Free Magic (complete)

Chapter 17

Having finished his work, Anders scarcely let it leave his side. He secured it in a leather bag and kept it with him at all times. It was too close to the assessments to let it slop from his hands again. After days of irregular sleep, he slept for a very long time, then his mind settled on the other problems at hand.

Who was the mage researching the restoration of life? He couldn't ask anyone in the hallway any more who was in that room. And what had Jak found out about Hughes? For that matter, who put his notes back, and brought him the last quartz?

His head swam with thoughts as he went down to breakfast. He joined a nearly empty line for porridge. He was startled to see the dining hall so dreary. His steps echoed in the once noisy hall. There were more empty tables than mages eating, and a hush blanketed them all.

He sat at the edge of the room, watching. Mages kept to themselves, and there was something odd about the people who were left. He wished for some of Ghilda's spices the moment his spoon touched his lips. Looking around, he watched the solemn mages pick at their bowls. Few sat in pairs. Those that did weren't speaking. Anders watched puzzled as mages quickly finished off their meals and left the hall, eyeing everyone around them with suspicion.

He finished his bowl, still staring at the other mages. He handed his dishes to the kitchen girl in the window, and walked through the halls. Libraries were sparsely occupied, entire sitting rooms were empty. Few walked the halls, and those he passed hugged the opposite wall so as not to come close to him. Something still looked odd. He wandered back around near the main gate where a familiar face surprised him.

"Deidre." Anders called to her before thinking who it was he called to. He felt instantly uncomfortable the moment her eyes locked onto his.

"Anders!" She hissed and walked over to him, holding a handkerchief over her mouth and tilting her head away from him in an exaggerated movement. "How are you still alive?"

"Alive?" He asked concerned.

"Oh my yes! Ah but you have been brown for a long time have you not? Or have you not taken the tests?" She narrowed her eyes at his neck. That's when he realized what had looked so odd. He stared down at her orange robes. He hadn't seen one so low all day. Purple robes walked around freely. The few blue and green robes the keep housed were there too. He had seen maybe one mage in red, and none of the children, which would be grey or brown.

"What happened to all the weaker mages?" He murmured. His brows knit together and he stared blankly at the ground in thought.

"Dying! Sick and powerless. The guards too. The second floor library is an infirmary. If you know what's good for you you'll lock yourself in your room!" Deidre wailed and stomped away moaning.

Anders walked up to the second floor with caution. There was noise coming from the big doors, the sounds of pain and crying. The doors opened letting out a sweating mage who looked over at Anders.

"Gods, you aren't sick too are you? There's no more room!" He looked panicked.

"No, I'm not." Anders said.

"Good." The man walked off in a hurry, leaving Anders by the doors. He looked in, The furniture had all been moved to the walls. Blankets and pallets were laid out in neat rows on the floor and they were all occupied. Medics in white and a few of Whitethorn's water mages hovered over patients, most of whom had yellow orange or red marks glowing on their necks. The worst sight was the corner of children in grey or brown, they were clearly scared and sick.

"Move!" Shouted a woman with a thick accent who shoved past Anders with a box of glass jars. She ran over to a table at the side of the room where a mage in royal university colors was talking quickly to assistants.