ONE
FALLON
“Why does the queen want to meet with me?” I asked Master Clarke as I paced his basement-level office during my private elective hour. It had been a full week since Ariyon disappeared, and I was no closer to finding him. I’d even begged Yanric to try to go to him, but my familiar assured me he could only travel to the realms of the dead if it were to find me—or if he died himself. I was working with Master Clarke and Master Hart, but I couldn’t replicate whatever I’d done to transport Ariyon and myself to the Realm of Eternity. I’d been barred from going to any further classes until we figured this out. The other students would glare at me as I passed by, so I wasn’t keen on going back to school either. They all knew that I had (accidentally) burned down the mansion the dance was being held at and had played a role in Ariyon’s disappearance.
“I was not privy to that information, but I imagine it won’t be a social call,” he said as he used his power to float a piece of paper across the room until it settled before me.
Reaching out, I took it into my gloved hands. Peering down at the new class schedule, I frowned.
Fallon Bane
Fae Class: Healer
Year: One
Advisor: Master Clarke
First Period: Energy Sensing (Master Hart)
Second Period: Entry Level Mending (Mrs. Reebus)
Third Period: Practical Applications (Student Clinic)
Lunch
Fourth Period: Fae History 1 (Mrs. Hilton)
Fifth Period: Private Elective with Master Clarke
Sixth Period: Private Elective with Master Hart
I groaned. “Seriously? I have to go to all new classes?”
I had three classes with Eden right now, and this new schedule would cut that down to one—Fae History.
Master Clarke pinned me with a pointed look. “You traded powers with The Gilded City’s most advanced healer. What do you expect me to do with that? Continue to teach you how to conjure flames? I think you have that covered.”
‘I don’t appreciate his tone,’Yanric commented, and my gaze flicked to the side of the room where I spotted my familiar, a large black raven, just outside the window.
“But I don’t want to use Ariyon’s powers.” I hugged my arms to my chest.
I’d majorly screwed up somehow when I’d healed Ariyon. I’d stolen—no, switched—our powers. No more fire and destruction magic for me; Ariyon seemingly had that gift. Instead, I had the Maven healing powers Ariyon was famous for. No matter how I had tried to hide them, everyone knew. These marks on the tops of my hands were a constant reminder of that.
Master Clarke crossed the space and stood before me, forcing me to meet his gaze. I didn’t expect to see so much compassion there. He somehow looked older, like the past week had addedyears to his life. Maybe that was true for all of us. I certainly wasn’t sleeping much. His hair had a bit more gray; his face was slightly more weathered in appearance. “You want him back, right? You want to figure out how to fix this?” he asked.
I bristled at his direct question. “More than anything.”
“Well, then you have to learn about the new powers you carry so you can figure out how to get back to the Realm of Eternity and bring Ariyon home. In one piece. Alive. And preferably not as a Nightling.”
I winced at that last part. When the queen had nearly killed my familiar and sent him to the Realm of Eternity, Yanric had seen Ariyon being arrested. I had then been informed that the only reason he would be arrested is because he now had my powers and was being transferred to the Realm of Rebirth. There, he would fight through some battles or obstacles, and only if he won would he be reborn…as a Nightling. There was zero chance I could let that happen.
“I’m afraid that if I use Ariyon’s healing powers, it will take time off his life.” I confessed my true reasoning for not wanting to attend the classes.
Master Clarke’s lips pulled into a frown. “I see. Listen, Fallon. Maven healers know what they are signing up for when they take the oath. Ariyon knew his life would be cut short. It’s the hundreds of lives he will save, the thousands of people he will heal, that give him purpose.” He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe you can glean purpose from that too?”
I nodded. Maybe.
‘Incoming,’Yanric announced, and I straightened.
