Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce Read Free Book Online Page B

clock chimed the hour. It was getting late, and there was the ride back to Dukes Citadel to be thought of. “Lark, this boy I found
    ” She told her teacher about Pasco. “His magic’s as plain as the nose on my face,” she said when she had finished. “I’m just not sure of what to do. Should I leave him to his own devices? We were always told that if a mage doesn’t get proper training, sooner or later his magic starts to run wild, like Tris’s used to.” Her friend Tris had left a wake of frightened people and ruined property before she had come to Discipline.
    Lark sat back in her chair, brows knit in thought. “A dance-mage,” she murmured.
    “How very odd.”
    “I figured you’d know if there were any,” Sandry pointed out. “All the places you’ve been.”
    Lark rubbed her temples. “I’ve seen a few, but it was far and away. The shamans of the Qidao people dance their magic. So do the shamans of Ugurulz—it’s be tween the Sea of Grass and Yanjing, in the north.”
    “He won’t go all that way to learn from a shaman if he doesn’t even want his magic here,” Sandry remarked. “What about those Qidao people?”
    “More thousands of miles,” Lark replied. “They’re in southern Yanjing. Even if he wanted to journey so far, we couldn’t allow it. First he must learn basic control over his power. There’s no telling what kind of mischief he could set in motion with a step here, and a step there.”
    “I don’t think he’s strong enough to do serious damage,” Sandry told her.
    “It doesn’t matter if he is or he isn’t,” Lark said. “Dances are patterns. You know what patterns can do.”
    “Placing magic in a pattern makes the magic stronger,” Sandry replied; it was a lesson she knew as well as her own name. She smiled. “That’s why you and I have to be careful when we weave. So you’re saying that Pasco can extend his power through dance patterns.”
    “Easily.” Lark toyed with her teacup. “And the stronger the pattern, the more things can go wrong. What if this Pasco had not followed the net so faithfully?
    A wrong step that broke the net magic might have driven all the fish from the sea for miles. What if he’d thought of pretty girls as he danced? He could have called all the girls of Summersea to him, whether they wished to be called or not. You’re absolutely right. Pasco must be taught.”
    “So I’ll bring him to the school here.” Sandry felt bet ter immediately: a decision had been reached.
    Lark shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Temple and university mages follow laws and guidelines, some of which you know. On the subject of new mages, the law is set. If no teacher with the same power is available, the discovering mage has to teach the newcomer the basics.”
    Sandry laughed. “But the discovering mage is me.”
    Lark nodded gravely.
    “I’m just a kid myself,” Sandry pointed out, using street slang for child. “I cant teach him. I have to keep an eye on Uncle.”
    “You can and you must teach,” said Lark firmly. “The Winding Circle Initiate Council or the mage council at the university in Lightsbridge enact penalties on a mage who shirks her responsibility.”
    Sandry sat bolt upright in her chair. “And if I do not recognize their authority?” she demanded, offended by the idea that these strangers might try to control her life.
    Lark laid a hand over hers. “If you did not follow the rules, then as a great mage of the Winding Circle Initiate Council it would be my task to teach you your duty.”
    Sandry blinked at her. She knew that Lark—and Rosethorn, when she was home—often attended what they always referred to as “council meetings.” She had always assumed they were meetings of the Dedicate Council that governed the temple city, not a council of temple mages.
    “Mages without law are dangerous,” Lark said. “What if there were no duke to rule in Emelan? If he just vanished, with no heir appointed?”
    “Someone else