First Year by Carter Rachel E

Author:Carter, Rachel E. [Carter, Rachel E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sweet read, fantasy romance, Paranormal, Young Adult, Adventure, teenager, teen, Romance, magical school, clean read, Fantasy, the black mage
Amazon: B01MSA1LNA
Goodreads: 33897359
Publisher: Rachel E. Carter
Published: 2014-08-11T07:00:00+00:00

****

It took me all of the first and second day stumbling across the cold, pine-infested mountainside to get some semblance of normalcy to my gait. Darren kept shooting me impatient glances. I was slowing our progress down and we were supposed to be the scouting party.

Eventually, we made it out of the dense trees and up a cold, frost-covered peak that Flint had told us would provide easy vantage for spotting sentries. "They will not have a full guard this far north – but you still need to be vigilant. They might have changed their routine in the year since I left. They think I'm dead, but Caltothians are overly-cautious in everything."

Trying not to wheeze too heavily, I joined Darren in his shadowed alcove and scanned the land below, willing the feeling of unsteady ground to pass. Never again would I volunteer to board a ship. All my life I had lived relatively sickness-free. The gods were clearly enjoying a good joke now that I had spent almost two weeks living out the worst humiliation – and symptoms - of my life.

"Take this." Darren held out his water skin, his eyes locked on the city below us.

I took a swig and choked on its contents. I had been expecting water – not the sweet taste of peppermint.

"It's for the nausea."

I took another swallow, and then another, letting the cold brew settle into my stomach. It brought back memories of my childhood. My parents had always given us mint tea for an after-dinner treat during the cold winter nights. I was well aware of its benefits, but I was surprised the prince had cared enough to offer it. I had almost drunk the entire contents before I realized I should save some for Darren.

"Thanks." I handed it back to him.

The prince waved the skin away. "That one was for you."

I almost dropped it. "Me?"

"I found the mint at the edge of the marsh we made camp at last night. I thought it might help."

I didn't know what to say. After two weeks of silence and short, clipped sentences this was the most Darren had spoken to me. We had never discussed my decision, and now out here, alone, away from the others – and especially after his gift - I felt a need to say something.

"Darren-"

"Don't." His words were tired, and for the first time I thought I detected some bitterness. "You made the right decision, Ryiah. Let's just leave it at that."

But I didn't want to. I bit my tongue and tried to focus on the brightly lit port just past the rocky shores below us. In Caltoth even its coastline was a much colder, much different kind of port than the one we had come from.

The city's harbor was twice the size of Langli. I could immediately understand why Darren had called it the wealthiest nation. Most of the buildings in Jerar consisted of timber frames with moderately thatched roofs; below, all I saw was brick: house after house

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