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Authors: Curtis Cornett
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felt Alia might be willing to volunteer some information if she truly thought he might be an ally.
“ We both wanted to help our fellow magicians, but mother chose a path of nonviolence while I understood that the only way our people would be free from oppression was if we carved out our own place in the world and protected it with every weapon at our disposal.” Her eyes studied Byrn's expression closely looking for any hint of defiance, but found him difficult to read. “Knowing what I intend to do, you are honor bound as a knight of the kingdom to try and stop me. Will you do so?”
Byrn thought for a moment, “After what happened I cannot turn my back on my fellow magicians again. I thought I could help them from a position of power as a member of the nobility, but now I know better. The Kenzai have always been united against us and we must be ready to do the same to challenge them.”
Alia smiled. This time it was genuine and warm. “Spoken like a true leader. We could use more magicians like you around here. Except for the masters, most of the magicians here are younger like at my mother’s school and are still learning.
“ If you wish, you will be returned to Lion's Landing or you may use one of your few surviving transportation runes to go wherever you wish, but if you desire to make a difference for your brother-and-sister-magicians and avenge those that have been lost, then I hope you will choose to stay and fight alongside us as a member of the Collective.”
Alia rose from her seat once more and came to stand before Byrn without waiting for an answer. She reached down and unfastened the collar removing it from Byrn's neck. “I will not lie to you. It will be dangerous and you, more than any other magician, would be putting your life at risk given your... situation, but you have a taste of what the kingdom could do with those collars and your friend, Turshyn, understood the extent of our peril well. We are on the verge of a great war and the lives of every woman, man, and child with magic in their blood depends upon us.”
Four years had passed since Byrn first learned that magic literally flowed through his veins. In that time he was a prisoner, a fugitive, and a knight. Now he had a life far grander than he ever imagined possible as an apprentice courier. He was a land holding noble, or at least his mother was, and one of the most powerful magicians in all of Aurelia. For the first time in years he had his entire life ahead of him. Was he really willing to give all of that up?
The master of fire stood so that he was eye to eye with the enchantress. Her eyes were the deep blue of the ocean and as he looked into them he found himself getting lost in those eyes. He was suddenly keenly aware of her closeness and the heavy beating in his chest.
Alia stepped back and Byrn suddenly felt the connection, whatever it was, broken. “You may stay in the castle for one day. Look around; talk with the other magicians here before making a decision,” she told Byrn without turning to face him. She felt it too. Alia opened the door to her office revealing an eavesdropping Tomlin who fell into the room landing at the lady's feet.
Byrn stepped over the prone Tomlin and exited the room, but turned to speak to the enchantress once more. “I never thanked you for saving my life.”
“ Maybe you can return the favor someday, if you decide to stay.”
Tomlin got up from the floor as adeptly as he could; hoping the two master magicians would ignore his nosiness mere moments earlier. “That sounds like a ‘yes’ to me,” he said extending his hand to Byrn who awkwardly took it, “Come! Let me show you around the castle. In addition to Old Father Skynryd, the Collective boasts a wide variety of obnoxious people you just have to meet to believe.”
Tomlin dragged Byrn off almost before he knew what was happening. He looked to Alia wanting to say something more, but could not find the words. Instead she waved him
“ We both wanted to help our fellow magicians, but mother chose a path of nonviolence while I understood that the only way our people would be free from oppression was if we carved out our own place in the world and protected it with every weapon at our disposal.” Her eyes studied Byrn's expression closely looking for any hint of defiance, but found him difficult to read. “Knowing what I intend to do, you are honor bound as a knight of the kingdom to try and stop me. Will you do so?”
Byrn thought for a moment, “After what happened I cannot turn my back on my fellow magicians again. I thought I could help them from a position of power as a member of the nobility, but now I know better. The Kenzai have always been united against us and we must be ready to do the same to challenge them.”
Alia smiled. This time it was genuine and warm. “Spoken like a true leader. We could use more magicians like you around here. Except for the masters, most of the magicians here are younger like at my mother’s school and are still learning.
“ If you wish, you will be returned to Lion's Landing or you may use one of your few surviving transportation runes to go wherever you wish, but if you desire to make a difference for your brother-and-sister-magicians and avenge those that have been lost, then I hope you will choose to stay and fight alongside us as a member of the Collective.”
Alia rose from her seat once more and came to stand before Byrn without waiting for an answer. She reached down and unfastened the collar removing it from Byrn's neck. “I will not lie to you. It will be dangerous and you, more than any other magician, would be putting your life at risk given your... situation, but you have a taste of what the kingdom could do with those collars and your friend, Turshyn, understood the extent of our peril well. We are on the verge of a great war and the lives of every woman, man, and child with magic in their blood depends upon us.”
Four years had passed since Byrn first learned that magic literally flowed through his veins. In that time he was a prisoner, a fugitive, and a knight. Now he had a life far grander than he ever imagined possible as an apprentice courier. He was a land holding noble, or at least his mother was, and one of the most powerful magicians in all of Aurelia. For the first time in years he had his entire life ahead of him. Was he really willing to give all of that up?
The master of fire stood so that he was eye to eye with the enchantress. Her eyes were the deep blue of the ocean and as he looked into them he found himself getting lost in those eyes. He was suddenly keenly aware of her closeness and the heavy beating in his chest.
Alia stepped back and Byrn suddenly felt the connection, whatever it was, broken. “You may stay in the castle for one day. Look around; talk with the other magicians here before making a decision,” she told Byrn without turning to face him. She felt it too. Alia opened the door to her office revealing an eavesdropping Tomlin who fell into the room landing at the lady's feet.
Byrn stepped over the prone Tomlin and exited the room, but turned to speak to the enchantress once more. “I never thanked you for saving my life.”
“ Maybe you can return the favor someday, if you decide to stay.”
Tomlin got up from the floor as adeptly as he could; hoping the two master magicians would ignore his nosiness mere moments earlier. “That sounds like a ‘yes’ to me,” he said extending his hand to Byrn who awkwardly took it, “Come! Let me show you around the castle. In addition to Old Father Skynryd, the Collective boasts a wide variety of obnoxious people you just have to meet to believe.”
Tomlin dragged Byrn off almost before he knew what was happening. He looked to Alia wanting to say something more, but could not find the words. Instead she waved him
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