Free Darkness Rising: Disciples of the Horned One Volume One (Soul Force Saga Book 1) by James Wisher Page B

applauded. “The finest example of shaping we’ve seen from a candidate in many years. That’s four passed out of six,” the Master of the South said. “Congratulations, you’ve passed your final test.”
    The master looked at the three women and each nodded. He continued. “We remove all restrictions from you. You are now free to use your powers at your discretion. Finally, you’ll need to find an experienced sorcerer to mentor you for two years of field work before you’ll get missions of your own. Well done.”
    The door behind him opened, he bowed to each of the masters, and left. Ann stood beside her chair, a worried frown on her face. Damien grinned and she smiled. “You passed?”
    “Sure did. All credit to my teacher. How long was I in there?”
    “Three hours. I was afraid they’d killed you for a little while.” They went back downstairs in her basket. As they descended Ann asked, “What will you do now?”
    “I’m going home for a visit. Jen invited me for the Solstice festival and I’m eager to see her and Lizzy.”
    She leered at him. “You’re not afraid your lover has moved on in three years?”
    Damien had never told Ann Lizzy was a spirit bound in his father’s sword and he didn’t feel the need to now. “I don’t think so.”
    “Well if she has, let me know. After today you’re not my student anymore so anything goes.”
    Damien shook his head and the basket hit the second-floor landing. She never quit. “Thanks. Though I’d be too afraid of the other guys to try anything with the object of their affections.”
    She laughed, hugged him again, and rose up to the sixth floor and her apartment. Damien sighed. When he got back from The Citadel he’d have to find an apartment in the upper levels. He was a sorcerer now, which meant he couldn’t stay in the students’ rooms anymore.
    He made the familiar walk back to the room he shared with Eli and pushed the door open. His roommate lay on his bed, an arm over his eyes. When Damien entered he rolled on his side. “How’d you do?”
    “Passed. Took damn near three hours. What happened to you?”
    “My shield broke, I missed half the moving targets, and my construct lost its mock battle.”
    Damien winced. He’d failed attack, shield, and conjuring, the three primary skills for a sorcerer, not good. “What about the rest?”
    “I passed detection and shaping no problem and I could have passed healing, but I failed the other three first.”
    “Sorry. Want some advice?”
    Eli shrugged, sighed, and said, “Sure, what could it hurt?”
    “Chose one of the three you failed and focus on it for the next six months. When the time comes you’ll have your skills ready to go.”
    Eli got up and they shook hands. “Thanks, Damien, you’ve been a good roommate and friend. I suppose I’ll get a new bunkmate now.”
    “Only for six months, then you can get an apartment on my floor, whichever one I end up on. I’m heading out for a few days. See you later.”
    “I saw your sister’s letter on your desk. You must be excited to finally go home again.”
    “Yeah, excited and terrified, the same as when I arrived here.”

Chapter 14
    D amien circled The Citadel once to have a look around. It was late afternoon on a dull, gray summer day. He’d gathered his gear and taken off a couple minutes after his talk with Eli. His rucksack and weapons hung off his shoulder, just like when he’d left, but he didn’t bother with a mount. Instead he flew on his own like a bird, his shield keeping the bugs out of his mouth and nose. He went full blast, pushing as hard as he dared. He ended up making the return trip in under an hour.
    Below him, tiny figures practiced their forms in the training yard. A wave of nostalgia hit him, just for a second, before he remembered all the bad things he had to put up with. He descended and landed on the dirt patch beside the wall. No one greeted him, of course. He’d come early hoping to surprise Jen and