Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Quillon
I curled my lip as Rafferty ate like a wild animal. He kept grabbing handfuls of meat and shovelling it into his mouth. I wrinkled my nose as some of the gravy landed on my hand. He had always had the most appalling table manners, but it had just gotten worse in our exile.
"You're disgusting," I said to him, my tone blunt.
He stopped and looked up at me, his hands dripping with gravy. "Go fuck yourself," he snapped back.
"We all know you do every night," Tarian added.
I snorted because it was true. Our walls were thin, and everything he did was loud. If we could leave these lands, I'd make him pay for my therapy.
"Well, if your cock was "
"We really don't need you to finish that sentence," I said.
"Are you sure? I'm happy to"
"Positive."
He snorted and returned to eating like the animal he was. I knew it was part of his curse, but fuck, it was revolting to watch.
He finally finished eating and gave me a toothy smile. He had gravy around his mouth, and I once again had to screw my nose up at the sight. He rolled his eyes at me and didn't comment, but thankfully wiped his face with one of the napkins around him.
"So, what are the plans today?" he asked once he had cleaned up.
I shrugged and looked at Tarian, as he usually arranged our days.
He sighed, rolled his eyes, and muttered something I couldn't quite catch under his breath.
He looked up and shrugged. "I thought we could have a more relaxed day today.
Maybe do some training this morning and then relax in the afternoon around a fire," he said.
I smiled at him; that sounded like a great idea. I wasn't in the mood to be anything too crazy today, so his plan sounded right up my alley.
"Alright, let's go and get some work done," I said.
We stood up and walked out of the small cottage shack we shared.
We made our way outside, and as soon as we did, the angry twin suns beat down against us as if they had a personal vendetta.
The thicket around our house formed a ring, leaving a clearing free of trees for us to use.
It had taken us a long time to clear them, and every now and then we removed more trees to improve our training.
I walked over to the side of the house and grabbed some targets I had prepared earlier. I set them up and nodded to the guys. "Alright, let's get started."
Rafferty moved a ways back and took a deep breath. I watched as he created two small balls of glowing fire in both hands. He thrust his hands out and threw them, making them land directly in the centre. He psychically told them not to ignite, and they didn't, disappearing on command.
"That was great, dude. Do a few more," I commanded.
He repeated his actions, and after five more goes, he started panting. I recognised the sign of his curse taking effect. "Go sit down, dude," I said.
He nodded and ambled over to the side of the house and slumped down.
I watched him for a minute to make sure he was okay.
He seemed to be, so I stepped up to the plate.
I pulled on my mind and visualised two balls of psychic energy forming in my hands.
Once formed, I threw them, making them land directly in the centre of the boards.
I repeated them, throwing them in rapid succession.
The boards bent a little, but still held.
"Nice one. My turn," Tarian said.
I nodded and stepped back. I watched as he formed two balls of solid ice and threw them.
One was slightly off centre, but the other was a perfect bullseye.
He repeated the actions, and by the end of his set, all were hitting directly in the centre.
He turned to me with a sheepish smile. "Guess I needed to warm up a little bit. "
I smiled at him and clapped him on the back. "Nothing to worry about, dude. You did great."
He grinned back and was about to say something when a crackling plate of energy appeared.
It spun in a concentric circle, making the air flux around it.
The hot air seemed to make it worse, causing the air to almost shimmer and shiver like it was alive.
We stiffened and got into a fighting stance.
No one moved as three men walked out of the plate, dressed in royal regalia of silvery armour with the crest of a dragon in front of a castle on their chests.
They must have been sweltering in the Azani heat.
My body turned tense, like it was made of stone, and I watched with bated breath as they stepped forward.
A fourth person stepped out, a woman with long silvery hair in a braid and a light purple dress that reached her ankles. She smiled at us when she reached the front of the group, who eyed her warily, as if afraid she was going to be attacked.
"Pardon the intrusion. We are from the castle and have a proposition for you all," she said, her voice strong and confident.
"Proposition? What kind?" Tarian asked, wariness in his voice.
She smiled at him, as if glad he asked. "I understand you are all forbidden to leave this forest. If you train one girl who is also cursed and help her manage it, then you will all be allowed to leave here if you wish."
My eyes bugged out. There was no chance I was hearing her right. Might we be able to leave? It had been such a long time, and, no, it was too good to be true.
"What is the catch?" I asked her, my eyes narrowed.
"You will still not be able to enter the capital city of Navarie," she said.
That wasn't very pleasant, but I suppose it was reasonable. "Why us?" I asked.
Her expression turned firm. "No one else has curses like this person does, except you three. That makes you uniquely qualified to help."
Rafferty walked over, and I could see how pale he was. "Who are we going to be training?" he asked, his voice wavering slightly.
The lady looked at him and smiled. "You will see, if you agree."
We looked at each other, and the two gave me imperceptible nods. I sighed. I wasn't sure if this was the best idea, but the others were alright with it, so I should agree too.
I turned back to face her. "Alright, we accept. Now who are we training?"
She smiled, a secretive smile that shadowed her face. "First, a blood oath."
I stilled. I hadn't formed a blood oath since I made one to stay only in the forest unless told I could leave by the royal family.
"Go, do it," Rafferty said.
I nodded stiffly and, on wooden legs, walked over. The woman sliced her palm and handed me the blade. I did the same, cutting through my tender flesh. We held our palms up, and I could feel our magic mixing.
"This oath is evoked to ensure these three men promise to look after, protect, and help their charge learn to control their curse.
They will not stop at any point, no matter how hard it gets.
They will not harm her. In return, once their charge is able to control their curse fully, they can leave the forest but not enter the capital city.
On this blood exchange, this promise is evoked. "
"This promise is invoked," I intoned. "I accept on behalf of Rafferty Chamberlain, myself, and Tarian Delari," I said.
The magic snapped into place, and I looked at her as it surged. She smiled at me, and I got the sinking feeling I had bitten off more than I could chew.
The woman disappeared back into the swirling golden portal.
I waited with my breath frozen in my lungs, like I had been hit with an ice bolt.
Moments later, she returned, this time with another woman who looked down, her arms wrapped around herself.
She wore a thick black cloak that covered her head.
I saw the ends of her light white-blonde hair, which rested against the skirt of her dark green dress.
I almost choked when she removed it. I had expected a random stranger to be my student, but when she pulled back her hood, it hit me that it wasn't. It was someone I hadn't even guessed could walk out of there.
There in my clearing was the daughter of the woman who sent me here, the princess of our realm, and she was our charge.