Halfway (Wizards and Faeries) Read Online Free Page A

home on the cliff there—” Temet looked around.   The sea stretched blankly on all sides of the ship, not a trace of his home. “I don’t know where I am,” he admitted, trying to keep the quiver from his voice.   “I don’t know where home is.”
    Erril scratched his moustache.   “Then how did you get out here?”
    “They—they were taking me somewhere.”
         “The Wizardly Order,” said Erril, pointing to the moon-eye. “They were taking you there.”
         A couple of the other men backed away slightly, an expression of wariness coming into their eyes.
         “Ah,” said Erril, unperturbed. “I suppose I’ll get the old man.”
         “He’s here,” said a soft, low voice from behind.
         Sitting up and turning his head, Temet saw a gray-haired man, taller than any of the others and with a well-trimmed beard. Around his neck was a black scarf, and pinned upon the scarf was a silver moon-eye.
         “My name is Moviye Gringwell. Where do you come from, child?” asked the man.
         “I… I’m Temet. I come from the house on the cliff. Aylward came and took me… he said he was taking me to the Wizardly Order.”
         Moviye Gringwell frowned. “That cannot be. You arrived in an Order boat, but none of the ships have been sent out. And who is Aylward?”
         “He came to my house, forced me to come with him.” Temet described Aylward’s appearance to Gringwell.
         Gringwell’s frown deepened. “That does sound familiar. I knew an Aylward once… yes. He matched your description. But it couldn’t have been him.”
         “Why not? “
         “Because Aylward has been dead for years.”
         Now even Erril had backed away from him, and most of the other men had left. Were they scared of him? “The man who took me was very alive.   And I really wish someone would explain to me exactly why I have to go to this Order of yours,” demanded Temet.
         “Gladly,” said Gringwell, sitting down next to Temet. “The Order is an organization for wizards, those who can do things with Magic and Talent beyond what most others can do. I will bring you there with me. We have to see if you are really a wizard. There are tests…”
         “I don’t need them,” said Temet quickly, standing. He didn’t need an Order to tell him how to do things he already knew. He concentrated, and with a flick of his wrist, a plume of water shot up next to the bow of the ship. Several men nearby swore.
         “See,” said Temet. “I already know how to use this Magic and Talent, as you call it. I don’t need this Order of yours. Now can I go home, please?”
         Gringwell’s frown transformed into a smile. “No tests will be needed for you. I see you are a wizard, a strong one at that. Most children don’t manifest until adolescence. But you misunderstand me. The Order isn’t just to help you explore your abilities. It exists to protect the rest of the world.”
         “What do you mean?”
         “The Order exists to identify wizards. All wizards are subject to the Order and the law of the Ten Ring. People can’t go about with such an advantage over their fellows uncontrolled, now can they? No, they can’t. So you have a choice, young Temet. Either join the Order, or…” He reached into his coat and drew forth a small green vial. “You will swallow one of these. It will kill you within five minutes.”
         He felt weak and sat down again. “I’ll go with you to the Order.”

Chapter 6
    Temet

    Temet spent most of the journey in bed, sick. He had never been ill before; coughing was a strange sensation.
         He remembered little of the journey since he spent most of it shivering under blankets. And being carried. And being dizzy, and being carried some more, by strong arms. Calm voices, arguing voices, shouting voices, soothing voices. All blended together. He remembered blinking to the brightness of daylight, and