The Royal Sorceress Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Royal College know about the talents,” Master Thomas reminded him, gently. “Like you said, most of what people know about magic is simply untrue – and Gwen was never even given the overview provided to government ministers without any actual talent themselves.”
    He smiled at her. “You and I will be spending many hours developing your talents,” he said. “You will discover that people with a single talent are often better at using it than myself, even though I am a master. When restricted to one talent, I often lose practice duels and tests against my opponent. You will probably also discover that you are better with some talents than others. I myself am capable with Blazing, Moving and Charming, but my talents for Changing and Infusing are far more limited.”
    Gwen leaned forward. “And what about Necromancy?”
    Master Thomas stopped smiling. “You will not be permitted to practice Necromancy,” he said, flatly. “If you are caught using Necromancy – or even suspected of using Necromancy – you will be hauled in front of a Court and Charmed until you can hide nothing. If the charges are sustained, you will be executed. Necromancy is simply too dangerous to be used.”
    Doctor Norwell cleared his throat. “Only two years ago,” he said, “there was a revenant outbreak in Manchester. The military had to be called in and the whole area had to be burned to the ground. We believe the outbreak started by accident; a small child who had lost her grandmother accidentally came into her powers and reanimated the grandmother’s corpse. And everything just spiralled out of control.”
    “I understand,” Gwen said. She winced, inwardly. Had she ever come close to practicing Necromancy? She might have stumbled into it through sheer ignorance. “What happened to her?”
    “Dead,” Master Thomas said, flatly. “We do not suffer Necromancers to live.”
    “But she didn’t mean to raise a zombie horde,” Gwen protested.
    “That doesn’t matter,” Doctor Norwell said, sharply. “The use of such powers is forbidden under the Demonic Powers Act. Anyone with proven Necromantic talents is to be executed.”
    There was a long, uncomfortable pause. “And she might have vanished into the underground,” Master Thomas added. “They certainly took some interest in the whole affair.”
    Gwen looked up. “The underground?”
    “Officially, the only magicians permitted to practice are licensed by the Crown, either as part of the Royal Sorcerers Corps or the Royal College,” Master Thomas explained. “Unofficially, there is a small underground of magicians who work for criminal interests or merely struggle to stay alive. They tend to blur into the social liberal underground and its political wings, although so far they have never developed a coherent political philosophy or a strong leader. We scattered the rabble during the Year of Unrest and taught them a sharp lesson in knowing their place – and sticking to it.”
    He looked up at her. “One of the prime responsibilities of the Royal Sorcerer is upholding the laws of the land, created by the King and the Houses of Parliament. When the established ordered is threatened, it is my – our – job to defend it. You will find yourself having to make many hard choices in the course of your duty.”
    Doctor Norwell nodded. “With your consent, Lady Gwen, I will leave you with your Master,” he said. “I cannot assist you with practical magic.”
    Gwen watched him go and then looked back at Master Thomas, who had taken a chair opposite her. “I heard about how you came into your magic,” he said. “Have you practiced since then?”
    “Yes,” Gwen said. She didn’t want to talk about what had happened that day. “Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t.”
    “Magic is often that way,” Master Thomas said. “But you slipped into multiple talents, which would have confused anyone who didn’t know how magic worked. I want you to try and summon