“Peacock,” the girl crowed, racing across over to the lad, who was standing dumbstruck, admiring his feather.
“So, I have to catch one?”
“No, the feathers will find you. They’re imbued with magic to sense what your weaknesses are and who your best opponent would be.” Jael chuckled. “I wonder who I’ll get this year.”
“This year? How many trials have you been at?”
Jael gave that casual shrug of his. “A few.”
“Like, how many is a few?”
“My parents are both mages, so I’ve been trialing since I was a littling.”
“Whoa, you must be good. I’ve only been training for—”
A long-plumed silver feather dropped down past Fenni’s face and hovered in the air in front of him. He stood gobsmacked, staring at it. The feather bobbed up and down impatiently. When Fenni didn’t grab it, the silver quill twisted, poking his chest.
“Hey, stop that.” Fenni snatched the feather. A thrill of magic ran through his palms and the feather flopped, lying flat against his palm. “Jael, what did—” Fenni’s words died when he saw a matching silver feather in Jael’s hand. Oh, shards. He was pitted against Jael—a mage with years of experience—but at least he was pitted against someone his own age.
A sudden silence enveloped the clearing.
Fenni spun. Master Giddi and Master Starrus were standing in the middle of the ring, both holding orange feathers as long as his arm. Overhead, stray feathers floated in the air, defying the chill breeze skittering through the trees. Master Starrus glowered at Giddi, then waved his staff. The stray feathers formed a plume, then rushed back into the open sack. He thumped his staff on the snow and the sack closed, tying itself shut.
Master Giddi regarded Master Starrus, face impassive. “So be it,” he said, his quiet voice carrying in the silence. “I’ll duel you at sunset tomorrow.” The last rays of the setting sun were swallowed by darkness.
§
The next morning, Fenni was observing Master Giddi forming magical ice daggers and plunging them into tree trunks, when a mage ran into the clearing. “Dragon. A dragon’s coming.”
“Defensive positions,” Master Starrus yelled. “Non-combatants inside.”
A few mages scrambled up trees, at the ready. More took positions around the clearing. The others rushed to the cabins.
Fenni had been about to run after them, when Jael laughed, nudging Master Giddi. “All this over a dragon? Ridiculous. In Naobia we get along with the green dragons and their riders.”
Giddi just arched one of his bushy eyebrows.
“You know those eyebrows are famous across Dragons’ Realm,” Jael said. “They’re so versatile—a twitch for every mood.”
Giddi guffawed, his laughter booming across the clearing.
The mages on duty shuffled from foot to foot as a silver dragon swooped across the trees, its wings catching the sunlight. Its beauty made Fenni’s breath catch in his throat. It spiraled down to land gracefully in the snow.
“Time you fetched me those herbs, Jael, and bring some cups too,” Master Giddi muttered, sending the Naobian trainee off to the cabin.
Giddi paced over to the dragon. With a flourish of his cloak, he bowed. “Liesar, it’s an honor to see you.” He cocked his head, then laughed.
He must be mind-melding, sharing a joke with the dragon. The dragon turned its eyes on Fenni, staring straight at him. Its slitted orbs were a beautiful deep shade of turquoise, like the wizard crystal he’d receive if he passed this trial.
“One moment.” Master Giddi waved a hand at the mages on duty. “These visitors are mine. No need to stand sentinel. Go back to your duties.”
“But Master Starrus said—”
“But Master Starrus, nothing,” Giddi boomed. “I won’t have my personal visitors being treated like enemies. This rider and dragon protect the realm, like we do. Now get back to work.” He flung a flash of wizard fire at a mage in a tree.
Wizards scrambled out of the trees and fled to the large cabin.
“Good riddance,” muttered Giddi. “Marlies, how are you? John told me you were back in the saddle.”
“So Giant John has been gossiping again, has he?”
Back in the saddle? She was dismounting, sliding down the dragon’s side to the snow. The rider was tall, old enough to be his mother, and she had eyes the same shade as the dragon’s.
“Oh, Giddi, it’s so good to see you.” She embraced his master, and not only for a few seconds.
Was this an old lover of his master’s, or a good friend? Embarrassed, Fenni coughed.
“Seems we’re causing my trainee discomfort.” Master Giddi ceased embracing her, and turned to him. “Fenni, this is Marlies, master healer at Dragons’ Hold. It’s been eighteen years since we’ve seen each other. Marlies, Fenni.”
Not an old lover, then, just a friendly reunion.
They shook hands, and Marlies smiled. “I have a son and daughter about your age,” she said. “Good luck in your trials.”
“So, the rumors are true. You did have twins,” Giddi said.
Marlies nodded. “Although not without a cost.” She shook her head, sadness in her eyes. “But that can wait. Do you have the healing supplies?”
“Yes, I got your messenger bird. I had enough time to ask the Naobians to bring supplies from the South. There’s not much growing around here at the moment.” He gestured at the snow-blanketed earth. “Uncanny of you to remember where the wizard trials are held, especially after all this time.”
“I never forgot a thing, Giddi, even after all those years of hiding.”
Hiding? This woman was brimming with secrets.
“Couldn’t have been much happening in Lush Valley.” His voice grew
