The White Order

L

WHY ARE YOU here, young Cerryl? Jeslek and Sterol sent you.” The slender older mage answered his own question and smiled broadly. “They sent you to me, and I will teach what I know of anatomie, which is considerable.”

From where he sat on the hard bench against the wall, Cerryl bowed his head and waited.

“But the question remains. Why? Why study anatomie?” Broka paused but did not look at Cerryl as he walked by the student as if Cerryl were not there. “Many are the reasons for the study of the anatomies. . many, indeed. .”

The mage turned abruptly, and his long fingers brushed Cerryl’s arm as he passed, and Cerryl wanted to cringe. He remained sitting straight up, instead, his eyes intent on the slender wizard.

“From chaos unto chaos-that is the rule of anatomie-and of life. Life is that brief moment when chaos seizes order and creates living form, and death is when chaos abandons order. It ceases to animate form, and the form ceases to live, if you will.” Broka offered a toothy grin, then turned and walked toward the window in a gliding, swaying stride that reminded Cerryl of a lizard-or a viper.

Cerryl looked at the skeleton on the wooden stand in the corner away from the window. Had the man or woman been a criminal or just a poor unfortunate?

“We know food supplies chaos energy to the body, and with that energy, the body grows and changes. Any individual living body is not only constantly changing its substance but its size. When such changes cease, we have death.” Broka fixed Cerryl with his deep-set eyes. “Do you understand that, young Cerryl? When the body loses its chaos energy in one way or another, it dies.”

“Yes, ser.”

“Pure chaos is formless, but man is not. In fact, all land creatures with bones share a generality of structure. The hand and arm of a man, the foreleg of a dog, the wing of a bird-indeed all manifest the same type of construction.”

Broka sidled toward the skeleton on its frame, pointing toward it. “Now we shall begin with the skeleton-precisely. . precisely two hundred distinct bones.” He gestured toward Cerryl. “Come here. You do not just listen. You must touch, and feel. Feel. . especially. For feel is essential to a chaos master.” A soft but guttural chuckle followed.

Cerryl rose and walked gingerly toward the skeleton, trying to position himself so that the array of bones stood between him and Broka.

“All bones are of one of four types-lengthy bones, short bones, plank or flat bones, and irregular bones.” Broka pointed to one of the arm bones. “Feel that.”

Cerryl complied, letting his fingers trace the length of the off-white member, feeling white dust slip away under his fingertips.

“Real living bones are not so smooth, not so cool and inviting, but this will start you on learning.”

In the oppressive warmth of the small chamber, Cerryl wanted to yawn and step back from Broka simultaneously.

“Prestad’s will give you all the details. That’s the book I will give you. Jeslek says you can read, and read you will.” Broka pushed a lock of long graying sandy hair back off his forehead, offering another broad smile.

“Yes, ser,” answered Cerryl, uncertain what to say or do.

“Why should you study anatomie? There are two reasons. You should learn anatomie so that you can use chaos to heal effectively or kill effectively. The other reason is that the Guild says you should learn anatomie.” Broka shrugged. “If I do not think you have learned your anatomie, then you will not become a full mage.” He looked at the skeleton. “You may indeed serve the Guild in other ways.” Yet another smile followed. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, ser.”

“Good.” Broka thrust forward a book Cerryl had not seen him pick up. “This is Prestad’s Anatomical Explications. You will read section one until you think you understand it. We will meet in an eight-day.”

Cerryl took the book.

Broka glided toward the door, toothy smile in place, opening it and stepping back, his smile almost mocking.