The Choice of Magic - Michael G. Manning Page 0,37

thing for you to know is that it opens the mind, allowing you to see things normally invisible to the eye. For those who are already sensitive, or those who have had extensive training, that effect is permanent.”

“Oh,” said Will, unsure what to say.

“This is just one of several plants and mushrooms that teachers use to initiate their students into the arcane arts,” explained Arrogan. “I already knew you were sensitive, which is why I took you in, hoping to prevent this. But you, in your infinite idiocy, took it upon your shoulders to turn yourself into a mage. There’s no going back for you now.”

Alarmed, Will asked, “I can’t go home?”

Arrogan covered his face with one hand. “Of course, you can go home. I dream of sending you there every day. You can’t go back to being normal.”

That didn’t sound too bad. “Does this mean I can do magic now?”

His grandfather sighed. “You have several choices. One, you can go home, which would almost be a relief, because so far, you’ve been more trouble than you’re worth. If you do, I’ll start packing, since I don’t want to be around when they find you and execute you as a warlock, which is almost certainly what they’ll decide. Proof or no proof. Two, and slightly less stupid, you can go to Cerria and present yourself before the Royal Magister, Grant Haywood. He’s the idiot running the Wurthaven College of Wizardry these days. After a few tests, he’d put you in classes and eventually you’d get to be a lapdog for one of the noble sorcerers running things nowadays.”

Arrogan leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Personally, I like that option the best, since it means I’ll be quit of you and I won’t have to worry about moving.”

Will could sense the old man wasn’t finished, so he prompted him, “But…?”

His grandfather sighed. “The third option is the best for you, but a pain in the ass for me. Stay here and I’ll train you properly. The only drawback is you’ll still be an unlicensed mage, so if they catch you later, you’ll wind up in prison at best.”

“How is that better for me?” exclaimed Will querulously.

The old man grinned evilly. “Because by the time I’m done with you, there won’t be a mage alive, sorcerer or otherwise, capable of putting you in prison. I can teach you to be a wizard the likes of which even King Lognion would be afraid to face—or would, if any of the fools knew what real wizards could do back in my day.”

That reminded Will of one of his longstanding questions. “Exactly when was your day?”

Chapter 13

Arrogan leaned forward. “Before I answer that, I have to know whether you plan to go to Cerria or train under me.”

Will spoke before he thought. “It’s because they’re hunting you, isn’t it?”

“And that, my boy, has sealed your fate. You have sharp ears, don’t you?”

“I heard you and Mom talking,” admitted Will.

His grandfather grimaced. “Well, options one and two are off the list now.”

He was beginning to feel slightly rebellious. “And what if I would rather study in the city?”

“Do you really want to test my patience, boy?” asked the old man, an angry gleam in his eye. “You saw what happened today. How many wizards do you think would dare to tweak the nose of one of the fae lords? Do you think any of the glorified sanitation workers that come out of Wurthaven would dare? They’d be pissing their pants at the thought! If you think anything that happened today was commonplace, let me be the first to disabuse you of that notion.”

Will let out a long exhale, deflating. He really didn’t know what to think about what had happened, nor did he have any idea how dangerous a fae lord might or might not be. As far as he knew, they might be pushovers. But he strongly suspected they weren’t.

And Elthas had taken all of Arrogan’s insults and abuse and then just let them walk away. That couldn’t be normal. He studied his grandfather with new eyes. Just how dangerous was the old man?

“Are you really going to teach me?” asked Will at last. “You still haven’t taught me anything about herbs. Will you really teach me magic?”

Arrogan thumped his hand on Gidding’s Apothecary. “This book contains recipes for medicines and potions. There are other books that contain spells. You have to be able to read them. Not only that, but you’ll need