Chapter One
Byronshouldbeacursed word. Instead, it’s a boy’s name. Not just any boy though, the sweetheart of the whole village. Byron Coalbiter, grandson of a blacksmith, and with his unfortunately easy looks and powerful magic, he’s basically had success handed to him on a silver platter.
But that isn’t enough for him. No, he can’t just lead a prosperous life, he has to stealmysuccess and run off with my dreams and coerce away my future. I wrinkle my nose at the very thought. I’ve worked my tailbone off to get admitted into this academy. As a fae born of low-magic, I have no influence of my own, to my fellow fae. To them, I’m no better than the humans whose blood likely flows in my veins, weakening my magic and inherited from some distant ancestor. But this academy is my chance to change all that.
If I can get a high fae to notice me and claim me as their knight, then I can get them to grant me a portion of their magic. I just need a portion. That combined with my own magic, and I’ll finally be exceptional enough to no longer be a disgrace.
“What do you mean that he is attending the Academy of the Gilded Knights?” I spit out at last, breaking the heavy silence.
Marvin quirks his eyebrow, his apple halfway to his mouth. He reaches up to wipe juice off his round, freckled cheeks. “Did you think theywouldn’tadmit him, Willow?”
“Ithoughthe would realize that he had enough and take his lucky lot in life and run off with some fae maiden who doesn’t care about mixed blood descendants. Not that he would try to steal a knighthood right out from underneath me.”
The apple crunches as Marvin takes another bite, he stares at the colors streaking the sky over the field his father owns. As the son of the wealthiest farmer in town, Marvin could likely have been the most popular boy in town. Instead,Byron Coalbiterstole all the fame and lovestruck girls from him. Luckily for him though, I’ve always hated Byron so Marvin has at least one ally. Now if only he would see it that way, but unfortunately Marvin stubbornly refuses to see Byron as competition. He even goes so far as to claim that the twice-blessed son of a bartering upstart is “all right by his book” and “that he doesn’t see why I hate him so.”
What I can’t understand is why no one else hates him. Can’t they see that twinkle of superiority in his eyes? That dratted glint, oh how the very sight of it makes my blood boil. And then there’s his annoying habit of laughing between almost every sentence, like he finds your excuse for an existence so amusing he can’t even stop laughing at it long enough to have a proper conversation.
There’s also the fact that everything is so effortless for him. He’s barely had to raise his little finger and already he has everything a soul could want. Love, adoration, and loyalty from the whole village. A pretty face—although he’ll never hear the admission from me. Powerful magic that sets him above other humans and low-fae. And if that all failed, he even has a trade to fall back on: smithing.
He doesn’t know what it is like to see others walk away with the very thing he wanted, nor would he ever understand what it is like to be laughed at by him.
I’ve tried to explain this all to Marvin. His only response is to say that I’mjealousof Byron. I nearly snort just remembering that. The very idea rings of madness. I wouldn’t trade anything for what Byron has because little as I have at least, I’ve worked hard for it.
“So, do you think I’m trying to steal your knighthood because I’m also going?” he asks at last, startling me from my brooding.
I blink and turn to him, trying to make out my friend’s features in the dim lighting of the sun disappearing behind the horizon. “What?”
Marvin tosses away the rest of his apple so the birds can have a chance at having a hearty meal. “You’re so mad about this because you think Byron is going to steal your knighthood, but I’m going to the academy as well.” He shrugs. “Hundreds of people from across the realm are going. Why don’t you feel threatened by us?”
I bite my tongue to keep from telling Marvin that I could never be threatened by him. He might take it the wrong way. Instead, I push to my feet, brushing dead grass off the back of my pants and hold a hand out to him. He squints at it, clearly expecting an answer.
“You’re only going because your father has delusions of grandeur,” I say at last, trying to figure out the best way to phrase it without insulting him. We’re going to be setting out for the Academy tomorrow, and it will be a long journey if he spends it all mad at me. “You don’t even particularly want to go, do you?”
He shrugs, finally accepting my hand. I hoist him to his feet, before turning and starting back toward the large dark outline that’s Marvin’s house. “Your father wants you to get a knightship so that you might get some magic. Your family already has money and land, that’s the only thing you’re missing.”
That’s the only thing most humans are missing. Fae too though, aren’t I proof of that? Not everyone is born with magic, and those that are… well it isn’t always something worth writing home about. But I suppose it’s the nature of people to want to extend beyond their lots.
Marvin wraps his arms around himself, his head ducked low as he shuffles after me. “Admit it, you’re not worried about me because we all know the only reason I’m attending the Academy is because my father greased some palms. Once classes start it’s going to show how unprepared I am. I didn’t work hard to get there, not like you and Byron.”
I scoff. “Byron did not work hard.”
Marvin turns, narrowing his eyes at me.
“And you’ll do just fine in your studies,” I hurriedly add, holding up my hands to placate him. “You know I’ll help you where I can.”
“I can’t just ride on your shoulders the whole way through.”
“Why not? I have broad shoulders.” Not as broad as Byron’s though… bulls, why is that boy always better at everything?
Marvin shakes his head. “I havesomeself-respect, Willow.”
“I know. I know. And you’ll do fine. I’m not trying to make you feel bad by worrying about Byron, I’m sure we’ll be very healthy competition to each other. It’s just…” I trail off with a sigh, reaching up to pinch the bridge of my nose where a headache started ever since Marvin mentioned that Byron would also be going to the academy this year. “I’m going to be working to catch the eye of Lord Menavillion, and we all know that Byron has a family history with him. After all, it’s Menavillion’s magic that Byron wields! He practically has one foot already on the knighting platform.”
“So then go for a different fae lord?”
“Menavillion is more than just some fae lord. He is ahighfae. His magic is more powerful than what most people can even dream of,” I say, rolling my eyes. “He is looking for a single student to fill an open position as his knight. Iwillbe that student.”
“If you say so,” Marvin replies, his voice dry. “Sounds like you have your work cut out for you.” He stifles a yawn. “But let’s not talk about that anymore. Tomorrow will bring its own troubles, let’s just enjoy our last night before we have to leave home.”
