Sorcery, Schemes and Skelt: The Kinowenn Chronicles Vol II

by Rachel Ronning

  “You know I’m going to try to beat you,” said Gavin. “So is Mac. Give us a good fight” he encouraged.

  Lucy nodded. Gavin was way too excited about this scenario. She did not feel good about tomorrow, but she was able to eat some bread and cheese. After lunch, Gavin went off to meet his troops. Maya wandered off, but Lucy didn’t know where she was going or what she was doing. She was so absorbed in her own problems; she forgot to even ask Maya how she was doing. Was she learning how to read information from other people’s voices? How hard was it? Was it a private class or were there other students? Was she missing Joss? Lucy made a mental note to check in with her friend after tomorrow’s battle. Lucy didn’t want to become so self-absorbed that she didn’t try to help a friend in need.

  Chapter 23

  Since she had the afternoon off from emotional trauma and attempted rehabilitation, Lucy went for a walk with Justin. They strolled through the woods hand in hand. It was relaxing, enjoyable, and safe. A walk with Justin was exactly what Lucy needed.

  “So, what’s been bothering you?” Lucy finally took the time to ask Justin.

  Justin glanced at her and smiled, “You.”

  “What have I done? You don’t like living with me?”

  “I like it a lot. You haven’t really done anything. That’s the problem,” said Justin with a shrug. “Most people would react in some way to finding out that their boyfriend is only half human. Or half anything for that matter. I know you don’t always react like any other girl would, which is one of the many reasons I love you, but I keep waiting for you to react in some way. I know you’ve been busy, but the situation should elicit some response.”

  “So, as long as I didn’t know what was going on, you were okay deceiving me, but now that I know and don’t care, it bothers you?” asked Lucy cocking an eyebrow at him.

  “Something like that, although it doesn’t make me look very good does it?”

  “Not really.”

  “Will it help if I apologize?”

  “It’s worth a try. Does the apology come with a puppy?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” laughed Justin.

  Lucy sighed in disappointment.

  “I’m sorry,” said Justin seriously. “I should have been honest with you about who I was. It didn’t matter who I was in the beginning. Then, I started to like you. Since we had other things to do, and I wasn’t openly admitting I liked you, I still didn’t think it mattered. Then, I really started to like you and decided to press the issue. At that point I should have told you, but there never seemed to be a good time. How do you work in the fact that you’re half Elf? Taran told me I should tell you, but I started worrying you might not be okay with it.”

  “Silly you,” interrupted Lucy. She was glad to be getting some kind of explanation out of Justin.

  “Yes, silly me, I guess,” said Justin, running his fingers through his hair. “After Taran, we met Allar and Kinda. You found out more about Elves and the Ostrakan Army. I didn’t know what to say then. I was even more afraid finding out I was half Elven might change how you felt about me. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re forgiven.”

  “Yes, but now I feel like all that worry was unnecessary, so ask me something, or yell at me, or talk to me about this.”

  “I like a relationship built on honesty,” Justin winced at her words, but Lucy continued. “Right now, that’s kind of the problem. I’m assuming you’ll tell me the truth about anything I ask. I’m also sure there are plenty of things I’d be better off not knowing. You can tell me anything you want to, but I don’t want to press you for details.”

  “Okay, I’ll start somewhere. You know Elves have longer lives. Don’t you even care about how old I am?”

  “Does it matter?” asked Lucy.

  “I don’t know! That’s the problem! I don’t know what is suddenly going to matter or not, because we haven’t talked about any of it.”

  “Okay, let’s talk now,” said Lucy sitting down on a fallen tree.

  Justin sat down next to her. He ran his fingers though his hair.

  “Why haven’t you asked about anything?”

  “I don’t know what to ask, and I don’t know what answers I don’t want to hear. We are together now and I’d like to focus on the future. I’d like to hear stories from the past, but I’m not sure what kind of details I want. For example, let’s say you are 300 years old. I’m not stupid. I’m sure you’ve slept with other women in 300 years. I’m not sure I want to know how many. Frankly, you could have been married 5 or 6 times easily in that time period. I’m not sure I want to know about that either. If you haven’t then it begs the question, ‘why me?’ That sounds like such a pathetic question. So you see, I’m not sure what to ask because I don’t know what I don’t want to know. Not to mention, I have been a little busy,” she smiled.

  “I know. Okay, what do you want to know about the future? We can start there.”

  “You are going to live longer than I will?”

  “Probably. Using magic will extend your life. Also, you can alter your appearance so we seem the same age.”

  “I’m okay with that.”

  “You are?” wondered Justin, confused. “Most people don’t like that different races live different amounts of time. It’s one of the aspects that discourages interracial relationships. Even half Elves aren’t assured the same life span as other half Elves.”

  “No one’s assured the same life span,” declared Lucy. “Look at couples that are separated by violence or sickness.”

  “I know, but without those issues, they would live relatively the same amount of time.”

  Lucy shrugged.

  “Why are you okay with me living longer than you?”

  “Does it matter?” wondered Lucy.

  “Yes, I think it does. I want to know what you are thinking about certain things. The longevity of life has been an age old argument, so I’d like to hear why it doesn’t bother you.”

  “Maybe it’s silly, but that means I never have to deal with your death. If you got bored with me, you could leave me, but I’d still know you were alive. If you left me, I might send a perpetual swarm of mosquitoes after you to make your life miserable, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken. I would be sad or angry, but I wouldn’t have to deal with your death. I wouldn’t have to try to cope and move on with my life. Besides, if my age is elongated due to magic, that’s a long time to be lonely. I don’t think I’d care for it.”

  “That’s an odd way of looking at it. I have no intention of leaving you. I love you, you know.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Anything else about the future you’d like to know?”

  “Not really. We can work out the details as we get there.”

  “Kids?” Justin questioned again.

  “Street urchin adoption,” Lucy confirmed.

  Justin laughed. “Taran told me I should tell you. I guess I should have listened. Well, I still think there are a few more things I should tell you.”

  “Sure. Like I said, I’ll listen to whatever you want to tell me.”

  “I am 212.”

  “Thank goodness,” said Lucy in mock relief. “My age cut off was 350. Any older than that and it’s creepy.”

  Justin laughed too.

  “Have you ever talked to a dragon?”

  “I tell you I’m 212 and you want to know about dragons?” asked Justin.

  “Sure, I’m interested and they seem like a safe topic,” joked Lucy.

  “There is nothing safe about dragons,” insisted Justin seriously.

  “Perhaps not,” replied Lucy, “but you obviously lived through the meeting so it has to be an interesting story. Added to that, you most likely haven’t married one, so it’s an emotionally safe story too.”

  Justin laughed. “I have talked with several dragons. Usually, only when necessary. Always after I’m sure they’re well fed. Dragons are tricky, witty, egotistical, dangerous, easily bored considering their l
ife spans, and think themselves funny.”

  “What necessitates talking to a dragon?” mused Lucy.

  “Quests mostly. I tend not to do it for fun. I’m a survivor remember, not a dragon slayer. I’d rather talk about something else.”

  “Obviously, there are things you want to tell me that do not concern dragons,” said Lucy. “Why don’t we start with that?”

  “Thank you,” said Justin. “I want you to know I have never been married. Marriage usually implies stability. I’ve always been interested in too many different things. I like to stay here or there for a while, learning things. I like to go on quests. I like to be at the school. Not all women would enjoy that situation. Taran has always been the more stable one. The few times I’ve been able to talk him into quests have been when he’s grieving for a wife. He’s done a few things on his own too. Obviously, he has past history with Joss, Kinda, and Allar. He’s been married twice.”

  “Will you tell me about them?” Lucy was very interested in what kind of women Taran would marry.

  “It’s not my place to tell. I liked Shea better than Nahli, but they were both good wives to him and he loved them dearly. You’ll have to ask him about them. Make sure you are ready for sad stories.”

  “I will. Have you been to other worlds?”

  “I’ve never been interested. There is so much to learn and do on Kinowenn. I’ve spent some time living with the Elves, but I’m not completely welcome or comfortable there. I’ve spent a few years living in the Wild Woods in the east where the talking animals live.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask about that. I wondered why I didn’t see any.”

  “It is agreed that hunting is forbidden in the Wild Woods. It is the only place talking animals are always safe. Dogs and cats can get by in a normal town, but it is dangerous for deer.”

  “I’d like to go there some day.”

  “I’ll take you.”

  “Why not work with friends from Kinowenn? Why build a group from here?”

  “I like the lack of prejudice that comes with students and the joy of learning. There is a softness that I like. Kinda excels in any fighting situation, but there is a hardness about her. She knows her limits and she does not fear death. It can make her a dangerous companion. Gavin still has a joy of life that hasn’t been squelched yet. He doesn’t know his limits and likes a challenge, but I don’t think he’s as eager to meet death. Anyone who has Maya’s abilities generally already has a cushy position somewhere that they are not eager to leave.”

  Lucy nodded and they sat there together for a while with their separate thoughts.

  “And me?” Lucy asked.

  “I made sure to meet you because Eric could sense your power. I befriended you because you were willing. I helped train you because you were a quick learner and a joy to teach. I fell in love with you because you’re irresistible. Now we have to go back and feed you because you are going to need your strength to take on an army tomorrow and win,” he laughed.

  “Don’t remind me,” groaned Lucy. They walked back to the school hand in hand.

  “Feel better?” asked Lucy.

  “Yes, thank you,” replied Justin.

  “What if I don’t win tomorrow?”

  “Then, I’m sure they’ll arrange another battle for you to try again.”

  “What if I win?”

  “Then, I’m sure they’ll arrange another bigger battle for you.”

  Lucy laughed. She assumed he was joking, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t. She had to make sure she won without hurting anyone or causing any mass destruction. She was worried that might be easier said than done. Hopefully, if she stuck to the basics, she’d be fine. Shields up, think defense, and neutralize without causing self-trauma.

  Chapter 24

  Lucy woke up early the next morning. She had a hard time sleeping. Where was a red flowering fertecctuala when you needed one? She should have worked on accepting her fears and worries while finding her inner calm. That sounded like a lot of drivel when you knew you were facing an army the next morning. She tried semi-bored breathing, but that didn’t work well either. Lucy was rarely bored. Her mind was always busy. It didn’t take her mind long to come up with something else to think about. That was probably why they only gave her one day to think about the mock battle. She was sure Quinn had been planning this for a while. Lucy took a shower in an attempt to relax. Apple shower gel and warm water helped, but only as long as you were using them. When she got out of the warm water and dried off, she found Justin still lying on the bed, but awake, dressed, and watching her.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Not even a little,” she replied.

  “Clothes might help,” he smiled.

  “I doubt it, but I’m willing to try anything at this point,” she smiled back. “Although, showing up naked might give me an edge,” she commented as she pulled a tunic over her head.

  They walked down to breakfast together. Lucy didn’t think she would be able to eat much, but Justin argued that she would need her strength. The last thing she needed was to faint in the middle of the battle field due to hunger. She was able to eat some bread and fruit. Justin insisted she take some bread in her pocket in case she needed it later. Then, they walked out to the battlefield together.

  “Are you staying to watch?” asked Lucy. She honestly wasn’t sure if she wanted him there or not. She was sure he would analyze everything she did.

  “I’ll be here, but not as an observer. I’ll be helping make sure no one gets hurt too badly and healing anyone who does get hurt.”

  Lucy nodded her head. Justin was definitely skilled enough, it made sense that he would help. Lucy looked at the army amassing in front of her. The field was mostly level so as not to give either side a terrain advantage. To the center was Gavin, with about forty well-armed classmates. She recognized Chloe, Grant, Darren, and Philip among them. To the left was Mac, mounted, with his usual group and about ten more. He noticed her looking and saluted. To the right was a second group of cavalry led by a student Lucy recognized from the foursome that almost beat them in hand to hand combat last year. Behind all of them, was a group of thirty archers, all guaranteed to be a better shot than she was. Then, there was a small group off to the side that included Brent, Nate, and Petra. She didn’t have to guess what they were there to do. As Lucy did the math, her jaw dropped. As Quinn and Eric approached, she looked at them in horror.

  “One hundred students? You want me to take on one hundred students? What is wrong with you people?” asked Lucy dismayed.

  “It seems to be a popular event. Everyone here volunteered,” said Eric with a smile.

  “The odds do seem to be in their favor,” commented Lucy dryly.

  “You really think so?” asked Quinn, amused.

  Lucy wasn’t sure what to think. The whole idea of taking on one hundred well-trained people was daunting. At the same time, neither Quinn nor Eric seemed to think this was an impossible task. Perhaps she should have a little faith in herself.

  “Anything else I should know?” Lucy asked almost fearing the answer.

  “They are allowed to use magic, too. They have been told that anything is acceptable and to be ready for anything from you except fireballs. The battle ends when they are all neutralized or have you.”

  “Just like capture the flag. Seems fair enough,” replied Lucy sarcastically.

  “That’s the spirit,” said Justin matching her sarcasm. Then, he pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “You can do this!” He gave her a quick kiss and walked away with Quinn and Eric.

  They positioned themselves around the mock battlefield and raised the ground under them so they had a higher vantage point to watch from and prevent major injuries during the battle. Lucy noticed some of the other teachers as well. She took a deep breath, bounced up and down a few times, stretched her shoulders and nodded that she was ready. She wasn’t sure what all she was ready for, but she figured she’d find out soon eno
ugh. Even if she lost, she wasn’t going to be killed, tortured, or imprisoned, so what did it matter? It mattered. She might not have a lot of self-confidence, but apparently she had a lot of pride.

  Quinn raised her arm with a blue scarf in it and dropped it as a sign to begin. Since Lucy knew magic was allowed, the first thing she did was surround herself with a strong shield. She felt a few light spells bounce off it and knew that the battle had begun. She saw the archers draw their bows and immediately turned all their arrows, including the ones in their quivers, into flowers. This prevented them from using arrows, but they all picked up other weapons off the ground and joined Gavin’s foot soldiers. None of them even seemed phased. Apparently, they had already discussed she might do this and had a back-up plan in place. Both foot and horse soldiers began to advance. At least the archers were neutralized.

  Lucy could feel other spells bouncing off her shield. She mentally talked to the horses and they all stopped, refusing to move forward. They agreed that Lucy was severely outnumbered and had no qualms switching sides. Mac shrugged and motioned for everyone to dismount. Now, at least everyone was on foot. Lucy did all this in the time it took them to close one third of the distance between them and her. Next, she tried a sleep spell. She knew it wouldn’t work on everyone. Some of them would have shields up too and perhaps be protecting a friend if they could. Lucy’s spells were strong and sure enough about half the army slumped to the ground. Gavin was still moving so Lucy was sure someone was shielding him. That still left her with about fifty students to manage and all of the stronger mages were still standing.

  She was curious what kind of spells they were casting. None of them were making it through her shield. Lucy knew she could hold that shield for some time against a barrage of attacks, but could they hold theirs against the same? What else could she do to make life difficult? A student launched a fireball at her. It appeared they were not hampered by her rules. The fireball bounced off her shield. She was told anything but fireballs. There were no weather restrictions on this battle. What was perhaps a bad idea in another world was fair game here unless she was told otherwise. Remembering the archways and Ishalla, she opened a storm cloud over them and poured rain down with a few lightning strikes. She became the storm. Heavy rain should douse their fire. Besides, she was sure only a few students were strong enough to throw fire to begin with. Lucy thought she hit a student with a bolt of lightning from her storm. Justin had shielded him at the last moment but then magically pulled him out and explained that for the purposes of the game, he was considered dead.