Tales of the Feisty Druid Boxed (Books 1-3): Age Of Magic - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Tales of the Feisty Druid Boxed Set)

by Candy Crum

  Amelia stared at the floor for a few moments before nodding. "You realize that I have to investigate this murder, right?"

  Arryn nodded. "Yep."

  "And you realize that if the evidence says that it was you, or if it looks like it was you, I'm going to have no choice but to arrest you until I can find proof that it wasn’t, right?" Amelia asked.

  Once again, Arryn nodded. "Yep."

  Amelia sighed. "I'm going to trust you. I have since you came to the city, and you've given me no reason not to. But if you're right and this is her, then I can promise you she's done a good job of setting you up. The city will be convinced that it was you, because I can promise that she's going to work her magic turning everyone against you. Especially if she has a mystic on her side."

  "You can't let the city lose faith in you, Chancellor. If the evidence points to me and word spreads, you have to arrest me. If the city loses faith in you, Talia gets what she wants. She can take the city. As long as a strong leader is in place, Talia can't win. That's the game she's been playing this whole time by gaining everyone's trust. She wants to win by default, not by force. That's why she's setting all these little things up. If it all points to me, she will believe she's won."

  For the first time, Cathillian spoke. "Arryn's right. If she continues to go free even after all of the evidence points to her, the people will turn against you, then Talia can rise up and say she will do something about it. Or it could be much worse. If Talia believed that you were on Arryn’s side completely, she could lose her patience and change tactics entirely. She's used subtlety up to this point, even though there have been deaths. We have no idea how big a group she has, so if she is challenged too harshly—Arryn, that means you—then she could decide to use extreme violence. She could start another war."

  Amelia clapped her hands together. "Good, then it’s settled. I'm going to do as I promised Talia and have the Hunters investigate Arryn, and I'm going to get the Guard together while we search the city for a body. Arryn, stay in the open. Do everything normally. Train this morning, go to the Academy; don't change anything. I'm almost positive I know how this is going to go, so more than likely, you can expect us within the next day or two."

  Arryn nodded, a smile on her face. "Great. I look forward to it. By then, I should have my evidence, or I'll have a plan to get it. In the words of Talia, ‘let the games begin.’"

  ***

  The first day after Arryn's meeting with Amelia went fine. Training proceeded as usual, the students were as attentive and curious as they normally were, and there were no visits from Amelia or any guards.

  Celine assured Arryn that no news was good news, but Arryn wasn't so sure; it was driving her crazy not knowing what was going on. She wasn't a sit-around-and-wait kind of person. She liked to know exactly what to expect and when to expect it.

  The second day, however, Arryn realized just how right Celine had been.

  Only half the students showed up to her class, and those who did were whispering and commenting to one another. When no one dared to look her in the eye, she realized there was much more going on than just distracted students.

  Arryn had finally had enough, so she decided to do what she did best: confront the situation head-on.

  "So…" Arryn began, pausing briefly as she walked around to sit on the front of her desk as she did often, "tell me. What happened to the other half of the class? And why are you all so distracted? Usually I can't get you to shut up about battle magic, battle strategy in fighting, the Dark Forest, and whatever else pops into your head, but today you haven't said a single word to me. I find that strange."

  The students nervously looked at one another before facing forward, but finally a new girl in the back stood. Her name was Maddie, and she had blue eyes and blonde curls that stretched down her back. She was noble, judging by her dress.

  "Since no one else here has any guts, I'll be the one to say it. You seem nice, and you've always been very straightforward with us, so I don't exactly believe the things that are being said. Unfortunately, many of our fellow students do. There was another body found, this time in what will be the Boulevard park, and everyone thinks it was you."

  Arryn nodded, her eyes never leaving Maddie's. "I see. Let me ask all of you this… Why exactly are these things being said? What proves that I did it or even gives you an idea that I did it? More than that, why would I go out of my way to train you guys how to heal yourselves, give you details on battle strategy, and encourage all of you to take care of yourselves, and train some of the Guard every morning before I come into this classroom, if I wanted to kill someone? Doesn't that sound strange to you?"

  None of the class answered, though they whispered to one another. Maddie was right; they were all cowards. They were willing to say things behind her back, but not her face.

  "Maddie, I suppose that since no one else in here has any intention of answering, that question is for you."

  "Most of the people here are Boulevard students, and that means they never had the displeasure of meeting Adrien. In other words, they've never met true evil. It's easier to point fingers and gossip than it is to actually search for the truth."

  Arryn nodded, intrigued by the young woman. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, but she was very smart and strong-willed. Arryn liked her.

  "And what is the truth? At least, what do you think it is?" Arryn asked.

  Maddie shrugged, her eyes never leaving Arryn's. "I have no idea what the truth is, but I've met evil. I know evil. You’re not."

  Arryn looked around the room, suddenly disgusted with the peers she'd not only taught, but studied with. She remembered the things her father and mother had told her about the city. Nothing became notable unless it was interesting enough. Apparently, being a good, honest person wasn't an interesting enough story.

  Only being a traitor was.

  Arryn waved her hand in the air. "Class dismissed. Not a single one of you is paying any attention to what I say anyway, so there's no point in wasting my breath. Just so you know, I do know what's happening out there. I know who did this, and more than that, I'm trying to stop them."

  Arryn took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring as she struggled to keep her rage under control. "Here's a little history lesson for you. I kept my past hidden from all of you because I had no idea who I could trust. I had no idea who among you might still secretly side with Adrien. The truth is, my parents—at least my mother—died helping me flee the city. They'd been planning a way to save the city from Adrien, but they were caught. The father of my best friend, Gregory, the person who fought alongside Hannah and all of you in the Battle for Arcadia, turned my father in, leading to my father’s capture and my mother’s death while trying to get me to safety."

  Arryn stood and took a few steps toward the desks in front of her, her eyes moving from student to student.

  "The druids took me in because my mother had saved the grandson of the Chieftain from being killed by a lycanthrope only a week before her death. The grandson's name was Cathillian, and he accompanied me back here to the city. I was raised among the druids. I learned their ways, learned their values, and learned how to fight. I needed to know how to fight so I could come back here and kill Adrien. But I didn't make it in time; I missed that opportunity, the opportunity that all of you had. To fight for your city."

  The students looked at one another again, but stayed deathly silent as they turned back to her.

  "When I heard what had happened, I came back immediately. The fight was over, but the requirement to continue protecting the city continued. I came back here to make sure that the Guard was well-trained after largely being replaced, and guess what, it’s getting there! Every morning Cathillian and I train them. I came back here to make sure that the new Chancellor wasn't a tyrant. She isn't.

  “My mother is dead, and I still haven't learned the fate of my father, something I’m still searching for. So, before you decide to believe the rumors, remember everything I'v
e taught you. Remember everything I've said. Because no matter what you decide, I'm still working to make sure that the person responsible will pay. And I will die to protect you if it comes to that. Can you say the same?"

  Arryn saw guilt and mixed emotions on their faces as they glanced at one another for support. They shifted uncomfortably in their seats, obviously uncertain how they felt given the story she just told.

  Finally, Arryn spoke again. "As I said, class is dismissed for today. If I'm not in prison for a murder that I clearly didn’t commit tomorrow, I'll see you then."

  Arryn shook her head and walked behind her desk, taking a seat in her chair as she watched everyone leave the room. Well, everyone except for Maddie.

  Once the rest of the students had departed, the young woman came to stand in front of Arryn's desk. "Nice speech."

  Arryn nodded. "Thanks. Glad you liked it."

  "Like Amelia, I fought beside Hannah in the battle. In fact, we spent a lot of time in Girard's house training and planning before anything ever happened."

  Arryn laughed. "Yeah, about that. Funny that it should be the headquarters for yet another bad storm brewing here."

  Maddie nodded as she studied Arryn. " I’ve only been in your class for a few days, but I've gotten to know who you are as a person, even though I knew nothing of your past until today. I don't think you had anything to do with James' murder, but I believe you when you say you know who did."

  "Yeah? Would you believe me if I told you it was the almighty Dean of Students? Because I kind of assume not many people would," Arryn’s voice was sarcastic, though her words were honest.

  Maddie thought for a moment before nodding again. "Considering the fact that one of the students in here, Jackson, is disturbingly close to her and told some of these students about the murder in the first place, yeah, I believe it."

  Arryn sighed as she sat back in her chair. "Jackson. I'm pretty sure Talia sent him into this class to distract me and get information, but I'm a little too smart for that. I know honest flirting from that of a shit like him trying to use me for his own ends. And, I saw a rather intimate letter from him to Talia. He only has the hots for her. Gross."

  "So, what's the plan?" Maddie asked.

  Arryn smiled. "I don't know a damn thing about you, but I like you. And it doesn't matter what I say or whether I'm going along with it or not, my fate is sealed, so I guess it won't matter if I tell you that Amelia and the Hunters absolutely will find evidence that it was me. I can promise you that. As far as this city is concerned, I am the killer. And when the evidence is presented, I'll be arrested."

  Maddie laughed. "Well, good luck with that. It sounds like you have it all figured out, but that leaves a huge problem. If you're right about who did it, Talia would be on the wrong side of those bars. If you want a little advice, I would suggest constructing your escape plan now. Get out and use the illusion that you're locked away and out of her hair as the opportunity to get whatever evidence you need."

  With that, Maddie gave her a reassuring smile and walked out of the class, leaving Arryn to her thoughts. It was obvious what was about to happen. Like Maddie said, she needed to plan her escape.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Two days had passed since James’ body had been found in the Boulevard, and things were moving along nicely. So far, everything had gone to plan. The first day, Scarlett had put a lot of effort into using her mental magic to convince students that Arryn might have killed James.

  They decided her suggestions should be subtle in the beginning. Everything was new, and people would be struggling with the loss of another life as well as developing their own opinions, so it made sense to keep everything simple.

  The following day, however, Scarlett fed them more. She began filling them with doubt and suspicion: maybe Arryn was completely twisted? Maybe she'd tainted the Chancellor? After all, Amelia had been very close to Arryn since the moment she’d arrived.

  Scarlett had done a very good job creating chaos and fear around Arryn, and just enough fear regarding the Chancellor that it would force Amelia to do things she might not want to do, if for no other reason than to keep peace.

  Talia couldn't be happier with the direction in which their plan was moving. To keep everyone informed, Talia decided to hold a meeting with her group. It was broad daylight, so there was only one option—her special place in the basement of the Academy.

  Talia looked from face to face; the group of supporters was sitting there, all eyes on her. They were enamored with her, just as she'd hoped they would be. They had done everything she'd asked of them, and had never doubted her.

  Still, it didn't hurt to use Scarlett's influence to cement their loyalty.

  "We have to stop her!" Victoria shouted. "We cannot allow her to undo all we've worked for. If she succeeds, it's hard to say what will happen."

  Talia nodded. "Trust me, I know. This is what I've been trying to prevent. We've worked much too hard to push Amelia to the edge and let the city see her weaknesses. If Arryn manages to prove it was me and take me out of the equation, you all will fall shortly afterward, and then where will the city be?"

  Shocked and disgruntled whispers broke out among them. It was obvious to Talia that everyone was just as worried as she was, but for far different reasons.

  They were afraid of losing their savior, and Talia was afraid of missing out on her revenge. Something needed to be done fast while the city was up in arms, and Arryn was falling from her pedestal.

  Bernice—another teacher—stood, taking a confident step forward to command the floor. Talia didn't intervene when the woman began to speak.

  "Talia's right. Something needs to happen, and I think I know what." She paused for a moment as everyone quieted down. "We need to make Talia the hero, and ensure that Arryn is the one who looks like a traitor. If we can accomplish that, it'll seal Arryn's fate."

  "What exactly did you have in mind?" Talia asked.

  Bernice turned to Talia. "It will be both easy and difficult to plan, but if we can pull it off, it will mark you as the hero of the city and prove Arryn as a cold-blooded killer without a shadow of doubt."

  Talia smiled, loving the idea already, though she hadn't even heard any of the details yet. But until it was finalized, Talia had her own plan to put into action. No matter what, at this point in the game, there couldn’t be any downtime. Amelia had to fall, but Arryn had to fall first.

  ***

  The governor of Cella had just settled down for lunch when the warning bells rang to signal an attack on the city. He rushed from his office, heading toward the barracks in hopes of finding someone who might know what was happening.

  When he stepped outside, he was met with chaos—the entire city was in disarray. Everyone was running around screaming, then rushing into their homes and bolting the doors.

  The guard ran out of the watchtower, meeting him just outside the door. "Governor, remnant have been spotted in the southeast. I don't have an exact count, but it’s a horde. It's the biggest group I've ever heard of attacking all at once."

  The governor was caught between the urge to flee for his own life and the need to get everything in order for his people. He knew that without him the guards would fail, and his city would fall. His citizens would be hunted and lost. Men, women, and children would be torn apart and killed, and some might even be eaten alive.

  Taking a deep breath, the governor reassured himself that he could be everything the city needed; that was the entire reason he was in place. He wouldn't allow the city to fall, not on his watch.

  "I'm going to need a magitech rifle. Find the guards. Gather the citizens trained in magic and get them on top of the walls. The rest I want inside the gates. We will take as many down as we can from up high, and we will do our best to keep the rest out with our gates. But if anything comes through, unleash hell."

  The man nodded before running off toward the gates. The governor wasted no time taking action.

  He ran as fast as
he could to the first house he could see, beating on the door as soon as he reached it. When it opened, he was relieved.

  "Governor?" the man asked. "What is this? What's happening?"

  The governor shook his head, waving his hands in front of him. "There's no time. Are you magically trained?"

  The man nodded. "My wife and I both attended the Arcadian Academy."

  "Then we need you. The remnant are attacking, and we need all the magic users we can get. If you have children, send them to the city building. They'll be safe in there. It's the deepest part of the city, and we're not going to let anything get that far, right?" the governor asked, not really giving the man an option to say no.

  "You're damn right," a female voice interjected from behind the man. A woman roughly the same age as the man stepped out; the governor assumed it was the man's wife. "You’ll need more than just us. You wrangle your guard, and we’ll get all the magicians assembled."

  The governor smiled, realizing then that there were good, strong people in his city. People he was more grateful for at that moment than at any other time. He'd only just begun defending, and he couldn't help but wonder how the Arcadian people had felt when fighting their war against Adrien. It wasn't the remnant, but they’d sure as hell had something to fight against.

  When the governor went down the street to a large group of guards, he found his son standing there. "Nathaniel, what are you doing here?"

  Nathaniel turned, his bright blue eyes seeming fiercer than usual. "I'm helping. I knew you'd disagree, but I've been learning how to fight. I don't know magic, so this the best I can offer."

  The governor wanted to argue, but the look on his son’s face told him his words would be lost; his son would find a way to fight no matter what. Instead of arguing, the governor pulled his son into a hug, patting him hard on the back before releasing him.