by H. M. Clarke
Copyright © H. M. Clarke 2019
All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
First published in The United States of America in 2019
Sentinel Publishing, Dayton, Ohio.
Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
Also by H.M. Clarke
The Way to Freedom Series
1: The Kalarthri
1.1: The Cavern of Sethi
2: The Dream Thief
3. The Awakening
4. The Enemy Within
5. The Unknown Queen
6. The Searchers
7. The Whisperer
8. The Deceiver
9. The Great Game
10. The Gathering
The Complete Season One–Books 1 5
The Complete Season Two–Books 6-10
Coming Soon
11. The Mark of Fate
The Blackwatch Chronicles
1: Proven
Coming Soon
2: Uprising
The Verge
1: The Enclave
Coming Soon
2: Citizen Erased
The Order
1: Winter’s Magic
Marion: An ‘Order’ Short Story
John McCall Mysteries
1: Howling Vengeance
DEDICATION
As always, this book is dedicated to my two beautiful children, Keith and Ariadne.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter TwentyChapter Twenty OneChapter Twenty TwoChapter Twenty ThreeChapter Twenty FourChapter Twenty FiveChapter Twenty SixChapter Twenty SevenChapter Twenty EightChapter Twenty NineChapter ThirtyChapter Thirty OneChapter Thirty TwoChapter Thirty ThreeChapter Thirty Four
Other Books by H.M. ClarkeAbout the Author
“What you Become, depends on what you Overcome.”
-A Saying of the Dragons of Mrycea
CHAPTER ONE
The mosquitoes buzzed around everyone in thick clouds through the humid air, and the intense smell of rotting vegetation nearly made Kathryn lose her breakfast as she dismounted from her horse. From the look on the faces of the other cadets, they felt the same way.
Except for Donal.
Donal had told them all earlier that he grew up not that far away from this place, and he seemed right at home and comfortable as he adjusted the staff secured to his back after dismounting from his horse. Kathryn studied the landscape around the company. They were on the edge of a large marsh filled with stunted craggy trees, tussocks of large blade razor sharp grasses, and filled with shallow, stagnant water… The ideal spot to come out for a hunting trip… if you were looking for bugs and toads.
The sun was a good hand span above the mountain peaks and Ryn adjusted her shield to sit in a more comfortable position on her back as she waited for the rest of the company to arrive and dismount. She then stood with her hand resting on the hilt of her longsword as she waited for Donal to join her.
“Good morning for it.”
“Looks like it Ryn.” All the cadets shortened her name to Ryn as if putting the Kath in front was too much effort to say. She preferred it that way herself, only strangers, or those who thought themselves above her ever called her Kathryn.
Donal was wearing hardened leather and scale armor with the green and brown Blackwatch cadet surcoat just as she was. The only difference in dress between them was that Donal only carried an iron shod wooden staff secured to his back by his harness and a dagger, whereas she had a sword and shield.
“How are you feeling?” Ryn couldn’t help but ask. Her stomach was busy churning away and had been since she got up this morning. Today was going to be a big day. A turning point for the rest of their lives.
“A little nervous.”
“As long as we stick together we’ll be fine.”
“These are the Daggerthorns, Ryn. They are unpredictable, which is why the Blackwatch hold their Proving Trials here. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know. But you grew up around here. You have an edge over the rest of us.”
“Well ,… there is that.” Donal gave her a sheepish smile. “Remember our promise Ryn. We are to come out of this together.”
A loud caw sounded above them and Donal automatically ducked as Peck, Ryn’s pet crow swooped down to settle on the pommel of Ryn’s now empty saddle.
“You’re letting Peck come with you?” Donal made no effort to hide the annoyance he felt. Ryn knew that Donal and Peck did not get along, but Peck being a Nabolean Crow with a personality and attitude all of his own it was hard to force Peck to do whatever he didn’t want to do. And he did not want to stay behind when he could be out stretching his wings.
“No. He is not doing the Proving with me. Are you Peck.” Ryn reached up and scratched the crow under his neck feathers on the back of his head. The bird adjusted his head so that Ryn’s finger scratched just the right area and he let out a creen of pleasure.
“Hey Ryn, you wouldn’t mind scratching me behind the ear like that would you?”
“Shut it Banar,” Ryn shouted back as she jerked her hand away from Peck and turned to face the group of new cadets who had just arrived. Peck let out an indignant squawk and glared at the interlopers who had interrupted his scratch.
“Just ignore them Ryn. They just want to put you off because you are the best warrior in our class,” Donal warned her as he grabbed her shoulder to get her attention back. “You also know that Banar has a thing for you-”
“No, he doesn’t, Banar only has a ‘thing’ for himself. If he’s interested in me it’s only because having me will make him look good.” Ryn heard Donal snigger in response. “Anyway, Banar is all looks, no substance. Let the keep girls gush after him and let the people who really know him avoid him like he’s got the plague.”
“Alright Ryn. He’s just been making my life a little difficult lately because he knows we want to be Proved together.”
“And he’s afraid that because you’re a man that I’m going to swoon in your musky presence and succumb to your wily seductions?”
“Something like that.”
Ryn snorted. “We’ve known each other since we were seven. You’re like a brother to me Donal.”
“I know that. And only mages and warriors can be Paired together in the Proving, so Banar is hoping that you get matched with one of the female mages.”
“Someone like Lily or Geia? I think not. They are way to ‘bows and ribbons’ for my taste Donal.”
“Speaking of girls, there are rumors going round the boys dorms that some of the female cadets have been seen sneaking into town at night.”
“Really? I haven’t heard anything like that. Why would a cadet risk doing something so stupid, anyway? If they were caught by a constable, their career with the Blackwatch would be ruined.”
“Watch it Ryn, Banar’s coming our way…” Donal’s quick hiss warned Ryn just in time, so she managed to duck the arm that Banar tried to drop on her shoulder. Peck gave him a warning squawk, and the noise scared the horse into moving slightly to nudge Banar away from her.
“Hey, Ryn. Do you want to pair up with me in the beginning until we can find a mage to suit us?”
“No, not really Banar. I�
�ve already found one,” Ryn replied nodding in Donal’s direction.
Then before any talk could really get started, the first of the Knight Sergeants arrived. He quickly dismounted, throwing his reins to one of his men and made his way to the center of the waiting cadets. Knight Sergeant Kuma was a tall, grizzled veteran, broad shouldered and heavily scarred with a battered longsword strapped to his belt to match. He took no nonsense from anyone and none in the class dared give it to him. Beside him stood his Pairing. Knight Sergeant Kimba was a thin wiry woman who stood a full head shorter than Kuma. She was suitably battle scarred and carried an equally battered Blackwatch mage staff strapped to her weapons harness.
“Listen up Cadets.”
At the sound of his voice, everyone fell silent. “Today will be your final test to see if you are worthy to be admitted into the ranks of the prestigious Blackwatch. We were founded by King Alfred the Great to maintain the integrity and defense of this Kingdom, and I am not about to let you lot fail us now. As you know, other schools will be coming to complete their final test with us and be matched up with their new battle partners. Cadets, you are not to disappoint me. Brookhaven Keep is the best, and I want to show the others what that means.”
“Yes, sir!” was the response shouted by all the cadets standing around him.
“Very well. The proving area has been marked off and your name will be drawn in lots for the order you are to enter the Proving. Once there, the trainers will confront you with a battle and you will need to join up with your opposite, either mage or warrior, and work together to combat it. If you are deemed successful as a pair and the bond takes, you will be passed out of the Proving. If you are unsuccessful, then you will be separated and sent further in to find a different match. Got it?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Cadets, remember that friends do not always make good Pairings. So don’t think to muddy the waters by keeping close to the entrance to catch sight of the other. That will not work.”
Donal smirked at Kimba’s comment. “Which is why we arranged to meet up elsewhere,” he whispered smugly to Ryn.
“As long as I can remember your directions Donal.”
“You’d better.”
“Do you really think they can stop us from teaming up?”
“We are perfect for one another Ryn. Why would they want to not put us together?” Donal’s scoff caught Banar’s attention.
“They won’t let you Pair together. You don’t match Ryn’s fighting style, and she doesn’t cover your weaknesses.”
“You won’t be Paired with her either-”
Ryn frowned and grabbed at Donal’s arm before he could do something stupid. The horrible thing was that Ryn knew Banar was speaking the truth. Sure, she and Donal did fight well together, but she knew her flaws and her friend did not always cover her when needed. The same went for Donal, she did not always cover to protect him either. It will be something they can continue working on together once they are Paired.
“Wait until the Knight Sergeant’s finish speaking before you thump him one,” Ryn hissed at Donal, glad that they stood at the back of the group and not within direct sight of the Knight Sergeants
“I’ll thump him when we come through the Pairing together,” Donal whispered back making sure that he was out of Banar’s earshot.
“If only you could turn him into a toad….” Ryn mused.
“Yeah, too bad my magic is more flame based.”
“A hot zap in the arse won’t hurt him-”
“Alright Cadets, settle down!” Knight Sergeant Kimba raised her hands and an instant quiet fell over the group. Thirty Three pairs of eyes focused their attention back on the two veterans.
“You all know how this works,” Knight Sergeant Kuma continued. “But we do have a warning to give you. This year, even with the other training groups testing here, there are an odd number of cadets, we do not have enough Mages to pair with warriors. We are one short. This means that that one of our brawns will not be paired and will have to wait for the next Proving. I do not want that person to come from Brookhaven. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Testing will begin in ten minutes. When your name is called, you are to go up to Corporal Lin who will direct where you are to go from there. Follow the directions given by each observer until you are attacked. Then your Proving will start.”
“Yes, Sir!”
Talking quickly erupted again from the assembled cadets and as a group, they began to move towards Corporal Lin and their assigned entry point into the Proving Grounds.
Ryn quickly secured the reins of her horse to the hitching rope and followed Donal to merge in with the rear of the crowd. A rough hand on her shoulder pulled her back. She turned, expecting it to be Banar but was surprised to see Ashe. Cornelius Ashe was a warrior like her specializing in sword and shield and was a very good sparring partner when she wanted to get in some extra practice. Ashe was tall and well-built with short spiky red gold hair and flashing blue eyes. Donal was her closest friend, but Ashe wasn’t far behind.
“Ryn, I just wanted to wish you luck in the Proving today.”
“You too Ashe. I hope you get paired with a mage you can tolerate,” Ryn said the last as a joke but watching his face screw up in distaste made her regret her words. “Remember there will be mages from other groups competing as well, you might not get stuck with Lily or Geia.” Ashe’s faces suddenly relaxed back into his smile and he actually looked a lot easier.
“Geia been at you again? I swear that girl must be on heat.”
Ryn watched as Ashe’s cheeks flushed red and she knew that her guess had been right. Ashe was a good looking man and had attracted the attention of several girls though he did not seem all that interested in them. Donal had said that it was because Ashe liked her, but Ryn blew it off. Ashe had never said or done anything that would indicate that to her. As far as she was concerned they were just friends and sparring partners. Thinking of sparring…..
“Tomorrow I want you to show me how you do that ‘thing’ with your shield.”
“Thing?”
“You know, where I come lunging at you with my hardest hit and you just move your shield slightly and deflect me leaving my back open to your blade. That one.”
“Oh… right. Sure, tomorrow morning first thing after breakfast?”
“Sounds great.”
Then a horn blew and silence fell across the group again.
The Time for the Proving had begun.
CHAPTER TWO
First Banar was called, then after a five minute wait, Trin was next. Ryn slowly watched as the surrounding crowd began to thin out. Then she heard Donal’s name, and she turned and gave him an encouraging smile as he moved to go.
“Hey, sword and board. Don’t forget,” he said.
“I won’t. It’s you and I to the death Donal. Just don’t get lost.”
“Just remember those directions I gave you.”
Ryn just nodded and pushed him forward and she watched as Donal made his way to Corporal Lin and was directed into the Proving Ground.
“What directions was he talking about?”
Ryn nearly jumped when she heard Ashe’s voice in her ear. She had forgotten that he was standing behind her.
“Donal grew up here. He gave me directions to a place where we can meet each other and make sure we do our proving together.”
“Ryn-”
“Don’t say it, Ashe. Just don’t. Donal and I have got it worked out.”
Ashe raised an eyebrow at her tone. “I wasn’t going to say anything to stop you Ryn. I was just going to tell you to be careful. I overheard one of the mages talking last night after dinner that they were going to set a few confusion spells over sections of the proving ground to make sure people do not meet up unless by chance.”
“Really? They are doing that?”
“Apparently. They said that it will show how we cadets cope in a ‘real’ battleground. Personally, I think the
y are doing it just to muck with us, hoping that we fall into some bog and get covered in filth.”
Ryn had to stop herself from laughing as she imagined Ashe and then Banar rising from a bog covered in slime.
“Gotta go, I’ve just been called. Good luck.” And with that Ashe trotted up to the Corporal and after a moment was ushered into the Proving Ground.
Ryn watched him go and then started to feel her stomach churn as the crowd of cadets slowly whittled down. And when there was only three of them left, she began to wonder if they had even put her name into the bag at all. Maybe it had dropped out when they were filling the bag back at Brookhaven… Ryn was suddenly snatched out of her thoughts by her name being called. And then called again.
“Kathryn Weaver, get your arse up here now!”
Knight Sergeant Kimba did not sound happy. Judging from the cloud of insects buzzing around her, she probably can’t wait to get under cover somewhere. Ryn hoped that there were no bitey ones in that cloud otherwise tonight will not be a good one for the cadets.
“Yes, Knight Sergeant Kimba.”
Ryn unslung her shield from her back as she made her way forward and slipped her arm into its harness. Her left hand gripped on the reassuring stability of its thick leather straps and Ryn used its weight to help center her nerves. As soon as she felt the weight on her arm, Ryn suddenly became focused on the task at hand. Three years of hard training had led her to this moment, and she was not going to allow her traitorous stomach to let her down.
“Weaver, get your arse in there.”
“Yes, Knight Sergeant.”
Ryn took a deep breath and then strode purposefully past Kimba, through the open gate and on her next step immediately sunk down to her booted ankles in wet, rank swamp mire.
