Living Words
Sasha L. Miller
Published by Less Than Three Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written
permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.
Edited by Kiyoshi-chan
Cover by Megan Derr
This book is a work of fiction and as such all characters and situations are fictitious. Any resemblance
to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.
First Edition October 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Sasha Miller
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-1-936202-01-0
Chapter One
The house that loomed before him wasn't really threatening. It was in the middle of the prosperous,
bustling town, with cheerful paint and a garden that was greener and healthier than any Guylian and Justain
had passed on their journey through town. The windows were washed, with homey, colorful curtains
showing through the glass. The porch was sturdy and didn't shake under their weight, and really, Guylian
shouldn't be fighting back panic at the prospect of using the polished brass doorknocker.
Justain had no patience for him though, and Guylian's fingers gripped the strap of his bag tighter as Justain
knocked loudly, three times. Guylian ducked his head to study the tops of his shoes, worn and flecked with
mud from the journey. If he wasn't looking up, he didn't have to see Justain's scowl or the face of the man
who might possibly become his new teacher.
Might possibly, but wouldn't if Guylian screwed up. Justain sighed impatiently, and Guylian noted the
irregular flecking the mud had made when it had been flicked around by the laces of his boots. Justain
reached for the knocker again, mumbling something derogatory under his breath.
The door opened before he could actually knock again, and Guylian made the mistake of looking up to
watch Justain's hand fall back to his side. Hastily, he looked back down, but not before he managed to get
an eyeful of the beautiful young man who answered the door.
"About time," Justain barked, stepping forward and into the house. Guylian blushed furiously - surely this
couldn't be the mage he was supposed to learn from. He was young, nearly as young as Guylian if
appearances were anything to go by.
"Good to see you too, Justain."
Guylian snuck another look, unsurprised but unnerved all the same to find the mage's eyes on him.
"Come on, inside," the mage coaxed. "Before the pixies get out."
"Pixies?" Guylian asked, startled but stepping forward just the same. "Pixies don't exist."
"Hmm." The mage winked, shutting the door behind Guylian. He didn't elaborate, and Guylian glanced
around, half-wondering if this mage was insane.
"Justain, get out of my kitchen!"
Guylian watched, completely at a loss as the young mage wandered away. He disappeared into the room at
the end of the hallway, skirting a heavy wooden table that jutted out into the hallway dangerously. Guylian
frowned fretfully, wondering if he should follow—but no, he hadn't been told to, and the mage had made
no indication he should do anything but not stand outside.
Sasha L. Miller
"It was a long trip," Justain grumbled, entering the hallway again with a thick chunk of bread in one hand
and a goblet of dark wine in the other. Guylian straightened, trying to look inconspicuous and probably
failing miserably.
"Long enough you couldn't send me a note saying you were coming?" The mage asked, nudging Justain
out of the way. He gave Guylian a thoughtful look and Guylian resisted the urge to fidget, half-sure there
was something he was supposed to have done that he hadn't.
"Is he your apprentice, Justain?" The question was gentler than Guylian had expected it to be, but was
plenty enough to make his shoulders tense even more.
"Yes," Justain snarled, and Guylian dropped his gaze to the pretty hardwood floor he was standing on. He
couldn't apprentice with this mage; he'd spill something or put a scratch in the lovely furniture or floors or
worse, kill the garden.
"You don't have an apprentice now, do you Macati?" Justain asked, his intent obvious in his voice and
Guylian wanted to melt into the pretty hardwood floors in shame. Macati wouldn't want an apprentice who
couldn't learn from Justain, one of the masters of the kingdom.
"You…" Macati began, but trailed off, and Guylian could feel the weight of his gaze. "You're staying the
night, at least. I'll set you up in the work room."
"I planned to start back tonight," Justain replied, in that tone of voice that brooked no argument.
"Hah," Macati scoffed, and Guylian glanced up, startled. Justain and Macati were staring at each other
unwaveringly. "It's three day's travel to get here. I think you can spend one evening in a real bed before
heading back."
Justain's eyes narrowed… but then he sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "Fine."
Guylian stared. Justain never backed down. On anything.
"Guylian, go with him and make sure things are set up properly," Justain ordered grumpily, taking a heavy
sip of his wine.
Guylian flushed as Macati focused on him again, tamping down on the urge to run outside and give up on
this "becoming a proper mage" business.
"Upstairs," Macati directed, gesturing for Guylian to precede him. Guylian nodded clumsily, his fingers
clenching another increment tighter about the strap of the bag he carried. The stairs were also beautiful;
hardwood that matched the hallway floor, polished to a shine that gleamed under the sunlight streaming
through the windows that climbed the wall with the stairs.
The second floor turned out to be one large room—the work room, as Macati had called it. It smelled of
pine and burnt wood, and the ceiling sloped up with the roof, peaking lengthwise over a long worktable.
There were windows set into the ceiling, illuminating the entire room, and bookcases that lined the short
span of wall that existed before the ceiling started slanting up.
Macati laughed quietly, and Guylian blushed, stumbling into the room further to let Macati finish his climb.
Macati stepped up, giving him a gentle smile that only made him blush more. Glancing around the room
again for something to look at other than Macati, Guylian jumped when Macati whistled softly.
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