Chapter 9, A Test

(A Test) (Apprentice Trisha)

Trisha sat in the soft seat. She melted into the cushioned chair and eyed the tall steaming jug of wine. Her mouth watered, the flavour of perfectly spiced wine and the sweet aroma of strawberries washed over her. Taking a deep breath, Trisha braced herself, pouring a glass of the wine. She downed the amazing wine, the first mouthful passing to her stomach.

Trisha monitored the bishop as she took large gulps, getting lost in the bold yet sweet flavour of the warm wine. To Trishas surprise, she felt even more energetic after her second cup of wine. She wanted to run around the church, hike for a day and swim. Her mind was hazy, the wine clouding her thoughts as something pushed down on her, easing her to sleep.

Her body shook like a cart over a rock-strewn path. She continued drinking the wine now on her third cup. Trisha took satisfaction in the look on the bishop's face when she downed her fourth cup of the wine. Trisha spilled some of the wine, her head pulsing as she almost fell from her chair. Veins on fire and her mind drifting to darkness, Trisha stares into the last cup of wine.

Maybe she should let it take her? It would be so easy, just lean back and let the sweet pull of sleep wash over her. She shook her head; her muddled thoughts drifting unhelpfully. Where was she? Oh, right, she was in the church. Why were there two people watching her? Oh, that was right, this was some kind of test?

She had to fall asleep. No, stop that! She had to finish the wine.

"Well, what re you loookin at?" slurred Trisha to Lord Noah.

" You obviously." said Noah.

"Can I have a bottle of this delicious wine if I finish this last cup." asked Trisha leaning on her arms. Trisha stare sideways at Noah, wondering why the man was pacing in the middle of the room.

" Why not, If you finish it all and stay conscious, I will give you a bottle." said the Bishop.

" You do not need to drink it if you don't want to? Give up the test if you are not confident?" stated Noah concerned.

" Why don't you just go to sleep?" asked the Bishop.

" Sleep? Will I fail if I go to sleep?" asked Trisha.

" You can still enter as an initiate. Think about it, all you need to do is go to sleep." said the bishop soothingly.

Trishas head throbbed, something pressing down on her mind. Her body shook. Sitting up, Trisha swallowed, licking the strawberry wine from her lips. Reaching for the remaining cup of wine, Trisha forced her fingers to close around the base.

Stinging pain behind her eyes causing her to wince, her body felt stuck to the chair, every movement like she was carrying her friend Eliya.

" How are you feeling?" asked Noah, his face pale and serious.

" Great, why not try some, your lordliness?" asked Trisha. Trisha put her lips to the cup, tipping it back. The warm liquid felt great going down her throat, settling in her stomach nicely. She let out a belch, flushing at the rush.

" Sorry your ladyship, that was unmannerly of me." said Trisha, her mind hazy as she turned to the Bishop.

Trishas stomach tightened. She set down her empty cup, grasping for her chest. She hiccupped the taste just as wonderful on the way back up. Lord Noah walked over and looked in the cup.

" She did it, she drank it all." said Lord Noah, eyes wide.

"What, are you sure? Give it a minute and she will pass out like everyone else has." said the Bishop.

" She won't, no one before has even made it past three cups of the stuff let alone a whole jug." said Noah fidgeting with his robe.

" Did I pass?" asked Trisha, eying them from her resting spot on the table.

" I am not sure. I think you might actually die." said Lord Noah, clenching and unclenching his fists.

" What, do not be silly lord Noah. I feel amazing." said Trisha, her head flat on the table.

"You shouldn't be awake, how on Laurentia are you still conscious?" shouted Lord Noah.

" Im fine, I have been drunk before." said Trisha wiping the drool from her face as she lay on the table.

The Bishop rose from her seat, strolling over towards Trisha laying on the table. Leaning down, the bishop placed a warm hand on Trishas forehead. The pressure on her mind doubled as her mind clouded further, dragging her towards blissful sleep. No! Trisha hit the woman's hand away, the thick fog remaining as everything she could do forced her towards sleep.

" Stop, I do not want to sleep." said Trisha waving her hands at the Bishop.

" What affinity for magic do you have? You shouldn't be able to resist my influence." said the Bishop frowning, her brows knitting.

" Wind affinity." said Trisha drifting side to side, the world swaying around her. Why was the room shaking? And was lord Noah always so tall? The Bishop really looked beautiful and terrifying with that fist sized amulet.

" What is that?" asked Trisha, her focus snapping to the amulet. The front held nine runes glowing on its surface.

" This will test to see what magic you have." said The Bishop grasping Trisha's shoulder with an iron tight grip. Trisha tried to stand and move away. She really didn't want anyone to see what magic she had. They might kill her if they knew it was taboo.

" Please stop." said Trisha frantically. Heart racing, she watched in horror as the medallion flashed, the nine colours changing and leaving only two glowing. Trisha braced for the terror on their faces. She looked away as it showed the second colour.

" Well, I think I see how she can resist the mind effects of the drink. And even my influence over her," said The Bishop calmly.

" Mind magic? But that is forbidden." said Lord Noah, hissing.

" I do not want to die, please don't turn me in." said Trisha frantically.

" What are we going to do with her, at her skill with channeling, she will get caught and put to death." said The Bishop. Trisha's eyes watered, oh no. Now they knew, now she would be marched to the gallows and put to the sword. Why did she let them get her drunk? Unable to even sit up, Trisha sulked as her defeat crashed around her.

" Please do not tell anyone, I do not want to die." said Trisha, trying futilely to stand.

" My lady, think about this. If anyone finds out we will be in deep trouble." said Lord Noah pacing back and forth.

" Think of all the good we can do, Noah. If she was hunting for demons, we could catch them much easier. This is an opportunity I do not want to waste." said The Bishop now mirroring Noah and pacing.

" If her majesty finds out we agreed to this, we could both be put to death as well for not turning her in." said Lord Noah.

" Im receiving more and more reports of demons, I think they have found a way past our detection amulets. We really need something like this. Think about it, Noah. If I take her as my apprentice and train her to hide her mind magic she will go unnoticed." said The Bishop.

" It can work. What if she meets a greater demon? It will try to posses her and take over her body." said Noah, ringing out his hands.

" Did you see how much of that wine she drank? She has potential. Its settled, for now im training her. She must be smart. If she has survived this long, then she hasn't been using her mind magic." said The Bishop waving her hand.

" As you wish my love, I agree with the need for something new to aide us." said Lord Noah, bowing.

" Do your friends know about your mind magic." asked the Bishop her face hard as stone. Trisha's tongue was heavy, she swallowed hard..

"No Mlady, I was too scared to tell anyone." Replied Trisha, her eyes blurry.

" Good, Noah. Force the two into a rune contract." Said The Bishop.

" Leave them alone." said Trisha weakly.

" Either i force them to not speak on this or i kill both of them." said The Bishop coldly.

" Will it hurt them?" asked Trisha.

" No, they will not even know we put them under a contract." said The Bishop.

"But Mlady, we cannot force someone into a contract." Hissed Noah.

" This is to important, we need to risk it. Use the cursed artifact." said The Bishop.

" We dont know how it works or what it does." said Noah whispering too loud.

" Just do it. Or do you want to risk word of this getting out." said The Bishop. Lord Noah blanched before bowing and hastily exiting the room.

" Now, for you. I do not want to risk tying you to something so foul, no telling if there is a demon bound to the artifact. We are going to start your training in the morning, get some sleep." said The Bishop as Trishas wits faded. She glared at the Bishop, her concern for her friend not enough to stay awake.