Sage's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Sage pressed her back to the stone wall and vanished. Shadows swallowed her braid, her dagger, her whole body. Across the training hall, Prince Noah spun in a slow circle, searching for her. She would not let him find her. The hall smelled of sweat and old iron. Wooden weapons lined the racks. Banners hung above the doors. Noah had asked her to test the crew today, to prove they were ready for the next mission across the border. "She's gone again," Noah said. He grinned, hazel eyes bright. "Kael, cover my back." Kael stepped beside him, fists raised. A scar cut through his brow. He trusted no shadow he could not punch. "She's near the racks," he growled. "Cold spot. I feel it." Sage smiled from the dark. Kael was right, but too slow. She slid three steps left before he turned. "Auryn," Noah called. "Light the room.” Auryn raised one hand. Blue fire bloomed from his palm and threw hard light across the floor. The gold thread on his coat caught the glow. Every corner burned bright. Sage's shadow shrank to nothing. She cursed under her breath and ran. Her shadow spell needed dark, and Auryn had stolen it. She had one move left. Sage sprinted straight at Noah. His eyes went wide. Kael lunged to block her, but she dropped and slid under his arm. She pressed her wooden dagger flat against Noah's ribs before he could raise his blade. "Dead," she said. "You're dead, my prince." The hall went quiet. Then Noah laughed and lowered his sword. "You beat me again,” he said. "Auryn cut your cover, Kael found your cold spot, and still you got through." "Because you three fight loud," Sage said. She stepped back and let him breathe. "An enemy would hear you coming." Kael crossed his arms. "An enemy wouldn't be you." "That's why I go first," Sage said. "To make sure no enemy gets this close to him." She did not look at Noah when she said it. She could not. Noah wiped his brow and grew serious. "Good. Because we leave at dawn." The crew stilled. Auryn's fire dimmed to a small flame. "A scout crossed the border last night," Noah went on. "He carried a map of our castle. The tyrant king knows where we sleep. And he has the grimoire. He plans to strike first." Sage felt her chest tighten. She knew every hall of that castle. She knew every door an assassin might use. "Then we don't wait," she said. "We take the fight to him." Noah met her eyes. "That's the plan. But their walls are thick, and their mages are strong. We need someone inside first. Someone no one can see. And we need that spell book.” Everyone turned to Sage. She gripped her dagger. She had trained her whole life for a moment like this. To protect him, she would walk alone into the enemy's home. "I'll go," she said.