Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(14)

I didn't get a chance to consider the implication as the prince set to work outlining our first line of attack.

"Only the mentees have the chariots. We have to assume the masters want us to practice the groundwork they've been laying out in our study these past three months. The mentors, of course, will already be skilled in defense – isn't that what you practiced last year in the mountains, Tyra?"

The fourth-year studied the non-heir, dark skin glistening under the full light of the stifling desert sun. It was clear she appreciated him taking the time to seek out her advice, even if she wasn't a leader. "We learned how to hold off a siege," she affirmed, "but my team won last year concentrating our strike on a small section of their barrier where their weakest apprentices were located."

Darren nodded. "I am sure the mentors will be prepared for an attack like that this time. More than likely they'll alternate fifth - and third-years down their line instead of keeping all of their weakest in one spot, but I wonder… Last year where did they keep their Restoration and Alchemy apprentices? Were they helping the defense, or were they hidden away with the leader?"

"Hidden."

Darren smiled to nobody in particular. "Perfect." He straightened and faced the rest of our group. "That's how we'll beat them. All of our factions will charge – not just Combat.

"Restoration, those chariots all hold two riders. Each one of you will be paired with someone from Combat. You have two jobs: you will steer the cart and see that your partner is safe. The Combat apprentice will be busy leading the strike so if things go wrong it will be your job to turn the cart around and heal them when it is safe to do so.

"I want Alchemy to start preparing any airborne potions you can think of: liquid fire, fog, sludge, anything that can blind the enemy or help break down their defense. Make as many as you can and store those in flasks in each of your carts… Each of you will lead a second chariot strike behind the Restoration-Combat teams. Should things go wrong you will throw use those flasks to startle the enemy, and give the rest of us a chance to escape.

"Combat, you already know your role. Each one of you has practiced long castings since we arrived. I want you to use whatever long-range weapon you are most comfortable with. You are going to lead the assault and focus on the left side of the mentor's defense. Once we break it you will immediately seek out the mentor's leader together as a unit, cutting your way through with the sickle swords we've been provided."

For a moment there was absolute silence. I was incapable of doing anything but stare. Darren had plotted an entire battle in minutes. Jayson and Tyra were speechless. Even in our lessons mages were only required to think for their faction. It was the reason all the regiments had a knight as commander. A mage, traditionally, did not have the training to lead large numbers of men.

"We might actually win this," Ella murmured.

"Now, the first thing I need everyone to do is to find a partner for the chariots."





****





Master Byron was counting down from sixty – and we had ten seconds to start.

My twin readjusted the reigns of our chariot with a grumble. "Should have known she'd say no."

"You better stay focused," I warned. "If you are too busy staring at Ella and steer me into a mentor's javelin you will be very, very sorry."

"THREE."

"But Ronan-"

"TWO."

"He beat you in the first-year trials," I hissed. "If anyone can protect her it's-"

"ONE."

The chariots took off. Three rows of carts and horses took off across the sandy plain, trampling brush and dirt as we charged the leftmost enemy lines. Alex and I, along with the rest of the second year mentees, rode at the center of the formation. Fourth-years maintained our lead and the Alchemy apprentices covered the rear.

Though I didn't look I knew Darren was watching from the top of a southern butte behind us. As our leader, he needed to observe from a distance. Should something go wrong he would be safe from enemy fire. The prince could still shout commands using magic to amplify his voice, and if we needed him, he would join us.

As Darren had predicted, the mentors had prepared for a strike. Almost immediately I could identify Ian on the far right of their line, stuck between two fifth-years as they held formation. The Alchemy and Restoration mentors hid behind those of Combat. I could see their leader Caine at the very back of the defense, a black armband fluttering in the dry canyon wind.

The mentors weren't taking any chances. The mentees had been given an advantage with the chariots. Caine had known better than to tell his team to try and outrun our attack…

But he had also made a mistake by only utilizing his Combat apprentices to defend. The third - and fifth-years made up only ten against our thirty.

He was in for a surprise.

I launched into my long casting. Pulse racing, I attempted to block out everything but the sensation of drawing a bow to the back edge of my jaw. I tried to stifle the constant motion of the bumpy chariot as I locked eyes with the leftmost apprentice.

Narrowing my line of sight, I recognized the mentor as Lynn. I swallowed and picked the odd dent in her breastplate to focus on, squinting until it became clear, all else around it blurred.

Then I relaxed my casting's draw, letting the phantom strings slip past as my magicked arrow zipped across the clearing.