Read Online Forest of Illusions (The Broken Prism) by V. St. Clair - Free Book Online

amount of disdain, wiping his hand on his trousers as though Hayden had soiled it.
    Hayden left withou t complaint, eager to be back with his real friends at their table across the hall. No sooner had he sat down and begun to tell the others about his conversation with Lorn, when Master Willow motioned for Tess to make room for him to join them.
    She slid over obligingly and moved Mittens off of the table, and the Master of Wands sat down across from Hayden and greeted the group of them as one.
    “I hope you don’t mind me dining with you today?”
    Like any of us would dare say ‘yes’, even if we did…
    “Not at all, Master Willow,” Zane answered automatically.
    For a few minutes they made idle conversation while the Master buttered some bread and worked his way steadily through his plate of food with flawless etiquette. Tamon was in the middle of telling them how his boa constrictor almost fell out the window of the fourth-story dormitory, and how ridiculous he must have looked trying to drag the snake back inside without getting pulled out himself, when Master Willow turned to Hayden and said, “I noticed that you haven’t submitted any requests for your challenge arena partners this year. Registration ends tonight.”
    “I know, sir,” Hayden answered around a mouthful of stewed lamb and peas. “I was just checking to make sure Lorn was willing to give it another go before I turned in my request form.”
    The Master of Wands arched one eyebrow momentarily, though he didn’t look wholly surprised. “Last year you seemed quite opposed to having him on your team.”
    “Yeah, well, I’m trying to get better at dealing with people I don’t like.” He shrugged. “I still think he’s a jerk, but he’s decent with powders, and he thinks pretty quickly when we’re in a bind.”
    “That’s a very reasonable and mature decision to make,” he sounded mildly impressed, and Hayden felt mollified.
    “Thanks, I’ve got a goal this year to do less shouting at people, and also not to get my butt kicked so much,” he admitted, and Master Willow actually chuckled.
    “Both worthy objectives,” he conceded lightly, before turning to Zane. “Were you able to understand the reading on yew wands last night after I tried to clarify it?”
    Zane nodded and said , “I think so…but there are one or two parts I’m still a little sketchy on…like what happens if you put a permanent bend in it? Does it still work or does it shoot magic sideways?”
    Hayden finished his dinner while listening to Zane and Master Willow discuss the properties of yew, and Tess and Conner had a quiet dis cussion about their Scriptures class that they both found mutually engrossing.
    When everyone was dismissed, Hayden stood up to leave with the others, but Master Willow surprised him by saying, “A moment, Hayden.”
    Glancing back at him curiously, the others left the dining hall. When their table was clear Master Willow said, “Asher tells me he’s planning to train you in combat this year.”
    Surprised by the change in subject, Hayden nodded.
    “Good, you need to be prepared for whatever comes your way,” he finished cryptically, frowning. “Might I recommend that you pay particular attention during these lessons and practice outside of class? I also intend to focus more heavily on defensive and offensive magic this year with my classes, in case the worst should happen.”
    “You mean in case the sorcerers make it to Mizzenwald?”
    “That thought had crossed my mind,” he admitted. “I’m sure my worries are baseless, but it is better to be safe than sorry in these instances,” The Master of Wands looked down at his steepled fingers.
    If you really think your worries are baseless, why are you all training us to fight?
    “Well, either way, I’ll try my best to learn everything you all teach me,” Hayden assured him, and the Master looked up.
    “Good, that’s really all I wanted to say to you.” He got to his feet and