by Lisa Cassidy
“We’d best go get it then,” Alyx said reluctantly.
“I don’t know. First Patrol got back yesterday.”
“Then we have to hope they’re tired from their trip and asleep in their beds.”
“At least it’s dark.” Dawn glanced out the window. “Less chance of me getting spotted breaking the rules. I’ll go alone, this is my fault.”
“If you get caught, you know Howell will have all of us cleaning bathrooms for a month,” Alyx said. “If coming along to help as a lookout means I avoid that, then I’m all for it.”
“Are you sure?” Dawn asked.
“I feel like a walk anyway,” Alyx said, opening the door for her. “Come on, let’s hurry.”
Her real fear was not of Madame Grange, but of Galien and Fengel. Both nemeses had been quiet the weeks since the choking incident, but Alyx and the others had been very careful too. Instinct told Alyx that Galien had meant what he’d said—one day he’d try to kill her again, no matter what Howell or the masters believed.
What she would be able to do if Dawn was attacked, Alyx had no idea, but the idea of Dawn facing either of them alone was horrifying. At least if Alyx was nearby, she supposed she could run for help. She toyed briefly with the idea of suggesting they bring Tarrick, but trying to sneak into the boys’ dormitory this time of night substantially increased their chances of getting caught—and being seen by Galien or his friends.
They crept down the shadowy hall, pausing at the top of the stairs as Grange passed below holding a lantern. Once her footsteps were no longer audible, they crept down the stairs, dashed across the open foyer and slipped out the door.
For a few moments they crouched in the shadows nearby in case somebody had seen them come out, but the grounds looked deserted.
“If we go directly to the stables, we’ll have to cross all that open ground,” Dawn murmured. “And the moon is bright; surely we’ll be seen.”
“What if we go through the orchards?” Alyx suggested. “It means we have to go the long way, but they’ll provide cover most of the way to the stables.”
“Good plan.”
They kept to the shadows along the wall of the dormitory hall all the way to its end, then dashed across a piece of open ground until they reached the canopy of the western edge of the orchard. It was dim under the trees, but they could see the faint shadow of the wide path that ran down the centre. The sweet smell of apples permeated the balmy summer night, making Alyx’s mouth water.
It took several minutes to reach the opposite end of the orchard, and once again they crouched in the shadows. A narrow swath of open grass lay between them and the side entrance to the barn. Moonlight lit the undulating fields beyond that; the area was seemingly deserted.
“Let’s go.”
Alyx and Dawn ran across the grass, reaching the stable door and ducking inside without anybody calling out or raising the alarm. A single lantern hung from the centre of the barn roof, casting a dim orange glow over the interior.
“Where did you leave it?” Alyx whispered.
“It should be over near Silver’s stall. That’s where I left it while I was grooming her.”
The white mare was snoozing as they approached her stall. Dawn gave a soft cry of relief as she saw her staff leaning against the wall of the empty stall beside Silver’s. Across the way, Tingo snorted and moved forward as he scented Alyx.
“Shush,” she told the big stallion, going across to rub his nose.
By the time she’d calmed him and turned back to Dawn, the girl had gone white.
“Dawn? What’s wrong?”
“In here, quickly,” Dawn hissed, opening the empty stall door next to Silver.
Galvanised by the fear in Dawn’s voice, Alyx ran across the intervening space and into the empty stall. Dawn came in after her, shut the door and pulled Alyx down to crouch in the straw.
“What is it?”
“Galien,” Dawn murmured. “I can hear his thoughts nearby.”
Alyx’s heart started pounding. While Galien and his bullies had been away, some of the immediate danger had faded from Alyx’s mind. Now it returned in full force and the two girls clutched hands tightly.
A second later, voices sounded and the barn door opened with a slight creak. From the sound of the voices there were three people entering the barn. Dawn nodded softly at Alyx’s questioning look—Galien was one of them.
“Are we ready?” a voice Alyx recognised as Fengel’s spoke.
“Of course we’re ready,” Galien said.
“You’re arrogant if you think it will be easy,” spoke a third voice. Alyx thought it might be Tarran. “It’s complicated and I think overly risky, with no guaranteed outcome. A lot of things could go wrong.”
“And you’re stupid if you think I’m not strong enough to make it easy,” Galien said coldly.
“Have you spoken to the council?”
“Yes, while we were in Carhall. Everything is in play, and the quarry are being closely tracked. The council confirmed their orders, with one extra detail.”
“Which is?” Fengel sounded annoyed.
“They want us to take the….”
Abruptly Dawn stiffened at Alyx’s side, going rigid with fear. At the same moment, Galien’s voice rang out again.
“Someone is here,” he said. “Find them!”
Alyx and Dawn crept to the back of the stall as Galien’s companions began slamming open stall doors. Light blossomed as one of them lit a second lamp. Alyx saw the sheer terror in Dawn’s eyes, and knowing the other girl was just as scared as she was inexplicably calmed her. She knew she didn’t dare make a sound by trying to speak to Dawn, so she tried framing a thought of reassurance in her mind instead, hoping Dawn could read it with her telepathic power.
Dawn glanced at her, and her rigid posture relaxed slightly. An image suddenly appeared in Alyx’s mind, the calm surface of a deep lake, followed quickly by a brick wall. Dawn was telling her to shield her thoughts, but Alyx wasn’t particularly good at that—she’d never practiced like Howell had insisted.
A moment later, Fengel kicked open the door to the stall they were hiding in, holding the lantern up high. A vicious look of triumph crossed his face when he saw them.
“Get out.” He motioned with the lantern.
Alyx swallowed and stood, straightening her shoulders and trying to hide her fear. She was so sick of being afraid of these young men, but try as she might, she couldn’t prevent it.
Galien turned toward them as they left the shelter of the stall, a gleam appearing in his dark Shiven eyes.
“Well, well, if it’s not the Rionnans.”
“We’re just here to pick up something we left behind earlier,” Alyx said as calmly as she could.
“Is that so?” He smiled coldly. “What a perfect opportunity. You’ve all been so good at avoiding me. And now? Well, nobody even knows you’re here, do they?”
“Of course they do,” Alyx said boldly. “Madame Grange sent us down here. As if we would leave our dormitory after curfew without permission.”
“Really?” Galien’s face turned from amused to cruel in the blink of an eye. “I think you’re lying.”
An expression of concentration flickered on Galien’s face, and Dawn cried out, her hands rising to clutch her head.
“Dawn?” Alyx looked at her friend in concern.
“He’s ransacking her mind.” Fengel chuckled. “She’s not strong enough to keep him out; nobody is strong enough to hold off Galien.”
Something about that bothered Alyx, but the sight of her friend’s pain pushed all other thoughts from her mind. Dawn’s face had gone even whiter and a drop of blood beaded where she’d bitten her lip. Galien held her for a few minutes, then let go. Dawn swayed, and would have crumpled to the ground if Alyx hadn’t grabbed her. They staggered a few steps before righting themselves. Alyx kept her hand on Dawn’s arm in case the girl became dizzy again.
“So, you were lying.” A predatory
light shone from his eyes. “Nobody knows you’re here.”
“Dawn, are you all right?” Alyx squeezed Dawn’s arm, increasingly worried about her.
“Yes,” she rasped. “I’ll be fine. Just a little headache, that’s all.”
The image of the lake flickered in Alyx’s mind again. Dawn was telling her to be calm.
“Daddy’s soldiers can’t help you here, Lady Egalion,” Galien taunted. “And when Daddy and his soldiers aren’t here, you’re nothing, are you? Nothing but a spoilt rich girl who can’t look after herself.”
Alyx’s mind was on overdrive, trying to think of a way to get out. Her small dagger was in her boot and her staff was slung over her back. Any move to grab either would surely be noticed and stopped, however. They were facing almost fully trained mages. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that Galien’s words penetrated her mind, and she realised how right he was. Alone, she was useless.
But she wasn’t alone. Dawn was there, and hurting. As subtly as she could, Alyx shifted so that Dawn was partially shielded behind her. If Galien’s attention was on Alyx, it might give Dawn time to recover.
“Listen to me, girl!” Her head shot up as Galien’s voice hissed through the room. Her mouth went dry at the look on his face, all remnants of bravery fleeing.
“Just think, when I kill you, and your daddy finds out his precious daughter was killed by a Shiven, what do you think his reaction will be?” Galien came closer, smiling now. “War, do you think?”
“I think you’ll be kicked out of DarkSkull.” It took everything Alyx had to speak the words instead of whimper with terror.
“You think I’m stupid enough to let DarkSkull find out it was me?” he chuckled. “No, only your daddy will find out. He will tell his friend the king and demand vengeance. Rionn will go to war with Shivasa, and we will destroy you and take your country for our own.”
“Do you really think that’s going to happen? Is that why you want to kill me?” she asked, incredulity momentarily eclipsing her fear.
“No, that’s not what you’re really after,” Dawn said, pushing Alyx aside, her voice sounding stronger. “Yes, you hate Alyx, but your talk of war is just a taunt. I can see that…what is it you really hate, Galien?”
Alyx glanced between Galien and Dawn, torn between being terrified for her friend, and impressed that Dawn had the courage to use her power against him. The girl’s face was a picture of concentration, her eyes half-closed.
“Get out of my head,” Galien said quietly.
“You dislike Rionnans in general,” Dawn continued, ignoring him. “Because of what happened to your father. But you hate Alyx for a very particular reason. Ah… I can see now. She threatens you.”
Galien snarled, and Dawn’s eyes slammed closed, hand going to her head as she moaned in pain. Alyx had to catch her again when she gasped and swayed.
“Stop, he’s hurting you,” Alyx urged.
“Why?” Dawn rallied, ignoring Alyx as she pushed further. “As hard as you’re trying, you can’t keep me out, Galien. You’re a seething mess of anger and low self-esteem. You think being a mage makes you important, and you cling to that, making everyone fear you. You have to be the most feared, the most powerful in the room. You need that. Alyx threatens it, doesn’t she? But why?”
“Knock them both out,” Galien said flatly, gesturing to Fengel. “We’ll get them off the grounds and—”
“Galien!” Tarran’s voice cut him off. The apprentice was looking warily between Galien and Fengel. “Remember the plan. We have orders.”
Galien turned on him in a flash, fury seething from him. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do.”
Tarran stood his ground, keeping his voice pitched low and calm. “We have time for that, Galien. Just not now. I want to graduate.”
“He’s right.” Fengel looked like the words tasted sour in his mouth.
“Then get out of here if you don’t have the stomach for it!” Galien snarled at them.
Just as Alyx was debating whether she should go for her knife and take advantage of their momentary distraction, the door behind them slammed open, splintering on its hinges. Tarrick shouldered through the door, his hands alight with a bright pearlescent shimmer. Finn was a step behind, staff clutched determinedly in his hands. At her brother’s presence, Dawn’s shoulders straightened and she stepped away from Alyx’s supporting arm.
“You leave them alone,” Tarrick demanded, raising his glowing hands.
Alyx twitched slightly as a strange tingling crept along her forearms and hands. A small measure of relief filled her to have Tarrick and his power here, but they were still in dire danger.
“So, you managed to call your friends? That’s mildly impressive, but ultimately useless. Now you’ll all die.” Galien looked at Dawn as he spoke. She said nothing, but met his gaze fearlessly. Alyx couldn’t believe the bravery she was showing.
An image flashed into her mind of the back stable door. That was quickly followed by another image of them running out the door. Then a whisper of thought.
Be ready.
“He told you to leave us alone,” Finn said, edging closer to his sister, staff held out threateningly before him.
Galien laughed. “Are you really stupid enough to think we’re scared of you? That disappoints me, the kill will be far too easy.”
There was the briefest second of silence after Galien finished speaking. Into that silence came the sound of voices approaching the stables, clear because of the open door. The voices belonged to Masters Howell and Rothai.
That was enough for Fengel and Tarran, who turned on their heels and ran. Galien hesitated, eyes going to the open door.
NOW! Dawn shouted into their minds at the same time Tarrick raised his fists and sent a single ball of concussive energy shooting towards the roof.
Tarrick’s magic exploded as they were running for the back door. The concussive blast thundered through Alyx’s ears and was a physical force against her back, almost sending her flying through the exit. Brynn came running around from the side of the barn as they burst out, and all five of them sprinted for the dormitories.
Alyx’s breath rasped in her chest, heart pounding as she forced her legs to run as fast as they possibly could. They fled as a group, fleeing across the open fields and eventually making it to the dormitory buildings. They stopped outside the door of the female dorm, gasping for air.
“They didn’t follow us,” Finn said in relief.
Alyx bent over her knees, her lungs struggling for air and her entire body trembling with shock.
“Nice job, Brynn.” Tarrick slapped him on the back. “You had them convinced Howell and Rothai were coming. It gave us the second we needed to get out.”
“Thank everything you were able to get through to me, Dawn,” Finn said. “I heard you in my head as clear as day. If you hadn’t…”
“That was Alyx,” Dawn said. “If she hadn’t calmed me, I would have been too terrified to focus enough to reach you. I think she saved us.”
“What did you do?” Brynn asked.
Alyx panted. “I don’t know.”
“She sent an image into my mind of calmness and strength. It wasn’t just an image though, the thought was actually filled with reassurance and focus. I felt it.”
“Maybe you’re developing some sort of telepathic power as well.” Tarrick frowned.
“At this point, I don’t really care.” Alyx tried to hide her shaking legs by leaning on the wall for support. “I just want to get safely inside without being spotted and sleep.”
“Yeah, Finn, Tarrick and I best get back before someone notices we’re gone. We’ll see you in the morning.” Brynn raised a hand in farewell.
“Wait.” Alyx stopped them. “You saved our lives just now. You didn’t have to come and put yourselves in danger like that, but you did. Thank you.”
“I was duty bound to help,” Tarrick said soberly. “When Finn came banging on my door, there was no other choice f
or me.”
With that pronouncement, Tarrick turned and walked away. They watched him go for a second.
“Dawn is my sister. I’ll always protect her.” Finn shrugged self-consciously. “And you are my friend, Alyx.”
“I will never forget the day you stood up for me against Fengel, Dawn, and you didn’t even know me,” Brynn said softly. “Like Tarrick said, there was no choice for me either.”
“Goodnight,” Dawn said, as Alyx fought the tears pricking at her eyes.
“You all right, Alyx?” Dawn asked as the boys walked away.
“Yes.” She straightened from the wall. “Not really.”
“Me either. I can’t stop shaking.”
“You were really brave in there,” Alyx said.
“So were you.”
“I didn’t feel brave,” she admitted. “I felt useless. Come on, we’d best get inside before Grange sees us. I can’t believe nobody saw us running straight over the open grounds.”
Once safely in their room, Alyx sat on the bed and pulled off her boots, realizing that the trembling was fading. Now she just felt exhausted.
“How did you find the courage to read Galien’s thoughts like that?”
“I don’t know.” Dawn paused as she thought about it. “I suppose after he rifled through my mind, I thought that fair was fair, and I could do the same thing. He’s so strong, but I think I might be stronger than him… at telepathy I mean.”
“I don’t understand how he could read your mind. I thought mages only had one power?”
Dawn sighed. “I don’t know, it’s probably some mage thing we don’t understand because we’re innocents.”
“What you said about him… were you really reading that from his thoughts?”
“Every bit of it. You threaten him, and that’s the reason he hates you so much. I couldn’t get a hold on why though, he was burying that too deep.”
