Ella blushed. "Ryiah, I really wish you hadn't been there."
"It wasn't my intention." I yawned loudly. My head pounded awfully: the draught had been a terrible idea. I would be feeling sick the entire ride out and this time we would be in snow for at least three days before we passed into warmer climate.
Looking out at the freezing landscape I shivered and wrapped myself tighter in my furs. At least in our morning practice we'd been able to stay warm by activity; now there was nothing to keep my blood flowing as I sat astride my mare for ten hours at a time.
I hated being cold. I considered casting a small fire in my hand to keep warm, but I knew if Byron caught me he'd be livid. I needed to learn to deal with the elements the same as everyone else. When I was serving in a regiment someday I'd be asked to conserve my powers for battle. "Wasting magic on mundane comforts" could be the difference between victory and defeat.
The irony was that Ella hated the cold even more than me – yet she seemed blissfully ignorant, undoubtedly brought on by her happy daydreams regarding my twin.
"Why were you in that corridor anyway?"
Ella's question brought me back to focus, but I blanched at responding so close to the others. We were riding out in a two-columned formation and the icy winds made it easier for people to listen than talk. I didn't want the whole faction hearing about my strange run-in with Ian, or how I had come so close to begging him to leave Lynn… Or how he had insinuated I still had feelings for Darren. That would be the worst humiliation of all.
"I cast a sound barrier," Ella told me quickly, "why else do you think I would have been willing to discuss Alex?"
I glanced around our surroundings. I couldn't see anything. "Where? How?"
"It's something I taught myself years ago," she explained, "you can't see it because it's intended to deflect noise, not sight." She grinned. "Watch this!" The girl leaned back in her saddle and clapped loudly behind her.
Nothing. There wasn't a sound. But there should have been – especially when Priscilla turned around from her saddle and opened her mouth to make a crude remark to Ella for interrupting her quiet.
I made a mental note to ask Ella how to cast that barrier in the future. That skill would be very valuable – especially if it meant that private conversations would actually stay private, and that I'd be able to block out Byron and Priscilla's insult.
I took a deep breath, and then proceeded to detail the rest of the previous night – not sparing myself as I described what had been said between Ian and I. When I was finished she didn't look surprised.
"You can't blame him. He's afraid of getting hurt."
"I would never hurt him!"
Ella shook her head smiling sadly. "Ryiah, you can lie to him but not to me. You still like Darren."
I swallowed, a lump stuck to the bottom of my throat. "But I don't want to," I finally said. "And I do care for Ian. I don't fancy myself na?ve, it's Ian that I want."
"But that's not enough. You need to show him." Her eyes were somber. "He might be weak enough to listen to your words, but he won't believe them until you put his fear to rest."
"But he is avoiding me!"
"Find a way, Ryiah. If you really want Ian, you will find a way."
"Is that what you told Alex?" I stared at her wonderingly.
"Yes. But like you, I'm not sure your brother will know how. It's an easy thing to want someone, it's another to love them."
CHAPTER SIX
"When we reach the barracks I expect each one of you to brush down your steed and put your tacks away prior to settling into your meal." Master Byron's voice rang out clearly in the frigid desert air.
I rubbed my numb hands, teeth chattering. So much for a warm desert – the plains we had passed through had been better. Who would expect the hot sands of Ishir to be so cold in January? Glancing around I saw the rest of the factions giving out small puffs of warm breath: the only source of heat for miles.
We had just passed through the Red Desert Gate and we had ten more miles before we would reach the city's outpost. The giant gate was the only manmade barrier in the entire bluff wall separating Red Desert from the rest of Jerar.
The sudden thundering of hooves drew me from my thoughts. I stared out into the darkness – searching for the source of the noise, half-wondering if we were being attacked - when I spotted one of the Ishir Regiment riders galloping toward us.
"Master Byron, Master Joan, Master Perry!" the man practically fell out of his saddle as he pulled to a sudden halt in front of us.
"What is it, soldier?" The Master of Alchemy nudged her horse forward to peer down at the breathless young man. "Is something wrong?"
"Ma'am, we've just received new orders. Commander Ama asked me to come find you right away. The Red Dune bandits have taken over the Mahj salt mines again. The local infantry couldn't hold them off – we suspect they're using magic - and our whole regiment has been ordered to help!"