Sorcerer to the Crown by Cho Zen

Author:Cho, Zen [Cho, Zen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

16

ZACHARIAS’S TRIALS HAD revealed within him an unsuspected core of unflappability. He passed almost immediately from shock to applying himself to practicalities.

“We shall have to take Lady Wythe into our confidence,” he said. “It will make everything easier, for she will be able to prepare a space for our lessons, and get the servants out of our way. We must be discreet. No one else can know. The Society is no more kindly disposed towards female magic than Mrs. Daubeney, and I shall need time to change its mind regarding your education.”

Prunella was not really attending, she was so blissfully absorbed in her familiars. She looked up with the start of someone waking out of a lovely dream.

“My education?” she said. “Need I any instruction now? Surely my familiars will teach me all I need to know.”

“Your familiars know scarcely more than you about the operation of magic—certainly not the principles of mortal thaumaturgy,” said Zacharias. “Recall that they are newborn, and will have forgotten much of their former lives in Fairyland. They will rely upon you for guidance and restraint—and you will pay dearly for any lapse. Even under Mrs. Daubeney’s scheme of instruction you must have heard of the perils of excessive magic ungoverned by learning.”

“Say, rather, especially under Mrs. Daubeney’s scheme of instruction,” said Prunella. The infusion of potent magic had had much the same effect upon her spirits as a bottle of champagne, and Zacharias’s sobriety could not dampen her. “If she had her way the girls would hardly have been taught anything else. Miss Jellicoe used to have to pretend she was lecturing them on the evils of magic, when they were only conning their figures. Poor thing! I believe algebra was all she ever thought of.”

Zacharias paid this diversion little regard. Giddiness was to be expected in a new sorceress.

“There is no time to lose,” he said. “Your familiars are young: it will be some time before they reach the peak of their powers, and for the time being they are pliant. We ought to start right away.”

He had expected that the prospect of beginning her studies would delight Prunella, but to his surprise she said doubtfully:

“Oh, if you think we must! I should not like to take you from your work. You must have a great deal on your hands now that Mak Genggang has flown, and that wicked Society is rampaging about demanding your head on a plate. I am sure you ought not to concern yourself with my instruction when matters of such importance require your attention.”

“Your instruction is a matter of great importance,” said Zacharias severely. “The education of Miss Prunella Gentleman may have been of concern only to herself before. Now that she has acquired three familiars, her education is rightly a matter of concern to the entire nation, little though it knows it!”

“Why should that be?” said Prunella, bemused.

“Miss Gentleman, you represent what English magic has been seeking for half a century,” said Zacharias. “With three familiars, you

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