“Who do you think that man is that Josephine was talking to?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Maren replied. “He gives me the creeps, though.”
“Same here. He was able to control Josephine’s magic ball of light, so he must be a sorcerer of some kind.”
“That makes sense, but I only know of a handful of sorcerers who aided the False King in his war, and they all died.”
“Did they?” I asked. “Everyone seems to think the False King died as well, but recent events make it sound like that may not be the case.”
“Fair enough,” Maren said.
I yawned and leaned back in my chair. “We only have a few hours before curfew. I want to keep searching, but I’m exhausted and tomorrow we have to take the next test.”
Maren looked at me. Her eyes were watery.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I can’t help but think that I could have done more to free that woman from Josephine’s spells.”
“You said yourself that the magic was too strong.”
“I know, but I didn’t even try to break the spell. What if I had and we had been able to free her? She would still be alive.”
“She could still be alive now,” I said. “We haven’t found any trace of them, but that doesn’t mean Josephine killed her. Maybe she just moved her somewhere else?”
“Maybe,” Maren replied. She wiped the edges of her eyes with the end of her sleeve.
“We can look some more tomorrow when our tests are done,” I offered.
“That’s a good idea. I think I’m going to bed early,” Maren said. “I’ve got a lot on my mind that I need to deal with.”
“Now that is a good idea,” I said.
“That’s the only kind I have,” Maren said, her mouth curling into a smirk.
“There she is.” I didn’t like seeing her downcast, but I understood how she felt. If we had done more to try and free the woman, perhaps we would have succeeded. We left the dining hall and walked together to our wing of the Citadel. Halfway there, Maren grabbed onto my hand and held it until we parted ways at the top of the stairs.
“Goodnight, Eldwin. And good luck tomorrow. I’ll meet you here after the tests?”
It was a question more than a statement, and I nodded. “Yes, it’s a plan.”
“Good.” She started to walk away, then paused. “It could be a date, instead.”
Then she left me standing alone, my cheeks flushed red.
15
When the bell rang for breakfast in the morning, I was already awake and dressed in my robes. I’d found it difficult to get to sleep after Maren had said our time today would be a date. Who would have thought that a low born like me would even spend time with a princess, let alone go on a date with one?
Certainly not me.
I entered the dining hall and filled my plate with a biscuit and some eggs. Steam rose from the eggs and the smell made my mouth water. I had noticed that most of the other students didn’t come in for breakfast until later. The lack of chores had probably made them more apt to sleep in. Since today was the second test, I made sure to eat enough to hold me over until lunch.
Oddly, I didn’t see Maren. After I finished eating, I wandered the halls for a while to see if I could find her, but I had no luck. I ended up going back to our wing of the Citadel to wait for Curate Anesko. He was already there, and he didn’t look happy. I heard him muttering about everyone running late. I was glad to be one of the only ones waiting. Maybe he would look on me favorably for being early.
As everyone else slowly joined us, I saw Maren coming from the direction of the stables and realized why I hadn’t found her. I shook my head at her and she flashed me a smile. No one could keep her away from the dragons. She came to stand beside me.
“Begging for trouble?” I whispered.
“You’re just jealous,” she said with a laugh.
“Seriously, Maren. I would try to keep away from trouble. Especially since Master Pevus didn’t believe us about …” I glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “… you know who.”
“I won’t get caught,” she said.
I stared at her until she offered an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I suppose you’re right.”
Curate Anesko cleared his throat, drawing our attention. The group went silent.
“Today you will all be taking the Magical Aptitude test. This test will evaluate your common sense when it comes to spellcasting. Unlike the Compassion test, this one is much more involved and will likely go late into the evening.”
Anesko paused and looked at each of us in turn. I was trying to figure out how I would take a test that required magical talent when I didn’t have any. I was fairly certain that none of us, except for Maren, had any magical inclination.
“Those of you lucky enough to bond with a dragon will learn many things. One of which is that dragons are powerful magic users. As the bond grows, you will gain abilities you don’t currently have. Most of you will gain the skill to cast minor spells, but some of you may become strong in spellcasting, especially depending upon your dragon.
“If you do not currently possess the talent for magic, you will be given a potion that will temporarily allow you to cast spells. You will drink it before entering the test and it will last for several hours. That should be plenty of time to get through the obstacles. If not, then you will know that you failed. Are there any questions?”
Silence.
“Good. Follow me.”
Curate Anesko led us out of the Citadel and to the right side of the grounds. We were still behind the wall that separated the school from the surrounding city. Large, towering bushes formed a solid wall that I was unable to see through. The bushes seemed out of place as if they weren’t normally there.
A long table was set up nearby, covered with at least a hundred vials filled with green liquid. In front of the table, rows of chairs had been set out. Anesko ordered us to sit and we obeyed. The wall of shrubbery rippled oddly, like a wave across the surface of a lake, and then it split open and Master Pevus stepped out. I craned my neck to glance into the opening and briefly saw a maze before the wall closed.
The Master still looked rough, but he didn’t seem as exhausted as yesterday. The Curates gathered around him and they conversed lowly. I assumed they were talking about the test or something related to it. I smiled at Maren as she sat beside me.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
“A little,” I lied. I was terrified, more so than I was for the Compassion test. Even though we would drink a potion that would let us use magic, I knew nothing about the arcane and feared I was going to fail.
“Don’t be. You’ll do fine, I’m sure. You’ve got a strong will. And spellcasting is mostly impressing your will on the magic to do what you want it to.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. For me, it helps if I close my eyes and try to visualize what I want the magic to do. Sometimes, anger makes the spell stronger.”
“Like in the alley?”
Maren nodded. We watched as Master Pevus called the first student up. Curate Anesko handed the student a vial from the table. He drank it, then walked toward the wall of bushes. They parted to let him enter, then quickly closed once he walked inside.
The next few hours were filled with excruciating boredom as we waited. Lunch was catered outside, and no one was allowed back into the Citadel unless they needed to use the lavatory. And that required an escort from one of the Curates.
The sky was overcast and a gentle breeze was blowing, which provided a respite from the heat. It was the middle of summer, and days like this were rare, so I enjoyed every minute of it. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. The wind felt amazing against my face. I tried to imagine what the wind would feel like while riding on the back of a dragon.
Eventually, I opened my eyes and became aware of dragons flying overhead. There were two of them
. One was blue, and the other was green. They floated lazily above the maze, and I assumed their riders were looking down, watching the test unfold. The scales of the dragons shimmered and I nudged Maren with my elbow.
“Look,” I said.
She looked up and smiled. “I think that’s Azer and Zymon.”
“They have names?” I asked. It sounded dumb as soon as the words left my mouth.
“Of course. All dragons have names.”
“How do you know their names?”
“They told me.”
“They who?” I asked.
“Azer and Zymon.”
“The dragons spoke to you?”
“Sort of,” Maren said. “Once you are bonded to one, you’ll be able to speak with them telepathically. If you aren’t bonded to one, they usually choose to only share impressions with you. Since I’ve been going down to the stables to see them so often, they’ve become comfortable around me.”
“I would love to do that,” I said. “But …”
“You don’t want to get in trouble, I know.”
I nodded my agreement and continued to watch the dragons as they circled over the maze.
“Do all dragons breathe fire?” I asked.
“Yes, but every color of dragon has a unique breath ability also. Well, almost all of them.”
“What do you mean?”
“Blue dragons breathe lightning, but also breathe fire.”
“Oh. That’s interesting. What about green ones?” I asked.
“Acid. Black dragons also breathe acid.”
“White ones?”
“Frost.”
That made my brows raise in surprise. “Wow. Imagine a dragon breathing frost at you. You’d probably freeze within seconds.”
“Probably,” Maren agreed.
“What about red ones?”
“Only fire. They are the exception in that they don’t have a second breath, but their fire is much stronger than the other colors.”
“What color dragon do you want to bond with?” I asked.
“Green,” Maren answered without hesitation. “You?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I’ve thought about it a lot, but I just can’t decide. I think bonding with any dragon would be amazing.”
“I agree.”
The hours continued to pass and dinner was also catered outside. By the time the sun began to set, there were still about fifteen students left to be tested, including myself and Maren. When it was Maren’s turn to go, she touched my hand briefly, then went up to Master Pevus. Since she was magically inclined, she didn’t need to drink one of the vials. I watched her disappear into the maze and began to wonder what awaited me inside.
The sun vanished completely and the Curates cast spells of light to illuminate the area. Glowing balls of light, much like the one I’d seen in Josephine’s chamber, bobbed in the air, casting their brilliance everywhere. Except on the wall of bushes. They remained dark as if they sucked the light from the air around them and suffocated it. I swallowed hard as I stared at the wall.
Master Pevus called my name and I rose to my sheet. My knees felt weak and my palms were sweating. It’s time to prove myself, I thought. I can do this.
I reached the table and Curate Anesko gave me a vial. I held it up and looked at it, then put it to my mouth and lifted the vial. The liquid was thick and sluggish. It felt like an eternity before the bitter taste hit my tongue. I resisted the urge to gag and made sure to drink as much of the stuff as I could. The effect of the potion hit me immediately. It was like I had a sixth sense that had been awakened.
Master Pevus motioned me toward the wall of bushes. “Good luck, Eldwin.”
I bowed my head at him as I passed, and stepped in front of the wall. The bushes parted, revealing a dark maze. I could see glowing orbs floating in the maze, similar to the ones the Curates had cast. I cast a final glance behind me, then stepped into the maze.
16
Magic hummed in my ears.
It wasn’t overly loud, but it was noticeable. The chirp of crickets, the cries of owls, and many other noises filled the night, but the magic stood out distinctly from every other sound in the maze. I stood still for a moment, taking in the sounds and looking around. The walls of the maze were all formed of the same shrubbery. Despite knowing that I was on school grounds and taking a test, I was a little scared.
I looked up to the sky and saw the dark silhouettes of the dragons, faint shapes of blackness against a bigger dark canvas. Somehow, knowing the dragons were up there brought me some comfort. Very few stars were visible, but the moon was full and bright. The pathway I stood on was made of gray and white cobblestones. The white portions glowed faintly under the light of the moon and the magical globes floating around.
“I can do this,” I whispered to myself as I took a few steps forward. To my left, there was a brazier filled with flames. An invisible wall of heat washed over me. I was about to walk past it when I felt the pull of magic. It was an urging deep within me, telling me to get closer. Common sense warred against the magic, warning me to keep away. I remembered that Maren told me closing her eyes helped her with spellcasting, so I closed mine and listened to the magic.
Water.
The word formed in my mind. I lifted my hand and imagined a flow of water spraying from my palm. At first, nothing happened. I focused harder, pressing my will against the magic as Maren had told me. There was a slight resistance but it quickly gave way. I felt droplets of water begin to drip from my palm. I opened my eyes in surprise and almost lost the connection to the magic. My sheer stubbornness saved the spell. I refused to let go of the magic.
And then the resistance was gone completely and a torrent of water flowed from my hand. I stared in amazement as the liquid put out the flames in the brazier. The heat faded and I released the magic. I looked at my palm, still reeling from the fact that I had successfully cast a spell. Me. A low born.
I wiped my hand on my robes and looked around, wondering if I was supposed to navigate the entire maze, or just prove that I was magically capable. The wall behind the brazier parted and I felt the pull of magic urging me to go through the opening. I did, and the maze opened up into a large square.
In the right corner, something tall loomed in the darkness. No magical lights shone there, nor did the moonlight seem to be able to penetrate the gloom. Curiosity got the better of me and I walked closer to see what it was. When I was only a few feet away, I felt the ground tremor under my feet. I stopped walking, but it was too late.
The colossal shape in the corner moved toward me. I backpedaled and watched with a horrified interest as the thing, whatever it was, stepped into the light. It was at least three feet taller than me and appeared to be made of dirt and rock. It moved slowly but inexorably drew closer. I kept a decent distance between us, but as I looked around for an escape, I noticed that there wasn’t one. The walls had closed and there was nowhere to go.
I kept moving, keeping out of arm’s length of the creature, and considered my options. It was possible this was part of the test, but what kind of spell would defeat a creature made of the earth? I didn’t know. The magic pulled at me again, subtly getting louder and louder in my conscience until it was like someone was shouting at me—from within my mind. I jogged a few feet further away and closed my eyes for a moment to focus on the magic. Again, a word was impressed upon my mind.
Wind.
What would wind do against such a creature? I opened my eyes and continued moving. The creature didn’t stop. It was only a matter of time before I got tired, but this thing could probably walk all night without stopping. I needed to do something.
“Wind,” I muttered.
I didn’t understand how the wind would stop this creature, but I didn’t have any other options. I hurried further away, then turned to face the monster. I closed my eyes and focused on the magic like I had with the first spell and envisioned a whirlwind. I
lifted both hands and put all of my willpower into the magic. I could feel the breeze getting stronger, but it was taking too long.
The grumbling sound of the creature was getting closer, but I kept my eyes closed. If I lost the connection to the magic, the creature would have me. I changed plans and instead of a vortex, I imagined a gust of air. The wind picked up and my robes whipped around me frantically.
I opened my eyes just in time to see the giant fist of the creature coming down at me. My eyes widened, but the spell had worked and a powerful gust of wind blew against the creature, pushing it back a few feet. The creature’s fist missed me. It roared and struggled to come at me.
Surprisingly, I could feel the creature push against the magic. It was as though the wind were an extension of me, and whatever happened to the wind, I could feel it in some small way. I gritted my teeth and forced the wind to blow harder. The magic obeyed and whirled furiously around the creature. Dirt and pieces of rock began to break free and were pulled away by the wind.
The creature roared again. It moved around, trying to escape, but the wind was destroying the creature bit by bit. With a sudden gust, the creature’s head parted from its body and the rest of it collapsed into a mound of rubble. I commanded the magic to stop and the wind calmed. I was overcome with exhaustion and almost fell over. My vision blurred and I thought I was going to pass out.
After a few moments of panic, the weakness went away but I still felt drained. Was the magic tied to my strength? If so, that could end up being very inconvenient. The wall of shrubbery directly across from where I came in shifted and opened up. I walked through and found myself on a long, straight path. The walls rose up on either side of me, dark and imposing. I stepped slowly and quietly, not wanting to be surprised again.
I got midway along the path when I noticed a gray statue. It was in the wall of shrubbery to my right. The ornate details were startling, and for a moment I thought the statue was alive. I stared at it for a long while, then continued down the path. A sound behind me made me stop. I didn’t turn around, but I listened intently.
Trial by Sorcery Page 8
