Luck in the Shadows

my boy, although ideally such regard should exist between master and pupil. Your faithfulness to Seregil after such short acquaintance speaks well of you both.
    "It took me many years to find another apprentice. As I said before, there are few who have the inborn power, and those who do vary greatly in their ability. Of those few who did trickle into he Orлska each year, I found none that suited my purposes until Thero. Whatever else you may think of him, he is tremendously talented. There is no facet of our art he cannot grasp. The fact that he was of my old master's family made him seem all the more suitable at the time. All that, together with the fact that I was beginning to feel quite desperately in need of a successor, blinded me to certain aspects of his nature which might otherwise have given me pause. Thero has proven trustworthy in every way, yet his thirst for knowledge borders on avarice—a serious flaw in a wizard. He also possesses no sense of humor and, while you will not find that listed among the requirements of the Orлska, I believe it to be an invaluable trait in those who aspire to power of any sort. And this lack of humor causes him to find me an embarrassment on occasion.
    "However, it is his animosity toward Seregil which has most alarmed me over the years, for it reveals envy—one of the most dangerous weaknesses of all. He cannot be content that he replaced Seregil, that he is more gifted in magic than Seregil could ever have been. And though he has little use for my affection himself, he cannot bear that Seregil retains it. Of course, Seregil is little better, as I am certain you shall see for yourself soon enough. But Thero is a wizard. If he acts this way over such small matters, what will he not be capable of over great ones, when he is great?"
    Nysander paused, massaging his eyelids with two fingers. "For with or without my teachings, he will be great. And so I keep him with me because I fear to let him go to another master. It is my greatest hope that with time and maturity he will gain compassion, and then what a wizard he shall be!"
    Alec was amazed at the old wizard's candor. "Seregil tells me nothing of himself, and you tell me everything."
    Nysander smiled. "Oh, hardly everything yet! We all have our secrets, and our reasons for them. I have told you this about Thero and myself so that you may understand him better and perhaps see why he acts as he does. Like Seregil, I also expect and trust in your discretion."
    Nysander was just reaching for his goblet again when a yellow globe of light winked into being in front of him. It hovered a moment, gleaming like a tiny sun, then floated gently to settle on his outstretched palm.
    The wizard inclined his head, as if listening to a voice inaudible to Alec. It disappeared as abruptly as it had come.
    "Ylinestra," Nysander explained. "Excuse me for a moment."
    Closing his eyes, he held up a long forefinger and a similar light, bright blue in color, sprang up there.
    "Certainly, my dear," he said to it, "I shall be with you shortly."
    At a slight flick of his finger, the mote of light shot out of sight.
    Anticipating Nysander's departure, Alec stood up and felt the wine rise to his head. "Well, uh, I think I'm beginning to understand a few things. Thank you."
    Nysander raised an eyebrow. "There is no hurry. I have sent word."
    "No, really. If Ylinestra was waiting for me—Oh, damn!" Alec stammered to a halt, cheeks flaming. "I
    didn't mean, that is—It's the wine, I guess."
    "Illior's Light, boy, what will Seregil ever make of you if you cannot keep a straight face?"
    Nysander chuckled as he rose to his feet. "Perhaps you are right, though. She can be impatient. Why not take a stroll in the gardens? I should think you would find it most pleasant there after being confined in ships and houses for so long. Wethis can sit with Seregil."
    "I don't think I could find my way around," said Alec, thinking of all the twists and turns between here and the main entrance.
    "That is easily remedied. Take this with you."
    Nysander opened his hand to show Alec a small cube of green stone, incised on each side with tiny symbols.
    Alec rolled it around on his palm. "What is it?"
    "A guide stone. Simply hold it up and speak where you wish to go. It will lead you."
    Feeling a bit silly, Alec held out the stone and said, "To the gardens?"
    The words were scarcely spoken before the cube took on a pale nimbus and rose to hover in the air just in front of