“Ah, yes, Rafe,” Uncle Gabriel said, with an indulgent smile. “I trust him completely, and I need his help from time to time with things that I cannot trust anyone else with.”
“So who is he really?” I tried to keep my voice casual.
“It’s better you don’t know, my dear.” Uncle Gabriel tried to look serious, but I could make out that he was suppressing a smile.
Why would no one tell me anything about Rafe? It was so frustrating.
“I hope I won’t need to tell you again that you must keep the amulet on at all times,” said Uncle Gabriel. “For now, you will let your fae magic remain dormant until such a time that we can acquire a teacher for you.”
He got up and went over to the other side of the huge desk, rummaging through parchments, muttering to himself again, and shaking his head. “Never in all my years . . . wonderful, wonderful . . . very strong, and High Fae too.” He turned to look at me. “In fact, you are the only fae-mage besides Auraken Firedrake ever to be a High Fae.”
“What?”
Uncle Gabriel looked at me sharply. “What I mean, my young Aurora, is that of all the seven fae-mages ever to have lived, you and Auraken Firedrake are the only ones born to an immortal High Fae. All the others were born to lesser fae beings.”
I let the words sink in. First I found out I was actually from another world, then I found out I was the daughter of a king and I wasn’t even completely human, then I discovered that I had two kinds of powers even though it was unheard of. Come to think of it, I wasn’t even normal here in Avalonia, where everyone had magic and different powers. I was a strange being that no one had seen in over a thousand years. And apparently I was going to live for a very long time.
“What exactly is the difference between the High Fae and lesser ones?”
“You will learn about your fae heritage another time. We have to do this in steps. First we concentrate on your mage powers. Learn to control that, and then we will see about your fae magic.”
I nodded. I was still utterly confused, but somehow I felt a little relieved. At least I finally knew who I really was.
“I have some important people coming to meet with me later today.” Uncle Gabriel started rummaging through his papers again. “We will continue this lesson tomorrow; I have a lot of work to do.”
Shield
After my class with Uncle Gabriel, I ran down the endless steps and long stone corridors into the courtyard. Finally, I caught up with Erien. He was going out for his daily ride.
“Hey, Erien,” I called out.
He stopped and turned around. “Good afternoon, cousin—did you have a good lesson with Grandfather?”
I grinned. “I learned to create a shield.”
“Oh good, a magical shield is really helpful. Got me out of many scrapes in school.”
I smiled at his nonchalant attitude toward magic. “So do you go to some sort of school for magic then?”
Erien nodded. “I’m in my second year at the Academy of Magic at Evolon. Your father went there too.”
My eyes widened. “He did?”
Erien raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t know?”
I shook my head.
“Azaren was a legend at the Academy, and all the teachers loved him, not because he was a prince, but because his powers were truly exceptional. Now the Academy of Evolon is run by one of the most brilliant minds of our times, Mastermage Elial Dekela. He changed the laws completely, allowing mages from classes other than the nobility to study there.”
“You mean they couldn’t before?”
“Well, in the old days, only those from noble families used to be accepted to study at the Academies of Evolon and Nerenor.”
My eyes narrowed. “That hardly seems fair.”
Erien nodded. “It isn’t, that’s why they changed the rules at Evolon. But the Nerenor Academy still keeps to its outdated practices. I think that’s why your father came here to study instead of going to Nerenor, which is in his own kingdom.”
“There are two magic schools?”
“Yes. The Academy of Magic at Nerenor is the rival school to Evolon. It is situated in the north of Illiador, in the city of Nerenor itself.”
I was fascinated with this world and wanted to learn more. “I would really like to hear more about Avalonia. When will you be back from your ride?”
Erien bent down to adjust his boots. “You could come with me if you want.”
I glanced toward the doors of the castle. “I am not really supposed to go off the grounds. Uncle Gabriel said I was to travel only with guards.” My eyes narrowed. “What about you? Why are you allowed to go without guards?”
Erien shrugged. “I’m not really allowed to go. I was just seeing if I could sneak off for a while. I know a back way out of the castle. The gatekeeper at the eastern gate is a friend of mine. He often lets me go for rides alone.”
“But isn’t that dangerous?”
“No, not really.” He didn’t so much as blink an eye. “I don’t go far, and Grandfather’s soldiers manage to keep the woods relatively safe. I hate having someone following me all the time. Being nobility can get very suffocating; there are always people hovering around you. Sometimes I need to get away on my own and clear my head.” Erien’s eyes lit up at the thought. “We can go for a ride and be back before anyone even knows we were gone.”
I finally agreed, and Erien found me a pleasant-tempered chestnut mare to ride. I ran over to meet Snow and check on her, explaining that I couldn’t ride her since we would be too conspicuous and I had to blend in.
Once my horse was saddled, I got on and followed Erien to the eastern gate of the castle, through the town of Fairlone and into the valley beyond.
Riding along
