by Lisa Cassidy
Chapter 37
Alyx made sure to arrive early for sparring class the following morning and went straight over to where Rothai was warming up. He stopped his movements when he saw her approach, but said nothing.
“Sir, I’m here to apologise for the way I spoke to you when we returned from Carhall.” She fought hard to sound genuine, and barely managed it.
“I’d accept your apology if I truly thought you were sorry.” He smiled thinly. “What do you want, Apprentice? I’m not going to revoke your suspension.”
“I’m not here to ask for that.” She paused, forged ahead when he said nothing. “I’m here to ask if you’ll continue to train us while we’re suspended.”
“What did Apprentice Tylender promise you to get you to come here and ask me that?”
“I’m here on my own. He doesn’t know.”
“Ah. So it’s an attempt to avoid humiliation at the hands of First Patrol, then? Or a beating. Maybe both.” Rothai stepped closer. “I have zero sympathy for you, Apprentice. You won’t return to duty until I’m convinced all of you are trustworthy, and I certainly won’t train you in the meantime. Good luck with Galien. You’re on your own.”
Alyx took a deep breath as Rothai strode away to greet the students beginning to arrive for class. She hadn’t really expected anything different, but she’d had to try.
Time for a Plan B.
“What were you huddled with Rothai about this morning?” Finn asked later that night as they sat in the library studying.
“I went to apologise to him for what I said and asked him to continue training us even though we were suspended.”
Tarrick’s head lifted briefly from his book, but he said nothing. Dawn smiled down at the pages she was reading.
“He didn’t go for it,” she continued. “He thought I was just trying to avoid being humiliated by Galien in the exhibition match and told me we’re on our own.”
“You’re not sorry for what you said,” Finn said curiously. “So why apologise?”
“I’m not ignorant of the fact that what I did had consequences for all of us, not just me,” she said irritably. “I was attempting to swallow my pride. Fat lot of good that did.”
There was a loud thumping sound as Tarrick forcefully closed his book and pushed it aside. “We don’t need Rothai training us to avoid being humiliated by First Patrol. You know why? Because we’re going to beat First Patrol.”
“Oh, are we?” Finn raised his eyebrows.
“We’re damn well going to try,” he said fiercely. “Right, Alyx?”
A slow smile spread across her face. “I was never afraid of being humiliated by Galien.”
“More practices then?” Dawn asked.
“More practices.” Tarrick nodded. “Starting first thing tomorrow.”
“What about our classes?” Finn objected. “We’ve barely enough time to study as it is. You know we’ll have exams in a few months, and if we don’t pass all of them, we don’t get to come back.”
He had a point, reluctant as Alyx was to admit it. She was already beginning to struggle after the time away in Carhall despite the limited amount of leniency they’d been given.
“We’ll have to fit more into every day, sleep less,” Tarrick said. “Finn, you’ll be in charge of our studying schedule. It’s your job to make sure we’re keeping up with all our classes. I’ll manage our training schedule.”
“We’re not getting any more days off, are we?” Alyx sighed.
Dawn grinned. “I want to know who’s going to tell Cario about this plan for extra studying and training.”
“I will,” Tarrick said firmly. “I am patrol leader, and he will listen to what I say or I’ll toss him out, Duneskal’s grandson or not.”
Finn shrugged. “Right then. We can speak to Jayn and Mika at breakfast tomorrow.”
“It’s going to be a tough few weeks,” Tarrick warned.
“No tougher than anything we’ve already been through,” Dawn said, looking over at Alyx with a smile. “Together.”
“Right.” She nodded. “But if we want to have a chance against Galien, we need to use the advantages we have.”
“And those are?” Finn asked.
“The match will be in front of hundreds of people, so no way is Galien going to try and kill us. That limits what he can do.” She ticked off her fingers. “Secondly, we operate as a team. His group doesn’t—they do what Galien tells them. Third, we’re smarter.” Alyx looked over at Finn. “And you’re going to come up with a strategy that exploits all of that.”
A wolfish smile spread slowly across the scholar’s face. “I like the way you think.”
In the following days, Alyx’s time was almost entirely taken up with lessons, watchtower duty and patrol training. Life became physically exhausting in a way it never had been before. Tarrick’s training was relentless; runs up along the valley wall until they were lathered in sweat and gasping for air, repeated drills in staff fighting until they were more exhausted than they’d ever been, then, once they were too weary to take another step, they would sit and discuss strategy, working late into the nights to form a plan that would allow them to beat Galien.
Still, the physical exhaustion and the myriad of tasks that filled every waking moment helped in two ways. One, it meant she could focus entirely on what they were doing, leaving little time for thinking about the tangle of confusion and guilt still churning in her stomach every time someone mentioned Dashan’s name. At the same time she was terribly worried about him. What if something happened and he was hurt? There would be nobody to help him.
Secondly, the gruelling schedule bonded them and some semblance of normality began returning to their interactions. Both Tarrick’s and Alyx’s anger at each other faded, though both knew the greater issue remained unresolved. Alyx thought Dawn had been right, though. Tarrick wasn’t truly angry at her. He was angry at the truths that were undermining an institution he’d revered since childhood.
Alyx lost weight, gained lean muscle, and grew fitter and healthier than she’d ever been. She found herself staring into a mirror one morning as she dressed after bathing. Her appearance had changed too. With surprise, she realised that she no longer looked like a girl, but a young woman.
Alyx yawned and reached up to rub at her blurry eyes. The candle by her hand had burned almost to its end. Beside her, Finn reviewed the practice test questions she’d just completed. Part of her wished she’d joined Dawn and Tarrick in seeking their beds over an hour ago, but languages class continued to be difficult for her, and Finn had offered the extra help.
“Apprentice, the book you were after.”
It landed on the table with a heavy thud, startling Finn from his concentration. Alyx winced at the distance in Howell’s voice. He still hadn’t returned to his usual self and she was beginning to realise it would be up to her to try and fix things.
“Sir, can I ask you a question?”
He paused in the middle of turning away and gave her a curt nod. “You can.”
She glanced around, but the library was empty apart from the three of them, the candles at their table the only light, casting the rest of the cavernous room into shadow.
“My brother told me you warned him to leave DarkSkull early last year, that you thought he might be in danger if he stayed.” She looked him in the eye. “Why?”
Something like realisation mixed with despair crossed Howell’s face and he sat heavily in an empty chair. For a moment he was silent, one hand reaching up to tug at his beard. “I knew something had to have happened at Carhall,” he muttered, almost to himself. “For the record, Alyx, I don’t know anything. I am merely an intelligent man who has access to a lot of information.”
“So you were trying to protect him? And me.”
“I was.” He raised a hand. “But I will not discuss this further with you. Not here. You understand?”
Oh, she understood. Romas was powerful.
“There is something I d
on’t understand.” She changed the subject slightly. “You said my mother didn’t absorb my father’s Taliath ability. Why not, when Shakar did?”
Howell shrugged. “We truly don’t know. It may just have been a matter of time. We don’t know at what point Shakar absorbed the talent from his lover.”
She was faintly aware of Finn leaning forward in his chair, listening intently. Something in Howell’s words had caught his attention.
Alyx sat back, drained. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry I’ve continued to doubt you.”
He waved a hand. “You’ve had good reason to, I understand that.”
“Sir, Alyx’s mother... was she good at her classes?” Finn asked suddenly.
Howell chuckled, rising from his seat. “She was smarter than anyone I’ve ever met, even you, young Finn. If she hadn’t been a mage, I’m certain she would have been a scholar.”
Alyx absorbed that piece of information when Howell left, turning it over in her mind. Her mother... just like Finn. It took her a moment to realise Finn had gone still, his thinking face in full effect.
“What?”
“I think I just figured something out!”
“Okay, are you planning to share?”
He leaned forward eagerly. “I never really bought your father’s story for why he and your mother split. After all, we’ve poked holes in the idea she was in love with someone else, and if she truly left because she thought she was the one in danger, why take Ladan with her? Surely that placed him in danger too? Why not leave both of you with your father under the protection of the king?”
Alyx frowned. “Papa talks about it like they weren’t sure who was in danger, him or my mother.”
“But that doesn’t ring true for me either. I think your mother was trying to protect all three of you. I think she worked out what was happening... she sensed how terrified the council was of her. By leaving Garan before absorbing his Taliath invulnerability, she was removing the possibility of it happening.”
Alyx stared at him for a full moment. “Because if they were parted, my father wasn’t as much of a threat, and when you combine that with the fact he was under the protection of the Rionnan king... too much trouble—too much risk—for the council to try and hurt him.”
“It might have even gone further than that. Ladan was nine when you parted and Howell just said your mother was highly intelligent. She could have seen signs in him of becoming a Taliath.”
“And so she took him with her,” Alyx finished. “To keep him out of the council’s eye.”
“My theory explains not only why she left your father, but also why she left the mage order and went into hiding.” He hesitated, some of the eagerness dying from his face. “I’m sorry, I hope I’m not upsetting you.”
“No. You know how badly I want answers.”
“If I’m right, your mother made a huge sacrifice,” Finn offered. “And she also must have been scary smart, to have seen so clearly what was coming. That can’t be a bad thing, right, having a mother like that?”
“I wish I could remember her,” Alyx said softly.
Finn sat back in his chair, a contemplative expression creeping over his face. “You know what the real question is, if things did happen that way?”
She looked up, eyebrows raised.
“What did your mother find out that was so terrible she was willing to contact Romas and the council after years of hiding?”
The echoes of Finn’s words danced around the dark library, seeking an answer but finding none.
Chapter 38
Festival weekend arrived, bringing with it warm weather and clear blue skies. Tarrick’s parents arrived early on visiting day, but Alyx breathed a sigh of relief when Ladan didn’t appear—Dashan must have gotten to him in time. A surge of worry for Dashan followed that thought, though she was getting better at repressing it.
Tarrick spent only a short time with his family before taking Third Patrol on a training session up the valley wall. They didn’t return until after nightfall.
After stabling the horses, they lingered outside the dormitory buildings, savouring the balmy night air. This was it. There would be no more training sessions, no more planning. They would face Galien the next afternoon.
“Last year the exhibition match was essentially a one-on-one display between Fengel and Nordan while their patrol members watched,” Tarrick spoke into the silence. “We know how Galien feels about us, and we can expect him to come out aggressively. He’s arrogant, and will believe he can overwhelm us with sheer power all on his own. We’ll never win unless we fight him as a team.” Tarrick tossed Alyx an apologetic glance. “I mean no disrespect.”
She waved him off. “I was the one who came up with the team approach in the first place, remember? I have no delusions about being able to beat Galien in a one-on-one fight.”
“You will one day,” he told her confidently. “Make sure you all get some rest tonight.”
Alyx relished the long sleep in and leisurely breakfast the following morning. The dining hall was alive with excited chatter, much of it centring around the upcoming dance; as Cario had predicted, the fact he and Alyx were going together had caused a flurry of excitement, and despite feeling slightly awkward about it, she was secretly enjoying every moment. It had been a while since she’d been the girl who was the focus of everyone’s attention.
“I’m starting to feel like we’re back in Alistriem,” Finn grumbled at one point.
Alyx beamed at him. “There’s nothing wrong with being the centre of attention occasionally, as long as it’s for the right reasons.”
He rolled his eyes. “The right reasons including being on the arm of a handsome young mage prince?”
“Stop it Finn, they make an appropriate couple,” Tarrick said gravely.
Alyx and Finn, who had never been serious, shared an amused grin over Tarrick’s head.
“I’ve had enough to eat.” Dawn pushed away her bowl. “Alyx, shall we wander?”
“I’d love to.”
Dawn and Alyx spent their morning strolling between market stalls, perusing the wares on sale, and buying a few small items. They’d purchased material and had dresses made for the dance in Weeping Stead already, but Dawn bought some pale blue ribbons for her hair to match her dress. Alyx chose a bracelet made of tiny green pebbles that sparkled in the sunlight.
Morning passed into early afternoon, and nervousness began creeping through Alyx. While it was only an exhibition match, being beaten badly would give Galien more power over them. The uneasy truce that had lingered between he and Alyx since the fight with Fengel could break if Galien re-established his dominance over them.
Losing badly in front of his family would also break Tarrick’s heart. After they had been so disapproving of him last year for not being good enough, Alyx hoped as much as Tarrick did to show them they’d been wrong.
The match loomed closer, and Dawn and Alyx returned to their room to change in preparation for the fight. They dressed in silence, both caught up in their thoughts. As Alyx bent down to tie the laces on her boots, her hands shook slightly.
“You too?” Dawn asked quietly.
Alyx took a deep breath to try and calm herself, but the trembling didn’t stop.
“I’m scared that we’re way out of our depth in this match,” Dawn continued. “Galien hates us so much.”
“It’s going to be fine. Galien and his friends aren’t going to try and kill us in front of all those spectators. It’s not a good look for them if hundreds of villagers along with students’ families see apprentices murdered before their eyes.”
“They could humiliate us, though.”
Alyx nodded and sat up. “That’s certainly possible. If it happens, it won’t be pleasant.”
“There’s an understatement,” Dawn muttered.
“But then we’ll work harder, train harder, and get more experience, and next time we’ll do better.”
Dawn regarded her curiously.
&n
bsp; Alyx smiled. “Think about us when we first got here last year, and think about where we are today.”
A small smile crept over Dawn’s face. “I grant you there has been some improvement.”
“And to get here, there’s been a lot of misery and heartache.” Alyx stood now and stretched. “And I have no doubt there will be more of it, but we can turn that into success too.”
“You’re right. Tarrick will never give up.” Dawn stood too, looking more confident.
“None of us will,” Alyx said. “That’s the key. We don’t give up. We just keep battling. If I’ve learnt nothing else in the past two years, it’s that.”
A cool breeze teased the skin on Alyx’s bare arms as she and Dawn emerged into the warm sunlight and walked together down to the festival. A wary glance at the sky around the valley revealed unbroken blue, and some of her tension faded. There would be no sudden storm this year.
Several initiates and apprentices offered good wishes or words of encouragement as she and Dawn walked through the festival. She was buoyed by their palpable support, and had a sudden realisation.
There was a difference between being respected as a mage of the higher order and being respected as Lady Egalion. She’d been born to both, but as a mage of the higher order Alyx had become liked and respected because of her own actions. She’d earned the respect and even their awe.
“It’s going to be okay, Dawn,” she said into the anxious silence. “I think Galien is going to be surprised.”
Dawn looked momentarily thoughtful, then gave a firm nod. “I think so too.”
The rest of Third Patrol was waiting in the competitors’ area beside the raised, roped off platform that would hold the exhibition match. Cario leaned nonchalantly against the platform, studying his nails and looking like he hadn’t a care in the world. Tarrick’s face was stern and focused, while Jayn and Finn were murmuring to each other, little smiles on both their faces. Mika was a short distance off, hopping incessantly on the balls of his feet.