The Right Side of History (Schooled In Magic Book 22) by Christopher Nuttall (top ebook reader txt) 📗

A sorcerer crashed into her, his magic tearing and blurring into hers. Emily winced at the onslaught, so crude and yet so effective, then turned into the attack. Magic crackled around her as she pushed forward, shoving her way through the storm. She could feel the sorcerer’s confusion as she yanked the magic aside, then punched him in the face. Whatever he’d been expecting, he hadn’t been expecting that. Emily felt her head start to pound as the magic began to fade, her vision blurring for a second. Void was going to scold her for trying that in a real fight. It could easily have gone the other way.

The wards started to shimmer and weaken. Emily pushed herself forward, leaving the dazed magician behind as she hurried to the edge of the wards. She felt drained, but... she thought she could teleport back to the tower. Void could sort out the mess... at the very least, she could recuperate while the Mediators insisted on her surrender. The pain grew stronger, to the point she honestly wasn’t sure she could teleport. Perhaps if she got into the woods, she could hide long enough...

“Emily!” Master Lucknow appeared, right at the edge of her wards. For a moment, Emily honestly thought he’d managed to teleport despite the interference. He’d used a concealment spell to hide from her, hidden in the corner of her eye. She’d been too distracted to notice. “You...”

Emily had no time to react before he caught hold of her hair and yanked, hard. She stumbled back, nearly losing her footing. Void had argued she should cut her hair short, perhaps even wear a wig if having long hair was so important to her. In hindsight, she suspected he’d been right. Master Lucknow had his hands wrapped around her hair, hurting her so badly she could barely think... she allowed him to drag her as she gathered herself, then cracked the back of her head into his nose. She heard it break with a very satisfying crack - she felt warm liquid drip into her hair - but he didn’t let go. A moment later, a force punch sent her spinning through the air. Her scalp hurt so badly she was sure he’d scalped her.

She hit the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Master Lucknow landed on top of her, his weight holding her down. She sensed his magic brewing, readying itself for another blast. This close to her, he’d have no difficulty tearing apart what remained of her defenses or simply knocking her out. She ruthlessly bit down on her panic as his blood pressed against her bare skin. Channeling power through the blood was difficult and dangerous, yet...

GET OFF, she thought.

Master Lucknow rolled off, his arms and legs flailing madly. The compulsion had been almost irresistible. He’d certainly not realized she could use his blood to control him... when it wasn’t touching her fingers. Emily smirked - there was nothing in the books on blood magic that suggested she had to use her fingers - then forced herself to stand on bruised and battered legs. Master Lucknow glared at her, his gaze suggesting he was setting up barriers in his mind. Her control was already weakening... she knew it would only be a few seconds before he broke free and came for her. She didn’t know why he’d wanted to arrest her - she’d thought they were allies, during the war - but he wanted her dead now. She’d pushed the limits as far as they would go.

She heard the sound of running footsteps and forced herself to stagger down the street. Her legs were sore... too sore. Too much had happened... her vision was so blurred she could barely see. Anything could be in front of her. She sensed a flicker of magic, too late. The tangle spell struck her legs and she tripped over herself, landing back on the ground. The sorcerers advanced, their power building as they wove a net of magic. Emily would have laughed, if she hadn’t been so badly hurt. She was too drained to continue the fight. They could grab her by the neck, force the potion down her throat and then march her off to...

A surge of magic pulsed through the air. It wasn’t directed at Emily, but it was strong enough to batter against what remained of her defenses. The sorcerers were knocked backwards, like trees caught in a gale; Emily took advantage of their sudden confusion to draw on what little remained of her power, trying to clear her eyes. Her eyes felt dry as dust, but - slowly - they started to clear. A nexus of power had formed in front of her. Void stood there. And Jan was right behind him.

Void’s voice was quiet, but it echoed on the air. “I do trust that you have an explanation for this?”

Chapter Two

EMILY ALMOST FAINTED WITH RELIEF.

She’d known she was alone. She’d known she was doomed unless she fought her way clear long enough to escape. She’d known... and she’d been wrong. Jan had possessed the presence of mind to fetch Void, rather than standing against his master openly or turning on Emily... she felt a stab of sympathy, driven by the grim awareness that Jan had probably just lost his apprenticeship. Betraying one’s master wasn’t a harmless little prank. Even the sorcerers who thought Jan had done the right thing would hesitate to take him on.

Master Lucknow stumbled to his feet. “We are placing your apprentice under arrest by command of the White Council,” he said. “This matter does not concern you.”

Void raised his eyebrows. “I think you’ll find it does,” he said. “Emily is my daughter, as well as my apprentice. Anything that concerns her concerns me as well.”

Emily felt a rush of naked affection. Void had effectively adopted her, but... she wondered, suddenly, if this was what it was like to have a real father. To have someone who