AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry,” I whispered to him as we reached the end of the walkway and the door swung open to the consuming depth of the castle that threatened to swallow us whole. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
He clicked his tongue once, his usual sign of understanding or agreement.
Blinking wildly, I stepped back into the pitch of the castle, only to have my eyes adjust to the red cape of Batian’s Catalyst. She stood just inside the hall, head down as she waited for Batian to return. Her blond hair was pulled back in the usual knotted style of Catalysts, her fingerless white gloves folded one over the other. I was actually amazed that he left her there rather than let her stand on the walkway. The amount of distance one could have from their Catalyst and still produce their magic was a sign of strength. I guess not having her seen would produce the same awe.
“Why did you have to come and spoil my fun anyway?” I asked the second the door closed, the bright sun and aroma of magic and dirt falling into smother lanternlight and stale air.
He sighed, signaling for his Catalyst to follow before he led us down the hall. “I’ve been looking for you all morning.”
“I guess she did find something for me to do,” I grumbled. At least she hadn’t caught me, though. It had taken many years, but I had finally seen their first day, heard how to pull at magic.
It wasn’t anything like I had expected, but I had seen it.
“What was that?”
“Just telling the Boy about how much I wished I had boots like yours,” I teased, kicking the back of one as he walked. He immediately stopped and shuffled around, trying to see where the bottom of my shoe had touched.
He looked like a dog chasing his tail, and I chuckled, Batian’s Catalyst trying desperately to hide her own smirk.
“Oh, calm down. It didn’t leave a mark.” I gave the Boy a wink and imagined he gave me a conspiratorial grin back. The fabric over his face crinkled as though he had.
“Let’s hope not.” Batian twisted his face into a half smile, half scowl. He could never be fully upset at me.
“If it is, I’ll wash it myself. Why were you looking for me anyway?”
Batian stopped trying to inspect his boots for smudges to give me what was clearly an exasperated look.
“Two reasons,” he began, and I lifted a brow. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
“Do you really have to ask?”
“Aeinya is coming—” I squealed before he could finish. I jumped up and down and hugged the Boy, who didn’t even move before I turned and threw myself into Batian’s arms. He should have been smiling wider considering it was his fiancé who was coming.
His fiancé. But she also happened to be my best friend. Well, my only friend, but that wasn’t the point.
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” I was still shrieking as I pushed myself out of his arms and smacked him once on his over-pressed tunic.
He, of course, wiped away the invisible dirt.
“Because of the bad news.” That’s when his face fell, those eyes once again growing inky again as he held his hands out to me.
I took a step back. He didn’t need to say more.
“Mother wants to see me.”
Chapter 3
Elara
Mother never wanted to see me.
Which was fine, because I never wanted to see her. I was more the dirty, useless peasant to her perfect Queen than I was the daughter to my mother. I was not sure she had seen me as her daughter since the day my Catalyst died.
“I supposed we don’t have time for me to go change my dress?” I asked hopefully as I caught up to Batian’s quick steps.
“Regretting your excursion into forbidden trainings?” I didn’t miss the prod in his voice.
“No!” Well, kind of, but I was locking that bit of information away. “But you know she’s going to say something…”
