Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(96)

I swallowed. When someone willingly brought on his own death to exert an extreme pain casting, it was known as "the mage's last stand." "She was a hero," I said softly; "without her magic, Darren and I would have died."

"Probably why the prince is in Devon."

"Darren left the apprenticeship!" I sat up with a start and then regretted it immediately. My whole body roared in protest. "Why would he…?" Why wouldn't he after what had happened?

"Are you mad? Of course he didn't leave."

"But you said-"

"He's visiting that girl's father. Eve. He said it was something that couldn't be put in a letter." Derrick looked sideways at me. "The prince is nice, actually. I don't understand why Alex hates him so much."

"He was here?"

"He was here for the first four days. Granted, two of them he was recovering in the cot next to yours, but then he kept coming back. That girl you hate? Priscilla. She caused a huge scene when she saw him in here."

"How…" I cleared my throat and tried again. "How am I…?"

"Alive?" Derrick was amused. "Ryiah, you were never dead. No matter what our charming brother might claim, Restoration is not that good… The prince gave a full account to Commander Nyx. The two of you were fighting that last Caltothian when you pulled that dagger out of your stomach – madness, really - and caught the man off-guard by slashing at his leg." He grinned. "You lost consciousness right after but the prince was able to finish the job. He wasn't faring much better, but he still managed to carry you halfway back before the regiment arrived. They brought you two to the keep while the rest of the mages put out that fire you started. In case you are wondering, Ry, a quarter of the northern forest is now gone. It's going to take years to grow back..."

The whole time my brother was talking, I couldn't help but remember the one thing that had been bothering me since I awoke: the dreams I'd had. The ones where I kept hearing Darren's voice. He'd been saying my name. Over and over. Had that been real?

What does it matter? Nothing has changed.

"Ryiah? Are you still listening?" Derrick looked concerned. "You probably need rest," he surmised, "I should leave... All of the factions were delayed by the fire but now that you are better, I expect the masters will want to set out tomorrow."

Almost as soon as he spoke a wave of lethargy reared its head in rebuttal. I barely had time to say my goodbye before my head hit the pillow, overcome with sleep.





****





"Apprentice Ryiah?"

My eyes flew open and I found the commander of Ferren's Keep standing over me, her steel gray irises studying my face. My skin jumped and I found myself sitting up with a start. This time with much less pain than before. "C-commander Nyx?"

"I am sorry to wake you, apprentice, but I have a matter that cannot wait."

I waited for her to continue.

The woman pulled a chair to the side of my cot and leaned forward. "I have already spoken with the prince, but I need to know if you saw anything strange – anything at all that might merit questions - that day in the forest?"

The confusion must have shown on my face because she tried again.

"Anything odd, Ryiah. Anything that struck you as contrary?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure I understand what you are asking."

The woman sighed and stood up, pressing the chair legs back with a loud squeak. "If you think of anything, no matter how silly or minute the detail might seem, please send for me."

I nodded and promised to do just that. The woman left the room with a wish for my speedy recovery and then I was left once again with an overwhelming fatigue. I drifted off quite quickly, but as I did one question pressed at my thoughts:

What was that about?





****





On the second week after we arrived at the Academy, Darren finally returned from his visit to Devon. I was at odds with his arrival. I couldn't hate him like before, not after what had happened. I didn't know what to think.

I spent the next couple of days lost in my own dance of drills and meals with my friends. At one point I turned around to ask Eve her opinion – and then caught myself. I had a sickening moment where that day in the forest came rushing back and I decided to retire early that night.

It was as I was turning the corridor to my room on the Academy's second floor that I finally came across the prince. He was not alone, however.

"Now is not the time to discuss our wedding!" I entered the hall just in time to see Darren slam a chamber door in Priscilla's face.

The girl let out a loud shriek and picked up a nearby vase and threw it against the wall. It shattered into a mass of tiny shards, wilted flowers and water flooding the floor. Then she turned around and caught me staring.

"He wasn't just visiting her father," she sniffed. "He was with her. My friends in the palace tell me everything."

I didn't know what to say. Once again my chest was being ripped at the seams. I felt torn between three states: pity for myself who loved such a capricious person, pity for Priscilla who spent her whole life fighting girls like Shinako and me to keep the prince and her position in court, and then frustration at Darren for saving my life and being so heartless and power-hungry in the same breath. Why couldn't a person just be good or evil? Why couldn't Darren pick a side? I was tired of trying to guess which one he was, and it was beyond aggravating when my heart was involved.