Perry sighed loudly. "Well there's goes any semblance of sleep."
Master Byron informed the soldier that we would join the commander and her men at once – just as soon as we exchanged our mounts for fresh ones at the nearest village. When the soldier departed the Master of Combat turned to all three factions to remind us that we were now serving as an extension of the local regiment.
"I had hoped we would have a couple of days to rest up before your first patrol – but it appears you will be starting right away."
It was a two-day journey, Byron added, but it wouldn't be too hard as we had enough supplies to last us the rest of the way there. Once we reached Mahj we would be housed with the rest of the regiment in makeshift tents since the town was already inhabited by local miners and a small handful of desert farmers. We would need to treat our orders with extreme prudence. Salt was a vital trade between Jerar and its easterly neighbors, the Borea Isles and Pythus. We could not afford to lose such a valuable resource.
"The bandits will be less skilled than an enemy knight," he concluded, "but it worries me that the locals suspect magic at play. Exercise extreme caution and make sure to obey all of Commander Ama's orders. This is not a mock battle. The masters and I don't want to lose any apprentices in this deployment."
****
I dug my shovel into the dusty earth, scattering sand and rocks as I tossed its contents behind me. I wiped my brow, shivering and hot at the same time as I continued digging the women's trenches for the Ishir and Mahj regiment. It was hard, dirty work.
It didn't surprise me that while everyone else was setting up camp I was the one servicing the tasks no one wanted. Master Byron's dislike had no end to its unpleasant consequences. I longed to be with the other Combat apprentices taking care of the horses, cleaning the weapons, counting the inventory, prepping the cots… but instead I was stuck here. Digging trenches.
Alex had been put to work with the rest of Restoration – there were already casualties to the battle of the Mahj salt flats – and he was busy learning and using his magic to make a difference. Alchemy was busy prepping various restorative and fighting drafts to help with the efforts as well. Both factions were behind the scenes, so to speak, so their masters had let them actively participate in the local efforts.
Master Byron, on the other hand, was keeping Combat as far from battle as possible. "They have enough warriors," he'd chastised our group for complaining, "what the regiment needs is swift hands to help with their camp's upkeep since their Combat mages will be too busy to do it themselves. I am not going to lose my apprentices because they are too big for their britches." The locals, of course, couldn't help us because half of them had been barricaded in the mines, and the few farmers that the Mahj oasis held were busy preparing meals for the whole camp.
I groaned. The regiment mages were getting all of the glory while the Combat apprentices were stuck playing house. This was not the life of a warrior I had imagined. I knew it was wrong to be jealous – especially when I had seen the injuries of Mahj's local command - but it was impossible not to resent the others after months of preparing for battle.
"You would get a lot further if you stomped your shovel blade along the surface before digging."
I paused to look up from my labor and see Darren, holding a water skin in one hand as he leaned against a nearby palm. The non-heir had been one of the lucky ones to guard the oasis instead of performing menial tasks.
I swallowed, remembering the way our last conversation had transpired. I had managed to put it out of my mind until now, but I couldn't help remembering how Ian had said I'd been right to do what I did in that canyon. I had yelled at the prince for helping me win, and I thought I had been justified. But the only reason Ian had been upset with me was because he thought it meant I liked the prince better, not because I had been a bad friend.
Which meant Darren had been right all along. And I had been a bad friend – only not to the person I'd thought.
Following the non-heir's advice I loosened the topsoil first and was surprised how much easier it was to dig. Right again. Sighing, I set down the shovel and approached the fig tree Darren was residing under.
I opened my mouth to speak but Darren spoke first. "I'm sorry."
I shook my head. "No, it's me who should be apologizing."
"Ryiah." Darren's garnet eyes met mine and he smiled. It was the first time I had seen him smile without the trace of sarcasm I was so accustomed. I lost my breath. "Just let me apologize."
I started to say he didn't need to, but the way he was looking at me made the words get lost in my throat.
"I was right to tell you to trick Ian. Any Combat mage would have pressed the same advantage-"