slipped out and briskly made his way down the road, grabbing a flame from one of the lanterns to tuck in a hand.
The lights of Jaden soon faded away, and Demi cut up one side of the mountain, making his way out of view of the castle. The wind blew fiercely, slapping snow against his face sharply, but he pressed on until he could find shelter. A little way up, he found an outcropping of stone and tucked back in to avoid the elements. He drew on the little flame in his hand to warm him.
The man appeared suddenly between blinks. He stepped from the weather into the outcrop where the flame illuminated his face, old, knowledgeable, cruel.
“Y’ have mine book, boy?” Ryker Slade asked.
“I don’ know if this is the one you wanted,” Demi replied and pulled a leather-bound book from his satchel, handing it over. “I bookmarked a passage.”
Ryker flipped it open and skimmed the page. “Nay, this is ne the one.”
“Please, please give me another chance.”
“Why ever bother?” Ryker stepped away, but Demi reached out and brazenly grabbed his coat sleeve.
“I can do better with more time. Please don’ hurt my mother.”
Ryker leaned back into the outcrop. “Where did y’ find this book?”
“The library.”
“Where in the library?”
“Ancient Rulers Section.”
Ryker shook his head. “Y’ need t’ get int’ the Forbidden Section.”
“I need permission from the Head Mage t’ do tha’.”
“Then what are y’ waiting par? Y’ have until the new moon. Meet me here again with better news or I start trimming your mother’s nails a little too close. Or maybe I’ll send y’ t’ be one of Maxine’s pets.”
“I’ll get the information. I’ll read all night.”
“Y’ best do so” The Arch Mage vanished.
Demi rushed down the slope as quick as the snow permitted back to Castle Jaden. He did not know how Ryker had found him on the road to Jaden when they were traveling. The Arch Mage suddenly appeared one evening and vowed that if Demi did not bring him information on the death of his Arch Mage Dorian Lark, Ryker would kill his mother. Demi had no chance of negotiation or refusal, and no way to bring anyone in on the threat. If anyone learned, Demi would be killed for treason, and his mother would die.
He was searched at the gate before they let him in. Once inside he gazed up at the Head Mage’s rooms, but the fires were out in both hearths. Demi briefly considered bringing the man in on the secret but knew the Head Mage would refuse him and throw him away in the dungeon. The only thing he could do now was access the Forbidden Section.
Chapter 8
A crowd had gathered to watch, wrapped in their cloaks and scarves against the chilling morning air. Mikelle observed as Gabriel composed himself in his familiar ways, straightening and set his gaze ahead. He preferred to train alone, but he knew it was better for people to watch. Castle Jaden needed to know how truly powerful their Head Mage was, and Gabriel needed to be prepared for a crowd during his battle with the Arch Mages. He broke into a run down one of the reservoir’s docks and jumped feet first into the icy water.
The water bent around him in a cylindrical arc and he landed on one foot precariously balanced on seemingly nothing. His hands moved fast with a net of blue strings as he set the other foot down on the surface of the water. It suddenly encompassed his legs in a swirling froth, rising out of the water, and a column of water took him skyward.
He towered above them held only by the spiraling water. It cut from under him, falling into the reservoir as he followed. He hit the water on his back, but rather than sinking with a splash, the water rippled like gelatin and shot him back up.
Mikelle had never seen anything like it. No one had, not for Ages. She had seen a dozen yellowed papers strewn across his desk detailing immensely complicated patterns in Water, Fire and Earth, and a week later he was dazzling Mages
King Abdullah II, King Abdullah