by Avril Sabine
“Then I guess it’s time to practice becoming a hawk.”
“I’ve got homework to do.”
“Maira can do it for you.”
Amber shook her head. “And how am I meant to pass my exams if I don’t learn the work?”
“They aren’t important. You’re a Dragon Mage.”
“What has that got to do with anything?”
“You’ll always have a place at my side.”
Amber shook her head. “No. I want to do more with my life than be your mage.”
“Amber-”
“Not interested. I hate your survival of the fittest belief. I won’t live by it. I’ll help you if I think I can, but I’m not going to spend my life being only your mage. I want a life too.”
“Fine. We’ll do your homework first. Then you practice becoming a hawk.”
Amber smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry. You’ll eventually learn it’s easiest to give in at the start of the argument.”
Kade growled in answer.
* * *
Amber grinned when she logged into her messenger and saw Crystal had changed her name. She glanced up as Kade came in the French doors and made his way to her bed, a smile for her in greeting. He flopped onto the bed, picking up his schoolbooks she’d brought home for him. Amber turned back to her laptop.
Amber says: I take it you’ve mastered the change?
Hawkgirl says: It’s amazing. Flinn thinks I should be able to do it quicker. Told me fifteen seconds is too long. What does he want? One second?
Amber says: lol. Probably. But you’ll get better.
Hawkgirl says: I hope so. You are truly my very best friend. If you never give me another birthday or Xmas pressie I won’t complain.
Amber says: I’m taking a print screen, in case you forget you said that.
Hawkgirl says: Ha ha. Wish you could stay here this weekend. I can’t believe it’s Friday again!!
Amber says: Tell me about it! The days are flying.
Hawkgirl says: In more than the usual sense :)
Amber says: lol. You seen Jay?
Hawkgirl says: Yeah. You should see his babysitter!!!! If I was into girls I’d be chasing after her. She’s not what you’d call inconspicuous. And yet at times she appears from nowhere.
Amber says: It might be one of her abilities.
Hawkgirl says: Yeah well, wish I had that one.
Amber says: Figured out any more?
Hawkgirl says: Nah. Ice and hawk. But I’m not complaining. Flinn doesn’t like the ice. He said Golds and ice don’t mix. Well, isn’t that a good thing?
Amber says: You’d think.
Hawkgirl says: I pointed out that he can’t breathe fire yet so it doesn’t matter.
Amber says: Bet that went down well.
Hawkgirl says: Yeah, he can’t take criticism.
Amber says: rofl.
Hawkgirl says: He certainly wasn’t ;)
Amber says: Wish you could come here since I can’t go there.
Hawkgirl says: Parents! Mine said I can’t go see you till next term because you’re grounded. Way to go!? Punish me too :( almost enough to make you run away from home ;)
Amber says: Ha ha. Comedian!
Hawkgirl says: Ohh…. That’s right, you tried that. Big fail!
Amber says: Gee thanks… not!
Hawkgirl says: I’d better go. Have to set up the weekend with Inge. I feel kind of bad that Flinn has Orin keeping her entertained while the rest of us train. But at least she’s not stuck with Flinn. He’d make a good boot camp instructor!!!
Amber says: That doesn’t surprise me. But Inge is cool about it. She said she knows he’s only with her to give you and Flinn time together. She thinks it’s sweet Flinn and Orin are such good friends. And she said he’s fun to be with.
Hawkgirl says: I know she keeps saying that, but well, I still wonder if she really means it.
Amber says: Does she strike you as the type to suffer in silence?
Hawkgirl says: lol. Not!
Amber says: Then stop worrying.
Hawkgirl says: K. Will do. Bibi.
Amber says: Later.
Amber quickly replied to an email from Angela, glanced through her other messages then exited everything before pulling up a document to start her assignment.
“How long will you be on your laptop?”
Amber leaned back in her seat to look at Kade. “I don’t know. Couple of hours?”
“I’ve never done so much homework as I’ve done since I started spending my afternoons with you.”
“It’ll do you good. I’ve had nearly twelve years of it. And you’re complaining about one year.”
Kade shrugged. “It’s impractical. There’s no point to it.”
“Yes there is.”
“What?”
“To keep as many teenagers off the street as possible.” Amber grinned when Kade rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, it’ll be school holidays in about three weeks and then you’ll have two weeks without homework. Although we’ll probably have a few assignments to do.”
Kade sat up. His lips slowly curved into a smile.
“Stop thinking. Whatever you’re planning it doesn’t look good.”
His smile became a grin. “I’ve requested the list of wyvern nests that need cleaning out.”
“No.”
Kade rose to his feet. “We can get it done in a few days. There’s nothing that says we can’t have mages help us. The only limits set are three Gold Dragons and two warriors per Gold. Apart from that, we can use whatever we think might aid us.”
“So you could have other dragons help you as long as they weren’t warriors?”
“Yeah, but they wouldn’t be any help. If they haven’t been trained how to fight, a wyvern would slaughter them. What do you say?”
“Have you talked to Flinn?”
Kade shook his head. “As if he’d disagree. He needs to do the tests as soon as possible. And Shannon has been complaining her warriors have been sitting around getting fat while she’s been looking out for your brother.”
Amber’s mobile phone rang. She drew it from her pocket, glancing at the display. The number was private. “Hello?”
“Hello, mage.”
“Ronan?” She brushed Kade’s hand away when he tried to take the phone from her.
“I’ve got more time than you have. You might as well give in now. They’re not going to protect you forever.”
She refused to give in to the fear his words caused. “You haven’t done too well so far.”
“Amber!” Kade glared at her. “Stop goading him.”
Ronan laughed. “Is it stupidity or spirit?”
“I prefer to think spirit.”
“Maybe I should have had a human child. That’s the one thing my sons are lacking.”
“You never had daughters?”
“I left them with their mothers.”
“That might have been your second mistake.”
“What was my first?”
“Demanding complete obedience so your sons had no chance to develop any spirit.” She pushed Kade away again and moved over to the French doors to put some space between them. He followed, even when she frowned at him.
“You owe me a Pliethin.”
Amber smiled at the abrupt change in topic. “And a few grand as well.”
“The money is unimportant. I have more than I’ll ever be able to spend. The Pliethin is what I’ll miss the most.”
“You aren’t a Gold Dragon. It wasn’t any use to you.” Amber kept moving knowing it would make it harder for Kade to hear Ronan’s side of the conversation.
“But it was mine. I caught it. I put it in the box. And while I had it, that was one less Gold Dragon that could use it.”
“Sorry. I gave it to a Gold Warrior. It seemed wasteful leaving it shut up in a box.” She slapped Kade’s hand as he tried to take the phone again.
“Meet with me.”
“We’ve already come to t
he conclusion that I’m not stupid.”
“We discussed it. No conclusion was reached.”
“I’m not going to meet with you. You’re wasting your time.”
“My time to waste. And I certainly have a lot of it.”
“You haven’t got anything I want. I’m not interested in helping you get your lands back and I certainly don’t want you to have any power in dragon society. I don’t like your methods of getting things done.” She couldn’t help wondering what sort of dragon would eat the heart of one of their sons.
“Why’d you take the Pliethin?”
“Because I knew someone who could use it.”
“A clanless Gold Warrior who can’t help you in any way.”
“I’m not a dragon. I don’t think like dragons.”
“It’s strange how that same clanless dragon now has his own mage.”
“Life is full of oddities.”
“Even stranger that she’s a close friend of yours.”
“Might be something in the water.”
“I think it’s something to do with the Pliethin.”
“You’re welcome to think what you want.”
“I captured another Pliethin today.”
Amber struggled to think of an answer. “Should I pop open a bottle of champagne?”
Ronan laughed. “That hesitation was rather telling.”
“No hesitation. Kade keeps trying to take the phone off me. He doesn’t believe I should be talking to you.”
“I’m willing to make someone a Dragon Mage. The terms are one year service to me. One year from any year during the next five. I can be flexible. Then they can go their own way. I have the Pliethin I believe is needed to make the change.”
Jasper came instantly to mind. Why had he asked her that? Great! Now she was going to have to let him know about the offer. She hoped he wouldn’t want to accept Ronan’s proposition. He was a cannibal.
“Do I take it you have someone in mind?”
“Text me your number. I’ll get back to you next week. I’m not promising anything. And call your sons home.”
“This isn’t a ploy to take off is it?”
Amber laughed sharply. “How well do you know the human world? I’m still living with my parents and going to school. I’m a little tied to this spot of the world at the moment.” She’d considered running, but had worried that would put her family in danger.
“One week truce. Then I’ll expect you to contact me.”
“I will.” When Ronan hung up, Amber stared at her phone, wondering how he’d gotten her number. A text came through in less than a minute. It was Ronan’s number. She looked over to Kade who watched her carefully. How was she going to explain everything to him when he looked like he wanted to hunt Ronan down?
“What have you agreed to?”
“Nothing exactly.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to tell me you gave away my lands?”
Amber was unable to meet his eyes. “Can you find out exactly why Ronan lost his lands and who has them now? And would it be a really bad idea if he got them back and what are the chances of him getting them in the space of a year?”
“What did you promise?”
“Nothing.” She was finally able to bring herself to meet his eyes. “Yet.”
“Amber-”
When she heard the warning in his voice she hurriedly filled him in on the parts of the conversation he’d missed. He remained silent. “Are you going to say anything?”
Kade turned away from her as he shook his head.
“Kade-”
“Quiet for a minute.”
She waited impatiently. Finally he turned back to face her. “Well?”
“I should have the information you requested within a couple of days. I’ve asked Maira to contact some people. And if it turns out the people who have his lands are the original owners?”
Amber shrugged. “I don’t know. It’ll be up to Jay.”
“Will he care one way or the other?”
Amber didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“I hope so.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amber reached out to Shannon to let her know she was nearly there. She saw Jasper’s window was open, the screen removed. She pulled in her wings and soared through the gap to land on the floor. Her change to human wasn’t very graceful and she stumbled, barely catching her balance. But she was getting better. At least she no longer landed on her face. She reached out with her mind and checked that Kade and his warriors were on the roof, like they’d said they would be, so she could talk to her brother alone. There was only three days until she had to meet with Ronan. Her stomach lurched. She didn’t like either of their options.
Jasper stood beside Shannon and grinned at her. “Neat trick.”
Amber’s answering smile was forced. “Glad to entertain you.”
“What’s up?”
Amber gestured towards the bed. When they were sitting side by side, she cleared her throat. Where to begin? “You know the dragon who’s trying to get me to help him?”
“The one who kidnapped you?”
“Yeah.” She glanced over to Shannon, wondering how to ask her to leave without offending her.
“Call me when you want me to return.” Shannon jumped out the window.
“You didn’t have to chase her off,” Jasper complained.
“It’s probably best I did. We found out some information about him.”
“And? I do want to get to bed sometime before midnight.”
Amber rose to her feet, unable to sit still. “It’s your fault you know.”
“How can him kidnapping you be my fault?” Jasper got to his feet, a frown wrinkling his brow.
“No. You wanted to know if a dragon wanted a mage. He does and he has the means to make you one. Well, half the means. He asks for a year service in return. And he’s no worse than the ones who currently hold his lands and they were his originally.”
“You’re not explaining yourself very well.”
“Probably not. Okay, here’s the deal. Ronan, who at first glance looks like the bad guy, is actually the victim. Well, regarding the theft of his lands anyway. He’s even a little less unpleasant than the dragon who currently holds his lands. And that was a surprise. The only difference is that the one holding them now doesn’t have as much influence in their society as Ronan did.” Amber paused. Now came the part she really didn’t want to tell her brother. “Ronan has half the ingredients needed to make you a Dragon Mage. The price is a year’s service to him while trying to get his lands back. But I’ve got a feeling he may extend that year if you fail and try to claim you didn’t give your full effort to the endeavour. You’ll probably have to pledge service to another dragon for the other ingredient needed. A Gold Dragon. We don’t know if you can make two mages using the same Gold. So it’d probably be best to find another one instead.”
“Like Shannon?”
“Yeah.”
“What does Kade think?”
“He’s biased.”
“What did he say?”
Amber hesitated. “It’ll stop Ronan from trying to kidnap me and he’ll have another mage he can entice the services of a Gold Warrior with.”
Jasper laughed. “Nice to see he’s at least willing to protect you.”
“Yeah well, we had a big fight about it.”
“You shouldn’t have. I was thinking the same thing. Well, about Ronan anyway. How long have I got to decide?”
“Three days. I have to ring him Friday.”
“Where’s Kade?”
She checked again. “On the roof.”
“Call him in. I want to talk to him. Without you here. And there’s no point in glaring at me like that. It won’t change my mind.”
“Fine.” Amber changed into a hawk and flew out the window. She reached out to Kade with her mind. “He wants to see you. Probably wants to do the stupid big brother protector thing.” She could feel Kade’s a
musement.
“Don’t go far. Stick with Maira and Brann.”
Amber joined them on the roof, changing into human form before she sat beside them.
“Have you been kicked out too?” Maira grinned. “Males often think only they can plan things.”
“I bet Jay’s grilling Kade about how long we can keep Ronan from kidnapping me.”
Maira’s grin became a wistful smile. “That must be nice. Having a blood brother who cares enough to put himself in danger to protect you.”
“I’d do the same for him.”
“My family isn’t like that. They take survival of the fittest to the extreme.”
They sat together in silence until Kade flew up to the roof, landing beside them. As soon as he was human, he reached out for Amber’s hand. “Jay has conditions of his own. Organise a meeting for Friday night. Tell Ronan we’re opening negotiations. We’re not expecting to finalise anything then.”
“Are you certain Jay will be safe helping Ronan?”
“If he decides to go ahead, we’ll all help him.”
“Even Flinn?”
Kade laughed. “Not all of the tests are spelled out clearly. Some of them consist of taking on jobs for warriors that are of sufficient difficulty to prove our abilities. Taking lands back for someone is considered to be one of the most difficult tasks. Getting another test completed is always a priority for Flinn.”
“I didn’t know. I wish you wouldn’t be so stingy with your information.”
“We discussed the possibility of attacking over the Christmas break. He should have enough time off from uni to be able to manage if we have all the planning in place before hand. But, we both think starting out with an easier battle first would be a good idea.”
“Your wyvern test,” Amber said dryly.
Kade nodded. “It makes sense.”
“I’m sure it does. What are his other conditions?”
“That Ronan isn’t there to see the process. And he’s to stop consuming the hearts of his enemies and if his lands are regained with less than a year of service, the year is considered complete. And Ronan is to never attack, harm, blackmail or restrain any of us again or help anyone else to do any of those things.”