Free Magic Astray (The Llandra Saga) by Gregory Mahan

ready to let her know of his new-found ability. Maybe someday he would, when he understood it more fully himself, and after she had proved herself to be a friend. But until then, it was best to keep his secret to himself.
    “Why is that such a big deal, anyway,” Randall asked. “Don’t Summoners call forth the fae all the time?”
    Nia made a face of disgust. “Yes, but that kind of magic is limited. A summoning can only last for a short time, and the fae must abide by the Mage’s wishes. With the Passage Device, our kind can slip the veil freely, and stay indefinitely. Mamaeth plans to find the device and use it to open the barrier. It will be war with your kind.”
    “You think you’d be happy about it. You don’t sound exactly thrilled,” Randall observed.
    “It’s true, I have no great love of your kind,” Nia explained in a serious tone. “But I have no hatred toward you either. I was not born yet when the first Great Crossing happened, but our legends do not describe it as a time of war. If such a thing were to happen today, I fear it would mean the extermination of your kind. That Rhys would even consider it shames me, and brings discredit to our entire people. I am certain that many of my people would feel the same, though as long as Rhys is in power, they are duty bound to follow his command.”
    “Then we agree,” Randall said grimly. “We have to stop Rhys and Berry. If we somehow manage to escape the forest, we’ll go to Ninove. That was Aiden’s seat of power. He has got to be the Mage that Berry mentioned, and the device is almost certain to be there. And in Ninove, there are many Mages that will help us.”
    Nia looked frightened. “I grew up in these forests, and have spent many years learning their secrets, but I have never been beyond their borders. Will it be safe? I do not think our kind has ever stepped foot in one of your cities in all our recorded history.”
    “I’ll keep you safe, Nia,” Randall promised. “I’m sure they’ll listen to me. I have a reputation among my people. You see, I’m the one who killed Aiden.”
    Nia gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “Surely you’re joking. Even we had heard of that powerful Summoner in Dyffryn. And you’re just a...”
    “Yeah, just a boy,” Randall snorted. “That’s the same mistake Aiden made,” he said, with false bravado. With all that he had accomplished, he was tired of still being underestimated.
    “And you fought him by yourself,” Nia asked, breathlessly. “That seems very brave.”
    “Well, I had help,” Randall had to admit. “Berry was with me. But Aiden wasn’t alone either. He had a few Mages with him, and he summoned these huge dog-looking things with porcupine quills for fur.” Randall shuddered at the memory.
    “Aether-sniffers,” Nia breathed, and she shuddered herself. She had used the elvish word for the animals, but the meaning was clear in his mind. “They are very dangerous animals,” she said, putting her hand on Randall’s arm. “I am glad you lived.”
    “I’m glad too,” Randall replied distractedly. An idea was bubbling its way to the surface of his mind, and suddenly, it burst with the gleam of clarity. “It makes sense! If Berry was after the Passage Device, then he was just using me to kill Aiden so he could get to it.” It hurt to realize that everything his mother had said about the donnan was true, after all.
    “But then why didn’t it kill you and seek the device once the Summoner was out of the way?” Nia asked, confused.
    “We were both hurt pretty bad after the fight,” Randall answered, thinking quickly. “Though I was hurt more than he was, and had lost my ability to summon magic. Maybe he needed me to help him search the city, or maybe he needed time to heal himself. I just don’t know, and it’s not like I can ask him.”
    “Perhaps you will get your chance, after all,” Nia whispered hoarsely, her back stiffening as she looked at something off to