Frost 2, 121
Just after the turn of the season, Ilex had informed Rivin that they were moving again. He even went so far as to inform his assistant, much to the younger man's surprise, where they were going. They would be relocating directly to Zaichaer, the city, an estate on the outskirts, but still, technically inside the city. The State was handing over some specimens to Ilex to experiment on that had, heretofore, been kept back from him. He seemed excited, though Riving was less so. More babies for tests were not that interesting, particularly if they hadn't been specifically bred for the experiment. They would be cataloged and disposed of.
It never occurred to Rivin to have any feelings about the other children who had been taken into the experiment, as he assumed none had ever had any for him. He didn't think of them as people, and, in a similar way, though he did not realize it, he did not think of himself as a person. Not in the same way that Ilex and his guests were people.
He had tried to keep the annoyance off his face and even asked how many blood samples would be needed from each infant. Ilex's brow had furrowed and then he had laughed, his short chuckling laugh.
"No, they won't be babies. This will be a new batch for breeding, purebloods."
This, Rivin had not been expecting. He had blinked, tilted his head a bit, and watched as Ilex became further amused at his familiar expression. The Lysanrin had asked if he would need to take samples from them, and had been met by another laugh, but the proud one this time. They had discussed the procedure for examining those who would come in, to check them for illnesses, deformities, etc. But, the doctor assured Rivin they were unlikely to find any since these had been trained, by the State, to make sure of their racial magical powers. Rivin raised his brows to this information and was quickly informed that they would each be fitted with a collar from the Imperium to block any use of magic. Rivin had read of such collars but had never considered them being used as part of the experiment, was immediately grateful that Ilex had never caught him trying to access his rune without permission.
It was not until later, when he was in his room packing his few belongings and his clothes, saying goodbye to the little fire sprite who he had coaxed into his fireplace and occasionally made momentary pacts with for more warmth or light, that he might be going on this trip for more than his scientific assistance.
He was aware that Ilex was still running his breeding program, and obtaining new specimens, but Rivin had never been brought along on one of that type of trip before. A wariness crept over him as he realized that he was of breeding age, health, and had nearly been the culmination of the experiment himself. He was, in a very real way, the perfect specimen for breeding.
~~~~
It had taken three days before they had been informed of the results of the extensive examination. During which his mother had babied him, and he had allowed it, even reached out for more, but had also begun to withdraw himself, in his mind, from their connection. She too grew slowly distant, which still physically offering him the extended care.
Ilex called Rivin into the exam room and informed him that he had passed perfectly. There was something almost parental in his gaze, like the man was proud of someone he had helped raise. It also looked like he was pleased with the outcome of a breeding experiment, which was also true. Rivin was at first pleased, then unhappy, then worried and determined mixed.
The doctor informed him that soon they would take a journey to the place where he would undergo the final test, that they would leave on the morrow. Rivin was dismissed after this, as Ilex had preparations to make for the journey. Rivin did not. He spent the rest of the day sitting close to his mother and playing the little games that had begun inventing together as soon as he'd been able to look up at her.
They spent the night in separate beds and the morning as they usually did, sharing small conversations and breakfast. When the guard came, Rivin was dressed appropriately for being outside and standing by the door. His mother did not hug him, it had never been a part of their contact since he'd been too big to pick up, but she did put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. They shared a long look, and then he had stepped out of the room, and her life.
The guard had led into areas Rivin had never been to before; eventually to a large door and through it into the morning light. The courtyard looked similar to the one he had been allowed to play in, except that it was larger and there were wide arches that led into... open space.
There was a carriage, hitched to horses. Both of which he understood from books and drawings. His insides started to inform him that they were decidedly against his current situation and would like to return to what they knew as soon as possible. He ignored them, uncomfortably.
Ilex motioned him into the carriage and climbed in with him. The doors were locked, firmly, from the outside, which Rivin thought was a bit much considering even being in the larger courtyard made him want to curl up and wrap his arms around his head. But the carriage was small, and felt safer. It had curtains that could be drawn. The seats were comfortable enough and the drive, once it started was only moderately awful.
The motion sickness only lasted the first few hours and he didn't even throw up once he realized if he put his cloak over his head and kept very still it was better. Ilex had brought several books and, once Rivin reappeared from under his anit-nausea hiding, had not been opposed to the boy making use of them. Thus the trip passed.
It was dark by the time they arrived, which was preferable, since a new landscape might have been enough to cause Rivin's mind to just decide it was too tired for that shit and stop trying to process.
The house the carriage pulled up to was very different from the one he'd spent his entire life in, but he was quite tired, and when an unfamiliar guard showed him to an unfamiliar, but comfortable bedroom he hadn't even waited to eat before falling into the bed and sleep.
The next morning he was woke early and not given any breakfast. His adolescent body objected to this extensively, but he knew better than to voice his complaints. A guard brought him to Ilex, who introduced him to a tall, willowy person whose gender Rivin could not exactly tell. They were dressed in a long robe, long a wizard from a storybook, with shoulder-length hair and no distinctive curves or bone structure.
Rivin greeted them politely but cautiously. They had instructed him to sit in a chair. He had. They had sat across from him and stared at him, for a very long time. Ilex had waited, patiently, watching intently. Rivin had felt the telltale pulses of magic being used, but no one spoke, so he kept still. At last, the stranger rose and nodded to Ilex, saying only,
"I will try."
Ilex looked like he'd just gotten everything he wanted. Rivin was pleased, and terrified. He knew what it was to have a cardinal rune worked onto your body, into your soul. He was taken from the room and fed, given a few minutes to himself, then brought back. The robed-one had sat him back down and explained the process of receiving the rune of summoning. He would be thrust into another plane, would have to prove himself to an unknown spirit, would have to retain mastery of his own soul. If he failed his body would be possessed and his soul flung out into the unknown.
The prospect did not seem ideal. Rivin paid very close attention to everything the summoner told him, did not complain when everything was repeated several times. When the instruction finished he was taken away and fed again, put back into his room, and told to sleep. This was more difficult the second night, but, eventually, he managed.
In the morning Rivin was allowed to dress, but again, not eat. The lack of food was not such a trial, as he wasn't sure he'd have been able to relax enough to swallow anything. Around mid-morning he was led to a room that was mostly empty, but for a large table in the center, Ilex, and the summoner. Two guards were there briefly, as he was instructed to lay, face down, on the table. Intense nausea seemed to be the way of life outside of where he'd grown up, but he fought it as he tried to appear calm, despite the shaking. He arranged himself as instructed and felt the two guards securing him with thick leather straps. They were likely more for his protection than to keep him still, but this logical argument did not still his nerves. Craning his neck to watch earned him the sight of the summoner concentrating and his magic sense going crazy as something massive that he could feel with his spirit sense as well. It moved around the room, like a wave, before he could even see it, washing over his senses. Then it appeared, a huge, awful-looking creature that didn't fit any description he could imagine. It moved to stand, or float, beside the summoner, and the two conversed, though in no language Rivin could understand. They stepped to the table together, the unknown creature from a nightmare reached out what he could only vaguely imagine was a hand and his clothing burnt off in a flash that hurt, but only for a second. Then the hand reached for him, just above the curve of his hips, and touched.
What happened thereafter Rivin had blanked from his own mind. Perhaps intentionally, but more likely his subconscious had refused to hold onto any of it. When, later, he had tried to remember he would get little bits. His screaming as the rune was burned into his skin, Ilex asking questions, the other place, where he'd seen the four beings that defined all description.
However long he was in that place, he never knew. He remembered the sickness that had followed better, though still not clearly. He had been tied to his bed, thrashing and incoherent as whatever being he'd made a pact with worked its way into something like balance and then, eventually faded. Other spirits and sprites had come and watched, spoken to him, tormented him, or even tried to soothe him during the 'illness'. But he hadn't been coherent enough to interact, even to ask them to leave him alone.
When he had finally woken to more like a normal state, the season had turned, Frost was nearing, and his body was nothing like he was used to. The illness had wasted him; Ilex told him later that, without mage-healers he would have died, that his heart had stopped more than once.
As soon as it was obvious he was awake and coherent doctors and healers used their arts to strengthen him as much as possible. He was allowed to feed himself, which he appreciated since at times he felt like he could eat forever and not feel full, while at others even a bite would make him gag.
It took time for his body to regain its strength, but he worked at it in every way he was allowed, hating feeling weak and incapable. Between regaining his physical strength, as soon as he could sit up in bed for more than an hour, the summoner began to give him lessons. They weren't intended to teach him how to summon. Ilex made it perfectly clear that if he were ever to be caught using his rune without explicit permission his future would be bleak.
The lessons were to ensure he didn't accidentally summon anything, or make a pact unknowingly with something, be it so minor he barely noticed, or so cunning it tricked him.
When he knew enough, and was strong enough, Ilex took him from that place, but not back to his first home.
Just after the turn of the season, Ilex had informed Rivin that they were moving again. He even went so far as to inform his assistant, much to the younger man's surprise, where they were going. They would be relocating directly to Zaichaer, the city, an estate on the outskirts, but still, technically inside the city. The State was handing over some specimens to Ilex to experiment on that had, heretofore, been kept back from him. He seemed excited, though Riving was less so. More babies for tests were not that interesting, particularly if they hadn't been specifically bred for the experiment. They would be cataloged and disposed of.
It never occurred to Rivin to have any feelings about the other children who had been taken into the experiment, as he assumed none had ever had any for him. He didn't think of them as people, and, in a similar way, though he did not realize it, he did not think of himself as a person. Not in the same way that Ilex and his guests were people.
He had tried to keep the annoyance off his face and even asked how many blood samples would be needed from each infant. Ilex's brow had furrowed and then he had laughed, his short chuckling laugh.
"No, they won't be babies. This will be a new batch for breeding, purebloods."
This, Rivin had not been expecting. He had blinked, tilted his head a bit, and watched as Ilex became further amused at his familiar expression. The Lysanrin had asked if he would need to take samples from them, and had been met by another laugh, but the proud one this time. They had discussed the procedure for examining those who would come in, to check them for illnesses, deformities, etc. But, the doctor assured Rivin they were unlikely to find any since these had been trained, by the State, to make sure of their racial magical powers. Rivin raised his brows to this information and was quickly informed that they would each be fitted with a collar from the Imperium to block any use of magic. Rivin had read of such collars but had never considered them being used as part of the experiment, was immediately grateful that Ilex had never caught him trying to access his rune without permission.
It was not until later, when he was in his room packing his few belongings and his clothes, saying goodbye to the little fire sprite who he had coaxed into his fireplace and occasionally made momentary pacts with for more warmth or light, that he might be going on this trip for more than his scientific assistance.
He was aware that Ilex was still running his breeding program, and obtaining new specimens, but Rivin had never been brought along on one of that type of trip before. A wariness crept over him as he realized that he was of breeding age, health, and had nearly been the culmination of the experiment himself. He was, in a very real way, the perfect specimen for breeding.
~~~~
It had taken three days before they had been informed of the results of the extensive examination. During which his mother had babied him, and he had allowed it, even reached out for more, but had also begun to withdraw himself, in his mind, from their connection. She too grew slowly distant, which still physically offering him the extended care.
Ilex called Rivin into the exam room and informed him that he had passed perfectly. There was something almost parental in his gaze, like the man was proud of someone he had helped raise. It also looked like he was pleased with the outcome of a breeding experiment, which was also true. Rivin was at first pleased, then unhappy, then worried and determined mixed.
The doctor informed him that soon they would take a journey to the place where he would undergo the final test, that they would leave on the morrow. Rivin was dismissed after this, as Ilex had preparations to make for the journey. Rivin did not. He spent the rest of the day sitting close to his mother and playing the little games that had begun inventing together as soon as he'd been able to look up at her.
They spent the night in separate beds and the morning as they usually did, sharing small conversations and breakfast. When the guard came, Rivin was dressed appropriately for being outside and standing by the door. His mother did not hug him, it had never been a part of their contact since he'd been too big to pick up, but she did put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. They shared a long look, and then he had stepped out of the room, and her life.
The guard had led into areas Rivin had never been to before; eventually to a large door and through it into the morning light. The courtyard looked similar to the one he had been allowed to play in, except that it was larger and there were wide arches that led into... open space.
There was a carriage, hitched to horses. Both of which he understood from books and drawings. His insides started to inform him that they were decidedly against his current situation and would like to return to what they knew as soon as possible. He ignored them, uncomfortably.
Ilex motioned him into the carriage and climbed in with him. The doors were locked, firmly, from the outside, which Rivin thought was a bit much considering even being in the larger courtyard made him want to curl up and wrap his arms around his head. But the carriage was small, and felt safer. It had curtains that could be drawn. The seats were comfortable enough and the drive, once it started was only moderately awful.
The motion sickness only lasted the first few hours and he didn't even throw up once he realized if he put his cloak over his head and kept very still it was better. Ilex had brought several books and, once Rivin reappeared from under his anit-nausea hiding, had not been opposed to the boy making use of them. Thus the trip passed.
It was dark by the time they arrived, which was preferable, since a new landscape might have been enough to cause Rivin's mind to just decide it was too tired for that shit and stop trying to process.
The house the carriage pulled up to was very different from the one he'd spent his entire life in, but he was quite tired, and when an unfamiliar guard showed him to an unfamiliar, but comfortable bedroom he hadn't even waited to eat before falling into the bed and sleep.
The next morning he was woke early and not given any breakfast. His adolescent body objected to this extensively, but he knew better than to voice his complaints. A guard brought him to Ilex, who introduced him to a tall, willowy person whose gender Rivin could not exactly tell. They were dressed in a long robe, long a wizard from a storybook, with shoulder-length hair and no distinctive curves or bone structure.
Rivin greeted them politely but cautiously. They had instructed him to sit in a chair. He had. They had sat across from him and stared at him, for a very long time. Ilex had waited, patiently, watching intently. Rivin had felt the telltale pulses of magic being used, but no one spoke, so he kept still. At last, the stranger rose and nodded to Ilex, saying only,
"I will try."
Ilex looked like he'd just gotten everything he wanted. Rivin was pleased, and terrified. He knew what it was to have a cardinal rune worked onto your body, into your soul. He was taken from the room and fed, given a few minutes to himself, then brought back. The robed-one had sat him back down and explained the process of receiving the rune of summoning. He would be thrust into another plane, would have to prove himself to an unknown spirit, would have to retain mastery of his own soul. If he failed his body would be possessed and his soul flung out into the unknown.
The prospect did not seem ideal. Rivin paid very close attention to everything the summoner told him, did not complain when everything was repeated several times. When the instruction finished he was taken away and fed again, put back into his room, and told to sleep. This was more difficult the second night, but, eventually, he managed.
In the morning Rivin was allowed to dress, but again, not eat. The lack of food was not such a trial, as he wasn't sure he'd have been able to relax enough to swallow anything. Around mid-morning he was led to a room that was mostly empty, but for a large table in the center, Ilex, and the summoner. Two guards were there briefly, as he was instructed to lay, face down, on the table. Intense nausea seemed to be the way of life outside of where he'd grown up, but he fought it as he tried to appear calm, despite the shaking. He arranged himself as instructed and felt the two guards securing him with thick leather straps. They were likely more for his protection than to keep him still, but this logical argument did not still his nerves. Craning his neck to watch earned him the sight of the summoner concentrating and his magic sense going crazy as something massive that he could feel with his spirit sense as well. It moved around the room, like a wave, before he could even see it, washing over his senses. Then it appeared, a huge, awful-looking creature that didn't fit any description he could imagine. It moved to stand, or float, beside the summoner, and the two conversed, though in no language Rivin could understand. They stepped to the table together, the unknown creature from a nightmare reached out what he could only vaguely imagine was a hand and his clothing burnt off in a flash that hurt, but only for a second. Then the hand reached for him, just above the curve of his hips, and touched.
What happened thereafter Rivin had blanked from his own mind. Perhaps intentionally, but more likely his subconscious had refused to hold onto any of it. When, later, he had tried to remember he would get little bits. His screaming as the rune was burned into his skin, Ilex asking questions, the other place, where he'd seen the four beings that defined all description.
However long he was in that place, he never knew. He remembered the sickness that had followed better, though still not clearly. He had been tied to his bed, thrashing and incoherent as whatever being he'd made a pact with worked its way into something like balance and then, eventually faded. Other spirits and sprites had come and watched, spoken to him, tormented him, or even tried to soothe him during the 'illness'. But he hadn't been coherent enough to interact, even to ask them to leave him alone.
When he had finally woken to more like a normal state, the season had turned, Frost was nearing, and his body was nothing like he was used to. The illness had wasted him; Ilex told him later that, without mage-healers he would have died, that his heart had stopped more than once.
As soon as it was obvious he was awake and coherent doctors and healers used their arts to strengthen him as much as possible. He was allowed to feed himself, which he appreciated since at times he felt like he could eat forever and not feel full, while at others even a bite would make him gag.
It took time for his body to regain its strength, but he worked at it in every way he was allowed, hating feeling weak and incapable. Between regaining his physical strength, as soon as he could sit up in bed for more than an hour, the summoner began to give him lessons. They weren't intended to teach him how to summon. Ilex made it perfectly clear that if he were ever to be caught using his rune without explicit permission his future would be bleak.
The lessons were to ensure he didn't accidentally summon anything, or make a pact unknowingly with something, be it so minor he barely noticed, or so cunning it tricked him.
When he knew enough, and was strong enough, Ilex took him from that place, but not back to his first home.
