The Black Mage: Apprentice (18 page)

"How could you let that band of weaklings
beat us?" Tyra demanded.

Eve studied my face. "Merrick told me it was
you who told him where that cave was."

"I-"

"Why didn't you try to get help?"

"What happened?"

"We – we didn't want to confuse everyone with
another fire-"

"So you decided to play hero." Darren had
shoved his way to the front of the crowd. "You decided to ignore
everything
I said and go off on your own!"

I folded my arms, trying to ignore the pain
in my shoulder where Priscilla's hard nails had been. "I may have
made a mistake but it wasn't
my
strategy that cost the team
our victory. You shouldn't have ordered everyone to leave their
posts – you left us all open to attack!"

"You were the one who gave up the cave!"
Darren yelled. "You told them exactly where it was – without it the
mentees
never
would have made it up those bluffs. Priscilla
assured me the west cliffs were impossible to scale and that her
fool cousin wouldn't remember the cavern's location!"

"You really expected me to ignore enemy
ships?" I cried. "Ella saw their longboat! I wasn't just going to
run off and ignore them. Maybe if you had bothered to tell the rest
of us what Priscilla had said…"

Darren's jaw set. "You don't question your
leader's judgment! If you had just listened to me like you were
supposed to…" His eyes burned black. "But even if you hadn't – what
kind of Combat mage are you to give up the rest of your team like
that?"

Tears filled my eyes. "I tried, Darren,
I-"

"
You obviously didn't try hard
enough!"

"What kind of friend are you?" Ian had been
busy with Commander Chen but now he'd returned. He pushed past me
to glare at the prince.

"This is none of your concern,
Ian
,"
Darren snarled.

"It is when you are making the girl I love
cry." Ian lowered his voice. "I thought I respected you, Darren,
for what you did back at the palace… Do you even know what Ryiah
went through out there? Did you even stop to ask? Or did you just
assume she traded the information for an easy surrender?"

He took another step so that he was in
Darren's face, forcing the prince to take an uncomfortable step
back. "She was tortured, Darren. I let…" He swallowed. "I let
Merrick strike her with an axe four times before she finally gave
up the information! The healers spent three days attending to her –
or did you fail to notice she was in the infirmary? She's not a
coward – and you are certainly not the friend you claim to be if
you punish her for what any Combat apprentice would have succumbed
to." His voice thundered across the hall as he asked his next
question: "Or do we need to see how long
you
would last
under an axe?"

****

I didn't wait to hear what Darren had to say.
I didn't wait for Ian to come find me. I left the room not caring
that the others could see me crying. I heard Ella call after me,
and Alex shortly after. But I kept running. Past the barracks, past
the village and its busy merchant-laden streets, I kept running
until I was sure they had given up following me.

I continued on four miles up the winding
hillside trail until I was back at the lookout Alex and I had been
stationed during the mock battle. There was two guards actively
serving as sentries inside but I chose to ignore them as I sat down
a couple feet away, dangling my feet over the edge of the high
cliff.

Then I cried. I let the angry tears waste
away until there was nothing let but a crippled set of lungs – too
hoarse and too dry to do anything but breathe in and out the night
sea air.

It was our third night camped out on the
King's Road on our way back to the Academy. I was supposed to be
sleeping but instead I was wide-awake listening to two hushed
voices outside of Ella's and my tent. At first I hadn't minded.
Ella and Alex deserved their privacy… But then the conversation had
turned to me.

"She has barely talked to anyone in
days."

"Didn't the prince apologize? I thought Ian
said that he was right there when Darren found Ryiah and apologized
in front of your entire faction the next morning?"

"He did. But she's still upset."

"What does she still have to be upset about?"
was my brother's incredulous response. "Darren made a mistake.
Honestly, most princes never even admit that much."

Ella was quiet. Then, "I think Darren hurt
her more than she is letting on to the rest of us."

"But
why
?"

"Do you remember our first year during the
hazing? How upset she was?"

"So?"

"Well, I've never told you this but Darren
kissed her shortly before-"

"He did WHAT?"

"Sshhhhhh. You don't want to wake her!"

"But she – he - I'll kill him!"

"Alex," my friend said sternly. "You will do
no such thing."

"Does Ian know?"

"He does. It's why he took so long to court
your sister – but I'm afraid he might not have waited long
enough."

"Why?"

"I think she might be in love with
Darren."

There was a strangled yelp on my brother's
part, and then Ella continued quietly. "It would explain why she
hasn't been acting like herself. If she didn't care for him I
believe she would have already forgave him for what happened at the
feast…"

I couldn't take it anymore. I hauled the tent
flap open and glowered at the two who had nothing better to do than
gossip. "I am
not
in love with Darren!" I told them angrily.
"And I will prove it!"

Before they could stop me I had crossed the
divide to the boy's camp and started ripping open tent flaps.
"Where's Darren?" I whisper-shouted.

"Ryiah?" Ray croaked. He was in the third
tent I had awoken in my rampage. "What is happening…?"

"Where's Darren?" I repeated. My voice was
deceptively calm.

"H-he's two tents down." The third-year
yawned.

I released Ray's flap and marched right over
to the prince's, not caring that I had woken up half the camp in
the process. When I finally reached it I yanked the fold across and
snapped, "Darren, wake up!"

I had the pleasure of seeing the dark-haired
prince jump out of his roll, clutching a dagger against his chest.
He was half-dressed – in loose-fitted breeches and no shirt, so
that my eyes were unable to escape the rapid heaving of his
well-toned chest. A strange chill ran through me and I squelched it
immediately, reaching in to grab the prince's arm and drag him out
of his bed.

Half the camp was standing or peering out of
their tents by the time I had pulled him into the center of the
meadow to face them.

"What are you doing?" Darren hissed.

"Is everyone awake?" I shouted to my
audience, ignoring him.

A series of curses answered me. The non-heir
looked down at me in shock. His eyes said it all:
What is this
crazy girl doing?

"Good, I-"

"Apprentice Ryiah!" Master Byron roared,
emerging from his tent, furious. "Go to bed at once!"

"I just need to say one thing first, everyone
needs to hear this."

"NOW! Or I will have you dismissed from this
apprenticeship for disobeying the Code of Conduct!"

I looked to Darren. "Tell him to let me talk,
if you really meant that you were sorry before."

The non-heir's eyes flared in surprise –
well, more so than before. The corner of his lip twitched while he
kept his eyes locked on me. "Let her talk, Byron. This should only
take a minute. I think."

The master grumbled angrily in reply. His
bias could always be counted on.

"I forgive you." I cleared my throat so the
whole camp could hear. "Darren, did you hear me? I. Forgive.
You
."

"I heard you the first time, Ryiah." The
prince was watching me with a strange expression. His eyes were
locked on mine and I forced myself to look away.

"Darren acknowledges that I forgive him!" I
cried. Spotting Ella and Alex – who both looked mortified - in the
back of the crowd I pointed to them. "I. Forgave.
Him
."

At just that moment Ian grabbed me from
behind, covering my mouth with his hand to keep me from
embarrassing myself any further. I let go of Darren's arm. "What is
this about, Ry?" the fourth-year whispered in my ear. "Byron is not
going to let you continue shouting at the camp all night."

I relaxed in his grip, satisfied from the
look on my best friend and brother's horrified faces that I had
done my duty. They would never,
ever
say that I was holding
a grudge. Then, when Ian's hand relaxed I spun around so that I was
in his arms, surrounded by the whole camp audience.

"And I love
you
, Ian of Ferren's
Keep!" I threw my arms around his neck, not caring who watched as I
kissed him soundly on the lips.

A low moan came from Ian's throat and he
pulled back to look at me, wonderingly. "You can't do this here,
Ryiah," he murmured, warm breathe on my cheek. "I know I like to
cause trouble with Byron but this might be too…"

I continued to kiss him, ignoring his protest
as I melted into his arms. This was
right
. This was where I
belonged. I
did
love the blacksmith's son. I
didn't
love the prince. "I don't care."

Ian fell backward in shock – and he would
have hit the ground had Darren – who had been standing awkwardly by
during the whole event - not caught the fourth-year's arm just in
time. I was not so lucky. I landed on the ground.

"APPRENTICE RYIAH. IF YOU DO NOT RETURN TO
YOUR QUARTERS THIS INSTANT I WILL HAVE YOU REMOVED – MY RESPECT FOR
THE PRINCE'S WISHES ASIDE!"

I scrambled up from the grass and gave a mock
bow to my audience. "Thank you all for your time!" Then I raced out
of the camp before anyone could notice how flushed my face was.
Especially the prince.

****

"What
was
that?" Ella cornered me as
soon as I had entered the tent.

"Oh, that?" I feigned innocence. "Well, I
wanted to let you know that I've 'moved on.'"

"Ryiah, I didn't mean to upset you. Alex and
I were only talking."

I held up my hand to quiet her. "I don't want
to discuss it. I forgave Darren. I told Ian my feelings. I feel
better now that I have released everything I've been keeping to
myself."

"Is that really what you've been keeping to
yourself?" Her tone held suspicion.

It wasn't. "It is." I held my friend's amber
eyes until she finally sighed.

"If you ever change your mind about your
'feelings,'" she said softly, "you know you can always talk to
me."

I did not miss her implication. But instead
of answering I burrowed under my covers, determined to block out
the evening's events from my mind.

****

Dear Ryiah (and Alex too, sorry brother, you
always knew I liked her best!),

I hope you are both enjoying the second year
of your apprenticeship – I have heard Port Langli has the best mead
– if you get time to drink that is, ha! My trial year in the
Cavalry is going well. Sir Piers gave my recommendation to the head
soldiers who lead it so I think I am one of the favorites… a nice
change of pace from my time at the Academy.

Ryiah, you were right to encourage me. There
is no shame here, the other applicants may not have magic or the
skill of a full-fledged knight but they are still honorable and
hard working. There's another boy here named Jacob – he comes from
Ferren's Keep, where I think you two will train, eventually, and he
has been a great friend to confide in. He knows all about life as a
soldier – his dad is serving in his local regiment and he says it's
always full of action since they are so far north! I know I
shouldn't hope for battle – but I do think it would be exciting to
fight rogue Caltothians one day.

Jacob told me the first station we are placed
at after our trial year is a city on the northern border so I think
I might actually get my wish! There's no apprenticeship after we
graduate – they just place us and have the local soldiers train us
as we serve… which means I might actually be stationed where you
will be training in a year or two!

…
I need to get back to study now but
please write back. I miss you, Ryiah (and you, too, Alex) so it
would be nice to hear from you.

Warmly,

Your favorite brother, Derrick

Alex chuckled as he finished reading the
letter and offered it back to me. I shook my head. I had already
read it three times. "I wonder what he would think of that stunt
you pulled during our trip back to the Academy!"

I shoved him. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, but I would. You know Derrick would find
it hilarious." Alex cleared his throat loudly and several
apprentices looked over at him over the noon meal. "'I. Forgive.
You
,'" he declared in a high falsetto.

Several people snickered into their stew.

I put my hands on my head and Ian wrapped an
arm around my shoulder.

"Let Ryiah be, Alex, I think we've all teased
her enough – it's been over two months." Then he grinned. "After
all… We. Forgive.
You
."

I lurched to my feet.

"Oh, Ryiah, we were only playing," the
fourth-year began.

I raised a brow. "You tease me for the night
I declare my love, yet I seem to remember you being rather
enthusiastic when I was kissing you."

Ian's eyes twinkled mischievously. "That was
a good night." He snorted. "Until Darren had to catch me in his
arms."

I cringed. I had forgotten that last
part.

Ever since that night I had avoided the
prince at all costs. When our paths did accidentally cross in
practice or passing I had made a point to show it was not anger but
humiliation that kept me distant. I thought I'd played the part
very well. No one was accusing me of being in love with Darren
now.