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accept the fact that he was second-rate for all of his life. Was it really any great surprise that he lived in a second-rate country too? What did Tallia have worth fighting over? He honestly couldn’t think of anything. “I see,” he said quietly.
    “I don’t think you do entirely, lad,” Earl said. “But that’s okay. Before we go much further, I should probably lay down the ground rules for you and give you your first lesson in the ways of the world. First things first: I’m not a ‘sir’, or a ‘mister’ or even just ‘Earl’. My proper title is ‘Mage’, and as you are my apprentice, you will call me ‘Master Mage’ or simply ‘Master’. Understood?”
    “Yes si…Master,” Randall replied a little shakily. Earl…that is, Master , had just come right out and said he was devil touched like it was nothing.
    “Good. Since we’re on the subject, you can forget everything you know about Mages boy. We don’t truck with devils and the like. Sure, some do, but the rest of us consider those types to be bad sorts. Magic is made by working inborn Talent with tools…just like a fine sword is made by shaping raw metal with tools. Can’t make a good sword with shoddy tools, and can’t make one with shoddy steel either!” Earl smiled at his own analogy. “And whether you believe me or not, you’ve got the Talent for magic. Usually shows up in children your age. Your mother has a touch of it too, you know, but probably no more than just the Sight.”
    “That’s not true!” Randall cried. “I don’t know what Pa told you, but Grandma was just sick in the head before she died. Momma wasn’t devil touched, it was just something Grandma said. She wasn’t!”
    “I hear you say ‘devil touched’ again, boy, and I’ll beat you till you can’t say the words again.” Earl snapped angrily, making Randall jump. “Now was that your grandmother on your father’s side, boy?” Earl asked. When Randall nodded he continued, muttering to himself, “Makes sense. Only way she’d know your mother’s got the Sight was if she had a touch of it, too. So, a little power on both sides of the family. There was a Mage bound to come out of that line sooner or later. Guess you won the lottery.” He looked over at Randall. “Think about it, boy. I bet your mother caught you and your brothers getting into trouble more times than she had a right to.”
    Randall thought about all the times his mother knew one of them was doing something behind her back, making faces or trying to sneak a bit of bread before dinner. She always said she had eyes in the back of her head, Randall thought, but everyone’s mother said that. Didn’t they? Then again, he was sometimes shocked with how bold Bobby was when his parents weren’t around. Randall just figured he must have lax discipline at home, because sure enough Randall would’ve gotten a thrashing if he’d done some of the things Bobby had gotten away with.
    Earl interrupted his train of thought. “Now, as I was saying, forget everything you know about Mages. Out here in the country of a little backwater nation like Tallia, people are afraid of them, and generally shun them. You know that much yourself. But in some parts of the world, Mages are respected and hold positions of power and influence. Then again, even in big kingdoms, people are still afraid of us,” Earl chuckled. “I know this’ll shock your tender sensibilities lad, but did you know King Priess has three Mages in his court in the palace?”
    Randall gasped. “‘Tis sedition to say such a thing! Magery is outlawed!”
    “Ain’t sedition if it’s true, boy,” Earl countered. “Well, not in a just land, anyway. Like I said, in many places Mages are respected. Priess is a smart man, and he knows that a few Mages on his side can help him keep schemers at bay, and help protect the coastlines. You might be surprised at what our kind can do to an unprotected fleet! Like I said before, Ol’ King Priess can