The Melaki Chronicle by William Thrash

such potential could not be wasted in their eyes. They would
see him through it until he wore the full robes of the most prestigious class
of wizards on the planet.
    I do not want it. Not if it involves summoning demons.
    A peremptory knock on his door was followed by the entry of
Abisin and Headmistress Renta. The slight swirl of their slender robes was as
demanding as the knock.
    What was she doing here? She has no more control over me.
    “I did not give you permission--” he said.
    “We will enter as we will and see you to the testing for the
tenth ward,” Abisin bit off.
    “I will not.”
    “I told you he was a failure,” Renta said. Her sneer crawled
up her cheek and most definitely reached her eyes.
    “I thought you were here to help me, Renta.” A look of
annoyance wavered across the Elet's features.
    Melaki walked into his front room. It was still bare, except
for a few knapsacks of gear for tomorrow. “I have the say--”
    “Nonsense,” Abisin said. He glared at Renta before
continuing. “Your ability to complete the tenth ward is not even a matter of
debate--”
    “I do not want to complete the tenth ward and I have the
right--”
    “See?” hissed Renta. “He should have been executed.”
    “Headmistress, contain yourself--” Annoyance flared more
firmly on the Elet's face.
    “No, Abisin, look at him. He lacks the strength. He has no
inner will. He should never have been--”
    Elet Abisin grabbed her by the shoulder and arm and escorted
her from the room.
    Melaki heaved a sigh of relief.
    He looked at his gear. Could he slip out? Early? Stay at the
inn? Stay with Domo? He did not have much coin left after buying supplies kept
well-packed in his third leather pack. Inside were quills, ink, two sheaves of
parchment, and two leather bindings. Included was enough cheap parchment for
notes and ideas.
    He began picking up his packs.
    Another knock on the door, but this time softer.
    He said nothing. He finished shouldering his bags and opened
the door.
    Rashilla was there, stunning in her black robes and silver
hair. Her face was neutral. “I understand you do not want to be tested, but--”
    “I not only do not want to, I refuse.”
    “Why?” She entered the room by force of intensity.
    He retreated a few steps.
    Would a lie work with her? Certainly not the truth. The
partial truth?
    “Why?” she said again. She shut the door behind her as if to
indicate their conversation would remain private.
    Would it?
    He sighed. “I have no interest in demons.”
    She tilted her head ever so slightly.
    “I have been here almost three years,” he said. “I have
passed all nine of the first wards in just seven days. No one before has done
it--”
    “Indeed. No one has. But your passing has not been without
difficulty. The eighth ward--”
    “And anything to do with healing, yes, I know. So allow me
to refuse--”
    “Unconscionable,” she said. “You have it within you to be
among the ranks of the most powerful wizards--”
    “Rashilla. I do not seek glory or honor or power. I seek
escape.”
    “Escape? Explain.” She still used her air of command as if
teaching a pupil a new ward.
    “I was an initiate for too long. I ache to be away. To be
done.”
    “Your testing for the tenth will not take--”
    “But I do not wish it.”
    She fell silent.
    “Sometimes people are different. Even wizards.”
    “But--”
    “Let me go. There will be other initiates who can do what I
do and better.” His vision of the coming destruction of the Altanlean Empire
went unmentioned. Had Abisin related the details of his involvement in Melaki's
fifth ward testing?
    She folded her arms. “We do not leave things such as this
undone. All of us involved in the testing know you can pass the tenth--”
    “But I do not desire it.”
    “You do not make sense.”
    “Perhaps that is why I should not be tested.”
    “Your will is strong.”
    Tell that to the Headmistress and I'll slip away during
the argument that