Free Arcane Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 2) by Kara Jaynes Page B

brigand leader in the wilderness who was said to have a sky jewel. It was several years ago, but it would make sense with all the brigand attacks and the king’s guard’s efforts being ineffective. We need to track his magic.”
    Bran pursed his lips in thought. “It’s doable. The tricky part will be tracking the brigands in the first place. I can’t imagine they will be easy to find.”
    Adaryn snorted, clearly confident in her abilities. “We’ll find them,” she said. She tapped her chin. “Maybe we should travel with the king’s soldiers. Strength in numbers and all that.”
    “No,” Bran said emphatically. “No king, no soldiers. I don’t trust them either.”
    Adaryn frowned at him. Aaric spoke up. “Bran is right. If the soldiers find out what we’re after, it will make our job that much harder.”
    Adaryn turned her glower to Aaric but then nodded. “Fine.”
    “I’ll leave in a couple of days and scout the surrounding countryside,” Bran said. He shot a sly look in Adaryn’s direction. “Adaryn can come with me.”
    “Not a chance,” Aaric said angrily. “If she goes, we all go.”
    “It doesn’t make sense for you to go,” Bran said mildly. “You can’t use magic.”
    “I’m staying with Aaric, Bran,” Adaryn said firmly. “Why don’t you see what you can find out and come tell us? There isn’t any point in all of us going until we know where the outlaws can be found.”
    “I’m going to work with the Scholar’s Guild,” Aaric said. “If they’re interested in purchasing my glider plans, that could help us financially. More than selling our pride as street performers, anyway.”
    Bran flushed angrily and opened his mouth to speak but Adaryn interrupted them. “It’s settled, then. Bran will track down the hideout of the brigands to see if they are led by a magic user named Fyrsil, and Aaric will talk with the Scholar’s Guild and see if he can buy us more time in the city.”
    “What are you going to do?” Bran asked her.
    “Take lessons from king Matias. And to make sure Grace stays away from Aaric,” she said, folding her arms determinedly.
    Bran laughed at her, earning a scowl. Aaric managed to hide his smile just in time. Miss Grace had better make herself scarce.

 
    22
    Adaryn
     
    “ Y ou can make plants grow using magic?” I asked in amazement. I was crouched over a little red flower that was looking decidedly wilted from the heat. King Matias and I were in the garden again. Bran had left over a week earlier. The Scholar’s Guild received Aaric and his glider plans with open arms, giving him funds to work on another invention he’d drafted plans for back in Ruis. That left me alone with decidedly little to do. This was my third visit since the night he was ambushed. He seemed to enjoy my company or I wouldn’t have bothered him so much. I had yet to make much progress in my healing lessons, though.
    “Of course,” Matias said. “It’s too hot to grow this many flowers naturally. I suppose some would call it a waste of magic, but I would miss the greenery too much otherwise.”
    “Can you show me?” I asked eagerly.
    Matias looked down at me intently, his blue eyes piercing. He looked amused. “Watch closely.”
    Matias stood perfectly still, taking deep breaths. I felt the magic surge from him, saw thin tendrils of the magic emanate from his body. The magic wove itself around every flower, tree, bush and blade of grass. It was incredible. I’d never seen enchantment this complex or powerful. Bran was the most powerful magic user I knew and this made his ability look like child’s play.
    A few more moments passed before Matias released the magic. It dissipated almost immediately. I looked down at the little red flower. It was in full bloom, without a trace of wilt. I stared up at the king, speechless with wonder. He laughed.
    “It’s just a flower, Adaryn.”
    “How can you be so powerful? I tried to follow what you did, but I’m not capable