“What are you doing here? I heard…” He tried again. “I thought you would be at the palace.”
I flushed. Our history and the awkward context of our present conversation were not lost on me. “No—I mean, yes, I will be, eventually, for the wedding, but…”
“She’s here to make her mark,” Paige interrupted, “the same as the rest of you.”
Ian noticed the other woman and frowned. “And you are?”
“The knight charged with her safekeeping.”
I smiled apologetically. “Paige is my personal guard. She was the only way I could serve outside the capital.”
The two exchanged wary glances.
“King’s Regiment?” Ian stared at the girl.
She met his gaze head on. “By Crown orders. To protect the prince’s interests.”
I changed the subject hastily. “You grew tired of Port Langli so quickly?”
He hesitated. “I got a better offer.”
“In Ferren’s Keep?”
“Well, this is where I grew up.” Ian fiddled with a leather cord at his wrist. “Nyx and my parents are good friends. There has always been a position for me here. ”
“Oh.” I had forgotten.
“I suppose congratulations are in order.”
I glanced up and saw Ian’s poignant expression. There was no mistaking his meaning. “T-thank you.”
An awkward silence followed. I was searching my thoughts for the right thing to say, and I could see Ian struggling to do the same.
Just then Ray appeared, sidling between us to grab me by the arm and spare the rest of the uncomfortable exchange. “Ry, are you ready for your first official day as a war mage?”
“Only my whole life.”
****
“So, you are the infamous Ryiah?”
I stood silently, back erect, as the squad leader circled me slowly, taking in my narrow frame with a studious gleam. I was aware of every fault in my appearance—from the way his eyes lingered on the small tear at my sleeve to the slight pause as he caught my scarlet-red locks—still sticking up all over the place in my rush to make the morning’s meet.
Sir Gavin took in my stubborn chin and the way I shifted nervously under the stare of all one hundred of our unit’s members. He pursed his thin lips and nodded approvingly.
Apparently, I had passed inspection.
“You have quite a reputation,” the knight admitted. His voice was rough and loud, but not unkind. “If I hadn’t been present during the prince’s and your heroics the year before I’m not sure I would believe it now.”
Was that a compliment or an insult? I swallowed and hoped for the former. “Thank you, sir.”
He nodded approvingly. “My squad is one of twenty in this keep. I understand the apprentices served with one of the inner patrols during field training but your experience will be quite different as a true member of the regiment. Commander Nyx has all recruits start with me, and all of my patrols are along the border. It’s a right of passage for newcomers to help acclimate everyone to the more dangerous aspects of our work. For that reason there is a promotion every time someone joins the keep. You will have several opportunities for advancement, so long as you follow orders.”
I perked up instantly.
“That said there are also too many deaths.” The knight’s expression was somber. “Everyone in the regiment understands that all lives are not equal. It is an unfortunate truth, but a mage’s capacity for magic outweighs a soldier’s life ten-to-one. During your apprenticeship this rule was undoubtedly brought up, but never is it so vital as the present. We have less than twelve mages per squad, and with your addition it comes to four Combat in this unit.”
Only four? I counted mentally: Ray, Ian, me, and one other person—the lead mage. Four out of one hundred. Which meant there were less than two hundred mages total in the keep, and no more than eighty of them as Combat.
“You are, of course, expected to engage during any attacks that take place, but you must exercise caution. When we go on patrols, soldiers and knights take the brunt of dangerous tasks, however you will still have more than your fair share of opportunities to partake.” The leader gripped the shoulder of a tall young man standing next to him. “This is Lief and he is the squad’s lead for Combat. You will defer to his call in all circumstances that require a mage’s judgment instead of my own.”
Lief lifted his hand in silent greeting, choppy blond locks framing his square face as he did. He wasn’t much older than the others. Maybe early-thirties at most. And he seemed friendly too.
A nice change from Master Byron.
The squad leader continued. “Now, we have far too many men and women to handle introductions, but I trust you’ll come to know everyone in time. We have two more days at base, and then we will be setting out for another patrol. Five squads service the keep, and the rest regularly patrol specific sections of the border. We spend three weeks abroad followed by one week of respite and rotate with the rest of the units. Should we be called to action, respite will be delayed as long as necessary. Have you any questions?”