Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(50)

I drew a sharp intake of breath and heard the excited whispers around the room. A tourney. A mission. Deployment. All but the second-years who had missed our time in Red Desert were restless, eager to do something besides the nightly rotations as sentries. Our time assisting the local regiment had been too quiet, too peaceful. The opposite of what a Combat apprentice trained for.

"I thought long and hard about what type of competition we should have. I considered weather casting which is such a relevant skill to have at sea…" The man paused as his eyes fell on me. "But then I thought better of it."

I scowled. Of course. The last thing Byron would want was a tourney centered around a skill I actually was good at.

"I asked myself what might be a vital skill to host. What type of casting do I want to reward…?" The master was taking his time, basking in the light of our anticipation. "Then it occurred to me. Non-magic combat. Time after time I have had you train without magic. Because not only does the experience aid in your casting, it also serves you when your magic runs dry. Because no one's power is infinite and at some point you will have to fight without it."

Master Byron watched our reaction to his news. There was a scattered murmur of confusion, dissent, and then curiosity.

Though we spent each morning drilling with weapons and hand-to-hand combat, none of us had bothered to pay our status much heed. I knew my standing in casting: I was better than Priscilla, better than Ray, maybe even better than Ella. But non-magic fighting? I had never bothered to rank myself.

And I was certain I wasn't the only one.

"What type of non-magic combat?" That was one of the second-years.

Byron frowned at the boy. "You will find out when you arrive. You have ten minutes to finish your meal and then I expect all of you in the training yards. Don't worry about which weapon to bring. I will have the servants bring it for you."





****





I was one of the first to arrive. After the master's announcement I hadn't been able to concentrate on the food in front of me. That, and things were still awkward with Ella. She hadn't spoken to me once since my outburst the night before and, though I should have, I hadn't offered up an apology. Alex hadn't known what to do, alternating between talk with the girl he adored and his mule-headed sister. It had grown to be an extremely uncomfortable breakfast.

Leaning against the edge of the rail I wondered what the contest would be. Hand-to-hand combat, sickle sword, long sword, longbow, crossbow, axe, knife, javelin, throwing daggers, staff, or something new? It would have to be something we had already learned, surely. And since the prince was Byron's favorite it would undoubtedly be something Darren was good at.

But he was good at everything.

I hoped it was anything but hand-to-hand combat. No matter how hard I trained my arms remained stubbornly slim, and there were many boys whose arm bore muscle twice the size of my own. If we were forced into a weighted match I would lose to the heavier opponent. At least with a weapon I could keep a distance. I was fast, quick.

Please, I thought, let it be something I am good at.

"I hope it's not the crossbow," I heard Ray mutter to my left.

"I hope it is the crossbow," a second-year said. "Or the knife."

I wanted the knife too. But I knew better than to hope for it. Byron knew I was good with it. If I knew Byron he would pick the axe. It was Darren's favorite.

It was also, coincidentally, one of my least.

"Don't look so sure of yourself, Ryiah," Priscilla drawled. "You know it's going to be a fifth-year, not one of us."

"Maybe not." Darren stepped in between us. "I happen to be quite good for my age." He looked sideways at me. "Better even."

There was a flutter in the pit of my stomach. Stop staring! I admonished myself. Now was not the time to be distracted. I drew a deep breath and I saw the corner of Darren's lip twitch in a sly smile. He knew exactly what he was doing.

"Is everyone here?" Commander Chen glanced around and then back to our training master. When Byron nodded he continued. "Good. Now Byron has been kind enough to let me pick today's weapon of choice. Since this city's most common issue is thieves I thought it best to stick with what my regiment knows best: a street fight with knives."

Yes. I wanted to kiss the bald man. Thank you! Thank you for giving me a chance!

A couple of the heavier apprentices groaned.

"Each one of you will be paired with another student at random. That person may or may not be your year. You will only have one match and your master and I will judge you according to your performance." He cleared his throat. "After all the matches have concluded you will be dismissed. Byron and I will take four hours to rank you and post the results at dinner."

What if my opponent is a fifth-year? Suddenly the odds didn't look so good anymore.

I needn't have worried.

They were worse.





****





"Darren and Ryiah."

I stood frozen in place. I couldn't move if I wanted to.

The master frowned and called out louder. "Darren and Ryiah. It is your turn for a match."

I'm going to lose. I had never drilled with Darren, ever…. except in the armory during my first year at the Academy, and that time I had lost. And he hadn't even been trying then.