Page 1 of The Study of Storms and Magic
ZETHAN
Zethan packed his bag with glee. The upcoming Ixian storm season meant he didn’t have to suffer through endless lectures about magic, history, and philosophy. While he enjoyed some of the classes, like self-defense and his equestrian lessons, he wasn’t meant to be cooped up indoors. To be fair, the sprawling Magician’s Keep offered a splash of fresh air as he dashed between buildings, but the homework kept him chained to his desk.
He and his twin sister, Zohav, had been assigned rooms in the Apprentice’s wing when they started learning at the Keep at age seventeen; three years older than the typical first year student. He had been happy to avoid sleeping on a bunk bed in a dormitory filled with fourteen-year-olds.
As he carefully folded his Ixian uniform, a knock sounded. “Come in if you dare!”
Before she entered his room, Zohav’s sigh reverberated through the thick wooden door. “How old are you?”
“Same as you, sister mine.”
“Don’t you think twenty is too old to be daring people?”
“Not at all.”
She shook her head. Glancing around the room, her frown deepened. “When’s the last time you cleaned up?”
He scanned his small living area. Clothes were scattered over the couch that faced the modest hearth. A small fire blazed, only because his riding clothes were soaked. The cooling season in Sitia was nothing like what he’d been used to in Ixia. The table and chairs were similarly covered. In his bedroom, his armoire gaped open, and he was pretty sure more garments were heaped on his bed.
“I’ve been packing. I leave for Ixia in two days.”
“Don’t you meanweleave in two days?”
“We? You don’t?—”
She brandished a parchment. “I do now.”
Zethan snatched it from her hands and read the letter with a growing disbelief. “Who did you bribe?”
She huffed. “No one. It makes sense for me to experiment with my magic and see if I can influence snow and ice.”
“Which issuper helpfulin Sitia, where it doesn’t snow.” He layered on the sarcasm. As much as he loved his sister, she was always a dark cloud. They might look alike with their black hair, bright blue eyes, and pale skin, but their personalities couldn’t be more opposite.
Zohav plucked the letter from his fingers. “Good thing it isn’t up to you to decide.”
“Kade isn’t going to be happy.” He tried another tactic.
“Then it’s a good thing that he isn’t coming.”
Zethan stilled as disappointment settled in his chest. Not coming? He liked Kade, and he’d learned so much from the Stormdancer. They’d gotten in a rhythm with Zethan calling the blizzards and Kade harvesting the energy. Kade was like another brother to him.
“Why isn’t Kade coming?” he asked.
“Helen is due right in the middle of the cold season.”
He should have remembered that Kade’s wife, Helen, was expecting their first child. Considering the rest of the Stormdancers, Zethan tried to guess who would replace Kade.
“Don’t tell me they’re sending Wick.” Zethan groaned. “He hates the cold, and he’ll whine the entire season.”
“Not Wick. Kade is sending Heli.”
Ahh. Now everything made sense. “That explains your sudden interest.”
“It’s not me. Third Magician decided it would be a good idea for me to go. I might be needed to help in Ixia in the future.”
“Uh huh. Are you sure it doesn’t have to do with the fact you’ve been crushing on Heli?”
“I haven’t been?—”
