The Winter Letter by D.E. Stanley

when it fell down upon us.”
    “And the chair? Did you test him in the chair?”
    “Yes Master, I placed the probation spell myself. It responded normally, there was no hidden deceit. He’s telling the truth.” 
    There was a pause, then Gatnom continued, this time more quietly. “One more thing Sir. The chair was destroyed, along with the cloaks.”
    This time the crash was not just a crash, but crashes, and the floor vibrated as if the floorboards were being ripped up.
    “Arise. The boy is awake and listening. I want to meet him.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Oh snap!” Will said to himself in a whisper scream. He looked all around, but found nowhere to hide. A moment later the door opened and Gatnom walked in. His eyes were frowning, but he forced a smile. 
    “Good morning, Will. How are you my friend?”
    Will, who had been laying since he woke, stood from the cot. Soreness stretched throughout his limbs. “Ahh, not too good. I’m sore.” He stretched his arms out to each side. “How about you?”
    “All is well, just a little bruised.”
    “What happened?”
    “I don’t know,” Gatnom answered. “I have no idea what went wrong.” He lowered his head. This time when he hid his eyes he didn’t look scary, but rather burdened, like the world was living on his shoulders. “Please, forgive me. I never meant to put your life in danger. I am sorry.”
    “It’s okay man. I’m fine. It just kinda freaked me out.” Will looked at himself; not a burn mark anywhere. His clothes were dirty, but not scorched. Gatnom must have read his mind. 
    “The only clothes that burned were the cloaks.”
    “That’s weird. Is everyone else ok?”
    “Yes, all is well. Wohie tried to extinguish the fire, but whatever magic that was was much too strong. She was blown away, but she is okay, just a little shook up. She has been attending to us both, and she contacted Master Jared.”
    “He’s mad huh?”
    “Gatnom!” boomed the voice from the other room.
    “Yes, he is furious, but come, he wants to meet you. Grab your bag.”
    Will painfully lifted his bag onto one shoulder and swung it around to his back. Together the two walked into the main room, which looked like a tornado had hit it. Books were scattered about like ants knocked out of line, and the helpless table was flipped upside down like a turtle stuck on its back, all four legs straight up. Across the room, staring at a hanging painting, was a man wearing a maroon leather cloak that fell to his calves. His hair was long enough to reach mid back and was such a dark brown it almost looked black. In the center of his back was the same symbol that had been on Gatnom’s cloak, the sign of a dragon flying around a planet. Will did not know the symbol was the crest of Lord Markus, nor that standing before him was one of the most powerful magi in Baru.
    Will and Gatnom stopped abruptly when Master Jared spoke without turning around. 
    “Young man,” Jared said, “usually I can read a person only moments after I sense they are near, but for some reason I cannot read you. So, I must tell you up front, if you are innocent I am sorry. Do you understand?” 
    Will did not.
    “I must find the truth. I must have a guarantee you are not lying about who you are,” said Jared.
    Gatnom stepped forward. “Master—” He was hushed by a lifted hand wearing another red ring. Jared’s fingers were curled, along with the thumb, and were moving in and out as if he was squeezing an invisible rubber ball. Will felt a tingle in his stomach. He looked to see if something was crawling on him. Nothing was there. 
    “If you are wondering what you are feeling, it is a spell to detect lies, and it is always absolutely effective.”
    “What do you mean?” Will asked. He was beginning to worry. The tingling felt like someone was dragging a warm yarn over his bare skin.
    “It’s simple. If you tell the truth, no harm will come to you, but if you lie you will die.”
    “Master, is