CHAPTER TWELVE #3
She takes a deep breath and centers herself.
Roz focuses and I know he’s attempting to break through her mental shields and after a moment, Lennox and I jump in. I lean down and my fingers dig into the earth as I force it to unsteady her feet as Lennox uses the water from the troughs to try to distract her.
Cynder watches for a moment and jumps in with little hesitation, encircling her with growing flames.
Within a blink, Batsil has the flames extinguished, the ground stable and the water frozen with her mastery over all three elements. “Come on. You can do better than that. Think. You have the tools. It should not take four of you to bring me down!”
It hits me then. The words that Killian has drilled into me time and time again.
Just because we are training Elemi magick—minus Roz—doesn’t mean I can’t use everything in my arsenal.
A savage grin takes over my face as I drill deep into the abyss that is the magick well at the center of my chest. I don’t need to just use my Elemi magick. I can use all of them.
A wave of pride comes through my bonds.
I pull at the shadows and wrap them around each of Batsil’s limbs so she’s unable to use her magick as I run at her.
Her eyes widen in shock but she grins proudly, and within the next second her face drops as I shatter her mental barriers and confine her in earth, just like what I did to Cresida and Evera during the second trial.
Fire hardens it and I let the shadows go.
I pull my sword from its sheath and drive it towards the exposed part of her neck, stopping just as the blade touches her flesh.
My chest is heaving and she’s staring up at me with pride. “Now that’s what our Queen is capable of.”
Roz and Lennox cheer and whoop behind me as I release Batsil from her earthen containment.
Roz runs over to me and scoops me up, swinging me around.
“That was the most badass thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
You know… if you don’t count you standing in front of a dragon, surrounded by wraiths with a flaming sword. ”
I laugh and pat him on the shoulder for him to put me down. My cheeks hurt from grinning when I turn to our teacher. “Now it’s your turn to explain.”
She shrugs with a mischievous glint in her eye that makes her seem so much younger.
“I’m the daughter of your mother’s captain of her Royal Guard.
My father was the one to train me before he died protecting your family.
I grew up here in Vathia and joined Lord Zorn’s warriors as a young female.
I was at Phixmery because Aemon needed an insider to keep an eye on things, but since your return I agreed to come back to train you. ”
My jaw unhinges and becomes a fly trap, and it takes me a moment to regain my composure. “You knew my family?”
She nods with a small smile. “My father brought me by the palace a few times, although I was never formally introduced to you.” She takes a breath. “If I may be so bold and ask a favor?”
I blink. “I mean, you’ve literally drilled us into the ground. I’m sure we are past the formalities.”
Her face becomes stoic again as she hands me a small decorative dagger.
“I would be honoured if you would let me assist in training the Royal Guard and command them as my father once did. I swear to honor your family name and lay my life on the line for your family,” she nods to Cynder and my friends, “if it should come to that.”
Shocked is an understatement, but my fingers wrap around the cool blade and Batsil stares at me with unwavering loyalty.
“She’s been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Aemon states.
I look up and see his form in the shadows, watching.
“It was her dream since she was young to join the Royal Guard, and she thought it was impossible until she found out you lived. The choice is ultimately yours, though; I will support whatever you choose.”
I clear my throat. “Kneel.” She drops. “I would be honored to have you in my guard and for you to help train them.” Then I slice her hand and her blood splatters onto the dirt. “Report to Killian. He’s organizing with the rest of the guards who are on their way here.”
She gasps quietly, standing tall once more. “Some lived?”
I shake my head. “No, some pledged themselves to me at the front line.”
Her head dips and she clears her throat. “Thank you, Princess Ravina. I will see you here for training again tomorrow. All of you.” She slides right back into her role as our instructor before leaving the field, I’m assuming to go find Kill.
“What was that?” Cynder asks, her eyes wide as she eyes the bloodied blade in my hand.
Shit, I’ll have to give this back to her.
I quickly wipe off the blade and slide it into my belt as I explain the tradition of joining the Royal Guard.
“We should go see Amethyst,” I tell her.
“She might know of more traditions and stuff we should be aware of. I’m supposed to meet her for tea anyway. Come with me?”
She smiles softly. “I would like that.”