By late afternoon, Nev was summoned back to Captain Bhati’s office. This time around, Zafar, the mage for the garrison, was present, along with the same man who took notes before. Nev was told to sit in the straight back chair. This was disturbingly familiar.
Zafar took point on questioning Nev. “How much training did this Kustaa give you in wielding magic?”
“None. I…was created to learn swiftly, so that I could serve him as well exist for him draw power from me. He did not…” Nev sought a good word for the idea. “He did not intentionally teach me anything. In the beginning, I didn’t even try to do magic. Recently, I experimented a little. I thought my skills were very small. When I saw Hanifa about to be crushed by the falling barrel, I knew I had to try something.” Nev babbled away, hop
