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readily, apparently,
and Nysander often found him talking or gaming with some of the
apprentices.
    Nysander watched and evaluated, and gave him
little magical tests now and then, though these seldom went as
planned. Seregil did have a way with animals, though and simple
tricks concerning them directly came more easily to him.
    As they sat over tea one day, Nysander said,
“Seregil, I have a proposition for you, and I want you to consider
it very carefully before you answer.”
    Seregil looked up in surprise. “All right.
What is it?”
    “You still are not happy at the palace, are
you?”
    “No.”
    “Because of what happened with Prince
Korathan?”
    Seregil blushed to the tips of his ears, but
his tone was slightly defiant as he replied, “No, because Phoria
made him stop seeing me. Korathan and I got along fine.”
     

     
    “But not any more?”
    Seregil said nothing.
    “Are you are in love with him?”
    He snorted at that. “Love is for fools. I
just liked him, that’s all.”
    “I see. Thank you for being honest. I do hope
you change your stance on love someday, though.”
    “Not likely! So, what is your proposition,
exactly, and what does that have to do with it?”
    “Nothing, except it is important that I know
what sort of person you are before I make my offer.”
    “Well, you already know I’m the sort who
whacks people with books and dumps ink on them. I’m no whore,
though, no matter what Phoria says.”
    “Certainly not, dear boy! I was not thinking
anything of the sort, I assure you.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “I would like to take you on as my
apprentice.”
    Seregil stared at him. “You—You’re
serious?”
    “Very.”
    “But why? I’ve hardly gotten a spell
right.”
    “You have had a few successes and I find that
heartening. And you have a quick, inquiring mind, and a good
memory. Those are as important in a wizard as the magic. I also
enjoy your company. Given that we would work together for decades,
maybe even centuries, that is important, as well. So, would you
like to be my apprentice, and live here at the Orëska with me?”
    “Yes!” Seregil exclaimed with no
hesitation.
    The wizard wasn’t surprised to see tears
glisten in the young man’s eyes, even as he broke into the
brightest smile Nysander had seen. It had no doubt been a while
since anyone had told Seregil that he was wanted. Except, perhaps,
for Korathan. Nysander didn’t think much of how that had turned
out.
    “So what is your condition?” Seregil
asked.
    “That you tell me why you were exiled from
your homeland.”
    In an instant Seregil’s expression changed to
one of pure betrayal and shame. He stood and headed for the
door.
    Nysander cast a lock on it from where he sat.
“I will not give up on you so easily.”
    “Let me go,” Seregil whispered, not looking
at him.
    “Not until you tell me.”
     

     
    “It doesn’t make any difference! Once you
know, you won’t want me.”
    “I should like to be the judge of that.”
    Seregil turned to him, voice trembling with
anger. “All this time—You being so nice to me. All so you ask me
that?”
    “Certainly not. As I said, I simply need to
know what sort of person you really are.”
    Seregil drew himself up, glaring at him. “All
right then. I killed a man. Can I go now?”
    “Why did you kill him?”
    “What does that matter?”
    “It matters a great deal.”
    Seregil bit his lip. “I was somewhere I
wasn’t supposed to be, and he surprised me in the dark and grabbed
me. I—I didn’t mean to kill him. I just wanted to get away. But
that doesn’t change anything. So I was exiled.”
    “I have one last question.”
    “What?”
    “Aside from killing that man, do you always
lash out at people the way you have here?”
    Seregil sighed and shook his head, hand on
the door latch. “No. Can I go now?”
    “That’s entirely up to you, dear boy. My
offer stands.”
    “But—after what I just told you?”
    “It is up to you whether you