Page 64 of To Kill a King
Elessan stepped up beside her. “She may be one of the few people strong enough to end his reign, but only if she learns to wield her power. We’re sorry for the deception, but there was no other way to make our request.”
Cressida turned a cold glare to him. Silence stretched out, awkward and heavy.
Aliya bit her lip and fought to keep her shoulders from drooping.
The tall elf sighed. “I am aware of Malkov’s…proclivities…when it comes to magic. Not a fate I would wish on anyone. Come here, child.” She gestured for Aliya to approach. When she stood a mere arm’s length away, Cressida held out her hands, palm-up. “Place your hands on mine.”
It was some sort of trap. It had to be. Would Cressida fry her with lightning? Or maybe burn her to a crisp for lying? She glanced up and accidentally met the tall elf’s gaze.
Cressida raised her eyebrows. “Well, do you want the chance to apprentice or not?”
Of course she did. That was the entire reason they’d come. It would be stupid to lose this opportunity because she was a coward. Rubbing her palms on her skirt, Aliya laid them gently over the other woman’s. She bit her lip as her muscles trembled. Cressida’s hands were dry and warm.
“Now,” the woman continued, her voice dropping to a hypnotic murmur, “take a deep breath, in and out, then close your eyes.”
Aliya inhaled and exhaled, staring up into the mage’s intense gaze.
The other woman stared at her expectantly.
Oh! Right. She breathed in once more to steady her nerves and closed her eyes.
Tiny silver tendrils of Cressida’s power crawled up Aliya’s arms. They tingled like the static after her first experience manifesting lightning. Slowly the strands moved through her shoulders, chest, and into her core, where her spark resided. Aliya shifted her weight from one foot to another. The strings circled her magic for several minutes, evaluating, judging. One thread reached out and touched it.
She erupted and pushed every last silvery wisp of foreign power out of her body with a pop. The older woman fell to the ground.
“Ow!” Aliya slapped a hand over her sternum. A pressure built between her temples. Somewhere behind her, Zadé let out a loud snore.
“Amazing. But you do need training, or you’re a danger not just to yourself, but to others.” Lady Brightleaf stood and brushed the dirt from her dress. “Very well. I will apprentice you, child, on one condition.”
The blood pounded through Aliya’s ears, in time to her throbbing headache. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. “You will?” Surely, she’d misheard.
“You never, ever lie to me again.”
Aliya swallowed as she rolled her shoulders forward. Her chest tightened until it was nothing but a shriveled ruin as heat flooded her face. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“We’ll start early tomorrow.” Cressida crossed her arms. “Now, tell me one thing, young lady. You’re not an elf, and your magic isn’t human. We can all see you’re not a dwarf. What are you?”
For the second time in fifteen minutes, the floor dropped from underneath Aliya’s feet. “What do you mean?”
Cressida pressed her lips into a thin line. “No. Lies. If you want training, this is the price.”
Aliya bit her lower lip and glanced at Elessan out of the corner of her eyes. He nodded. Zadé still slept off to the side. Aliya took a deep breath, bracing herself. “I was raised as a human. I’m not sure exactly, but I think I’m a shapeshifter of some kind.”
“Hmmm.” Cressida scrutinized her for several moments. “You can appear human?”
“Yes. I could probably do a dwarf, too, if I ever had reason to.”
“Interesting,” the older woman murmured. “I’ve heard rumors and legends of shapeshifters, but in all my years, never encountered one.”
“Maybe you have, but didn’t realize it?”
“Perhaps.” Cressida eyed her. “Have you met any others?”
“Once…she helped me escape the castle. But unless they decided to reveal themselves, I doubt I’d recognize another.”
“You may be surprised. My magic sensed something was…” She searched for an appropriate word. “…different about you. If it’s not yet instinctive, I suspect you’ll pick up the same ability with training.
“Speaking of,” Lady Brightleaf continued, “meet me here tomorrow as the sun rises. Wear something comfortable. I’ll send Lindir to show you where you’ll be staying.” She turned her back and walked away, but paused at the door. “Is King Malkov aware you’re not human?”