Those are the only two people I’d seen die since being in the academy but both were last year. It used to be that whenever we had festivals or celebrations, the royal family would stand in a line to greet and often shake hands with visitors. I saw more deaths as a seven-year-old than most adults would in their entire lives. Gloves became a second skin at those events.
Thankfully, Taz changed the subject and we started talking about what the new academy would be like. And when the sun had long been down and the dishes were clean, we were sent to my mother’s throne room. For me it wasn’t a big issue, she was my mother before she was my queen, but for Legacy and Taz, that wasn’t the case. Waiting outside the throne room door, sweat rolled down Taz’s temple.
“Don’t be worried. I’ll take the blame,” I said.
“I’ve done dish duty plenty of times but never been sent before the Queen,” he whispered, nervousness slipping into his tone. His slender frame was even trembling. “When my parents find out about this…” He shuddered.
Legacy was nervous too but my mother was also her aunt so she must have felt less intimidated. Though, she hadn’t spoken a word since we left the kitchen and that was unusual.
When the doors opened, a guard waved us inside. We all three took a knee before Queen Daelyn looking regal on her white throne. I said before I’d take the blame, but by the way my mother only stared at me, that would happen anyway.
I stood. “Mother, it was all my idea. Please don’t punish them.”
Her bright blue eyes could have burned a hole through me, a massive black hole. “I’m sure it was your idea. The three of you will be on kitchen duty at the new academy for the next two weeks. I’ve sent word to Madison who will ensure it’s done.”
Ugh, Madison, my grandmother, who looks about twenty-five because of magic, will no doubt make this punishment more painful. But I turned to Taz, cracking a smile. “He’s coming with us? And so is Madison?” I’d call her grandma, gram, mammy, something like that if she’d let me but she was set on being called Madison, nothing else.
“She’ll be a professor there as will Jordane. And Taz will be going now,” Mother said. “Professor Goodwyn, who you spelled asleep before your stunt with the snakes, won’t have Taz in his class. I’m disappointed in you, Visteal. In all of you. This isn’t the behavior I expect from our prestigious students. I hope you don’t make us look like fools in front of the other kingdoms. You represent us all when you go to the new academy. Get to your feet.”
Taz quickly jumped up and stood erect. “My deepest apologies, Queen. I will make sure to represent us in the best possible way.”
Standing with her hands behind her back, Legacy said, “I will do my very best, Queen.”
“You are the elite,” Mother said. “The other kingdoms have only recently opened academies similar to ours and Delhoon has practiced and perfected this training for hundreds of years. Show them that.”
“We will,” the three of us said.
“You better,” Mother said. “If I hear about the three of you causing any more mischief, you’ll be expelled from the academy and will redo your fifth year.”
“Yes, Queen,” we all said in unison.
The throne room doors opened. We turned to see my father, and I could almost feel Taz’s heart stop. All the boys were intimidated by my father. He was King obviously, one of the few Nerandae in Delhoon history which meant he was the top in all classes at the academy. Tall and muscular, he was probably Delhoon’s best male warrior. The girls all swooned for him. I couldn’t say enough about how annoying it was when he walked past and the girls my age giggled and talked about how “dreamy” he was. I punched a girl in the face once for saying she wanted to take him to her bed.
Mother rose up from her throne. “King Boaden also has a punishment for you.”
He shook his head, clearly disappointed. “With me.”
Sitting atop his horse, Hess, Father rode alongside us while we ran down a path leading across the field that went on for miles. After what seemed like hours, my lungs felt like they were on fire and my legs had gone numb. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, the pounding of my boots hit the ground in a steady rhythm.
“Keep going,” he said when Legacy slowed.
I knew better than to stop before he said so. Father didn’t become Nerendae, the best, by allowing weakness.
When I finally got to bed that night, my blistered feet were bleeding. Legacy and I shared a room, and she hissed pulling her sticking socks off. “It hurts.”
Pouring a few drops of healing potion on my raw skin, I rubbed the liquid in. “Was it worth it?” I asked.
Legacy smirked. “Definitely.”
Chapter 3
The thirty-nine of us chosen from the Delmar city academy waited in the throne room. More would come from other academies around the kingdom to join us there. Each student had a trunk full of belongings and was strapped with weapons. I had my two swords, one for training, the other with a sharp edge. A bow and set of arrows, a small knife, three daggers, one I kept in my boot. Even if we had magic to fight with, it could be taken away in an instant with a metal called kirune, so we relied heavily on weaponry.
I already said goodbye to my family so I stood beside Legacy and Taz. My mother waited at the front of the room beside my father. They’d given us a speech about our behavior and what they expected from us. Nothing I hadn’t heard before.
While waiting, I looked around to see if I knew any of the students. There were several I recognized, Connor Goldheart, a warlord’s son being one, and another familiar face belonged to Finnick. My memory brought back the vision of his death, and the blood that pooled on the stone beneath him. My lower back beaded with sweat. Something about that vision other than the obvious death, disturbed me. I had the feeling that whoever killed him wasn’t entirely natural. That this person was dangerous beyond being skilled with a blade or magic. Perhaps cursed by dark magic? While I watched Finnick laugh with a friend, I told myself I should say something to him—tried to work up the courage but my feet stayed planted as if rooted to the ground.
“It’s time,” Mother said, then did a feat only she was capable of with her limitless power. Unlike other magic-born, she drew her strength from outside of herself. The rest of us were limited by our own energy and stamina. With her hands outstretched, a long black rip opened in mid-air. It slowly grew, at least ten feet high, the same wide, and the portal to the Allied Kingdoms Academy opened. There seemed to be a collective deep breath among us as we laid eyes on the towering structure made of a gray and white marbled stone. It resembled a castle with three turrets, one flag for each kingdom waving at the peaks.
The Gap of Freeole was typically a desert tundra with not much vegetation except dry grass, sagebrush, and littered with huge boulders. Yet, surrounding the academy were lush green plants, short clipped grass, and an abundance of various trees. Through the spiked wrought iron fence, the blooming flowers were visible along the edges of the property.
“You won’t be completely isolated,” Mother said stepping before the portal and blocking the view. “A growing town is ten miles south, where much of the supplies will come from. Also on the property is a fruit and vegetable garden which the students will upkeep. As well as chickens, goats and cows, also your responsibility. There are some horses but they are only to be used with permission.” She stepped to the side and waved a student forward, a fourth year by the look of her. “You first.”