The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 27

Cora sat down across from him and leaned forward. The tense expression on Warren's face alone told her how personal this was to him. She wondered if this was the story Selena had said she should get him to tell her.

Warren leaned back against the chair, his arms along the top of it, so that he was staring up at the ceiling. "This all has to do with my first master. Master Pembroke. Like I told you before, he was an old friend of mom's. He was also kind of like my uncle, always visiting during holidays and birthdays and stuff, even before he became my master. So when mom decided to ship me off to him, I was pretty stoked. I mean, he was always cool with me, never treated me like a little kid, you know?

Things went well. Really well. He was a great teacher and I was excited to finally be learning magic. Everything was looking good until this past May. Master Pembroke had sent me out to pick up some stuff from the store and the post office so I wasn't home to see what actually happened. But from what the cops said and the magic traces I found, I've got a pretty good idea.

See, mind mages can't use their powers on other mages. Magic kind of acts as an insulator against their power, same way a communication mages can't break into your head without you knowing/letting them but could do that to some normal person. Not that most of them do. And I shouldn't generalize about mind mages either, since I've known plenty of decent ones, but..." Warren trailed off and closed his eyes.

Cora said nothing for several moments, just watched as shadows chased themselves across Warren's face. Finally he set his jaw and opened his eyes again. "I knew something was wrong as soon as I got home. We lived just outside of town, no neighbours, so no one was around to call the cops when the front door got kicked in.

I raced into the house, heading straight for the family room where Master Pembroke always liked to sit while I was out. He was a smoker but always tried to hide it from me, so he'd sit by a window while I was out to have a cigarette. I still have no idea if he knew that I knew or not." Warren's laugh was humourless, his eyes flat.

"When I got to the living room I saw the first of the secondary victims in this. See, Master Pembroke was a master spellbreaker. He managed to break the mind spells on half a dozen of the men who broke into his house. One of them ran straight to the cops, claiming he'd been drugged, while the others either passed out from the mental stress or escaped. Thing is, whoever had organized this had spelled ten people for the job.

I could actually hear the sirens when I got around the table that was between me and Master Pembroke. He'd been stabbed," Warren said, covering his eyes with the back of one hand. "I'll spare you the gory details, but needless to say I was puking by the time the cops busted in. I managed to get enough of a look to see the fading signature of a mind mage, but not enough to show to others. But I know, I know, if I see this bastard's magic again I'd recognize him. That bit of signature is burned into my mind and I'll find this sonuvabitch and make whoever it is pay."

Cora shivered. Warren's voice was a dark promise that held waves of anger, pain, and grief. She suddenly understood one of Selena's reasons for having him teach her. He obviously needed some sort of distraction.

He took a deep breath that was only slightly ragged before he continued. "Mom came to get me once they got a hold of her, and after the funeral, arranged for me to come here. The worst part is that Master Pembroke had no enemies. No rivalries with other mages, he didn't involve himself in chasing down those who abused their magic, and the only thing even resembling trouble with an apprentice was the one who left after only a few months. But even that was only because his family was moving to BC! I mean, Master Pembroke had been a bit more stressed lately, but nothing that was any indication he was expecting a threat that could kill him!"

Warren was glaring in her direction now, not that he saw her. Cora bit her lip. She didn't really have the words to comfort him, to even help him. She knew nothing of magic and the only loss she'd known had been her grandfather when she was five. She watched him for a few seconds before she said, "If there's anything I can do to help..."

He looked at her then. A moment later a trace of smile stretched his lips out. "Thanks. Sorry for dumping all this on you. I know it's not exactly the kind of thing anyone really wants to get involved with."

Cora shook her head. "No, I asked. And I'm serious. Anything I can do to help. I don't know much magic, but I used to take karate. And anyone who could do that to someone else is one sick fuck and needs to be dealt with. Seriously, I bet anyone would agree with me."

"I know people are looking. And I've been told to leave it to the full mages. But if I can be considered a full mage..."

"I'm happy to help with whatever."

Warren smiled for real, if faintly. "Thanks. But before you can help anyone, we've got to get you trained. So enough sad stories and bullshit. Let's get back to work on your shields."