I sipped wine as I wondered where he was going with this.
“And because of that, I might have, just a teeny bit, looked down on all the human born mages,” he dipped his head in shame. “I’m sorry, Sky. I haven’t always treated you with the respect you deserve.”
“Don’t apologize,” I told him quietly. “You never hit me with a fire whip when I told you having slaves was wrong,” I twitched as something blinked through my mind. “You never resented me in class when I got better grades than you.”
“Regardless, I didn’t treat you as you should have been. You’re a hero, Sky. No, really,” he protested as I made a noise and turned away. “You have courage beyond anything any of us has shown.”
“I don’t want to be a hero.” I mumbled into my glass.
He grinned and patted me on the shoulder.
“I don’t think you get a choice in the matter,” he said. “Now come here. Hug me before I get pulled back down to dance with Rain again.”
I hugged him tightly. For the first time since I’d met him, I truly appreciated having him as a friend.
The party wore into the night, and I groaned as I rolled into my bed, noticing that dawn was breaking. We were going to have to ride hard to get back to the Academy within the time frame. I wondered if Echo would notice if I fell asleep in the saddle, something which had a very good chance of occurring.
We woke the next morning, packing a breakfast that we could eat as we rode. Sammy was tearful as we began to leave. When I hugged him goodbye, he looped his arms around my neck and pressed his little face against my shoulder. Tears began to flow as he leant back to look at me.
“None of that,” I said, letting him wipe his eyes on my shirt. “No crying for the big strong mage.”
That made him smile. Just as I put him back down on the ground, he pulled me close and pulled something out of his shirt. He opened his hand, showing me the charm that I’d tossed him that day I’d rescued him from the Du’rangor.
Our eyes met, and I nodded, as though telling him he was allowed to keep it. He tucked it back into his shirt and went to his brother to say one final goodbye.
“Goodbye, dear,” Matilda said, hugging me tightly. “Remember, you can stay here anytime you want to get away from those two old biddies.”
I laughed at her name for Iain and Netalia.
“Look after my namesake, Matilda,” I said, tears in my eyes. “I’ll come visit her one day, I promise.”
“You better,” her eyes crinkled, sparkling with tears. “Oh, come here.”
She hugged me one last time, and the tears were flowing freely as I pulled myself into Echo’s saddle. Lord Hugh came over to me as we prepared to ride out.
“Thank you, Sky,” he said, looking up at me. “You’ll never be forgotten in the House of Lyon.”
He kissed my knuckles and then turned my hand over and laid something in it. I opened my fingers to reveal a bright red cherry tomato. I looked up to see his eyes sparkling with mirth.
“You did it on purpose,” I realised, grinning widely. “That could’ve been disastrous, Lord Hugh.”
“Please, just Hugh from now on,” and then he added with just a touch of seriousness. “My Lady Sky.”
As we rode away, out of the drive and onto the roads, I realised that I’d really miss Riverdoor. Though our time here had been short, I’d felt I’d discovered more about myself. We may be missing out on our magical education at the Academy, but we’d learnt more about each other and ourselves than we ever would back at our school.
And, I decided, it was all worth it.
~Chapter Sixteen~
The ride back was gruelling. We missed the rest stop where we’d stayed on the way to Riverdoor and so we had to make do with sleeping on a wide section of the road. We slept only for a few hours before we were travelling again as dawn broke across the sky. We crossed the Stanthor border almost without realising it, and as the sun sailed to its apex we drew closer to the south of the continent.
We were chatting amiably when we passed Keyes. I felt like Echo was straining to get home; maybe she missed her stall as much as I missed my bed.
We rode over the cobblestone bridge and to the stables. Above us, the Academy loomed in silence, though we knew that lessons would be in full swing. I untacked Echo, groomed her, and then let her into the paddock to graze. She bumped me affectionately with her nose as I removed her halter. I grinned, scratching her up behind the ears.
“C’mon, Sky, let’s get unpacked,” Rain called, and I reluctantly followed them into the castle.
Once inside, I took off at a run up the stairs to the dormitories. No one asked what I was doing; they knew I was trying to avoid Dustin, who no doubt would be very hurt that I didn’t invite him along on the Riverdoor trip.
I groaned as I reached the top of the stairs. I liked him, so why did the thought of him annoy me so much? I found my bedroom and quickly unlocked it by placing my hand on the door so it could read my magical signature. It opened and I barrelled inside, shutting it quickly. Then I turned around and let out a yelp of fright.
Phoenix was in the middle of my room.
“Did I scare you?”
“How did you get in here?” I demanded. I saw his eyes flick towards the open window and I stomped over to it. I pulled it shut with no small effort – it had been open for a long time. “Why are you in my room?”
“I wanted to see you,” he said, sitting at my table.
“So you couldn’t come over to me at dinner later? You couldn’t knock on my bedroom door like everyone else?”
I dumped my pack on my bed and began pulling clothes out of it. I noticed a bowl of water next to my bed with a washcloth next to it, and I began washing my face gratefully. I knew Larni had put the bowl there, and I couldn’t wait to give her the red scarf.
“How was your trip?” he asked, still trying to prompt conversation.
“Why are you really here?” I retorted, pulling my hair out of my bun.
“I told you. I wanted to talk to you. How was your trip?”
“Uneventful,” I alluded, trying to ignore the
hammering of my heart. I’d picked the word because I knew it would infuriate him.
“I know something happened, Sky. I saw you all talking at dinner one night and the next day you were gone. What was it, family emergency?”
“Something like that,” I relented. “We went to Petre’s estate.”
“Ah, yes. The House of Lyon. Right on the border of my home land.”
I fidgeted, deciding not to tell him that we’d also visited Orthandrell, however illegal that might have been. I continued unpacking, pulling out the charm pin, realising too late that he would know what it was.
“Ah,” he said again, spying it in my hand. “I thought so.”
“Did you make this for me?” I asked, holding it out. He took it from my palm, and shivers danced up my arm as his fingers lightly brushed my hand.
“I did. I made it for protection. Evidently, you needed to use it. Sky, what did you go to Riverdoor for?”
I sighed.
“Petre’s little brother had been taken by a Du’rangor. We stalked it and killed it, and brought his brother home.”
His expression didn’t change, but I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes.
“I wish you’d brought me along.”
“Why would I?” I challenged irritably. “You don’t say a word to me unless I’m in danger.”
“Well, from the sounds of it, we would’ve had lots to talk about then.”
I turned around. Was he making a joke?
“We’re also soul mates,” he said quietly, and I let out a snort.
“You’re actually admitting it.” I chuckled to myself wryly. “There’s a day I thought would never come.”
“Ok, fine,” he replied, as irritable as I was. “I can understand not taking me along, but why not Dustin? He’s your boyfriend, is he not?”
I winced at the w
ord ‘boyfriend’. Unpleasant silence began to grow like mould between us.
“Yes,” I said slowly. “He is.”
“So why not ask him?”
“I... forgot.”
“Forgot?” he started laughing and I started at the sound.
“It’s not funny,” I protested, but I could feel the corners of my mouth beginning to turn up into a smile. “He’s probably going to hate me now.”
“He won’t, don’t worry. It’s just puppy love.”
“Puppy love?” I asked.
“He’s infatuated with you, which I see now you don’t return at all.”
My mouth fell open, ready to retort something that would prove that I did, in fact, return the puppy love, but nothing came to mind.
He’s right, I realised suddenly. I don’t like Dustin anymore.
My shoulders slumped. I have to tell him. I can’t lead him on.
“Sky?” Phoenix had come over to me.
“You’re right,” I mumbled. “I think that’s why I forgot to tell him about the trip. I don’t think I wanted him to come along.”
It was true. I hadn’t thought of him at all after Dena had brought it up. Instead I’d gone to sleep thinking of warm, strong hands holding mine, of running my hands through someone else’s long dark hair, pulling him closer so that I could press my lips to his
I jerked backwards, almost head butting Phoenix as he came closer.
“Are you alright?” he asked, concern marking a small frown line between his eyes.
Before I could answer, both of us jumped as someone knocked on the door.
“Sky?” my heart sank as Dustin called for me. “Can I come in?”
“Uh, I’m getting changed!” I called quickly.
There was silence on the other side of the door, and I hoped that he’d gone away.
“Need some help?” he said through the door, and Phoenix wrinkled his nose at me.
“No thanks!” I said quickly.
“Ok, I’ll meet you downstairs for dinner.”
We both listened to him trot back down the stairs. I couldn’t look Phoenix in the eyes.
“I better be off,” he said, also avoiding my gaze.
He moved towards my bed, and I thought I was going to die as he crawled up onto it. Dashing my fears – hopes?
– He pushed the window open and swung a leg out of it.
“Wait! We’re a long way up. How do you get down?” I asked, sitting on my bed.
“I manage.”
“Why don’t you just go out my door? Like a normal person,” I pointed out.
“Well,” he replied, still half in, half out the window. “Dustin thinks you’re getting changed, and how do you think he’d react if he saw me coming out of your room?”
I glanced towards my door. Could Dustin still be out there? When I looked back, Phoenix was gone. I peered out of the window to see him climbing down the ivy trellis that someone had built against the wall.
It was only when I turned back that the full impact of his parting statement hit me, and I went so red the scarf I’d bought would look pale on me.
I grabbed my towel and dashed to the bathrooms, showering quickly. Dusk had fallen and I was starving. I couldn’t wait for dinner, so I just dressed in my uniform and trotted down the stairs.
“I thought you were just getting changed?” Dustin asked, confused as he saw my damp hair.
“I was, but then I decided to have a shower. We’ve been riding for two days straight,” I said. It wasn’t a lie.
We piled our dinner plates with almost everything, and I began eating as soon as we made it to our regular table. Conversation was strained; we all wanted to discuss our trip, but with Dustin there, it felt like we were rubbing it in his face that I hadn’t asked him along. Instead, we let him chatter about what we’d missed at the Academy, which wasn’t much from the sounds of it, except we were all behind on a paper Watt had assigned on the day we’d left. Then he said something that made me prick up my ears with interest.
“Jett has been in a right mood,” he said, stealing one of my snow peas. “I think he argued with the Masters about something,” he shrugged, looking down at his plate and missing us looking at each other, sharing private looks. “Whatever it was, the Academy has not been a happy place.”
I knew they wouldn’t be happy with us going to Riverdoor. Now they thought we were going to be bad mouthing them all over the state.
Which, I thought angrily as I stuffed a potato in my mouth, we are well within our rights to do. How much longer would Riverdoor have suffered if we hadn’t visited? Why hadn’t they helped them? Despite my anger, I knew we all had to tread carefully from now on. As Jett had said, they were quick to banish anyone who crossed them, and I certainly didn’t want any of my friends to leave.
During dinner, I tried to get back some of what Dustin and I had had before I’d left. I laughed at everything he said and smiled when he looked at me, but I felt hollow inside.
When I got back into my room, I wasn’t surprised to see another phoenix feather on my pillow. I crawled into my bed, pulling the feather through my fingers. Was he courting me? I smiled at the thought, knowing it to be a ridiculous notion. It didn’t make me feel any better though, and my stomach rolled over as I thought of breaking up with Dustin.
What would I say? I’d never done this before; I hadn’t even been broken up with! I fell asleep uneasily, still thinking of things I could say to him to try to make it easier.
My group and I fell back into school life easily, almost grateful for the return of normality. I was working in the library with my friends one night when Netalia approached me. We all looked up at her, trying not to show anything on our faces.
“Could I see you for a moment, Sky?” she asked, and I didn’t let myself look at my friends before I stood and followed her to another section of the library.
“I trust your trip to Abdoor went well?”
“Yes, it did,” I couldn’t avoid glaring at her. “It was very... informative.”
Why are you baiting her? I thought to myself frantically. Stop it!
“Did you find anything of interest?” she asked carefully, and I knew she was asking about the broken bridge and the dam.
“No,” I replied innocently. “We stayed on the Lyon estate and spent the days wandering the countryside like lambs.”
She’d fixed me with a stare, and I thought I saw her eye twitch. She couldn’t figure out why I was lying.
“Very well,” she said finally. “But please come to me or Iain next time you want to go somewhere, not Jett. He no longer has the authority to sign off on such matters.”
I watched her sail out of the library, her off white cloak billowing behind her. I let myself breathe a sigh of relief and then headed back to the others, quickly telling them what had happened whilst Dustin was off in the shelves hunting down a book.
“What’s going on?” he asked, sitting back down a little while later and putting his hand on my knee. I wriggled uneasily but didn’t remove it.
“We were just talking about the paper,” Petre said, and I was taken aback by how easily he lied.
“Oh right,” Dustin took the bait and immediately began chatting about his angle on the paper. We all nodded and agreed, but the truth was, we’d finished most of it already.
The term dragged on and I still couldn’t bring myself to break his heart. I felt absolutely awful about it.
“It’s terrible,” I confessed to Dena one evening. “I think I’d rather face another Du’rangor than break up with him.”
“It’ll happen,” she replied, patting me on the shoulder. “It’s not fair to him to drag it on though.”
“I know,” I said, but the torment continued raging inside me.
One evening I was sitting at my table, reading and picking at the snacks I’d brought up with me, when I noticed an array of birds perched along the open windowsill. I tore a bread roll into pieces and crawled onto my bed, offering
it to them. Most of them took flight in fright, but one black bird stayed behind and snatched the bread from my fingers.
“Piggy,” I said, laughing, as the bird devoured the bread. “Do you want more, do you?”
He cheeped loudly, and I gave him the rest.
“You’re brave,” I told him, noticing that his little feet were on the inside of the sill. “Or stupid?”
I offered him my finger almost jokingly, and no one was more surprised than I was when he promptly hopped on board, his little claws latching around my finger.
“Oh, why hello,” I grinned widely at his antics. “Shall I name you?”
He peeped in answer.
“Alrighty then... how about...” I tried to think of a name that meant something to me. “Morrigan?”
Morrigan had been the name of the dog I’d had in my childhood, a beautiful border collie whom I’d loved.
The bird tilted his head on one side, inspecting me. He cheeped after a while, and I took that as the go ahead to name him.
“How about Morri for short?”
That was an affirmative. Before I could stop him, Morri made his way up my arm until he sat on my shoulder. I turned and faced the mirror.
“We make quite a pair,” I told him.
Next to my mirror was my statue of the last queen. Larni had dusted it when I was away, and now it was cleaner than ever before. I stood carefully, not wanting to dislodge Morri, and picked the statue up. For the first time, I noticed that she’d been damaged, as though something or someone had tried to hide certain things. There were marks on her shoulders and back, but the circlet hadn’t been touched. I put the statue down; whatever had happened to her, it was a long time ago, and I wasn’t fussed by it. If anything, it just added to the statue’s charm.
I introduced Morri to everyone the next day. Theresa burst out laughing when she saw him, telling me that I looked like a pirate with the bird riding on my shoulder. I threatened to turn her hair blue but even that didn’t stop her from sniggering whenever I appeared.
All was well until I passed Jett in a corridor one day. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Morri, working to conceal something on his face.
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