Chapter One

I should have gone with them. Leah’s concern was enough to slow her movements. Until her friends’ laughter jolted her back into pulling her boot on. Frowning, she struggled to pick up the thread of conversation.

“Are you alright?”

She looked up at Nadeen and pasted a smile on her face.

“It is not like you to be so quiet.”

“It’s nothing...”

“Missing your family?” said Jessalyn, adjusting her plain brown tunic over her trousers.

With a sigh, Leah nodded as she got to her feet. “Yes, I suppose I am, especially my little brother.”

“The same little brother who irritates you?” said Karamay, grinning.

A small laugh escaped Leah as she hooked her black hair behind her ears. “He’s not irritating, not really. Only sometimes I find it hard to deal with his... Oh, he’s so clever there are times I feel so... so feeble-minded, especially when we’re at official functions.” She made a face as the others giggled.

“Never mind, Leah,” said Karamay, “you know we love you despite your feeble–oh!” She ducked as Leah took a playful swipe at her. Laughing, she stepped up to put her arm around Leah’s shoulder. “Besides, we’re still here.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“Of course.”

Leah joined in their laughter as they left their room, all similarly dressed in the brown tunic and trousers of recruits. They stepped out of the low rectangular building that housed the dormitory for female recruits, its back facing the west wall of the palace.

Still weighed down by her thoughts, Leah lagged behind the others.

“Are you sure you are alright?” Nadeen slowed to keep pace with her. “You still seem preoccupied.”

She met her friend’s concerned gaze but didn’t reply straight away. “I was... I should have gone with them, if only for Evalan’s sake.”

“What a strange thing to say. He is nine, older than you were the first time you accompanied your parents. You know they would never let anything happen to him.”

Leah opened her mouth but ended up nodding instead.

“This is the first time they are visiting Kurabar without you. Maybe–”

“It does feel odd, I won’t deny it. But it only makes sense, after all, Evalan is the heir, I suppose I’m not really needed,” she said with a shrug. For the first seven years of her life, Leah had been her father’s heir. But because their society was a patriarchy, when her brother had been born, he’d replaced her as heir.

Nadeen smiled. “Well, I am glad you have not gone.”

She returned her friend’s smile. “I must admit, I was glad when Father told me I didn’t have to go. After all this time, it does get a bit tiresome. Though I will miss seeing the people–”

“Seeing what people?”

They turned as two young men fell in step with them. The one who’d spoken bore a striking resemblance to Karamay, with his ginger hair, and spatter of freckles across his nose.

“As nosy as ever, Karel,” said Karamay. “Can’t you see they’re having a private conversation?”

“Mind your elders, baby sister.” He never let Karamay forget that he’d arrived from their mother’s womb a full five minutes before her. “So, what people are you talking about?”

Still smiling, Leah shook her head and explained what they’d been talking about a few minutes before.

“You find the progress tiresome?” said Conor with a wide grin. “Don’t let your father hear you say that. Imagine the scandal if it becomes known that the king’s firstborn finds royal duties tiresome.”

The others started laughing.

“Where are Sover and um... Artur?” asked Nadeen, craning her neck to look in the direction of the male dormitory, on the other side of the walkway to the female dormitory.

“They were given an errand to run,” said Karel. “They’ll meet us for training.”

The group made their way towards the training compound, Conor and Karel pushing and shoving one another in a mock fight. Leah found her gaze drawn, yet again, to Conor; they had known each other from a young age when his father, an experienced commander, had constantly been at the king’s side.

Lately, she realised that whatever the situation, her thoughts inevitably settled on Conor, to the point that she’d begun to wish she was different. She couldn’t help but wonder how things would be between them if she wasn’t a recruit; maybe then Conor would see the young woman she’d become instead of merely viewing her as one of his childhood friends. But she denied the thought with a quick shake of her head.

I can’t imagine being anything else. Now I’m no longer the heir, if I give up being a recruit, what’s left? She stole another glance at Conor. Would being noticed by him be enough to sustain her? With a sigh, she followed the others into the training compound.

The rotund, cavernous building was discreetly set to the rear of the palace, shielded from delicate eyes by tall, wide-branched trees that bordered the palace gardens to the west. Little puffs of dirt mushroomed up from the dusty floor as they piled inside. The musty smell of stale sweat lingered in the air. At the opposite end, the more experienced recruits were practising with sword and buckler. In yet another corner, the dull thump of wood on wood echoed around the room as a group of young warrior-recruits wielded wooden practice swords. The thud of wood and clang of steel were augmented by the wrestlers’ grunts and groans. In sharp contrast to the dishevelled, sweaty recruits, neatly dressed young men and women ascended the steps on either side of the main doors, which wound up to the classrooms on the upper floor.

As Leah hurried after the others, she exclaimed softly as Conor tossed her a buckler; she caught it neatly. He winked and turned to where their warrior-master awaited them. Leah’s gaze softened. Maybe having Conor’s attention would be enough... 

*          *          *          *

Three years... three long years of intense hardship. Not a morsel of food had passed his lips, not a drop of water. His only sustenance was his stubborn faith that the immortal he invoked would be flattered enough to keep him alive. And so he’d blocked out any signs of human frailty, remaining seated in the same position with his legs crossed under him, arms straight out with hands resting on his knees. The only vision he permitted himself was that of a large, hooded serpent. His only thought, that of the demon lord he ceaselessly called upon.

A muffled hissing began to steal into his consciousness as he became aware of his surroundings. He tried to move. Couldn’t. Tried to open his eyes. They seemed to be sealed shut. Panic was rapidly replacing detached calm.

Unknown to him, over the past three years, nameless insects clambering over his still form had covered him with earth, imprisoning him. Hardened by the sun, the tomb would not be easily broken. Without warning it shattered; he fell forward taking in great gulps of air. Prising his eyes open, he quickly shut them again against the intense brightness of the sun.

“Arise,” hissed a sibilant voice.

His limbs obeyed even before he’d registered the command. He swayed like a leaf in the wind but remained upright. Overcome with awe, he forgot how much the sun hurt his eyes.

Before him was a giant, red-eyed serpent. It swayed hypnotically, holding him with its gaze. “You have done me great service, youngling. It is to crave a boon, I know. Ask what you will.”

“I want magic,” he said, the words crawling from his painfully arid mouth. “Grant me the knowledge to wield magic.”

The eyes blazed as the serpent reared up. “Not that! Ask for anything but that.”

“No.” Although his voice still trembled, the young man could feel his strength returning. He stood straight, unflinching. “I want magic. You have no choice but to grant me what I desire.”

Furious, it darted at him. Coiling itself around his body, it came close to crushing him. Its mouth gaping open, it bared deadly fangs glinting with poison. But it was trapped... trapped by its own words, by the rules that ruled the immortals. Rules that bound the summoned immortal to grant the desired wish, no matter how questionable. With a frustrated hiss, it flicked its tongue at the man’s forehead.

He flinched as it stung.

“Use it well, half-mortal. Cross me and you shall know my fury.” In the blink of an eye, the great serpent disappeared.

The man’s knees buckled. His body started to shake as he fell on his side.  It felt like a fire was raging inside him. He cried out for his mother, desperate for her soothing touch to cool the fever. But no one was near to hear him, to help him.