This is from Book 10 of The Academy of the Accord and it hasn’t seen the editing pen yet.
(By the way, just to avoid confusion, this is from the prologue and is set at a different school (Arcane Academy) not The Academy of the Accord.)
We’re picking up from last week, the last line of which was:
One by one his classmates threw curses at the cadets standing in front of them, sending them to the ground, writhing in pain and gasping for air.
Rarian stood across from him, his eyes calm, accepting. Calef met his gaze and gave his head a nearly imperceptible shake. He couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t do it.
“Calef.” Master Epans’ voice held a note of smug anticipation.
“I won’t do it.” Calef’s gaze never left Rarian.
“If you don’t you fail the class.”
“Then I fail the class. Rarian is my friend and I will not use my magic to hurt him or anyone else.”
There was a calm certainty in his voice but Master Epans sneered.
“Friends.” He practically spat the word. “Your friends are your peers, other wizards, people of your own rank. Not a hired guard that can be replaced by any other thug with a sword.”
“No.” There was a calm certainty in his voice but Calef found he was breathing hard. Forcing himself to relax he watched Master Epans intently, a silent challenge in his eyes.
Master Epans smiled coldly, then suddenly spun and hurled something unseen at Rarian.
“No!”
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Oh, no. I hope Rarian isn’t going to be severely hurt. Intense scene.
Well Master Epans is a total jerk….excellent excerpt though.
I hope he won’t get hurt–I love that he cares so much about his friend. Great snippet!
Ack! You are so mean! 😛
I hope Calef can save his friend.
I hope he saves his friend. I like how calm he was when he refused to hurt anyone.
Oh man…good for him for standing up for his beliefs, but what will the fallout be? Great tension here.
In reading this scene, I’m picturing this teacher as Professor Snape.
How do you think he got his name?
(Spoiler: he doesn’t get to redeem himself, though.)
Heavy stuffy.
Why you evil little! You better tell us what he just did in next week’s snippet! Yeah, you’re not sorry for that ending at all.
(And after seeing Ed’s comment, that is clever, that is really clever. I love how you come up with your names.)
I hope Rarian ducks and Calef is able to intercede in time. Please, please, please let us know what happens in your next snippet.
Okay … intense … intriguing …. interesting …. well done.