The Rebel Mages by Laurie Forest

Author:Laurie Forest
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2022-01-17T21:35:33+00:00

Chapter Four:

The Wand of Power

“The Wand of Power seeks you out,” Gwynnifer says with great import, her focus singular, as if we’re suddenly the only two people in the room.

I stare at the toy wand sheathed at her side as my affinity sparks to life with a buzzing prickle along my wand hand. “Pardon?”

“I had a dream about you, Sagellyn. The Wand wants to go to you.”

I stare at Gwynnifer for a long moment, thrown by her bizarre statement, then cautiously look toward Mother Eliss. She’s intently listening to what Father is saying to Gwynnifer’s rose-cheeked, rotund mother and her gray-haired, bespectacled father, who has four Mage stripes marking his tunic. Gwynnifer’s father is a skilled wandmaker for our military and in charge of the largest armory in Gardneria.

An armory stuffed to the brim with wands.

I turn back to Gwynnifer, a familiar longing rising inside me to have a wand of my own, along with anxiety that we’ll get into trouble. “I’m not allowed to play wand games,” I caution her. “Mother Eliss says it’s sacrilege for girls to play with wands, even toy ones.”

Gwynnifer’s voice hushes to a near whisper, her expression full of drama. “This is no game, Sagellyn. Valgard has become dangerous. Shadow forces are rising. I’ve dreamt of glamoured demons on the streets. Two of them. Searching.” She pats the toy wand at her side. “Searching for this. The Wand needs to escape. It wants to go with you. Back to Halfix.”

Surprise bursts into being inside me as I’m reminded of the strange dream my sister Clover had a few weeks ago—a dream in which the Sacred Wand of Power strove to get to me before demons could get hold of it. A tremor of unease rises, but I shake it off, realizing these oddly similar dreams must be a bizarre coincidence and nothing more. And Gwynnifer might be oddly theatrical, but she doesn’t seem mean or mocking, unlike many of the girls here.

And she’s offering me a wand.

I glance toward my parents, who are paying absolutely no attention to us whatsoever. My heart picks up its rhythm as I stare covetously at Gwynnifer’s wand.

A chance to have a wand of my very own. Even if it is just a toy, the possibility is just too thrilling to resist.

“All right,” I agree, barely able to tamp down my excitement and my sparking affinity lines. I can’t fight the eager smile that lifts my mouth as I lower my voice to match her conspiring tone. “I’ll save your wand.”

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