But I was not going to think about that now. I had three years to change his mind.
Taking a long swallow of a chilled juice that one of the servants had offered me I focused on the rest of the ballroom crowd. While most of the others were regulars at court whose only interest lie in what their highborn friends were wearing, there was still a large number of mages in attendance – including the Colored Robes who had come to officiate the ascension and offer congratulations to their faction's newest members.
The Black Mage was wearing his signature robe. The silken black layers were etched in an intricate gold design with small red and yellow gemstones dotting its fallen hood. He looked uncomfortable in such lavish dress – probably because mages only wore their robes during public occasions, choosing to spend the rest of their time in more comfortable garb for battle. I could see the two gold earrings in his left ear, dangling under the bright lights of the hall.
I longed to approach him. The dark skinned man with the piercing green eyes had gone against tradition and vouched for me to become the sixth apprentice of my year. That alone would have been enough to make me worship the man, but he was also the best Combat mage in the realm. The man had won the Candidacy fifteen years ago and before that he had served as one of the leading mages in the Crown's Army.
"He won't bite, you know."
I blushed. "You caught me."
Ian grinned and grabbed my arm, dragging me forward to the most important, most powerful mage of Jerar. "Hey, Marius, I think you have an admirer."
I turned the shade of the tapestry behind me as the Black Mage swung around, white teeth flashing. "Is that Master Byron's least favorite apprentice I hear calling my name?" The man's tone implied a longstanding joke.
"Not anymore." Ian nudged me forward, chuckling. "Ryiah has taken over the job for me."
Recognition flashed across the Black Mage's features and he smiled. "Ah, Ryiah, well it is only fitting. That cranky old frog would hate the first-year I personally nominated." He held out his hand and I shook it, palms sweaty and unable to breathe.
After a couple minutes of listening to easy banter between the curly-haired third-year and Marius, I finally found the courage to speak. "I am so grateful you vouched for my apprenticeship." I took a deep breath and continued quickly before I lost my nerve. "And I hope I do not disappoint you."
The man raised an amused brow. "My dear, you can not disappoint me – why the prince was just telling me earlier you and he led the mentees to victory for the first time in a mock battle in over a decade." His eyes danced. "Two second-years… why, I might be in the presence of my successor now. What do you think, Ryiah? Are you going to be taking part in the next Candidacy?"
Was I dreaming? This had to be a dream. Because in what life would the most powerful mage of the realm be suggesting I was a contender for the robe. Not the traditional plain black robe of my faction – but the special robe, the only one etched in gold and encrusted with gems. The one passed down over seventy years among the Candidacy's winning mages. The Colored Robe. The robe that made a mage the Black Mage.
"Well now you've done it." Ian grinned at Marius. "She won't be able to talk all night."
The Black Mage was being called away by the other two Council members. He sighed wearily. "Politics again… I apologize to you both but I must return to my Council." His eyes crinkled as they fell on me. "I hope this isn't the last time we talk, dear Ryiah. I look forward to hearing your accomplishments as the years progress… perhaps my status will seem a little less daunting then." Then the man gave a final nod to the both of us and disappeared into the crowd.
"I have never seen you speechless." Ian was watching me with wonder.
I made a face and shoved him gently. "You've never put me in front of my idol before, either."
Ian caught my arm and his hand lingered on it just a moment too long. "Meet me in the library." There was a hunger in his eyes that sent a stampede of sparks stammering across my chest. "No one will be in that drafty old place – not with the feast going on all night out here."
I had to remind myself to breathe, and when I finally did, butterflies were flooding my spine, from the top of my neck to the tip of my toes. It was the feeling I had every time Ian touched me - every time he whispered that he want to see me alone. We hadn't had many opportunities in our constant deployment – but here at the palace…
"I-I'll leave in a minute," I stuttered. "There's just something I have to do first."
"Don't take too long."