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Thane shoved his sword back in its holster and stepped back into the alleyway. Layala couldn’t help but chuckle as she adjusted her crooked top, tucking it back into her pants. But the humor was lost when she looked up at him and the expression on his face said he still wanted her, but his body language shifted, and she knew his momentary lapse in resisting her was over.

“It’s back to refraining then?” She groaned. He’d gotten her all flustered and aroused and would leave her wanting.

He turned away and ran his hand across his jaw. “I shouldn’t leave Hel alone at the castle for long. He’s opened up to me a little despite being a vengeful prick, but there’s a reason he wants to train you and why he’s here now. Something is coming and we need to prepare for it.”

“What about a plan to at least trap him and imprison him?”

“I haven’t worked one out yet but if we don’t keep living life as usual, word is going to get out that something is wrong. I was able to send most of the guards outside for training but if anyone suspects Hel’s identity…”

There was a leak inside their home, and if the people of Palenor found out that Hel was the Black Mage and he infiltrated the castle, they would panic. Thane was the one beacon of hope they had left. No one could know. “So, until we can figure out what to do about him, we have to pretend like he’s a wanted guest. Your cousin.”

Thane pursed his lips and slowly nodded. “Yes, I think we do.”

Chapter11

LAYALA

The next evening Layala stood outside at the edge of the stone circle on castle grounds. Begrudgingly, Piper was with her, but she wouldn’t speak after getting ditched the night before. She sat on the bench with her arms crossed and a glare that might be cold enough to freeze water.

All the apologies in the world, even a cupcake from Tif didn’t get Piper to cheer up. So Layala would give her a day to sulk. She approached Mage Vesstan who sat on the bench with his eyes closed, and by the sounds of snoring, he was fast asleep. How anyone could sleep sitting up on a hard stone bench was beyond her. Layala crossed her arms and watched a loud ribbiting toad jump from one lily pad to another. A second plopped into the pond to swim among the colorful fish.What a simple life, she thought.

The stone circle to the left of them hummed. Something about it made her wary. Was it the thing itself or the fact that the last time Layala stood at its center she’d nearly been suffocated by Hel? Where was he anyway?

The sun hung just above the mountains she stood below; Layala lifted her chin, closed her eyes, and let it warm her face. It was so quiet and peaceful here and she could see how Vesstan fell asleep.

“Oh good,” Vesstan said in his feeble voice. “You’re relaxed today.”

Alright, apparently he wasn’t asleep.“I went and saw my aunt last night. She often makes me feel better. I promised to scavenge for a list of plants for her after this. The task will take my mind off things.” She’d have to stick close to the city with all the dangers on the loose in Palenor now.

“Excellent idea.” He pushed up with the assistance of his cream oak staff and hobbled toward her. His long white beard swayed with each step. “We likely only have a few minutes before we’re—interrupted.”

“Unfortunately.” Layala glanced over her shoulder. Birds sang evening songs in the willowy trees on the path leading to the castle. In the far distance servants and staff hustled about to ready the outdoor decor for the graduation ball of the new recruits. Thane insisted it happened to keep up appearances that everything was fine.

No one had seen Hel all day, but he was certainly nearby.

“Now, let’s start with you standing at the center of the stone circle.”

Layala heaved a sigh and stepped to it. “Why is this circle so important?”

“It’s a conduit built a millennia ago. It aids in channeling your magic.” He leaned his shoulder against one of the pillars and said, “Close your eyes. I want you to feel the energy around you.” Mage training was so different from weapons and combat. She was used to aggression, ducking, diving, and moving in every way to take down an opponent.

Now it was,“Feel the energy around you.”

Rolling her shoulders back, she inhaled and did as commanded. Listening to the pull of her lungs, the steady beat of her heart, and the sound of the wind rustling in the treetops, she settled into a quiet mind. Like a gentle touch, a hum emanated from the stones. It was much like the stone portals but unlike them there were no entities inside, no voices, and did not pull on her magic.

“Do you feel it?”

She nodded.

“Now let your power rise naturally, feel it, but don’t use it yet.”

Layala hadn’t let her magic arise without provocation or need of it since she was a child. When she was threatened or angry and in battle it came easily, but not when she was calm.Come on,she coaxed. The warmth of it was there, deep inside that box she kept it trapped in, and she imagined lifting the lid and letting it free. It slowly crept out like a tentative child that had been punished. “It’s a little harder when I’m not in danger.”

“You act as if it’s locked away. It should be as easy as breathing,” said a deep, raspy yet rich voice. “It should always be there.”

Her eyes opened in a snap to find Hel standing beside Vesstan. The changes in his appearance were minute, barely noticeable but there. She didn’t know if anyone else would see it, but his cheeks were flushed, a sheen of sweat covered his brow. There were even slight dark circles under his eyes, and if she wasn’t mistaken even his hair had lost some of its shine. She almost called him out on it but with his presence, the tingle of her magic flooded her body with ease.

“Ah, there it is,” Hel said. “But I can smell your fear. You need to turn that off.”