The Black Mage: Complete Series Read online

  THE BLACK MAGE: COMPLETE SERIES

  DIGITAL BOXED SET

  RACHEL E. CARTER

  Copyright © 2016 Rachel E. Carter

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Rachel E. Carter

  www.rachelecarter.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Deranged Doctor Designs

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  For every little girl who wished for a sword instead of a tiara. And for every little girl who wished for a tiara—because tiaras are pretty cool too. And for the girl who wanted both, because that just kicks ass.

  CONTENTS

  Map of Jerar & Surrounding Kingdoms

  First Year (Book 1)

  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

  Apprentice (Book 2)

  Year One of the Apprenticeship

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Year Two of the Apprenticeship

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Year Three of the Apprenticeship

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Year Four of the Apprenticeship

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Candidate (Book 3)

  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

  Last Stand (Book 4)

  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

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Rachel E. Carter

  MAP OF JERAR & SURROUNDING KINGDOMS

  Magic. Romance. War. Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Falling Kingdoms, and Tamora Pierce.

  Before the age of seventeen, the young men and women of Jerar are given a choice —pursue a trade or enroll in a trial year in one of the realm’s three war schools to study as a soldier, knight, or mage…

  For fifteen-year-old Ryiah, the choice has always been easy. Become a mage and train in Combat, the most prestigious faction of magic.

  Yet when she arrives, Ry finds herself competing against friend and foe for one of the exalted apprenticeships. Everyone is rooting for her to fail—first and foremost among them is Prince Darren, the school prodigy who has done nothing but make life miserable since she arrived.

  Will Ry survive, or will her dream go down in flames?

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  1

  “Don’t look now,” I said softly. Do I sound calm? I hoped so. It was hard to tell with the frantic beating in my chest. “But I think we’re being followed.”

  My brother paled, hands freezing on the reins. Almost unconsciously, his head began to turn in the direction of my warning.

  “Alex!”

  He jerked his head back guiltily. I hoped the movement would go unnoticed by the four riders trailing a quarter of a mile behind us. They hadn't appeared too concerned with our procession thus far, but the fact that the men were still following us after the last main road had ended left an unsettling taste in the back of my mouth.

  It was getting dark fast. At the elevation we were traveling, there wouldn't be much light left for long. Already the sun had wedged itself behind one of the larger outcroppings of rock, and the rest of its rays were fading much too quickly for my liking.

  I’d hoped the party would stop to make camp at one of the few sites we’d passed—after all, what weary traveler wouldn't prefer the comfort of an easy alcove and a nearby stream? I, for one, would have insisted as much if it hadn't been for the uncanny appearance of those behind us.

  Our horses continued their steady climb into the dark hillside above.

  “How do you know they are following us?”

  A pit settled in the base of my stomach. “Their saddlebags are far too light for a trek through the mountains.”

  “So?”

  I clenched my jaw and then released a long breath. It wasn't Alex's fault he didn't understand my concern. He cared about healing people, not studying the monsters that harmed them.

  “Only fools—or bandits—would travel so empty-handed. We passed the last main road to an inn hours ago.” I tried to keep the trickle of fear out of my throat as I added, “Only a bandit wouldn't bother with supplies. They’d be taking ours instead.”

  My twin slowly mulled over my words. I wondered if he thought I was overreacting. I wasn't exactly known for my easygoing temperament. I hoped he didn't think this was just another one of my “rash judgments,” as our parents were wont to assume.

  While I waited for Alex's response, I pretended to check the footholds, giving myself an opportunity to spy on the others. Though the men were much harder to study in the dark, there was still no mistaking the glint of steel bulging from one of the men's hips. Only a soldier or a knight was allowed to bear weapons.

  A chill ran through me. I doubted he was either.

  “What should we do, Ry?” Alex looked so much younger than his fifteen years with fear in his eyes.

  My twin, the rational, levelheaded, sane half of me, was afraid. What did that mean for the two of us? I refused to contemplate the answer. Instead, I scanned the trail ahead, trying to make out our route amid the lumbering pines.

  Unfortunately, it was much easier to point out the problem than come up with a solution.

  We should’ve taken the main road, I acknowledged belatedly. If I hadn't been so set on the fastest route to the Academy, we’d be on a nice, well-traveled path instead of a desolate mountain range, about to be robbed. />
  But it was too late now.

  “Ryiah?”

  I bit my lip. Alex was looking to me for an answer. This was, after all, my forte. What had I told my parents before we left home? I would join Combat or die trying.

  A fine choice of words. What had been meant as a melodramatic proclamation was now to be my ironic demise. I couldn’t fight our way out of this. Not against four grown, arms-holding men, and certainly not without magic.

  For the millionth time, I silently questioned the gods' motive in my inability to cast. But this wasn't the time to bemoan my lack of magic. I needed a solution fast.

  I peered into the trees, straining to see any sort of upcoming detour. Could we find a way to circle back, lose the men in a chase, and return to the main road… Or would we do better by taking cover under darkness and moving out again at first light?

  Perhaps Alex was right, and the men would just carry on. We could just set up camp here and now and be none the worse.

  Yes, and pigs might fly, I scolded myself. You want to be a warrior mage, and yet you shirk at the first sign of danger.

  I did not shirk.

  I sidled as close to Alex as my mount could manage. “When I say go, I want you to flee off west. I'll take the east—”

  Alex opened his mouth to protest, and I clapped a hand over his mouth.

  “We have to split up. Staying together would only increase their odds of catching us.”

  My brother stared me down defiantly. When I removed my palm, he made a face. “I’m not leaving you, Ry.”

  I ignored him. “We can meet up at that tavern we passed earlier just before the fork… If one of us isn't there within a couple hours of daylight, then we appeal to the local guard.” I swallowed. “Bandits don't usually kill unless someone puts up a fight.” At least that's what I'd heard.

  “But what if they—”

  “They won't.”

  He shook his head stubbornly. “If they find out you're a girl—”

  I looked my brother in the eye. “It's our best bet, Alex.”

  Alex swore. “Ryiah, I don't like this plan one bit.”

  I motioned for him to get ready. Then I leaned forward to stand in the stirrups with both hands gripped firmly to the reins. Alex copied my movements, and as soon as he was in a similar stance, I nodded.

  “Now.”

  A cloud of dirt and debris swelled up as my mare took off at a charge. The thundering clash of hooves and the cries of surprise from the party behind us left me with an elated sense of victory. We’d caught them off guard.

  I kept my eyes glued to the forest in front of me. Dark, twisting branches struck out at my face and ripped across my skin. Harsh wind tore at my already-chapped lips. I willed myself to ignore the numbing cold and sudden, jarring cuts from above.

  I hoped Alex was having better luck in his bit of the woods. I could barely see five feet in front of me and had to rely on the mare for navigation. Now that she knew our general direction, it was up to her to avoid what I could not.

  The sharp whistle of steel alerted me a second too late as one of the men's knives nicked the side of my arm.

  I cried out and then immediately regretted the noise.

  The wound was shallow, but it’d caught me by surprise. I fell back against the saddle, and the mare startled at the sudden shift in weight, slowing her gallop to a canter. I sprung to correct the error, but the mare stumbled over some loose stones and sent me pitching forward instead.

  My hands, slick with sweat, lost hold of the reins.

  I shot face first toward the ground and hit the dirt with a thud. Pain ignited in my limbs like a spark. I had only a second to roll before panicked hooves slammed the earth beside my head.

  The mare took off before I could stand.

  Mother is going to kill me. The coin to lease a horse for the trip was already a hardship as it was. Losing said horse and indebting my parents to an angry stable master would only make things worse.

  I attempted to stand with wobbly knees. My muscles screamed. I had new cuts on my hands from trying to brace the fall. I couldn’t tell if the thunder in my ears was from the pulsing of blood or the bandits’ approach.

  Maybe they hadn't seen my fall. Maybe they still thought I was astride the horse. It was dark enough, and it was quite possible they’d taken the shot in the dark.

  I took a couple of hobbling steps until the hammering gave way to shouts.

  Gods, no.

  The bandits were giving orders to search the area.

  I ducked under the nearest brush, ignoring the thorns that raked across my face and arms. I could only pray that the loud snapping of branches was just a quiet rustle outside my head.

  Burrowing as deep as I dared, I waited, trying not to imagine all the horrible possibilities that awaited me if I were found.

  One deep breath, and then another.

  I could hear their voices. They were getting louder. A frosty breeze brought the rancid smell of days' old sweat and ale, and I cringed.

  How many followed me? I bit down on my cheek as the voices drew closer.

  “Saw the boy limping,” one was saying.

  Another man cleared his throat. “He couldn't have gone far.”

  I could distinguish only two men. If there were a third, he was silent.

  The crunching of pine needles locked the air in my lungs.

  One of the men was right beside my bush. I could hear the shuffling of feet against some of the outlying roots. I made a silent prayer to the gods that he continued on.

  “I reckon he went the other way, Jared,” the man said. “There's nothing this way but brush.”

  “Naw, he's got to be nearby.”

  The voices were too close. My pulse hammered so loudly, I was certain they could hear it.

  “Smells good out here.”

  “It's the blackberries, you dolt.”

  There was a rustle as a hand reached into the brush and withdrew with a curse. “Bloody thorns!”

  “Let me try.”

  A second hand shot in, grappling for a handful of berries and catching on my hair in the withdrawal. I didn't realize until the man yanked his fist back and the hair ripped from my scalp.

  “Agh!”

  I clamped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.

  Two pairs of burly arms jerked me out of the bush with a shout.

  “Well, well,” the one whose voice I recognized as Jared drawled. “Seems your appetite has it uses, Erwan.” He elbowed the second man, a tall fellow with a big gut and muddy boots. “Don’t it?”

  It was hard to see either of their faces as I struggled in their grip. The bandits allowed me to try, making crude remarks and laughing as I squirmed in vain.

  No one could save me now.

  “Now, boy,” Erwan said, “tell us where you and your little friend were headed.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath. With all the blood and grime covering my brother's riding clothes I’d borrowed for the trip, they’d mistaken me for a redheaded young man. The tunic was baggy, and though ripped at the arms, it still hid most of my form.

  I remained silent, afraid my voice would give me away.

  “We asked you a question.”

  There was a loud, resounding slap as Jared's palm struck my cheek.

  Don’t cry. My face stung and bled in places the thorns had already opened, but I wasn’t about to cower. Showing fear would only encourage them.

  “Now,” the man continued, “you get one more chance to answer before I start removing limbs.” A sword dug into my ribs.

  I wondered how the weapon had fallen into the outlaw's hands. Had his band cornered a lonely soldier on some deserted trail and robbed him blind, like they were planning to do to me? Or had Jared killed him to prevent the soldier from telling his tale?

  From the pale light of the moon, I could see a rusty stain on the hilt. Bile rose in my throat, and I forced myself to swallow it back down. In the gruffest voice I could manage, I cou
ghed, “The Academy.”

  The large man, Erwan, laughed. “Some mage! Where's his magic?”

  My face burned and I looked away.

  “He’s not a mage. He’s too young.” Jared’s interest turned to disgust. “The boy's no use. Just another village kid on his way to that blasted school. Bloody fools, always thinking they’ve a gift when they should be doing a man’s work instead.”

  I kept quiet, hoping the men would dismiss me as worthless and leave.

  “Did you travel with a purse?”

  Not much. Though the Crown provided a trial year of free room and board to all of its students in the kingdom’s three war schools, it wasn’t enough to offset the labor Alex and I had provided in our parents’ apothecary.

  “The purse w-was in the saddlebags.” And the mare was long gone, somewhere galloping away rider-less and free.

  “Erwan, go find the boy’s horse.”

  The pudgy outlaw groaned and started back to his mount. There was a tug on my arm as Jared dragged me toward his horse. “You come with me. Cause any trouble, and I won’t hesitate to gut you where you stand.”