“Anything can happen, but every wizard has to go out into the field occasionally,” Pozella said. “Be warned that no one will take a teenaged Level 3 seriously. You had to put on a show for the fort commandant, but forget about it. You made everyone at Fort Draco proud, although few will admit it. Be wary, and good luck.”
Two days later, Quint was put on a horse after being shown how to tie his bag on the horse and was given a few minutes of riding tips.
The week-long trip to Bocarre was a painful experience, physically, but Quint marveled at the changes in the countryside as he traveled through his country to its capital. For all the time spent together, Quint’s traveling companions hardly acknowledged Quint’s existence. On a sunny morning, Quint and the six other riders from the fort arrived at the gates to Bocarre. All the other riders had been to Bocarre before.
Bocarre impressed Quint to no end. He couldn’t believe a city could be so large and so ornate. His staring stopped when they came to a black building fronting a large square.
“Welcome to the headquarters of the Racellian Wizard Corps,” said one of the aides who came to take their horses.
Chapter Si
x
The Wizard Corps Headquarters building’s foyer was primarily black, but the many windows of the facade let in abundant light, eliminating some of the gloom. Quint presented his documents to the woman in uniform at the front counter. His riding companions walked through the lobby and off to their destinations.
“A new soldier?” she asked, looking at Quint’s young face.
“Maybe something more, ma’am,” Quint said.
The woman laughed. “A little snip like you hinting like you were something special. That won’t work on me, young man,” she said.
After reading Quint’s papers, she cleared her throat. “I suppose it did work on me after all,” she said with a blushing face. “You will see Captain Bavora, and he will arrange everything for your testing.”
Quint nodded. “Where do I go, ma’am?”
The woman gave him a printed map and put an “X” on Bavora’s office.
“I wouldn’t tarry, Recruit Tirolo. You won’t be a recruit for long if you really are a Level 3.”
As Quint walked the halls searching for Captain Bavora’s office, he thought of the change in the woman’s attitude once she read his papers. Quint recounted what Pozella told him about no one wanting a teenage officer.
Quint reached his destination on the second floor and was shown into the anteroom of Captain Bavora’s office. The room was filled with seven black-uniformed young men as well as himself.
“You are here to be tested?” Quint asked the young man sitting next to him.
“Of course. We are tested and interviewed before getting our greens.”
“Greens?” Quint asked.
“The uniform of wizards in the field.”
Perhaps that would be his fate, as well, Quint thought.
He waited for three hours. The first six were gone, replaced by three more recruits, but Quint was finally called into Captain Bavora’s office.
“Did you use your time waiting?” Captain Bavora asked after offering Quint a seat in front of his desk and receiving Quint’s papers.
“I went over strings, sir.”
“How long could that take? You learn ten to progress,” Bavora said.
“I learned more than ten. They are listed in there, sir,” Quint said.
“An achiever. Good. The few qualified hubites need to work a little harder to get recognition in the Council’s wizard corps.” The captain coughed when he got to the list. “Thirty-three! You have met the wizardry qualifications for an officer.”
“I know, sir, but I lack other qualities. I’m sure age is one of them,” Quint said.
“It certainly is. I doubt the testing and interviews will be sufficient for the corps to grant a commission, but you will likely get a wizard rank if you back up what is on this document,” Bavora said.
Quint shrugged. “I will serve as I am able, sir,” Quint said as a matter of form.
Bavora filled out a document and opened a thin pamphlet. “You will at least merit a room to yourself while you stay with us. You will spend the next few nights at headquarters like the other recruits before getting your first assignment.” Bavora stood and gave Quint a casual salute. “You have a building map? Give it to me.” The captain marked a circle around room 221 in the annex, the inn for visiting wizards. “Stay in your room. Someone will be at your door to give you instructions for tonight and tomorrow. Dismissed.”
Quint wandered around the headquarters until he found the corridor that linked to the annex. He followed the hall signs and easily found room 221.
His temporary quarters were much better than the large closet that he had occupied for the last few months at the fort. A window looked over the street that ran behind the headquarters entrance.
Quint sat on the single chair in the room and stared out the window at the street below, watching people scurry about their business. He didn’t have the time to take in the buildings of Bocarre on the ride in, but now he had a chance to absorb what the capital felt like. Most people seemed to be driven as they walked below with fast paces and expressions of anxiety.
No one strolled along the street to relax like Quint would see when he people-watched at his village. All the citizens seemed to be ordered to go somewhere and do something.
He turned at a knock on the door.
“You are Quinto Tirolo?” a woman said, standing in front of the door with a male companion. Both wore black uniforms.
