by Lisa Cassidy
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Tarrick advised. “Blacksmiths’ children don’t attend royal weddings.”
“What are you talking about? The twins are Alyx’s friends. It’s her wedding,” Brynn said.
“The nobility doesn’t mix with commoners, or have you forgotten that in your time here?” Tarrick said. “You would never find blacksmith’s children at a Zandian royal wedding, and I’m fairly confident it’ll be no different in Rionn.”
Alyx opened her mouth to argue with Tarrick’s blunt words, but closed it again as she remembered the king’s treatment of Dashan. She’d never seen a commoner at any royal function she’d ever attended, not even the wealthiest of Rionn’s merchants.
“Alyx? You didn’t answer the question… is he right?” Finn asked.
“Tarrick is being a pompous ass, as usual. Besides, the wedding will be years away,” she said, trying to avoid answering his question. She’d managed to reach a comfortable accord with her companions and didn’t want to ruin it when they still had almost three months left before going home.
“Go on then, Alyx, tell them I’m wrong.”
“He is right, isn’t he?” Finn gaped when she didn’t reply.
“I thought we were your friends.” Even Brynn looked hurt.
“Hold up a second.” She sat up and faced them. “It’s not that I wouldn’t want you there. It’s just that—”
“Nobody else would?” Dawn demanded. “What sort of people do you surround yourself with, if they wouldn’t want your own friends at your wedding just because they’re not high-born enough?”
Alyx winced, deliberately not pursuing that thought. “Look, if it was up to me, I would invite you. I honestly would.” She genuinely meant the words, and that surprised her. But then, she considered, they had survived alongside her through all the horrible months at DarkSkull, it would be nice to have them there for a happier time too.
There was a silence as everyone but Tarrick stared at her. After a moment she realised that they were taken aback by the sincerity in her tone.
“It’s okay. It’s the thought that counts.” Brynn shrugged. “I couldn’t come anyway; it’s too far for me. Besides, I’d have to wear one of those horrible, constricting formal jackets.”
“Imagine how boring it would be.” Finn grinned. “All stiff and formal and peppered with long-winded speeches. I bet it would go on for hours.”
“It’s okay, Alyx.” Dawn reached across to squeeze her hand.
“I hope this prince of yours doesn’t mind your new low-born friends,” Tarrick said.
“Stop trying to cause trouble, Tarrick. Cayr’s not like that.” Alyx smiled. “He’d have his worst enemy at the wedding if that’s what made me happy.”
“Excuse me while I vomit,” Finn said, setting all three boys laughing.
Dawn and Alyx shared a long-suffering glance that deepened into a genuine grin.
“I can’t believe how peaceful it is here with Galien and Fengel gone,” Brynn mused a little while later.
Alyx smiled at that. The Mage Council was sitting in the Tregayan capital of Carhall, and Rothai and the members of First Patrol had been assigned to escort Master Romas—a member of the council—there and back. They’d left a few days earlier and would be gone for at least two weeks.
“All right, I’m getting bored.” Tarrick sat up. “Swim in the lake?”
“Everyone’s down at the lake.” Dawn made a face. “I don’t really want to swim with everyone else. Galien and Fengel might be gone, but there are still plenty of other unlikeable apprentices.”
“How about a ride up to the pools then? We don’t have to be so careful until they come back.”
“Pools?” Finn raised an eyebrow.
“They’re up near the top of the valley wall. I heard about them from my brothers. Apparently they’re great in summer, but there probably won’t be anyone there now because it’s still too cool,” Tarrick said. “Come on, I don’t want to lie here for the rest of the day.”
“All right.” Brynn groaned and sat up. “Count me in.”
The twins shared a look before also scrambling to their feet. Alyx followed willingly enough. It was getting hot in the sun, and a ride to some cool green pools sounded enticing.
A short walk took them downstairs and across the open space between the main buildings of DarkSkull and the barns. They passed a large group of students clustered around the banks of the lake. Some seemed to be enjoying picnics, while others were already swimming despite the early hour of the afternoon. The waters gleamed turquoise in the sunlight, and they looked inviting, but Alyx agreed with Dawn—she didn’t want to go swimming with the other students.
Alyx breathed in the smell of leather and horses as they stepped into the stables. Dappled sunlight shone through windows set high in the barn walls, filling it with golden light.
When Tingo saw her, he whinnied a greeting and came eagerly to the edge of his stall. She smiled and crossed to him with an armful of tack. The big stallion had gotten used to Alyx during his regular grooming and exercising, and now clearly missed her when she was away too long.
Strangely enough, she missed him too. How things had changed in six months.
They worked quickly to saddle up the horses, then lead them out into the rapidly warming sunshine. Alyx draped the reins over Tingo’s head and he stood patiently while she gripped the saddle and hauled herself up in one practiced movement.
The winter-long battle for dominance that had raged between Tingo and her had finally been won by Alyx, who after long, repeated hours in the saddle had gained both the strength and skill to manage the big stallion. Tingo had reluctantly, but amiably, conceded the loss. Now he simply acceded to her as his rider and followed her directions as if he’d never thought to do otherwise. It made her reach out with a pat of affection and amusement every time she thought about it. A small burst of pride followed that feeling—she’d managed to master something at DarkSkull.
“Last one there fetches the winner’s dinner tonight?” Tarrick proposed once they were all mounted and milling in the yard.
“In.” Brynn nodded.
“Yep,” Finn echoed.
Dawn and Alyx glanced at each other, smiled, then nodded as well. The warmth and sunlight of the day had improved Alyx’s mood dramatically, taking some of the weight of depression and exhaustion off her shoulders. For the first time since her arrival, she was looking forward to the rest of the afternoon.
“Starts now!” Tarrick shouted, kicking his horse into a gallop with the others streaming out of the gate behind him.
Alyx adjusted herself to the familiar rhythm of Tingo’s long stride as they raced across the open meadows towards the valley wall, crouching low over his neck and feeling the wind whip through her long brown hair.
She found it ironic that after such a rough beginning, these thrilling gallops on Tingo’s back were now one of the few joys in her life at DarkSkull Hall. There’d been a time when she never thought she’d master riding the strong, wilful stallion, but now she loved the speed and rhythm of it.
Alyx managed to beat Tarrick to the start of the narrow path that led up the valley wall and waggled her eyebrows at him as Tingo swept past. Tarrick laughed as Dawn cheered her on from behind; the initiate might be full of himself and his knowledge, but he wasn’t a sore loser.
The trail led up through thick forest and then levelled out as it ran alongside a wide open meadow. It was usually covered in snow, but the change in weather had transformed the open space to a blooming carpet of bright yellow and blue wildflowers.
Tarrick moved his horse off the track and struck out across the meadow, trying to edge around Alyx, but she urged Tingo on and he sped up to keep ahead of Tarrick’s horse. Flowers were crushed under the horses’ hooves, and a wide path was flattened across the field as Brynn and the twins followed them.
Then the path veered back into the forest and they were racing amongst the shadowy trees again; the sight of
them was magical as the sun shone down through the canopy above in soft rays of golden light.
Alyx glanced back. Tarrick was a half stride behind her, Brynn just behind him, and the twins were fighting for dominance behind that. She smiled as she spotted Dawn edge ahead of her brother, then turned to concentrate as Tarrick tried passing.
Tingo’s muscles bunched under her as he took the challenge from Tarrick’s horse and increased his pace, surging up the narrow path at a full racing gallop. Alyx let out a whoop of exhilaration as the air racing past blurred her eyes and branches and leaves slapped by her head.
Eventually the path turned off into a rocky area surrounding four green pools of different sizes and shapes. The biggest was in the middle, a round pool with the branches of willow trees draping over the opposite banks.
Alyx reined Tingo in and dismounted with a jump, tying his reins to a nearby tree and leaving him to graze. She then pulled off her tunic and boots, leaving only undershirt and breeches, and hopped over the rocks towards the pool.
Tarrick ran agilely past her, leaping high with a loud whoop and crashing down into the pool with a huge splash. Finn and Brynn came running after him and Alyx followed the boys in, whooping just as loudly before the cool waters closed around her head. The water was icy cold, and she came up gasping.
“It’s freezing!” Brynn shouted, face turning blue.
“You’ll adjust,” Tarrick called in encouragement.
Finn waited until his sister had jumped in, then slapped his hand along the surface, sending water splashing into her face. Dawn spluttered in indignation and Alyx defended her honour by doing the same to Finn. Soon they were involved in a full-scale water fight where the girls tried to defend themselves against the boys, the vigorous activity keeping them warm despite the bitterly cold water.
They screamed and shouted in glee as the water churned around them, and Alyx thought briefly of the horrified look that would be on her father’s face if he knew she was swimming in only undershirt and breeches with three boys and no supervision.
After they’d exhausted themselves in the pools, they untethered the horses and led them at a walk back down to the wide meadow they’d passed on their way up. Here, they flopped down amidst the flowers and let the sun’s warmth dry their clothes and hair. The horses grazed peacefully nearby, tails flicking to brush off flies or other insects.
“We should probably go.” Dawn sat up eventually. “It’s almost mid-afternoon.”
“It’s our day off, Dawn,” Finn said, unconcerned.
“Yes, but Master Dirrion is giving us that test tomorrow, which we planned to study for in the library this afternoon,” his twin said.
“Dishes duty for a week if we fail, he said, didn’t he?” Tarrick spoke. “I can cope with that if it means I don’t have to get up right now.”
Alyx smiled as she lay back down on the grass. “So can I.”
“I promise I’ll help you study after dinner tonight,” Finn told his sister.
“Me too, please?” Brynn asked.
“Of course.” Finn smiled at him.
After a short time, they raced the horses back up to the pools and spent another exhausting hour swimming before returning to the meadow.
Sunset approached, and still they lay there, too languid and weary to move. Alyx had never quite felt this measure of tired contentment before in her life, and wondered that a day like this could be found amidst the misery of DarkSkull Hall. Maybe it just felt so good because she’d been miserable so long.
“Tarrick, Brynn, are your families coming to visit on festival weekend?” Dawn asked.
Alyx looked up in interest. Held two months before the end of their study year, the gates of DarkSkull would be thrown open for its annual festival. On the Sixthday, relatives of students who lived nearby or could afford to travel were welcome to visit, and everyone else had the freedom to do as they pleased. With no prior knowledge of the festival, in addition to the ban on initiates writing letters to family, Alyx and the twins had had no opportunity to invite their families. Alyx consoled herself with the knowledge that it was highly unlikely the king would have allowed Cayr or her father to travel such a distance just for a one-day visit, particularly after the Shiven attack on their convoy.
On the Seventhday, the festival would involve hundreds of people from surrounding villages. Tarrick told them that there would be stalls, and magic displays, and at the end of the day the apprentices from DarkSkull’s First and Second Patrols would give a live exhibition match. Alyx was looking forward to it, if for no other reason than it meant two days where she didn’t have to attend classes.
“My parents are both coming, and my elder brothers,” Tarrick said.
Brynn shrugged. “My parents don’t own a horse, and they can’t afford the carriage ride here. They only barely saved enough to pay for me to go home and visit at the end of the year.”
“I’m sorry, Brynn,” Alyx said awkwardly; she had no conception of what it was like to have no money.
“It’s okay. I just have to wait a couple of months longer to see them.” He paused. “Anyway, having all of you around makes everything so much better for me. I don’t think I’ve ever really thanked you for that.”
Alyx and the others fell into an awkward silence. Brynn had become a good friend. No longer did any of them look at him with pity. Alyx felt a twist of shame in her gut when she thought back to how she’d wanted to shun him too, just because he might have drawn Fengel and Galien’s attention to her.
“You’ve done the same for us, Brynn,” Dawn said softly.
“You have.” Alyx said it because it was true and because he deserved to hear it.
Finn twirled a twig idly between his fingers. “Why do you think DarkSkull bothers with a festival? The masters here don’t care about students having fun or enjoying themselves.”
“It’s more of an outreach thing,” Tarrick replied. “The Mage Council likes to make sure they have good relationships with regular people. The festival is a way to keep on good terms with all the villages in the area who have to live with a valley full of training mages next door.”
Brynn jumped up with a grin. “Who wants to dance?”
Alyx groaned, but only half-heartedly. Brynn’s mage talent, while very specific and not considered to be worth much, was powerful. He loved music, and his power extended to being able to sound whatever tunes he knew.
His taste ran to the catchy, upbeat, and largely bawdy tavern songs he’d grown up listening to in his home village. Many of the lyrics made Alyx blush, which caused no end of amusement for the others.
“Only if you keep it fast,” Finn called out. “No slow dancing.”
“Deal.”
Brynn began singing a particularly catchy song—his voice sounding both the lyrics and the melody, as if he was the entire band himself—and began to dance around on the grass. Finn got up to join him; his own awkward style of dancing making everyone laugh.
The music was infectious and soon they were all up and dancing together under the light of the setting sun. Alyx didn’t really know how to dance outside the long, complex formal dances she’d been forced to learn as a child. She found this sort of aimless dancing much more fun, and although she wasn’t anywhere near as good as Brynn or Tarrick, she wasn’t as bad as Finn, so she was comfortable enough joining in.
It was fully dark when they eventually gathered the horses and rode slowly back to DarkSkull Hall. The night was balmy, the stars and two moons shining brightly overhead. None of them spoke much; they simply enjoyed the evening.
Alyx fantasized what it would be like to be alone with Cayr back in that field, with the moonlight shining above them. She still remembered his kisses like they’d happened yesterday and felt the memory of the warm, tingling feeling they’d given her.
They went into the dining hall and sat at their usual table. The popular table was emptier than usual with the absence of First Patrol, but the room felt more relaxed because of i
t. She passed Ladan eating his dinner on her way back to her table and paused.
“What did you do with your day off? It’s the first nice day we’ve had in months.”
He looked up, gave a slight shrug. “I went for a run up around the valley walls. It was nice.”
“A run?” She chuckled. “You didn’t want to do something more relaxing?”
“I saw you all at the pools on my way back down. Looked like you had a nice afternoon too.”
“We did. I feel a lot better than I did this morning.”
“I’m glad,” he said.
Ladan didn’t seem to have any more to say, and feeling awkward, Alyx smiled a goodbye and continued on to her table. After they’d eaten, Finn took Dawn and Brynn to the library to study for the next day’s mathematics test. Galien’s absence meant Alyx didn’t have to join them, and so Tarrick walked her back to her room and she took the opportunity to get an early night.
When she looked in the mirror the following morning, Alyx saw colour in her face for the first time since arriving at DarkSkull Hall. Her skin had tanned from the sunbathing the previous day, and eating better meant she’d filled out some. The tiredness was still there in her green eyes, however, and she didn’t think that would ever completely go away.
Chapter 20
A couple of weeks later, they were dismissed from mapping class early and went to the stables to groom the horses before racing to make it to the dining hall for dinner.
As had become her habit, Alyx offered a friendly wave in Ladan’s direction when she caught his gaze. And as always, he acknowledged her wave with a grave nod and slight smile, before returning to his food.
Weary from the day’s labour, Alyx and Dawn farewelled the boys after dinner to head back to their room and sleep.
“Oh, no!” Dawn groaned as they reached their room.
“What?”
“I left my staff in the stables. Howell will kill me if he finds out.”
Alyx sighed. Dawn wasn’t exaggerating. If anyone found Dawn’s staff in the stables and told Howell, she would be looking at weeks of dishes duty, or worse. And not unlike Madam Grange, Howell also didn’t believe in the person making the infraction to be the only one to receive punishment. He was obsessed by the notion of teamwork. If Dawn was caught, then all of them would be doing dishes for weeks.
