I do as he says, letting the emotions rush in one after the other. They tear through me like a raging summer storm. Images of Meeka and Agatha flash through my mind, and I release the hold on my power.
A cyclone of fire grows around me, concealing me from the rest of the world.
“Now, take all those emotions and channel them into power,” Ryder yells from the other side. “Feel it cover you like a suit of armor. Let it settle into your body.” It takes a moment, but I eventually let my power fuse into every one of my cells. It no longer feels like it’s coming from my heart, but as if it’s radiating from my whole being. “Good. Now, imagine instead of a tornado of flames you have a shield in front of you. I want you to direct all of your magic into that shield.”
I focus on pulling my flames from all around me. At first, it feels like they have the control, but I fight back, forcing themto follow my command. Once I have a wall of ten-foot flames in front of me, I tug at them, condensing the wall into a circle of fire. It’s exhausting controlling this much power, but I don’t quit. I direct the flames to the center of the circle, letting them flood the open space until there is only a shield of fire in front of me.
I’m only able to hold it for a few seconds before the grip on my power slips and the shield fades away.
“Well, shit, girl! I see now what all the fuss was about,” Artemus claps from beside Ryder.
“I’ve never done that before.”
Ryder walks over, stopping just in front of me. “You don’t have to like my methods, but they work. If you’ll let me, I can teach you how to do things you never thought you could.”
“Teach her how to make a sword out of flames,” Artemus shouts from behind him.
Ryder drops his head and lets out a quiet chuckle. When he looks back up at me, his smile almost makes me forget who’s standing in front of me.
“Can you really teach me how to do that?”
He takes a step back and holds out his right hand. A second later, a sword of shadows appears.
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
The two of us can’t stop ourselves from laughing.
“He’s really got a thing for swords, huh?” I ask.
“Apparently.” Ryder drops his hand, letting the sword disappear.
I look down at the ground and then back up at him. “Would you have killed me if you had been there the day I started the fire in Nazrelia?”
Artemus must take that as his cue to leave because I hear the back door open and close.
“You and Cylas are not the same.”
“How do you know?” I argue.
“For starters, he’s been serving by my father’s side for over twenty years. Not once has he ever taken pause when ordered to do something.”
“Maybe he’s just scared.”
Ryder shakes his head. “People like Cylas follow my father out of greed, not fear. In exchange for their loyalty, they get to live lavishly in the palace. They’re gifted the finest clothes, served daily feasts, given servants, and have the protection of the Royal Guard. A man like that would rather die than live with less.”
“Fine, but what about the rest? What of Kane and Slader? What about those in the military just following orders without all of the information? Do they deserve to die?”
“No, of course not, and I will do my best to save those I can. I believe in giving people the choice to decide for themselves. But if they choose wrong, even out of fear, there will be no saving them.” And just like that, I’m reminded of who it is I’m talking to. “If there were another way, I would take it, but there’s not. You need to get used to the idea that both sides will suffer great loss no matter what.”
With that, I walk away and grab a pair of daggers. When the first one lands in the target’s chest, I imagine it’s the king’s black heart I’m hitting.
Maybe one day soon it will be.
Chapter 8
“Come with me.” Ryder grabs my hand and pulls me off of the couch.
I’ve barely seen him in the past two weeks, so Artemus has been training me. I’ve been able to gain a few pounds back, but I’m not sure it’s turned into muscle quite yet.
