The Academy Volume One

by Maxine Mansfield

  The wizard turned toward the Queen, who was still grasping her throat, and glared.

  Lizbeth quickly explained. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to blame anyone else for my actions. I take full responsibility. If I’d known what was about to happen, I would’ve gladly taken the failure before creating that monster. I swear I would’ve.”

  Arizon nodded slowly. “And the scale? Are you asking this council to believe you didn’t know it to be something other than a dragon scale?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but from the back of the hall, Lizbeth heard a squeaky gnome voice.

  “The lass wasn’t the one ta find the scale. It was me. There were four of us down there in the library basement hunting for dragon scales that day, and ya can ask any one of them. I’m the one who found it. None of us thought for a minute it was anything but a dragon scale. So, if’n ya wanna punish someone for that mistake, it’s gonna have ta be me, or find out who stored the damnable thing in the basement in the first place.”

  She could have kissed Laycee.

  The weathered old wizard turned toward the rest of the council and, in hushed tones, spent the next few moments in discussions. Lizbeth wondered why she was so light-headed then realized she was once again holding her breath. With a whoosh, she let it out just as Arizon nodded toward the council and turned back to her.

  The stern look he gave her did nothing to calm the herd of Alarian water buffalo stampeding through her belly, and it certainly didn’t help to wet the desert her mouth had become.

  Then he winked.

  She didn’t know why, but that single act of kindness made her want to cry more than anything else that had transpired over the last couple of days, and she almost did.

  Arizon cleared his throat, and the drop of a single grain of sand could have been heard in the hall.

  “We’ve reached a decision. It is the finding of this council that the enchanter student, Lizbeth Hammerstrike, did not create a nogard on purpose during her final exam.”

  Happy shouts mixed with angry unbelieving ones. Lizbeth could manage nothing but to stare at the wizard as she reached with her free hand and held closed her mouth. Her jaw had become as rubbery as her knees.

  Arizon raised his wand, and the room immediately quieted. “The council has spoken. We are in the positions we are because we’re good at reading people and situations. We believe her, it’s that simple. That doesn’t mean there aren’t still repercussions for her actions, accident or not. And there is still a nogard out there that must be dealt with. Above all, the dragons and the magic they bring to Albrath must be protected.”

  Arizon pointed at Lizbeth, and her heart pounded hard in her chest. “Expelled. That is the ruling of this council. You are to be expelled from the Academy of Magical Arts until such a time the nogard has been dealt with.”

  A boney finger shook toward Adan. “As her husband, the responsibility falls on your shoulders to hunt the beast down and kill it. We realize you don’t have access to the Blade of Gin, so we suppose you’ll simply have to improvise or do some fancy talking with the troll leaders. Whichever it is, don’t return without the nogard’s head, Adan Hammerstrike. May God Draka watch over you and keep you safe.”

  Gasps could be heard throughout the hall. Then a voice Lizbeth knew, but hadn’t expected, spoke up. “Quiet, if you please. I have something important to impart.”

  The Ray who stepped forward no longer resembled in any way the pet of Seychelle’s he’d once been. This Ray was well dressed in a crisp black tunic and pants. Soft-looking, leather shoes were on his feet, and his nails appeared to be recently manicured. His sparse, dark brown hair was neatly slicked back, his face freshly scrubbed, and his tongue was no longer lolling off to the side. In his hands, he held a thick, leather-bound volume, and Lizbeth couldn’t help but be surprised by the sight. This must have been what Ray looked like when he’d been Headmistress Seychelle’s valued assistant. The little man even stood straighter and appeared taller than he had two days previous.

  Ray walked right up in front of Adan and Lizbeth and addressed the council as if it were an everyday occurrence. “The Rules of Fair Engagement plainly state: When dealing with creatures that take magic to confront and defeat, all possible attempts must first be made to capture the beast for further study. It would be wrong to simply hunt down the defenseless animal and slaughter it without regard for what we might learn from it in captivity. This is an opportunity we can ill afford to lose. After all, there is no one living who has had the chance to study a nogard. Must we really throw away the possibility just because we fear what it may do?”

  Lizbeth looked back and forth between Ray and Arizon, not liking the interest she saw shining in the old wizard’s eyes.

  “And, if there ends up being no choice but to kill the poor creature, is procuring the Blade of Gin even a reasonable possibility? All diplomatic avenues would have to be exhausted in the attempt. That would take time. Time the dragons probably don’t have. Yes, capture instead of death is the only feasible, responsible plan. If it means sacrificing a barbarian or two along the way to get the job done, so be it.”

  Fear for Adan filled her heart, and Lizbeth shook her head. She opened her mouth to voice her opinion but didn’t get the chance as Ray continued without skipping a beat.

  “As far as the student, Lizbeth Hammerstrike, however, you have every right to expel her not for just while the nogard is being dealt with, but for the rest of her miserable life. I wish you would reconsider doing just that. Even if she didn’t create the nogard on purpose, she’s obviously reckless with her use of magic. There’s no place at the Academy for such a lackadaisical attitude. We pride ourselves in being nothing if not professional at all times.”

  Lizbeth made a strangled, choking sound. Professional? Ray? Perhaps a professional cock-lover, but that was about it.

  Adan squeezed her hand.

  The old wizard shook his head. “Our judgment concerning the lass is final. As far as the nogard, though, you’ve made a valid point.”

  For a moment, he turned his gaze to Adan. “If there is any chance to capture instead of killing the creature, we should explore it. There is much we could potentially learn.”

  Once more, his eyes sought Ray. “Therefore, it is the decree of this council that you, Raynorel, accompany Prince Adan. See to it every and all opportunities to capture the beast alive have been exhausted before killing it, if you must. Report your findings back to us the moment you return.”

  The little man turned pale, gulped, and began to stutter. “I-I-I don’t think I-I would be a good choice. I-I get motion sickness just stepping through portals. Perhaps I should coordinate things from here.”

  Arizon shook his head. “I have spoken.” He glanced around the hall. “Now, who else among you is willing to pledge yourselves to Prince Adan’s plight? I must warn you, though, it could very well be a suicide mission. To attempt to capture or kill a nogard is no easy task even if luck is on your side.”

  There was a sudden rustle at the back of the hall as Sarco Sunwalker stepped forward and faced his great uncle. “Adan Hammerstrike is friend, brother, and one of the most honorable men I know. I would consider it a privilege to pledge my wand to his service. Also, Uthiel Dragonheart has sent word ahead. His sword is at Adan’s disposal. We will ride with the prince.”

  From the opposite side of the hall, another voice rang out. “What the pink feathers on the oversized hat of an ogre trollop doing a pole dance on a streetlamp are ya talking about, lad? Don’t be thinking for a minute any of ya are going nogard hunting without Leeky Shortz!”

  Arizon nodded. “It looks like you have plenty of help, Prince Hammerstrike. Good luck. Albrath is counting on you.”

  The gavel sounded once more. “Meeting adjourned.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “It’s not a request, Lizard. It’s an order. You are to go home.”

  Lizbeth stood by the window of their room, staring out as
the sun began to rise and wishing with all her heart she could stop time. There was too much not said between them and even more misunderstood. In less than a turn of the hourglass, he’d be gone and there might never be another chance to tell him or show him how she really felt. And now, to make matters worse, he just wanted to send her as far away from him as he could.

  She straightened her spine and turned to face her husband. “Don’t call me Lizard. You know I don’t like it. And as far as going home, the only home I have is with you.”

  Adan shook his head. “I’ve already told you, you can’t go with me, Lizbeth. You are with child, and even if you weren’t, it’s much too dangerous. You’ve been expelled from the Academy, so you can’t stay here. As I see it, you have only two choices. Either return to Alaria with my parents, which even I don’t want you to do, or go home to your brothers until this is over. It’s up to you.”

  She bit her lip. “I can’t go to my brothers. They’re wonderful people, but they have their own families to care for. There’s no place for me there. There hasn’t been for some time now.”

  Adan looked impatient.

  She raised her chin an inch. “There’s another option, you know. I could go wait for you at Castle Kuropkat with Uthiel, Briar, Lark, and Laycee. Briar did invite me.”

  He crossed his arms and looked stern. “What part of ‘it’s too dangerous, and you can’t go’ don’t you seem to comprehend? You know as well as I do the caves surrounding Castle Kuropkat are home to the dragons. Just where do you think the nogard is headed? Have you forgotten already how afraid of dragons you are, let alone the fact you’re with child, Lizbeth? Our child? If you care not for your own safety, at least consider his. Or deep down, do you feel about him as you do about me? Just one more thing you’re being forced to endure?”

  She looked at her husband as if seeing him for the very first time. Could it be true? Did he really think she didn’t care? That she simply…endured his presence? “Why would you say such a thing?”

  His dark blue eyes shown bright with moisture as his shoulders slumped slightly forward. “How could you not? I know what was done to you in my name, remember?”

  Lizbeth wasn’t sure if she wanted to cross the space separating them and kick him in the shins for being so stubbornly pigheaded or wrap him in her arms and hold him close. Either way, he wouldn’t welcome her show of aggression or affection right this moment. Instead, she took a deep breath, blew it out, gathered her thoughts, and tried once more to convince her husband of her feelings about him and their unborn child.

  “I’m not being forced to endure anything. There was a time perhaps that I blamed you, but not now, not anymore. I swear. And as for our son, our child, I love him, Adan, completely and unconditionally with all that I am. If you believe nothing else about me, believe that. I would gladly lay down my life for him.”

  She did make her away across the room then and gently cupped his face with her hands, forcing him to look her in the eye. “You promised me you wouldn’t doubt my word again, remember?”

  He nodded.

  “Then know this. Our marriage may very well have started out as a duty, but I’m not here because of that reason anymore. I’m in love with you. I’m not sure when it happened or how it happened or even why it did, but it did. I know I haven’t said it out loud before now, and I probably should have, and I know I tend to be stubborn and keep things to myself sometimes, but I’m not going to do that anymore. I love you, and I have for some time. I just want to be with you. It’s where our child and I belong.”

  For a moment, his face almost softened, then he scoffed and pulled away. To Lizbeth, it was a slap in the face.

  “Don’t use my promise against me, Lizbeth, for there are some things that stretch even the bounds of those words. Do you really think saying what you think I want to hear will get you your way? You love me? Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, you don’t love me. How could you? I’m Queen Allanna’s son, Master Seiger’s prized pupil.

  “I don’t believe in such a frivolous thing as love anymore. And anyway, love is the last thing I’d consider you have for me. I heard every horrid word of what happened to you straight from Master Seiger’s filthy mouth. I understand why you were so reluctant to become my wife and why you wanted so desperately to run away to the Academy and why being something, anything, other than the wife of this barbarian prince was so important to you.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but Adan raised a hand to silence her.

  “I admit, when I thought it was just the killing of your rabbit and those ceaseless Adan Hammerstrike classes you were forced to take that made you dislike me so, I didn’t understand. I thought, with time, we would get past it and at least exist in peace. But, if someone had done half to me what Master Seiger, with my mother’s blessings, did to you, because of me, I wouldn’t want to be my wife either. As a matter of fact, I’d want to be as far away from me and my family as I could get.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she could tell Adan saw them as he slowly turned away and shook his head. “There’s no reason to cry, Lizard. I understand, really I do, and I don’t hold it against you. None of this is your fault. There’s simply no need to say things you don’t mean anymore. Most arranged marriages are like this and have nothing to do with silly ideas such as love. It is what it is.” He sighed and his shoulders drooped.

  “Look at my parents’ marriage. Other than my mother being a complete psycho, it works quite well for them without adding in all those unnecessary, messy emotions. You have nothing to worry about, Lizbeth. And I want you to know, whether I survive the confrontation with the nogard or not, I’ll still do my duty by you. I’ve already seen to it you and our child will be well cared for. I’ve made up a will. I’ve secured funds to be made ready at your disposal. Now, let’s put this ridiculous love talk behind us, shall we? You need to get busy packing. We both have a long way to travel before this day is done.”

  She clamped her mouth shut, afraid if she opened it even a fraction of an inch, the sobs she’d been holding at bay would escape and she’d never get them to stop. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled and Lizbeth knew she had to try at least once more to make this man understand. There was no way she could send him off into a danger she herself had created without him knowing on some level she cared deeply for him.

  Slowly, she crossed the space between them and stood before her husband. Lifting the hem of her tunic, she pulled it up and over her head. Then she held it out at arm’s length and let the only piece of clothing she wore flutter to the floor.

  Adan’s eyes widened in surprise, and that gave Lizbeth all the courage she needed. If she couldn’t convince her husband of her true feelings with words, then she’d let her body do her talking.

  He took three steps back. “What do you think you’re doing, Lizbeth?”

  She smiled and hoped it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “Well, you’re still my husband, aren’t you?”

  He nodded as he continued backing up until he was flat against the wall.

  She followed. “And you do plan on being gone for what may be an extended period of time, don’t you?”

  This time he lifted his chin and looked her eye to eye. “Most probably.”

  She slid her hands under his tunic and across his chest until she found what she was searching for, his nipples. She tweaked them both and enjoyed his gasp of pleasure. “Then as your wife, I’m demanding my conjugal rights before you go.”

  He sighed and looked away as if defeated.

  Lizbeth genuinely smiled.

  “That isn’t necessary.” Adan smiled. “You’re already with child. You’ve done your duty. You aren’t obligated to have sex with me anymore, Lizard. At least not until we want another child, if we ever do. Anyway, look at the time. The sun is almost up, and I wouldn’t want to keep Sarco and Leeky waiting in the courtyard. We’ll talk more when this is over.”

  He started to turn toward the door, and Lizbeth stopped him i
n his tracks with no more than a whisper.

  “I wasn’t thinking about obligations. I was hoping for a few moments of pleasure in my husband’s arms.”

  ****

  Adan closed his eyes for no more than a fraction of a second before reaching for her, and she slipped into his arms as if she really wanted to be there. Soft, warm, willing, and so very much alive. His heart ached in his chest, and he knew beyond any reason, until his dying day, he would want her and be powerless to deny her anything his body could give.

  He bent his head and captured her soft sigh upon his lips as she molded herself against him. She tasted of the salt of fresh tears mixed with the intoxicating sweetness that made Lizbeth who she was. His tongue delved deeper into the recesses of her mouth, teasing, tempting, and drinking in her essence. Imprinting upon his memory every taste, every nuance, and every sound that was his wife.

  His lips moved upward to the tip of her nose, then kissed each eyelid before finally coming to rest on the crisp point of one of her half-elf ears. Playfully, he nipped it.

  She shivered against him. “I need you. I need you inside me, Adan, please.”

  He was a man undone, as he nearly dropped to his knees right then and there and begged her to really be in love with him. He had wanted to believe it so much when she said it moments ago. His heart still ached from it.

  Instead, he silently lifted her into his arms, carried her to their bed, and threw back the coverlet. Gently, he laid her down. Perhaps Lizbeth didn’t really love him as he wished and perhaps there would never come a time when she truly could or would, but, at least, in this moment, in this place, she desired him. Adan knew it would have to be enough to sustain him through the coming days.

  Her arms lifted toward him as her eyes and fingers beckoned him to join her upon the soft bed. Without hesitation, he stripped off his traveling tunic, breeks, and boots, and did just that.

  Her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, cradling him, and pulling him in close. It was like coming home. This was where he belonged, and the only place he wanted to be. Without preamble, he entered her, and her warmth welcomed him. His powerful thrusts said what words couldn’t, and hers answered the questions he’d been too afraid to ask. Perhaps she did care a little. He dared to hope.