Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(49)

I had just readied myself for the evening meal when I heard a loud crash beyond the barrack walls.

Ella rushed out of the adjoining bathhouse to find me. "What was that?" she breathed. "It sounded like it came from outside…?"

As the two of us stared at one another there was a loud curse and a subsequent thud. We raced out the barrack doors to find Ian and Darren grappling on the ground just a couple paces away from the wooden building. The non-heir had a bloodied nose and Ian didn't look much better, half his tunic was ripped in two and there was a large welt on his shoulder where he had fallen against something hard.

I dove in and grabbed Darren's arm just as Ella went to catch Ian. "Stop it!" I shrieked. The non-heir immediately stopped struggling but Ella had to drag Ian back hard in order to get him to cease fighting.

"You stay away from her!" the fourth-year snarled. "You should be lucky I haven't challenged you to a duel for accosting her at the solstice!"

"Why don't you do it then," Darren retorted, "I have grown restless cooped up in this port for weeks." I could feel him loosening deceptively in my grip, readying for another brawl.

"Enough!" I jerked the prince back, throwing his balance off as he fell against the barrack wall. "This is enough!" My whole face flushed. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you two – I really am! But this has to stop!"

Darren's eyes met mine and he said the next words slowly. "It will stop when you make a decision."

I didn't reply. I turned heel and headed for the commons. The only way I was ever going to make the right decision was if I stayed as far away from the non-heir as possible.

"You can't avoid them forever, Ry." Ella had caught up with me, panting from the run and looking slightly annoyed. "You have to make a decision soon. It isn't fair what you are doing to either of them."

"I know." My stomach was a mess of knots and I could feel shame imprinting itself across my face. We'd been having the same conversation for days. "I'm just afraid of making the wrong one."

"You aren't afraid of making the wrong one, Ry, it's the fact that you want to make the wrong one." She sighed. "I know you have liked the prince for a long time – but becoming Darren's mistress? That's beneath you. People would look down on you, Ry! He's still betrothed to Priscilla! You'd lose any prestige you might earn as a mage and you'd have to live with the fact that your children would never be-"

"Enough!" I turned on her, suddenly furious. She wasn't telling me anything I hadn't already considered. I knew I was a horrible person for putting poor, sweet Ian through this mess. I knew Darren couldn't afford me the happiness I deserved. I knew better. I did.

But I was tired of having everyone else point it out to me.

"If I want your advice I'll ask for it!"

"Ry." Ella's tone was alarmed. "What has gotten into you?"

"If you can't accept the way I am handling this then go find someone else to complain to!" I didn't know where the words were coming from. I didn't know why I was so being so cruel. I didn't know why I continued to draw out the problem when the answer was right in front of me.

"Ry, that's not what I-"

"Really, because that's all you have done since we got here!"

"It's been a month." Ella put her hands on her hips defensively. "You aren't choosing, Ry. Admit it, you are stalling."

Hysteria began to bubble to the surface – unwanted and full of disdain. "You know what? Enjoy your dinner – because I have suddenly lost my appetite!"

"Ryiah, you need to calm down!" Ella reached out to grab my arm and I pulled away, livid.

"No, what I need is for my friend to leave me alone!" Without waiting for a response I immediately turned back toward the barracks and stomped away, shoving past both of the boys in question as I did.

I have to get out of this place, I decided, even if Byron sticks me with scut work. I will volunteer on the first deployment out of here.

I might not be able to run away from my problems, but I could certainly try.





****





It turned out that I would get my wish. The next morning at breakfast Master Byron announced that he had a surprise for us. A wonderful, rare, important one.

"Port Langli is not like the other cities we train in. Here most of a mage's time is spent on patrols. The threat is not so much war as the prospect of pirates and local thieves. Langli is the wealthiest port in Jerar, our main trading post, our most prosperous harbor. I know you have all grown restless because it's not the fast action you desire. But that is the way of it.

"Lucky for you Commander Chen has recently received orders from the Crown itself. Our local regiment is to deploy five of its own tomorrow on a special assignment that will take them out of the city. The commander has graciously offered up one spot on his ship for a Combat apprentice.

"There is a great probability this will be the only opportunity to serve in a Langli deployment. Missions like this are far and few between. Most of the regiment mages never even get an opportunity at sea. As such, I will be taking a break from your traditional schedule to host a tourney of sorts…"