My fingers started to tremble and shake and the sun’s blinding light seemed to bleed itself right out of my chest. I could feel the casting sputtering inside me: a dying flame. My magic had reached its limit.
I bit my lip. A pain casting in the height of such power was too risky to partake. Not on my own.
Exhaling slowly, I let the rocks return to the ground and then took a deep swallow of mountain air to clear my head.
“That was amazing, love.” Two hands slipped around my waist from behind, and I leaned into Darren’s arms, letting the rush of victory wash over like the sweet scent of pine.
“I’ve been practicing.” I knew I was preening. I had just surpassed his skill during our apprenticeship.
The prince smiled against the back of my ear, lips pressing into the skin just below. A shiver ran down my spine. “Yes, you have.”
“Am I better than you?” The words spilled from my lips before I had a chance to catch myself.
Darren smiled and released me, pointing to a large shadow in front of us. I lost my breath: the mountain. He couldn’t, could he? The prince took a step forward and raised his arm.
I watched as the giant base splintered and groaned, a terrible ear-shattering grate. Stones spewed out in every which direction as the jagged peak rose up into the sky, blacking out the sun so that the entire land was cast into shade.
The world became night.
The non-heir turned to me with a smirk. “Keep trying, Ryiah.”
****
I woke up with a start.
My whole body was sore and aching, and every muscle felt as though it had been torn from my limbs and twisted back into place—the wrong place.
The summer heat hadn’t helped; my sheets were pooling with sweat. I threw them off in disgust. Usually the keep was cool enough, but I suspected my dream had played a part in the mess I saw now.
I had spent the past couple days brushing up my routine while the three patrols on leave had all but disappeared from the keep. Sure, there were still stragglers and the squad in charge of the keep itself, but half of the men were visiting in Tijan or one of the nearby towns.
“Can’t sleep?” Paige sat up on her bunk, rubbing her eyes.
“I had that dream again.” I groaned. “I think the gods are trying to tell me to stop sleeping altogether. It’s the only way I’ll catch up to him.”
The knight yawned. “The gods do not waste their time dallying in mortal affairs. That dream means you are worrying too much. It’s playing on your fear—”
I shot her a half-hearted glare. “I’m not worrying. I’m tired. I’m sore. I’m even hungry, but I’m not worried.”
“Whatever you say, my lady.” She started to roll back on her side, and I tossed my pillow at her.
“It’s time to go to the practice courts.”
“Now?” She didn’t even open her eyes. “It’s too early. The sun won’t rise for two more hours—and you, my lady, are always the last one to rise.”
I ignored her and began changing into my clothes, one painful tug at a time. “The dream was a sign.” I gritted my teeth. “I need to train harder.” Another painful tug and the tunic was over my head. “If I don’t…” Ow. “I’m never going to stand a chance against him.” I bit back a sigh. “Or any of those other first-rank mages.” And I wanted to. All those years of trials and tribulations. I was tired of being second-best.
I wanted the Black Robe.
Paige rose, with an exasperated sigh.
“That’s the spirit.” I shot her a grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to include you in my acceptance speech.”
She followed me out the door, muttering under her breath. At first I was too busy feigning enthusiasm to catch what she was saying, but as we were sparring later outside the keep it returned to me: “And they told me to keep watch over a ‘lady.’”
I couldn’t help but smirk. A lady.
I lunged and defeated her guard.
I was a war mage.
****
I spent the rest of the week in the practice courts. Endlessly drilling. Over and over until I was limping back to the keep each night. If my guard had an opinion for why I was pushing myself so hard she was wise enough not to comment.
Every single drop of sweat was a testament to how deeply I wanted that robe. I cast until I was hunched over the ground, vomiting the contents of whatever meal I had managed to force down just hours before. Then I pain cast.
Paige had one of the keep’s healers nearby, just in case. Luckily, four years of Master Byron’s scrupulous gaze had paid off, and I knew just how far I could push myself before breaching those limits.
By the time the week had ended I was ready to return to service. Someone must have told the others how hard I was drilling because I got nine reassuring pats on the back the morning we set out. They didn’t comment directly, but the Candidacy was all anyone could talk about.