WarMage: Unexpected (The Never Ending War Book 1)

by Martha Carr

  She looked him up and down. “I see that.”

  “My hope was that maybe you could drum up a spell that would dry me off?” He sported a wide smile, but his eyes darted from the toad to the puddles to the professor.

  Raven cringed at the back of the hall, peeling off her grandfather’s coat.

  Professor Ridley looked down at her notes. “Take a seat, Mr. Derks.”

  Henry glanced at his shoes, which squished with every step. “You’re not going to help me? Ma’am?”

  She ignored him and stood facing the assembly. Henry hung his head and walked past Jenny on his way to a seat. She giggled. A senior patted him on the shoulder and said, “Ridley expects you to figure out how to do things for yourself. You’ll get it. Hang in there.”

  “People! Please settle down. Your classrooms await you, and there are a few pertinent announcements.” Professor Ridley paced across the stage, the train of her long red dress trailing behind her. “As you can see, there is quite a storm going on outside today. That is going to affect some of the things we do. First, I implore you to take proper precautions when dressing for the weather. I will not, nor will any of my colleagues, help you dry yourselves off when you get here. We’re not your nannies.”

  A few students snickered. Sitting behind Henry, Stanley slapped him on the shoulder. “Tough break, toad boy.”

  “Settle!” Ridley warned. “Second, heavy rains introduce certain variables into familiar training that the newer students cannot afford to deal with yet.” She bit off the last word, looking pointedly at the first years in the last rows. “If you do not have proper control of your familiar, inclement weather will cause more problems. Therefore, Professor Harding has informed us that you will not be working with familiars today.”

  Henry looked at Maxwell, disappointed. “I could have left you home to play in the rain.”

  Raven leaned to him and whispered, “Tough break, toad boy.”

  “Not you, too.” Henry rested Maxwell in his lap. The toad’s vocal sac expanded, and he released a low “ribbit.”

  “Good one, Maxwell. Boom, burn.”

  Raven smiled at her damp friend and settled back in her chair. On her other side, Murphy was trying to look studious, her long blonde braids matted from the rain. But her eyes were clearly heavy, and her head occasionally bobbed until Raven elbowed her. “Hey,” she whispered, keeping an eye on the professor.

  Murphy’s eyes snapped open. “Hey, what? Who?”

  “Can you do me a favor?” Raven kept her voice low. “I want to see the dragons.”

  “How long was I asleep? What did I miss?”

  “That spell you did. I want to check on the dragons.”

  “There are dragons? What spell?” Murphy rubbed her eyes. “Late night studying.”

  “It’s day three, Murphy. Pace yourself.”

  “My mom is very proud of me, and my dad has told me a thousand times about what kind of mage I can become.”

  “Day. Three.” She patted her friend’s hand. “You did that telescope spell and showed me a dragon out back. I want to see how they’re handling the rain. Can you do that and be discreet about it?”

  “Under Professor Ridley’s nose? I mean, that’s some nose.” She looked at Raven’s determined face. “You should run for class president. That look alone will get you votes.”

  “Can you do it?”

  “Sure. I mean, yeah.”

  Her eyes fixed on the professor, Murphy lowered her hands and spun up a tiny glowing orb the size of a marble. She held the orb below the tops of the seats and from the direct view of Professor Ridley. “Here.”

  Henry glanced over, his eyes widening as he elbowed Raven, covering Maxwell’s eyes.

  “What? You’re worried Maxwell will rat you out? Look somewhere else, Henry! You’ll give us away,” Raven hissed.

  “And they say I’m the rebel.”

  “No one says that but you and your dad, Henry.”

  “Hurry, I can’t hold it here forever!” Murphy froze as Professor Ridley looked at her. The trio smiled and sat still until the professor’s attention roved elsewhere to a group of third-years near the front.

  “Thanks! Geez, that is small.” Raven pretended to drop something and hunched over to peer into the orb. To her surprise, she saw a silver dragon stalking back and forth in his pen, completely unaffected by the rain. Beautiful. He seems to like the rain. “Can you show me another one? Are you able to direct the orb?”

  “Sure. What’s the point of a spell if it’s random?”

  “Can you show me the Moss Ranch? The young red dragon named Leander.”

  “I don’t know.” Murphy bit her lip anxiously but gave in. “One more.” She tapped the orb and dragged her finger along its surface, shifting the view to the fiery young red dragon. “There he is.”

  Raven looked at her Leander and smiled.

  The dragon was stomping his large paws in the muddy field, raking the dirt with his claws and spouting steam out his nose. He has so much spirit! Like me!

  She put out her hand to touch the bubble.

  “Miss Alby!” The bubble popped and Raven sat up, her face reddening. Professor Ridley was standing over them, her hands clasped. “No spells in the main hall, girls.” She looked pointedly at Murphy, who mouthed, “Sorry” and smiled weakly.

  Professor Ridley leaned in and whispered, “Well done, Miss Anne Marie Murphy. You show real potential.” She gave the girl a quick smile and straightened up, the stern scowl firmly back in place.

  Murphy beamed, now wide awake and sitting straight in her chair. “Best day ever,” she muttered.

  A raven flew into the great hall and took its place on stage, opening its beak and letting out a loud cry. “Time for class!” Professor Ridley held out her arm, and the large bird flew to her, landing neatly, folding its wide wings around it.

  Raven stood and was met by Bella, who was flanked by Anne Lundt, a short, stocky girl with tightly curled black hair and perpetually rosy cheeks, and Nina Quint, a tall, lanky girl with an expressionless face and a penchant for wearing long stocking caps.

  “Raven, where’s your dragon?” Bella asked, knowing the answer.

  “You heard Ridley. No familiars today, Bella. I thought you paid closer attention.”

  Bella tugged the strap of the satchel across her chest. “You didn’t know that until you got here.” Wesley, her firedrake, popped out of her satchel and sat on her shoulder, his tail curling around her neck. “I was going to take Wesley out for a little spin before class. Care to join me?”

  Raven shrugged. “I guess I could. How does a firedrake do in the rain? Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  Bella flashed a confident grin. “Trust me.”

  Raven put on her grandfather’s oversized coat and followed them. She looked for Henry to join her, but Henry was busy twisting his shirt and wringing water out of his clothing while muttering to himself, “Come on, dry faster! I’m freezing!”

  Once outside, Raven pulled up her hood and stood on the steps.

  The rain is going to throw off that young drake. Bella doesn’t realize what she’s doing.

  Bella buttoned her coat and extended her arm while standing alone in the middle of the courtyard. Wesley trotted down her arm to her hand, jumped off, and extended his wings, flapping twice as hard to combat the rainfall. He climbed into the sky, looped, and glided down.

  Raven was amazed. They are in complete control of the situation. How are they doing that?

  “Light the sky!” Bella barked the command to Wesley. He pulled up and soared over her head, aiming his snout upward and straight into the rain. His mouth opened, and he released a fireball larger than his body.

  Murphy’s mouth was agape as she watched the streak of fire across the sky. “Holy cow! I bet that fireball was twice the size of the last one!”

  “I don’t get it,” Raven said, shaking her head. “How is this happening? Shouldn’t the rain be throwing him off? Why is
n’t he off-center?”

  Professor Ridley walked up behind the two girls. “Control. That is your answer, ladies. Bella has very strong control over Wesley. The drake can overcome the elements. Remember, together, you and your familiar are much stronger than you are apart. This is heavy rain for a firedrake, but with her powers behind him, Wesley can cut through the rain and still perform at the top of his ability.”

  Murphy couldn’t contain her reaction. “I am so impressed. The girl commands that firedrake almost as well as Headmaster Flynn wields his familiar.”

  Professor Ridley let out a chuckle, one eyebrow raised. “I wouldn’t go that far. Bella is at another level, though. You should all aspire to master your familiars this way.”

  As the professor walked away, Murphy looked at the stone-faced Raven. “What are you thinking?”

  Raven watched Wesley dive-bomb and throw fireballs with ease. “I can’t decide if I’m impressed or jealous. I don’t know if I want to be at her side or punch her in the face.”

  Murphy laughed. “It’s probably some of both, and I don’t think you’re alone.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  After classes were dismissed for the afternoon, Raven pushed open the door of the tall building added on to one side of the old castle that held most of the classrooms and magic labs. It was located just in front of the animal barns, near the edge of the orchards on one side and the forest behind that curved around toward town and skirted the city wall.

  Raven stepped out into the fresh, dewy air. Thank goodness, the rain stopped.

  She jogged down the path toward the gate, glancing at the barns. “I need to pay a visit there soon.

  Henry hollered from the top of the steps, “Raven! Wait up!”

  Dammit. “What?” she called back.

  Henry hopped down the steps two at a time until he splashed into a large puddle at the bottom. Water scattered in all directions, soaking Elizabeth Kinsley’s tunic.

  “Derks, what the hell?” Elizabeth stood with her palms outstretched, the bat fluttering just above her. Her deep-blue eyes showed beneath her dark bangs, her brow furrowed in frustration.

  “I didn’t see you there!” Henry rushed to Elizabeth’s side, pulling off his still-damp shirt and offering it to her. Underneath was an equally wet second shirt.

  She folded her arms and leaned over, causing Henry to take a step back, still holding out the shirt. “Derks, I have to work in town tonight. I don’t have a change of clothes.” She pointed to the darkened portion of her green tunic, where the water had penetrated and was slowly spreading. “I’m going to be clammy all night.”

  Elizabeth wrapped her pale fingers around a handful of the front of the shirt he still wore and yanked him close. Henry let the thin wisp of a girl pull him, his eyes wide. “Fix it!”

  Raven glanced at him, then at the barns. “Henry, remember your plan. Under the radar.” Raven glanced back in time to see the wing of a silver dragon pass a barn window. She tapped the pin on her tunic and smiled, mesmerized. Dragons.

  Henry began to stutter. “I-I’m sorry, E-Elizabeth. Not used to all these puddles, you know?”

  She squinted at him. “That doesn’t solve tonight!”

  He reached into his pocket. “Hey, tell you what. Here are a few coins. Buy yourself a hot meal tonight on me.”

  He produced a small burlap sack tied with twine.

  Elizabeth released her grip on his shirt, grabbed the burlap sack, and cocked an eyebrow while she fondled it in the palm of her hand, the coins inside jingling. “Go.”

  “Thank you!” Henry wasted no time, turning his back to the girl and sprinting to Raven.

  Raven pulled her attention away from the empty window and met him with a smile. “Nice work.”

  “I didn’t see her standing there!” Henry panted, putting his damp shirt back on.

  “Wasn’t that your lunch money for the week?” Raven looked past him at Elizabeth, brushing her bangs to one side. The bat floated on the currents around her. “That is one scary girl.”

  “I told you we all pick the right familiar.” Henry gulped. “I thought that was it. She was going to crush my throat, and I was dead. I think my whole life flashed before my eyes.”

  She patted him on the shoulder. “You’re fine, big man. Maxwell okay?”

  “Maxwell!” Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out the sedate toad, happy to be out in the sunshine.

  “There really is something to your theory, Henry. Familiars are like their host.”

  “A rose by any other name,” he said, rubbing the top of Maxwell’s bumpy green head.

  Raven smiled at him. “I’ve got to get going to the Moss Ranch. What do you need?”

  His shoulders sagged. “I was hoping we could grab some food and take off for the meadows. We haven’t done that in a long time.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t, and I won’t be able to for a while. Any free time I’ve got, I’m spending it at the Moss Ranch. Clock is ticking.”

  Henry took a long look at his friend. “You’re determined to be a dragon trainer, aren’t you?”

  She stuck her chin out. “I can choose who I am.”

  He nodded solemnly. “You’re right, and Maxwell and I fully support you. Just don’t forget us. Leave some room for the meadows.”

  “I will do my best. Go ask Jenny. Maybe she’ll go with you. I’ll see you tomorrow at my gate. Bright and early.”

  Raven jogged off while Henry spun to watch Jenny step down the stairs. He forgot to say goodbye.

  Raven ran over the small bridge and past the woods, finally passing through town as questions bounced around in her head.

  Am I going to need to use magic right away? Will I have enough in me? What special skill would a dragon have?

  Her feet splashed through muddy puddles although she did her best to dodge them, waving to the baker as she went by.

  “Leftover rolls, Raven?” called Mrs. Whittaker.

  “Next time!” she shouted, almost out of breath but still running. The old veteran was asleep on his porch nearby, snoring and twitching. Samuel Jones was wiping his hands on his blood-stained apron as he crossed the street for his afternoon chat with Jacob Lane. “Here, let me help you with those.” Together they rolled barrels of wheat and rice back into the store.

  She came to the center of town by the fountain and saw the bulletin boards. The posters of missing persons flapped in the breeze. The board was slowly filling up, with a few more names listed from other cities in the kingdom.

  She slowed down and glanced at the flapping papers, then resumed her sprint. It wasn’t long before she was at the edge of town, her energy almost gone.

  Raven was breathing hard as she neared the Moss Ranch gate. She let up on her sprint and doubled over, her hands on her knees to catch her breath. “Almost there.” She straightened up, pushing a lock of loose red hair behind her ear, and took a deep breath, ready to go again.

  William stepped out of the barn with a dirty rag hanging off his shoulder and chuckled at his friend. “Out of breath, sweat running down your face, and mud splashed on your pants. Got a hot date tonight or what?”

  “Or dragons.” Raven stood up, gulping in air and smiling. “I’m here to start training Leander.”

  William looked over his shoulder at the pen in the distance. “That’s not going to happen today. Nobody is training anymore today, not since the rain. I’m just hanging out in the barn, cleaning equipment.”

  Raven pursed her lips and shook her head, still out of breath. “I have to get started on my training. I am behind as it is. One month is all I have.”

  “That training was for Leander, remember?” He tugged the rag off his shoulder and wiped dirt from his hands. “Rainy days mean dragon ranches get shut down, mage.” He sniffed while he looked at the sky. “I can still smell rain in the air. Makes me thankful we don’t get too many big ones. The dragons have a hard time with it. Some are cool, but the ones that need training? They can get
a little freaked out.”

  “Not Leander. I saw him in the rain. He let it know who’s boss.”

  “Nature, Raven. Nature is always the boss. What do you mean, you saw him? You used magic?”

  “Not me.” Raven pulled on his arm and started walking to the pen. “Even if you’re not training, I still can. You’re free to guide me. I need to be riding him as soon as possible.”

  William pulled his arm away, still walking beside her. “It’s not that simple. This isn’t a game, Raven. A lot can go wrong and get someone hurt. This is the Moss Ranch. That means it would fall on me.”

  She stopped ten feet from the iron gate that closed off the pen from the rest of the ranch. Placing her hands on her hips, she stared at the ground. “William, I need this. And Leander needs this. We have a connection; you’ve already said that. You have to help me out here. Shoot, this was half your idea anyway!”

  “I am helping you, Raven. This takes time, whether you like it or not. You want him to be your familiar? Yes, I heard. Word travels fast in this city. You were the entertainment around the square this morning—the mage who wants to bring a dragon to Fowler.”

  Raven clenched her fists at her sides. “I know it can be done.”

  William shook his head. “Raven, if anyone can do it, it’s you, but that’s an entirely new level. I’m not even sure how to do it. You’re talking about taking a young, untrained dragon out of his pen and bringing him to Fowler. Flames erupting everywhere, general mayhem, townspeople with torches at my gate. You get the picture?” He wiped his hands on the rag again, giving her a stern look.

  “Trust me!”

  “Trust me.” He lowered his chin and stared at her. “It’s a lot more complicated.”

  “How so?” She walked backward to the gate, keeping her eyes on William.

  “You’re going to trip doing that. You can’t trick me into it with a staring contest. It didn’t work when you were ten, either. Raven, there are consequences. If you take a dragon out of the ranch and it misbehaves, you run the risk of having his wings clipped immediately. You have to keep him in line, and then make sure he passes both your tests and his own tests.”