Page 36 of Lightningborn

Gem frowned. “I’m sorry. College-bred imbecile?” she repeated. “What do you mean by that?”

Lysander snorted. “She means that the so-called mages that come out of that college are weak, simpering idiots who believe whatever the council tells them.” He stuck his nose in the air, his voice turning nasal and stuffy. “You need a proper education to learn magic,” he wheezed. “If you don’t go to the college, you’re a danger to yourself and everyone around you. Magic can only be taught by college mages, and you must obey all the stupid rules and restrictions they preach or you’re not fit to attend.”

Gem bristled. “I know several college mages,” she said stiffly. “The rules are there for a reason. Magicisdangerous, and we…I mean, the students have to learn control before they can use it properly.”

“Really.” The young mage gave her an unfriendly smile. “I learned how to control storm lightning the first year I discovered I was magic-touched,” he said. “How long does the college make students wait? Two years? Three?”

“Four.” Gem blinked at him. “Wait, are you saying that anyone with magic affinity can wield storm lightning?”

“Well, I certainly didn’t go to college.” Lysander shook his head. “I learned on my own. I’m better than any mage who got ‘the proper education.’” He curled his lip at the words. “You don’t need a college education to use magic. The college teaches structure and control, but magic is wild, untamed, unpredictable. Anyone with the talent can use it. You just have to be careful it doesn’t tear you apart.”

“But if anyone with the talent can learn magic on their own, why are there only college mages in the capital?” Gem wondered. “The only noncertified mages I’ve heard of are pirates or smugglers.”

“Because those are the only ships who will give us a job,” Lysander snapped. “Because there’s a law regarding mages in the capital. Youhaveto be college certified to be a storm mage on any merchant or capital ship. They won’t take you otherwise.” He made a disgusted gesture with one arm, curling a lip. “Never mind that the college is so insanely expensive, only the nobles can afford to send their special, magic-touched children there. The rest of us dirty commoners are out of luck.”

He glanced at Captain Cutlass with a twisted smile. “Fortunately, there are captains who don’t care if you have a ‘proper’ magic education or not. They just need a storm mage to power their crystals and fly the ship. Even if they do force them to go landside and talk to useless people when they’d rather be in the crystal chamber alone.”

“And I’m very grateful for it,” the captain said. “However, we are on an important escort mission for Miss Featherbottom.” She nodded in Gem’s direction. “And people with ill intent think twice about attacking a party if there’s a mage present. So sadly, Lysander, you don’t get to hide from the world today. You’re with us all afternoon, so smile and bear it.”

Lysander rolled his eyes. “I’ll bear it,” he muttered, casting a sour look at Gem. “But I’m not going to smile.”

A blast of wind caught them as they stepped off the ship onto the docks, making the sails flap and yanking Gem’s hood halfway off. Quickly, she pulled it up again, hoping nobody saw the streak of white in her hair. Thankfully, Lysander’s and Jack’s attention seemed to be on the squat, run-down building atop a hill where theWindsharkhad been hovering just a few minutes ago.

As they started up the path, Gem tried to concentrate on why she was there, but it was hard. Her mind spun, thinking of what Lysander had said about magic. He wasn’t a college-educated mage, yet he could wield storm lightning. No one had taught him; he had learned on his own. He was young, but the captain tolerated, even respected, him as a competent mage. Even if his social skills were severely lacking.

She wondered ifshecould learn magic faster.

“There’s quite the crowd,” Jack muttered, shading his eyes against the glare of the sun through the clouds. Gem followed his gaze and saw a large group of people in the muddy front yard, staring after the departingWindshark. “I guess Jhaeros found what he was looking for and left.”

“That’s good for us,” Captain Cutlass said as they started walking toward the building atop the hill. “I didn’t want to deal with his narcissism right now. And Cutthroat Wedge isn’t my favorite place, either. As soon as we find the person Miss Featherbottom is looking for, we can leave.”

“So whoareyou looking for, anyway?” Lysander asked, pinning Gem with a narrowed green gaze. “Cutthroat Wedge isn’t a place nobles spend time in. Everyone here is either a pirate, a criminal, or just scraping by. Who are you here to find?”

Gem felt Captain Cutlass’s eyes on her and swallowed. “His name is Sir Bartello,” she said, and saw Lysander’s brows arch at the name. “He was once a sky knight in the king’s army, many years ago.”

“A sky knight?” the mage repeated. “Here? Mingling with the pirates and lowlifes? That’s unlikely.” He snorted. “I would try looking in the capital, or on an island that’s not so…dirty. He’s not going to be here. Flighty, airheaded nobles, wasting our time—”

“Lysander,” the captain said calmly as Gem set her jaw, “Miss Featherbottom came to me for help, and I agreed to help her. Please refrain from being too much of yourself around important clients. Shockingly, they don’t find your complete lack of manners charming.”

“Like I care what some pampered noble thinks of me,” Lysander muttered. But he didn’t say anything more as they climbed the hill to join the crowd of people up top. Gem looked up and saw an old wooden sign creaking above the door. It was barely legible, but readTHE SALTY BARRELin faded letters.

“Since Jhaeros is gone,” a man was saying as they approached, “does that mean no one gets the reward? Did someone else get the reward?”

“It isn’t fair,” another whined. “I’ve been looking for that beast everywhere. I haven’t slept or bathed in a week. Ineededthat reward!”

Gem started forward, but Captain Cutlass put a hand on her arm, stopping her. “Hold on there,” she warned. “These types aren’t going to take a child seriously. Let me do the talking. I speak their language, and that language is pirate.”

The captain strode up with Gem and the others behind her. “Gentlemen,” she said. “If I could have a moment of your time. We’re looking for someone, and we heard he was here.”

The men eyed her, their mouths twisting into ugly leers, but then they seemed to notice the captain’s hat, the mage behind her, and the sword at her waist. Their grins faded, and the color drained from their faces when they seemed to recognize her. “Aye, Captain, if you’re here looking for Jhaeros, you’re too late,” one of them grumbled. “He’s already gone, with his dragon and my reward.”

“Yourreward?” scoffed the other. “It should’ve been mine.”

“So you can drink yourself into a stupor and fall off the edge of the island?” The first man snorted. “Bloody waste that would’ve been.”

“I am not looking for Jhaeros,” Captain Cutlass interrupted. “Any fool with eyes could see theWindsharkleaving just a few minutes ago. I’m looking for Bart. Is the old crab still at the tavern telling stories?”

“Crusty Bart?” the first man said, and laughed. “You’re still too late, Captain. Jhaeros grabbed the dragon, and he took Bart as well.” He stretched out an arm toward the sky. “Both of them are on theWindsharkright now, sailing away, out of anyone’s reach.”

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