The Black Mage: Complete Series

by Rachel E. Carter

  “We are supposed to be a unit, but you are looking out for yourself!” he countered. “Ry, the majority of our time is spent away from battle. One of the first things a soldier learns in the Cavalry is to get to know his comrades. Relationships are instrumental to trust, and you haven’t bothered to build up any since you arrived. You perform your duties and that’s it.” He lowered his voice. “The only people you ever bother to talk to are your friends in Combat or Paige—and forgive me for saying it, but that knight is just as isolated as you.”

  Paige shot my brother a glare as I snapped, “People have far too much time on their hands if they are complaining I’m not friendly enough.”

  “It’s the reason Ray was promoted before you.” Derrick met my eyes. “The orders came straight from Sir Gavin.”

  After… after all I’d done for this place. Last year’s attack and the bandit raids and the Crown’s coin, and I was the best mage in my unit and it still wasn’t enough. Commander Nyx told me over and over how impressed she was, but she let my squad commander promote someone else. All because I didn’t try to make friends with the people who talk behind my back.

  For once, I didn’t speak. My lungs burned and months of frustration fought to break their way to the surface. I kept trying to swallow, and all I got were sharp, angry gasps that seemed to build with each breath. I felt betrayed. I was sick to my stomach, and all I could think was that everyone hated me, and once again I was that insecure first-year trying to prove herself to the world.

  Would it be enough? Would anything I did ever be enough?

  My brother drew forward, but I raised my hand.

  “Ryiah—”

  “Go, Derrick.” I exhaled slowly. “Just go.”

  His shoulders slumped and my stomach hurt. I watched my brother retreat, wondering if I should’ve let him stay. Derrick was only looking out for me. He always had my best interests at heart.

  The problem was they weren’t mine; they were his. Derrick cared what this squad thought of me—I didn’t. My brother and Ian’s impassioned pleas only made me resent the others even more than before. If Sir Gavin wanted to promote Ray before me, then it would be the other squad’s loss when they needed more magic than the other Combat mage could handle.

  “I will not apologize for my own birthright.” More than ever I understood what Darren meant all those years ago. If people couldn’t accept me for me, then I was done trying to win their acceptance.

  I COULD SAY the next two months flew by and that in time everything changed, but that would be a lie. Nothing changed. Nothing got better, and nothing got worse.

  Well, my training continued and my magic’s stamina continued to grow, but my relations within the squad were as barren as before. Ian and I were on shaky terms after our talk, and while Derrick had stopped trying to talk to me about the others, I knew he still wished I would try. Lief was clearly oblivious to the tension between the two Combat mages he led, and Sir Gavin had yet to notice any difference at all.

  Reports continued to come in surrounding the Crown’s negotiations with Pythus. It came as a giant relief when the king’s summons arrived a couple weeks after that. A compromise had been reached and a date was set for the wedding. In three weeks, Blayne and Princess Wrendolyn of Pythus would be wed in the capital. I was to pack my things and return to the palace much sooner than anticipated.

  I would not be returning.

  “Following the ceremony, you will partake in the king’s annual progress to the Academy for first-year trials. From there, the progress will immediately proceed to Montfort for the Candidacy. Commander Nyx has been made aware of your discharge.”

  I couldn’t say the summons wasn’t welcome.

  “So, this is it then?” Ian barely looked up as I bid farewell to Lief and our new factionmate, Morgan, an older Combat mage who had transferred in from one of the Red Desert regiments shortly after I arrived.

  I shifted my satchel from one shoulder to the other. “It is. I’ll miss you all.”

  “A shame the two of you couldn’t stay longer.” Lief’s eyes lingered on my guard, and then he strode forward to give me a parting clap on the shoulder. He stepped out of the way just as Derrick approached, a couple soldier friends trailing closely behind.

  “Thought you could leave without saying good-bye to your little brother, did you?” Derrick pulled me in for a big hug. His tone was teasing, but I caught the grief in his eyes. I was sad too. I would miss him—my two brothers and parents were scattered across the realm, and I would be stuck in the capital.

  Maybe I could convince my brothers to take up service closer to Devon? Give my parents an apartment in the palace? I would talk to the King’s Regiment after the wedding. Perhaps something could be arranged.

  “Don’t you dare forget about me,” I warned.

  One of the soldiers gave into a series of coughs.

  Jacob drawled loud enough for me to hear, “Going to a palace, seems like she should be the one to forget about us, don’t it?”

  I bit down on my tongue to keep from retorting. Derrick shot his friend a disapproving look before wrapping me up for one final embrace. He stepped back with a lopsided grin. “I’m saving every bit of my purse for the Candidacy, Ry. You’re going to make me a rich man, you hear?”

  I laughed, a little too uncomfortable with our audience. “I’ll try, but… perhaps you should rethink your strategy. Derrick, I—”

  “Sir Gavin already granted me the leave.” He waved his hand. “I’ll see you in two months.”

  I smiled. “That you will.”

  My life was about to change. If only I’d known how much.

  10

  My horse lost its shoe. Somewhere trudging along the muddy mountain trail, the blasted iron got stuck in a patch of high grass It took Paige and me a good part of the day just to find a farrier in the next village we passed.

  Then, as we were preparing to set out, a spring storm arrived.

  Thanks to the thunder and lightning, we were forced to take shelter for the night, and when we awoke the next day, the storm was still raging. War charges were better trained than most, but neither Paige nor I trusted a horse not to spook at giant pellets of hail and great flashes of light.

  When we finally finished up the last leg of our travel, we were two days behind schedule. We sent word with a local envoy the moment the storms let up, and then that final day we rode all night—much to Paige’s distaste—just to reach the palace in time. The king’s summons had stated Prince Blayne’s wedding was to take place the following morning, and when we finally arrived at the palace gates, we’d barely an hour before the ceremony started.

  “Here to report the Lady Mage Ryiah—” Paige never got to finish.

  A large, pompous woman I’d never met before shot out and grabbed my arm before the declaration was over. She hollered at my knight to attend to the horse as she dragged me down the palace walk, ducking through a side door for entry.

  “You’re filthy!” she snapped. “Not to mention late. The king had me attending the gates all morning. Do you have any idea what today is? The palace is filled with every noble house in the country and here you are, the mud-streaked lowborn who is supposed to marry the crown prince’s brother? Do you have any idea what the Pythians would think if they spotted you? Why they might reconsider the wedding!”

  “They’ve already met—”

  “None of that sass! You have less than an hour to be presentable for the ceremony. In your state, we’ll have to skip the herald’s announcement and rush you straight to the prince’s side.” The woman shoved me into my chambers and began shouting directions at my ladies-in-waiting.

  From the way the girls scrambled to attend, I took the woman to be Madame Pollina, the head of staff and, incidentally, the cook’s new wife.

  I barely squeaked out a greeting to Celine and Gemma before the woman had me stripped and tossed into an ice-cold bath.

  “It would have been hot,” she continued, “if you
hadn’t decided to arrive two days late.”

  I didn’t get a chance to reply. My head was dunked under the water, and then I was scrubbed and poked and prodded within an inch of my life. I barely got the chance to recognize the orange-scented oils before I was dried and shoved into a dress. It had silken green layers, one after the other, with a gold corset and skintight sleeves edged in more gold. Every inch seemed to shimmer like a beacon in the light.

  I barely had a chance to admire it. The bodice was so tight I could barely breathe, and I couldn’t be sure it wasn’t deliberately so.

  Then came the matching stained slippers that were a size too small and the gold-and-green necklace, which choked my neck.

  I was powdered and painted and my hair arranged in heavy tendrils at the back of my head, and then Madame Pollina dragged me out of the chamber and through the winding halls into the palace’s holy room.

  I gasped.

  The chamber was packed as full as the keep. Hundreds of bright colors pressed together as highborns fought for a closer place to the front. A steady clamor of voices echoed along the walls. Sunlight seemed to catch across every stained glass window, and the effect was almost blinding.

  At the very front stood King Lucius and Darren in splendid red and gold, and Duke Cassius in a striking blue, the two countries’ signature colors. Just beyond was the Council of Magic. The Crown’s advisors and the king’s most trusted families came next.

  On the podium itself was a priest and Prince Blayne and a young girl with lovely blond locks—from the looks of it, she was no more than fifteen. Princess Wrendolyn.

  So young, I realized.

  Madame Pollina pushed and shoved her way through the crowd with me in tow. Then she threw me at the foot of the stage. I scrambled to the side, dodging Mage Marius’s eye as I stood beside my prince.

  No one acknowledged my presence—all eyes were fixated on the priest, a small man with skin drawn tight across his face. He croaked on in countless blessings, praising the Crown and this couple for honoring the gods with their marriage and bringing a time of peace upon the land. The two completed their exchange of rings, and then the priest garbled a final command, dipping his hand in a bowl of red wine and issuing a prayer as he pressed his final blessing into a pink stain across each forehead.

  The room erupted in cheers. Handfuls of flowers were tossed up into the air as the crown prince and his new wife made their way back. A herald proclaimed the beginning of a weeklong celebration of feasts, and the crowd began to disperse.

  As everyone headed to the grand ballroom, I found myself nervously awaiting Darren’s notice. Prince Blayne and his princess had already left the podium, as well as King Lucius whose only greeting had been a deep scowl in my direction before he followed his first son’s procession.

  I didn’t know what to say after the way we’d left things four months before. The two of us had let our tempers get the best of us and neither were blameless. As much as I still hated the things he’d said, it was time to atone for the past.

  “So...” The prince shifted his stance so that he was facing me instead of the front. His tone made it clear he’d known I was there the whole time. “You finally decided to grace Devon with your presence.”

  I pursed my lips. “We had bad weather. Paige sent an envoy.”

  “Did she?” Darren’s eyes met mine, and he didn’t smile. “How convenient.”

  I folded my arms. “I’m not lying, Darren.”

  He gave a bored wave of his hand. “It doesn’t matter either way. I have matters to attend.”

  “Now?” This wasn’t the way I had anticipated our meeting. I panicked. “Darren—”

  “I assume you know your way around.” The prince’s tone was dismissive on the chance his words weren’t abundantly clear. “The boy with the world at his feet is in need of some privileged company.”

  Before I could reply, Darren stepped around and left me standing at the front of the room. Alone.

  That… I was struck by the urge to throw something hard at his head. How can he be so cold? I’d prepared an apology, but now? Now I didn’t want to apologize. Darren mingled with a flock of highborn ladies at the center, his mouth curved in that half smirk I mistakenly found attractive. The girls were smiling back, batting their big lashes and touching his sleeve as they giggled overly loud.

  My betrothed seemed in no hurry to leave.

  I sucked air in angrily, and then pushed my way through the crowd. I didn’t know why I’d thought coming here would be any different than the keep. Either way, I was alone with a horde of others who seemed to belong. And the one person I was supposed to have by my side? He was too busy nursing his wounded pride with a simpering flock of sheep.

  I longed for Ella. She would understand. She’d survived my twin, and she knew the games of court. If there were anyone who would know what to do, it was her. But of course she was gone, serving in a wonderful, appreciative regiment in Montfort with Alex instead.

  We’d sent letters back and forth while I was at the keep. The two of them were as happy as could be. Alex had been promoted twice in the infirmary he served, and Ella’s squad had frequent mock-duels in the same arena as the coming Candidacy. I was jealous.

  I hadn’t told either of them about my fight with Darren or my troubles in Ferren. I didn’t want anyone to pity me. After hearing their happy tale, I just couldn’t tell them mine. It was a far cry from pleasant.

  Wallowing in pity isn’t going to help. I wouldn’t let Darren’s cold demeanor stop me from enjoying the rest of the day. The bride and groom had a parade through the city for the commoners, but a feast was already being held in one of the ballrooms while the rest of the highborn court awaited the couple’s return. I squared my shoulders and strode into the hall, determined to steal some of Benny’s delicacies before the rest of the crowd finished them off. I wasn’t the only fan of his cooking. Perhaps I’d sneak away to visit the cook later. Although, now that his charming wife was back, perhaps it’d be better to avoid the kitchens altogether.

  Maybe Wolf, I decided. I was still wary around the kennel—and dogs in general—but my last visit, I’d made it a point to stop by once a day with a bit of the cook’s scraps.

  I pushed my frustration aside and stood at the table, stuffing myself. Eventually I was forced to stop—blasted corset! I was still hungry, but I couldn’t manage anymore unless I ripped the bloody thing right out from under my dress. Somehow I didn’t think that would go over too well with the Crown.

  All around me, the highborn court swarmed from one circle of acquaintances to the next, passing conversation until the heir and his bride returned from their progress. I stood idly by for the next hour, wondering how much trouble I would be in if I attempted to escape before the festivities had truly begun. Darren had yet to make an appearance, and his father was busy reproaching one of the servants across the room. Maybe no one would notice.

  “How fares my favorite new mage?”

  I started from my thoughts to find Marius studying a platter of meats. The Black Mage grinned at me, white teeth flashing. “Or have I rendered you speechless once again, Ryiah?”

  I quickly fumbled for a response. I was in a constant state of awe every time the two of us crossed paths. The towering mage bore the robe—and title— of my dreams. The gold lining was striking against the dark tint of his skin, and the silk seemed as fluid as water.

  “I-I only just arrived.” Great, I already sound like a short-sentenced oaf. “Have you and the Council really been away all this time?” I would’ve thought they’d have participated in at least some of the Pythian negotiations.

  “Yes. It was both a blessing and a curse.” The mage gave me a conspiratorial wink and tilted his head in the direction of the other two Colored Robes. “Those two quibble like a couple of hens, but then again, that’s all the others do while we are here.”

  I glanced in the direction he indicated. A tall woman a little older than Marius had her stark red lips
pressed permanently in a frown while an older man with grizzled, brown locks and soft, yellowed eyes conversed. Each bore their faction’s signature robe with the prestigious gold trim that distinguished them from the rest. Though their hoods were pulled back, I could still make out a small fortune of sparkling gemstones lining each rim.

  It was strange to think that in one short month these three great mages would give up their legacy. A twenty-year reign anew.

  The grin left Marius’s face. “We spent months in Cyri trying to put a face to the rebels in the south. All that time and no leads… Perhaps my successor will have better luck.”

  “I should have requested a post in Ishir,” I muttered.

  “We had half the Crown’s Army combing the desert to no avail.” The man heaved a sigh. “As much as I would’ve enjoyed your company, dear Ryiah, it would’ve done us no good. The rebels prefer sabotage to open attacks. Your experience in the Mahj salt mines was one of a kind.”

  “There is no action in the north.” I bit back a wistful sigh. “I thought there would be, with the attack on Ferren last year, but the closest encounter I had was with a small camp of bandits.”

  Marius gave me a crooked grin. “Here we are at the brink of war, and you’re still itching for an opportunity to show off that fancy potential of yours.” He gave a throaty laugh. “Don’t you worry one bit, my dear, the Candidacy will push you to that brink.”

  I started to reply, but a curious nobleman beat me to it. “Do you think the new treaty will stop the Caltothians, Mage Marius?”

  The Black Mage grumbled under his breath so only I could hear him, “And the endless assault begins.” Louder he said, “My Lord Flavius, how pleasant to see you.” He paused to have the man repeat his question. “No, I don’t believe that nonsense for a minute. Yes. Exactly… The Caltothians haven’t spent three decades assaulting our border to give up so easily… Not yet… I should say… No, I—”

  A cluster of others arrived to pepper the mage with questions. I inched away. Marius caught my eye and lifted a knowing hand in farewell. The man would be busy for the rest of the evening.