She snapped the box shut and bowed to her lord. Master Minalan bowed in return, then pulled her in for a triumphant embrace.
“Smile!” he urged her, quietly. “You just kept everyone from fighting over you!”
She smiled, even if her mind was still awash in confusion.
“Sorry about springing the apprenticeship on you,” the Magelord continued to whisper, “but your father and I agreed that, under the circumstances, that might be best for you, right now. Are you agreeable to the idea? If not, we can—”
Dara spoke before she knew what she would say. This time her mouth did not betray her. “It’s perfect!” she assured him. “At least for now. Does that mean I’ll have to learn how to read?”
“Yes,” the Magelord agreed, still waving at the cheering crowd. “It’s not as hard as it looks. Actually, it’s about the easiest thing you’ll learn. The hard part will be dealing with my other two apprentices,” he said, gesturing over to the two Wilderland boys, Rondal and Tyndal, who sat at a nearby table. Neither one of them looked particularly pleased with their new junior apprentice.
“They’re just boys,” Dara dismissed. “Believe me, I can handle them. But . . . can I bring my falcon?”
“Frightful? Of course!” Minalan agreed, finally taking his seat. “You’re a beastmaster, after all. In fact, we’ll probably start exploring that immediately. See if you can bilocate with other animals, that sort of thing. All in good time, Dara. For now, just enjoy the glory,” he said, gesturing to the crowd, where many still were applauding her. “It only lasts for a moment. Like childhood,” he added, wistfully.
Dara did. For one, magically indulgent moment, she basked in the approval and adulation from the wizards who had competed. Her fellow wizards, she corrected herself.
Westwood girl, falconer, and now mage . . . it had been a pretty eventful year, she decided, looking down at the wooden box that contained her precious prize.
Just what would the next year hold? she wondered.
The End
Thank you for reading! You may always email the author at [email protected]!
Look out for forthcoming Spellmonger Cadet novels, including the sequel to Hawkmaiden: Hawklady!
The Spellmonger Novels
Spellmonger
Warmage
Magelord
Knights Magi
High Mage
(forthcoming)
Journeymage
Anthologies and Novellas
The Road To Sevendor
The Spellmonger’s Honeymoon
Table of Contents
Chapter One ...
Chapter Two ...
Chapter Three &nb...
Chapter Four &nbs...
Chapter Five &nbs...
Chapter Six ...
Chapter Seven &nb...
Chapter Eight &nb...
Chapter Nine &nbs...
Chapter Ten ...
Chapter Eleven &n...
Chapter Twelve &n...
Chapter Thirteen ...
Chapter Fourteen ...
Chapter Fifteen &...
Chapter Sixteen &...
Chapter Seventeen ...
Hawkmaiden Page 30
