“Rarely we’ll find someone with slight affinity for more than one magic but in most of those cases the youth’s primary affinity will be obvious .” The sorcerer shrugs. “In those cases it’s simple, we send them to learn from the master in their primary talent and learn only the basics of the secondary. Once in a generation there will be a true dual mage and in those cases he or she is given a choice between the two of which they will take as their primary focus and which to master over time. ”

Draken sighs. “So I get to make my own choice, then?”

“About that,” the rat like mage says, “firstly there has never been a case in recorded history of a mage with full aptitudes for all three schools of magic. Complicating it more is the master’s prerogative as they are each guaranteed by law to get the apprentice of their choosing, failing accidents of course. To summarize, you won’t be getting a choice the three masters will have to decide amongst themselves.”

***

“I still don’t believe it,” Morro says. “One of you must have made a mistake.”

The witch snorts derisively. “What makes you so certain it was one of us and not you?”

“Don’t be Absurd!” The old sorcerer replies. “Even you’ve admitted to seeing him use sorcery and I’ll admit it does sound as though he hijacked your witchcraft, that said I have my doubts about your test, Hood.”

Blackard Hood’s gaunt youthful features are illuminated by the warm glow of his pipe.

“I know my business,” he says. “Any fool can carve a rune into magicyte but it takes a wizard’s gift to translate the intent to the crystals.”

Tamrin crosses her arms. “This endless debate is getting us nowhere, we must decide who his primary master will be.”

“Must you do that in here, Hood?” Morro waves away the clouds of smoke. “Clearly since he’s been using sorcery the longest I should be his master. He can learn witchcraft and wizardry as time permits.” A raspy laughter, the smoke in the room forms human shapes. The shapes battle with swords and pikes. Blackard Hood’s eyes stand out, reflecting the dim smoulder of his pipe.

“Time is a luxury we may not have. We all know there’s trouble up north in Valis, under it’s strange usurper king they’ve begun an expanding war of conquest, utilizing unknown magic. It’s only a matter of time before they crush Taniran and their hungry gaze falls south. Here we are presented with an ideal weapon and what do we do?” He tosses his pipe to the ground.

“We stand here bickering like children, ready to squander the chance we’ve been given!”

“What are you thinking, Hood?”

All the figures in the wavering smoke fall as one and a single figure grows above all.

“I believe we can create a legend and in doing so better that boy’s chance of survival in the war to come.”

“Theoretical,” Veronica says. “But at the core you have a point and I must admit the thought of working that brat three times as hard as any apprentice appeals to me.”

Morro twists his moustachios. “We’ll each take him as an apprentice and bring out his full potential by any means possible, I like it.”

Hood nods, his blue eyes aglow with possibilities.

“When we’ve finished the world will never forget our three-way apprentice.”

***

When the three masters cross the curtain into the sorcery room they stop as they notice the many young eyes fixed on them.

“What’s this, a party?” Morro asks.

The rat eyed mage shrugs. “They won’t leave without learning what you’ll do with young Draken.”

“I don’t see how it’s any of their business.” Morro replies.

The rat eyed mage shrugs again.

“Believe me, I’ve told them. Short of using force I can think of no way of getting rid of them.”

Tamrin clicks her tongue.

“What’s wrong with using force?”

Hood waves off the thought.

“We do that and raise a fuss and we’ll have interference before we can lay our claim, I’d hate to have the council getting involved at this stage. ”

Tamrin looks over the teens dismissively.

“How exactly do we keep them quiet? These kids start running their mouths and we’ll have a celebrity before sundown and the council up our collective asses before we can count to ten.”

Hood scratches his chin.

“We’ll have to bargain with these young jackanapes. I’ll pass anyone who swears to keep his mouth shut.”

“You can’t do that!” Tamrin shouts.

“For once I agree,” Morro says. “We can’t go handing out apprenticeships to people we know will fail at them.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Hood asks, throwing up his arms.

“We should curse them,” Tamrin grins wickedly. “Horrible death to any who reveal our secret.”

Morro shakes his head.

“That’s just as likely to get the council involved, Hood was closer. We’ll need to bribe them somehow but blanket passes are a terrible idea.”

“Just use money,” Draken chimes in. “Hush money’s as old as time, do I really gotta explain the concept?”

“Boy’s right,” Hood says, “Those of you who were close to passing will be passed today without further trials. The few of you unlikely to ever pass will be offered a stipend and all aid in finding apprenticeship outside of magic.” He looks at them each ominously. “This is all in exchange for your complete silence, enforced under voluntary geis.”

A low murmur echoes around the table as the youths consult one another. Tucker stands as the others nod approval.

“I speak for everyone when I say, our lips are sealed.”