The Other Apprentice

3-2 | A Long Ride

If Lytgard was famous for one feature, it was its mountains. There was certainly flatland in Lytgard; vast stretches of farmland and forest in the valley with mighty rivers. The sprawling port city of Rhian handled more merchant and naval ships than nearly any other harbor in the world. But all that was secondary to the intimidating Cloudspear Mountains and its high cliffs and narrow passes that had made non-magical assault nearly impossible for several centuries.

Highhold especially was associated with the mountains, situated high upon Greygaunt peak, protected on three sides by impassable natural walls. The passes leading down from the city to the plains below were known for being long, winding and crowded as they passed through several mining and logging towns on the way down catering to a near constant stream of merchants and farmers.

None of that was a concern for the coach Tenet and Quinn now found themself in. Sticking to the Regent's pass, reserved for official business by the Regency as well as the military, they sped their way down via a more direct path bypassing the many narrow twists and switchbacks along the way, finding themselves at the base of the mountain while the sun was still rising in the east.

Despite his lack of sleep, Tenet was wide awake finding himself watching the scenery out the window as it passed by. Templar Pelwyn appeared to be asleep, but Tenet had little doubt that the man's alertness level was higher than it seemed. Quinn on the other hand had spent the entire time wordlessly staring at Tenet from the other side of the coach. It was starting to get on Tenet's nerves.

Finally, Tenet had enough. Turning away from the trees and rivers, he focused his attention on the young woman. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Simple. I don't get you. I'm trying to figure out what your angle is."

Tenet sighted, "I don't have an angle."

Quinn shook her head slightly. "Everyone has an angle. Nobody does anything for anyone without there being something in it for them. What is it you want, Tenet?"

"Nothing. I just—" Tenet sighed, starting to feel the tiredness that had been evading him all morning. "I want to be a wizard. That's what wizards do. They help people."

Quinn suddenly laughed. Genuinely laughed. Tenet had never heard the woman laugh before. She had a nice laugh.

"That's rich. Help people? Wizards? Wizards don't help anyone. Wizards don't make lives better for anyone but themselves. Wizards don't care about people."

Tenet shrugged. "That's what most people think. But if I become a wizard—"

"Then you'll be a tool as well. The Regency's tool if they have their way."

"So you hate the Regency?"

Quinn bit her lip for a moment before answering. "I hate all of them. The regents, the soldiers, the wizards. I hate all of the wizards. And if you become one, I'll hate you too."

"I bet you've never even seen a wizard," Tenet countered. "There's only one wizard left living."

"Madrigal. No I've never seen him and hope I never do. I hate him most of all."

"Why? What did he do to you?"

Quinn thought for a moment before muttering, "You wouldn't understand."

Tenet sighed, "I might. Tell me."

Quinn turned her head away from him now and glanced out the window as the coach rattled over a bridge. "Why do you care?"

"You know why. Because I'm going to be a wizard. You and half the world seem to believe wizards bring nothing but trouble. So, tell me why you hate wizards so I can make sure I don't turn into a wizard people should hate."