Read The Novice for Free Online Page B

special occasions, I suppose.”
    “Issle.” A sharp voice cut across the noise in the room. Sonea looked up to see a middle-aged woman in green robes standing in the doorway.
    “You’ve rested long enough. Come with me.”
    “Yes, my lady,” the girl sighed.
    “Good luck,” Sonea offered as the girl hurried away. She wasn’t sure if Issle had heard, as the girl disappeared through the door without a backward glance.
    Sonea looked down at the book in her hands and allowed herself a small smile. It was a start. Perhaps, later, she would talk to Issle again.
    Returning to her desk, she continued reading.
    Projection:
    Moving an object is quicker and easier if in sight. Moving an object outside of view may be done by extending the mind sense to locate it first. This takes more effort and time, however, and…
    Bored, Sonea began to watch the novices coming and going. She listened for their names, and tried to guess what they were like. Shern, the Kyralian boy with the dark circles under his eyes, had winced when his teacher returned and called his name. He had looked up at the magician with haunted eyes, and reluctance had been expressed in every movement as he had pushed back his chair and shuffled over to the door.
    Regin had befriended two boys, Kano and Vallon. The shy Kyralian girl listened to their conversation attentively, and the Elyne boy drew little pictures in a paper-covered book. When Issle returned she collapsed in her seat and buried her head in her arms. Sonea had heard the others complaining of headaches and decided to leave the girl alone.
    When the gong chimed at midbreak, Sonea let out a quiet sigh of relief. All she had done was read lessons she already knew, constantly distracted by the coming and going of the other novices. It hadn’t been a particularly interesting first lesson.
    Lord Elben strode into the room, causing the novices to scuttle hastily to their seats. He waited until they had settled, then cleared his throat.
    “We will resume Control lessons at the same time tomorrow,” he told them. “Your next class will be Guild history, held in the second history room upstairs. You may leave now.”
    Several sighs of relief could be heard around the class. The novices rose, bowed to the teacher and started for the door. Hanging back, Sonea noted that the Elyne boy had joined Regin’s group of new friends. She followed quietly, handing the teacher back his book as she passed, then lengthened her stride to catch up with Issle.
    “Was it better the second time?”
    The girl looked at Sonea, then nodded. “I did what you said. It didn’t work, but I think it might next time.”
    “That’s good. Everything gets easier after that.”
    They walked in silence for several paces. Sonea searched for something to say.
    “You’re Issle of Fonden, aren’t you?” a voice observed.
    Issle turned and stopped as Regin and the other two novices approached.
    “Yes,” she said, smiling prettily.
    “Whose father is adviser to King Marend?” Regin asked, his brows rising.
    “That’s right.”
    “I am Regin of Winar,” he bowed with exaggerated politeness, “of House Paren. Can I escort you to the Foodhall?”
    Her smile broadened. “I’d be honored.”
    “No.” Regin smiled silkily. “It is I who will be honored.”
    He stepped forward between Sonea and Issle, forcing Sonea to move backward to avoid him, and took the girl’s arm. Regin’s companions fell in behind the pair as they continued down the corridor. None looked at Sonea, and she found herself at the back of the group. When they had descended the stairs of the University she stopped and watched them walk away without a backward glance.
    Issle hadn’t even thanked her.
I shouldn’t be surprised,
she told herself.
They’re rich brats with no manners.
    No,
she scolded herself.
Don’t be unfair to them. If I’d been asked to accept one of them in Harrin’s gang, it wouldn’t have been easy. Eventually they’ll forget that