The Prodigal Mage Part 10

Aw, come on, Rafe, come up from there, Goose begged. What if you slip? What if I cant pull you out?

Tosh, he said. That was one of ole Darrans little words. Tosh. It meant, dont be a doddlehead. Saying it, remembering, he felt a sharp sting of pain. But just as quick he squashed it hard like a bed bug, because fretting on Darran wouldnt bring him back to life.

Rafe, said Goose. He was almost wailing. Stretching the sound long, like a piece of string. Gangly tall Goose-egg, all fratched and frighted. Tosh.

Ignoring him, Rafel rested his gaze on the riverponds sun-sparkled surface. The darting gaddies had darted away. He could see the blue sky reflected, and skittish lamb-clouds. He could see his own face. Rafel of Dorana, the hero Ashers only son. There was Da in there, and Mama. Bits and pieces of folk hed never know. He was in there. They were his eyes.

Thats my face. Thats me. But whos me?

In his blood there was beer, its bubbles bursting. In his blood there was power, that could crack stones and whirl leaves and do all kinds of things. That could unpick magic locks hed never come across before. Because of his power he felt oddness in the earth, just like Da.

A mage. Thats who I am. Thats what I want to be.

With his mage eyes he looked deep into the pond. Saw the fish. Saw right into them, and felt their little lives. Then he looked into his thudding heart. Into his blood, which held his magic.

If Da finds out what Ive been up to, therell be so much trouble. Da hates his magic, so I have to miss out.

Hot crossness p.r.i.c.kled him. He was tired of missing out. Tired of being a secret. Goose knew a little bit, but he didnt know it all. He trusted his friend like he trusted his own hand, or his foot, but it was safer that way.

Goose, he said, not looking up. If I show you something, you have to promise not to tell.

I promise, said Goose. Show me what? Rafe, whats going on?

Hush up, he said dreamily. I need to think.

Rafe! said Goose, close to wailing again. Youre making me nervous. Come out of there. Please?

He shook his head, grinning. No. Just you watch this.

Watch what? said Goose. Rafe, what are you doing?

Instead of answering, he dabbled his fingers across the riverponds sleeping surface. Come on, little fishies, he crooned under his breath. You aint going to hide from Goosie, are you? Come on. You come back now. Rafel says come back.

The stolen beer was all swallowed, but he could still taste it on his tongue. He could feel it in his belly, warm and sloshing. He could feel it in his head, softly buzzing. He could feel his magic buzzing, the way it sang without words, sang a tune only he could hear. The rest of the world was deaf. Da was deaf.

Da doesnt want to hear.

One by one Goosies little fishes came back.

Doing his lessons with Meister Rumly, he was made to keep so calm. So tame. Little bits of Olken magic. Teeny tiny drips. Never anything else. Even when he broke the rules on his lonesome, cracking stones, dancing leaves, all that silliness in his bath, the spells he pinched from Arlin, he was always careful not to do too much, only a smidgin bit, in case someone noticed. In case Da felt it and came storming to find him.

But this was his free day and Gooses stolen beer was in him, and Da was a long ways away back in the City. He felt big and restless. Bold and reckless. Hed undone a magic lock. That was something, that was. Sink him sideways, he wanted to play. He wanted to show someone what he could do. And why shouldnt he? After all, this was Olken magic and he was Olken. He wasnt doing anything wrong. So he called the Gants fat silver carp, enticed them from their shadows, enticed them to the shallows, and made them leap for joy. This was Darrans story of the Sea Harvest singing. How many times had he heard that story? How often had he seen that seething harbour in his head?

Lookee! Lookee! Goose was shouting, his face flushed with beer and delight. Look at them fishes dance! Woo hoo! Woo hoo! Then he faltered, and stopped his bouncing on the riverbank. Rafe, is that you doing that?

Words were a nuisance. He didnt want to speak. So he flapped a hand at Goose, glaring, saying aye and shut up and leave me be all at once.

Gooses eyes bloomed round, like two new-minted trins. Rafe, I never knew you could do magic like that. How are you doing it? Can you show me?

He wasnt sure he could. There werent any words, he was justjust feeling it, feeling the fish in the water, feeling their fins and their tails, feeling the silver wriggle of them leaping into the warm almost-spring air. He wanted them to dance for Goose, so they were dancing. It was as simple and as terrible as that.

Why doesnt Da want this? This isthis is grand.

The silver carp leapt. The riverpond seethed. Like his bathwater in its tub it started foaming into shapes, barking dogs and prancing ponies. Barls Mountains, towering high. He could feel his magic burning, churning, the beer bubbles in his blood turning bright gold.

Rafe What?

Goose wasnt laughing now. Hed stopped his bouncing, and his fingers clutched his knees. Rafel, maybe you should stop, he said, sounding nervous. You know youre not sposed to.

Impatient, he pulled a face. You werent sposed to steal that beer, but you did.

Thats beer, said Goose. Thats not magic. Rafe, you better stop.

Quit fratching at me, he said, hardly paying attention. Youve seen me do magic before.

Not like this, Rafe, said Goose, as the riverpond boiled silver and fat fish leapt over Barls watery Mountains. Come onyou should stopRafe Rafel flashed his friend a grin. Tosh to you, Goose-egg. Im fine. Dont witter.

Splashing and leaping, the riverponds carp obeyed his eager summons. The magicked water sloshed around him, surging into his face. Soaking his blue cotton shirt, his close-cropped hair, running rivulets down his cheeks, like tears. But he wasnt weeping, oh no. He was laughing. Laughing.

And then he shouted as something ripped through the air. Ripped through the earth and the sludge between his toes. He sucked in a shocked breath, sucked in pondwater with it. Stale and stagnant, it drowned the sweet taste of Gooses pilfered beer. The sweeter taste of magic, burning in his blood. The leaping fish fell and didnt leap again. He felt them flee to the ponds shadows, released from his spell.

Rafe! Goose yelled. Rafe, whats wrong?

Bewildered, knocked sideways, he lost his footing and plunged to his knees. The riverponds water closed over his head. His eyes were open but he couldnt see. His mouth was open but he couldnt scream, though he wanted to. He couldnt breathe, neither. Everything felt wrong. His head was spinning. The earth and air of Lur were in pain.

DaDahelp me, Da!

He flailed his way to the riverponds surface, a silver carp called Rafel leaping for the sun.

Rafe! Rafe! Grab my hand here, Rafe!

That was Goose, with his voice like crying. He was face-down on the riverbank, his arm stretched out and his fingers reaching. He couldnt swim. He was a City Olken. b.l.o.o.d.y useless, the lot of em. Thats what Da muttered on the days he missed the coast, when hed been cooped up in Justice Hall telling people what to do. As everything spun about behind his eyes, the pain in the earth and air a pain in him, too, Rafel plunged towards Gooses hand and anch.o.r.ed himself there, finger to finger.

I got you! Goose panted, helping him scramble up the gra.s.sy bank. I got you, Rafe! Dont let go! I got you!

Escaped from the stinking riverpond, Rafel crawled to the top of the bank, abandoned Gooses hand and spewed up every last mouthful of beer and water hed sucked down. He could feel Goose beside him, all fretted and cross.

I told you, Rafe. Didnt I? I told you to stop! Rafe? Rafe! Say something! Rafe! Are you drowned?

His belly emptied, his mouth foul, he rolled onto his back and squinted at the sun. His shirt and trews clung soggy to his flesh. And now that he could think straight he could feel that itching skritching under his soaked skin. Horrible. But the screaming pain from the earth and sky was fading, like a dream. That was something, any road. He needed that to go away.

Blinking, he looked at his friend. Goose was on his feet now, hovering. How can I be drownded, Goose? Aint I just puked out my guts?

Rafe! Gooses eyes were so wide they looked near to popping from his skull and his face was pasty pale, like he wanted to puke too. You shouldve stopped when I said. Didnt I say stop?

Goose was a funny one. All bold and beer stealing one minute, fretting himself ragged the next.

Pie-face to it, Goose, he said. Stop wittering at me.

I aint wittering, said Goose, offended. You nearly drowned, Rafe. What happened? Did youdid your magic do that?

Hed promised Da not to talk on this, but how could he stay silent now? Goose was here, hed seen it. He had to explain. And any road, Goose already knew his biggest secret, about him having Doranen magic.

I wont tell, Rafe, said Goose. You know I wont.

Aye, he did, cause he and Goose swore the swear. Two years ago they did that. Another secret. Hed cracked a stone and theyd cut each others hands. Mixed their blood and promised friends forever. Not magic. Not really. Just a promise, was all. A promise Goose had kept.

Besides. He was tired of this secret. It was like a hot coal in his head. Da wouldnt talk of it. Neither would Mama. Wait till youre older. But it was burning him now.

Rafe? Goose said, not wheedling, but worrited. It felt good. Family cared cause they had to. Goose cared cause he wanted to. That made a difference, even if he wasnt sure why.

So I dont care if I aint sposed to talk on this. Its Goose. Not trusting Goose is like not trusting myself.

And he needed to talk on it. He needed someone to listen when the burning got too bad. Like now. Didnt Da used to have King Gar to talk to? And didnt he have Mama? And Uncle Pellen?

How is it fair, that hes got folk to talk to and I aint sposed to say a word?

Tucking his knees close to his chest, Rafel pulled a face. It aint my magic doing it, Goose.

Then what is?

I dont know. Just theres something wrong.

What kind of wrong? said Goose, his eyes all big and round again.

Gooses Olken magic gave him a good touch for growing things. Gooses da said that was what made a meister brewer, being able to sing the hops and croon the brewing. But did that mean he could feel the earths pain, too?

You aint felt it?

I dont know, Goose said cautiously. What did you feel?

It was hard to say out loud. Made him all skritched again, hot and tickly under his skin. I aint frighted. I aint. Like the ground hurts. Like the airs crying.

I aint never felt that, Goose whispered, shocked. What is it, Rafe? Is it Doranen magic gone wrong?

He dug his fingers into the riverbank gra.s.s, tugging. Dknow. Might be.

A little bit of silence, while Goose thought on that. Grazing close by, Stag stamped at the droning flies. The river slapped itself against the bridge. A louder bang, as a floating tree branch smacked it. Yonder, along the distant City Road, a carriage-horn tooted. Its music was a faint sound blown on the breeze. The warm air sang of summer, coming.

You told your dad? Goose said at last. You should tell your dad.

He knows. Rafel tugged more gra.s.s free. Smelled the crushed green stems and the spring-damp soil. Felt his clammy shirt drying sticky on his back. But he wont say whats what.

Why not? Goose hesitated, breath hitching. Not cause he dont No, he said quickly. Course not. My da knows everything. Justhe reckons I dont need telling.

Well, that aint fair, said loyal Goose. You can feel it. He should say.

Aye, he said, nodding. But he wont. And I cant make him tell me, Goose.

Goose sighed. Being a sprats hard. His face crumpled a bit, and his bottom lip wobbled. What do you think, Rafe? Whys the ground hurting? Whats making the air cry? I wish youd tell me. I really want to know.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Rafel swallowed. Goose sounded so frighted he was sorry hed said anything. Sorry hed made the fishes dance, and the riverpond make shapes, and told his friend his burning coal secret. I dont know. Probly its nowt, Goose. Probly Im being a girl.

Probly, said Goose, and tried to laugh. But it didnt work. He tugged some gra.s.s, too, and stared down the sloping riverbank to where Stag and his pony stood in the meadow side by side, rump to nose, dozing and swishing each others biting flies.

Just like us. Best friends.

Rafe Goose whispered. Still staring someplace else. What you felt. Its real, isnt it?

He nodded. Aye.

Andand it means Lurs in trouble?

For the first time ever, he was sorry he could feel things. I aint sure, Goose. Probly.

You frighted? said Goose, letting his tugged gra.s.s slip through his fingers.

No!

Goose rubbed his eyes. Me too.

I aint! he insisted, and banged a fist on his knee. Aint nowt to be frighted on. My da, h.e.l.l fix it. Thats what he does.

I could help, said Goose, almost a whisper. I could try feeling it. If you want, Rafe. Then we could Rafel scrambled to his feet. No, Goose. Dont you dare. You might do yourself a mischief.

You dont have to say that, said Goose, glaring up at him. You dont have to be like that. I know I cant crack stones, like you can, or make fish jump into the air just by thinking. But Ive got magic, Rafe. I can do things. I can No! he said again. Sink me, if I get Goose hurt I told you, Goose. It feels bad. Youd hate it. I hate it. I wish But he didnt want to say that. You might feel it one day, Goose. By chance. When youre doing your own magics. But dont you go looking for it. Reckon thatd get us both walloped, if my da or yours found out.

Goose sighed. He almost always gave in when they fratched. Dont bite, Rafe. I only wanted to help.

I know. Then he frowned. Goose, if you want to help, swear you wont tell anyone about this. Not ever.

I swear, said Goose. But are you going to tell your parents?

I have to, he said, nodding. I promised. Onlynot all of it. I wont tell them you know. Thats got to be our secret.

Our secret, said Goose, all solemn. I swear.

Relieved, he flopped himself back onto the riverbank. And I swear Ill never tell about the beer.

Fizzy with relief, they grinned at each other.