Chapter 8

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While Charity is snuggled comfily in her bed, for once anticipating happy dreams, let us pause for an educational dissertation. We’ll title it “How does one become a wizard and what does a wizard do? Really?”

Contrary to myth and story, wizards do not sit in their towers and watch the world, making judgments and hatching plots. They contribute to the Families, just like the rest of us, by using their energy in the service of the Nation.

Perhaps you remember the avalanche in 2507, where two hundred cousins had to be evacuated, their lands cleared, and homes rebuilt before they could return. Wizards, Templars, and healers handled the brunt of that work. Assisting in disaster situations is the price the Gifted pay for having supernatural power.

All other services, however, are provided to the Nation for the express purpose of balancing the needs of the tower. Oh yes, there are needs in a tower. A wizard’s household goes through a lot of boiled linen in a halfmoon, if you remember. And in order for cooks to cook and guards to guard, they need food and shelter and security. And of course, there are the spell ingredients, which don’t (usually) fall from thin air.

Thus, when Mathan Sara needs help clearing the rocks from some land, she submits a request. Or, more accurately, her secretary does. The power loves telekinesis, so those rocks move almost too fast. But she still contacts us every year.

When the local Tavern wants to have flashing lights at an event, they contact a wizard.

When LeSire Fremont wants his son to stay indoors for a halfmoon, he asks a wizard.

If you ask the right wizard, you can get almost anything.

Charity was not that wizard. From day one, there were things she would not do. Even after she came to terms with her forced career, these rules remained in place: Shadowed Rooster would not kidnap anyone and would not rescue anyone kidnapped; those were political issues and Charity did not do politics. Shadowed Rooster would help mend armor but would not enchant it. Shadowed Rooster would only attempt to affect the weather if there was danger of drought or drowning, and then, only with R’Majesty’s approval. And there would be no killing, poisoning or maiming. Well, except for the one case where someone wanted a temporary maiming for a costume party.

Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking. If you had the power, you would do all that and more. You would build mountains and blow up bridges and smite your enemies, and all would tremble before you.

Except you would not, unless you were a natural wizard.

A natural wizard is one who is born with new power and can indeed do pretty much anything she wishes. A natural wizard is someone who will be great, in which case the Nation is in big trouble because it needs such a great wizard; or that wizard will be nasty, in which case ditto. A natural wizard is very rare; and for this, we give thanks. I know you all have been affected by the Nameless Son, either personally or through your elders, so you know whereof I speak.

For the rest of the Family, becoming a wizard is just like any career: apply for training, survive training, and become Entitled. Entitlement requires an oath to use your skills only for the purpose for which those skills were bestowed, and only in the service of the Family. Hence, no smiting.

Of course, you can’t train a wizard hopeful without giving her some power. And, as we have seen, a wizard can turn you into something unpleasant with the blink of an eye. (They’re not supposed to, but they are human). So how does one keep the balance of power with a wizard trainee who is still just a young thing likely to make mistakes or abuse her power?

The same way one keeps any trainee in place. Treat them affectionately, only take half of what they say seriously, make sure you always have something for them to do, and place limits upon them. For example, a wizard trainee can only use power under the teaching wizard’s direct supervision and only, unless some emergency threatens, in the workroom.

But most importantly, any trainee deemed unworthy of the power will find herself stripped of it. Up until the very night a cousin is entitled, the power could simply decide not to work and fade quietly away.

Yes, you heard correctly. The power decides.

This proof that the power had its own mind did not make Charity any more comfortable in her position, nor any less resentful of the burden of that power. Nor any less hopeful that the power would someday find her unworthy. Which made finding the right trainee doubly important.

So, how does one find a trainee or two? Preferably trainees who like power and appreciate it and want to use it. And trainees who don’t mind answering to a fourteen-year-old girl who had no idea what she was doing. And trainees who won’t make said fourteen-year-old girl feel more slow and stupid than she felt already.

One asks her secretary, as Charity did the morning after her naming. And just that easily, Acting Savant Deibra produced a request for young but exuberant, friendly, smart and, most of all, tough cousins who were interested in learning magic. The advertisements were posted in the Inns and Temples around the Nation, as well as read out on the daily news for one halfmoon. Applicants responded by sending letters of interest to the Tower.

A ton of introductory letters. And despite the fact that Shadowed Rooster had more magical requests than could be filled daily, Sunny insisted Charity spend every afternoon on the applications. “Life,” said Sunny, “is about more than just power.”

“Like cats,” said Deibra. “Or turtles.”

The letters were sifted through and sorted into three groups – “Will work”, “No opinion”, and “Not while I live in this tower”. Charity was picky and particular, and still the pile of possible candidates was a hefty one. Sunny and Charity stared at each other in consternation, not quite sure what to do next.

Deibra said, somewhat tartly, “Perhaps the Acting NeachDare d’Shadowed Rooster should ask her Familiar what to do? That is one of the Familiar’s jobs, after all - to offer sound advice.”

“If only it were less superior sounding advice. Understandable advice. Perhaps compassionate advice,” Charity muttered. Nevertheless, she went down to the statue garden and reanimated the cat with the big mouth.

The cat actually looked approving. “It’s about time. If Destin had the foresight you have, we would not be in this tangle in the first place. Not that he ever listened to me, any more than you do. I don’t know why I bother.”

“Because that, according to Acting Savant Deibra, is your job,” said Charity nastily.

“So,” Sunny added hastily, “we were hoping you would impart your wisdom. What is the best way to test the applicants and discover who will be a good trainee for Shadowed Rooster?”

The cat flicked his tail gracefully as he listed the appropriate steps. “First, you contact the Palace at Tara and reserve one of the Truth Chambers.” Flick. “Second, you send a reply to the applicants you have not rejected, requesting them to meet at the Palace on a specific day.” Flick. “Third, on that day, you request the Truth Chamber to identify applicants who are serious about becoming wizards and who will serve the Nation in the best and highest form. The ones who do not make the cut, you dismiss.” Slash, flick. “Fourth, you give a little of the power to each of the remaining applicants and let them play with it.” Flick. “Fifth, you interview each remaining applicant, and retrieve the power to see how it melds with your power.” Flick. “Sixth, you decide which applicants you like best. You can train up to five cousins. But each tower may only have two additional wizards, so if you choose more than two trainees, it’s customary to let the extras go after a year.”

Charity, who was eyeing the tail with intent, went white. “I don’t know if I can handle two trainees, much less five!”

The tail flicked dismissively. “The rest of your household can handle them. You have only to teach. Moreover, be unapproachable, distant, stern, and disapproving, so they will fear you. It’s the only way to keep such young things under control. Of course, I can be of assistance in lectures on power and the proper use of it.” The tail settled gracefully around the stern, unapproachable cat.

Charity managed to thank him politely, but only because Sunny stepped on her toes.

Two days after speaking to the Familiar, Shadowed Rooster held the power auditions for the applicants who had made it into the “Will Work” category. After the round in the Truth Chamber, there were still many good candidates, which made Charity feel better about life in general (though not necessarily her life in general.) She peeked into backgrounds (which Sunny assured her was legal) and eliminated more cousins because of possible future obligations or the way they treated their siblings. That still left twenty young cousins Charity would have enjoyed getting to know better.

Twenty cousins to gift a little power and schedule another meeting for the next day. Twenty cousins to retrieve power from while Sunny made conversation and asked inane questions, like what kind of tree they would be, if they could be a tree. (Which is more pertinent than you would think, considering what a wizard can do.) Twenty little snippets of power to analyze; twenty first impressions to remember; twenty names rolling around in her head.

Happily, it took Charity very little thought to choose among the twenty, because the flavor of the power was most pleasant after two applicants, Stan and Shaughan.

Stan neAnicheyStrahan a’Tara was the son of two Heralds; thus, he wasn’t promised to a future, nor required to marry to maintain the family land. Growing up in the palace made him very familiar with Tara and not over-awed by those born to their titles. His essence had the flavor of studious hard work and a general love of experimentation, which translated to Charity’s fourteen-year-old brain as fun.

Shaughan neJensinyGrover d’Flaithbheartaigh a’Amaethon had bright colors and nice smells and something warm and fuzzy, which Charity later learned was a good heart. Shaughan was a third daughter and thus, also free to follow her own destiny. Even if her sisters perished untimely, as Mathan Marla’s had, there were plenty of women available to take possession of the land for which Gardner Jensin was responsible.

The chosen two were given a halfmoon to pack and bid their families farewell. The remaining applicants were told thank you, given a treat with a token from the tower, and sent on their way.

The halfmoon before the trainees arrived was a long one for Charity. Her power was back to full force, as was her morning cry, and she thought if she had to deal with it for much longer, she’d turn the whole place into statues and run away. Happily, there was plenty to do. After All Fools’, the request list was very long -- there is nothing like having your son break into the guards’ barracks and pilfer breastplates to make you decide you need a better door. And a security system. And a birch rod that would wield itself.

As soon as they were settled, Charity put Shaughan and Stan to work. 

First, she gave them some power. Second, she taught them how to cast the statue spell. And how to undo it. (It was only fair.) Third, the trainees practiced the statue spell on the big-mouthed cat, because ever since Charity had taken its advice, it had become snottier. She was happy to let Stan and Shaughan change it back to solid stone.

As a direct result of that action, Deibra began bringing animals to the dinner table. The owl was amusing, since all he did was sit in the corner and turn his head upside down. The long-legged dog was annoying because she would shy away every time someone clanked something. But when the iguana crawled into her noodles, Charity decided she had had enough. “I do not require another Familiar at this time,” she said firmly to the little lizard. “And if another animal appears at the dinner table without being broiled, baked, fried, stewed, or covered in pastry, there will be a change in the menu.” Which took care of the extra guests. At the dinner table anyway.

The trainees’ jobs mainly consisted of watching and taking notes as Charity dealt with the daily requests. However, as soon as Stan or Shaughan proved they understood something, Charity let them try it.

When they weren’t earning their keep, there was the other assignment from the Danu -- figuring out how to seal up all the little cracks in Shadowed Rooster’s shield, so even a small, non-offensive spell could not get through without permission. Here, Charity’s lack of years and experience was actually a blessing; neither she nor the trainees had any shyness about putting forth ideas for fear of feeling silly. Imagining the many improbable ways the enemy could penetrate became a game that evolved into magic duels, which were very good for working out aggression. And for finding new (usually accidental) ways to do things. Stan and Shaughan and Charity became comfortable with each other; Charity occasionally joked; and the shields around the tower became so solid, cousins had to push a little to exit or enter the property.

Best of all, Charity’s morning cry became a little less forceful. Sunny spent a moon being smug that having trainees helped Charity so much.

Charity did not contradict her. Her power had settled to a dull roar. She was really learning how it worked, how it felt, and therefore how to control it, and that was the main goal, wasn’t it? She didn’t feel as pressured. She didn’t feel like everyone -- including the many wizards who had ruled Shadowed Rooster before her -- were watching every move and criticizing most of them.

But she did feel a little guilty. Sunny joked about blessings, but Charity knew that, like miracles, some blessings had more plebeian explanations. And when all else fails, a cousin must take care of herself.