Knights Magi (Book 4) by Terry Mancour

you?”
    “Sounds dangerous,” Rondal said, after considering it a moment.
    “The Censorate thought so,” Tyndal agreed.  “They almost banned it.  Except for their use.  Immoral Use of Psychomancy is a serious crime.  Or it used to be.”
    “It should still be,” Rondal said, quickly.  “Spells of forgetfulness are one thing.  What about a spell of compulsion?”
    Tyndal thought about the possibilities.  “Ethically?  I don’t know . . . that could be a lot of fun . . .”
    “. . . until someone used it on you .  Like that innkeeper’s daughter who wants to get married so badly?” Tyndal blushed, despite himself.  Before he was even knighted, back in Master Minalan’s home village of Talry-on-Burine, he had been nearly stalked and captured by a husband-hungry innkeeper’s daughter.  While he still had fond memories of the girl, she was not the sort Tyndal found truly appealing.  Still, he felt a bit defensive about her – she’d helped him out, she’d been very sweet, and she’d been one of the first girls to kiss him properly.
    “She’s not a mage,” Tyndal said, quickly.  “And she wasn’t so bad.”  He had a fond spot for the girl, and had decided to pay a call on her again one day, should he have the chance.
    “Just an example.  Besides, I’ve always heard that Psychomancy was highly unpredictable.  The human mind just isn’t as neat and tidy as the Holy Periodic Table.”
    “I’m just saying it could be useful.  Hells, a third of the warmagic combat spells are psychomantic.”
    “You saw what Lady Pentandra did to those two Censors at Master Min’s wedding,” Rondal recalled.  “That was Pscyhomancy.  Had to be.  Those Imperials all have all sorts of forbidden magic,” he said, a little suspiciously.
    “Lady Pentandra was acting to protect Master Min,” Tyndal said, defensively. 
    “Sure, sure,” Rondal dismissed.  “I’m not criticizing.  But about that spell . . .”
    Tyndal looked at Rondal questioningly.  After all the acrimony the two had been through, all of the rivalry, to have his better-educated junior apprentice ask for him to teach him a spell touched Tyndal’s pride. 
    “All right,” he sighed.  “It’s actually not that hard . . . “
     
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    Eventually, after the holiday, the two apprentices were called into the presence of the highest ranking faculty for a report on their findings – thus far.  Tyndal found himself anxiously biting his lip while he stood in front of the long table in the faculty hall and listened.
    “My lords,” Head Master Alwyn of Terone began in his creaky old voice, “it gives me a certain degree of pleasure to be able to inform your master that your skills are . . . adequate for your age and experience.” He made the pronouncement almost reluctantly.  Or it could just be his great age, Tyndal reasoned.  He tried not to take it personally.  Master Alwyn continued.
    “We were asked to evaluate your areas of weakness, identify your strengths, give what remedial instruction it was felt was necessary, and prepare a course of individual study for each of you, in preparation for eventually taking the traditional Journeyman examinations.  Here, then, are our specific findings.
    “Sir Rondal of Sevendor,” he continued, glancing at a scroll – and obviously using magesight to correct his vision to read it.  “You have demonstrated an admirable grasp of Philosophy of Magic, Thaumaturgy, a decided competence in Greater Elemental practice, an understanding of Lesser Elemental theory and Alchemy, an impressive knowledge of magical history, and a talent for mathematics, natural science, pyromancy and enchantment.  Well done, young man,” the old wizard said.  “If you had been enrolled