There were only three people in the large room, which was lit by a few scattered candles along with the dim, cloud-filtered sunlight that poured in through several unobscured windows. Mr. Albeck was in the midst of reading something to the girls when Alistar walked in, which prompted him to pause.
“Ah, Alistar. Right on time.”
Anice and Lessa were on either side of the man, who was dressed in a thick blue robe of dyed cotton that was tied at the waste with a belt of golden fabric. This, of course, was a secondary robe, a style of apparel that was apparently customary for mages and magi.
“Hello Teacher,” he said, taking a seat across from the other three. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“You are, but it’s for the best. I take it that you’ve already heard the news about your cousins?”
Anice sent him an anxious glance, like a frightened mouse looking for friendship.
“Yes, Alder told me earlier this afternoon.”
“Then you’re aware that there’s been a change to our lesson plan.”
“What’ll we be learning?” he asked, failing to hide the excitement in his voice.
“Not the battle magics that you’re so crazy about. No, the spell I’ll be teaching you is quite difficult. Are you sure you’re up to the challenge?”
“Of course I—wait, I’m the only one who will be learning it?”
“For now, yes.” Closing the book that he had been reading, Mr. Albeck withdrew a small notebook from within his inner robe and slid it across the table. “This notebook details some general information about the spell, along with some insights that I added back in the day while I was learning it.”
Opening the notebook, which was untitled, Alistar raised an eyebrow at the large print on the first page. “This is an alteration spell?”
“Yes, an ocular one to be specific. By relying on this, you’ll be able to change the colour of your eyes at will.”
Alistar immediately saw through the reason. “Uncle wants me to hide the gold in my eyes, doesn’t he?”
“An idea that I wholly support.”
“Won’t my uncles notice, though? I’ve heard that they’re capable magi.” They bore the direct bloodline of the main branch of House Silverkin, after all, a noble line that had existed for centuries.
“Though I’m loath to admit it, they’re more powerful than I am when it comes to a contest of magic.” Looking both jealous and bitter, he went on, “The only reason for this, of course, is the ridiculous amount of inner energies that they possess. I’ve had several classes with them in my younger days, and they were always quite brutish with their spells. More power, less control—that sort of mindset.”
Skimming through the first couple of pages, Alistar shut the notebook and then stowed it away in a pocket. “Is there any way that someone might notice?”
“Only if an arch magus or a high arcanite happen to pay a visit while they’re here, which is unlikely. There’re only two people of such stature in all of Civus, and both are in the capital serving in your grandfather’s court. He’s got quite the tight leash on your uncles these days, so this visit will have to be kept a secret.”
“How can they manage that?”
Both of his uncles were very important figures within the kingdom, which made it likely that others would recognize them at a glance.
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“It’s quite simple, actually. They’ll likely have their own court magi cast illusion spells to keep up the image of their presence, while they and their sons slip out of town at a discreet time and place. It’s an approach many nobles use from time to time.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for people of their status to travel alone?” Alistar had been under the impression that people who ruled such large cities as Valay and Calei would always be surrounded by large retinues of knights and soldiers.
“Be it bandit or beast, it’s unlikely that anything between their duchies and this county will pose any threat to them. Besides, it’s not like this is the first time that they’ve done this.”
“I wish they weren’t coming.” Anice slumped over and laid her head on the tabletop, Lessa patting her on the back in a consoling manner.
“Don’t worry, Anne. If you’d like, you can just stay at my house until they leave.”
“I already asked Papa, and he said that I had to be here for each meal. It wouldn’t make any difference.”
Mr. Albeck gave her an understanding frown, though said nothing.
Alistar reached out and grabbed one of her hands. “I won’t let them bother you, Anne. Except for during lessons with Master Tramon, I’ll stay by your side the entire time that they’re here.”
She gave him a meek stare. “Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
Hearing this, her expression lightened up a great deal. “Okay, I’ll try not to think about it, then.”
“And I’ll try to visit as much as I can.” Lessa leaned in to say something to Anice in a hushed voice, though it was easily audible in the quietness of the room. “Wouldn’t it be nice if Alistar taught them a lesson?”
“He will do no such thing.” Mr. Albeck looked Alistar dead in the eye and warned, “Listen closely, lad. Most Silverkins are lucky enough to die of old age, but the ones that don’t are almost always killed by other Silverkins in some way or another. Your main priority while your relatives are here is to remain as inconspicuous as possible.” Pressing a finger down on the table’s surface with each sentence for emphasis, he continued, “Don’t speak unless it’s necessary. Don’t connect eyes for longer than expected. Don’t try to sound smart—the simpler your speech, the better. Most importantly, spend the most minimal amount of time with your cousins. And no matter what, don’t anger them. These are your eldest cousins and they’re set to hold a good deal of influence in the future.”
“Why can’t I just stay away from the estate while they’re here?”
“Because they already know about you.” His face darkened by a slight degree, though not to the extent that anyone other than Alistar seemed to notice. “Either someone of significant stature in Distan’s society has contacted them about the presence of another Silverkin at Caedmon’s estate, or they’ve sent people here to watch your uncle and happened to notice this fact. Either way, hiding you somewhere else is no longer an option.”
“So that’s what it was.” Regardless of which possibility was true, Alistar was a bit perturbed by the thought. For what reason would his other uncles assign people to keep an eye on Caedmon?
“I know it’s frustrating,” sighed the magus, “but there’s no use lamenting over it. So long as you learn this new spell, you’ll be right as rain.”
If Alistar recalled correctly, Mr. Albeck had taught his uncle Antoine’s sons during his previous tenure as the court mage of Valay, where the duke in question lorded over the fertile duchy of Vern. This job had only ended a short while ago, and of his teacher’s instigation, no less. From what Alistar could gather, the well-read man wasn’t on good terms with his former employer. The same went with his uncle Daniel, whose children he had taught before Antoine’s.
“Will you be okay, teacher?”
“I should think so. There are only a hundred or so full-fledged magi in Civus, and I’m one of the more well-known. Alder is also quite capable, and the two of us have contributed enough to the kingdom that the king wouldn’t appreciate it if anything were to happen to us. He is quite greedy, after all, especially for talent.”
“Okay, teacher. I’ll remember everything you said.”
“I know you will, lad.” Clearing his throat and sitting up straighter in his seat, Mr. Albeck wore a slightly embarrassed expression. “Look at me, badmouthing your entire family without filter. What a role model I am.”
“You can say more,” pouted Anice, whose long hair was still splayed across the table in a mess of crimson strands.
“Up now, lass. Let’s continue with our reviewing, shall we?” Turning to Alistar, he added with a hazel-eyed stare, “There’re thirty-two pages in that notebook. Do you think you’ll be able to have it read for tomorrow?”
Alistar felt his heartrate beginning to pick up. “I can have it done for tonight. It’s still a while until supper.” He wanted nothing more than to rush off to his room so that he could rifle through the notebook in his pocket.
“No need to force it. For now, why not stay here and review with us? It’ll help to cheer up your cousin.”
Eager though he was to expand upon his skillsets, he felt pity for Anice and the anxiety that she must have been feeling, so he remained in his seat and nodded at the book that sat in front of his teacher. Looking at the bowl of water and the several empty cups that were sitting beside it, he recognized the lesson that Anice was trying to learn.