Free Wings of Arian by Devri Walls Page A

it is you have agreed to do, and second, we will work on your combat skills.”
    Emane looked at him sideways, “ You are going to help me work on my combat skills?”
    “In a way, but first you must learn not to underestimate magic.”
    “I don’t underestimate magic!”
    “With all due respect, Emane,” Aleric stopped abruptly, allowing Emane to move in front of him, “you have always underestimated magic.”
    Emane swung around, “I have never—”
    Aleric abruptly raised his hand, palm out. Emane found himself being picked up in the air and thrown backwards. He landed hard and rolled. Coming up onto his hands and knees he coughed, wiping the dirt from his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
    Aleric calmly walked over to him and bent down to take his arm. “Are you hurt?”
    Prince Emane jerked his arm out of Aleric’s hand. “What did you do that for?!” he yelled, sitting back on his heels.
    “I needed to give you a taste of magic.”
    Emane jumped to his feet, brushing himself off. “A taste?! That wasn’t a taste, Aleric. You threw me a good twenty feet!” he yelled, gesturing back to where they had been standing.
    “So I did.” Aleric said judging the distance. Giving him cold hard stare he finished, “but yes, Prince, that was just a taste.”
    “You can’t be serious!” Emane said, still brushing off his pants.
    “Very serious. That is only a hint of what I can do, and nothing compared to what evil will do to you. You were lucky you were dealing with only the Hounds last time.”
    “ Lucky ?! Those things nearly killed us both.”
    “Lucky.” Aleric repeated, his blue eyes very serious. “The Hounds are harmless unless they get close enough to bite you. Dralazar does not need to be nearly that close to kill. If you want to survive, you must learn to combat against magic.”
    Emane gaped, “How am I supposed to do that?” he finally said, “You didn’t even touch me and you threw me twenty feet in the air.”
    “First, you need to learn when to not be stupid.” Aleric said holding up a finger. “There are times when hiding is the only acceptable option. Second, you will need to learn to trust and depend on Kiora. She will be able to fight magic with magic. And finally, you will need to learn to dodge magic. Those with magic can, amongst other skills, throw their magic. It can come out in a visible bolt, more damaging, or as a force that cannot be seen, as you just experienced. That is what we will be working on today.”
    “Dodging?” Emane repeated dryly.
    “Yes.”Emane brushed his hair off his forehead. “You have got to be kidding.” His hand dropped loosely back to his side.
    Aleric held his gaze before answering, “No.”
    Emane stared at him incredulously, blood rising in his face. “How can I dodge what I can’t see?”
    “You learn how it works and what its limitations are, and you watch for signs,” said Aleric patiently.
    Emane clenched his fists before pacing over to the nearest tree and back. “Aleric, why didn’t you already teach me this stuff? We had years of lessons at the castle.”
    Aleric contemplated a second before answering. “Prince Emane, your father asked me to teach you what I could. Had you shown more interest in your history lessons, perhaps I would have taken time to teach you more. But, you were always preoccupied with getting down to your combat lessons. I never had much of your attention.” Emane stopped, his shoulders pulled up, hands still fisted at his side. Aleric sighed, “It is regrettable. Had I realized your role in all of this, I may have worked harder to make you understand.”
    Emane’s head lowered. It was true. Aleric never really had much of his attention. “I should have listened more.”
    Aleric placed his weathered hand on Emane’s shoulder. “Just listen to me now.”
    Emane looked into the eyes of his teacher and gave a slow regrettable nod of acknowledgment.
    “Come, we have work to do.”
    ***
    Back in the tent