“But we all agree it’s what I have to do?”
There were resigned grumbles all around. What a resounding affirmation.
Safir was probably right, as much as I hated to admit it. I probably should run, stay safe. But it wasn’t in my nature to run from a fight. Though, I’d never been faced with a true, life-or-death fight before. I’d not be able to put together a team as strong as Saldrea’s, that was a given. I had to hope we could fight smarter… or something like that.
I didn’t want to fight that insane princess, not yet. I’d hoped to have a lot more training, in both water and earth magic, before I faced her again. But I had no choice. If I didn’t do this, nearly everyone in this world would be hunting me. I had to show people it was possible to stand up to bullies like Saldrea.
But the truth was… I had no clue how to do that and win. I didn’t have a lot of options for my team. As much as Grandma Oli was a very powerful nymph, I couldn’t bring her onto the field. Although…”
I smiled.
“Grandma, you can be anyone you want, right?”
She blinked and nodded with a smile. “Of course. But I can’t replicate the powers of other races.”
“But if you were another nymph, everyone would think you’re them, not you. You can change yourself that well, right?”
“Oh yes.”
In which case, Grandma could pretend to be Tala. It would keep my friend safe, Olinara wouldn’t be revealing herself, and I’d have a strong water magic user. The problem would be… Tala would probably be targeted by Saldrea and her minions afterward and wouldn’t have Grandma’s power toprotect herself. I’d have to talk to her, make sure she was good with this.
I had to hope she’d say yes. If not…
And Lhorine’s idea about using Vyns’ light magic in alternate ways did seem intriguing. I was willing to bet none of Saldrea’s crew had ever fought a seraph before or faced light magic like that.
Which left…
“Could Myel fight?” I didn’t want to include him, but he was an option.
“Shifters aren’t allowed to participate, we don’t have elemental magic,” Safir said.
Ah… so…
The only other person I knew was Rook, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to convince him to fight.
“How common is fire magic among the races?” I asked. “How likely is it Saldrea or others would have faced someone with fire?”
“Unlikely,” Lhorine replied. “Golana is the only one who might have, but from what I’ve heard, she’s never actually been to Urval, despite her family’s vast holdings there.”
I turned to Koar. “You have fire, did you ever… spar with them?”
He scoffed. “Like they’d lower themselves to fight me.”
Then it seemed likely none of them had fought anyone with fire. Even if Rook wasn’t strong, he might be enough of a wild card to help win this. Which meant I had to convince him to fight for me, despite the stick he’d had up his ass lately.
“Okay, I’m doing this, and I know who my team will be. I’ll head back to campus with Olinara posing as my friend Tala, and Safir. Lhorine, can you make your way there separately? I don’t know if I’ll have any time to train, but anytime they might give me I’ll use. Koar, find Vyns and get him back here.”
Grandma smiled, proud. “That’s my little royal, already bossing everyone around.”
I had a plan, but whether or not it would work… remained to be seen.
VYNSIEL
“Izzy is a true royal,the last of her line, the real queen, and I love her with every fiber of my being,” I said to my family, finishing the long tale about why I’d abandoned Saldrea. “She may not be a seraph, but we share a spirit link, a true and abiding connection. That’s how much of a miracle she is.”
I could see my impassioned speech had not swayed anyone. My father’s face was hard, a mask of rigid disappointment. My older brother leaned against a wall nearby, a smirk on his face. He’d never much liked me, especially after my martial exploits had earned me a place at Saldrea’s side. I’d outshone him and he’d been envious ever since. But now he was all snide smiles. He’d finally be the “good” son, not the disgrace. And my mother… she seethed with barely restrained rage.
I hadn’t expected much from my family, but I’d hoped I might be able to convince them of Izzy’s brilliance and sway them to her cause.
