[A picture of a robbed man, with fire and lightning arching over his body shaped like serpentine dragons.]

W is for Wizard, the masters of magic, they have a history both storied and tragic. While now noble scholars who better our understanding they once ruled the Basin from Lake Side to Landing.

-Sally Rider’s ABCs of Magic

—

“Congratulations,” a deep voice came from behind Kole.

He turned to to see Hawktalon behind them, with a big smile.

“I am glad—“ he began to say but then grew silent and his face grew as white as a sheet as he caught sight of Amara beside Kole.

“Are you okay?” Zale asked him, jumping forward to steady him.

“H-h-h-er,” he stammered, extending a shaky finger at Amara.

Amara turned around, confused, looking to see who was behind her, and Rakin, Kole, and Doug did the same.

“I saw her!” he shouted, crazed. His voice immediately drawing the attention of the room. “I thought it was a nightmare! She worked with them!”

“Me?” Amara said, “Are you with the crafting college?”

Something snapped, in Hawktalon, and Zale must have noticed it, and she pushed his shoulder ad hooked his ankle, sending him to the ground before he could do something rash.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Monsters!” Hawktalon shouted as he fell. “She’s working with the monsters!”

Hawktalon began to thrash, and Rakin and Harold jumped in to assist Zale in restraining him, but the Iron Vein tribesman was a match for all three.

Before he could break free, however, Tigereye arrived on the scene and drew upon his Font to Bond the boy to the tavern floor. Hawktalon continued to thrash, and the nails in the wood began to squeak as he began to sift them.

“It was all her! It was all her idea!”

“Calm yourself,” Tigereye said.

The two struggled, but eventually, Hawktalon regained his composure.

“What’s happening?” Amara whispered to her friends.

“I don’t—“ Zale began, but Kole interrupted her.

“We need to check on Amintha!” Kole shouted

Zale looked at Kole, and nodded, then pulled a rod out of her red jacket. The handle of the Dahn door didn’t seem like it should have been able to fit within, but Kole didn’t have time to dwell on that. A black stone door appeared before them, and they ran through, into Zale’s home, and out through the closet in the cabin in the Glade.

They burst out the door, and past the two dryad guards that now stood on either side.

“Don’t kill us!” Doug shouted, running behind to catch up.

Recognizing Doug, the dryads relaxed before they attacked the students. They ran through the Glade until reached the medical cabin. Inside they found Amintha’s bed empty.

By the time Amara arrived—far after everyone else from her lack of endurance training—Zale was holding a sheet of paper, her hands trembling.

“It’s for you,” Zale said, handing it over. “I didn’t read it.”

Amara took the note, and read it silently, and then tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Zale ran to comfort her, pulling her into a hug. Amara stiffened at first, but then crumpled into the embrace, dropping the note.

Kole picked the note up and read it.

Amara,

You ruined everything just like you ruined everything back home. Don’t look for me.

Amintha

“Oh danar,” Kole whispered, after he read it. “This isn’t good.”