The Black Mage: Apprentice (8 page)

I sighed. "As I'll ever be."

****

"Ian!
Ian!
" I whisper-shouted as loud
as I dared. Bryce was just two hundred yards away, investigating a
mysterious noise that had come from whatever Darren had just
casted. The non-heir was slowly edging his way out of the shadows
as the curious third-year passed him, searching for the source of
the sound.

"Ry? Is that you?" Ian had turned and was
peering into the entrance of the small cave-like formation I was
hiding in. "Why are you calling me? I'm not on your t-"

"Ian, I-I'm hurt." I felt a stab of guilt as
I whimpered the lines I had recited many times in my head. "I got
lost – m-my team doesn't know where I am… I need to go to the
infirmary and I c-can't walk." Then for good measure: "Ian, I-I
think I b-broke my leg."

I was ashamed to say that I really did sound
like I was crying.
Curse you, Darren
, I thought,
for
making me do this!

"Okay, Ry – I'm coming. Just stay still!" The
curly-haired third-year was inside the cave in seconds, hazel-green
eyes wide with concern. "Ryiah," he said, "I don't even want to
think what would have happened if you'd been trapped here all
day!"

My words were stuck in my throat. Shame
squeezed at my chest. I couldn't remember why it was so important
to win anymore. Ian looked so concerned...

I wanted the charade to end.

"Ian…" I could see Darren slowly approaching.
He was close now.

"Can you stand?" Ian kneeled down to take my
wrist and examine my "bad" leg.

I swallowed, hating myself.
Ian run
.
Ian, get out of here before it's too late!
"Ian, I'm
sorry."

"Why should you be sorry?" He glanced up so
that his eyes were level with mine. His humor was gone, and in its
place was an emotion I couldn't place. The third-year kept his hand
on my wrist, swallowing.

"Ryiah…"

There was something strange about the way he
was looking at me.

"Ryiah," the third-year repeated softly,
"there's something that I've-"

A thunderous wind roared across the cave and
Ian was sent flying face first into the sandstone walls. He
crumbled to the floor, unconscious.

"
Darren!
" I shrieked. "
Why would
you do that?
"

The non-heir appeared, looking harried. "Come
on, Ry, we've got to get moving."

"I can't just leave Ian here like this!"

The non-heir crooked his head to stare at me.
"Ryiah, we talked about this. He'll be fine. The healers will come
soon enough. We have to-"

"Well, well, if it isn't the princely leader
and his assistant," a frosty voice drawled.

Darren and I almost knocked into each other
in our haste to spin around.
Too late.
Caine was standing at
the entrance of the cave, flanked by two fifth-years and
Priscilla's mentor Bryce.

"Caine." Darren's voice was emotionless. "I
should have known."

"Really, Darren, you think I'd just send in
two defenseless third-years for you to pick off one at a time?"

"I had hoped you might. You never were known
for your brains."

"Well I
know
you, Darren." The
fifth-year smiled coldly. "I knew if I sent in two scouting parties
you would send your best men after the fifth-years… But you would
be too proud to stay behind when you saw a harmless pairing of
third-years, even
with
that burn I gave you earlier. I
figured you would go in alone but I see you had some sense to bring
along this one as well… Not that it matters one bit since you both
will be surrendering now."

"Ryiah." Darren's voice was low as he reached
for his weapon. "Get behind me."

"Are you joking?" I whispered. "I'm fighting
with you!"

A flash of blinding light lit up the cave and
a thunderous roar filled my ears. Flames covered every inch of the
rocky enclave from floor to ceiling. They stopped only inches from
Darren and I. I gasped as I realized the cause.

Darren had thrust the curved end of his
sickle sword into his open wound, blood spilling out across the
stone floor as he cast out a barrier to hold the three fifth-years'
casting back. He was pale and his defense was trembling.

Small spurts of smoke and ember were starting
to break his casting's hold.

I barely had time to think before I grabbed
Darren's hand and joined his magic with all the force I could
summon.

"Don't-" Darren began, undoubtedly
remembering what had happened during my first-year trials the last
time I had attempted to pain cast.

Control
, I told myself,
my pain
does not control my magic –
I
do
. I thrust my right arm
through the barrier, pushing it into to the hungry flames beyond. A
thousand types of pain coursed through me, red-hot fire eating away
at my flesh and my skin and my blood until my entire body was
filled with a violent need to release.

Hysteria and agony rose up, fighting to take
control of my casting. I fought them and clung to Darren with
everything that I had. The flames seemed to pour right into my
veins, an army of fire exploding all over my insides, drowning
me.

My magic was a wild stallion raging within,
rearing up against its prison of ember.

Shadows danced across my eyes, a red and
orange waterfall of flame. My legs were quivering and the pain was
too much. I felt the wave of fire taking control and the magic deep
within me, threatening to explode-

Darren's hand tightened on my own. A sharp
swell of coolness flooded my skin, erasing the fire and pain and
returning me to myself.

We pushed back with magic. Together the two
of us began to take one shaking step, and then another, until
Blaine and his friends realized too late what was happening.

The fifth-years and Bryce hastily released
their casting, but the force Daren and I had cast was too much. The
four mentors were sent sprawling into the sand. Two of them were
instantly knocked unconscious, colliding against a short boulder.
Caine and Bryce crawled backward on their arms in an effort to
escape.

Darren dropped to his knees. Our casting
fell. I found myself struggling to stand. When I tried to call on
my magic there was nothing left to summon.

I grabbed Darren's blade – my own lost during
the chariot attacks earlier - and dragged it toward the
fifth-years' leader. My legs shook so badly I stumbled halfway
across, slipping with a cry as my burned hand grated against
sand.

I attempted to push myself up - but the pain
was too much. I couldn't do it.

Caine began to laugh, dirt and blood spilling
from his mouth.

"Surrender, Caine!"

The fifth-year stopped laughing and I
blinked. Three dark figures emerged from the sandstone passage
behind us. As they drew closer I recognized Ella, Eve, and Ray –
all of them a bit bloodied and bruised, certainly worse than when
we had parted an hour before. Ray was limping and Ella favored her
arm, but the three still looked heroic under the full light of
sun.

They looked even better when they cornered
Caine and held three curved blades to his throat.

The fifth-year spat at them and tore off his
black armband.

We won.

Loud whoops filled the air. I heard – rather
than saw - Darren collapse behind me.

The others ran over to check on their fallen
leader. Ella found me and helped me up. I barely had time to point
at the cave and murmur "Ian" before my vision, too, faded to
black.

"Ry, how are you feeling?"

Opening my eyes I saw that I was in the
infirmary and surrounded by rows of empty cots. Beside me was Ella.
I wrinkled my nose. The room smelled strongly of herbs and rubbing
alcohol, and it was unusually chilly compared to the warmth of the
barracks.

I sat up right away and stared down at my
arm. There was only the slightest tinge of pink. Nothing else to
suggest I had held it into a fire for several long seconds, and not
a single muscle in my body ached. I felt as if I'd woken up from
the most restful night's sleep – something I had never once
experienced since I'd arrived in the desert. I took a deep breath.
"How long have I been out?"

Ella looked down at me sympathetically.
"Almost three full days. That burn on your hand…" She gulped. "It
was terrible when the healers first brought you here." My friend
gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Only you and Darren are
still being treated now though – everyone else's injuries weren't
as severe so they've already returned to the barracks."

"I'm surprised Byron let the mages heal us."
I scanned the room, looking for the prince. I spotted Darren near
the back, still sleeping and covered in blankets. One of his arms
was hanging off his cot. He looked almost childlike with his black
bangs falling to the side and his lips slightly parted.
He looks
so innocent
, I noted wryly. Darren
never
looked
innocent.

"Well, we
are
departing tomorrow for
the Academy."

I had forgotten.

Ella continued: "None of the masters wanted a
bunch of crippled apprentices holding up our progress to the school
– it already takes ten days to reach Sjeka, as is. Besides, Loren
told me they always do this after the mock battles. He actually
said that we had
less
injuries than the one last year, can
you believe it?"

I gaped. "Less injuries?"

"I know. My thoughts exactly." Ella grinned
at me. "I'm excited for the feast tonight – the masters haven't
formally congratulated the mentees yet and tonight the whole
regiment will be there when the Commander gives her speech. Loren
said they usually have it the second night but since you and Darren
were still in the infirmary they decided to wait until the two of
you were healed." She chucked. "It wouldn't be right if our two
victors were unable to attend."

Memories of that battle in the sandstone
gulley came flooding back. Many things stood out – Ian touching my
face, Darren casting our barrier, the pain of fire, the sudden
strength when I had been able to take control of my pain
casting…

And Ian. Ian flying headfirst into that stone
wall.

"So everyone else has recovered?" I found
myself suddenly anxious. Where was Ian? Did he realize that I had
tricked him?

Did he hate me?

"Of course they have."

I glanced at Ella and the carefree expression
on her face. She had started talking about the feast tonight, going
on about how excited she was for our win. I wanted to ask about
Ian, but I was afraid of what she might say. Even though Ian
had
been on the opposing side, I didn't think she would
approve of my tricking him. It was a rotten thing to do to a
friend.

But I had wanted to win, and Darren's plan
had been easy. Too easy.

If only Ian hadn't been so eager to help me,
so innocent.

If only Ian had stabbed me in the back
before I had stabbed him
.

****

Priscilla found me later that evening, just
as I was changing out of my infirmary clothes and into the outfit
Ella had left behind. It would be the first dress I had worn since
our naming ceremony, and the first one I could call my own. One of
the perks of being an apprentice. With my new income it had been
easy for Ella to talk me into buying it. Something special that an
apprentice could wear to indicate her new status.

"Caine told me you and the prince spent a lot
of time together in that canyon."

I spun around and found the highborn looking
me up and down with distaste. "What do you want Priscilla?" I asked
exasperatedly.

"You need to leave Darren alone. Whatever
idealistic notions you've got running around in that head of yours,
the prince will never leave me for a lowborn."

Not this again. "Priscilla-"

"My father is the wealthiest baron in the
realm. Darren
needs
this marriage." She frowned. "Jerar has
the greatest army in the world but if the Crown wants to keep it
that way they will need my dowry. No amount of infatuation will
change that."

"Just what exactly do you think happened
between him and I?" I pulled the dress over my shoulders, marveling
at the fluid blue shimmer. It was easily the prettiest thing I
owned.

Priscilla just scowled at me. For all her
words, I could still see the resentment radiating from her form. I
wondered if this was really about Darren – who had never shown the
slightest interest since we joined the apprenticeship - or the fact
that I had done well in the mock battle while she'd been forced to
surrender almost immediately.

I had come a long way since the two of us had
first met. I wondered how I would feel if I was her – the beautiful
girl who had once been third in our faction, now easily the worst
one here. She was still an apprentice – and she still had Darren,
but for once I was better than her. And it felt good.

I'm not that pitiful little girl you bullied
last year.

"If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to
be," I told her smugly. "A feast in your betrothed's and my honor,
I believe." I sauntered out of the barracks with the biggest grin
on my face.

****

"Ry!"

The second I stepped out of the barracks my
twin spun me around, laughing. "I can't believe you and Darren
actually pulled it off!"

"Put me down you big oaf!" I greeted my
brother chuckling. "You'll ruin my dress!"

Alex released me and held out the nook of his
arm. "Do I have the pleasure of escorting a Combat champion this
evening?"

"Am I your second choice?" I teased.

"No." My brother reddened. "Ella was already
going with that Loren fellow."