Read Online The Law of Isolation by Angela Holder - Free Book Online

until spring. Everyone guarded their money, saving against the lean days of winter to come. The crowds at Elathir’s busy market had thinned, and many shops had been forced to close. People weren’t going hungry yet, but everyone feared it might come to that. Elathir was the worst hit, but the rest of Tevenar was feeling the effects as well. The country hadn’t dealt with such widespread hard times since the aftermath of the hurricane twenty years before.
    As the money folk earned from their crafts fell, the portion they paid to their guilds in dues fell also. In turn, the percentage each guild passed on to the Wizards’ Guild to cover the services provided to its members came to a much smaller amount. Josiah had listened to Elkan and the other masters discuss the problem nearly every night. No one had any answers, save to cut back and endure until the Mother sent better fortunes.
    “The current conditions are bringing hardship to everyone in Tevenar. As representatives of the Mother, it’s our duty to lead by example. I expect every one of you, from the oldest master to the youngest apprentice, to demonstrate a spirit of cheerful acceptance of these new restrictions. If we all work together, Tevenar can come through these difficult days stronger and more united than before.”
    Dabiel’s words rang firm and confident through the hall. Despite himself, Josiah felt his spirits lift. The nearly empty pouch at his belt seemed a noble sacrifice, his small contribution to Tevenar’s welfare.
    Some of the other apprentices showed signs of the same reaction in their faces, but a number still scowled. Even a few of the journeymen looked discontented. Some of them had families and households of their own. The cut in their stipends would hit them harder than a mere lack of pocket money.
    Beside Josiah, Mathir kicked at the floor. “It’s not like the coins they take from us are going to make any difference.”
    “Hush!” Beyond him, Kalti glowered. “Listen to Master Dabiel. You, too.” She fixed Josiah with her glare.
    “I didn’t say—”
    But she’d already turned away. Josiah fumed. She had never accepted him as a wizard. The disdain she’d shown him when they’d first met, when he was still a fuller’s apprentice, had continued even after he bonded with Sar. In her eyes, since the Mother hadn’t revealed his name to the Guildmaster with the others when they were thirteen, he could never truly be a part of the Wizards’ Guild. Even though he’d spoken with the Mother when he bonded, just like they all had.
    It didn’t help that he was a year younger than the other bonded apprentices. They’d all paired with their familiars at the beginning of their fourth year of apprenticeship. Even if Josiah had joined the Guild the usual way, he’d only be in his third year.
    “Don’t pay any attention to her,” Mathir muttered. Braon, Seriti and Daera all made encouraging faces or gestures. Josiah took heart. At least he had some friends among the other apprentices.
    Master Dabiel continued, ignoring their disturbance. “I thank the Mother for all of you. You may be dismissed to get your meals.”
    She sat down at the table she customarily shared with several of the older masters. She seemed as composed as always. But when she dropped her hand to Buttons’s head, her fingers scratched the hog’s stiff white bristles so hard he flicked an ear and pulled away. She glanced down and gave him an apologetic pat, but her eyes were shadowed.
    Josiah gulped. He hadn’t been worried up to now. Nothing was so bad that it wouldn’t go back to normal sooner or later. But Master Dabiel was the strongest, wisest wizard he knew. Her understanding of the Mother was unsurpassed, and her practical skill in leadership kept the often fractious Council of Guildmasters working together effectively. When Elkan, who up to that point had been the very paragon of wizardry to Josiah, had been so badly shaken by the events of the spring