The Black Mage: Apprentice

by Rachel E. Carter

  "Where are we?"

  "Just south of Ian's hideout."

  "Why did you only rescue me?" Because that's what this was, I realized, a rescue.

  "Because you are the most powerful one and we only had time to save one of you." Darren didn't look at me as he said it.

  "I would have helped if I could but we were too afraid of being ambushed. I had to stay here," Eve told me. "The mentors have been systematically combing the south. We've had to change hideouts three times and there are always more nearby. It was too risky to reveal my location."

  I was lying awkwardly on a bed. I forced myself to try and sit up. It was surprisingly easy.

  Eve noticed my expression.

  "We gave you one of the Alchemy mentees' special drafts." She pointed to the empty vial beside me. "I had the girl make two in case we needed to get away in a hurry by using that gas. Hopefully we don't have to use the other."

  "What's our plan?"

  "You are going to distract Ian's guards while the rest of us ambush his hideout." She said the words matter-of-factly. Like it wasn't a big deal that our entire plan hinged on my performance.

  I stared at her. "But the guards are Lynn and Morgan! They are both fifth-years, Eve. If they only see me, they are going to suspect a trap. They will know I'd never be foolish enough to attack them alone."

  "If you tell them you are pain casting they'll be wary. You and Darren are the most powerful in the class. The mentors will be too busy watching you to notice when Darren, Ray, and I come out from behind."

  "You think so?"

  "It's our best chance."

  ****

  While the others waited in the shadows of a building to my right, I made my approach, coughing loudly in case my footsteps weren't enough to draw the notice of the two mentors guarding the armory Ian was in.

  Lynn's face fell and Morgan didn't look too happy either. "Great," the girl muttered, "I thought she had already surrendered." I could hear the dislike in her tone. Lynn still hadn't forgiven me for stealing Ian that night in the desert.

  "Are you really this foolish, Ryiah?" Morgan wanted to know.

  I shrugged. "I can pain cast, or did you forget that? I can have the two of you gone like that." I snapped my finger and then tossed my chainmail to the ground so they could see my bare arm.

  In my other hand I produced my weapon.

  The door to the armory swung open to reveal Ian who had heard the commotion outside. He frowned when he saw me standing there alone. "It's not just you, is it?"

  "Ian, run!" Lynn screeched. "Morgan and I can hold her off – go!"

  I slammed the halberd's axe end into my left wrist, biting back a scream as I sent an eruption of power into the air around me. I was hardly conscious of the pain. Raw magic had taken over my thoughts.

  I called upon every last ounce of magic I had and launched it at the three mentors as hard as I could. I heard their scattered cries, a series of clashing, and then, somewhere, Ian's shouted surrender.

  I started to release my magic and the ground gave way beneath me.

  Instantaneous darkness. Victory.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  "Wow. That's very impressive – two wins and both of them as a mentee." The man laughed heartily. "Good for you, Ryiah, I always knew you and the rest of your lot had enough fight to do well in an apprenticeship. Who's your mentor this year?"

  I grimaced and Sir Piers caught the motion.

  "Bryce?" he guessed. "That one always was too big for his britches when I had him in my class."

  "No." I shifted from one foot to the other. "It's Ian."

  "Ian?" The man's brow furrowed. "He's a bit of a rogue but the boy's harmless. Besides... aren't the two of you friends? I thought I saw the two of you dancing during the solstice last year."

  "We used to be."

  Recognizing my discomfort, Sir Piers changed the subject to my conditioning, eager to see if I still kept up the same rigorous routine as my first year at the Academy.

  I answered his questions easily. But the entire time I was still thinking about Ian.

  If anything, our mentorship had only become more strained since the mock battle. The worst part of my day was during Byron's lessons in the apprentice study upstairs. Going over potential battle strategy with someone who barely talked to you was tedious. It was like prying teeth from a rabid animal: you were always afraid of the bite. I could tell Ian was still trying very hard to be polite – painfully so - but every once in awhile his efforts would break and there'd be a flash of anger in his eyes or a snappy retort that reminded me just what he really thought of me.

  It had only been made worse by Byron's evaluations. The master had delighted in tearing apart every solution Ian and I came up with. No matter what strategy we suggested it was never, ever good enough. We were the two troublemakers the master despised, and so his lessons were just one more way to repay our years of insolence.

  Which is what had led me to the practice yard this evening, in an effort to clear the frustration that had been building since the day we arrived two months back. It was also, coincidentally, how I had bumped into Sir Piers, who had been participating in an evening regimen of his own.

  "Things will get better," the big man said, gripping me hard on the shoulder. "I know you and you are a fighter, apprentice. Do not let anyone or anything tell you differently."

  Easier said than done. I smiled weakly. "I appreciate your confidence."

  The former commander nodded and then pointed to a hill in the distance. "Time to get back to my run."

  I watched as Sir Piers disappeared into the night. He was right. I shouldn't let Ian's resistance dampen my drive. There was too much at stake.

  I had barely turned around when I caught sight of Darren exiting the Academy with a training sword in hand. As soon as he saw me his expression darkened. "Coming or going?"

  His words were so distant, it was like we were strangers. And it hurt. "Why?" I snapped. "So you can make sure you are not stuck in the same place as me for more than a second?"

  "I am trying to keep things civil between us, Ryiah. Forgive me for saying so but you have never been known for your easy temper."

  "Well, my temper goes hand in hand with your benevolence. And it is abundantly clear now that you have none."

  Darren's hand on his blade tightened. "You don't know anything about me."

  "I know exactly who you are." I took a step forward, and another, until I was standing right in front of him. Then my words turned to ice. "You are the selfish, spineless son of a king who is too afraid to be his own man. You would rather hide behind your status than fight for something that could actually mean something." There, that felt good. "And it's a shame, really it is, because, according to you, I was the one true friend you had."

  Something flared in the non-heir's eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a malicious smile. "That's where you are wrong. We were never friends, Ryiah. I was only telling you what I thought you needed to hear."

  I shoved at Darren, but he was ready and caught me by the wrists, holding them high above my head. He leaned in so that I was forced to stumble back.

  "Do you remember our first year at the Academy? I said something to you once, in the library." His breath was hot on my face and my cheeks flushed – from anger or unwilling attraction, I wasn't sure.

  "I remember you saying a lot of mean things," I spat.

  "I told you not to trust a wolf," he continued. His words dripped like honeyed venom. "Because it would only ever want to break you." Darren let out a small, harsh laugh. "Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm the wolf, Ryiah. I guess what I really should have told you was to never trust a prince, but that's not quite as memorable."

  I broke free of his grip with an angry jerk of my hands. Then, before he realized what I was doing, I slapped the prince across his face. Hard.

  He said nothing. Which only infuriated me more. Say something, you coward!

  Tears were spilling down my face. "I
hate you," I whispered.

  Darren nodded once, and then turned and walked away. Leaving me there. Alone.

  Again.

  I hate you.

  ****

  By the time we returned to Devon after the winter's solstice, I was more than ready to face a cold season at camp. The frost in the Crown's Army training grounds was a welcome distraction. With a hatred for the bitter cold I was able to forget my unpleasant mentorship and the breaking I felt around Darren. In a way the frozen earth was exactly what I needed.

  Almost as soon as we arrived we were deployed to assist the Crown's Army with King's Road patrols up and down the central plains of Jerar. In truth we were probably only stationed in the capital two or three weeks total, the rest of our time in active duty. Since they were regular patrols, we didn't see much battle. Most of our days were spent hunting down bandits or helping out local regiments with their training.

  I didn't get to see Derrick. We only traveled as far north as the base of the Iron Mountains and as far south as the Red Desert Gate. Every morning we drilled and trained alongside the Crown's Army mages and it was during that time we really got to learn what service would be like in Jerar's largest regiment. None of the men or women were quite as fun as Andy from Port Langli, but they were still very helpful in their opinions of which territories to serve and what commanders to stay away from.

  "If you want action, it's best to take a position north," Hannah stated. She was one of the few female Combat mages traveling in the same unit as me. "It's messy, what with all the rebel activity and border disagreements, but it's the best place to be if you really want to make something of yourself. Most of the mages who enter the Candidacy have served in Ferren's Keep or one of its nearby townships at one point or another. And if you have any mind to become a candidate I'd suggest you do the same."

  "It's also the territory with the highest death count," Brennan, another Combat mage, supplied. "So keep that in mind. You might be brave and you might be strong but it means nothing when you come across a lot of Caltothian mages and you are without backup. My best mate died in his second year of service because he thought he could take on five of them on his own during a routine raid. We lose a surprising number of Combat mages up north because of our faction's heroic tendencies. Now, it's not to say you won't find glory – they memorialize every one of our deaths and the Crown supports the deceased's family heavily - but every bit of fame has its price."

  Ella stared at the man curiously. "So you are not one for fame?"

  Brennan snorted. "Of course I am. I spent my first ten years in Ferren's Keep building up a fancy reputation."

  "Why did you leave then?"

  "The north is no place to start a family. If you have half a mind to fall in love, don't do it there."

  ****

  In no time at all we had finished our final patrol and it was time to return to the palace for the fifth-year's ascension ceremony.

  I swallowed as I unpacked my belongings. In one year's time it would be my turn.

  Assuming I don't ruin my chances by stabbing a prince or two.

  I had only seen Darren and his brother once since we arrived. I preferred to keep it that way. The little time I had spent in their company already had been far from pleasant. Blayne had gone out of his way to insult me, and all the while Darren had looked at me like I was a cockroach in need of smashing.

  Yes, I was going to stay far, far away from the non-heir and his entourage, as much as humanly possible.

  Well, that's what I told myself, in any case. And I really was doing well – until I ran into Priscilla on the third night. The girl made a face as soon as she spotted me.

  "Why aren't you at that musty old tavern with the rest of your lowborn friends?"

  I stared at her. Even for her that was unusually curt. "I don't need to explain my actions to you." To be honest, I was pretty sure Alex and Ella had wanted some time alone without me tagging along. But I wasn't about to tell her that.

  "You stayed behind looking for him, didn't you?" Priscilla laughed brazenly and it was then that I realized the wine goblet in her hand.

  "Are you drunk?"

  "No." She hiccupped. "Because if I was, I'd be sure to throw this in that harlot's face."

  For the first time it wasn't me Priscilla was referring to. I smiled to myself and then prodded her, curious by the sudden change in demeanor. "Who is bothering the great Priscilla of Langli?"

  "Don't mock me, lowborn, it makes you look graceless." She covered her mouth and belched. "Like her. Why don't you take a nice long stroll to the library and see exactly why you should never fall for a man with a crown."

  My pleasure instantly dissipated. There was only one reason Priscilla would send me to see Darren and that meant it would hurt me. She was upset and drinking wine at the prospect of lost status. I would be broken.

  I shook my head. "I have no care to see Darren's newest conquest."

  "Well Blayne sure will when I tell him how much time Darren has spent romancing that future wife of his. Why, the two of them have been inseparable since we got back!" She sneered, "It's like when we were kids, only now they spend late nights in his chambers… and no, I am not lying, Ryiah, his servants confirmed that to me just last evening. They even took me by so I could hear them myself." She dropped the goblet and let it clatter to the ground.

  Taking a wobbly step forward the girl grabbed me by the shoulders and whispered loudly. "They were talking about marriage. I heard them." She laughed haughtily. "Though why a princess would choose the non-heir over a crown prince is beyond me."

  "I'm sure you heard wrong." The words were thick on my tongue.

  Priscilla pursed her lips and released me. "I won't lose my chance at the throne to you or a Borea Isle princess. The Crown needs my family's wealth and Shina's. Blayne will put a stop to this. I know he doesn't want to waste another year trying to secure another engagement. Blayne has to marry above his brother. The only two higher than Shina are the princesses in Caltoth and Pythus, and believe me when I say neither of those countries - or their ambassadors - like Jerar enough to support a marriage. I know what Darren is trying to do and it won't work. The king will never make him his heir."

  Is that what this is about? Is Darren trying to convince his father to make him crown prince? Suddenly it all made sense. It explained why he was suddenly pursuing Princess Shinako. He was trying to steal Blayne's betrothed right out from under him. The non-heir was more ruthless than I had ever given him credit for.

  I had heard of families feuding in the old scrolls, but there hadn't been a fight over the crown in ages. Strife between the royal family was bad for politics, and it was even more foolhardy while Darren was pursing magehood.

  Would the Council of Magic force him to give up his robe? Council Law stated an heir could not be a mage. But maybe they would change that. They'd already bent the rules to let a member of the royal family participate.

  Was everything Darren ever did a play for power?

  My head was spinning from the possibility and Priscilla's words were ringing in my ears. Maybe I really didn't know him. Love must really be blind. Four years of knowing Darren and it had taken me until now to see him for who he really was. A wolf; a power-hungry, ruthless wolf who had tricked everyone, including his own flesh and blood. And I'd had to hear it from the girl I had spent four years believing my enemy.

  The irony was that my real enemy had been there all along right in front of me. Smiling crookedly and convincing me we were friends. Trying to seduce me for the thrill of the chase. Chastising me for not trusting him that first year in the tower stairs at the Academy… Telling me he loved me.

  And then tossing me aside the second I jeopardized his dreams. I wasn't what he had wanted all these years. I'd merely been a diversion in his pursuit of the crown.

  I never should have trusted a prince.

  ****

  During the night of the ascension ceremony a huge fight erupted in the great hal
l. I wasn't there to see but I heard about it when Loren and Ray joined us in the tavern for a nice dinner to celebrate our new status as fifth-years.

  "You should have seen it!" Loren was laughing. "Blayne may be fit but he doesn't have a chance when his brother uses his magic!"

  "Yes, but Blayne gave Darren a good shiner at the beginning!"

  "And then Blayne was out cold. The king couldn't stop laughing! You would think he'd be angry but he actually enjoyed his sons' brawl…"

  I concentrated on my stew and tried not to listen closely as Alex and Ella quizzed Loren and Ray on the action. I didn't want to know. It just made Priscilla's words that much more true.

  I had just braved another large sip of the steaming hot liquid when Ian swung open the tavern door. He looked handsome in his black mage's robe - such a change from the training breeches and linen shirts apprentices wore. He pushed back some unruly curls and then spotted me at one of the far tables directly across from him.

  I had been so busy in the past couple of months, training and training and not letting myself think about anything except the apprenticeship, so it was a sudden jolt to the system when he nodded in my direction and pointed to a small table in the corner.

  Ella and the rest of my friends were too absorbed in conversation to notice. I didn't bother to excuse myself before making my way over to the newly ascended mage.

  I didn't know what Ian wanted but I thought it was safe to congratulate him on his new status.

  "Thanks." Ian cleared his throat, gold-flecked green eyes bright. "Care to join me?"

  I sat. And then waited, drumming my fingers against the rough table's wood, waiting for him to say whatever it was he had planned. I owed him that much.

  Maybe he will finally tell me what he really thinks of me.

  Ian drew a long breath. "I'm sorry I was so cold… I wish I could have said it sooner but I needed time."