Rendil pursued his studies with the same focus and concentration he had used to master pick-pocketing in his youth. Each night, he lay awake mulling over the complex theories introduced that day and reviewing every tidbit of overheard conversation. Thinking through a thorny problem often calmed his mind so he could finally sleep.
His days were full and his studies engrossing. A normal day began with an early meal followed by private study and a discussion with Hanrick. They usually walked together to the midday meal. Rendil would then start his afternoon in the library. Recently, his time among the books and scrolls had shortened as he found other apprentices and mentors more available for conversation. He was even allowed to sit in on some talks given by the senior sages. It wasn't long before Rendil had learned of the Sages' role in the building of New Targonor, the responsibilities of advising the Thestran Council, and even the need for proper evaluation of new candidates, among other subjects.
Rendil endured the long and tiring days without complaint and looked forward to his evening conversations with Hanrick. Hanrick would question Rendil about the day's teaching and then ask him to find ways to apply the material to his apprenticeship. Rendil felt his relationship with Hanrick strengthen during these meetings.
Hanrick was a patient teacher. He was quick to explain and would give clear reasons for doing or not doing certain actions. If Rendil became frustrated, Hanrick would change his approach and Rendil would soon find himself solving the problem from a completely different direction. In Hanrick, only five years his elder, Rendil found a confidant and friend, as well as a mentor. Hanrick's teaching methods were entirely different than the demeaning admonishments and patronizing corrections Master Dorrin used, and Rendil was glad of it.
One night at their usual meeting time, Hanrick entered the small room he shared with Rendil, and observed his apprentice sitting at the table studying the apprentice primer. Books were stacked on every part of the table. Among those books, Hanrick spied a magic treatise, a book about the Sages Arcane, a small history of the Thestran kings, and several maps.
"What's all this, Rendil?"
Rendil looked up from his books, and rubbed at his eyes. "I was just looking at these maps of Thestra and trying to determine where the undead might next appear. We all know they came up from the south when we were in Targonor. However, the mountains seemed to have stopped them." Rendil traced along the line of the Widow's Veil on the map and then used his finger to circle the deep woods south of New Targonor. "Then we have the woods here to worry about. What if they found a way t-"
"That can wait, Rendil," interrupted Hanrick. "I would like to talk a bit about your thoughts on the lecture from this afternoon. Master Gemmel had some interesting things to say, did he not? Specifically, I want to talk about the accepted practices of our art."
"Well, that's what got me started in all this," Rendil replied as he motioned to the mess of books and maps on the table. "We don't know what caused the undead to appear. We also don't know why they attacked us. Could the invasion be magical, the work of some rogue sages?"
Hanrick chuckled. "I love how your mind works. Honestly, it is refreshing to hear a completely different viewpoint that only you seem to find." He pushed aside some of the books and parchments from the edge of the table and then rested against it. "Rendil, where are these questions coming from?"
"I was reading in this history." Rendil held up the battered tome about the history of the Sages Arcane. "There were some incidents recorded that raised my suspicions."
"Rendil, let me assure you that many sages have looked into this. They have determined that the undead invasion is not magical in nature, at least in any magic we know. Whatever is behind the undead is still a mystery-- however it isn't the work of 'rogue sages'."
"What do they think it is then?"
"That I don't know, but minds more suited to the task than ours are hard at work trying to figure that out." Hanrick picked up the apprentice primer and began to thumb through it. "What I more want to talk about are the accepted practices. You have read about them in here, I assume?"
"Yes, I have. I understand the need to assist the throne, the mercantile uses of our art to maintain fair trade, the pursuit and recording of knowledge, and the accepted military uses."
"You certainly listed them, but do you truly understand them? What are some limitations or restrictions on these principles?"
"The biggest limitation the Sages' have placed on themselves is the restriction on experimentation with life," Rendil answered.
"Correct. Our art is not a healing art. We're also not to seek wanton harm, nor are we to use torture. Why is that, you think?"
Rendil pondered the question for a moment, then replied, "Because we want to be respected for our abilities, not feared."
"Interesting answer. It's somewhat correct, but I want to hear more of your reasoning on this."
"I was reading about the early days of the order and Talin the Mad and -"
"That's an interesting choice of study," interrupted Hanrick. "That is clearly outside the scope of your apprenticeship training this early into it."
"I know, Master. However, it intrigues me. I'm sorry."
"That's fine, Rendil. You just caught me off guard. However, I do want you to clear your studies with me first from now on. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Continue then."
"Well, Talin the Mad was put on trial and executed for human experimentation. It took the Sages many years to put that behind them-er, us."
"Why was what Talin did wrong?"
"Because there were no controls over it. He did it on his own."
"That's correct but not the answer I was looking for. Why were those actions by Talin so wrong?"
Rendil sat and thought of an answer. After several moments, he was unable to come up with a plausible reason. "I don't know. Why?"
"Although we use our magic to enhance, we do not create life, nor do we take part in necromancy," Hanrick explained. "We leave the healing arts to the priests, who are better suited to the task. In fact, often, our arts work at cross purposes with the natural order. Talin's use of human subjects for his experiments destroyed several lives and left others near death. His fascination with cadavers and attempts to raise up constructs put our entire society in danger. He paid with his life for violating our tenets. His actions also opened the Sages Arcane to outside scrutiny, which almost led to our dissolution. We update our accepted practices frequently so we may stay true to our mission and don't stray into those dark areas of study again."
"But sages still theorize about it, right? They just don't act on it."
"No, they don't. I haven't heard of a single Sage who has taken up Talin's, or similar, studies."
"But they do." And then Rendil related the story of getting caught in Targonor. He talked about the theories he heard whispered. He mentioned the names of the books the two sages discussed. As Rendil continued, Hanrick's demeanor changed from one of interest to one of trepidation. At the end of the telling, Hanrick was clearly shaken.
"This happened in Targonor?" asked Hanrick. "Do you happen to remember what the sages looked like?"
"I can do one better. I can give you a name."
"You know the name?"
"You do as well," said Rendil. "It was Master Dorrin."
Submitted by
Nocte
Date
5/1/05
Source
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Web Lore
Notes
Thestra Lore
