by C. A. McHugh
Nyssa arched a brow in a silent question.
He shook his head. As far as he knew, Ceryst and Raimel were hiding back in the city, chasing down clues to the Raven Bringer’s whereabouts.
Of course, Ceryst also wanted to have an urgent conversation with Master Binnius, so the idea of them following in the shadows wouldn’t be too preposterous.
He shrugged and continued to study the trees flanking the road. Perhaps the next time he met up with the former Knight Protector, he’d establish some sort of signal between them so he’d know when Ceryst was nearby.
The next hour crept by at a crawling pace, adding to the anxiety that pounded through his veins. They were so close to the safe walls of the Academy, and yet, it felt as though they were diving deeper and deeper into the enemy’s lair. The thickening grove surrounding their path choked the road, further slowing their pace as they squeezed through two by two.
A sharp gasp from Nyssa finally made him pull on his horse’s reins. “What?”
She reached over and grabbed his hand, but her attention remained fixed on something in the distance. “Please tell me I’m seeing things.”
He followed the direction of her gaze and found himself staring into a pair of glowing red eyes, not unlike the ones of the assassin in the Temple of Mariliel months ago. “Demon,” he whispered.
The battle mage who’d been assigned to his entourage pushed his way through the hemmed-in horses. “What is it, Your Majesty?”
Aerrin couldn’t look away from the infernal creature lurking in the trees. If he did, he feared it would strike. “Do you know how to vanquish a demon?”
The battle mage responded with a nervous cough. “Those are master-level spells, but I know how to slay one with my sword.”
Aerrin made a mental note to ensure a master mage accompanied him from now on. Battle mages had some training at the Academy, but once they failed their challenges, they were expelled and left to focus on their swordsmanship. He wondered how far the man riding next to him had gotten before he’d left the Academy.
“But demons have glowing red eyes, do they not?” Aerrin asked in an effort to estimate the man’s knowledge.
The battle mage finally noticed what Aerrin and Nyssa had been watching, and nodded. “Allow me to handle this, Your Majesty.”
An almost simultaneous hiss of metal against leather followed as the other guards drew their weapons. The mage formed a ball of blue magic between his palms and lobbed it toward the creature.
Aerrin gathered his own magic and prepared for the demon’s retaliation.
It came swiftly, but not from the dark creature he’d been expecting.
A loud shriek filled the forest, echoing off the Green Mountains in the distance, followed by a blinding burst of flames. By the time his vision came back into focus, he had just enough time to dodge the fully ignited firebird that dove toward them from its perch in the trees. The heat from its fiery wings burned along his back, and the scent of singed hair filled the air.
One of the guards screamed, his arm ablaze. One of his comrades rushed over to help him smother the flames, but his horse reared when the firebird turned and swooped down at them again. The other horses responded with the same fear, the whites of their eyes rolling as they bolted down the road in an effort to outrun the creature.
Aerrin barely had time to secure the reins before his own horse joined the stampede. But even with their horses galloping at full speed, the firebird gained on them. He ducked as it flew overhead, the back of his neck blistering from the heat it emitted. The flaming wings spanned the width of the road, and the sparks wafting in its wake kindled new fires in the trees. In what seemed like a matter of moments, the entire forest was ablaze.
Chapter 7
“Back again?” a sassy voice asked in her mind the moment Seroney stormed into the room she shared with Nyssa at the Academy.
“Shut up, Bhasha,” she replied to the black cat curled up on her bed. “I’m not in the mood to deal with your sarcasm.”
The familiar stretched, flexing her claws into the silk duvet and leaving holes in their wake. “I thought you’d be long gone by now.”
“You knew I’d be back.” Her magic was too closely entwined with the cat. So much so that she thought it better to leave her familiar behind in the safe walls of the Academy.
“Kill the Raven Bringer yet?” Bhasha taunted.
Seroney scowled at her before unlocking her trunk with a spell and flinging the ancient lid open in frustration. “I couldn’t even get across the Divide.”
Instead of responding with more sarcasm, the cat hopped down from the bed and sympathetically nuzzled Seroney’s ankles. “I’m so sorry. I know how close you were to your grandmother.”
Seroney closed her eyes and accepted the comforting gesture as though it was a warm hug. “Thank you, Bhasha.”
“Of course.” The cat made a figure eight around her legs and then jumped back on the bed. “Did the Seven give a reason why?”
“No.” Seroney’s anger returned and she yanked the wardrobe open and grabbed the first dress hanging there. “I spent two weeks trying to get across, and they thwarted every attempt.”
“Then perhaps they’re subtly telling you that you belong here.”
“You sound just like Uncle Binnius.” She threw the dress into the trunk. “And the longer I’ve had to think about it, the more I think they may have a point. The Raven Bringer is here, so it’s time to start hunting him down.”
“Don’t expect any help from me. I’m not going to sacrifice myself for your ill-planned quest for vengeance. I’m quite comfortable here at the Academy and will be more than happy to take over your duty to protect the king.”
“He’s not my king, and I owe him no loyalty.”
“But admit it—you’ve become protective of him.”
“Only because he can’t care for himself.”
“All the more reason to protect him.” Bhasha paused long enough to lick her paw and swipe it over her ear. “And I assume that if something horrific happens to you, I’m free to bind myself to another mage?”
The silk dress slipped from Seroney’s fingers, and she rested her hand on her hip. “Already wishing me dead?”
“You’re the one with a death wish, going after that fiend by yourself. If you had a lick of sense, you’d stay here and surround yourself with powerful allies like your uncle so that when the time comes to face the Raven Bringer, you won’t be alone.” She paused and leveled her bright green feline eyes with Seroney. “Because you know he won’t be alone.”
A dart of cold fear pierced the center of her chest, and her pulse quickened. She’d faced him alone before, and as much as she hated to admit it, he’d overwhelmed her.
And as her familiar, Bhasha knew exactly how that encounter had gone.
“By the way, you look positively dreadful.” Bhasha twirled around in a circle three times before lying down. “Aiming for that undead look?”
Seroney crossed the room to the mirror and checked her reflection. A gaunt face stared back at her. Dark circles made her eyes appear even more sunken, and snarled tangles had replaced her once-pristine curls. Vain horror filled her and replaced her fear of the Raven Bringer. She grabbed her hairbrush and started to tame her hair.
An unexpected knock at the door caught her off guard. The Academy was on break for the Festival of the Longest Night, and no one was expected back for at least two more days. She whirled around just in time to catch Master Eamon, the professor of healing magic at the Academy, poking his head around the door.
“Oh, so you did return,” he said with a touch of surprise. “Master Binnius said you might.”
Seroney threw her brush in the trunk. Of course her uncle would think she would return. Part of her wondered if he hadn’t arranged something with the Seven to keep her here.
The healer entered the room and gave her a squinty-eyed assessment. “When was the last time you had a decent meal?”
She resumed packing. “I don’t have time to eat.”
“How has your sleep been?”
“As well as can be expected, considering the circumstances.”
“Yes,” he replied with a nod. “Master Binnius informed me. I’m sorry to hear of your loss.”
“Then you can respectfully understand my desire to leave.”
“Of course I do, but as a healer, might I recommend a restorative draught before you leave?” He grabbed her wrist to check her pulse.
Seroney yanked her hand free. She was a master mage, not a silly student. She knew her limits. “I’ll be fine.”
“Yes,” he said slowly, doubt clinging to his one-word response. He continued to stare at her analytically as he backed out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.
“He has a point,” Bhasha said from the bed.
“Not taking it. I’ve wasted enough time here.”
“One night—” The cat started to say, but then suddenly halted. Her ears flattened back, and the fur along her back rose like a saw-toothed ridge. A growl rumbled from her throat. “Something is wrong.”
“What?” Seroney rushed the cat’s side. It was night, a time when demon activity would be at its height. “Tell me.”
Bhasha answered with another growl before leaping toward the windowsill. A simple spell from the cat opened the window, and she peered into the darkness. “It’s not a demon—or even him. But someone is under attack.”
Seroney gazed in the same direction and caught a flicker of flame in the distance. “A fire?”
“Yes, but not natural in cause,” the cat cryptically replied. “But there are people in danger. I can sense their fear.”
As though on cue, the fire exploded and tripled in size.
Seroney cursed and grabbed her cloak. Something needed to be done, and with the Academy almost vacant, it looked like she was the only one who could intervene.
***
The firebird doubled its attacks, diving lower and faster with each pass
Aerrin choked on the smoke filling his lungs and nose. He moved the reins into one hand so he could wrap the edge of his cloak around his lower face, then tried to urge his horse into a faster gallop. If the firebird didn’t kill them, the inferno would. He shouted for the others to save themselves. Behind him, the battle mage cast water spells with each breath in an attempt to subdue the flames, but the resulting effort provided little more than a few scattered droplets and wisps of steam.
Fear bit into his consciousness, and tears from the acrid smoke gathered in the corners of his eyes, only to evaporate a second later. All this time, he’d been worried about dying at the hand of the Raven Bringer. He never imagined a firebird would be the one who ended his life. He spurred his horse. Froth formed around its mouth. The trees thinned out ahead, opening up to an open plain. If they could only make it there…
Then, from up the road, he caught a glimpse of hope. A wall of water barreled toward them. In any other circumstances, the sight would’ve terrified him, but with the air around him glowing red with cinders, he welcomed the water like an answer to his prayers. He drew his horse to a stop and braced for the impact.
But instead of engulfing him and the others, the wall parted, encircling his party in a shimmering corridor of protection, while outside, the water rose up to swamp the firebird.
The firebird shrieked again, this time with the shrill note of pain. The waters shimmered and parted to reveal the firebird’s flames had been doused. Its head hung low in defeat from inside the watery cage that hung in the air above them.
Aerrin turned around toward the forest that had been burning behind them. The watery wall continued down the road, putting out the fires as it passed. Relief replaced the panic that had consumed him moments before, and he drew in a deep breath of cool, clean night air.
They’d been saved.
But who was their savior?
His first thought was Master Binnius. After all, they were so close to the Academy, and if the headmaster had seen the flames from his tower, he would’ve surely interceded.
The figure ahead looked nothing like Master Binnius, though. The moon backlit the hooded and cloaked silhouette, concealing the person’s face in shadows, but the outline was undeniably feminine. She used her magic to guide the watery cage containing the firebird toward her and proceeded to have what seemed to be a conversation with the creature. The distance between them prevented him from hearing everything, but she nodded and murmured something about “young fools” before releasing it.
“Go back to your chicks,” she said.
Aerrin swallowed his amazement. There was something very familiar about her voice.
But fifth-year students didn’t have that kind of power.
At least, not in Elgeus. In Oudesta, however, they might.
The firebird appeared to nod. Even without being fully ignited, the creature glowed like fire. The moonlight reflected off its shimmering red feathers and gave each one the glow of a small flame. If he hadn’t just witnessed its destructive powers, he might have marveled in its beauty. It flew back to the tree where they’d first spotted it, diving down once more at the battle mage that had started everything.
A trickle of guilt lingered in the pit of Aerrin’s stomach. If he hadn’t mistaken the firebird for a demon, he wouldn’t have endangered all of their lives.
The woman then turned to them and said in a hard tone, “You should think twice before attacking a firebird when she’s nesting.”
The warning left no doubt in his mind who his savior was. Before he could call out her name, she disappeared in a cloud of blue magic.
Leandros let out a low whistle. “Did you just get the feeling we messed with the wrong person? And I’m not talking about the firebird, either.”
Nyssa nodded, her eyes wide and her mouth pressed into a thin line. “That level of control over an element—it’s beyond even master-level training.”
Which only confirmed Seroney was far more powerful than he’d suspected.
A flash of blue appeared just outside the Academy’s walls. It was as close as a mage could get to the school by teleportation.
The battle mage hung his head, revealing a section of his hair that had been burned away during the battle. Soot clung to his cheeks. “I’m terribly sorry about all this, Your Majesty.”
“You need the attention of a healer.” Aerrin scanned the rest of his entourage to ensure no one needed immediate care. A few burns here and there, but no one was on the verge of death. “The sooner we arrive at the Academy, the sooner we have our wounds tended.”
And the sooner I can confront Seroney.
Remorse ate away at his determination when he realized he hadn’t expressed any gratitude for what she’d done. And thank her.
The leader of the Royal Guard nodded and turned his horse toward the Academy. “Forward, as His Majesty commands.”
Aerrin pushed his mount as fast as he dared. The flight from the firebird had already exhausted the horse, but if he wanted to have any chance of catching Seroney, he needed to hurry. He wanted answers, and this time, he refused to let the person who could give them to him slip from his grasp.
The moment they passed through the Academy’s gates, he dismounted and ran straight for her room. The sound of additional footsteps told him Nyssa and Leandros were close behind. As he ran up the stairs, he formed his list.
Who was she really?
Where was she really from?
And where did she learn such magic?
The information about her ancestor could come up later, even though it appeared she, too, had the ability to talk to animals.
Seroney started when they came in, but her cat remained a perfect statue, with its glittering eyes watching them. Within a few seconds, her own gaze mirrored her cat’s. “You’re back early,” she said evenly before grabbing a dress from her wardrobe.
“So are you,” Aerrin replied while he bolstered his courage. There was something eve
n more dangerous about her now that he’d seen what she was capable of doing. And like Leandros had said, he didn’t want to mess with the wrong person.
But he wanted to make sure she knew he wouldn’t back down, either, so he straightened his spine and squared his shoulders. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” She folded her dress into a messy bundle and tossed it into her trunk.
Nyssa rushed to his side. A small whimper rose from her throat as Seroney grabbed two of the books by her bed and threw them in the truck. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“Due to a recent tragedy in my family, my father wants me to come home. I’m done with school here.” She paused and leveled an accusing glance at all three of them. “And to be honest, I don’t think I’ll be missed much.”
Nyssa had the good conscience to look down and pretend to smooth her tunic, but Leandros jerked his thumb at his friends. “To set the record straight, I never had a problem with you, unlike these two.”
Nyssa elbowed him in the gut. “Thanks a lot.”
Aerrin stepped forward. Now was his time to act, and he couldn’t waste it. “And how are you going to get your things back to Oudesta?”
She froze, dress in hand, and stared at the head of her bed. A few tense heartbeats later, she managed to clear her throat and resume packing. “What makes you say a ridiculous thing like that?”
Aerrin dared to take another step closer to her until she was within arm’s reach. He had to play this carefully. If he came off as too threatening, she might retaliate, and he’d seen enough of her magic for the night. But if he tried a softer approach, he might have more success. “We found the letter from your mother, and we are deeply sorry for your loss. I hate that the Raven Bringer killed a member of your family.”
Her lips parted, and her hands shook. The confident exterior crumbled to expose the real girl hiding behind it. The grief wrestling across her features was no act. Her voice cracked as she asked, “How…?”