Page 26 of Forged in Fading

Alvara gaped. Didn’t she know who he was?

“He works for King Einar,” she said, still pointing her father’s dagger in his direction.

“We’re well aware of that fact.” Aurilena looked at her as if she had lost her wits. “Put your damn knife away, he’s on our side.”

Boden wiped away the trail of crimson on his skin and inspected his tunic. “And you stained it. Damn it, that will take hours to get out.”

“Shut it.” Alvara poked the tip of her blade into his chest. He looked at her with utter boredom, raised the very earth under her feet, and tipped her onto her back. Her head cracked against the frozen ground, and spots speckled her vision.

Aurilena’s golden gaze darted between them. “What happened between you two?”

“Nothing I’d care to discuss after the week I’ve had.” Boden rubbed at his shirt as he strolled toward the food hall.

Alvara shot to her feet and marched after him. “You helped me bury my father and then betrayed me, you conniving pig!”

The muscles in Boden’s neck twitched, but he didn’t slow or turn. “I’ve been called worse.”

Aurilena whistled and shook her head. “That sounds like a story I need to hear.”

“Who are you?” Alvara asked as she followed him into the building, her voice as cold as steel.

“We’ve already met, Alvara. Though I do normally try not to introduce myself while burying bodies in the middle of the night. I’m Boden. Saved your life, made you disgusting tea, and buried your father. Is any of this sounding familiar?”

Pompous words coming from him after what he had done. “Care to add traitor who turned me over to the king’s elves?”

Aurilena smacked Boden’s arm. “You did what?”

“It may appear that way, but I had no idea they were tracking me. I did my best to distract them long enough for you to get away, which it looks like you did. Though I’m having a few regrets about that now.” He massaged his shoulder where her ice blast had hit. “Between the two of you, I’m going to lose any ability to move my arm by lunchtime. At the very least, you do seem to have finally gained some control over your powers. Now if you could just please stop using them on me, that would be much appreciated.”

“That was the first time she was able to even summon them.” Aurilena settled into the bench across from Boden, who made a thoughtful noise.

“I’m working on it.” Alvara sank onto the hard wood and resisted the urge to pinch her nose to block out the smell of fowl drifting from the kitchen.

“If by working on it, you mean making no progress whatsoever, then yes, that is definitely what you’ve been doing.” Aurilena grabbed an ale from the table and took a hearty swig of the drink as she looked to Boden. “You should train her.”

“No, definitely not,” Alvara said. The yeasty smell of the drinks nauseated her and dredged up an embarrassing number of memories of dark and seedy taverns.

Aurilena shrugged. “That was the first time you were able to control your magic. It would be worth trying.”

“I’ve already had the unpleasant experience of being frozen head to toe by her,” Boden murmured. “I’d rather not.”

Thank Vitharen. “At least we agree on something.” Alvara rose. She needed to leave Boden’s presence before he sparked her magic again. “I’ll keep attending the academy. I’m sure I’ll make progress soon enough.”

“The academy?” Boden’s voice followed her as she made her way to the exit. “Please don’t tell me they’re making you train with the students.”

Aurilena appeared at her side and pushed the door open. “Meet me in the training grounds tomorrow at dawn. You’ve suffered through the academy classes long enough.”

A small voice in Alvara’s head hissed that training was useless, but she pushed it aside. She could and would master her magic—if only to prove everyone wrong.

Alvara focused on the unforgiving frozen landscape in front of her and willed her body to create something, anything resembling snow.

“Have you even been attending class?” Aurilena asked, arms crossed.

“You mean the class full of younglings decades younger than me? Yes, I’ve been torturing myself there for days. Where’s Kat?” Not that she would have any better luck around her, but at least she didn’t seem like the type of person to throw Alvara’s failure in her face. She couldn’t say the same for Aurilena.

“On patrol. If you aren’t able to control your powers, you can’t stay here. It’s simple.”

“You say that as if you think that’s not the exact thing I’m trying to do.” Alvara kicked a clump of snow, and it burst into a small shower of white flakes.