“Try again, Ember,” Master Resar ignored Rath.
I tried again.
And collapsed to my knees.
“Again!” Resar shouted.
I blasted the boulder with Fire, sent my mind forth, and blacked out.
When I came to, I was lying in Rath's arms, and he was shouting at the Fire Master.
“I told you to leave him be, but you just had to push him. What is with you mages? You have no fucking sense or sympathy!”
“I'm all right,” I said and sat up. “Phew. I'm not sure what happened.”
“You passed out because this asshole kept pushing you,” Rath said as he stood up. “Can you stand?” He held a hand down to me.
“I think so.” I took Rath's hand, and he helped me to my feet. “I'm sorry, Master Resar. I know this is a poor start to our training, but I don't think I can press on.”
“Yes, I see,” Master Resar said stiffly. “Very well. Let's return to the citadel.” He held a hand out to Rath.
Rath got a vicious look on his face.
“Rath, no,” I said.
Rath took my hand, pulled me in against his chest, then said, “Find your own way back.”
Before Master Resar could respond, Rath faded us to the citadel.
“Damn it, Rath!” I growled as I stormed out of the arrival chamber. “He's my teacher. This was my first day with him. You can't leave him stranded in a rock quarry miles from here.”
“I'm not leaving him stranded.” Rath grinned. “I'm letting him stew a while, then I'll go back. Don't worry about him, Ember. He's a Tytra. If he wanted to, he could shapeshift and fly back.”
“Maybe go back before he decides to do that.”
Snorting a laugh, Rath said, “All right. But you have to admit, the look on his face was priceless.
I chuckled. “Yeah, it was pretty funny.”
“Before I go.” He stepped in close and cupped my cheek. “Are you truly all right? Maybe I should take you to the healer.”
“No, I'm fine. I'm feeling much better now.”
He frowned at me.
“I'm telling the truth,” I vowed. “Go on. Go get him before we have to deal with a dragon landing on the citadel.”
“All right. Wait for me here.”
I nodded, and Rath vanished. As he did, I saw who was standing on the stairs behind him. Xae. He gave me a forlorn look that nearly tore out my heart. But then I remembered what he wanted me to do, and I hardened my heart and expression. Xae turned around and climbed the stairs.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The next day, with me rested and calmer, my training went smoothly. Once I understood that without fuel, I was already placing Fire in a specific location, I was able to adjust the location to hover the flames over an item.
“Now, yourself,” Master Resar said.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
