The room Royce lead Corwin and Jabez to was large enough to hold a dozen people. Plush, high-backed chairs stood in a circle around the scrying orb. A sideboard with various bottles and decanters stood against one wall, though Corwin was sure that if he helped himself to the libations that he’d have another fee tacked onto his Guild account. He took a position against one wall, near the door, staying as out of the way as possible while still able to see what was going on.

Master Royce took a small notebook out of his pouch, along with a nub of a pencil. Flipping to an empty page, Royce made a few notations, then touched the scrying orb with two fingers. Glowing blue and white clouds blossomed from the initially opaque orb, bathing the room in a soft, blue glow. Above the orb was a blurry image that resolved itself into a smaller representation of Vash and the room he was in. Aside from the image being slightly transparent, it was a quite clear and detailed picture of what was happening in the Gauntlet at that moment. While Corwin stared at the magical marvel, Royce frowned and dragged two fingers across the orb, rotating the image. No matter what side faced Corwin, he noted, the image of the Gauntlet wall was transparent, providing an unobstructed view.

“You don’t have to stand all the way back there.” Royce said, in a distracted, but pleasant tone, while watching Vash and making a few more marks in his notebook.

“Pardon?” Corwin asked. He’d been so caught up in watching the image that he’d almost forgotten Royce was in the room.

“You can take a seat.” Royce said, still not looking at Corwin. “Eddar’s a stickler for rules and appearances, but I’m a bit more relaxed.”

Corwin thought about it, then shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure Master Jabez would prefer I kept a watch position.”

Royce let out a sharp laugh. “I’ve never known Master Jabez to prefer his apprentices to do anything besides get him another ale.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Look, Jabez is a very capable fighter.” Royce said, turning to face Corwin. “I’d have him in my party in any dungeon dive you’d want to take. But he’s got a bit of a reputation when it comes to apprentices.”

“He seems all right to me,” Corwin said, choosing his words with care. Guild politics was a thorny subject with Jabez. Luckily, they spent most of the year out on the road, only going to Guild Lodges when necessary. So they avoided the worst of the maneuvering and politics.

“Ask around about the Dromund Keep incident.” Royce said, face becoming serious. “You’re still early enough in your career that you can have your Marker transferred to another Master.”

Corwin was about to respond when the door opened and Jabez walked through. “No poaching my apprentices, Royce.”

“I was just letting him know that there are options.” Royce said, turning his attention back to the orb. Vash was investigating the lock, passing the dagger over the keyhole. Corwin saw Royce frown slightly and make a note of what he was seeing. “Besides, I have no need for you School of the Blades types, much less for an apprentice from there. Blundering around my nice, neat delve. Setting off traps and getting blood everywhere, no thank you.”

If Jabez had caught the rest of his conversation with Royce, he didn’t say. He crossed the room and took a seat opposite to Royce, turning his attention to the image floating in mid-air. Vash found a loose rock with odds-and-ends in the alcove behind it. Royce gave a grudging nod and made more notes. The three of them stood in silence for a few moments, watching Vash work out the first room of the Gauntlet. After bending some wire and working the door lock, Vash stood up and looked very satisfied. A red glow appeared on the image of the door and numbers began counting down in the air above the image.

“What happened?” Corwin asked, not quite following what he was seeing.

“He tripped a trap,” Royce said. “If he knew Detect Traps, then it wouldn’t have been an issue. Your apprentice apparently doesn’t know that particular Talent, though.”

Jabez didn’t comment, remaining stone-faced, watching Vash work through the problem.

“What’s that mean?” Corwin asked.

“The timer is how much time he has until he fails the evaluation.” Royce said, nodding towards the numbers that were steadily ticking down.

Corwin frowned and looked over at Jabez. The dwarf kept his eyes on the image, never looking away. Frustrated, Corwin looked back at Royce. “What happens if he fails the evaluation?”

Royce opened his mouth to answer, but closed it when the door opened again. Master Eddar entered the room, followed by Inquisitor Glauch. “If he fails the evaluation,” Eddar said, in an annoyed tone, “then he’s rejected from the Wayfarer’s Guild.” He crossed the room and took a seat next to Royce.

Glauch drifted to stand by the sideboard, eyes scanning the room with barely concealed contempt.

Eddar continued, “In that event, he would normally be returned to the Ducal authorities. However, since he was and is still under a sentence of treason and death, we have agreed to remove certain safeguards in order to judge your prospective apprentice adequately.”

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Jabez shot Eddar a look. “What have you done?”

“I’m simply dealing with your mess, Jabez.” Eddar snapped, then rapidly composed himself. “If the boy has the skills needed to become a Wayfarer, then he will be fine. If not, then the problem takes care of itself.”

“This was just supposed to be a training evaluation.” Jabez said, eyebrows drawing together like thunderclouds. “What about Master’s prerogative? The Vagabond Law?”

Eddar looked at Glauch and Corwin thought he saw a hint of shame pass over the Lodgemaster’s face. It was only for a moment. Then Eddar turned his attention to the image of Vash struggling with the device hidden in the second mage-lamp. “I am using my discretion as Lodgemaster to make some…adjustments, for the good of the Lodge and the Guild presence here in Galadon.”

“The Duke does not appreciate being made a fool of,” Glauch said from the sideboard. He uncorked a bottle, sniffed it, then made a face and put it back. He turned back to the rest of the room, but his gaze swept past Jabez and settled on Corwin. Glauch gave Corwin a thin smile, “Neither do I.”

The countdown on the floating image stopped and a soft chime sounded. The red glow on the door shifted to green, and Vash opened the door. Corwin smiled. Good going, Vash. I knew you could do it.

The image shifted, showing a long hallway, Vash entering from one end. As soon as Vash stepped into the hallway, another chime sounded and the timer reappeared. Red glows blossomed all across the hallway tiles. Corwin stiffened as Vash narrowly dodged a crossbow bolt, then moved with lithe, fluid grace to wedge himself against the wall as the tiles he had just been rolling across collapsed into the muddy water below.

“That’s quite impressive.” Royce murmured, looking at Vash in surprise.

“What was that?” Glauch asked, quickly crossing to the circle of chairs and staring at Vash. “What did he just do?”

“I’m not sure,” Royce said, as though seeing Vash in a new light. “It looked like a variant on Enhance Ability. Judging by his aura, however, his Core is burning a lot more mana that it would if he were using a minor Talent like that one.”

“You can see his aura?” Corwin asked, squinting and trying to see for himself.

“Using the scrying orb,” Jabez told him. “It’s one perk of being a Master in this situation.”

“Did he tell you about that one?” Royce asked Jabez.

“No, he mostly was working with Minor Talents, any Major ones were more combat oriented.” Jabez said, leaning forward in his seat.

Corwin saw Jabez absently fingering the small, tarnished bronze rings that were threaded through his beard. He’s interested, that’s good. Corwin felt some relief. If Jabez didn’t think Vash was worth the time, then all his effort was going to be wasted. It had been a struggle for Corwin just to get Jabez to accept him as an apprentice, let alone take on Vash as well. Jabez had his doubts when Corwin presented him with the idea.

But Jabez likes an underdog, that’s what made him take me on. Corwin thought. If Vash is the same person I remember, then he’ll impress the old man, too. If he doesn’t…

The feeling of dread that crept over Corwin almost made him shudder. He remembered his own Gauntlet. It differed from the one at this Lodge, which was a far newer construction than the one at Samson’s Gate. The training grounds in the hometown of the Wayfarers were almost like a temple, full of old magic and the spirits of adventurers who had gone before. The last task had been to take his Wayfarer amulet from a Shrine of Olom, the god of fate and destiny.

Most Wayfarers never felt anything when taking their amulets. Masters viewed it as routine, a harmless, archaic ritual. Sometimes, however, destiny had other plans.

The vision was a chaotic jumble of images: ancient dungeons, deep wildernesses, himself leading other Wayfarers, fire, death and blood, a man with a manic smile and an ancient dagger, a woman wreathed in flames that did not seem to touch her.

Corwin had forgotten most of it, but the part that haunted him, the part that he could not let go of, had to do with Vash.

It was only a moment, but it was enough. Vash in armor black as the deepest caverns of the Underlands, carrying blades that shone like pale moonlight, standing against him on the parapet of a crumbled city wall. Corwin was also armed in the vision, carrying a blade he had never seen before, a sword with the flared leaf-shape that Malconian swordsmen preferred. The metal gleamed silver and bronze in the brief flashes from lightning. Corwin faced off against his friend, a feeling of hatred and betrayal surging through him. Vash bore a dark look, cold, callous, and unfeeling. Lightning flashed, and they both charged one-another, then the vision had ended.

He’d never told Jabez about the vision, but ever since then, he had been on the lookout for news of Vash. Visions from Olom often could not change. But the god of fate liked a good story. Or so the rumor went. If he could change Vash’s fate, then maybe he could change his own. Because one thing was certain, if the vision came to pass then truly bad things were going to happen. He didn’t know what, but every time he thought of the vision, Corwin had a wave of despair wash over him.

I can change it. He thought, watching Vash study the tiles, then draw Corwin’s dagger, preparing for a throw. It all starts here.

Glauch chuckled slightly when the dagger struck the ground and skittered out of reach. “I’m not sure what he thought he would achieve doing that.”

Vash sprang from the wall and landed lightly on one foot, balancing precariously on the small corner decorations of the tiles. Jabez nodded as he watched. “He was finding a safe place to stand, figuring out the rules.”

Eddar frowned at the image, glancing at Glauch, trying to judge the Inquisitor’s reaction. Glauch’s smirk faded into a carefully neutral expression. He folded his arms across his chest and focused intently on Vash’s progress through the hall.

Royce leaned forward when Vash approached the exit door, intense interest plain on his face as Vash extended a hand to reach for the door handle. Corwin saw that the handle itself was glowing red on the image. Another trap?

Vash examined the knob, then wrapped it in the thin cloth from the first room. Royce made a hmmm of interest and made another note.

“What did you use this time?” Eddar asked, while trying not to look at Glauch.

“Stranglethorn.” Royce said, not looking up. “The sap is a pretty potent contact paralytic. At the very least, he would have lost the use of his dominant hand for a few hours.”

“Yet he defeated it with a strip of cloth.” Glauch said. His face didn’t change, but Corwin could almost hear the sneer in his voice.

Royce looked up. “I’m trying to assess his skills, not fail him outright.”

“Of course.” Glauch said, looking down at the halfling. “We want to be fair.”

“I wouldn’t be too concerned, Inquisitor Glauch.” Eddar said. “The next room is quite challenging. I made certain of that.”

Jabez’s head snapped to look at Eddar. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see,” Eddar said, looking determined but with a tinge of regret. “It will be over soon.”