Practicing a simple casting over and over to varying degrees of concentration was tedious, but after Darren’s remarks the day I left Devon, I was determined to try anything and everything in the hopes he had missed something important on his own. Because now more than ever I was determined to win.
I had always seen Darren as a rival, but for the longest time I hadn’t seriously contemplated my role. Our trial year I had just been lucky to snag an apprenticeship in the same faction. During the apprenticeship most of our competitive nature had been lost to an uncertain romance and Master Byron’s bias. But now that we were training apart and with the Candidacy quickly approaching? Now that I was only one rank away from the non-heir’s status? Now that he said I would never be as good as him?
Now our rivalry had reared its ugly head, and I for one embraced it. Some small part of me had always known it would come to this. Neither Darren nor I were blameless. No one ever made it into Combat without ambition, and those of us that did had been cultivating a lust for power for years.
Common sense dictated I accept my inevitable loss.
But I was tired of being second-best.
****
“So Ray got promoted while I was away?” I stared at the missing mage’s spot in our riding formation. I had noticed his absence when my unit had returned from patrols, but I had assumed he had taken a leave of absence. Advancement so soon into our service hadn’t crossed my mind, and even if it had I wouldn’t have thought Ray would be the first to obtain it. Ian, perhaps, with his extra year of expertise or me. But Ray…he hadn’t saved our unit during the bandit attack in the mountains, and…
You might as well admit the truth. I frowned as the bitter thought took over. You are a better rank.
Maybe I was mistaken. Maybe there was another reason.
“What…” I cleared my throat and tried again. “What wonderful news.”
Lief didn’t notice the strange lilt to my tone. “His performance was exceptional. He will do well in Sir Maxon’s squad.” The man gave me an easy grin. “Don’t worry, Ryiah, I suspect you will be next.”
But why wasn’t I first?
I waited until the lead mage was busy in conversation with my knight before I pulled closer to Ian, slowing my mare’s progress. Maybe now that our leader was gone he would be willing to share an opinion.
The next couple of minutes passed in silence.
“Great news for Ray,” I prompted.
Ian adjusted his reigns. “I should say so.”
“It doesn’t bother you at all?”
The curly-haired mage gave me a puzzled smile. “Why would it bother me?”
“Lief just insinuated you would be last up for a promotion.” He had also stated that Ray’s performance had been exceptional—when I had been the one to save our unit from the bandits. But if I mentioned that now it would sound like I was jealous.
Maybe I was. Ray was a great person, and a good Combat mage, but even he had admitted to being less powerful than I. Why shouldn’t Ian or I get the promotion first? I had the best rank and Ian was ahead of both of us in years of service.
It made no sense.
“Oh, that?” Ian shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I trust in Lief’s judgment. He sees things the rest of us miss.”
Even Byron? Well, the master was only paying close attention to Darren in our apprenticeship anyway. Suddenly, I was nervous. What if I wasn’t even second rank? What if it was supposed to be Ray, and Master Byron had just been too nervous around Marius to say so? The Black Mage had paid me special attention to annoy my training master—perhaps he had never noticed there was someone better.
Is that what Darren was insinuating the day I left?
No. I dug my nails into my palms to draw my thoughts away from the doubt. Don’t start to question it now. Lief just made a mistake. People make mistakes all the time.
But what if it was Byron who made the mistake? My head hurt. I buried my face in my hands and groaned. Stop thinking, Ryiah. Any more questions were only going to bring out every insecurity I had ever fought since that first day at the Academy.
I needed to change the subject, fast.
I opened my mouth but Ian beat me to it. “So I heard some interesting news.”
I started. “Y-you did?”
“Rumor is going around that Commander Nyx received a generous sum from the Crown.” The corners of his eyes were crinkled. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you, Ry?”
“It was your idea,” I mumbled. “If you hadn’t suggested it, I never would have thought to ask.” For all the trouble I had put Ian through in the course of our apprenticeship, here was something that I could do for him.
He cocked his head to the side. “Did you go to the king directly, or…?”
“Darren. He petitioned his brother.” I paused, guiltily. There were only three people I personally knew who held the crown prince with as little regard as I: one of them was Ian and the other two were my best friend and twin. Now was probably not the best time to mention that Blayne’s aid was a form of “amends.” “Blayne holds more sway with his father.”