A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)

Chapter 21 - Fox

Worry no longer about their fates, I have taken good care of them. Though I cannot foresee what other fools may try.

Fox put his hands on the window and pressed his nose against the glass. The silver sword on display was the most beautiful weapon he had ever seen, better than anything Father had ever forged. If only he could touch the rigid angular engravings that spelt out Diligence, or curl his hands around the claw-shaped hilt. All he would change was the lion's head on the pommel into a fox, and it would be the best sword in the entire world.

He cast his gaze to his muddy boots. Not that he would ever own it; he didn't have any of the thousand silverlings needed to afford the sword of his dreams.

The blaring wind brought the memory of Mother's sighs. He should not give in to the temptations of the God of Greed, and be grateful for what he had. She would have been right. He was only a boy, not even eleven.

He huddled his arms around his body. Maybe that was why he missed her hugs and kisses every day. Because he was a child and not yet a warrior. The sword would have to wait.

A shrill whistle pulled him away from the window. Katla stood twenty feet from him, his hand resting on his hip. "Wake up, little day-dreamer. We have to be in Mage's Tower, remember?"

"I'm awake." Fox slowly trotted towards him and kicked a pebble into the puddle of water he had fallen in before; his own personal revenge.

He didn't want to go to the magician's council meeting. Sitting still and listening to others talking sounded a lot like those times when Lady Karen had taught the children of Laneby how to read and write. Mother had pushed him to keep up with the others, which had been impossible because they had all been so much better than him.

His attention shifted to the rainbow-coloured cart of Mallard the marble merchant. It was still in the same spot as a few days ago, yet this time a bag cost one silverling instead of a half.

A girl with a long messy ponytail halted and gawked into the cart. She curled her bottom lip and continued walking. She didn't have any coins either.

Fox nibbled on his finger. Katla had no toys at home, apart from the complicated board game he had tried explaining the evening before, which didn't count; they hadn't actually played it. "Katla, can I have a bag of marbles?"

"Hmm, I think it's more important that we train your powers, son." Katla too glanced at the cart, then back at him. "Now come here."

"But do I really have to go to Mage Tower?" He slid his hands into the pockets of his trousers and pouted. "I wanna stay with Doe."

"And stuff yourself with pie all afternoon?" Katla let out a short snort. "I don't think so. There will be other apprentices attending too, even a girl close to your age. Perhaps you two can become friends?"

"I don't know." He scratched his head. The important memory of Seb and Lord Brandon was still gone. Usually, it didn't take long to find what he had lost, but this time it seemed to be particularly hard, like when those firestones had disappeared from his pockets after Katla had taken him. "Can we go to Doe afterwards?"

Katla pushed him in front of him. "Sure, if you manage not to fall asleep when the Grand Master is speaking. I did that once, and she threatened to turn me into a trout."

Fox halted abruptly and turned around, his mouth nearly hanging on his chest. "Did she really do that?"

"There's no need to look so frightened, son." Katla chuckled. "It was just a joke."

"I don't look frightened! You know I'm not afraid of anything."

Keeping his hands in his pockets, he strutted along Moondale's main street. Despite his attempt not to get scared anymore, his inner hammer banged harder and harder in his chest the closer he got to the castle. He tried holding his breath, but that didn't slow down his heart either.