Knights Magi (Book 4) by Terry Mancour Read Free Book Online Page A

had grown increasingly impatient with his ignorance, and as each new question arose Tyndal became more and more intimidated.  After the first twelve or thirteen lesser elements he had had to confess his ignorance of the others.  He even confused the Sacred Number of Carbon with that of Silicon.  That had caused an eye-roll and a snort of disgust. 
    By the end of the examination, there was no doubt what the venerable mistress of magic thought about Tyndal’s education.  Whatever else he would do in his professional future, alchemy and enchantment were unlikely to be major elements of it.
    The fact that he had spent almost a year fighting goblins, running for his life from the Censorate, and helping re-organize the way magic was administered in the new kingdom impressed her not at all.  Not even his witchstone impressed her – in fact, he thought she found it insulting.  At least that’s how she sounded when she lectured him: power without knowledge, she had said at least five times during the interview, was as useful as being in a boat in a storm without a sail.
    But even that insult wasn’t the worst of it.  She had ended the examination by writing him out a list of thirty-two books and scrolls she advised him to read . . . before he left Inarion.  Some of them, she pointed out, were the only copies in the world, and should be savored for their rarity.  Most were odiously boring, judging by their titles.  Introduction to Alchemy.  The Meaning And Purpose Of Lesser Elemental Theory.  Yrentia’s Gift: A Practical Tour Of The Elements.   And more.  Many, many more.
    When he got back to the visitors’ room in the North Tower they’d been given to share late that afternoon, Rondal was also back from his afternoon exams, sitting at the big, highly-polished wooden table in the double room. But he seemed far more pleased with himself than Tyndal was.
    “So how’d you do?” he asked, eagerly.  Without waiting for a response, he continued to prattle: “Master Indan and Master Trondel were both impressed with my knowledge of practical thaumaturgy and magical materials – they said I had the makings of a first-rate enchanter, should I choose to specialize!  Or even a thaumaturge, if I felt like going an academic route.  They’re going to pass me on the thaumaturgy part of the exam for certain!”
    “That’s . . . great ,” Tyndal said, without enthusiasm as he flopped into the other chair in the room.  “Mistress Selvedine was less charitable.  I, apparently, am a young idiot .”
    “Well, she could have just asked me , and I would have saved her some time,” teased Rondal, uncharacteristically. 
    That surprised Tyndal.  So he wasn’t above that sort of thing.  It was perhaps the most interesting thing he’d said in months, in Tyndal’s estimation.  And the most telling.
    “I kind of wish she had,” admitted the disheartened “senior” apprentice.  “She said I had almost no understanding of rudimentary lesser elemental theory, thaumaturgy, magical theory, or anything beyond . . . cantrip magic.  She hinted I might make a good market-day conjurer, if it wasn’t for my glass.”
    “That seems a bit . . . harsh,” Rondal said, putting down his book.  “I mean, that would take you a couple of years of practice, and you don’t really have ‘showmanship’ down, exactly.  Maybe if you studied with my friend Baston—”
    “I’m a bloody Knight Mage , not a market stall conjurer!” exploded Tyndal, annoyed.  “Why in six hells do I need to know how magic bloody works?   All I need to know is how to work it! ”
    “It’s actually a lot easier when you understand the theory,” soothed Rondal.  “But I agree, some of the concepts are a bit . . . obtuse.”
    “I know!  I’m struggling, here!”
    “For example, we know energy cannot be created or destroyed . . . but when we do magic, we’re ‘borrowing’ energy from the cosmos, or ‘returning’ it.  With our brains