Rat's eye view

His first connection with Dooke sent Joshuah crashing to the ground. Standing in the middle of the barren training ground but seeing the grass and clover from underneath shut down his brain and his legs.

The other novice mages laughed, pointed, called him names. But as he stood again, slowly coping with two visions, he recognised the difference in the faces of the others between a real connection and a pretence.

Only one other novice wore the look of connection. They smiled at each other and bore the brunt of the abuse.

later that night Joshuah found himself taken by the black mages to another part of the monastery. His only other companion was Dooke, the other novice and his rat.