Page 49 of To Kill a King
Pushing himself to his feet, Elessan reached for her. “Are you alright?”
She crab walked away, fighting the urge to bury her hands in her face. Staring at the floor, she stammered, “I—I’m sorry.”
“Aliya, it’s fine.” Elessan crouched down until he was eye level with her. “We’re all undamaged.”
She shook her head. It wasn’t okay, and no amount of saying it would change the fact that, when it came to her magic, she was a failure and a danger to those around her. Forcing the word through her tight throat, she whispered, “Jalius.” She wiped the back of her hand across her cheek with a sniffle.
Elessan glanced toward the fallen gnome just as he groaned and heaved himself onto all fours. Blood trickled from a split in his scalp down his temple.
“Jalius is fine, too.” He pointed. “Look at him. See?” He leaned closer and met her gaze. “He's not hurt.”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty.” He raised an eyebrow and flashed her an artificial smile. “One more knock on my head won’t make a difference.” Grunting, he straightened his knees. “But I don’t think I’m the teacher for you.”
Something in her chest cracked and a stabbing pain shot through her heart. She pressed her palm against her sternum, as though applying pressure could ward off his rejection. With all the other mages in the realm in hiding or dead, he’d been her last chance.
So much for fulfilling the Irrevocable Vow. She and Elessan were both dead.
Jalius’ expression softened at whatever he saw in her face. “It would be an honor to instruct you, Your Majesty. But you need a mage strong enough to control your ability until you learn to do so yourself.”
She opened her mouth but closed it.
Elessan stepped forward, piercing Jalius with his gaze. “Do you know of someone who could?”
The gnome shook his head. “The king murdered the strongest mages years ago, I’m afraid. You’ll have to look outside his reach.”
She bit back a hysterical laugh. He expected her to fulfill her vow with no magic?
Jalius abruptly tilted sideways and grabbed the door frame to avoid collapsing. He cleared his throat. “On second thought, Your Majesty, perhaps I should have my head checked out by the physician, after all.”
“Do you want an escort?” Elessan stepped forward.
Jalius stiffened and took a step back. “No, not necessary.” He glanced at her. “I suggest you leave, too. Someone will undoubtedly come to investigate that explosion, and you don’t want to be here when they do.” He studied the room and whispered to himself, “Another safehouse…blown.”
Lead congealed in Aliya’s gut. Just one more thing she’d messed up. And this time, the consequences would be permanent.
Jalius gave them a feeble wave. “Until we meet again.”
As he stumbled down the alley and out of sight, she turned to Elessan and shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said as Zadé sauntered up. “But I think we should add sword fighting to your training schedule.”
“Princess! Yer lookin’ not stabbed!”
Aliya examined her clothes. Not a speck of blood remained. Her shoulder didn’t hurt, either. Jalius was nothing if not thorough. She only wished her heart felt the same.
Elessan led them down the street toward the bakery. She copied him, pulling her hood up to hide her face. The scent of warm bread teased her nose and made her stomach grumble.
“Hey, Princess!” Zadé slugged her in the bicep. “Anytime ya want ta learn how ta throw a punch fer yer next fight, lemme know.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to be effective at punching, though.” Nor would she be getting in any more fights. She’d learned that lesson.
“Nah. Iz all in how yeh do it.” She held up her fist and pointed to the knuckles on her index and middle fingers. “Hit ‘em with these.” She indicated her ring finger and pinky. “If you strike ‘em here, you’ll just hurt yerself.” Alternating between the two portions of her hand, she continued, “Hurt them, hurt you.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” On the off-chance she ever needed to do such a thing.
Zadé flopped down at one of the bakery’s tables, leaned back in the chair, and took a deep swig out of a waterskin. Elessan helped Aliya sit in one of the other seats before going to the baker.
He returned a few moments later with three rolls of warm bread and an oversized sweet roll with plenty of frosting. He placed them on the table. “Zadé, will you please stay here and guard Aliya? I need to drop a couple things off at the courier station.”