Hexing

by Ciara Graves

  Chapter 4

  Brogan

  Rori seemed off as we wandered around the grounds together, killing time until dinner was served at five. And after that, it would be time for the power display at six. Something happened while she was in the office, but not wanting to potentially piss her off by prying for answers, I didn’t ask outright. I’d just met her after all, and I wanted to keep hanging out with her. Sur didn’t want to be alone on my first day at Four Point.

  “It’s so pretty here,” she mused as we stopped at the edge of one of the many grassy lawns and looked into the darkness of the forest beyond. A few dead trees stood at the edge, and she reached out, resting her hand on the dry bark with a sad look in her eyes.

  “You like dead things?” I asked with a smile, hoping to get a smile out of her again.

  I was rewarded with one, just a small one, but it was better than nothing.

  “It always made me sad to see nature take its course. I remembered when I was little, our garden was always bursting with plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs. There were these monstrous trees that gave us protection from the wind and storms.”

  Her brow furrowed suddenly, and her icy blue eyes darkened as her fingers moved gently over the bark. “Sounds lovely.”

  “It was, but after Dad left, it all just withered away. My mother couldn’t understand it.”

  “Maybe she just didn’t have a green thumb.”

  “Guess not,” she agreed softly then pulled her hand away from the tree and faced me. “So, you haven’t told me much about your family yet.”

  “My family? Eh, not too exciting really,” I said as we strolled along again.

  “Something tells me that’s not true.”

  I blew out a heavy breath, not one to talk openly about who I was. Most people learned and then changed how they acted around me. I liked Rori, not just because she fell into my lap. I sensed something powerful in her. A strength that reached out to me. And she was damned easy to talk to. After so many years alone with just myself and mother nature, it had felt awkward trying to talk to people again. Until she appeared.

  “At least tell me a little something,” she said, hurrying ahead of me so she could walk backward and face me. “Your parents. Are they shamans?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “And my grandparents. All the way back.”

  She cocked her head as she studied my face. “All the way back… you’re a legacy then,” she said quietly.

  I bobbed my head subtly.

  “That’s incredible. I never thought I’d be friends with someone who could trace themselves back to one of the clan leaders.”

  “It’s not all that exciting.”

  “Yeah, actually it is,” she argued. “Which family?”

  “Orwell.”

  She grinned wide.

  I relaxed, not feeling as though she was about to start treating me like I was above it all.

  “I wish I knew more about my lineage. To have that much history backing you up, must go a long way to show you who you are.”

  “Eh. Or show you how much you lack when compared to the rest of your ancestors,” I muttered.

  She stepped back to walk beside me as she asked, “What do you mean?”

  “I mean when you come from a family of legends, it’s really hard to figure out where you fit in. And the pressure is insane. They all expect me to do everything they could, but more and I just…” I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the old angst of proving myself come roaring back. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  When I was alone, I made that connection with nature, to feel how mother nature moved through every living plant, every whisper of the wind around me, every drop of rain and crack of thunder. I’d stood in the face of a storm and became one with it. It was an insane feeling, and I’d never wanted it to end. But then my time alone was over, and I was sent here with no time to reorient myself.

  I felt the connection around me, but in a place where it should’ve been stronger, I felt weaker. I longed to step out into the wilderness and bring back the vibrant, pulsing thread that I had felt coiled within me out in that storm. Connecting me to a force so powerful, every person trembled before it. But I was trapped here on this campus, unless given permission to leave. I closed my eyes and let my feet come to a slow stop. I tilted my head back and breathed in deeply. The pull was all around me, brushing over my skin. Mother nature was always present, always waiting to be summoned by those worthy of her. I considered trying to reach out to her then but didn’t want to let anyone see my failure but myself.

  “Brogan?” Rori asked gently as she touched my arm. “You alright?”

  I opened my eyes and smiled, letting out a deep breath. “Yeah, sorry. It’s just different being here. The air seems off to me. It’s hard to explain.”

  “I’m sure after a few days you’ll settle in,” she said confidently.

  I wanted to believe her. “Funny,” I mused.

  “What is?”

  “How I went from encouraging you to you trying to encourage me. What a pair we make.”

  I remembered her lips against my cheek and wondered if I’d get another kiss from her any time soon. We stood there, simply looking at each other. I was busy admiring the curves of her face, the braids she wore that draped over each shoulder. And those blue eyes that reminded me of the first few days of winter when the snow was just beginning to fall, when frost covered the ground at my feet. They were filled with so much I could sense she wanted to share. But she held back, as if worried she’d scare me away.

  I was just about to lean in and take her hand, try for a real kiss when there was a rustling in the trees to our right. I took a half step as if to stand between her and whatever was out there when a guy stepped from the trees, muttering darkly under his breath and pulling leaves from his hair. He stopped short when he noticed us watching him.

  He straightened and grunted appearing annoyed at us, but maybe with Rori in particular. “You.” He crossed his arms.

  “You, what are you doing now, stalking me?” she snapped, crossing her arms too, glaring him down.

  “You two know each other?” I asked.

  “In a way,” the guy replied, his gaze never leaving her face. There was something in his eyes, as if he knew her—really knew her—but was having trouble deciding from where. “She giving you a hard time, too? You might want to be careful, especially with that mouth on her.”

  Rori rolled her eyes, but a sudden flare of jealousy and anger I did not expect roared to life in me. Had she kissed him, too? Had they dated at one point or another and he hurt her? Was that what he meant? I was more than ready to intervene on her behalf, against this guy who looked more like a brute than a first-year recruit.

  “You were rude, not my fault you can’t handle when someone tells you off,” she shot back.

  I let myself relax.

  “I was helpful, but if you want to continue to believe I was behaving like an ass, that’s on you, sunshine.” He stood taller, his shadow looming over her.

  Rori didn’t appear put off by that move. She squared her shoulders and just stood taller, too. “Right, yeah, that was being so helpful,” she muttered and glowered at him. “What are you even doing out there? Recruits aren’t allowed to just be wandering around the woods.”

  “Says who?” His brow arched. “It’s your first day here, newbie, think I might know a bit more than you do about what is and isn’t allowed here.”

  Rori mocked him, and I laughed.

  His eyes darkened as his gaze flickered to me.

  “You two should be careful walking this close to the forest anyway,” he said sternly. “Never know what might be lurking in the shadows. More than one recruit has gone missing. I’d hate to see you both step foot in there and never come back. Be a shame, truly.”

  “Don’t think we’d have that problem, friend,” I said and held out my hand. “How about some introductions? I like to know who’s being an ass to me.”

/>   He took my hand, and I spotted the druid tattoo on his skin, in the shape of a large bear pawprint with vines surrounding it.

  “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Why don’t you just tell us now?”

  He shrugged as he drew his hand back. “Don’t feel the need to.” He strolled away, whistling as he walked and called back over his shoulder, “And I don’t recommend being late to the display later on. You’ll want good seats!”

  “So, I see you made a friend before me,” I said with a smirk.

  Rori shook her head. “He was giving me crap for being in awe at my damned tattoo. I’ve never been in a place like this before, never felt this much access to my power and I was a little captivated. He was a jerk about it. Then he kept assuming I was going to get lost! How do you get lost on a campus like this?”

  “I wouldn’t let him get to you too much.”

  She rolled her shoulders. “Too late for that.”

  We walked on, moving toward the building where the dining hall and auditorium were located, Where the power display would be carried out that evening. Whoever the druid had been, I cursed him for ruining the moment I’d been trying to have with Rori. She was flustered now, and as I glanced at her, I wondered why she’d had a look of recognition on her face, the same I’d seen on the druid’s when he first spotted her. I didn’t sense that they were lying to me about not knowing who the other one was, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they had a connection of some kind. It was odd.

  And then we were at the building and following all the others inside for chow time.

  Chapter 5

  Brogan

  The auditorium filled up quickly, and I hated to think if I saw that druid again I’d have to thank him for the advice. Rori and I left the hall fifteen minutes before dinner ended to snag seats in the front row. As soon as six hit, the place was swarming with recruits excitedly talking about what we were all going to witness. I wondered if any shamans would be up on that stage soon, so I could study how they managed their abilities. I heard that Headmistress York would be giving a speech tonight and I prayed the rumors were false about her calling out for any legacies were joining the new ranks.

  “Is that… no, is that really him?” Rori whispered.

  “Who?”

  “Commander Moran? I’ve only ever seen him on the news, but that’s him, right?”

  I looked where she pointed, and my eyes widened in surprise at the six-and half-foot tall, dark-skinned man with a shaved head, broad shoulders like a bull, seemed about as angry as one. “Yeah, that’s him. He’s talking to those three Elites we saw earlier. Looks pretty heated, too.”

  Moran’s arms were folded tensely across his body as the three spoke to him. We were too far away to hear anything, but none of them wore smiles. Whatever it was, I had no doubt it was the reason why there were only three there and not four as there usually would be. It was extremely rare to have an Elite Guard team made up of just three, forcing them to compensate power for lacking a fourth. Moran pinched the bridge of his nose, his lips moving. Then the other three stormed away, and he was glaring after them.

  “Seems like trouble,” I murmured.

  “Why do you think he’s here?”

  “It’s an outpost, remember? He might be here looking for third-years who will move on to Elite training once they’re finished, see who will become the next group.”

  As far as I knew, each of the Four Point Training Facilities on every continent would put forth at least one new Elite Guard team every three years. In addition to that, turning out new recruits who had to serve a mandatory five years in the Vanguard. The Elite teams were highly trained and had to work as a single unit in times of crisis to fight against the darkness in the world. This included putting down other magic-users, if need be. When they reached a certain age, or they were all killed, they retired, and the groups behind them would simply move up the ranks. But lately, there’d been very few updates on the new teams being formed. The three we just saw talking to Moran had been older than I expected. Thirties, maybe forties. There should’ve been much younger ones walking around here. I was fairly certain five teams were meant to be here, too, but had yet to catch sight of them. I wondered if they were out on missions and if that had anything to do with why the three had looked so ticked off. Instinct told something was going on.

  “Moran, he’s in charge of the Elites? All of them?” Rori asked.

  “He is. He gets the last say too in who is chosen.”

  “Huh. Glad I won’t have to worry about that. Don’t think I’ll ever be strong enough.”

  I kept my mouth shut on that one for several reasons. I had more than a legacy name to live up to, and I wished Moran was not here on the first day. I glanced around the auditorium. Most of the seats were filled up, and I assumed we’d be starting soon. Moran walked toward the stage, and the lights dimmed. Was he going to talk, too?

  The hall fell silent as a single spotlight illuminated a woman with bright red hair, sporting a mage tattoo representing fire on her right hand and a cheery smile on her face. “Good evening, everyone. And welcome to another year at this Four Point Training Facility.”

  Applause greeted her words, and she held up her hands to settle everyone back down.

  “And a sincere welcome to our fresh batch of recruits. Though the next three years will be the most difficult you have faced so far in your lives, I want you to know that we all support one another. We work as a team, as a family, and none of you should ever feel you are alone.”

  A family, huh? Someone should have a talk with that druid about being a bit more welcoming to his new family members.

  I clapped, along with everyone else, holding my breath and praying that would be the end of it.

  “Before we begin the display of magic for the first-year recruits to witness what prior year recruits have accomplished during their time here, we have a special guest this evening who would like to say a few words. Please extend a hearty welcome to Commander Moran, everyone.”

  Along with the clapping as Commander Moran appeared on stage, I heard mutterings and whispers about his being here. This told me that his giving a speech on the first day was not part of the normal routine. He stood before the microphone and raised his hands for silence, then looked over the crowd. His eyes lingered on someone a few rows back, then turned to a few others.

  When his gaze moved again, I’d have sworn he was staring at me. His eyes narrowed slightly as I hunkered down in my seat, willing him to get to talking and leave me be.

  Finally, he adjusted the mic—giving us all a good view of the shaman tattoo on his hand—and cleared his throat.

  “Now then, first, I would like to thank Headmistress York for an exceptional job. As always.” He bowed his head to her. “And second, I would like it known that for the first four months of this year, I will be remaining at this outpost, keeping a close eye out for any recruit who shows potential for joining the Elite Guard.”

  “Any?” I whispered, confused.

  “What does that mean?” Rori asked.

  “What I mean,” Moran went on as if he’d heard us, “is that any recruit, whether first-, second-, or third-year will have the opportunity to join our ranks.”

  “That has never happened before,” I breathed to Rori who looked perplexed and a bit frightened. “First-years are barely trained enough to hold their own.”

  “What’s the reason?” Rori was staring at the stage as if Moran was suddenly going to point his finger at her and tell her she’d been chosen already. She nudged me with her elbow. “Brogan?”

  “I don’t know.” I wondered if it had to do with why that team we saw was so much older than I’d expected.

  I thought the news had been positive of late, but from the way Moran’s jaw was set, either someone had been covering up what was really going on in our magical communities, or they lacked the information needed to make accurate reports. There were always the anti-magic protests and t
he groups wanting to shut down the training facilities, kick us out of the country, but it hadn’t been violent in years. There should’ve been no reason to consider them a credible threat.

  Every now and then, even my community in South Dakota had to deal with the occasional group or two that would come and yell at us, protest outside our businesses, or our homes. We’d gotten accustomed to them and went on about our business. But what Moran was telling was us was setting a new precedent, and my gut told me this was just the beginning of changes to come.

  I had no doubt that the three years I’d hoped would be smooth sailing here would be more difficult with Moran hovering, ready to snatch us away at a moment’s notice.

  “I don’t want this announcement to put pressure on anyone,” Moran went on, though it was too late for that. “But I do want you to keep this opportunity in mind as you go through your training.” He clapped his hands once and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Now then, I believe you are here to witness the accomplishments of your peers. Or as I like to call them, your new family. I will take up no more time and turn the stage over to them.” He stepped back into the shadows, and the lights came up as a recruit stepped forward.

  I did my best to pay attention to the mage as he displayed his use of fire and water, creating an intricate meld between the two while they flourished around him. Most mages chose just one element to focus on, but he worked proficiently with two. He used a dark wooden staff as his focus, and I found myself drawn in, lost in the hypnotic movements of his power.

  Rori’s eyes were wide in awe, leaning forward in her seat to catch every movement the mage made.

  I was impressed, but my thoughts drifted back to the announcement Moran made. And the way he’d zeroed in on me as if he already made up his mind on who he was going to try to drag into his Elite Guard.

  The mage left the stage and was replaced by a priest. Many priests dealt with healing and rejuvenation, as did this one. He was good, calling on his holy light to illuminate the entire room, leaving everyone feeling refreshed. Two more priests followed the first, both of them also focused on healing. As they ended I joined the rest of the auditorium in clapping, then I wondered if there was a chance I could sneak out and head back to my dorm for the rest of the night.