She smiled and nodded. “Amazing. Well done.”
They spent the rest of the day trying different shapes, sometimes having them battle and chase each other around the room. A few times he lost control and his construct ran into the wall and bounced off. He understood now why the room held minimal furnishings; anything other than stone would probably end up smashed to bits.
When Mistress Ann called a halt to the training Damien felt like he’d spent a day in the field digging trenches. “That’s harder than it looks.”
“You did well and the more you practice the easier it gets. Your homework is to make the little light until you can conjure it without having to think through each step. Any questions?”
“Do you know a sorcerer who specializes in making soul force weapons?”
She frowned. That was apparently not the question she expected. “Yes, his name’s Sagan. Why?”
Damien told her about the duel and John making the arrangements. “I just wondered if he’d be a fair judge of the contest.”
“Sagan’s an honorable man, you need not fear on that score. What were you thinking, challenging that brute to a duel?”
“I was thinking I was sick of people pushing me around. I hope this will nip it in the bud.”
She nodded, her face troubled. “If Sagan agrees you’ll need a master to serve as your second. I’d be happy to stand beside you.”
“I’d like that, Ann.”
Chapter 9
Someone jostled John from behind as he tried to make his way down the stone steps. Eli had gone early to grab their little group seats above the south entrance where Damien planned to enter. Everyone else should be there already, but he’d stopped to buy a bag of glazed walnuts on his way and was running behind. The sun shone bright in a clear sky. All in all it was a lovely day to make some easy money.
The excited chatter of students and sorcerers entering the stands filled the air. The main topic of conversation seemed to be how fast Sig would crush Damien.
John grinned. Man, were they in for a surprise.
None more so than the kids who’d been taking bets for the last day. When he’d bet his and Damien’s money he’d gotten five-to-one odds and the sixteen-year-old oddsmaker had almost hugged him when he proved willing to take the other side of the wager. He’d be considerably less thrilled in a few minutes.
John dodged a chubby third year and finally reached Eli and the others. They’d gotten seats directly above the doors, perfect. Amanda smiled as he approached and patted the leather seat between her and Eli. John sighed. Maybe not perfect. The moment he sat, a tiny hand shot in and snatched some walnuts.
“If you weren’t so cheap you could get your own.”
She popped the sweet treat into her mouth and ignored him. He shook his head and ate a few before she stole them all.
“Did you make a bet?” Eli asked.
He swallowed his snack. “Yeah, a hundred royals on Damien, got five to one against. I’m going to clean up.”
Eli stared at him. “You bet on Damien?”
John smiled at his incredulous tone. He clearly had no idea what Damien could do with a sword. “You didn’t?”
“I put five on Sig.”
John turned to Amanda. “What about you?”
“Ten on Sig.” She snitched another walnut.
“What about all your cheering for Damien and telling him how great it was that he beat up those two thugs?”
She shrugged. “Cheering’s one thing, money’s another. I’ll cheer my lungs out for Damien, but Sig’s huge.”
John looked across Eli at Jaden. “How about you?”
Jaden shook his head. “I don’t have any spare money for gambling.”
John grinned. That was a nice way of saying he didn’t want to bet against Damien. Jaden would be feeling better about that decision soon.
“Damien St. Cloud!” The announcer’s voice, amplified with soul force, echoed through the arena. Time for the fun to begin.
When Damien and Ann entered John and the first years cheered. Damien looked bored and Ann looked stunning. Where did she get those outfits? It was going to be hard to concentrate on the match and not stare at her. Damien spoke with Master Sagan for a moment.
“Sigurd Iceborn!” the announcer said.
Sig entered from the far doors, his chest bare, and a pretty, pale master a step behind. No surprise Sig would choose Mistress Ingrid as his second, she was the only master from the northern duchy at the tower. She was cute, but nowhere near as beautiful as Ann. Judging by the little frown on her otherwise expressionless face she’d rather be just about anywhere else. But when the son of your duke asks you to be his second you couldn’t exactly refuse.
Beside him Amanda shook her head. “Look at the size of him. I’m afraid you threw your money away.”
“Want to make a side bet?” John asked.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What kind of bet?”
“If Damien wins you don’t hug me anymore and if Sig wins I’ll give you a kiss.”
She blushed then frowned. “You really think he’s going to win?”
“I know he will.”
“Then no bet. I like hugging you too much to risk it.”
Chapter 10
The sun was high overhead as students and sorcerers made their way to the arena. The founder of Sorcery had shaped the arena out of a single huge chunk of granite. It was amazing. He’d cut it out of a mountain then ten sorcerers combined their power to bring it back here where he carved it out over four days. Damien couldn’t imagine someone having that much control.
Word had quickly spread about Damien’s duel with Sig. John told him over breakfast that he was a huge underdog. Damien had given his life savings, twenty-three gold royals, to his friend to bet on him. If the odds against him were as bad as John said he stood to make a nice bit of coin.
Damien stretched and bounced in place, trying to get his blood pumping and
