I grit my teeth, fighting back tears. “Where?”
Arlon swallows, something like grief settling across his face. Somehow, I know what he’s going to say. I understand why Thora is here. Galiva had told me that the new assignments were a tough ask.
“Where?”
“It’s for the peace talks, Olbric,” Arlon says. “Between Straetham and Immenbach. They’re being hosted in Marikadar.”
Hearing the name of my hometown feels like an openhanded slap to the face. I look at him in disbelief. But Arlon isn’t finished.
“As part of the conditions of Cairish hosting the talks, your presence is required by the Shykhdar.”
It feels like the sand has suddenly given way under my feet. Like I’m falling, tumbling down into a pit of panic. “You’re taking me back to him.”
Arlon looks pained. “That’s not true. Youwillbe coming home with us.”
“Like hell!” I snap. He doesn’t know that. This reeks of my father’s meddling. “Taking me back to Marikadar - you’ll have done his work for him!”
“Olbric -“
“FUCK you!” I shout, cutting him off as I back away from him. Arlon looks like he’s been struck, but I don’t want to hear what placations he’ll make, his excuses. Did he know he’d have to give me back to my father when he broke things off with me?
“Olbric...” Arlon’s voice is quiet and pleading.
My only thought is to flee. The gate is still open. If I can get out, get an abjuration up, I might still have a chance.
Noneof them, not the Royal Guard, not Galiva, notArlonare any match for me in a firefight.
“I’m not going back.” I raise my hands to wrap around my spells. Arlon’s face falls even as he reflexively reaches for his own. “I won’t.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks. “I don’t want to fight you, little one.”
Hearing him call me that here,now, makes me bare my teeth in a snarl.
Nikolai is at my back. All I have to do is make it past him. The citran will stop Arlon. A low level evocation will be more than enough for Nik.
I whirl, feet braced to run, but if I thought Nik would be caught off guard, I’m mistaken. It’s like he’s waiting for me, arms already reaching to grab me.
The evocation goes off, but he sidesteps, ducking low to avoid the blast. And when he rises back up, he steps in towards me before his fist connects with my stomach.
It’s only then I truly realize the extent of the Royal Guard’s training. The strike is hard and well placed, knocking the wind out of me. I stagger back, searching for another spell, but a boot to my legs sweeps them out from under me. I barely hit the ground before that same boot is on my chest, pinning me.
My spells are lifted from my neck as Captain Thora’s face fills my field of vision. She hands my strands over to Arlon as she says coolly, “I would suggest you don’t attempt that again, Master Olbric. This is nonnegotiable.”
I cough as Nikolai’s boot lifts, letting me drag in a ragged breath. I’m hauled back to my feet, but I yank my arm out of the guard’s grip with a glare hot enough to burn. Nikolai looks at me impassively, as if ruining a wizard’s day is only to be expected.
Arlon sighs before he pockets my spells. “Galiva, would you escort Olbric to his room?”
“You think I don’t know where it is?” I snap.
Arlon ignores me, his eyes turning to Galiva. His voice is hard as stone. “Make sure to lock his door.”
Resignation
The Grandmaster of the Crux has ultimate authority over all magical matters. By joining on as a wizard, accepting magiline from the Crux’s stores, you agree to submit to the Grandmaster’s authority.
Fundamentals of Magic by Eroland Lockhart
WELL, THAT WENT ABOUTas poorly as it could have.
