Ian was just Ian. When the apprentices had arrived at the Academy to pick up their newest recruits, most of the older students had been wary of me. I was the sixteen-year-old girl who had destroyed the school's armory during the first-year trials. I was the sixth name to be called – an occurrence that was unusually rare in the Academy's habit of picking five students to apprentice per faction.
Ian hadn't cared. The moment the third-year had spotted me he had let out a loud whoop and set about to collecting his winnings from the rest of his friends. Apparently there had been a wager going for which of us first-years would make it; since I had been considered a long shot during the mid-winter duels Ian had been the only one to bet on me for an apprenticeship. I was surprised the boy had even remembered me from our short time during the solstice ball, but the self-proclaimed "underdog" had assured me he remembered "everyone that counted."
Since my apprenticeship started Ian had quickly become one of my closest friends, after Ella. The third-year's sarcasm matched my own, and he knew firsthand how horrible Byron could be. After all, until I arrived Ian had been the master's least favorite student.
"What are you doing?" I scolded my friend lightly. "You should be mentoring Darren."
Ian chuckled. "That self-important prodigy? He'll be fine without me…" He gave me a disarming smile. "You, my dear, are the one who needs help." He hooked my good arm with his own. "That prince has the training master worshipping the very ground he walks on. Darren could be us and Byron would still insist he was the next Black Mage."
"Byron's going to stick you with latrine duty," I warned, grinning despite myself.
Ian's green eyes danced wickedly. "He can try – but I'll just tell him it interferes with my mentoring…"
I laughed loudly. "I look forward to hearing his response."
"Anything for Byron's least favorite apprentice. It's the least I can do since you took over my torch."
"I wouldn't be so – ouch!" I ducked under a low palm's hanging branches and skimmed my bad arm against the side of its trunk.
"You okay there, warrior girl?"
"I'm fine," I said through gritted teeth. "I just want this pain to end."
"We are almost there." Ian pointed to a set of wooden doors protruding from the base of a large cliff, a quarter of a mile away.
Like most of the city's housing, the infirmary was built into the rocky face of desert crags, a seemingly endless elevation that separated the Red Desert from the northern plains of the capital city, Devon, and the rest of Jerar. I had always heard tales of a desert city carved into mountains, but I had still been speechless the first day we arrived.
"Thank the gods."
The two of us continued along the dirt path, through the doors, and into the dank, torch-lit passage of the building. The air was cooler here. There were only two guards posted at the entrance. They recognized us by our apprentice garb and let us in without hesitation. The passage split into three separate channels – I led Ian down the one to the right.
As soon as we had taken a couple of steps I heard the master of Restoration's sharp, clipped voice instructing on the proper non-magical treatment for scorpion stings. Ugh. Ian and I exchanged amused expressions and entered the Restoration apprentices' classroom.
Normally, one would seek out the city's main healing center to the left of the main corridor, but students were only allowed to be treated there if their injuries were grave enough… If they weren't, we were "lessons" for the Restoration apprentices.
They had to practice on someone.
"Ry!"
Master Joan's lecture ceased the moment we entered the classroom. She shot my twin a dirty look for interrupting her talk as she confronted Ian and I with a cross expression. "What are your grievances, apprentices?"
"My right arm." I tried to avoid the curious stares from the rest of Alex's faction. I knew they wanted to be healers, but it still sent an unsettling quiver down my spine when they looked intrigued – instead of horrified - by our injuries. No one should ever be excited to see blood.
"And you?" She eyed Ian suspiciously.
Ian grinned sheepishly. "Too much sun?"
"Out!" The master pointed to the door.
Ian winked at me – fully expecting the master's response - and departed the room with a friendly wave. As soon as he disappeared several of the female apprentices sighed. I hid a smile. I wasn't the only one who had noticed my friend's good looks.
"Everyone – we will continue the lesson after we have finished Apprentice Ryiah's healing. Ryiah, please list your symptoms so that we can begin to consider a treatment."
I began to describe my injury – pain up and down the arm, swelling, and stiffness in the elbow. I wondered if it was broken.
"Break." My sandy-haired twin was the first to speak.
"And how do we confirm diagnosis?"