Chosen by Mark E. Cooper

Author:Mark E. Cooper [Cooper, Mark E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Impulse Books UK
Published: 2016-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

21 ~ Testing

Kendrick led Lloyd along the corridors, chatting away. They encountered plenty of people, and Kendrick greeted some by name. He introduced him as Bevyn’s new apprentice, and at first he thought his friend was just doing so off hand, but it happened too often. More, Kendrick didn’t vary the script, as if he’d memorised it. In a quiet moment between encounters, he asked him about it.

“Bevyn told me to make sure you’re known as his from the first.”

“Why, do you know?”

“The news of your sponsorship will be all over the Guild before the end of the day. That should stop any attempt to lure you away from Bevyn, but more importantly, it should stop them enquiring into your background. No benefit for them, do you see?”

He nodded. It impressed him that Bevyn had taken steps so quickly to protect his secret. Why would anyone take the time to investigate him, once it was widely known that he was already Bevyn’s apprentice?

Kendrick knocked on a door, and they entered together without waiting. The room wasn’t an apartment this time. It was furnished as a comfortable study. Bevyn was already present with two other men. He didn’t recognise either of Bevyn’s friends, but Kendrick introduced them as Guildmaster Warren Halvard, and Master of Novices Hubert Atella. He shook their hands, and took a seat when invited.

Bevyn began the meeting. “As I explained to you in the Broken Arrow, there are those within the Guild who have first call upon my loyalty. As we agreed, I’m asking for your permission to divulge our secret regarding your origins. Do I have it?”

He’d expected something of the sort. At least it was happening here in controlled surroundings unlike last time, and if his secret had to be shared, he preferred it be done all at once. He gave his permission with a nod.

“Thank you,” Bevyn said solemnly, but then he grinned. He turned back to the others. “I asked for this meeting to introduce Lloyd as my soon to be apprentice, but also to divulge something astounding that he told me under oath. Lloyd is from another world, and he needs our help to return home.”

The two men looked at Bevyn in total disbelief.

He smiled and compounded things. “I can see you don’t believe him, so why don’t I swear again so we can move on? I swear this world is not the world of my birth. May the Goddess strike me down this instant if I lie.”

As before, magic swirled and bound him to the oath. It dissipated leaving him unharmed. Bevyn’s friends looked on in horror, just as Bevyn had done last time, and he laughed. He couldn’t help himself. He raised a hand and apologised.

“I’m not laughing at you, but at the situation... your faces,” he said and snorted. “Sorry again. You look as shocked as Bevyn and Kendrick did when I told them. Horrified, absolutely horrified.” He calmed himself and nodded. “Horrified,” he said dourly. “I don’t actually want to go home, but I do need to learn how it can be done.

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