Still posting from Book Two of The Other Mages trilogy this month, mostly because I’m too lazy to pick something different. (This is also why the same CD stays in my car’s player for months on end.)
Character introduction:
Trebor is an Empath.
D’Laron is his best friend and a Healer.
(They are both university professors as well as Mages.)
Katheri is a student at the university and has Mage potential.
Xooshemi is going to get a name change. She’s a member of the Mage Guild (an archivist), and was D’Laron’s Saja.
A few vocabulary words for now and for future reference.
Qestora is a female apprentice
Qestoro is a male apprentice
Qestori is the plural and can refer to males, females, or both.
Mentors/trainers are:
Saj (singular, male or female)
Sajo (male)
Saja (female)
Sajen (plural, male or female)
Xooshemi’s office was empty when the two men arrived so they settled in to wait for her. D’Laron pulled a book off a shelf and settled down to read, but Trebor fidgeted, pacing restlessly.
D’Laron put his book down. “What’s wrong, Treb?”
“Nothing. Just…” Trebor shook his head and sat down, only to bounce back up a moment later.
“You’re nervous.” D’Laron paused. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you were scared.” Trebor just shook his head and resumed pacing. “Relax, Treb. It’s just Xooshemi. I promise I won’t let her eat you.”
“I don’t need you to protect me from her,” Trebor snapped. “I can take care of myself the same as you or any other Mage.”
D’Laron put his book down and stood up. “Trebor?”
“Leave me alone! I don’t need you to fight my battles for me!”
D’Laron flinched as Trebor’s words slashed at him. He reached out for him, but Trebor sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands.
“I’m sorry, Del. I didn’t mean that…”
D’Laron took a seat next to him, and spoke gently. “Treb, a friend of mine recently told me something very wise. He said ‘I can’t help you if you won’t let me.’ “
“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Some of your friends are full of shit.”
Novel Notes 
Ouch! Poor D’Laron…
He’s obviously extremely worried about something important. After this emotional build up, I can’t wait to see what it is.