Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(11)

We found the left corridor. Loren, Alex, and I immediately crowded the desk. The three of us began chattering loudly about my arm while Alex and Ella snuck past the attendants into the supply room. I kept my eyes open for any passing healers while Ian and Loren continued to talk. Five minutes passed and then they emerged, proudly concealing a small jar in Alex's fist. The two of them looked happier. I wondered if things were resolved.

Ella's eyes caught mine and she gave a timid smile. I started to return it – and then my face fell as a young woman in red mage's robes blocked their escape, fixing the two with a steely-eyed frown.

"Apprentice Alex, just what do you think you are doing? Do you have an authorization for that?" The jar and their guilty expressions hadn't escaped her notice.

The mages behind us were too busy with Ian and Loren to hear.

Alex gave the healer his most easy-going smile. "Kyra, my poor sister over there is in pain."

The mage's eyes flickered to me and her expression didn't change.

Alex sidled over to the young woman, unperturbed. He leaned in conspiratorially and stage-whispered. "Please, Kyra, you wouldn't want Ryiah to suffer, would you? Master Byron's rules are just silly… what is the harm in a little relief?"

I watched as the healer's face waivered from resolve to doubt.

"Wow." My brother breathed loudly. "I just realized your eyes are green. I knew you were beautiful but I – I-" He pretended to stutter, flustered by her attention.

Kyra's cheeks turned pink. "Stop that." But I noticed she said it a lot more gently.

"Please, Kyra?" My brother gave his most innocent smile.

She sighed. "Fine, Alex, but just this once."

"You are as kind as you are stunning." Alex caught her hand and kissed it lightly, winking.

The Restoration mage watched him, pleased. "You should join the healers for a drink one night," she said abruptly. "We go to the Crow's Nest every Sunday - perhaps I will see you there next time?"

My twin grinned. "I wouldn't miss it."

As soon as the young woman had vanished Ella snatched the vial from Alex and turned to me, eyes flashing. "Let's get out of here, Ryiah." It didn't take much to ascertain why her mood had suddenly changed.

"Ella wait, it wasn't what you - I was helping!"

"I don't want to hear it, Alex."

"Ella, I meant what I said back there-"

"The only person you love is yourself!" Ella cut my brother off coldly. "You just can't help yourself. It's not your fault – when this girl kisses you or that girl misinterprets your gestures you are blameless. Well, I'm not going to wait for it to happen again. We are done." She grabbed my good arm and dragged me out of the building, not waiting to see if the rest of our group followed.

I didn't protest. As soon as we were outside the infirmary I apologized profusely.

Ella shook her head.

"Don't hold yourself responsible, Ry. You aren't accountable for your twin's actions. You warned me that first day at the Academy. I… I just have this bad habit of falling for the wrong ones."

Thinking about Darren earlier – and my reaction to his hand on my wrist, I said sadly, "I think we have that in common."





****





After a short dinner we were once again on the practice field for our final lesson of the day. We were separated into two groups: those who could cast using pain, and those that couldn't. Ian, Darren, Eve, Lynn and I stayed behind with a small collection of older apprentices. Ella, Ray, Priscilla, Loren and the rest of the class retired to the far side of the grounds to continue the target casting from earlier.

Now more than ever, I was grateful for the arnica. I was finding it much easier to control my castings when the pain in my arm was not fighting my magic.

"No, no! Slowly, Ian!" Master Byron's command echoed across the cold night air. "If you keep that up you are not going to be able to control it."

"Again." Darren's voice was thick with sarcasm. The two of them had been trading barbs for the past hour – mostly because Ian kept losing control of his castings. We were supposed to levitate our partners – only Ian hadn't quite mastered the correct pressure to use. Darren had been dropped and tossed backward more times than any of the others, and he appeared to be growing less and less patient.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Ian was miserable at pain castings – and Darren was amazing, second only to two of the fifth-years that were with us.

"Mentees, you are up."

Lynn slowly withdrew the blade from her hand, letting me drift gently to the floor. To my left I heard a loud thump and Darren's subsequent curse.

"Master Bryon, I need to change partners for this exercise. This is ridiculous."

All heads turned to Ian and Darren: the former looked sheepish and the latter, furious.

"Fine. Darren, Ryiah, change mentors."

As I passed the non-heir by I glared at him for making me take Ian. The last thing I needed was to be dropped repeatedly on a bad arm. "I have a fracture."

"Good thing you have the arnica."

Some "friend." I sat down cross-legged in front of Ian, returning to the start position as I reached for Darren's knife. At least it was my turn.