“How long before he betrays you?” I asked, jerking my chin at Eagan. His sword met Kestral’s in a spray of sparks—two swordsmen fighting at the top of their abilities. It would have been quite a show to see if I weren’t facing my own battle.
Velyn shrugged callously. “Maybe I’ll betray him first. If I can kill you quickly, I could beat him to Kila’s power. He wouldn’t stand a chance.”
My hands clenched into fists that shook. “Like Cera?”
Velyn gave a resigned sigh. “Yes. Like Cera. Condemn me all you like, but you can’t know the levels I would stoop to—”
I threw my hands out and something in the air moved. Velyn staggered back a pace, but he wasn’t thrown as I had intended. “I don’t want to hear your rationalization. I just want to hear you scream.”
Velyn gritted his teeth and held his hands before him. “So be it.” Freezing rain and hail dropped all around me. He didn’t seem to have the strength to summon the ice storm he had before as this cyclone of ice and water swirled only around me. Rather than continue failing with new magic, I fell back on my old magic, shifting to a rat and ducking beneath a shelf of rock to hide from the hail. A rivulet of icy water diverted from its natural path, washing me out of my hiding place. Drenched as I was, I narrowly dodged the tongue of lightning that lashed down on me. Another shift and I was flying, avoiding the cone of hail and arrowing towards my brother.
I shifted again, standing behind him, daggers in both hands. He spun, forming the ice pike in his hands but I shattered it with a blow from my hilt. Velyn screamed as my second dagger found his ribs. The silver blade only scraped bone, failing to find a deeper, softer target. Velyn vanished in a puff of mist, reappearing further away, one hand clutching his bloody side.
There was a cry off to the side. Velyn and I both dared a quick look. Eagan had fallen, bleeding from various wounds, arm twisted at an unnatural angle. Kestral knelt over him, using my brother’s expensive silk shirt to wipe the blood from his blade. Slowly he stood, eyes locked on Velyn, and stalked forward. Eagan moaned and shifted pitifully on the ground; he wasn’t dead yet. Kestral must have left him alive on purpose.
A sound between a whimper and a cry rose from Velyn’s throat. He looked from Kestral to me and back again, stepping backwards and nearly losing his balance on the uneven ground. Blood leaked freely from between his fingers. I mimicked Kila’s feral grin. Predators knew when their prey was just about finished.
Velyn raised a hand to call lightning. I prepared a shift to dodge, but when Velyn brought his arm down, it wasn’t towards me.
It was towards Kestral.
I twisted, and as I did, I felt the spin of the world begin to slow. The lightning was already arcing down, hot and merciless, quicker than a heartbeat. I found myself standing between Kestral and the lightning, my hands out before me.
Please let it work this time, I begged, compressing the air before me into a solid, invisible wall. Magic crashed inside me, my own personal storm. Something snapped into place and the lightning shattered as it struck my wall, dispersing into sparks and then nothingness.
I turned to look over my shoulder, smiling as cool relief flooded my body. Kestral was safe. I had figured out Reina’s magic in time to protect him. My breath caught up to me. Kestral paused only a pace from me, blue eyes locking with mine.
I froze, cool relief becoming an icy chill.
In the animal world, there was no such thing as noble sacrifice. In the face of a forest fire, a parent didn’t wait for the cubs to keep up—she ran and later she made new cubs. No buck stood in front of a hunter to protect a doe. No animal starved so that another could eat. Self-preservation was the all-abiding law of the animal kingdom.
So how could I stand between Kestral and death? Didn’t that violate every value I ever believed in?
Kestral reached a hand out to me. “Reshi?”
I drew back, eyes wide, heart beating frantically enough to break through my chest.
I couldn’t.
No, not after everything.
There was no way . . .
I couldn’t be in love.
Kestral lunged forward, trying to catch my arm but using Reina’s magic I twisted away. I found myself falling through the air, feeling it thicken slightly around me, slowing my descent.
Below me, Eagan had lifted himself up to his arm and knees—the other arm was piteously twisted and broken. Mist bloomed beside the wounded fire mage, revealing Velyn by his side. He knelt beside Eagan, speaking softly. Velyn cried out suddenly as Eagan surged to his feet, lifting the weather mage by his collar. Flames swirled around Eagan’s fist as Velyn’s feet flailed for purchase, hands gripping Eagan’s arm to keep from being strangled. A storm cloud burst into existence over their heads, pouring down rain as fire roared from Eagan’s fist. Lightning lanced down from the cloud with a crack that shook the stones beneath Kila and Kestral. White steam exploded out from them both, hiding them from view. The black storm cloud dissipated first as the steam blew outwards, creating a veil.
Did they just kill each other? I wondered, shifting to my crow form to soar closer. The steam billowed outward, revealing two prone figures folded over each other on the cold stone plain. Sluggish orange mist twisted upwards, veined with white steam. Before I could bring myself any closer, a pale, shaky hand reached into the mist before clenching into a fist, turning the mist into a pale orange icicle. I banked away from the pair as Velyn pulled himself up to his knees, clothing burnt and blackened, hair standing on end, and crushed the icicle to his chest. He drew a breath, white-veined orange mist flowing into him.
Kestral whipped his sword from its sheath, stalking across the dark stone ground with grim purpose. Velyn staggered to his feet and thrust his hand out towards the mage hunter—flames drizzled from his palm, falling to die on the rocks below. With a panicked look, Velyn pulled his arm back, wrapping it around his ribs as he backed up a pace. My brother glanced up at me, fear apparent in his white-blue eyes. Before Kestral could get close, Velyn turned to mist and puffed away.
Where would he go? I circled the battlefield from above, watching for plumes of mist.
“Reshi.” Kestral’s voice echoed in my mind. Turning one eye earthward, I saw him—solid, unyielding, shining blade in hand. His eyes tracked my flight, filling my chest with a warmth I’d been avoiding for I couldn’t remember how long. “Come back. We can finish this together.”
No.
No. I won’t be trapped again. I won’t be beholden to anyone.
Not even to you, Kestral.
Soaring over the battlefield, I saw the sea off in the distance. I put my back to it, blocking the memories made there only yesterday. Instead, I faced the fae wilds, made up of trees, rivers, hills and a mist-covered lake. I sharpened my bird’s eyes, watching the mist. It didn’t flow like normal mist, didn’t spread tendrils beyond the lake, seeking warmer air. No, it hovered, as if trapped beneath a bowl. Or by magic.
Velyn’s magic veiled his boat. I performed the inner twist that allowed me to vanish mid-flight, jumping as close to the unmoving mist as I could. I told myself I wasn’t running, I was chasing. This had nothing to do with . . .
I landed on the shore of the mist-covered lake, shifting back to my human form. Velyn leaned over a railing of his boat, gripping it with both hands as he panted, eyes out of focus. He had untied the boat from its mooring, but there he had paused, seeming overwhelmed with pain or fatigue or both.
I could kill him, I thought, watching as he struggled to blink consciousness back into his mind. Eagan must not have had much magic left when Velyn took it. He didn’t seem to be feeling the resurgence I had felt when I took Reina’s power.
Velyn finally realized I was staring up at him from the shore. He threw himself backwards, landing with a pained cry. I heard a scramble atop the deck. Velyn was still trying to run.
Why not kill him now? I wondered, taking a step into the water. I laid my hand against the wood of the boat, feeling the sm
ooth grain of it not just beneath my fingertips, but in my mind as well. I recalled Reina turning one of Kila’s stone spears to dust—that magic flowed through me now. This boat could be nothing more than dust beneath my hand.
So why hesitate?
“Reshi!” Velyn called down, his voice half-frantic. “I’m finished here, I swear it. I can’t—I have nothing left!”
“But that won’t stop you from coming back, will it?” I asked softly. “For me. Or for Kila.”
Velyn’s face twisted into an expression of anguish. “It’s not that I want to. You need to understand, Reshi, it was never about a throne, not even about power. I never wanted to hurt Cera or anyone, you have to believe me!”
“Why?” My vengeance was right in front of me, but all I could feel was cold. “How could you expect me to trust you? Eagan trusted you. Cera trusted you.”
Velyn licked his lips nervously, scanning the thin forest behind me. “Listen, Reshi, you have to have seen—” Velyn took a breath then let it go slowly. The sails of his ship billowed, and the boat moved backwards, hull scraping the sand as it pulled away from the shore. “You’ve seen the runes, haven’t you?”
“The runes?” My hand dropped away from the boat, falling limply to my side. “Which runes?”
Velyn shook his head, boat bobbing as the waves caught it. “All of the runes. Think about it. How can they—” Velyn gasped, eyes going wide, before exhaling sharply. The sails billowed again, the boat gaining distance from the shore. I heard a sound behind me: boots on sand.
Kestral had caught up with me.
“Reshi.”
Kestral’s voice moved through me like a wave of heat and pain. I didn’t turn to face him but watched as the boat disappeared into the mist.
“Reshi, come back.”
I shook my head, refusing to turn around. “We said it would be over, remember? After this fight, we’re done.”
“It’s not over,” Kestral protested, his voice rough. “Velyn got away. You know he’ll come after you again.”
“Probably not me.” I shrugged. “Kila’s the weakest now. I know she’ll hate me for saying this, but can you keep an eye on her? Or at least take care of her until she recovers?”
“We can both take care of her until she’s on her feet again. Come back with me, Reshi.”
My chin dropped, strands of loose hair falling around my face. “We said it would be over.”
A near-silent scrape of leather on sand, Kestral took a step. “Neither of us want it to be over.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and turned around, painting a smirk on my face. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Kestral. I needed to give you a reason not to kill me. None of it was ever real. It was fun, I’ll give you that. But it didn’t mean anything. Not to me.”
Slowly, Kestral rotated his arm, turning his wrist towards me. My breath froze as hot tears seared the backs of my eyes—his liar’s brand burned hot and bright against his tan skin.
I shook my head and backed up a step. “I don’t want you, Kestral. I don’t need you anymore. But Kila . . . she’ll need you. I don’t—”
The brand burned brighter. Kestral took another step, those beautiful eyes holding mine captive.
Trapped.
I won’t be trapped.
Kestral lunged forward, grabbing for me as I twisted away, shifting to my crow form. Once again, I flew away from him, those blue eyes marking me from far below.
He’d come looking for me, I knew it.
But no one runs and hides better than I do.
Appendix I – Mage-Born Bounty Information
Zarapheth Bounty Information
Distributed to all military outposts
For licensed mage hunters only
Laureinaqin
Eldest daughter of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: None
Magic: Unknown
Combat Skills: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Appearance: Violet eyes, brown hair, average height
Additional Information: Adopted and raised by the Duke and Duchess of Hoell, educated at the Royal University, the Tower of Emlenton and Wolbridge Academy. Deemed exceptionally intelligent. Has not been seen in over ten years.
Raleagan
Eldest son of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: Eagan
Magic: Fire
Combat Skills: Strong Duelist
Location: Unknown
Appearance: Orange-yellow eyes, red hair, tall
Additional Information: Adopted and raised by the Baron and Baroness of Lessendri, trained and participated in several notable duels. Sightings and locations vary.
Telakishin
Son of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: Laki
Magic: Life to lifeless
Combat Skills: Unknown
Location: Inner Kingdom Wilds
Appearance: Green eyes, bald, short
Additional Information: Twin to Tekilashan, sworn to the Star-Strewn Sect of the Order of the Great Canvas, practices as a monk in the wilds. Fearful; approach with caution.
Tekilashan
Daughter of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: Kila, Killer
Magic: Unknown
Combat Skills: Extreme competence
Location: Multiple sightings in villages along the Viaparaison border
Appearance: Red eyes, red hair, short
Additional Information: Twin to Telakishin, trained in the western army, served as a soldier, captain and squad leader. Deadly with any weapon; exercise extreme caution.
Navelynstra
Son of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: None
Magic: Wind
Combat Skills: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Appearance: White-blue eyes, gray hair, average height
Additional Information: Raised as an orphan in the northern fishing village of LongNeck Port. Has not been seen in over five years.
Hacerathan
Daughter of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: None
Magic: Psychic
Combat Skills: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Appearance: Silver eyes, blonde hair, tall
Additional Information: Raised by traveling performers of the Comet’s Train troop. Has not been seen in five years.
Jereshin
Son of Our King and his mistress Laurana
Known Aliases: None
Magic: Unknown
Combat Skills: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Appearance: Unknown
Additional Information: None available
Acknowledgements
It’s impossible to write without inspiration, so first, I would like to thank every fantasy writer who came before me and all those who will continue writing long after me. It takes a lot of bravery to create a world and set it down on the page for readers to enjoy. Without your worlds, I never would have had the courage to create mine. And of course, a huge thanks to all of you voracious fantasy readers! You keep us loving what we do, so you deserve a thanks all your own.
This has been my first foray into fantasy and it never would have been possible without so many wonderful people encouraging me along the way. Thank you to Janelle and Jess, who initially encouraged me to continue writing this story when it was barely more than a concept. You both gave me the encouragement I needed to make it grow! Thank you to all my beta readers, who really helped me develop this world, its magic and my characters—Lisa, David, Kevin, Sam, Marquis, Kristen, Matt and Alex, this story would not be the same without you. Special thanks to my brother Eamon, who helped critique, challenge and fine-tune this story as it grew. And of course, the greatest thanks to my husband Andy, who supports my dreams with endless enthusiasm and optimism.
I have the privilege of working with a truly fant
astic editor, Monique the Editrix Fischer. You really helped me polish this piece up to a vibrant shine, I simply cannot thank you enough. And for my beautiful cover art, I thank Ivan Cakamura Cakic. Thank you for bearing with me and going through so many different versions until it was just perfect! And finally, thank you to my parents, Diana and Mark, for instilling in me a love of reading, writing and creativity.
Sorcerous Rivalry wouldn’t be anything without all of you! Thank you, from the bottom of my wellspring.
About the Author
Lifelong nerd and fangirl Kayleigh Nicol earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science at Cal Poly Pomona, California. After years of volunteering at zoos and aquariums in California, Kayleigh now works at a therapeutic horseback riding center in Long Island, NY. When not taking care of her own menagerie of rescued animals, she enjoys watching anime, playing video games and reading as many fantasy books as she can get her hands on.
You can follow Kayleigh Nicol on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KayleighNicol5
Or on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Kayleigh.Nicol.1
Sorcerous Rivalry (The Mage-Born Chronicles Book 1) Page 38