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  Magic Wielder

  Gatebreaker: Book Two

  Michelle Wilson

  Magic Wielder is copyright © 2019 by Tulip Poplar Publications. Published 2019 by Tulip Poplar Publications. Cover design is copyright © 2019 by sleepy fox studio.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, folklore, mythology, people, or places are used fictitiously. All other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any similarities to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

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  Also by Michelle Wilson

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  1

  I sighed in frustration as my concentration broke when the sleeve of my white robe slid down over my hand once again. The piece of metal that had been floating in the air in front of me clattered down onto the table. A strand of my red hair flopped in my face as I sat down in the chair behind me. I pushed it behind my ear and wiped away the drops of sweat that pooled on my forehead. I rolled up the sleeves on the robe for what felt like the millionth time.

  “Don’t worry,” a whispered voice said behind me. “You’ll get it.” I jumped up from my seat and spun around. The king’s steward, Olma, stood in the doorway of the small room I was practicing in.

  “I’m sorry,” he said when he noticed my reaction. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “It’s all right,” I told him. “Please come in.” I motioned him in with my hand. The wide golden band on the sleeve of my robe shimmered in the torchlight. Olma nodded his head in thanks and walked into the room. He leaned against the wall next to the door.

  “I won’t keep you. King Bleddyn just asked me to come and check on you to see how your powers are coming along,” he told me. As usual, Olma was dressed in clothes that looked three sizes too big. With his bald crown and frumpy clothing, I often thought he resembled a potato with a head.

  “I thank King Bleddyn for his interest in me,” I replied. I tried to frame my words carefully. Even though it had been three months since I had been given my title and joined the ranks of nobles in Thavell, the formality of life at court still didn’t come easily to me.

  “As the king is aware, after the events in the Golden Forest this past autumn, my magic took a long time to replenish itself. I’m happy to report that while I am not back to my previous strength, I have been able to complete a few workings and spells over the past week. Even though the Scholars are not due to resume regular lessons for another few weeks, Lord Barwick has been taking time to work with me. I’m sure I will have much to learn when I join the ranks of the Scholars. Is there a reason King Bleddyn is interested in my studies? Has he been able to discover a way for my friends and I to get home?” I asked.

  Olma smiled and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Lady Lydia. As far as I am aware, we have not uncovered any new information. The king just wanted to check in and make sure you were doing well. He is always interested in how the Gatebreaker is faring.”

  I inwardly cringed at the sound of my title. The Gatebreaker. I still wasn’t entirely sure what being the Gatebreaker meant. I kept expecting the king to show up one day to tell me there had been a mistake and I wasn’t the Gatebreaker after all.

  “I appreciate the king’s attention,” I said. “Please let him know I am doing well and want for nothing. He has seen to it that I am well taken care of.”

  “Of course, my lady. The king also wanted me to extend an invitation. Would you be willing to dine with him tomorrow evening in his private dining room? He would love to speak with you and hear about your studies so far.”

  “Let the king know I would be honored to dine with him tomorrow evening,” I told Olma. The thought of dining alone with the king made me nervous, but I knew there was no polite way to decline the invitation.

  “I will take him your acceptance,” Olma said. “May I walk you back to your rooms?” he asked. “It’s getting late.”

  “Thank you for the offer but my guard is just outside the room. We will be returning to my chambers soon.” Olma nodded his head and left the room as silently as he had arrived. It always amazed me how gracefully and quietly he could move for such a frumpy man. I sniffed and wiped my nose as the smell that always followed Olma hit my senses. It wasn't bad, just strange.

  Once he left, I picked up the piece of metal I had been working with and went to put it back on one of the shelves lined up against the far wall. The shelves held various supplies for working magic. There were glass globes, pieces of different kinds of metal, jars of dirt and water, and various other knick-knacks. I stacked the metal I held in my hand with others on one of the shelves. After I had finished tidying up, I laid my forehead against the cool stone of the walls, trying to stave off the headache I could feel coming on in my temples.

  I wanted to keep practicing, but I was tired. I knew better than to push myself. The last thing I needed was another fainting spell. My magic had been used up in the Battle of the Golden Forest as people were calling it now. A couple of weeks after that I was feeling better and decided I was well enough to light the fire in my room with magic. The effort had caused me to faint, and for a week after I could barely walk. Three months later and I was just getting to where I could use my magic again with ease.

  The throbbing in my head subsided as I pressed my head against the stone. Once it had dimmed to a level I could hardly notice, I straightened back up. I took one last glance around the classroom to make sure I had left nothing out and then exited the room.

  2

  Erin was waiting for me in the hallway.

  “You know you could come in with me,” I told her. She shook her head.

  “No, watching you do magic is weird. And it makes me nervous.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure, it’s just like the air gets all tingly around you when you do it. You don’t seem like Lydia when it happens.”

  “I think magic is the most Lydia thing I do,” I admitted to her. Erin gave me a sidelong glance but said nothing as we made our way down the shadowed stone hallway. The castle was built into the mountain itself and The Scholars practiced deep within the halls built under the mountain. Barwick told me something about the stone they built the castle into helped enhance the magic. Most of the students had rooms down in this area when the Scholars were in session. They would move in for the winter term soon. I was glad I didn't have to stay down here. It was always cold and damp this deep within the mountain.

&n
bsp; Torches on the walls every few feet lit the hall in flickering firelight as we made our way down long passages and up staircases. Erin’s chain mail shirt clinked as we climbed another set of stairs.

  “I wish they didn’t make you wear all that stuff in the castle,” I said.

  “You’re one to talk about uniforms,” Erin teased. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” I grinned and looked down at the long flowing robe I was wearing. I had a handful of it balled up my fist so I wouldn't trip as we walked up a flight of stairs.

  “You have a point,” I told her. “This thing is ridiculous and not at all practical. But chain mail? I don’t think anyone will attack me,” I said. “It’s been months, and no one has tried.” Erin shrugged her shoulders.

  “The king still seems to think so.”

  “Speaking of the king, Olma came to tell me the king wants to have a private dinner with me tomorrow evening.”

  “Really?” Erin asked, perking up. “Maybe he has news about John.”

  “I hope so,” I told her. “I can’t think of what else it could be.”

  “Will you ask about him?”

  “Of course I will Erin, but I don’t know how much the king is willing to tell me, really. He typically doesn’t want me to worry about military stuff.”

  “John isn’t military stuff,” Erin said. She stopped in the hallway and stared at me. “It’s John, Lydia. He could be hurt or lost or anything out there all by himself. He’s your friend too.”

  I reached out and touched her arm. “Erin, you’re right, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Sometimes it just seems like you aren’t worried about getting him back and getting us home,” Erin said. Her words stung.

  “Erin, I promise, I’m doing everything I can. I do feel powerless sometimes, especially since I’ve been so weak. But my magic is coming back, and my lessons with the Scholars start soon. They are the most knowledgeable people in the kingdom when it comes to magic. Surely they will help us find our way home." Erin said nothing. "I’ll ask the king about John tomorrow and demand he tells me if they have any leads. I promise. I want him back with us too.”

  Erin gave me a nod as we continued down the hallway.

  “How’s Murphy?” I asked.

  “He’s okay,” she said. “Restless. They’ve put him on full duty. He has watch at the castle gate most nights. He says it’s boring.”

  “Is he still mad at me?” I asked. We had arrived at the door to my chambers. We both stopped outside them to continue our conversation.

  “I don’t think so. I just think he doesn’t know what to do with you, Lydia.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lydia you should’ve seen yourself that night in the forest. It was amazing and strange, and also scary. It just seems like you’re a different person sometimes.”

  “Erin, that’s silly. I’m still me.”

  “The Lydia that Murphy and I have known since we were babies couldn’t do magic.”

  “That doesn’t mean I’ve changed. Just think of it like I’ve developed a new skill.”

  “It’s a little more than a new skill,” Erin said with an eye roll. I shook my head in exasperation.

  “Come inside for a while,” I told her. “I can have Gabrielle bring us some hot chocolate. You can stay the night.”

  “I can’t,” she said.

  “You’re not on duty tonight, are you?” I asked.

  “No, Val is,” she said.

  “Then stay here with me for the night.”

  “Really, I can’t tonight. I have my check early in the morning and Commander Nadine has this terrible habit of showing up early.”

  “Okay,” I told her with a sigh. “You’ll be back tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” she said. I reached over and gave her a hug. She stiffened for a second and then relaxed and hugged me back.

  “Go to bed,” she told me. “And tell me everything you and the king talk about tomorrow after your dinner.”

  “Of course,” I said. I turned and opened the large oak door to my rooms. “Goodnight,” I told Erin before shutting the door behind me.

  “Goodnight, Lydia,” she said.

  3

  Everything inside the door was blanketed in darkness as my eyes adjusted to the moonlight coming in through the massive window in my sitting area. I walked across the wide room to look out. My chambers were in one tower of the castle. To my left I could see part of the city, and to the right I could see a huge expanse of the Everlasting Sea. A new blanket of snow covered the ground outside. I loved the snow. It made everything it touched look pure and new. This snow was so new there weren’t any footprints to mar the white surface. The full moon hung over the sea. It reflected the snow on the ground and gave the outside world an eerie glow. This late at night nothing was moving.

  I waited for a few minutes to see if it would start snowing again, but it seemed like I missed it falling for the night. Walking past the couches and tables in my sitting area into my bedroom, I untied my white robe and threw it unceremoniously onto the bench at the foot of my bed. I couldn’t stand the thing, but they required me to wear it when I was practicing magic or in the Scholars area of the castle.

  I was nervous about joining the Scholars and taking actual magic classes. For the past few weeks I had been studying on my own. Before my magic began to return, I spent hours in the various libraries of the castle. I learned the main library on the fourth floor wasn’t the only book room in this large stone building. The Scholars had their own library full of magic texts next to their classrooms.

  My inability to bend the metal earlier was still eating at me. I was frustrated with myself for taking so long to recover. The power I had felt flow through me in the Golden Forest had been immeasurable and life changing. That feeling was gone and even though I knew my stores of magic were replenishing themselves, I couldn’t stop feeling frustrated that I wasn't near the strength I possessed in the fall. Feeling powerless about everything in my life, I turned toward the grate in my bedroom. I stared at it for a moment, narrowing my eyes and concentrating on the golden pool of magic within me. After a few moments the wood sparked. In another moment there was a pop and the whole fireplace roared to life with reaching orange flames. I smiled a little. Maybe I wasn’t powerless. After watching the flames for a couple of minutes I concentrated again and brought the fire down to embers for the night.

  A knock at the door startled me. My heart beat a little faster as the door opened. It fell when I saw it was just my maid, Gabrielle, entering.

  “Why the sad face, my lady?” She asked as she came into my room and started to help me get out of my dress and change for bed without being asked.

  “I’m just tired,” I lied. “You’re here late,” I told her, trying to change the subject.

  “When you weren’t here earlier, I decided to come back and check on you later. Was my lady expecting someone else?”

  “Oh no,” I told her.

  “Okay, my lady,” Gabrielle said. “Would you like to know what’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”

  “Yes, please,” I told her, my words muffled by the yawn I was trying to hold back. I had learned that as a lady all of my invitations filtered through Gabrielle, my lady’s maid. I was glad for it, I didn’t know where to begin with invitations to events. Gabrielle was knowledgeable about court life in Thavell and was careful to spread my acceptances across everyone she could so I wouldn’t offend anyone.

  “Tomorrow morning you have practice in the courts with your regular group of noblewomen. I've been told by the instructor your staff play needs some work. Then Ladies Maren and Annistyn have invited you for a walk in the gardens. It’s supposed to be a nice morning, so I accepted on your behalf. You will have lunch together in the gardens. Then, in the afternoon some noblewomen are sewing new clothes for the residents of a village outside Fenwood. It was recently raided and many of the villagers lost all their possessions. Again, I accepted on your beh
alf.”

  “I’m not great at sewing. Besides, I usually block off the afternoon for studying,” I said as I pulled my nightgown over my head.

  “Yes, but I didn’t want you to have time to fret before your evening activities. I’m sure there will be something you can contribute,” Gabrielle told me.

  “Of course, you already know about my dinner with the king,” I said.

  Gabrielle merely inclined her head in reply. I stifled another yawn and shook my head.

  “Thank you, Gabrielle,” I said as I climbed into my large bed.

  “No need to thank me, my lady. This is what I do. If you have everything you need, I will leave you now,” Gabrielle said.

  “Of course. Goodnight,” I told her. She curtsied and exited the room, closing the door behind her.

  I laid in bed and watched out my window for a minute before turning onto my back. I stared at the high ceiling above me. Sleep wouldn’t come.

  I couldn’t help but think about Gabrielle asking if I was expecting someone to visit me. I had often wondered how many people knew about mine and Aidric’s relationship last summer. We thought it was a secret, but I had heard more than a few whispers. There was nothing between us now. Since Aidric escorted me when I was presented at court, I had barely spoken to him. He was cordial in social settings, but he hadn’t sought me out even once. It didn’t help that Lady Jaclyn had arrived from Fenwood and now Aidric was spending all of his spare time with her.