Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(4)

"I'm not worried about you, Ry." He chuckled. "You have taken more trips to the infirmary than anyone else in your faction and I never hear you complain – even with that nasty Byron as your training master." Noting Master Joan's frown he quickly examined my wrist, placing two fingers to check my pulse. "Circulation is still steady," he declared loudly.

As soon as the master's back was turned Alex gave me a pleading look – one that had stolen countless hearts in our hometown of Demsh'aa. It did not work on me. "But, really," he whispered, "how is Ella? I've barely had a chance to talk to her since the apprenticeships started-"

"You see her every day at meals."

"But she's with the rest of your faction," Alex pointed out. "They expect me to sit with my own – comradeship and all that nonsense. And all you Combat apprentices have such airs."

I sighed. "Well then stop by the our table after you are done with fostering your 'comradeship.' I am not going to serve as a go-between for your apologies. Tell her how you feel, or leave the poor girl alone already."

Alex released me with a groan. "You are no fun, Ry."

"Neither are you when you are hurting my best friend." I didn't feel sorry for my twin – he'd had his chance and blown it. I loved my brother – but he knew I was no fan when it came to his relationships. Especially his last one. Handsome, lovable Alex was a scamp when it came to the heart. It served him right that the one to break his was Ella.

"Ry." His eyes were somber.

"Yeah?"

"I miss her."

"I know."





****





By the time I had returned to my faction everyone had already left the training grounds and started their third session of the day: Strategies in Combat. It was the final class before our lunchtime break and my favorite since we had started our desert training.

I quickly ran up the four long flights of stairs nearest our barracks to the local regiment's council chambers. Protruding out of a rocky cliff face, the fourth floor of the great, many-pillared building contained a large hall for the outpost's Commander, highborn officials – including Baron Eli - and the local regiment of soldiers, knights and mages to gather and discuss various strategies for dealing with any and all topics of military interest. Though the Crown's Army served the capital and made official decisions in times of war, it was the duty of each city's assigned regiment to enforce Crown law and deal with local issues unless brute force was needed.

Finding Ella in the crowd I quickly made my way to the back of the hall. Ella made room on her bench and eyed my bad arm with interest. "Ouch," she whispered. "Maybe Byron will feel bad for yelling now that he knows you broke it."

"Ha." The man was incapable of remorse.

"Will you two be quiet already? I've got better things to do than listen to Ryiah complain." Priscilla, one row in front of us, shot Ella and I a nasty look.

"She wasn't complaining," Ella hissed back. "Certainly not like when you broke your shoulder last month!"

"I did not!"

"You made Darren carry you to the infirmary." The words fell from my lips before I could stop them. I immediately regretted it. Why – why did I say that?

Priscilla narrowed her eyes. "Oh, I see what this is about." She twisted her lips in a small, cruel smile. "Ryiah, I am sorry you still harbor that sentiment – but please do try to move on. It makes me uncomfortable to see you pining for my betrothed after all this time."

My fists clenched. "Darren and I are just friends."

"And that's all you'll ever be." She scowled. "Whatever happened back at the Aca-"

"What is this? Have you second-years no respect for your study? I demand an explanation at once!"

Priscilla paused as Master Byron came barreling toward the back of the room, his face livid with anger as he fixated on the three of us. His frown was particularly poignant.

"It was Apprentice Ryiah, sir!"

Ella's and my jaw dropped in blatant disbelief.

"I tried to stop her, sir, but she kept complaining about her injury and whining that Darren didn't carry her to the infirmary!"

My cheeks flamed as the non-heir – who had been immersed in a history scroll just moments before - whipped his head around to stare.

"I was doing no such thing!" I avoided Darren's gaze as I turned to face the Master of Combat. "I would never say that." I hoped the prince would hear my emphasis.

"And why would I believe a troublemaker over the soon-to-be wife of our noble prince Darren? Are you suggesting I should distrust the Crown's future princess?"

My mouth soured at Master Byron's obvious discrimination and I forced myself to exhale slowly. Ian had not been exaggerating the man's bias: Byron had lived as a palace mage for several years before taking over the apprenticeship training – already a classist highborn, and a sexist, he was the last thing we needed for our study.

"Ryiah isn't lying, sir." Ella stood and put her hand on my shoulder in a show of support.

"You aren't a source of veritable truth either, Eleanor."

"It's Ella," Ella said through clenched teeth.