Chapter Fourteen
"Well," responded Art. "You most definitely were summoned, and you were right to come up with a story to tell the king for why you are here. He is unaware that we cast the spell. We didn't know the spell even existed until two weeks ago. With the creatures now killing people, we were desperate to try anything."
Justin tried to listen intently to what Art said, but one question kept pushing to the forefront of his mind, demanding an answer. "What will happen if the king finds out what you've done?"
A look of unease crossed the mage's face. "Umm…" Art tried to formulate an answer, but the words didn't seem to want to leave his lips. "We would be stripped of our magic and thrown into the dungeon if not killed." Cora spoke the words as though she were reading from a manuscript. It was devoid of emotion, and somehow that made it all the more scary to Justin.
Justin was sure that she had to possess a very dry sense of humor and was joking with him. But as he looked at the faces of the other mages, he couldn't detect even the slightest trace of a smile or laugh line. No, she was deadly serious.
"Why in the world would you be put in the dungeon or killed, and how can you be stripped of your magic? It is yours."
This time, it was Oaklie who spoke. "It is ours so long as we use it wisely. The magic is given to those who prove to be proficient in the art of sorcery. We are chosen from a young age and instructed in how to use magic from the current generation of mages. Then, when those mages determine it is time to pass the magic on, we are given their position. If we misuse it, the king will just find someone else who is good with sorcery and make them the new mage. If he is in a forgiving mood, he will only imprison us for the rest of our lives. If he is not, then we will have a very short rest of our lives."
Justin didn't understand. "But how is casting a new spell a bad thing, especially since it worked?"
Art cleared his throat and scratched his neck. Justin was sure he was working out in his head the best way to answer that question. "When we are still apprentices to the mages, we are told that a spell can not be cast until it has been studied in depth for at least half a year. If that spell could affect one of the king's subjects, it has to be approved by him before it can be cast. We only discovered the spell two weeks ago and did not take the proper time to study it before casting it. That in and of itself might be forgiven, but there is one other problem that you do not know about that would send the king over the edge if he knew about it."
Justin felt a chill sweep over him, and suddenly he was very afraid. "What is it?"
This time it was Cora who spoke. Her voice once again came out melodious, but also very emotionless. "Even though the spell worked and it brought you here, we have no idea how to send you back. That therefore makes you one of the king's subjects, and we didn't check with him before performing the spell. He will not forgive that."
Justin felt himself spiraling as Cora's words crashed into his mind. "He was stuck here. He was stuck here. He. Was. Stuck. Here!"
It was clear from Art's expression that he could see that Justin was spiraling. Raising his hands in a calming gesture, he did his best to ease his fears. "Do not worry, Master White, as long as the king does not find out what we have done, then we can work to find a way to send you home once the problem has been solved.
Justin looked at the people in front of him and felt hot anger surge through him for the first time since arriving. His thoughts were like lava destroying every good feeling he had felt since he woke up in the field. "How could they? They had no right. What am I going to do now?"
"We will find a way to send you back." Justin jerked his head up at the unfamiliar voice. Philip looked straight at Justin with no deception on his face. "That I promise you, on my magic."
The other three mages looked at Philip in astonishment before Oaklie spoke. "My brother rarely graces us with words, choosing to listen and observe over speaking. For him to speak to you, a virtual stranger, you can rest assured that what he says he will do."
Philip and Justin didn't break eye contact, and somehow, when Justin finally did look away, he did feel assured by what Philip said. He would recall later what transpired and wonder if magic had been involved in the calming of his fear and anger, but at the time, he took it at face value for what it was.
With his emotions back on an even keel, he looked at each of the mages in turn and asked, "Okay, for better or for worse, I am here now. What do you suggest we do to solve your problem with magical creatures?"
Art smiled warmly at Justin. A look of relief passed over his face. He knew that he had just dodged a storm that could have been the end of his friends and him. "First, we need to explain to you about the spell we cast and why it chose you. I want to be as honest with you as I possibly can and make sure you have all of the necessary information to be able to help."
Justin sat up straighter in his chair and met Art's statement with one of his own. "No, either I have all of the information that you have, or this will not work. You brought me here without my approval, and I may be stuck here because of you. The least you can do is make sure I know everything that you know."
Art blanched at his tone and response. "I am sorry, but that is not possible." Justin sat back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest, resting in the weighty silence before responding. "And why is that?"
Art's answer was too sure and confident, as though it would put to rest any hope of Justin's demands being answered. "Because for you to know everything that we know, you would need to understand the fundamental workings of magic. In order to do that, you would need to be trained as a mage yourself."
Justin unfolded his arms and leaned forward, all dismay and fear from earlier gone. "Then it appears that you only have one option. You must train me as a mage."