Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) Daniel Schinhofen (books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📖

a single look back. She was focused on the other girl standing near the adjudicator. Gregory could tell there was a story by the way the other novice sneered at Nessa, but he didn’t know what it was. The girl waiting for Nessa said something, and the adjudicator clearly rebuked her for it. Nessa’s head had lifted at whatever had been said, but she just walked calmly to the center. The two women bowed as directed— to the boxes, to the crowd, and finally, to each other.

The moment the fight began, the other novice had a burning ball of fire in her hand and she threw it at Nessa. Nessa did her best to avoid it, but she hadn’t been prepared for the flames. Even then, she nearly made it with a dodge and what looked like a brief gust of wind. Everything but her left arm cleared the flame.

Nessa let out a ragged scream of pain as she hit the ground and rolled onto her burnt arm. The woman was clearly saying something, but no one could hear over the roar from those who had enjoyed the sight, including Carlisle behind the group.

Nessa’s jaw was clenched in pain as she pushed herself to her feet, her left arm dangling beside her. Taking a defensive stance, she beckoned her opponent with her right hand. The other novice laughed at Nessa, sneering as she rushed her.

Nessa waited until they were about to collide before sand whipped up hard from the arena floor. The other novice had expected some sand, but not the hard, gusting wall that hit her. She kept her head averted and her eyes closed, trying to stop short, but Nessa wasn’t going to allow that.

With a beautifully executed front kick, she drove her heel into the other woman’s gut. When the novice sagged, clearly reeling from the first kick, Nessa spun on her heel and performed a roundhouse kick. With the way the other novice’s head snapped to the side when her foot connected, it was clear that it was a devastating blow.

Nessa wasn’t about to relent, not with her left arm out of the fight. As her opponent went tumbling to the ground, Nessa followed her, kicking again and again. It took the adjudicator a few seconds before he called Nessa off.

Stepping back, Nessa bowed to him as he raised the glowing metal disk to announce her the winner. While he made the announcement, the healers rushed out to see to her and the other novice. Before they could reach her, Nessa bowed to the boxes and her downed opponent.

“Hmm… well, it seems she is sturdier than I anticipated,” Carlisle huffed, “but the healers won’t spend enough aether to fully heal her. It will make the next fight even tougher for her.”

“That is indeed possible,” Hao agreed. “Only time will tell.”

Chapter Fifty-nine

 

It was late afternoon, and Daciana had won her third fight. Having dominated all three fights without using any aether, the crowd was cheering loudly as she walked off the floor. Most of the crowd was, at least— Carlisle looked like he’d sucked on a lemon and had gotten it lodged in his throat.

“Well, it appears that you’ve lost both bets,” Hao said, looking back at Carlisle. “That’s one hundred and forty-four thousand vela.”

“Yes, I can do my own arithmetic, Warlin,” Carlisle hissed, acutely aware of everyone nearby watching him. “I don’t carry that kind of money on my person.”

“Hmm, but you surely have a bond with you. I’m willing to take a properly-sealed bond. Or…” Hao trailed off, standing and walking over beside him. “I don’t normally offer such things, but I’d be willing to take half of what is owed.”

“On what condition?” The question was laced with venom.

“Ten-to-one on them sweeping their fights tomorrow,” Hao smiled amiably. “You’ve voiced time and time again... what was it? Ah, yes. ‘Mere talking animals can’t win against real magi.’ I’m willing to let you fully embrace that belief.”

Carlisle’s face went purple when he realized that Hao had just trapped him. If he declined, it would be him admitting that the novices were more than he’d been saying all day, but taking the bet would mean putting nearly a million vela on the outcome. All eyes, even those of the novices and their family, bored into him as he sat there.

“Fine!” Carlisle snapped. Rising to his feet, he sneered at Hao. “If you wish to besmirch the Warlin Mercantile name by siding with beasts, clearly showing how flawed you are, far be it from me to stop you.” He scribbled out a bond and thrust it to Hao once he’d sealed it with blood.

“Armsmaster?” Hao asked with a smile.

“I have heard and witnessed the bet, as all here have, but I will make sure it is honored, on my blade,” Gin said, standing.

Carlisle glanced at Gin, then behind him to where Inda and Indara were standing. It took him a moment, but he finally placed them. His eyes widened and his skin flushed deeper. “Of course you would, with those th—!”

“If you say a word against my companions, I will ask for blood,” Gin said sharply, cutting the man off with the frigidity of it. “You have wagered. I have heard it and will make sure it is upheld, but to make a personal insult against those with me is to insult me.”

Carlisle looked like he had swallowed his tongue. When he finally spoke, it was a single word, filled with all the hatred in his rotund body: “Fine.” He turned to the woman who had been sitting with him, snapping at her, “Move, you stupid cow! We’re leaving! Now!”

The woman looked startled and fearful as she quickly hurried away with Carlisle following her.

Those nearby had been so focused on the drama unfolding that they’d missed that the fight in the