The Mage Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Lisa Cassidy

“We can do it,” Tarrick said firmly. “No room for doubts.”

  Alyx studied the fighting below, waiting until Dashan and his men were far enough away from the wall. Concern tightened in her chest as they briefly became encircled by a group of Shiven, then deepened as Dashan dismounted and began laying about with his sword. He fought with ruthless skill, decimating any that came against him as if they were boys with toy swords. The Bluecoats cheered as he won them a path through, then hauled himself back into the saddle.

  Once they were clear, Alyx sheathed her staff in its sling down her back, then dropped the reins and calmed Tingo with a hand. Taking a very deep breath, and trying to focus her mind as best as she could, she raised both hands.

  “Let’s do this,” she whispered into Cario and Tarrick’s minds, bolstered by Tarrick’s calm determination and her knowledge of Cario’s exquisite technical skill.

  Channelling Howell’s talent, Alyx reached out with her power to begin locating and picking up all the pieces of rock and stone that had blown inwards with the Shiven attack on the wall. One by one, she lifted them high into the air, the strain on her magic intensifying the more she lifted. By the time every piece she could find was in the air, her body was literally shuddering with the power she was exerting.

  “Your turn, Cario,” she whispered, her mental voice faint with effort.

  A second later, Cario’s familiar power slid up against hers. They worked together— Alyx’s pure strength alongside Cario’s sublime control—to put every piece of stone back together. She gritted her teeth at the rapid drain on her magic, desperately willing herself to hold it long enough for Cario to finish.

  Soon, a wall floated in the air above them. Dimly, she heard shouts of surprise below, but ignored them. It was taking all her concentration simply to will her magic to keep flowing.

  “Tarrick,” Cario said calmly.

  Tarrick joined them then, struggling as he always did to control the surge of his power. Alyx’s hold began shaking, but just as she thought she would lose it, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and then the sweet coolness of Finn’s healing power flooding through her body, bolstering her energy. A whisper of thought from Dawn—reassurance mixed with unshakable confidence in all of them—steadied their magic instantly.

  Tarrick fought to gain control and won, sending his concussive power surging into the rock just hot enough to fuse it all together without breaking it apart again.

  “Now, Alyx,” Dawn whispered in her mind

  With another deep breath, Alyx drew upon every shred of power and focus she had left and heaved all of it, the entire remodelled stone wall, thundering towards the gaping breach.

  Shiven warriors in the way were thrown aside or crushed. As the remodelled section of wall reached the hole, Tarrick’s magic re-joined Alyx’s, and they created a glow of white-hot heat that fused the new section of wall to the old, filling the breach in the wall completely.

  For a moment there was silence, then the Shiven trapped inside the wall began scrambling to escape. Not hesitating, Dashan’s voice rang out, giving crisp orders to chase down the fleeing Shiven.

  “We did it.” Tarrick’s voice was an equal mix of exhaustion and disbelief.

  Alyx sagged in the saddle, utterly drained. Finn’s hand on her shoulder tightened briefly, draining some of her exhaustion, before he rode over to do the same for Tarrick, whose dark skin had gone deathly pale. Cario’s hands were trembling, but he waved away Finn’s help, claiming he’d be fine after a few moments.

  “Dawn, are you able to pinpoint any stragglers that have escaped Dashan’s cordon?” Tarrick asked.

  “Sure.” Dawn closed her eyes.

  “Tarrick! You guys sure helped us out of a tight spot.”

  They looked down to see Jayn leading four other apprentices up the hill to them. A couple looked bloodied, clothes torn, but all were walking unaided. Rickin held his staff ready as if to fend off another attack.

  “You got the mage?” Tarrick confirmed.

  “I sure did,” the young man said tiredly. “He was nothing on fighting with Finn every morning.”

  “You all okay?” Dawn asked them.

  “Yeah, we’ll be fine.”

  “That shielding was impressive,” Alyx told Jayn.

  “Tell us about it.” Tari, a male apprentice Alyx faintly knew, smiled. “We’d have all been dead in those first few moments without her.”

  They shared a chuckle, most of them deciding to take a seat where they were standing and get a few moments of rest.

  Just as the Shiven were rounded up, and the battle quite decisively went to the mages and militia, reinforcements from DarkSkull Hall came thundering up the valley wall, led by Rothai.

  Tarrick, Jayn and Alyx went to meet them, while Dawn stayed with Dashan to help him track down any scattered Shiven and Finn went to work on the wounded soldiers. Cario dismounted and slumped on a rock, telling them to come get him when it was time to go. Tari and the other two apprentices from Jayn’s group joined the hunt for stragglers.

  “The battle is in hand, sir,” Tarrick reported formally.

  “Is it?” Rothai frowned.

  “Yes, sir. It was dicey there for a while but Alyx managed to fix the breach in the wall. After that, it was a matter of sweeping up the remaining Shiven. Dawn is helping Lieutenant Caverlock and the militia track any who might have escaped into the valley.”

  Rothai nodded slowly, glancing inscrutably between Alyx and Tarrick. “Very well, we’ll go down and assist in those efforts. Both of you give your reports to Master Dirrion immediately, please. He’s just behind us.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  It took a while, but Alyx eventually finished giving her report to Dirrion, and picked her way down the slope to where some of the militia had built a large fire.

  Those that had fought in the attack were standing around it, warming themselves now that the icy cold of the night replaced the adrenalin that had been surging through them. Alyx slipped into a small gap between those closest to the fire and thrust her palms towards the warmth of the flames. She too was starting to feel the bitterly cold night.

  “Here you go, Lady Egalion.” Tijer appeared, pressing a small silver flask into her hands.

  “You did well tonight, Tijer. My thanks.” She smiled at him. “Please pass that on to all the Bluecoats.”

  “I will. Thank you, my lady.” He tipped his hat and left.

  Alyx sipped at the flask, closing her eyes briefly in enjoyment as the spirits inside seared a trail of warmth down to her stomach.

  Looking up, she spotted Dashan standing across the fire from her. His warm brown eyes were watching her steadily, made alive by the flickering firelight. She returned his gaze and a smile broke out across his handsome face. An answering smile crossed hers, and his widened.

  They’d done well.

  Alyx felt a knot that had been tightly wound inside her start to uncoil and relax. They had done well. She’d been scared riding to the battle tonight, but the fear hadn’t overwhelmed her. She and Dashan were grinning at each other across a fire, alive, safe and having won the fight. Maybe she could do this.

  “Willing to share some of that?” Cario appeared, jostling her arm and breaking the look between her and Dashan.

  “Cario.” She passed him the flask with a smile. “The others done yet?”

  “Dawn and Tarrick are finishing up with Dirrion, but Finn will be working on the injured for a while.”

  “Did we lose any?”

  “Two militia, and there’s a couple more with some bad wounds.” He seemed to shrug that off. “A good result given the number of Shiven killed.”

  Alyx didn’t agree, but decided not to challenge Cario’s insistence on not caring about anything—she was too tired. Instead, she changed subjects.

  “How are you feeling?” She might have been a relative mage innocent, but even she knew that the level of control Cario had exhibited over his power earlier was far more advanced magic t
han a second-year apprentice was expected to be capable of.

  “I’m fine. A good sleep is all I need.”

  Alyx glanced towards Dashan again, saw a troubled look on his face, and raised an eyebrow in query. He shrugged, tipped his hat in salute, and then turned and disappeared into the crowd surrounding the fire.

  Chapter 24

  Howell’s group was summoned into Master Romas’s presence immediately following breakfast the next morning. Alyx wondered if they’d done something wrong the night before and were in trouble again—it certainly wouldn’t surprise her if Romas found something to criticize in their actions.

  As they walked across the snow-carpeted grounds, weariness tugged at her every step. Her shoulder ached and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to summon magic anytime soon. Tarrick looked in a similar state; dark shadows lined his eyes and weariness was etched on his drawn face. Finn had been falling asleep at the breakfast table and Dawn was quieter than usual, as if it were too much of an effort even to speak. Only Cario looked his usual unruffled self.

  Her thoughts turned to wondering how Dashan was and whether he was still sleeping the morning away, as he tended to enjoy doing. He hadn’t looked hurt in any way during her brief glimpse of him after the fight, but he’d disappeared before she’d had the chance to talk to him.

  They were shown through as soon as they presented themselves outside Romas’s office. The head of DarkSkull was sitting behind his desk, and Rothai leaned against a tall chest of drawers behind him.

  “Please have a seat, Apprentices.” Romas gestured to the chairs before his desk.

  Alyx shared a raised eyebrow with Dawn as they took chairs—he’d almost smiled as he’d addressed them—but decided not to send anything telepathically in case Romas picked it up.

  “You wanted to see us, sir?” Tarrick started, formal as always.

  “Yes. First, I wanted to commend you. From all reports, it was your guard shift that played a critical role in successfully defending against the Shiven attack last night.”

  Alyx fought to keep her mouth from dropping open; was Romas actually thanking them? Tarrick shifted in his chair and sent a sideways glance to the others, while Finn’s mouth did fall open, before snapping shut.

  “We only followed our orders, sir,” Dawn said. “We saw the signal fire and went to help. It was what Master Rothai trained us to do.”

  “To be honest, sir, it was Lieutenant Caverlock’s training and plans that really made the difference,” Alyx said. “Had the Tregayan militia not been there, the battle would have likely had a very different outcome.”

  Now it was Alyx who everyone stared at in surprise; when had she ever had anything nice to say about Dashan?

  “That is true, but Masters Rothai and Dirrion inform me that your team was a vital element in our success,” Romas said crisply, hands tapping at the papers on the desk before him. “The way you closed the breach in the wall… well, it was an exquisite display of teamwork. Master Howell is to be commended for fostering such capability in you.”

  Alyx’s eyes narrowed as she picked up the unmistakable note of triumph echoing off Romas’s thoughts. He was too powerful for her to read what he was actually thinking, but the sense of them was clear as day. He’d gotten exactly what he’d wanted. But what was that?

  “Perhaps you might consider some worth in his training of me after all, sir,” she couldn’t help but look at Rothai as she spoke. “He seems to have been on the right track all along.”

  Rothai said nothing, but Romas fixed her with a hard look. “Careful, Apprentice.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “DarkSkull Hall is clearly under increasing threat. The numbers of Shiven involved in last night’s attack were significant. Extra protection is needed, and in that vein, I’m going to establish a third fighting patrol. As you know, Master Dirrion commands Second Patrol, and Apprentice Galien First Patrol—under Master Rothai’s guidance. I’d like your group to form the core of a newly formed Third Patrol. Will you accept the duty?”

  Alyx shifted in her seat again, stunned by the barrage of surprises. Was he serious? They were only second-years. Even Galien hadn’t been in a patrol until his third year. The distraction prevented her from immediately processing her own reaction to Romas’s words.

  “What exactly would it involve, sir?” Dawn asked.

  “You would still pull watchtower duty, but you’ll also ride regular patrols outside DarkSkull grounds. In the case of another attack, First Patrol would be sent initially, and Second after them. In effect, you would be second backup,” Rothai spoke this time. “You’d need to name one of yourselves as Third Patrol leader, and I would assign at least two more students to your team.”

  Second backup? Alyx struggled to get her head around the fact that if DarkSkull were attacked, there was the possibility that the responsibility for defending it would land squarely on their shoulders.

  “Of course, you’ll need to maintain attendance at all your classes, except when officially excused for patrol duties and training, and on those occasions you’d be expected to catch up on anything you missed.” Romas paused. “It won’t be easy, but it is an honour that hasn’t previously been given to second-year apprentices.”

  “We accept, sir,” Tarrick said firmly, and the twins nodded agreement, though it was half-hearted, like it hadn’t really sunk in for them either. Alyx glanced at them, then turned to face Romas and nodded slowly.

  “I’m in too, sir.”

  Cario shifted, crossing one leg over the other. “While I’m sensible of the honour, Master Romas, I don’t think I’m really cut out for being in a fighting patrol.”

  “Really?” Romas’s gaze flicked to him. “I’m told you’re the finest telekinetic mage we’ve had in decades, Apprentice Duneskal, which isn’t surprising, considering your lineage.”

  “Even so, I’m not much of a fighter,” Cario demurred.

  “Also rubbish,” Rothai said smoothly.

  “We don’t always get what we want. You are in Howell’s apprentice group, so you will do as they do,” Romas said crisply before turning back to the rest of them. “I assume Apprentice Tylender will take command?”

  Tarrick and the twins glanced between Cario and Alyx, presumably expecting one or both to want the command for themselves.

  Cario gave a genuinely amused laugh. “No, thank you very much.”

  Alyx simply shrugged, and nodded again towards Romas. “Yes, sir. Tarrick will be our leader.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Romas didn’t sound particularly pleased, and Alyx wondered why. He’d been happy enough minutes ago. “You’ll start extra training with Master Rothai this week. We will choose apprentices to join your patrol, and you will be advised as soon as we decide. Dismissed.”

  Still utterly stunned, they rose and began filing out of the room. Cario looked as if he’d swallowed a mouthful of sour milk, while the others were sharing glances of suppressed excitement. Alyx waited until they were all out of the door, Rothai included, before stopping and facing Romas. He looked at her with raised eyebrows.

  “A moment, sir, if I may?”

  “Very well, shut the door.” He waved a hand. “And make it quick. I have work to do.”

  “Yes, sir.” Alyx stood relaxed, forming her words carefully. “You know who I am, don’t you, sir? You know about my parents, my background.”

  He nodded crisply. “Yes.”

  “That’s the real reason why Lord-Mage Casovar sent me here, isn’t it? Because of my mother? You wanted another mage of the higher order.”

  “Because of his status as a mage of the higher order, Master Casovar was aware of your parentage, yes,” Romas said. “And no doubt that was why he chose to send you here.”

  “Are you telling me that you had nothing to do with it?”

  “Your mother left the mage order, Alyx. She kept her children away from us. It was clear that she didn’t want you here,” Romas said. “So yes, we knew you existed, and of cou
rse were aware of your potential. But it was not our instruction that you come here. Master Casovar works for the king of Rionn now, not the council.”

  “Then why did Lord-Mage Casovar order it?”

  Something shifted in Romas’s face, but the flicker was gone before Alyx could decipher it. “I imagine he thought a second mage of the higher order in Rionn would substantially increase your country’s protection against Shivasa. Even you can see the strategic sense in that.”

  “When I returned home last year…” Alyx paused. “It didn’t seem as if he knew what I was. He told me Master Howell sent him a missive informing him that I had a middling ability only.”

  Romas smiled grimly. “I know what you think of us and our methods. Despite that, we do protect our own. It is a dangerous thing to be a mage in these times, especially one of your power. The choice to tell him—or not—we leave to you, Apprentice.”

  “You didn’t tell him about my power in order to protect me?”

  He must have heard the disbelief in her voice. “I know you think that ridiculous, but it’s the truth.”

  Disbelief flashed into anger. “You’ve hardly been a source of protection while I’m here, sir.” She barely managed to keep her voice below a shout. “I’ve nearly died more than once, not least because of another student you continue to insist won’t hurt me. Excuse me if I find it hard to believe my safety is a concern of yours.” She was panting by the time she’d finished, worked up and fists curled at her sides.

  Romas stood, his deliberate calm a sharp and no doubt deliberate contrast to her emotion. “I don’t have to justify myself to you, Apprentice Egalion. Is there anything else?”

  She stiffened at the dismissal. “No, sir.”

  “Then I suggest you go and get some rest. I’m sure Master Rothai has informed you that you’re required back in your classes tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  It gave her the tiniest bit of satisfaction to slam the door on her way out.

  When Alyx and Dawn came down for breakfast the next morning, an initiate approached their table requesting their grey apprentice robes.