by Sever Bronny
“We brought you refreshments!” Malaika said, gracefully gesturing at the basket and tray.
“Think my headache just got worse,” Leera muttered, plopping to the ground.
Bridget wiped her brow with her sleeve. “Let’s take a break,” and sat down beside Leera.
Malaika’s hand drifted toward Augum. She wriggled her fingers. “Take this fair maiden’s hand in greeting, good sir.”
“Uh, all right.” He took her soft hand and made a clumsy bow with it.
“No, you have to kiss it, silly,” Charissa whispered.
Leera’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, kiss it,” she goaded.
“Uh, what did you bring?” Augum asked in forced tones instead, allowing Malaika’s hand to drop.
Malaika’s face fell but she quickly recovered. “Annelise, what did we bring?”
But Annelise just stood there staring at Augum, looking like a pale, trembling leaf.
Gabe flashed Leera that stupid smarmy smile Augum hated. “Forgive my daft sister,” he said, gliding over to Leera and placing the tray before her.
Leera, sitting cross-legged in her blue robe beside Bridget, immediately brightened. “Ooo, sweets!” and dove in.
Malaika lightly stroked her neck while staring at Augum. “I hope you do not mind us disturbing you …”
“We were just practicing and learning. I guess we could use a break.”
“Tell them about that grotesquely fat creature,” Charissa whispered.
Malaika straightened a little. “That boy, Devil I think his name was—”
“—Devon,” Bridget corrected sharply. “And please do not call him fat.”
Malaika’s brows crossed at Bridget. “Anyway, he practically barreled into us. He was crying like a little baby, saying how you broke his heart and how you bullied him—”
Bridget’s cheeks reddened. “That’s not what happened—”
“If you say so, but he was very upset. You really hurt his feelings.” Malaika turned back to Augum and tilted her head with a smile. “We brought refreshments.”
“You said that already,” Leera said with a mouthful of colored jelly sweets.
Malaika ignored the remark. “Annelise, if you please—”
Annelise’ mouth thinned as she reached into the basket, retrieving a checkered blanket, which she spread on the ground. Then she removed a wheel of white cheese, a couple branches of dark coldland grapes, a bowl of olives, bread, pomegranates, honeyed waffles, and two skins of water, placing them neatly on the blanket.
Augum, glancing at the wide array of luxurious foods, could only think of Old Jory and his deceased wife and that dirty, scraped-out pot of rice.
Leera eyed the waffles but pretended to be looking elsewhere. Gabe quickly settled on the blanket, tapping at it for Leera. She gave Augum a How do you like it? look before crawling over to sit beside him.
Augum felt his jaw stiffen.
Malaika reached out for Annelise, allowing the girl to guide her to a spot on the blanket. Charissa did the same, sitting beside her friend. Annelise dropped to her knees, smoothing her servant gown underneath her, and began tearing the bread into chunks, keeping her gaze averted from Augum, though he swore she snuck glances when he wasn’t looking.
“What a pleasant day,” Malaika said, turning her face toward the azure sky. She patted the empty spot beside her. “Please join us, Augum.”
Augum suddenly felt everyone’s eyes on him. His stomach tightened; he would much rather sit with Leera … or punch Gabe in the face. “There’s not enough room for Haylee and Jengo and Leland—” he said instead.
Malaika swiveled her head to where the others were sitting and expelled a long breath. “Would you like some refreshments as well then?”
“We’re good,” Jengo immediately blurted, resting a hand on his chin as if he was watching a stage play. Haylee had the same look beside him, and was nodding along with Leland that they were fine.
“Well, uh, I really should be training,” Augum said, taking a step away from them all.
“Nonsense, surely you deserve a break too, not just Bridget and Leera. Besides, you must be starved—”
Leera jumped to her feet. “No, we have to train.” She grabbed Augum’s hand and yanked him to the center of the clearing. She took a few paces back from him, three watery rings springing to life around her arm.
“Ready?” but before Augum could reply, she violently threw at the ground, shouting, “GRAU!” The air roared with the sound of crashing water. Malaika and Charissa screamed and grabbed each other, while Annelise and Gabe rolled away, knocking over the basket and tray.
Leera kept her gaze on Augum. “First Offensive.” She smacked her wrists together before her. “ANNIHILO!”
Augum barely summoned his shield in time to block the sharp jet of water, strong enough to make him stumble backward a few steps.
“She’s trying to kill him—!” Charissa shrieked. “Somebody do something!”
Bridget stood up. “No, she isn’t,” and joined Augum and Leera, running through a short cycle with them. At the end of it, Leera, forehead dotted with sweat, strode over to the blanket Gabe and Annelise hastily re-arranged, reached down into a bowl, and took two honeyed waffles, shoving one into her mouth. “Mmm, good,” she toned while munching, her shadow falling on Malaika.
Charissa watched her while holding onto Malaika’s arm. “How beastly.”
Annelise looked up at Leera, hand shading her eyes from the sun. “You’re awfully pretty. I can see why he likes you.”
Leera’s cheeks reddened.
Malaika whirled on her servant, voice a hiss. “Annelise! You will not talk unless addressed!”
Leera pointed a waffle at Malaika. “She’s not your slave, you know.”
“No, she is not my slave,” Malaika replied, “but she is our paid servant, and if her family wants to continue to have employment in these difficult times, she will do as she is told.”
Annelise stiffened at the mention of her family. “My apologies, Miss Haroun.” She dropped her head and shakily began to spread cheese on some of the chunks of bread.
Malaika nodded. “That’s better, and don’t let me catch you stepping out of line ever again.”
Annelise’ ears reddened. “Yes, Miss Haroun.”
Malaika turned on Gabe. “And you. Try harder,” she hissed.
Gabe paled. “I will, my lady.”
Augum wondered what that was all about.
Leera finished the second waffle. She gestured to a branch of grapes and it floated out of the bowl to her hand. Malaika and Charissa flinched, but Leera smirked, turning away to share the grapes with Augum and Bridget.
The trio shortly began a second round of training, this time focusing on the 4th degree. Despite Charissa’s constant whisperings to Malaika, the trio lost themselves in the work. Malaika was leaning forward, lips slightly parted, mostly watching Augum, except to occasionally give Leera a foul look whenever Leera squeezed his hand or gave him a kiss, something she was suddenly doing a lot more of. Annelise watched too, but only when she thought Malaika and Charissa would not notice. Gabe tried all manner of doe-eyed looks to get Leera’s attention, until Augum “accidentally” split a log with his lightning First Offensive very close to the boy.
After a while, Augum just hoped Malaika would go away. Her staring at him hardly helped his concentration, sometimes leading him to bungle a spell. Leera was just the opposite, performing the spells precisely, often flashing Malaika victorious looks. Her Mind Armor had improved rapidly. She even managed to cast Summon Minor Elemental, calling forth a watery creature that promptly trundled over to Malaika and Charissa. The latter shrieked, overturning the bowl of olives in her haste to crawl away.
“Lee, really, that’s enough,” Bridget finally said, though only after Malaika used Annelise as a human shield.
Leera, panting from all the arcane exertion, idly waved at the little monster. “Elementus, back.” She smirked at Malaika. �
�Only kidding, you can relax.”
Bridget ran her fingers through her hair, tying it up in a ponytail. “Let’s work on the counterspell to Object Alarm. Jengo, can we snag the book?”
The tall Sierran rubbed his eyes. “Of course. I need to start practicing Telekinesis for real anyway, enough theory. I’ve been watching you all carefully and I think I can do it.” He stood and strode over, handing the blue arcaneology book to Bridget. “Besides, I’ve got Haylee helping me now.”
Gabe lightly cleared his throat. When he caught Augum’s attention, he made a slight nod at Malaika, who extended her hand, palm down.
“Augum, will you please help a fair lady up?”
Augum hesitated, sighed, then paced over. He took her hand and brought her to her feet.
“Annelise, gather everything, will you?” Malaika turned to Augum with a smile and tucked one hand through his elbow, placing the other on his forearm. “Thank you, Augum. Walk with me a moment.”
“Uh … okay.” Augum glanced at Leera, feeling trapped. She was staring at them with crossed arms.
Malaika glanced at Leera and the two shared a hard look beyond Augum’s comprehension. She slowly walked with Augum around the clearing while Bridget and Leera returned to practicing.
“I know you have an … infatuation with her,” Malaika began in a silky and quiet voice, tapping his forearm with her free hand, “and I understand why, I really do, but you deserve someone of a more … noble bearing.”
Augum stopped midstride. “What are you talking about?” These stupid mind games again.
Malaika looked into his eyes before closing her own, drawing in a deep breath. “You are a great figure in history who deserves an equally great partner. Think of it, together we can rule the kingdom once you return it to its former glory—”
Augum drew away. “What? I don’t want you. I don’t think of you that way—”
Malaika took a step closer, reaching out to him. “You don’t yet, but you will.”
Leera stopped what she was doing to look over.
Malaika giggled before speaking in a loud voice everyone could hear. “Thank you, no one ever called me pretty before—”
Augum felt a horrible flush. “What? I didn’t—”
“—and I promise I’ll see you in secret,” Malaika added with a wink. “You’re right, she’s not good enough for you.”
Augum felt lightheaded. His lips were suddenly drier than sand. “What … how …”
Malaika reached for her friend. “Come, Charissa, we must let our noble hero train. Annelise, Gabe—to me.” Before Augum could find the words, they were already gone.
Leera suddenly marched over to him, eyes filled with tears. Just as he began to speak, she slapped him. Hard. “After everything that we’ve been through … how could you!”
Augum couldn’t care less about his stinging cheek. “But I didn’t say those things to her. I didn’t do any—”
“You took her hand like some eager puppy; and I saw the way you were looking at her—”
“What! No, I—Lee, come back!” but she too was gone, gone over the valley hill, gone to who knew where.
He glanced to Bridget, hands cold and clammy, heart racing. “What … what just happened?”
Bridget bit her nail in thought. She looked to Jengo, who stood with wide eyes; to Haylee, leaning on her cane, frowning; to Leland, who sat quietly holding the Agonex; to the lonely valley hilltop—and back to Augum.
“Malaika. It was Malaika, wasn’t it?”
Augum felt heat flash through his body. “Of course it was!” How could she even question it?
Bridget sighed. “I’ll talk to Leera,” and strode up the valley.
Augum felt a consoling pat on his shoulder. “Girls and their stupid mind games,” Jengo said. “Maybe you can help Haylee train me. Might get your mind off things.”
Augum was frantically going over what was said. Why hadn’t Leera believed him? How could she have just slapped him like that?
“Augum?”
“Hmm? Oh, sure.”
But his efforts with Jengo and Haylee were fruitless. He couldn’t concentrate past his numb hands, past his racing thoughts, past the awful betrayal on Leera’s face before the stinging slap. Not a single spell worked. Not a one, not even Shine.
Haylee’s face softened with empathy. “Don’t worry, it’ll work out.”
But Augum’s thoughts raced on. Nothing they said helped in the least.
After a while, Jengo gave up trying to move a stick and picked up the blue book to continue his theoretical studies with Telekinesis. Haylee plopped down beside him, coaching him through some of the concepts, occasionally shooting Augum a worried look. Leland kept listening to the Orb of Orion, or idly traced the Agonex while moaning softly to himself.
Augum remained standing in the same spot, still puzzling things over. Should he have run after Leera? Should he have said something else to Malaika?
Eventually, someone appeared at the top of the valley. Augum felt his hopes surge before realizing it was Malaika, her ebony face streaked with tears. She was in a hurry, glancing over her shoulder.
“Augum, help!” She ran forward, tripped, and rolled down the small valley, gathering mud and grass on her dress.
Augum strode to her with gritted teeth, readying to yell at her for her treachery; but as soon as he got close, she threw her arms around his neck and held on, loudly weeping into his blue robe.
“She threatened to kill me, Augum. Please, save me—”
Just as he tried to pry her away, he spotted Leera at the top of the hill, face also streaked with tears. She took one look at him and Malaika embracing and closed her eyes. A shaking hand found its way to her chest, where she squeezed the fabric of her blue robe, as if trying to tear her heart out.
Augum still could not get Malaika off. “Leera, wait—”
But she was already gone.
Scorned
“We belong together, Augum,” Malaika whispered tenderly, sobbing into his chest, hands caressing his neck. “King and queen …”
Augum stood completely numb, not even bothering to fight her off. What the hell was happening? Leera had slapped him before running off, Bridget had chased after her, and all he could do was stand there like a stupid, useless fool, allowing this girl to hang on to him like some needy puppy.
Bridget suddenly appeared at the top of the hill. “Where did Lee—” but stopped mid-sentence when she spotted Malaika embracing Augum.
Seeing Bridget’s face gave him the courage to pry Malaika off and throw her to the ground. “What have you done!” he sputtered, backing away, hands on his head. “What have you done …”
Bridget’s eyes narrowed and she marched down to them. For a moment, Augum thought she was going to give him a tongue thrashing or slap him, only to witness her yank Malaika to her feet by the arm.
“You vile witch,” Bridget hissed. “Why would you do that! Tell Leera the truth!”
“No!” Malaika’s face suddenly hardened. “I mean, no, I won’t let you manipulate me! We love each other. Augum is just too afraid to admit that he loves me—”
Bridget opened her mouth to say something else but stopped herself. She turned to Augum, head tilting. “Is that true?”
Augum had had enough. “No, of course it isn’t! How could you even think that—!”
Bridget gave a brief nod and whipped back to Malaika. “I thought so. Get out of my sight, you evil—” She threw Malaika back with the strength of indignation.
Malaika fell to the earth, weeping. “No, my love, don’t let them rip us apart!”
Charissa suddenly appeared at the top of the valley along with Mr. and Mrs. Haroun, the former grimacing in concern, the latter shaking with fury.
Charissa pointed at Bridget. “That one’s trying to hurt her too!”
“Stay away from my precious baby, you nefarious little witch!” Mrs. Haroun shrieked, raising her skirts as she hurried down the slope, a giant
hat bouncing on her head. “Stay away from her! Shoo—! Where is she! She’s invisible, isn’t she? She’s using witchery to deceive us! Behold! We know what needs to be done with witches, do we not, Hanad!”
“Selma, you have to be invited—”
Mrs. Haroun’s hands were searching for them blindly. “Where are the vile vermin? Reveal yourselves, witches!”
“You are being ridiculous, Selma. Oh for—” Mr. Haroun gave Augum a pleading look.
Augum grit his teeth. “Mrs. Haroun, I formally invite you to our training ground.”
Mrs. Haroun suddenly yelped, grabbing onto her giant hat. “There! They’re here! Hanad! Grab the misfits, will you! Husband, do your duty!”
“Wait, that’s not what’s happening—” Haylee tried to say. “Please, I saw the whole thing—”
“Stay back, you crippled wench!” Mrs. Haroun shrieked. “Stay back, or I shall have you lynched!”
Haylee’s mouth dropped.
Malaika reached out with heaving sobs. “Mother, these nasty girls were trying to hurt me!”
Mrs. Haroun scooped Malaika into her arms. “Mother’s here, sweet darling, Mother’s here—” She whirled on Bridget. “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!”
“I am sure there is a perfectly good explanation, Selma,” Mr. Haroun said in weary tones as he made his way down the slope.
“I saw her trying to hurt Malaika, Mr. Haroun!” Charissa said.
Bridget raised her palms defensively. “Mrs. Haroun, your daughter—”
Mrs. Haroun recoiled with Malaika. “She’s going to cast a spell on us! Hanad, help! Hanaaaaad!”
Mr. Haroun saw Bridget’s hands. “Young lady, what are you doing!”
Bridget hurriedly dropped them. “I’m trying to explain—!”
“Then by all means, do so!”
“Your daughter, uh … your daughter, Malaika, she … she threw herself onto Augum and—”
Mrs. Haroun clutched at her chest. “Hanad, I think I am going to faint. I am going to faint, Hanad! She just called our daughter a wench, a common harlot—”
Mr. Haroun stiffened to his full height. “Young lady, are you really suggesting my daughter ‘threw’ herself at this young man?”