Page 4 of The Study of Storms and Magic
She and Heli settled on the bench of the wagon, while Zethan mounted Smoke. Heli took the reins and guided them from the Magician’s Keep. They crossed through the Citadel, Zohav’s temporary home. She couldn’t imagine living here with all these people once she graduated. Truth be told, she couldn’t imagine what use her power to manipulate water would be to anyone.
Sitia didn’t have a fishing fleet like Ixia, they fished from the sand and rocks. And since arriving here, she’d only used her power to fight. Her and Zee had gone from captured by pirates to soldiers in the Sitian civil war. Thank fate that was in the past. Zohav much preferred the quiet life of a scholar. This adventure had been Third Magician’s idea, but Zohav had to admit she was looking forward to seeing Icefaren, her hometown, again.
As the horses clip clopped over the cobblestones, Zohav scanned the streets. It was noon and not many people were out. They would arrive at Robin’s Nest in Featherstone Clan’s lands in four days. Twice as long as traveling without a wagon.
She hadn’t seen Heli since the end of the hot season, and Zohav tried to ignore the frisson of energy building betweenthem. It pricked and burned on her skin. Excited for the adventure, Heli prattled nonstop.
“…Wick was so relieved not to be chosen to go to the NIP that he gave me coins to purchase a woolen undertunic and leggings. And Prin couldn’t decide if she was annoyed or glad,” Heli said. “I would have been dead jealous if Kade had picked her instead.”
Zohav wasn’t surprised Kade had assigned Heli. She was the second strongest Stormdancer and had been an integral part of the civil war. The three of them had worked well together.
But would it be enough? Despite assurances that the Commander would not arrest and execute them, Zohav couldn’t trust his word. She’d spent a year and a half terrified of being discovered as a magician, then six months as a prisoner of that vile pirate. The image of Nell’s mutilated body flashed in her mind. That wasn’t something a person could just forget. And why would the Commander assign one of his people to accompany them?
“Hey.” Heli bumped her elbow. “Why are you frowning?”
“Just wondering what Annika’s real purpose is.”
“To spy on us,” Zethan said. “That’s obvious.”
“Why? You didn’t have an escort before?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Before there were only two magicians. Now there are three. Plus, the Commander doesn’t know any of us. Kade helped with a bad situation on the NIP years ago, gaining his trust.”
“Maybe to protect us,” Heli said. “We have to wear Ixian uniforms to blend in. Ixians have all been taught to hate and fear magicians.”
True.
“As long as she doesn’t try to take charge or get in our way when we’re on the NIP, I don’t care why she’s there,” Heli declared.
“Not that you’d listen to her anyway,” Zethan said with a chuckle.
“Why would I? I’m the expert after all.”
True again. Moving and harvesting storms was delicate work. Or so Zohav had been told. She’d seen Zethan and the Stormdancers manipulate the storms. They had to balance how much energy they siphoned. The crops in Sitia still needed the rain. And if Zethan pulled too many storms off their paths, that could affect other storms, sending them to places ill-prepared for their destructive winds and flooding.
They exited the Citadel through its north gate and turned northwest through Featherstone Clan lands. Once it grew too dark to navigate, they stopped for the night at the Blue Hen Inn, a popular place along Sitia’s main east-west road. After grooming and settling the horses, they joined a lively group of travelers in the tavern.
Zohav wanted to take her meal up to the room she shared with Zethan, but Heli insisted Zohav eat with her. They found a quiet table in the corner. She planned to eat quick and go upstairs to work on her lessons.
“How was the cooling season?” Zohav asked Heli. Nothing like polite small talk to avoid other topics.
“Lots of loud mouth storms, roaring and growling, but not a ton of energy. We filled enough glass orbs for the quota and then some, but…” Her green-eyed gaze scanned the crowd.
People gathered around tables in groups and others filled the seats at the bar. Zethan had already made friends and was playing darts.
“You’re bored,” Zohav guessed.
“Yeah. Strong storms only come into Sitia two seasons a year. And I’m thrilled to be going to the NIP, but that leaves three seasons of the doldrums.”
“Too peaceful?”
“Yes!” She flushed and then ducked her head. “I know that sounds awful.”
She glanced at Zethan. “I think my brother would agree with you.” Then she turned to Heli. “Perhaps when Kade’s baby arrives, he’ll send you when the Council asks him for help.”
“That would be awesome!”
It would be dangerous. And the thought of Heli lying on the ground with her throat slit open soured the food in Zohav’s stomach.
