The Sartious Mage (The Rhythm of Rivalry) Read Free Page A

mage—the one who thousands of people had come to see when he worked at the greatest blacksmith’s forge in The Nest, back when he still thought a reputation was a good thing to have.
    And they were on the verge of destroying the most important possession he had—the contract for the cure to his darkness.
    I could feel myself phasing out of my body the more I considered using magic on them. I readied myself to watch the event unfold.
    But then I noticed Harwin’s gaping mouth at the sight of the swords pushing into my chest. The boy was too ready to be traumatized. I held myself back.
    When the guards left with him, I was thankful I hadn’t done anything. I had a bad habit of acting first and planning second. Even now that I had time to think about it, I still didn’t know what I would’ve done after knocking the guards over with Bastial wind. I had no idea where the King was, if the cure was with him, and how many men stood in my way.
    I must’ve waited nearly an hour before I eventually fell asleep. Luckily, I didn’t dream. Sometimes I could sleep half the night before the darkness took shape in a nightmare.
    I woke to someone shaking my shoulder. “Jek Trayden?”
    “Yes?”
    “I’ll take you to see the King. Come, and please hurry.”
    I recognized his smooth voice and black hair. Why was he here instead of a guard? “You’re Micah Vail, right?” I eyed him curiously as I started following him up the stairs.
    “You’re wondering why the King’s top adviser is taking you instead of a guard.” He stated it like a fact. Surprise hit my face before I had a chance to decide if I wanted to reveal it or not.
    Before I thought of something to say, he guessed something else. “You’re also curious why I spoke to you about the King’s promises before you left to get Prince Harwin.”
    I stopped at the top of the stairs. “So what number am I thinking of?” I asked jokingly.
    Micah Vail waved me forward. “You should be thinking of two, you and me. I’m your friend, Jek. And friends like me are important to keep.”
    There was an unsettling silence as he waited for two guards to pass us. We were walking down a long hallway with floors of the same white marble as the lobby. I wondered why the Takary family would need such an enormous palace. We passed many closed doors, and I thought I heard voices among other indiscernible sounds from behind them. I kept expecting Micah to say more, but I was beginning to realize he was comfortable leaving his statement cryptic.
    I wasn’t, though. “And why do you wish to be my friend?” I asked.
    “I don’t wish to be your friend,” he corrected me with a smile. “I am your friend.” He turned his gaze back to the hall just as we came to another flight of stairs. “Whether you like it or not.”
    “You have a strange concept of friendship.” I kept my tone cheerful. Although I was confused, I had to agree that he seemed like an important friend to keep.
    When we reached the throne room, I realized my new friend had somehow escorted me the whole way without ever explaining anything at all. He took his place to the right of the King, standing with his wrists crossed.
    My stomach twisted when I met eyes with King Danvell Takary. He held no smile. Even with his indifferent expression, though, I still felt that his face was fatherly, with his combed gray hair puffing out from his crown and his small, concerned eyes.
    Like the other Takarys, his skin was the golden brown of bronze. It even looked as if a touch of oil might’ve been wiped across his arms, for they glistened while sitting on the armrests of his throne.
    It was this fatherly face that I’d always thought of when I wanted to trust him, when I wanted to believe he wouldn’t deceive me. But I was void of trust now as I stood silently and waited for him to speak. My doubts had crushed all optimism.

 
    Chapter 3: King’s Promise
     
    Danvell Takary first gave an obvious look to the side wall, where