Ailbe and the Elements

By Lind Edwards

Ailbe spent her life alone trying to survive on the blue mountains. Once she is accepted into Nightshade Academy for Dark Magic, she thinks her problems are over. However, life at a dark arts school is no fairy tale. Danger and death are everywhere and Ailbe must fight to make it through school alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jul 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781982232184

Lind Edwards

Lind Edwards developed a love for writing at an early age. As an elementary-schooler, she would write stories about all of her friends. She has lived on a farm, a ranch, and an island. In high school, she wrestled on the men’s team. Now, after graduating from MWSU, Lind works as a software developer in Kansas City, Missouri. She lives with her husband Andrew, mischievous cat Ratchet and macaw Corvo and writes to share her stories with the world.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Lind Edwards.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3213-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3212-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-3218-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019910644

Balboa Press rev. date: 07/30/2019

For my brother, Chris, who has always believed in me.

CONTENTS

The Girl With No Name

The Academy

The Given

Circle of Eight

First Elemental

The First Session Exam

Dark and Light

A Line in the Ice

Ten Trials

Special Assignment

The Master Student

Second Session

Journey to Ajkuna

Blood and Bonds

About the Author

THE GIRL WITH NO NAME

The sun was setting over the blue rock mountains. The barefoot girl made her way on the rocks where the mountain cut into the sea. The village of Meerdorf was just up ahead, nestled in a break in the mountains, and she would get there just in time. She crouched low on the slippery rocks, trying to remain unseen.

If children like her were caught, they were put into a sack with weights and thrown in the deep water. She had known more than one person who had died that way.

Usually, she didn’t sneak into town, but once a week, something happened that made the risk worthwhile.

Finally, she arrived at the blue stone village streets. She made her way silently up the winding street on the hillside and found the thicket by the bookstore window.

The thorns stung and made the girl bleed, but she remained silent and hidden. She didn’t want to be caught like so many other homeless children had been. The bookstore, Quill and Scroll, had readings every seventh night for the children of parents, and if she crouched by the window, she could hear them.

Tonight’s story was one that she had heard before. It was also one of her favorites. The story was about a young girl named Ailbe who was bullied every day. Then, one day she discovered that she had magical powers and took revenge on those who had been mean to her.

If only I could get powers. I’d have a better life.

The orphanage two villages to the east had closed two years ago, and with that she lost her chance of finding a home. No one adopted girls who were disfigured, anyway.

The story ended, and the girl sneaked out of the thorn bush and into the night.

Hey, girl, are you alone? asked a pudgy, balding man dressed in rich clothing.

Of course not, the girl replied. My parents are in Quill and Scroll.

Uh-huh, the man said, clearly not believing her. When was the last time you had a hot meal?

The girl tried, but she couldn’t remember her last real meal that wasn’t foraged from the cliffs or caught in the sea and eaten raw. There was never enough grass to make a cooking fire.

Come with me; I’ll give you a hot meal.

The girl knew that strangers were trouble. But her stomach growled, and almost involuntarily, she nodded at the man.

She quietly followed him to a run-down house on the edge of town. The girl’s instincts were screaming. Something wasn’t right. She began to be afraid.

The house was falling apart, a fact that clashed with the man’s rich clothing. The girl almost turned around and ran, but she smelled the most delicious soup.

The girl followed the man into the house. There was a giant pot of soup over the fire in the kitchen, and the man dipped a wooden bowl into it. He handed the bowl to the girl. She sat at the wobbly table with her bowl and took a drink.

What’s your name, girl?

Don’t have one. She took a big gulp of soup. It was the best thing she’d ever tasted.

How long since you saw your parents?

I guess there is no longer any point in lying. She took another gulp of soup. Don’t remember.

Good.

The room began to go blurry. Huh? Why’s that good? What’s happen—

The girl awoke on a bed, her hands tied behind her, her mouth gagged. She looked around and saw, to her horror, that the bald, lumpy man was undressed and coming toward her. No, she thought desperately. Please, somebody! Anybody! But nobody came, and she had no reason to believe anyone would. She stared at him and willed his destruction, as if wishing could make a difference. She cringed. Everything in her was repulsed; tears formed in her eyes.

Suddenly, the man turned a bright shade of blue and exploded. If the girl could have screamed, she would have. She lay shaking and horrified at what she had just seen. Blood and guts covered her.

An hour passed; then a letter materialized in the air and dropped onto the girl’s face. She shook it off and saw the back of the envelope. A deep-purple wax seal with the insignia of a crow in front of a scythe held it closed.

The girl lay terrified until after dawn. She heard an unlocking noise. Someone entered, and she saw a boy of about sixteen with wavy bronze hair. He was dressed in a black cloak fastened by a heavy pin of a crow in front of a scythe over his left shoulder. Under the cloak, he wore a purple shirt and black pants and boots. He paused, taking in the horrific sight, but didn’t seem disturbed. He sighed and untied the girl.

Let’s go, the boy said, turning to leave.

Who are you? asked the girl.

Does it really matter? Do you want to stay here?

Well, no.

I’m your mentor. I’ve come to get you and take you to get your things. Then I’m going to take you to Nightshade Academy. He handed her the letter, which was now slightly bloody. She opened it.

Nightshade Academy for Dark Magic

Edited.jpg

YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

Okay, so you’re taking me to get things? I’ve got news for you: I’m not even allowed in stores. I mean, look at me.

She wore only a large, ripped T-shirt, and her long hair was so muddy and matted that its true color could not be determined. She was short and very skinny, and she looked younger than her thirteen years. Her right eye was deep blue, and her left eye was milky white with a thick purple scar running through it and down the length of her muddy face. Plus, there was the recent addition of blood and guts.

Hold still, said the boy. He held out a tall birch staff with several blue gems, the largest on top. Defaecia.

The girl and her ripped T-shirt were completely clean; her dark-red hair was detangled and dry. What did you do?

Magic. The kind that you’re going to learn. Now, first things first. You need a name.

This is my chance. Things will be different now.

I want to be called Ailbe. Like the story.

Alvah?

Yeah. Ailbe.

Okay. You’ll earn your surname later, so that’s good for now.

What’s your name?

Torsten Bolt, the boy said. Now, come on; let’s go.

They left the house and wandered down the middle of the street. They drew some looks, as Torsten seemed to inspire equal parts fear and curiosity. Fortunately, this is a town of only elementalists. No Unseeing here.

Unseeing? Ailbe asked.

Nonmagical people. Now come in here. He stood in front of a store called Altair’s Alterations. The storefront showcased various wizard’s robes. The taller mannequin had a hat with twinkling stars on it. Ailbe followed Torsten into the store.

The tall, garishly dressed wizard behind the desk greeted them. Welcome, I am Altair. How may I he— He saw Torsten and froze. I see. So she is—

Yes, said Torsten with authority.

I’ll be right back. He hurried to the back of the store and came back quickly with an armful of royal purple and black. If you would, please put this on in the changing room right there. If you want.

Uh, okay, said Ailbe, taking the clothes. Ailbe put on the underwear and short purple dress. She put on the black, hooded wool cloak and fastened it over her left shoulder with the heavy pin of the school’s emblem. She put on the purple over-the-knee socks and knee-high laced black boots. She finished the outfit by putting on a pair of black half-finger gloves.

Once she finished changing, she headed to Torsten for approval. These clothes must cost a fortune. He nodded and motioned for her to go outside. Ailbe wondered that they didn’t pay but figured that Torsten had given Altair money while she was changing.

Next, Torsten led her into a store called the Dented Alambic. It was full of cauldrons and potion ingredients. It smelled terrible.

You need a size-four cauldron, vials, and a basic draught-making set with a poisoning supplement, Torsten instructed.

Okay, Torrent.

It’s Torsten.

Ailbe looked at the cauldrons and chose a white pewter one. She picked out a set of crystal vials and a basic draught-making set with a poison-making supplement. She wondered how she was going to pay for the items; they were very expensive. She walked up to the desk, and the elderly woman shook her head.

Of course we are happy to give you the items, the woman said, bowing low with difficulty.

Ailbe followed Torsten out of the store. Torrent, why are they just giving us stuff?

It’s Torsten. And don’t worry about it. He led her to the next store, Jupiter’s Staves. A young boy entered the shop directly in front of her. The store was full of large wooden casks filled with identical smooth sticks made from different kinds of wood. The middle-aged woman monitoring the shop stopped helping the boy and looked at Ailbe.

"I take it you need