The Path of Giants, B.T. Narro [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗

a devilish grin. She had been watching for some time. She formed a small fireball and looked at me with eyebrows raised.

“Um,” I said. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Just one time. I want to feel how strong you are,” Remi said. “Kat could put out any fire, if it slips and strikes one of the buildings.”

I looked over at Kataleya. She appeared as reluctant as I felt.

“Come on,” Remi encouraged. “It’s just a small fireball.

“Best-case scenario, it will leave a hideous mark on the wall,” Kataleya said.

“Then we’ll shoot it into the air,” Remi said. “It will dissipate up there.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

She hummed in thought. “Maybe not.”

“Remi!” Kataleya complained with a bit of a laugh. “You shouldn’t be so adventurous with fire!”

“You can put it out!” Remi repeated.

“What if it sails into the surrounding city and catches someone’s roof on fire?” Kataleya posed.

“In that case, um.” Remi scratched her head. “We’ll shoot it into the ground.”

Jennava was on the other side of the courtyard, working with Michael. He had a sword in hand, but I could see dust rising up as he fought an imaginary opponent. Surely, he was casting wind while he was swinging his sword. Over the course of the morning, it seemed as if Jennava was helping him make progress with something, both of them energetic about whatever it was they were working on.

“Jennava,” I called to her. “Could you weigh in on something for us?”

Remi groaned as Jennava jogged over.

“What is it?” Jennava asked.

“Did you see how Kataleya and I were working on a slingshot spell?” I asked.

“I did. I think it’s a marvelous idea. I was going to ask who came up with it.”

“I think it was Kataleya,” I said. I couldn’t quite remember, but it wasn’t important now. “Remi wants to try with fire.”

“The slingshot spell is not worth it with fire,” Jennava answered immediately. “I give you permission to try with a very small fireball. Just be careful where you aim it, Remi. That wall is fine.” She gestured at the wall just ahead of us that Kataleya and I had been using as a target.

“It’s going to leave a mark,” Kataleya warned.

“I will explain to the king that it was a necessary experiment,” Jennava said. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

Remi had an excited grin as she made a fireball.

“I’m going to start pushing the other way,” I let her know.

She nodded.

I grabbed her fire and started to push, but my dvinia lit up before my eyes, a red, sizzling outline making my energy visible. I felt it disintegrating, burning away, forcing me to replenish it as I pushed harder. It was far more of a strain than trying to keep hold of water.

Remi pushed back hard. I wasn’t sure Kataleya wanted to know, but it was clear to me that Remi was much stronger. Or perhaps fire was just more powerful in the same way my spell was compared to the spell of Water.

“I’m about at my limit,” Remi said with a strained voice.

“Me, too. Three, two, one.” I let go.

Her fireball whipped through the air. There was a small but loud and bright explosion where it struck the wall. Jennava didn’t seem too worried about what damage it might’ve caused as she pointed at me and Remi.

“Look,” she said. “You are both breathing hard. Consider how much that took out of you, and an arrow could’ve done about the same damage. Now, was that worth it?”

“No,” Remi answered sullenly.

I shook my head.

“Even if you were to practice launching a fireball the size of a boulder,” Jennava said, “imagine how much mana it would take to prepare the fireball to be launched. And for what? Some extra power? It would be better to let Remi make her own fireballs and toss them herself. Water is different because it doesn’t burn away Jon’s dvinia, providing us with more options of how it could be used. Imagine we position ourselves uphill against our charging enemies, and we have a number of wizards and dark mages, like Jon, Eden, and myself, who could hold Kataleya’s water still as she builds up a flood.”

“You thought of that just this morning?” I asked.

“It’s one of a few possibilities I thought of.” Jennava clicked her tongue as she finally seemed to notice the chips in the wall Kataleya and I had made, along with the new black spot. “But the more immediate issue is where we can train this slingshot spell without destroying the castle. Give me some time to think on that as you return to your normal training.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kataleya spoke for us.

Souriff suddenly came down from the sky. Her shirt was stained with splotches of blood, her silvery hair disheveled and curled by an extreme force of wind, no doubt.

“The mountains are no longer protected,” she informed us as Michael hurried over to listen.

“And Failina?” I inquired nervously.

“She’s safe, no thanks to you. She will remain hidden for now.”

Michael asked, “You don’t trust us with her location?”

“I don’t know all of you well enough to trust you. Where is your king, currently? I have matters to discuss.”

Michael nervously pointed at the keep.

Souriff flew over and landed in front of the door. The guards standing there quickly got it open for her.

“I hope he tells us whatever she says to him,” Michael commented. “I bet Failina’s with Eslenda in the forest.”

I’d heard that Eslenda had spoken with Barrett sometime yesterday, but I hadn’t been made aware of any plans involving her yet. I didn’t know she’d left.

“Did you see her leaving?” I asked Michael.

“I heard the portcullis in the very early morning. It woke me up. I decided to get up and see who was leaving. It was her. Speaking of…”

As if on cue, we watched the portcullis rise with a loud clinking sound. Leon walked through. He was visibly tired, with a slouch and an expression that made me want to stay away from him. But he had two swords