After several painful hours of wandering around the markets, Tori and I finally both had a dress. I had spent most of the time looking over my shoulder, expecting to see people following me. Luckily, Tori had been too caught up on the hype of buying a dress to notice my suspicious behaviour.
By the time we got back to the school, the whole place was abuzz with excitement for the dance. With the money remaining that Blake had given me, I had purchased a long, flowing dress that the stall owner had convinced Tori, looked perfect on me. I had to admit that it felt nice to get out of pants and a shirt, and it was more comfortable than the other dress, which had been tight around my chest.
My new dress was a dark purple colour made of a silken material much like the last. This one came up around my neck and was called a halter dress according to Tori. Again most of my back was exposed but the young stall owner had thrown in a shawl for free as both Tori and I had gotten our
People screamed and ran as a fire began creeping its way up the curtains, consuming everything in its path.I pushed my way through the people, doing exactly what Blake told me, but feeling a sense of rage in my stomach. He didn't trust me with anything.Damn him, I thought. I wasn’t going to listen – I could help. I skirted around the crowd of people who were pushing to get away from the heat of the flames.Blake stood in front of the curtains, pulling at the flames, controlling them in front of him. His eyes blazed with concentration as his hands dragged at the flames.Many of the Master’s and Mistress’ stood behind him, holding the students back and calming them. Another few students stood spaced out along the length of the flames, working together to get the fire under control.I watched, mesmerised, until a dark shadow drew my attention. A girl was watching the flames with wide, eager eyes, and then slipped away from th
I threw myself onto my bed and allowed the tears to cascade down my face for what felt like hours. The arrogant, fire-tongued prick! I ought to figure out a way to use my power to tamper with his emotions. Surely my affinity would allow me to do that, but there was no way I could manage it. I had no idea how to even do what I had managed to do so far. It was all by luck and chance.I raged out loud, using many profanities and cursing him to the Magicians for some time before I finally was able to settle down. I thought about Kenai and how disappointed he may be, and a horrible thought occurred to me.Kenai! I was supposed to meet him tomorrow.Ignoring my aching, tired body, I jumped up from my bed and swiftly changed my clothes, and finally donned my riding cloak. Without a moment’s hesitation I was out of my room and running down the deserted halls towards to Masters’ tower. I had seen it when out in the Market, but other than the general area of t
For most of the morning we rode in silence. It was a three-day ride to Ruen and already I was tired of his silent treatment. I was glad that he kept the pace slow, but I knew it was infuriating him. At this pace it would take us more than a week.Midnight and I followed Blaze, watching her tail swish away the flies that buzzed around her. I stared at Blake’s back, constantly watching it as he moved with the natural flow of his horse, the muscles tensing and relaxing with each wave of motion.We passed Admonia Lake and I felt a shiver as I looked up at the snow-capped mountains. The days were starting to cool off now that the cold season had begun, and it was creeping into my skin, like the chill that it brought across the land.Dark clouds rolled across in front of the sun, sucking the warmth from the day and from my body.Ahead of me, I saw Blake shiver in a momentary chill.By lunch, we had stopped to make camp by the edge of Admonia Lake,
When I woke, my body ached with the abuse I had given it over the past few days. I was now regretting not giving myself the chance to recover properly. The hard ground hadn’t exactly made the best bed.Blake was next to me, his eyes cautious until he noticed me peeking at him.“Morning,” he said awkwardly, as he pulled himself away and sat a few inches behind me.I rolled over on the grass so the view of the lake was visible behind him. He looked uncomfortable.“Sorry,” I mumbled. I couldn’t look at him. I was such a coward. I was afraid of the flush that I could feel creeping into my cold cheeks. It wouldn’t be hard to miss.Having him sleep next to me had resulted in the best night sleep I had had since, well, the last time I had slept in his bed. My face flushed hot at the memory.I pulled my hair out of my long messed up braid and brushed my fingers through it to get out the tangles. It was a goo
I sunk lower into the warm water, my muscles soaking in the heat and helping them to relax. I had already spent ages simply soaking in the tub and letting the bubbles from the soap refresh my skin. I scrubbed at my hair with the putrid smelling shampoo provided, but rinsed it with my own body soap which I had taken from my room in Callad.Once I felt satisfied with my cleanliness and as relaxed as I thought I could get, I moved back into the bedroom, fixing up my clean shirt and pants before slipping on my boots.Noise from the street outside echoed loudly within my room, and I moved to the window to look out of it. The streets of Ruen lay spread out beneath me. It was a tangled mess of mismatched houses and windy streets mashed together to create the city. In the darkness, under the full moon, everything was cast in a ghostly light that created a beautiful, idyllic effect.A scream below snapped me from my daydream and voices began shouting and screaming
Blake came the next morning, just as he said he would, to take me home. I shuddered at the thought. Home. Did I really have a home when I thought about it? I was homeless. A wanderer of the streets, stealing scraps of food wherever I could, just to get by and to survive another day. I had become so accustomed to the life I was beginning to lead. But I was just kidding myself; it was all a lie.Now I would have to go back to reality and give up everything that I had become so used to. I looked down at my boots, feeling a heavy weight settle in on my stomach.My heart sank even further as Blake led me through the crowded, curving streets of Ruen. People streamed along beside us, their faces joyous and excited. The cooling season festival began tonight, meaning that everyone was on a high as they waited out the day until night came and the celebrations would begin. I yearned to be a part of the crowd as they babbled animatedly about the performers that would be here this
I sat in the chair fidgeting with my clothes, waiting for the questions to start, but Blake was too preoccupied with other things. He ran his hands through his hair and mumbled to himself, his movements agitated and erratic.Something big must have been happening for him to act that way. He paced back and forward across the small room we had been given from the inn owner.This inn was not as exquisite as the last. The innkeeper was a cheery young woman with rosy cheeks, and a bubbly personality, but had a keen ear for gossip, much the same as the last. I was glad to have been passed out when Blake had brought me in. Right now I didn’t need to deal with people sticking their nose into my business. But I bet she was all excited about me. Someone being brought in unconscious was always going to be a subject of interest.“Whereishe?” Blake growled suddenly.I jumped off the chair in surprise and Blake gave me a look that
I blinked away the blood, pulling at the manacles that bound my hands. Boggs stood above me his slimy hair messed around his red face. It looked like he had been running.I tugged on the manacles, feeling them bite into my wrists as they cut into my skin. I hissed with the pain.“Don’t fight, soon enough we will be on our way out of here.”“Why?”Boggs laughed, a slow drawl. “I thought you were supposed to be clever?”“Isla promised.”At the mention of Isla, fear entered Boggs’ features, which he masked with a sullen look. “Isla knows nothing about this. She thought I was working for her.” He smiled bitterly. “And the whole time I was reporting to another agent. Someone far more powerful, someone who is paying through the nose for you. They will be more than pleased.”I wanted to laugh. He was foolish. The Magicians would have been so proud. I had done