Summoner: Origins The Prequel (4 page)

7

Obadiah led Arcturus to the dining hall, taking him into the Atrium and beneath the carved archway. Sacharissa paced protectively beside them, sniffing with excitement as they passed through the doors and the scent of food pervaded the air.

The room was filled with low stone tables, surrounded by a dozen servants who scurried around with platters of food. Some of them were dwarves, with thick braided beards and long ponytails. Ulfr was among them, marked out by a purple bruise that must have blossomed on his forehead overnight.

An enormous statue dominated the centre of the room: an armoured man with a powerful build and short beard. His stony gaze seemed to fix on Arcturus, following him as he walked deeper into the room. The level of detail was extraordinary, as if a giant had been turned to stone.

Despite the size of the dining hall, only a few tables were occupied, with an assortment of boys and girls who had turned to stare at them. Arcturus could see bacon and eggs piled high, the gamy scent filling his nostrils and flooding his mouth with saliva.

‘Good morning, students,' Obadiah said, striding ahead of Arcturus to stand beside them. He paused, looking at them expectantly.

‘Good morning, Provost Forsyth, sir,' the students echoed back dutifully, though the tone was one of exasperation rather than respect.

‘I would like to introduce you to our newest student . . .' He paused, and Arcturus realised that Charles Faversham was seated with the others, staring at him with hatred in his eyes. ‘Ah, I see that Charles has arrived at last. Has he filled you in?'

There were several nods from the table and Obadiah smiled.

‘In that case, I shall give you a brief summary of the events that have lead to a commoner joining Vocans. On his way here, Charles mislaid his summoning scroll. It was stolen by young Arcturus here.'

Charles shifted in his seat uncomfortably, before shooting Arcturus another malice laden look. Arcturus realised that the young noble must have neglected to mention that part in his version of the story. Obadiah didn't seem to notice Charles's embarrassment and carried on blithely.

‘By some quirk of nature, he was able to summon the demon Lord Faversham had captured for Charles. After proper interrogation, King Alfric decided that it would be in Hominum's best interest to train the boy.'

One of the nobles stood up, a tall, heavyset lad with a square jaw and a cap of blonde curls.

‘Father, how is this possible?' the boy asked, giving Arcturus a disdainful look. ‘The gift is passed through the blood, it is not some randomly occurring ability.'

‘Do not interrupt, Zacharias,' Obadiah said mildly, pushing him back into his seat. ‘But you have cut right to the heart of the matter. King Alfric has posed that very question to me. In fact, I have another announcement to make. I will be leaving Vocans as Provost, short though my tenure has been here. The king has requested that I lead an investigation, to find out whether Arcturus is a freak, or if there are others like him out there.'

Arcturus looked from Obadiah to Zacharias, suddenly seeing the resemblance between them. The Provost's son's face had become crestfallen, before twisting into a scowl as his eyes fell on Arcturus.

‘Being Provost is far more important. This task is beneath you, Father,' Zacharias muttered.

‘You think you know better than your king?' Obadiah asked, giving his son a withering look. ‘Prince Harold, why do you think your father has sent me away?'

Arcturus's heart leaped in his chest as a dark haired boy with piercing blue eyes stood. His brow was ringed by a silver circlet, studded with rubies. The king's own son was studying at the academy!

‘Lord Forsyth, the reasons are threefold. The first is that in the last dwarven rebellion, the noble families suffered several deaths, and this could happen again if the ongoing altercations with the orcs become any worse. With commoners to swell our ranks, we will be able to take fewer risks, giving the more dangerous missions to them.'

Charles smiled at the prince's words and whispered in Zacharias's ear. Arcturus heard the words, ‘cannon fodder'.

‘Very good, Harold. The second?'

‘With commoners capable of summoning demons, they become a threat to us. By keeping them close, where we can keep an eye on them, we limit their ability to cause us harm.' The prince spoke matter of factly, though he avoided Arcturus's eyes, as if ashamed of his words. ‘This threat has grown of late, ever since my father increased taxes to cover our recent expenses.'

‘Excellent! Now, explain the most obvious reason to my idiot son, so he learns to keep his trap shut,' Obadiah said, narrowing his eyes at his son. Zacharias's face flushed red and he twisted his hands in his lap.

‘A commoner being able to summon means that there may be a way to give the ability to a person who cannot. Therefore, it is possible that we can make all noble children summoners, rather than just the firstborn. We already know that this is possible, given that the Lord and Lady Lovett's second, third and fourth born children are summoners, which was highly improbable. We just don't know why it has happened. Perhaps the commoners are the key to finding out.'

Harold glanced down the table at a group of four students, sitting a little apart from everyone else. Three were dark-haired boys of varying ages, whilst the other was a very young girl with long black tresses and round grey eyes that gazed at Arcturus with frank curiosity. He remembered Lord Faversham had mentioned the Lovett family, accusing them of paying Arcturus to steal the summoning scroll on their behalf. If he remembered correctly, it had something to do with not having enough demons for all of their children.

‘I hope that this is reason enough. Now, Lord Goodwin will be taking over from me as Provost, leaving his role as your spellcraft teacher. We will bring in a new teacher to replace him.'

There was an audible groan from the table, though whether that was because Lord Goodwin was popular or unpopular was unclear.

‘Arcturus, please join your fellow students. After your first lesson come and see me. There are some questions I must ask you before I leave.' With those parting words, Obadiah spun on his heel and strode out of the room.

Arcturus stood for a moment, cringing under the gaze of the nobles. There was a gap between the Lovetts and Zacharias, so he squeezed in and spooned some bacon onto his plate. Sacharissa installed herself beneath the table, searching the floor for food that might have fallen.

‘Something reeks,' Zacharias complained, shifting away from him. ‘Is it the Canid or the pleb?'

‘Both,' Charles said gleefully, pinching his nose with his fingers. ‘They smell exactly the same. Like wet dog.'

‘Dogbreath. That's what we should call him. Much better than Arcticunus, or whatever it was,' Zacharias laughed, and Charles snorted, spraying the table with egg. Another boy joined in with them, a sallow-faced noble with lank black hair tied in a ponytail.

‘Good one, Zach,' the noble guffawed, slapping Zacharias on the back.

‘Oh, leave him alone,' Prince Harold moaned, rolling his eyes at the bullies. ‘Last time we went hawking together, you three smelled twice as ripe, especially after the hike back. Sweating like pigs you were.'

Arcturus smiled gratefully at the prince, realising the young royal was very unlike his father. Harold gave him an apologetic shrug and went back to his meal. The three glowered at him, but Arcturus ignored them and began to eat, trying to stop himself from devouring it like a wild animal. It had been a while since he had last put food in his belly, and though he was used to hunger, he knew he needed to keep his strength up for the challenging days ahead.

It was not long before the rest of the table began to talk amongst themselves. Arcturus was keenly aware of the fact that he still needed to wash, especially after the comments the others had made. He looked up from his food, wondering if there was time to go before the others had finished breakfast.

A fair-skinned boy with scruffy black hair sat across from Arcturus. He noticed Arcturus's gaze and leaned forward.

‘Edmund Raleigh,' the boy said, holding out his hand and giving Arcturus a firm handshake. ‘We've all known each other since we were toddlers, so don't worry if some of the conversation goes over your head. Let me introduce you to everyone. You've already met Charles, Zach and Harold. The boy on the end with the long hair is Damian, but everyone calls him Rook. It's his surname.'

‘Like the chess piece, not the bird,' Rook said, then wrinkled his nose. ‘You probably don't know what chess is anyway.'

Edmund pulled a face at him, then turned to two girls on his right. ‘This is Alice, and this is Josephine, from the Queensouth family. Don't bother trying to tell the difference between them, you'll just get confused.'

‘Hello!' the girls chorused. They were twins, with long blonde hair and large expressive eyes, giving them a doll-like appearance. Edmund was right, they were almost identical. But the one Edmund had introduced as Alice had given Arcturus a bright smile before going back to her meal. Edmund wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek.

‘We're sweethearts, so don't get any ideas,' he winked, before turning to the remaining students to his left.

‘This is Baybars Saladin, the fiercest swordsman you'll ever meet,' Raleigh continued, pointing to a dark-skinned boy beside him. The boy gave him a polite nod before returning to his meal.

‘As you've probably guessed, these four are the Lovetts. This is Fergus, Carter, Arthur—'

‘And I'm Elaine!' the girl piped up, beaming up at Arcturus. ‘I love your demon! Is it a boy or a girl?'

‘A girl, her name is Sacharissa.' Arcturus smiled at her. She looked far too young to be a summoner, thirteen at most. Perhaps her parents had sent her there early, to be with her brothers.

‘She's so cute!' Elaine said, snatching some bacon from the table and holding it out for Sacharissa to eat. The greedy demon immediately forgot her animosity to everyone who wasn't Arcturus, and lapped it up shamelessly.

‘Elaine, that's not polite,' said Fergus, the oldest of the Lovett boys.

‘Oh all right. You're such a worrywart, Fergus,' Elaine moaned, before sneaking a rasher from Arcturus's plate and dropping it surreptitiously to the floor. A few seconds later, Arcturus heard snuffling and chomping from under the table.

‘That's OK. She's barely eaten in days. I wasn't even sure that demons ate our food.'

‘Gosh, you do have a lot to learn,' Edmund laughed, standing up. ‘Good thing you're here! Come on. It's time for our first lesson of the year. Let's find out who our new spellcraft teacher is.'

8

Arcturus was expecting them to lead him up one of the winding staircases when they left the dining hall, but instead they only took a few steps out into the atrium, where the others stopped and began to talk among themselves. It was very dark in the room, for one of the servants had put out the torches. The only source of light came from the dining hall behind them, and a broad column of light from the glass dome embedded in the atrium's ceiling.

As he wondered at the darkness of the room, the other students pointed their fingers into the air, releasing balls of strange blue light that floated around the room, drifting this way and that as if they had a life of their own. They cast a dull cobalt glow in the darkness of the atrium, shifting the shadows and illuminating the gloomy cavern above their heads.

It was the first time Arcturus had seen a spell, and he stared wide-eyed as the strange blue lights glided around the darkness like fireflies. He stared at his own fingers, wondering if he would ever be capable of creating such wonders. Sarcharissa whined, frustrated at his lack of attention. He tore his eyes away from the spectacle and put his hands to better use.

‘What happens now? Shouldn't we be getting to the lesson?' Arcturus asked, rubbing Sacharissa's head.

‘This
is
where all the spellcraft lessons are,' Elaine replied, crouching in front of Sacharissa and examining her with unashamed interest.

‘I love her eyes, they're so blue! Can I pet her?' she asked, reaching out a hand.

‘Elaine!' Fergus snapped, jerking her away. ‘You know you're not supposed to touch another person's demon, especially if it's a boy's!'

‘Why not?' Arcturus asked, wide eyed.

‘It would be . . . unbecoming,' Fergus said, his face reddening. Even as he said it, Arcturus could feel the waves of pleasure from Sacharissa as he scratched her between the ears. Fergus was right. It would be . . . strange . . . if Elaine was to do the same.

‘Sorry . . .' Elaine said, kicking the ground with the toe of her boots.

‘Cheer up, I'm only looking out for you. You're far too young and even if you weren't, well . . . it's a commoner's demon,' Fergus frowned. ‘No offence,' he added hastily.

Now it was Arcturus's turn to redden.

‘None taken,' he replied, though his insides seethed with anger. He had no interest in the little girl, she was only about thirteen after all and romance was the last thing on his mind. Still, it hurt. His ineligibility as a suitor did not need to be pointed out so bluntly.

‘Why don't you play with Valens. You only got him yesterday,' Edmund interrupted, strolling over from the others and giving Arcturus a sympathetic smile.

‘I thought we weren't allowed to have our demons out, unless it was a lesson,' Elaine said, sticking out her bottom lip.

‘Well, the teacher's late, but the lesson's started. I'm sure they won't mind, whoever they are,' Edmund replied.

She looked to Fergus for permission, who rolled his eyes before giving her an exasperated nod.

‘Brilliant!' she grinned, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a Mite, half the size of Obadiah's Rubeus and brown as an autumn leaf, yet clearly of the same species.

‘Hey, you're supposed to have him infused, not just out of sight!' Fergus remonstrated.

‘What's the point of having the smallest demon here if I can't hide him in my pocket? Come on Valens, let's practise hunting!' Elaine giggled, letting the demon fly from her palm to hover in front of her face.

Arcturus couldn't help but smile as the impudent girl capered around the room, leaping and dodging as she and her Mite, Valens, played a strange game of tag.

As she neared the front doors, they blasted open and swung against the stone walls, sending Elaine scurrying back to the others.

For a moment Arcturus's heart leaped when he saw a Peryton outlined against the harsh light from outside, but his joy was short-lived as he recognised the icy beauty who sat astride it.

‘Oh no,' Arcturus muttered, shuffling behind Fergus and Edmund.

Lady Faversham clopped into the room, her back ramrod-straight as she surveyed the students. She dismounted, before slapping her Peryton's rump, sending it swooping back out of the front doors in a thunder of beating wings.

‘So many familiar faces. It brings me such joy to see you all again.' Lady Faversham said, though her cold eyes showed only disdain as they skipped over Arcturus and the Lovetts.

‘Aunt Ophelia,' Prince Harold said, walking over and shaking her hand. ‘I had no idea you would be our replacement! Welcome to Vocans.'

Arcturus felt a growing fear as he realised that the prince had called Lady Faversham his aunt, which meant she was closely related to the king. He knew it was only the king's curiosity that kept him safe. If she were able to convince him otherwise, Arcturus was as good as dead.

‘I'm not your only teacher, Harold. I have brought an assistant teacher, Captain Elizabeth Cavendish. The silly girl has managed to get herself pregnant by a common servant, so she might as well make herself useful. She can teach the youngster,' she nodded at Elaine, ‘and the commoner. The rest of you are already far too advanced, so we will focus on the four battle spells of shield, lightning, fire and telekinesis in my classes. Please stand in a line over there.'

‘Golly, she's something,' Arcturus heard Edmund whisper as they hurried to do her bidding. ‘She's not even unpacked and she's already getting started.'

A second Peryton swooped through the front doors, wheeling around the atrium before landing with a clatter of hooves beside Lady Faversham. Elizabeth grinned at Arcturus, before dismounting and sending Hubertus out again with a click of her tongue.

‘Elizabeth, take the little one and the common boy to the summoning room and teach them the basics. I shall remain with the older students.'

‘I'm not a little one,' Elaine pouted, scowling at Lady Faversham. ‘I'm thirteen years old. Me and Arcturus should stay!'

The noblewoman's nostrils flared, but before she could respond, Elizabeth swiftly took Elaine by the arm and led her through a set of heavy doors a few steps away. Clearly, Lady Faversham did not take kindly to being contradicted.

‘You too,' she snapped, clicking her fingers at Arcturus, ‘and infuse your demon while you're at it. Don't you know you're not allowed your demon out other than in your room and in lessons. If I catch you again, I'll have you sent to the punishment room to think about what you've done.

‘I don't know how to infuse my demon yet,' Arcturus replied matter of factly, ‘and the bedroom I've been given
is
the punishment room.'

Lady Faversham's eyes narrowed and she took a step towards him. Arcturus met her gaze as calmly as he could, though his heart thundered in his chest. Sacharissa bumped her side against his thigh, but he calmed her with a thought before she could let out a growl.

‘I don't like your tone, boy,' she snarled, jabbing her finger at him. ‘You will call me Ma'am when you speak to me. Is that understood?'

‘Yes,
Ma'am
. Should I go now,
Ma'am
? I wouldn't want to keep Captain Cavendish waiting,
Ma'am
.' He didn't know why he was antagonising her. It could only do him harm, for she held all the power and he had none.

‘Get out,' she hissed, pointing at the door, ‘and take that stinking mongrel with you.'

Arcturus hurried to the summoning room, his courage suddenly failing him. He had been very stupid, to speak to her that way. But it had felt good to fight back. Give as good as you get, that was what Elizabeth had told him.

As he and Sacharissa passed by Lady Faversham, she darted forward and drew him close, so he could feel her hot breath on his ear.

‘The king's curiosity will only last so long,' Lady Faversham whispered. ‘When it wanes, I'll have the skin whipped from your hide, and more besides.'

Arcturus tore himself away, trying to stop himself from sprinting out of the room.

‘See you later, dog breath!' Rook called after him.