!" Bradin said

Because torches only meant one thing bandits.