Sol’s body momentarily tensed. Neven had been one of the unfortunate ones chosen by the Quotidian. Sol, too, had been chosen, but he had carefully concocted a plan tobechosen.
While he and Neven had never shared a word, Sol knew that Neven could be trusted to support their escape. What he didn’t know was whether he could trust Neven’s already exhausted body to make the escape.
“Return!” the mage yelled. “It was a trap.”
They’d been found out.
Released from the necessity for silence, Sol dashed into the forest. His eyes could make out the black shadow of the tree trunks against the hazy gray of the bushes and undergrowth. Hopefully, that would give him an advantage over the mage.
A small orb of light shot over his shoulder, momentarily blinding his vision as it pushed into the forest around him. It might have revealed his location to the mage, but it also gave him a clearer view of the forest in front of him.
With the benefit of light, he quickened his pace. He didn’t have the luxury to glance behind him, but the sound of heavy footfalls told him that Neven was right behind him.
“Assemble!” The voice of the mage sounded distant over the pounding in Sol’s ears. With any luck, they’d had enough of a start to stay ahead.
He followed the glowing orb for a few more moments before it dissipated. The mage must not have created it to last long.
Suddenly, a familiar burn blossomed in his lungs, and his chest began to tighten. Sol skidded to a halt. Before his lungs emptied of air, he forced a small vibration through his throat. The motion immediately began to ease the grip on his lungs and poured more voice into his own song to combat the mage’s magic.
Now that he had stopped running, he could hear the mage once again singing in dissonant tones.
This time, however, Sol didn’t have to hide his voice. He could fight back.
He intoned a melody that flowed through him, tingling out to his toes and fingertips and releasing his body from the painful hold that the mage had begun. Closing his eyes for a moment, he focused as much of his own magic as he could into his protective spell.
He felt empty. The mage had already drained him of his magic store so recently.
His throat, tickled from the vibration of his song, clenched involuntarily and he stopped to cough. His magic reserve was empty.
Hoping his protective spell would last for a few minutes, Sol pressed off from his back foot to continue his escape.
A strangled inhale from behind stopped him.
Neven.
The older man was standing some steps behind Sol, his head thrown back and his hands clenched. The mage was draining his power as well.
For a fraction of a second, Sol considered leaving the other Majis to his fate. The mage was occupied and the soldiers had not yet returned. With a few more moments he could escape deep enough in the forest to evade detection. She was supposed to meet him and show him an ideal hiding spot.
This plan was too important to risk.
The lives of his people were at stake.
Neven was his people.
Ignoring the muscles in his body which begged to carry him to safety, Sol dashed back to Neven.
He didn’t have any more magic to release the man with. He would have to defeat the mage without it.
“Resist, Neven,” he called, keeping his voice low. “Don’t let them take what little you have left.”
A soothing breeze rustled across Sol’s overheated face.
The wind.
Grabbing his friend by the shoulders, Sol closed his eyes, remembering the feeling moments prior when he’d asked the wind to wrap around him and softly carry away the magic embedded in the stones.
Feeling the wind around his face once more, he exhaled, letting the air run out of him in the smallest, faintest sigh. The wind had dissipated his magic earlier, perhaps it could bring some of it back?
