After he had finished, some of the boys began to trundle away without being formally dismissed.
“Stop!” Alsted roared. “Back in line. I haven’t dismissed you yet.” The boys who had jumped the gun (Sam noticed that Cully Duke was among them) rejoined the line.
“Tomorrow I have business with the King. For you, it means a day off. I would tell you all to practice what you’ve learned, but I’d no doubt be wasting my breath.” He paused for a moment before adding, “And next time any of ya start off before I’ve given the word, ya’ll be doin’ pushups till your arms are fit to fall off. Now off with ya, stupid donkeys.”
Sam forgot all about the events of several minutes ago; about Lilah’s Coldsnap spell being a dud, and the way Volatine had inspected his sword. Both he and Curtis followed the other boys out of the arena with a lightness to their step.
“A day off!” Curtis said. “Can you believe it? I thought the day would never come. What’re we gonna do?”
Sam didn’t have an answer ready. His mind was suddenly filled with possibilities.
Only none of them involved his best friend. Sam glanced over his shoulder, scanning the crowd of boys walking behind them.
“Oh,” Curtis said, “I get it.”
“Huh?”
“You want to spend the day with your girlfriend.”
“I didn’t say that,” Sam said. He couldn’t see Sarah among the boys and wondered if she had slipped out of the arena without him noticing.
“You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face. Ditching me for your girlfriend. This is how it all starts.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How many times do I have to tell you – she’s not my girlfriend. Besides, even if I did want to spend the day with her, I’m sure she has other plans.”
Curtis said, “So I’m only your Plan B, is that it?”
“Would you shut up already,” Sam said. “Who needs a girlfriend when my best friend is a total nag? I’ll spend the day with you. Does that settle it?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to force you,” Curtis said. “But since we are hanging out tomorrow after all, you still haven’t answered my question. What are we going to do?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
CURTIS’S SPECIAL TALENT
Sarah hadn’t been at dinner last night, so even if Sam had wanted to ask her to spend their day off together, he couldn’t have.
Sam and Curtis had gotten up early, dressed, and set out for the village. Curtis had suggested they explore the forest which was about half a mile’s walk from the castle, and Sam, whose mind had been elsewhere, had agreed. He was worried about Sarah. Why hadn’t she been at dinner last night? The gossip was heavy in their living quarters these days, most of it revolved around the notion that they were getting close to the make-or-break period. In a few short months, they would have their first phase of testing, and rumor had it that that was when most of the boys who didn’t have what it took would wash out. Just thinking about it made Sam’s stomach do a nauseating somersault; he didn’t think he was the worst in the class, but he wasn’t anywhere near the best either.
He didn’t think Sarah could have washed out already. She was fast and cunning with her sword, and she had bested most of the boys she had dueled against. Although this still hadn’t gained her any respect among the other boys, Sam didn’t think Alsted would send her packing simply for the fact that she wasn’t well liked.
Curtis had that dejected look of the unfortunate soul who had been chosen last to be on a team. He remained a little sore that Sam would have chosen Sarah over him if he’d had the chance.
“Quit sulking,” Sam said.
“I’m not. Why would my best friend choosing a girl over me be a big deal?”
“You’re complaining about something that didn’t even happen.”
“Only because you didn’t have a chance to ask her.”
“It’s not like I would have left you all alone,” Sam said. “All three of us would have spent the day together.” This wasn’t altogether true, but he didn’t think a small lie would hurt if it served the purpose of cheering up his friend. He tried to put his feet in Curtis’s shoes, imagining how he would react if it was Curtis who had taken an interest in a girl.
“Let’s drop it. Okay? Water under the bridge.”
Sam didn’t know what water or bridge Curtis was talking about since he had nothing to apologize for, but he let it go. Curtis was his only friend (although he now counted Sarah as a friend, too), and none of the other boys wanted anything to do with him unless it was to poke fun at him for his size or to give him grief for talking to Sarah. Apparently, it was easier to take their dislike for her out on him, seeing as how bullying a girl seemed to be off limits.
It wasn’t long after they had passed the village that they came upon the forest. The dirt road passed straight through the center, and the two of them walked along it until they spotted a narrow path that branched off at an angle from the road. The path wasn’t well maintained; the grass had grown tall and they had to stoop down occasionally to avoid low-hanging branches.
“I hear there are trolls in the forest,” Curtis said.
“Let’s hope not since we left our swords behind.”
“I’ve got this.” Curtis pulled something from the front of his waistband. “I’m not half bad with it.”
Sam saw that it was a slingshot. It was fashioned from a piece of wood in the shape of a Y, and the outside had been sanded smooth. “A lot of good that’ll do,” Sam said. “Especially if we’re attacked by trolls.”
Curtis fished in his pocket and brought out a handful of small stones. He handed one to Sam. “They’re riverstones. That’s why they’re all about the same shape. Aren’t easy to come by either. Takes forever for them to get smooth like that.”
Sam turned the smooth stone over in his hand before handing it back to Curtis. He guessed getting hit by one might smart a little, but couldn’t see how they could do any serious damage. “Still,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to rely on those in a square off with a gang of trolls.”
“You’d be surprised,” was all Curtis said, pocketing the stones and tucking the slingshot back into the waistband of his pants.
As they continued along the path, Sam became less certain that they actually were on a path. It had grown even narrower and was hard to tell apart from the surrounding forest. The grass was now tall enough that it could have concealed a grown man had they been squatting down. Curtis walked several feet in front of him, and because he was taller than Sam, he had to duck more frequently to avoid the gnarled branches that hung down like withered arms trying to grab them with claw-like fingers. It was one of the few times in his life that Sam was grateful for being short.
Curtis stopped and held up his hand. Sam froze. Please don’t let it be trolls, he thought. He had left Rusty leaning against one of the wooden posts of his bed.
Curtis cupped a hand behind one ear and said, “Do you hear that?”
Sam listened. He couldn’t hear anything. “What is it?” he whispered.
“It sounds like…come on,” Curtis said, darting forward as the overgrown path curved around a cluster of large boulders. Curtis’s legs were longer than his, and Sam nearly had to jog to keep up.
After they had walked for another minute or two, Sam discovered that he could hear the sound, too.
“Can you hear it now?” Curtis asked.
Sam nodded. Not only that, but he thought he recognized the sound: running water.
As they made their way around the curve, the ground dropped steeply to their left. Instead of following the path, Curtis broke off to the left, carefully descending the steep hill, which was littered with fallen branches and large rocks. The sound grew louder. When they neared the bottom of the hill, the trees weren’t as densely packed together, and Sam saw a shallow stream of water. The water was so clear that Sam could make out the bed of rocks beneath it.
They walked to the edge of the stream. Curtis ben
t down, thrust his hand into the water, and grabbed a handful of the submerged rocks. “These are perfect,” he said, sifting away the dirt and a few of the misshapen rocks until only three of the stones remained. “See?”
Curtis stuck his hand out and Sam looked at the stones he was holding. They were oval-shaped and smooth like the rocks Curtis had shown him earlier.
“I bet there are a ton of them in here! Help me dig some of them up!”
Curtis jumped into the water, splashing around as he fished out more of the stones, examining each one carefully, and then either tossed it into a pile on the shore or let it plop back into the water.
“This is a lifetime’s supply of ammo!” Curtis said. While Sam didn’t share his friend’s enthusiasm over a pile of rocks, he was glad to see Curtis enjoying himself.
“Could you two be any nosier?” The voice came from behind them. Both boys turned at the same time to see a girl wearing a purple robe seated on a moss-covered boulder near the edge of the stream. When she saw that it was Sam, she said, “Oh, it’s you again.”
“What are you doing here?” Sam asked.
“This is where I come for peace and quiet,” Lilah said. She blew a wisp of black hair out of her face and then tucked it behind her ear. “Which you’ve ruined now.”
“Sorry,” Sam said. He and Curtis walked over to the boulder.
Lilah slid down the side of the boulder (had she slid off the front she would have landed in the water). She was shorter than Sam, but only by an inch or two. “You apologize a lot, Sam Finch.”
“He’s just being polite,” Curtis said. He suddenly realized he was still clutching a handful of wet rocks, and for want of a better option, shoved them into his already bulging pockets. “You’re just sore because you cast a dud spell that didn’t work.”
Lilah’s eyes narrowed, but they remained on Sam although Curtis was the one who had said it. “There was nothing wrong with my spell,” she said through pursed lips. “The spell was good. But I can tell by the look on your face you have no idea what I’m talking about.”
Sam shook his head.
“Oh yeah?” Curtis asked. “Well, if it wasn’t your spell, what was it then?”
Sam noticed that Lilah’s eyes were a dark hazel color; they stood in stark contrast to her pale complexion. He decided he had been wrong: standing there in the lush green forest, the sun’s rays shining through openings in the trees, Sam thought she was more attractive than he had initially thought. It was a kind of natural beauty; something almost hidden.
But not as beautiful as Sarah, he reminded himself. Don’t forget about Sarah.
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s his sword.”
“You’re speaking gibberish,” Curtis said.
“Does he fight all of your battles for you?” Lilah asked Sam.
“He’s just overprotective,” Sam said, thinking about what she had said. What did she mean about his sword? How could Rusty be blamed for her Coldsnap spell not working?
“The way Volatine was looking at it…” Sam said.
“Instructor Volatine.” Lilah corrected.
Curtis rolled his eyes.
“An enchantment?” Sam had been thinking it, but hadn’t meant to speak the thought out loud.
“So there is a brain in there after all,” Lilah said. “Took you long enough. It has to be a resistance enchant of some kind. You need to find someone that can read your sword’s aura. Jiao-long owns Surly Dragon Arms in the village. He would know how.”
“That’s where I bought it,” Sam said. “He’s the one who gave it to me. Dug it out of a pile of junk and sold it to me for four gold. I don’t think he knew.”
“Hmm. Doubtful. Jiao-long is very clever even if on first meeting he’d have you think otherwise. At four gold, he sold it to you at a bargain.”
“Are we talking about the same sword?”
“A resistance enchantment powerful enough to thwart a Coldsnap spell is worth four gold alone. There’s a rumor that Jiao-long will sell a weapon for below value if he believes the buyer is worthy of it.”
“I don’t think I’m that lucky.”
“He’s not,” Curtis interrupted. “As his best friend, I’d know. And he’s not very lucky at all. Anyway, I don’t see the point of standing around discussing sword prices all day long. It’s our one day off, we should be spending it more wisely.”
“Collecting rocks?” Lilah asked with more than a hint of sarcasm.
Curtis frowned, his eyes becoming slits as he glared at her. “Beats sitting on them.”
“Quit arguing,” Sam said.
“Oh great, don’t tell me you’re taking her side?” And to Lilah, Curtis said, “Don’t let it go to your head. He’s got a thing for girls. Practically swoons over a pretty one. You’re only the second one he’s met.”
Sam’s face went red with embarrassment. He thought he was going to have to hit Curtis to stop him from blabbing any more than he already had. “That’s enough!” he said. “Or I’m leaving.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“You two fight like an old married couple,” Lilah said. “It’s almost entertaining.”
“As entertaining as –” Curtis shut his mouth when he caught Sam shooting him an angry gaze.
Lilah laughed, a high-pitched sound that was almost melodic.
“So, is this your first year here?” Sam asked, changing the subject.
“I’m on my second. Instructor Volatine doesn’t teach first year students the Coldsnap spell.”
“Is it hard? Magic, I mean.”
“It depends on the person and the spell. Some kids come and quickly learn they don’t have the patience for it. To others it seems to come naturally.”
“And you’re a natural?”
Lilah thought about this and then shook her head. “Maybe not a natural. It doesn’t come easy, but I study hard and practice harder. Sometimes that gets you further than birth talent. Although natural talent doesn’t hurt. What about you, Sam? Are you a natural warrior?”
Sam snorted and began to laugh. If he had been drinking something, it would have been the kind of uncontrollable laughter that has one launching jets of liquid out of their nostrils. “Me? No. Not even a little bit. Warfare was my lowest score.”
“He’s being modest,” Curtis said. “He got a perfect score in Holy Arts and a twenty-four in Mage Skills. Isn’t that right?”
Sam nodded.
Curtis continued. “I botched those tests. I had a twenty-one in Alchemy and a nineteen in Warfare.”
“Why didn’t you try one of those?” Lilah asked. “If your natural tendencies lean toward magic, why not choose the Holy Arts or Mage Skills? You may have excelled at either of those, rather than being only a subpar warrior.”
“I suppose your scores were highest in Mage Skills?”
“Yes. Alchemy was a close second. Nobody really likes Alchemy, though. It’s always been one of the least popular career paths.”
“Well, I don’t know really. I always dreamt about slaying dragons or fighting evil.”
“Which you can do with magic as well.”
“Yeah, but in my dreams I was always holding a sword. My parents tried their best to talk me out of it. I’ve always been more of a bookworm.”
“Talent doesn’t necessarily override passion,” Lilah said. “Or so they say.”
“Exactly what my ma always says,” Curtis said, trying to inject himself back into the conversation since he had been listening to Sam and Lilah, feeling a little like a wagon with five wheels. The feeling was a familiar one: it was the same feeling he usually had whenever they were at meals and sat with Sarah. “My great grandpa was a well known warrior.”
“Fascinating,” Lilah said.
“Teach us something,” Sam said.
“I’m not allowed to. At least not until I’m certified. And they don’t really like the different schools to mix skills.”
“You mean I couldn’t learn magic even if
I wanted to?”
“It’s been known to happen. They call it dabbling. Letting a student cross over into other skill sets. It’s rarely ever allowed, and you need permission from your primary instructor first, and even if you get that, only the King has the power to grant final approval. I’ve only heard about it happening a few times, and one of those didn’t work out so well.”
“At least show us something then,” Sam said, eager to see more real magic.
“Um, Sam, she said she isn’t allowed to,” Curtis said, acting as though the very idea of learning magic repulsed him.
“I didn’t mean she has to teach us. I was just asking if she could show us something. A demonstration.”
Lilah said, “Without certification, even that’s frowned upon.”
“Who are we going to tell?”
“All right, but it’ll have to be what Instructor Volatine calls cutesy magic. It’s expressly forbidden to use harmful magic on a student, even if it doesn’t do anything more than stun them.”
“Cutesy magic?”
“It’s a form of minor positive effect magic. Cute and cuddly stuff. Like making a little girl’s teddy bear dance around on its own or charming a broom into sweeping a house without assistance.”
“You can do that?”
“Sure. Those are the easy ones. First semester stuff.”
“Let us see something,” Sam said. “I’ll be your guinea pig.”
Curtis said, “Not me, thanks.” He retreated several steps back until the heels of his boots were nearly touching the water.
“Okay. I have a good one,” Lilah said, pushing up the sleeves of her robe. She faced Sam, spread her feet shoulder width apart, and then held out her arm so that her palm was facing Sam.
Her lips parted. She whispered a single word that Sam couldn’t hear, but a moment later he was enveloped in dancing green flames that licked at his entire body.
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