Ember (41 page)

Jaden held a pleased smirk, like he knew what
was going on better than I did. The trees around us lit with a
bright purple glow. I was glad for my immediate success, but to be
honest it seemed to be acting more on its own. It was flickering
violently, getting larger then smaller and trying to move away from
my palm. It didn't help that we were still walking.

“Man, when you said you made a flame I didn't
know you meant
that,
” said Ikovos, holding his hand up to
touch it. I would have wondered at this, but he had showed me the
other day that he had a spell that worked almost like a protective
armor. I could see the blue glow of it against his skin now.

The purple flame flared up again. “Now I just
need to learn how to control it better.” My face contorted with my
concentrating.

“Don't tell me you're gonna start on that
already,” complained Jaden. “You just got the first spell.”

My brows furrowed, hand circling around with
the flame. “I got the afternoon off—Wah!”

My feet hit a rock and I lost balance,
falling forward. Jaden grabbed my wrist before I could. As soon as
he touched me the fire in my hand calmed, it's wild, uncontrolled,
dance changing to a smooth, steady line.

My eyes grazed his, which were unreadable,
then I straightened up uncomfortably.

“Sorry,” I said, pulling my hand.

He let go.

“Is that normal?” asked Ikovos, pointing to
the flame, obviously attuned to the sudden change.

I just looked ahead, eyes a little wide and
pained. My body definitely wasn't shivering anymore. Every inch of
my skin felt hot.

Jaden looked at him straightly, lifting his
shoulders.

I took a breath and examined the flame in
front of me. I hadn't gotten to do this much last night . . . there
was no doubt that it was easier with a certain person around . .
.

“Well, anyways, I'm thoroughly impressed,
Evelyn,” said Ikovos. “And I really haven't seen a color like
it.”

I smiled. So far I'd only been using my right
hand to conjure it. I lifted my left close. “Can I touch it?” I
looked at Jaden.

He eyed me, then nodded.

I waved my left palm over it. It latched onto
my fingers like any flame might, only bit didn't burn, just a soft
tingle. I took another breath.

The rest of the walk back Ikovos asked me
questions about my first success at the spell. I was flustered the
entire time, it was nigh impossible for me to answer without giving
everything away. Luckily whenever I got close, Jaden would steer
the conversation to safer topics. For the most part though, the
dark-eyed boy seemed somehow changed. Calmer, if that was possible,
and distant. Since last night . . . it’s like he was thinking
something over in his head.

When we got to the edge of the lodge, yellow
light pouring down from the windows,, I closed my hand,
extinguishing the flame.

“Oh,” said Ikovos, swinging around to face
me. We all stopped, forming a circle. “I never told you about what
the masters said.”

Jaden's eyes lifted, slightly curious. My
body rushed nervously.

“Right.” I bit my lip. “How did it go?”

He grinned. “Great. I think they were
surprised that you did it already, Master Thoran especially.”

“Was he glad, or . . . ?”

Ikovos’s brow scrunched at me. “Of course,
how couldn't he be.”

Jaden looked pleased. I was pretty sure that
Master Thoran's approval meant a lot to him, whether he'd admit it
or not. . . . Though, I guess I wasn't one to judge.

“He wants to talk to you about it tonight,”
said Ikovos. “I told him we were going to the pool. He'll probably
be at dinner.”

I gulped, tightening my shawl. I was excited
to move on, but Thoran scared me to death. Both the boys watched me
skeptically. I think I was wincing.

“That's
good!
” I forced happily.

They nodded, obviously aware of my needing
assurance. Ikovos’s was given more understandingly. Jaden's was
fairly incredulous.

I looked over to the lodge, then took a deep
breath. “Well, I'd better go get dressed then. Will I see you guys
at dinner?”

Ikovos nodded, but Jaden's head shook
slightly.

“I think I'm gonna turn in,” he said. “Good
luck with Thoran though.”

My heart sank. “Yeah . . .”
Nope, Evelyn,
don't go there.

Ikovos looked at me once then to Jaden. “I
need to talk to you. Stay out for a second, will ya.”

Jaden nodded steadily, moving towards
him.

I got the hint after a moment. “Oh! Right,
right. I'll let you guys . . .” I walked backwards. “Bye.” I waved
once, then turned towards the entrance of the lodge.

Before pushing through I glanced back once
more. Their faces looked severe, but then suddenly they were
smiling. I didn't watch beyond that, sure to be noticed.

There was still so much about them that I
knew nothing about, that I wasn't even a part of.

“Oh well,” I whispered, pushing through the
door with a grin. “I'm glad for what I do get.”

Today had been great, and I wasn't too stupid
to realize that those two boys were cause, and too contemplative to
not know why. . . . I sighed at myself as I tiptoed down the
hall.

I was so nervous about talking to Thoran that
I spent almost an hour getting changed. When I walked into the
cafeteria I bit my lip anxiously. I was wearing an oversized,
comfy, sweater Sophie had made me, sleeves hanging well past my
hands, and some plain cloth shorts.

Though I'd gotten quite comfortable being in
here over the past couple of days, and the boys had long since
stopped paying extra attention to me, I felt utterly out of place
tonight.

“That took long enough.”

I looked over. Ikovos popped out of nowhere
beside me. He was dressed in comfy clothes too, a tank-top and
pants . . . thank goodness for shirts.

“Where did you?—”

He nodded back. “I was waiting for you by the
door.”

My features lifted, sometimes he was too good
to be true.

He started walking to a table. I followed,
eyes scanning as I moved.

“You're nervous about talking to Master
Thoran, aren't you?” He sat down.

I stopped searching immediately. I’d
forgotten, for just a moment, that he could more or less read my
mind. I sat down and looked at him, thinking about explaining.
Instead I just threw out my hands.

“
Horribly.
”

He grinned. The cafeteria was busy and
well-lit. Most everyone was at a table eating.

“Ikovos, it's not funny. What do I do?” I
asked dejectedly.

He chuckled. “What do you mean, what do you
do? It's not a test.”

I frowned, tucking my wet messy hair behind
my ears. Thanks to the pool I was unable to brush it or put it
up.

Ikovos started to make up a plate. When he
saw I was still frowning he eyed me. “Evelyn, all you have to do is
be yourself.”

My brow dipped. I'd heard the words before,
from my mother no less. I sighed. “I've been myself before and it
doesn't always work out right . . .”

“How so?” he asked.

I thought about it. “Well, I, it’s just
people aren't always crazy about the real me it seems . . . And,
there are things that I can't do because of how I think or feel,
that I might be able to if I would just . . .” I met his eyes “. .
.
stop
being myself for a while.”

He took a large bite out of his apple, so
cavalier at my distraught confession.

“Did you have to do that when you came here?”
he asked.

“Oh, no.” I brightened immediately. “I
wanted
to be here. And I, well . . . you and the other boys
make me feel like it's okay to be myself.”

Ikovos’s mouth tipped and he eyed me. “And
you've never considered that maybe the reason you had to stop being
yourself was because you were doing things you weren't supposed to
do . . . or being around people that weren't really your
friends?”

“I—” I blinked, then settled back. “Oh. . .
.” That sort of clenched it.

Ikovos smirked knowingly.

This thinking had been a part of my life for
so long that for him to just say that, and for it to make so much
sense . . . was just mind blowing.

The excessively brilliant boy went back to
eating. I started to make my own plate, stopping before the first
bite.

“Ikovos?”

He met my eyes.

“Sometimes it's hard to believe that you’re a
boy.”

“Ah . . . thanks,” he said, brow dipping. “I
guess.”

“Oh.” I waved my hands in the air. “No, I
didn't mean it like that.”

He laughed, obviously concerned than I was.
“I hope not.”

“I'm
well
aware you a guy,” I drawled
out, eyes dropping to my plate.

His laughing stilled.

My eyes tightened with a wince immediately.
Why did I just say that?

When I peeked up carefully his eyebrows were
raised at me with a wicked grin.

“That aware, aye?”

My stomach knotted.

“Aware of what?” came a voice above us. It
was Cornelius. He was in his long robe, looking as warm and
comforting as ever.

“My masculinity,” shrugged Ikovos.

“What?”

I panicked. “Ah . . . hello, Cornelius. How
have you been?”

He looked at Ikovos once more, skeptically,
then back to me. “Um . . . well enough.” He looked grim for moment,
but then smiled, nodding more forcibly. “Yes, well enough indeed.
But let's not talk about me. You used magic, didn't you!”

I smiled brightly. “Yeah. I did.”

“That's quite amazing, my dear,” he said,
eyes pinching with a grin. “And I have seen my fair share of
training artisans.”

My smile widened, I looked to Ikovos who was
grinning too, then down. “Well, I had good teachers.”

Cornelius beamed, then nodded in agreeance.
“That you did.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, then
Cornelius took in a breath, folding his hands together.

“Well, I just wanted to come congratulate you
myself. But since you are offense, Thoran will be the one talking
to you about what comes next.”

I heard Ikovos let out the breath of a smile.
Cornelius eyed him.

“O- . . .” I forced smile “. . . Okay.
Great.”

“He told me to tell you that he would be down
after dinner,” explained Cornelius. “Ikovos, you should probably be
gone before he comes.”

The boy nodded.

“Alright,” Cornelius clapped. “I won't bother
you youngsters any longer. Enjoy your meal. And, once again . . .
good job, my dear.”

My chest rose fully. He'd been the first one
here that I had really shared my heart with, that I'd told how much
I wanted this. And now . . . My eyes blinked clear.

“Thanks, Cornelius.”

When he left I sighed happily.

*

Slowly the room cleared of people. When it
was just me, Ikovos, and some of the older boys left studying,
Ikovos said goodnight. Now I was sitting at the table alone,
tapping my nails against the wood-top nervously.

The room was dim and quiet, per usual at this
time. Out through the large windows it was pitch black.

I looked back at my hand. My stomach was
curdling by the second. I thought about practicing my spell some,
but I wasn't really sure if the other boys were supposed to know
about that.

I sighed.
I guess that's the type of thing
Thoran has to talk to me about.

It wasn't long before the scruff man
appeared. I'd barely seen him since the Meoden meeting, he looked
more worn than usual. Still, he sat down with the air of
unparalleled confidence that I feared him for.

“Hello,” he said smiling.

I fumbled. “Ah, hi.”

He set a mug in front of him on the table. “I
usually like to get these things done quickly, but . . . we have a
lot to cover. You may want to grab a drink.”

I looked at his then nodded. “Okay.” Then I
lifted up and turned around towards the counter.

This is so scary. He is so scary . . . and I
have no clue why.

I came back with an improperly made cup of
coffee, took a sip, then looked up nervously.

He folded his hands together on the table,
deep eyes steady. “So. You did a spell I hear.”

I nodded. “Y-yes.” Part of me was preparing
to go into further explanation, but Thoran often caused me to keep
things short. Maybe because I pretty much felt like he thought
everything I said was stupid.

He waited for a while, until I caved. “It was
just a small one, a flame, purple.”

I don't know why I said the last part. He
lightened though, for no reason it seemed.

“Really? . . . I've yet to see that color. .
. .” He said it with one eyebrow raised.

I swallowed. “Can they be the same? I mean, I
asked Holdan once. He said he's never seen two artisans with the
same color . . .” I faded out awkwardly, not too sure that what I
just said made any sense.

“Oh, no. They often repeat. Not here, but . .
. Holdan has seen little of the world.” He said it with a soft
voice. He was so calm tonight.

“But you have?” I tested.

He eyed me. Then the corners of his mouth
lifted. “Yes.”

Well that wasn't very informative.

“Still,” he started, “I never thought . . .”
My eyes lifted. “Evelyn, a woman has never been known to do this
before. Or rather, I have never seen it.”

I waited, unsure.

“I sent you back to Tiver with no doubt in my
mind that there was no place for you here . . . Then Jaden came to
tell me that I should let you return, that he believed you could
use magic.” He focused intently on me. “I did it out of respect to
him, and because I knew Cornelius wanted you here. I never thought
that you would last. After what happened with Sylvanus I had even
more doubts.”

My chest tightened, was he going to send me
home again?