By this time I had given up expectation. The second I entered the enormous castle I was ready, and I was not disappointed. Marbled tile covered the floors in elaborate design, a mixture of red, gold, and purple swirl. The walls were dark stone, covered in gold and purple tapestries that depicted various battles and past monarchy in succession. Elaborate gold-plated pillars highlighted the corners of each room as giant stained glass windows let in a cascade of colorful lights…
Everywhere I looked corridors branched into twisting passages, stairs, and chambers in a maze of direction. There were so many twists and turns I didn't know how I would ever find my way out.
"They've got three libraries, two ballrooms, the throne room, a grand dining room for the king's family and special guests, two large halls for the nobility to take their own meals, two kitchens, four servants quarters, a privy at the end of each floor and at least two hundred chambers besides the ones reserved for royalty and the King's Regiment." Ella couldn't contain the irony in her tone as she described the palace – down to the exact count of jewels encrusted in its ceilings.
"Well they say Jerar is the wealthiest nation," Ian remarked casually.
"It's second." All of us jumped as Darren appeared behind us. I hadn't even realized he'd been listening. I had thought he was in the front of the group with Priscilla, Eve, and the rest of the highborns reminiscing on their shared childhood.
"Caltoth is the wealthiest," Darren expanded. "We have more land, citizens, power… but they have the ruby and emerald mines in the North."
"That many rubies, huh?" Ian grinned. "Their streets must be paved with them."
Darren's jaw clenched but he said nothing. When he finally spoke there was a stiffness to his words. "The Caltothians are actually very frugal. My father suspects that is because they are using their wealth to build a secret army." He raised a brow. "Though their ambassadors have denied this whenever they visit."
I stared at the prince. "Do you think Caltoth is using their wealth to buy off our mages as well?" I hadn't forgotten the rebel attacks in Mahj.
"I wouldn't be surprised." The prince gave a curt nod to the rest of my group, letting his eyes fall on me last. "If you'll excuse me, I have some affairs to attend to now that I am home."
Darren retreated with a quick explanation to the masters. The rest of us followed the palace servants to the chambers we would be residing in for the next week before the ascension. While the fifth-years' affair would only last one day, we had the six days prior to enjoy ourselves. It was the only respite we would receive each year until our own ascension. As soon as the ceremony was over we would be returning to the Academy with most of the king's court to watch the first-year trials and pick up our newest batch of apprentices.
"Do you want to take a tour of the city after you've unpacked?"
I smiled up at Ian – he had walked me to my new chambers instead of following the rest of the young men to the men's one hallway over.
"I would love to."
"Then I would love to take you." He started to pull me close, but the two of us broke apart when the sound of angry footsteps sounded behind us.
"Apprentice Ian," the Master of Restoration snapped, "you know the Code of Conduct! Do not make me report the two of you to Master Byron."
"I'm sorry, Master Joan." Ian gave her his most disarming smile. "I was only assuring Apprentice Ryiah safe passage."
She narrowed her eyes. "You are lucky I detest your master as much as I do – if I didn't you would already be reported for your flagrant sass."
"Yes, ma'am." Ian was grinning. It was no secret Master Joan hated Master Byron for his sexist ways. She would sooner swallow poison us than report us. The man complained loudly to anyone who would listen that she and Perry were an "abomination" as female mages.
"See to it that we don't have this conversation again."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Apprentice Ryiah." The woman turned her focus to me. "Since you and that boy are in no apparent hurry, I will need your assistance returning those books to the palace library." She pointed to a mountain of crates beside her door. "I'd have the servants take them, but we wouldn't want you Combat apprentices to lose that muscle you worked so hard building would we?"
I nodded meekly. So much for that tour of the city.
****
Seven days came and went before I even knew they had passed. In no time at all the robe ceremony for the fifth-years ascensions had passed and I found myself in a crowded ballroom filled with hundreds of simpering courtiers and regiment mages who had come to celebrate the fourteen new apprentices to join their ranks.
"I can't wait until it's us." Ella stood next to me against the large tapestried wall, gazing in earnest at the four new Combat mages wearing their black mage's robes proudly. Their faces were flush with excitement and they were currently in talks with the regiment commanders of some of Jerar's most prominent townships. Whenever an apprentice became a mage they were offered positions in accordance with their rank during the ascension ceremonies.
Unfortunately that rank was decided by Master Byron. Whose bias had led to fourteen straight years of women apprentices ranking last.