The Study of Storms and Magic (The Study Chronicles: Valek’s Adventures)

Chapter 1 Zethan

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 mean we leave 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 is super helpful in 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—”

“Oh, please spare me. You two are pathetic, making eyes at each other. Neither one of you is willing to make the first move.”

Zohav grabbed his shirt, fisting the fabric in her hands. She yanked him close. “When you lose the love of your life, then you can give me relationship advice.” Pushing him back, she strode out the door.

Ah hell. Zethan smoothed his tunic. It’d been over four years since Nell had been killed, and he’d hoped the edge of Zohav’s grief had dulled. To claim someone was the love of your life when you were only sixteen was tragic. Zo had so much life left to live.

Granted, Nell was top-notch. He would forever be in her debt.

She had taken two terrified teenagers under her wing, teaching them how to control their magic, how to hide from the authorities, and how to sail a boat.

Too bad, Nell couldn’t outrun the pirates who had killed her.

He would never forget the heart wrenching pain he’d experienced on that terrible day.

Nell had been five years older than the twins, but Zohav was an old soul. Still, Nell had waited until Zo turned sixteen before expressing her interest.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Zohav was tagging along.

The summons from Third Magician arrived the next morning. Zethan hoped to spend the day stocking up on travel rations and conning extra baked goods from the pastry chef. Guess it would have to wait.

He headed into the Keep’s Administration building and found Irys Jewelrose in her office. She’d been his and Zo’s mentor since they’d began classes at the Magician’s Keep. Zohav already sat in one of the two chairs facing the master magician’s desk.

A beautiful red-tailed hawk squawked from its perch on top of a tall wooden cabinet. Irys tossed a piece of carrion. The bird snatched it out of midair as it flew to the mantle over the hearth. Impressive.

Silently hoping this wouldn’t take long, Zethan plopped into the empty chair.

The Third Magician studied them for a moment with her sharp, green-eyed gaze.

She had pulled her almost completely gray hair into a tight bun.

Irys was the oldest of the master magicians of Sitia, but not the strongest. That was First Magician, Teegan Cowan.

“Zethan, I know you’ve been to the NIP, the Northern Ice Pack before, but this time Heli will be in charge,” Irys said.

“She’s only a year older than you, but she has plenty of experience harvesting energy from storms. Heli used to accompany Kade before we learned about your powers.

She will pick you up at the Keep, and then you’ll travel to Robin’s Nest where you will meet Agent Annika of Ixia who will have an Ixian uniform for Zohav.

She will also accompany you to the NIP.”

Zethan straightened. “We never needed an escort before. Why now?”

“The Commander doesn’t like change or magicians. He trusted Kade but doesn’t know Heli. Don’t worry, Annika won’t get in your way and she’ll smooth things with the local patrols when you cross into the other Military Districts.”

And to spy on us. Zethan was smart enough not to voice his comment.

Irys handed him three sheets of paper. “These are your travel forms signed by the Commander.” Then she gave him a pouch that jangled. “Ixian coins to cover your expenses.” She pushed a stack of books at him and another one at Zohav. “And your course assignments.”

Zethan groaned. “But…”

Irys raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“I haven’t had to do assignments before.”

“Kade told me you have downtime between storms, and Zohav asked for them so she wouldn’t fall behind in her studies. I figured you’d be similarly worried about your education.”

Not in the least. Instead of complaining, he collected the books and managed to keep his expression neutral. Irys gave them a few more bits of advice before dismissing them with, “Safe travels.”

As soon as they exited the Administration building, he glared at Zohav. “You just had to go and ruin everything, didn’t you?”

“You keep forgetting this isn’t a vacation, Zee. And you’re already way behind. If you continue to miss classes, I’ll graduate a year before you.” She stopped and faced him. “Remember our promise?”

He did. When their magical powers appeared unexpected and unwelcome at the age of fourteen, they had promised to always be there for each other.

And they had. Except when Zethan went to the NIP with Kade.

Was that why he enjoyed it so much, because Zo wasn’t there?

A terrible thought. It wasn’t like they were joined at the hip. He had time alone. Mostly.

That evening, after securing all the supplies he would need for the trip to Ixia, Zethan stopped in Irys’s tower.

Each master magician occupied one of the four towers that anchored the square-shaped Magician’s Keep.

The Third Magician had given four floors of her tower to Yelena, Valek and their growing family.

They had originally occupied two, but with the addition of Vincent, Irys granted them two more.

The family only lived there when the Keep’s classes were in session, and they traveled during the hot season.

And once Valek completed his magical training and graduated, they would probably be infrequent visitors. Or so Zethan guessed.

“Uncle Zeeeee,” Liana cried when she spotted him in the doorway. Hopping to her feet, she raced over to hug his legs.

At three and a half, she was beyond adorable. Her curly black hair fell past her shoulders and she stared up at him with big, beautiful greenish blue eyes. Her two-year-old brother, Vincent, joined his sister in the leg hug.

Zethan crouched down to give them a proper squeeze.

Liana pressed her lips to his cheek to give him a sticky kiss.

As soon as she touched his skin, his connection to the blanket of power disappeared.

All his magical awareness of the storms in the sky ceased as if someone had thrown a black bag over his head.

It was disconcerting, but not unexpected.

As far as magical powers went, Liana had been dealt the unique and formidable ability to block a person’s magic with a touch.

She’d been able to wield it since conception.

While Vincent showed no signs of magic other than being able to escape from his crib and playpen with uncanny ease.

His powers would probably manifest around age fourteen, like most magicians.

Valek stood from the desk where he’d been studying. Both kids immediately abandoned Zethan. Their father set down his book and picked them both up.

“Are you heading out tomorrow?” he asked Zethan.

No matter how many times he saw his brother, Zethan was always struck by their resemblance. It was like looking into a mirror that reflected Zethan’s future.

“Yes. Just wanted to stop by and say goodbye.”

“Goodbye already?” Yelena poked her head into the cluttered living room. “It’s not the cold season yet? Is it?”

“Almost, love,” Valek said. “You’ve been busy.”

“Yes, chasing your son while you’re having fun teaching weapon defense.” Her words were stern, but her tone was indulgent. She joined them and Liana dove for her mother’s arms.

“He’s only mine when he’s being bad. Funny how that happens,” Valek said wryly.

“I thought you blamed all your children’s bad behaviors on Janco,” Zethan said.

“Oh yes,” Yelena said. “It’s all his fault, too. And Ari’s and Onora’s and Reema’s. It’s a conspiracy.”

Valek laughed. “It’s a family, love.” Then he sobered. “I heard Heli and Zohav are going with you. Be extra careful this season.”

Zethan gaped. “You heard. Already?”

“Gotta keep my skills sharp. Especially when Liana starts dating.”

“Why extra careful?” Yelena asked. “They’ve been doing this for years without trouble.”

“Kade has an impressive presence. His power and strength roll off of him in waves. While Heli’s first impression is of youth and kindness. Some people might think she’s easy to manipulate. Not that she’d let them, but they might try.”

“Normally, we keep a low profile, but we’ll be extra careful.” Zethan promised.

“Good,” Valek said.

“Has Zohav stopped by?” Zethan asked, but by their sad expressions he knew the answer. His sister still didn’t trust Valek. Didn’t consider him and Yelena as part of her family even when their parents had embraced them.

It was another difference between the twins, it took Zohav a long time to adjust, to forgive, to forget. She could hold a grudge for years. While Zethan was able to let the past guide him but not rule him.

Heli Stormdance arrived at the Magician’s Keep on the fortieth day of the cooling season. Her horse, Thunder, was hitched to the wagon. The long wooden cart was covered with a sturdy oiled cloth. Piled underneath were empty glass orbs nestled in thick blankets to keep them from breaking.

The Stormdancer bounced with energy, greeting the twins with a big smile.

When she gave Zohav a brief hug, Zethan noticed they were the same height.

About seven inches shorter than his own six feet.

Heli had pulled her long brown hair into a knot.

The streaks of blond a clear sign of how much time she spent in the sun.

The Stormdancers had set up camp in The Cliffs where there was easy access to the storms that blew in from the Jade Sea.

The three of them headed to the pasture, and Zohav hitched her horse, Kitty—a big black brute of a horse that would only allow Zo to ride him—to the wagon. Yes, him.

Zethan saddled Smoke. He would ride his horse while Heli and Zohav rode on the wagon. For now. They would switch it up as they traveled. Since they had the wagon filled with glass, it would take them twenty-four careful days to reach the Northern Ice Pack.

After they stowed their bags and supplies into the wagon’s trunk, Heli faced them. “My fellow travelers, are we ready to go on an epic adventure?”

“I’m always ready,” Zethan said.

“Do you know the way?” Zohav asked.

“North!” Heli teased. Then she pulled a stack of papers from her cloak. “Kade has given me detailed, and I mean detailed to the point of obsession, instructions on everything, despite the fact that I’ve been up there with him. No need to worry, Zo.”

Zethan laughed. “Telling Zo not to worry is like telling water to not be wet.”

Zohav glared at them. “If you’re going to gang up on me, I’m going to ensure your socks stay wet the entire trip.”

As far as threats went, that was an effective one. He put his hand on his chest. “I promise not to gang up on you.”

“I wouldn’t think of it,” Heli said.