Page 63 of The Tribes of Magic
“Someone had to have told the General that I’m a Polymage,” I said, “and Ainsley was acting all weird yesterday and strict and just not at all like she usually is.”
“First of all, Savannah, it’s not like you’ve been very discreet about using your magic.”
“I thought I was being discreet,” I said quietly.
“Discreet? You?”
I followed Altair’s trail of chuckles to the assortment of computer consoles.
“Savannah, you are not discreet. You created a protective barrier using wood shards and teleported in front of thirty other Apprentices.”
“So you think one of theApprenticesis the spy?”
“I didn’t say that. All I said is you did a bunch of different magic spells in the course of like an hour, and that’s something that’s going to stick in people’s minds. A lot of people saw what you can do, and people talk. So it’s no wonder the General found out about your magic. There’s not much you can do about that except keep your head low, mind your own business, and try not to make waves, which we both know isn’t something you’re very good at.”
I frowned. “Point taken,” I said tightly.
“And even if you fought your nature and blended into the background, it’s far too late for that already anyway. Everyone knows about your magic. That’s reality. There’s no changing it now. And, anyway, is it really so bad that people know you’re a Polymage? Right now, the Apprentices are training hard every day, each one desperate to figure out what Tribe they belong to. That’s the whole point of these daily tasks and exercises: to help you discover your magic. Well, you’ve already discovered your magic, Savannah. You already know where you belong. MostApprentices would give anything to be where you are, to know who they are.”
“Yes. We would.”
Dutch had stayed mostly quiet up to this point. The fact that he chose to speak now meant something. So did the sorrowful, determined, defeated desperation in his eyes. He wanted to discover his magic more than anything, and it hurt him that it hadn’t happened yet. That was the downside to being an overachiever. When things didn’t happen immediately, you felt like you’d failed.
“It will happen, Dutch,” I told him. “You will find your magic.”
“I know.”
There was a sharp, brittle rigidity to his voice. If only there were something I could do to help him.
“You see, Savannah?” Altair said. “You are in a uniquely privileged position. You’ve already discovered your magic. You know where you belong. It’s no wonder the other Apprentices are jealous of you.”
Huh. I’d never considered anyone could be jealous of me.
“It’s likely why many of them are giving you the cold shoulder,” Altair said.
The cold shoulder. And the icy glares. Altair’s theory also explained all the snide comments. I’d thought it was strange, the other Apprentices being even meaner to meafterI’d saved them from the Techno Knights than they’d been before.
“They’re jealous of me?Youare jealous of me, Dutch?” I turned to my teammate.
For the briefest of moments, a micro-cringe escaped his stoic composure.
“I’m sorry, Dutch. I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I can still run faster than you can.”
“Yes, you certainly can,” I laughed. It wasn’t a happy laugh, but it wasn’t a sad one either.
“So, there you go, Savannah,” Altair said. “Things can’t be that bad if other people are envious of you.”
“If they’re envious, they might act out, right?”
“And do what exactly?”
“Spy on me for the General. Not just to tell him about my magic,” I added quickly. “But also to tell him other things.”
“What kinds of things?”
“I don’t know. Everything I get up to.”
