The Mage Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Lisa Cassidy

  All eyes turned to Cario and Alyx as they entered. She enjoyed the attention for a few brief moments before Tarrick appeared, bowing smoothly.

  “Good evening.”

  “Hello, Tarrick.” Alyx laughed, sweeping her eyes over his suit of black. It fit every inch of his tall warrior’s body perfectly. “You look dashing.”

  “Thanks.” He smiled widely. “You look absolutely ravishing.”

  Alyx couldn’t help the flush spreading to her cheeks; back home nobody would have ever addressed her so glowingly, even if they did think she looked ravishing.

  “Hello!” Finn came through the crowd towards them, adjusting the collar on his shirt. “I was about to get a drink. Would you like one?”

  “Please,” Alyx said.

  “I think that’s my job.” Cario smiled. “I’ll come with you, Finn.”

  “Dawn is here,” Tarrick said, pointing at the entrance. He bowed to her as he had to Alyx. She wondered if it was a Zandian custom at formal events. “You look stunning, Dawn.”

  Dawn blushed. “You look very nice too.”

  They were joined next by Jayn and Mika, who urged them over by one of the windows where they could watch the sun setting over the hills. Finn and Cario found them soon after with glasses of punch, and they passed a pleasant period excitedly re-hashing the day’s fight and arguing good-naturedly over who’d done what.

  Then the soft strains of music began drifting through the evening air and Jayn asked Finn to dance. He accepted eagerly, and the others stood and watched in amusement.

  “Want to dance?” Mika gallantly offered his arm to Dawn.

  She took it with a delighted smile, and turning a deep red, Mika nonetheless gracefully swept her off to the dance floor. Minutes later, a pretty apprentice came up to ask Tarrick to dance.

  “Lady Egalion, shall we?” Cario promptly held out a hand.

  She took the hand and allowed him to sweep her onto the dance floor as well. Very quickly she realised he was as accomplished a dancer as he was a telekinetic mage. They moved easily and well together.

  “Don’t think I failed to notice your performance this afternoon,” she said as he twirled her.

  “I have no idea what you mean.” He stepped gracefully sideways, then back to her.

  “You handled three powerful warrior mages all alone for a good amount of time while we were distracted by Galien, and as far as I could tell, you barely broke a sweat.”

  “Your point being?”

  “You’d be a powerful warrior mage.”

  He spun her again before replying. “How unfortunate I have no desire to be one.”

  “What do you plan on doing after you pass your trials?”

  He laughed. “I haven’t a clue.”

  Alyx enjoyed dancing with Cario, and they shared several dances before retiring to have something to eat and drink. After that, she wandered through the crowd, chatting to those she knew and accepting congratulations for Third Patrol’s win. Even Randen came over to congratulate her so earnestly he almost stuttered on his words. She hoped it was a sign some of the initiates wouldn’t feel as afraid to interact with her anymore.

  Night settled over them, and Master Dirrion lit the chandeliers lining the great hall roof with his magic. Their flickering light cast the room in a warm, cozy glow.

  Soon after, Mika came up and offered his hand, his cheeks flushed with warmth and merriment. Alyx agreed with a laugh and they danced a few energetic dances before he relinquished her. After that, she found the drinks’ table, and started sipping at a cool glass of punch; the amount of bodies in the hall was making it very warm. It wasn’t long before Finn came over and requested her hand.

  “I haven’t seen you dancing much tonight,” he teased as they danced. “Surely there has been no shortage of men asking?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve been dancing plenty. Mostly with Cario.” She chuckled. “I’m starting to feel a bit tired from the fight, though.”

  “Of course,” he said in concern. “I’ll stop dragging you around. Go and have a glass of water and sit down for a bit.”

  After a drink, she walked out into one of the kitchen gardens abutting the hall. The cool night air soothed her heated skin, and she sat on a bench, watching the little bugs zooming around the lit torches that illuminated the way back to the dorms. It was nice to have a moment to herself.

  Something tickled at her magic, and her head came up. She got to her feet and walked over to the door to check—the students all appeared to be having a marvellous time under the watchful eye of Dirrion. Nothing seemed amiss.

  “May I have this dance?”

  She turned too quickly—almost stumbling—to see Dashan standing on the other side of the garden. He was wearing plain clothing, and a bruise darkened the right side of his jaw. Looking closer, she saw a cut above his left eye. Worry surged, and she rushed over to him.

  “What happened, are you all right?”

  “I’m all right, mage-girl.” He fended her off gently. “The boys have already looked at my face. They say I’ll be uglier than I used to be, but otherwise fine.”

  “You got to Ladan?”

  “I did, and he is thoroughly warned.” He pointed to his face. “I got this running into a Shiven patrol while slipping back over the border. You should see the other guy.”

  “Dash!” she chided.

  A smile broke across his face—such a wonderfully handsome face, she couldn’t help but think. “The boys told me about your win today. They were falling over themselves in their excitement to describe it in detail.”

  “They were great. I think it was their raucous cheering that got us over the line.”

  “Congratulations, Alyx.”

  “It wasn’t just me, but thank you.”

  A silence fell between them, and into it drifted the strains of music from the dance. Dashan extended a hand, eyebrows raised. “Dance with me?”

  “I’d like that,” she said softly, taking his hand.

  He drew her closer and wrapped a loose arm around her waist. “Don’t you try anything,” she warned teasingly.

  “I would never!” he said with mock indignance.

  “You forget how well I know you,” she reminded him, trying to keep things light, trying to ignore the sensation of his hand burning through the back of her dress.

  “Even so, I would never dare try something in front of your consort for the evening.” He nodded back towards the hall. “How Casta knows so much DarkSkull Hall gossip I’ll never know, but he told me all about the exiting coupling of you and Cario.”

  She snorted. “It’s not like anyone can see us out here. Why, jealous, are we?”

  “Not in the slightest.” Dashan chuckled.

  Stung a little, she replied, “why not?”

  “Let’s just say that I think Cario would much prefer to be here tonight with one of my better-looking Bluecoats than with you.”

  Alyx stared up at Dashan in confusion for a moment before the meaning of his words sank in. “You mean… really? I had no idea.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” Dashan said. “You aren’t the most perceptive about these things, Alyx.”

  “Then why didn’t he come tonight with who he wanted?”

  “I’m not sure, but you’ll probably find Cario’s preferences aren’t exactly welcome amongst his high-brow family.”

  “Oh.” Alyx glanced back towards the hall, suddenly very sad for her friend. Just like Tarrick, his family wouldn’t accept him for who he was. What kind of love was that?

  “You look beautiful tonight,” Dashan murmured, drawing her attention back to him with a snap. All thoughts of Cario fell out of her head.

  “Dash…” she breathed, realising how close he was, able to feel the heat of his body through her dress. “What are you doing?”

  He smiled, twining his fingers through their joined hands, and bringing hers up to his lips to kiss it gently. Her eyes closed at the kiss, and she held tight
er to him to keep her knees from buckling.

  “I missed you,” he said softly.

  Her breath came out as a sigh. “Me too.”

  Alyx surrendered to the music and the pull between them and laid her head on Dashan’s shoulder, knowing the darkened garden hid them from prying eyes. Time passed, she wasn’t sure how much; she was only aware of the feeling of safety and warmth and something else she couldn’t name sweeping through her. She was startled out of her blissful state when Dashan pulled back.

  “I think the song is ending,” he murmured.

  She opened her eyes to find their faces only inches apart, the expression in Dashan’s eyes sending her heart racing. She swallowed, letting go of his hand and taking a small step back.

  “I’m not a naïve girl anymore, Dash. I’m not oblivious to what’s grown between us.”

  “I know that,” he said quietly. “You have no idea how much I know that. The snooty, self-absorbed rich girl I knew has become this amazingly brave, smart, stunningly beautiful woman, and ever since I first saw you tonight I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.”

  She sucked in a breath at the intensity of his words, tears forming unbidden in her eyes. “I never thought... never imagined for a second... that there could ever be anyone else for me but Cayr. And now...”

  His whole body stilled, eyes brightening with what she thought might be hope. The confused tangle of emotion surged in her again, less tangled now that she’d finally admitted the truth. But even now she wasn’t certain of anything, didn’t want to hurt him.

  “Alyx, I’m going to kiss you now.” He moved closer, very slowly.

  She shook her head. “You can’t. We can’t.”

  “Then stop me,” he breathed, closing the gap between them in one small step. He hesitated a beat, and when she didn’t move, he leant down and kissed her.

  This time she didn’t stop him, couldn’t stop him. His arms came tightly around her, almost lifting her off the ground, one hand sliding deeply into her hair. She wound her arms around his neck, returned his kiss fiercely, needing more, wanting him so much she couldn’t bear it. This kiss was so different from those kisses she’d shared with Cayr; far more intense, fraught with emotion and a surge of desire. It was nothing like she’d ever felt before, and yet she responded instinctively to his touch.

  Eventually they broke apart, foreheads touching, panting softly. Dashan took one of her hands, twining their fingers together.

  “I’m not a fool. I know that this is impossible,” he whispered.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Gathering her strength, Alyx disentangled herself from him and stepped backwards, moving to sit on a nearby bench seat. She was shaky from emotion—she’d never lost control like that, the way she had just done in kissing Dashan.

  He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “You might be here now, but at the end of the day you’re still Lady Alyx Egalion. There is no world in which it’s okay for you to court a half-Shiven bastard.”

  She winced at the bitterness in his voice, but as much as she wanted to comfort and reassure him, being anything but honest would only hurt him in the long run.

  “What you say is true,” she said carefully. “But what really concerns me is Cayr. This would break his heart.”

  Dashan nodded sadly, coming to sit beside her. “I feel like the worst kind of heel. He’s my best friend.”

  “I simply can’t do this to him, Dash. I love him too much.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s not just that,” she said, standing. It was too hard to be so close to him and not touch him.

  “What do you mean?”

  She met his eyes as he rose to stand before her. “We’re friends now, maybe for the first time in our lives, we’re truly friends. I can’t lose that, I won’t risk it on a fling.”

  “I feel the same way, Egalion. I’m sorry for messing things up.” His eyes slid closed, his forehead coming to rest against hers.

  “You haven’t,” she whispered, trying to swallow back a sob. It felt like her heart was tearing a little at the idea she was going to have to let him go.

  “I should get back to Weeping Stead.” His eyes were on the ground as he took a firm step back, jaw clenched. She recognised the pain in it. “I really only came to let you know Ladan was warned.”

  “I... ” Her voice trailed off. She had to let him go. “Thank you, for everything.”

  He walked away without a backwards glance, and Alyx sat again with a sigh, head dropping into her hands. A scuffing noise caused her to look up and see Finn standing there, confusion etched in his features. Her heart sank.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Long enough. You disappeared so I came looking to make sure you were all right. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” She stood and scrubbed at her eyes. “I’m going to head off to bed, actually.”

  “Alyx?”

  “Please, Finn. Whatever you saw or heard, it’s over and done with. I just want to go and sleep. It’s been a long day.”

  “All right,” he said, his face a mixture of concern and confusion. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

  “Thanks Finn. Say goodnight to the others for me, would you?”

  “Sure.”

  Alyx was still awake when Dawn returned to their room an hour or so later. No matter how hard she’d tried, or how tired she was, she hadn’t been able to settle enough to sleep. Her skin still sang from Dashan’s touch.

  “You left early.” Dawn smiled as she sat on her bed with a happy sigh.

  “I was tired after the fight and all that dancing.” Alyx shifted under the covers to face Dawn. As much as part of her wanted to talk to Dawn about Dashan, she couldn’t bring herself to. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her friend, and Dawn seemed to really like him, even though it wasn’t reciprocated. Besides, nothing was going to happen with her and Dashan anyway—it just wasn’t possible. Better to move on and try to forget about it. “You look like you had a lovely evening.”

  “I did.” Dawn laid back on her bed with another contented sigh. “What about you?”

  “I enjoyed it too. It was a great way to relax after the anxiousness leading up to the fight, and Cario is a very good dancer.”

  “I could tell.” Dawn chuckled.

  “Dawn…” Alyx hesitated. “Did you know… about Cario?”

  “What about him?”

  “Dashan said something to me a little while ago… about Cario preferring men. And I’d wondered why he invited me to the dance, when he could have had any beautiful apprentice he wanted on his arm.”

  “I thought that might be the case,” Dawn said softly. “Being a telepath, sometimes it’s difficult not to pick up the occasional thought, particularly of those I spend a lot of time with. Does it bother you?”

  “No, not at all,” Alyx said honestly. “But I think it would bother some people.”

  “Like his family?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And people back home?”

  “Particularly from my social sphere,” Alyx admitted. “I feel sad for him.”

  “I don’t think he wants you to feel sad for him.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  Dawn let out a yawn. “All right, I’m tired. Night.”

  “Night.”

  Alyx turned over and curled up under the covers, her fading thoughts dwelling on Dashan and how it had felt to be in his arms.

  Chapter 40

  It was getting late, the inn growing increasingly rowdy as ale flowed like water. Alyx murmured to Dawn that she was going to the privy before slipping away from the table. The press of people was stifling, and she took a deep breath of relief when she finally stepped out into the yard at the back of the inn. Cool air soothed her heated skin.

  “Took you long enough.”

  “I did my best,” she countered. “You’d best talk fast before Tarrick realises I’ve been gone too
long for a privy break.”

  Brynn stepped out of the shadows across the yard. Fighting not to roll her eyes at his penchant for mysteriousness, she walked over to meet him.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  “Brynn! Information?”

  “Right. Oh, I heard about the dance the other night.”

  Her heart leapt into her throat. “What did you hear?”

  Brynn cocked his head, looking curiously at her in the dimness. “That it was a good night, and people enjoyed themselves. Even better, that Third Patrol beat Galien. Why? Did something else happen I should have heard about?”

  “Nothing.” She was being an idiot. Only Finn had seen… well, and Finn didn’t even know Brynn was alive. “Why are we meeting? I didn’t think I’d see you again for months.”

  “You wouldn’t, but I learned something that would interest you, and given I was passing through on my way south, I took the opportunity to meet.”

  “You’re travelling south?” She arched an eyebrow, a spark of anger kindling in her chest. “Tracking Taliath children, are you?”

  “As a matter of fact, I am not,” he said pointedly.

  “What does the council think you are doing?”

  “That doesn’t concern you.”

  “Brynn!” She paused, exasperated. “They’re going to work out what’s going on if you suddenly stop ‘finding’ potentials.”

  “I’ve got a bit of time before that happens. Either way, it’s not for you to worry about.”

  “Fine. What do you have for me—does it have to do with the thing I asked you to look into?”

  Brynn looked around dramatically then dropped his voice. “You mean the missing mages?”

  “Yes, I mean that. Stop being a fool!”

  He chuckled. “I’ve been doing some research when I can manage it without anyone noticing. Mostly I’ve found information we already know. There is one interesting titbit I came across though.”