Cave of Nightmares Read online

  “You’re free!” She beamed at him, her blond hair coming loose from its clip. “You see? I told you they’d see what a nice boy you are and let you go.”

  “I’m not sure it’s because they like me. I think they’re just waiting for me to mess up on my own so they can lock me up for good.” He had no idea where that idea had come from, but immediately believed it to be true.

  Anna frowned at his pessimism and ruffled his hair affectionately.

  “Well then, you’ll just have to prove them wrong.” They retraced their steps to the central stairwell, which somehow seemed much more welcoming now that he was free of the Binders. “The others will be so glad to have you back. We can leave for Merina tomorrow.”

  Hayden shook his head, not the least of which because he knew that none of his peers were eager to see him again at the orphanage.

  “I don’t think I’m allowed to go back to Merina. That mage told me I have to go to somewhere called Mizzenwald and learn to control my magic so I’m not dangerous.”

  Anna stopped in her tracks and stared at him like he had just grown another head.

  “They’re sending you to Mizzenwald?”

  Given her tone of voice, Hayden was beginning to think he’d been tricked and they were banishing him to a dungeon after all.

  “That’s what they said….Why, what’s wrong with Mizzenwald? I thought it was a school for magic.”

  They resumed walking, but Anna still looked disturbed.

  “It is a school for magic; one of the best schools in the Nine Lands, actually,” she admitted. “You usually have to take a series of really expensive tests to be admitted there, because it has a reputation for turning out some of the most powerful mages to ever live: Doracus the Wise, Nyall the Bold, Errol the Arcane…”

  Hayden looked up at her.

  “Then why are you so surprised that they’re sending me there? Is it because they didn’t make me take a test to prove my powers before they let me in?”

  Anna didn’t quite meet his eyes when she answered.

  “No. I was surprised because Mizzenwald is where your father went to school.”

  ***

  The Council of Mages had given him a week to present himself at Mizzenwald, presumably so that he would have time to send for his belongings in Merina. Unfortunately Hayden had no possessions to call his own, as everything his mother owned had been reduced to ashes during the explosion that changed his life forever, so he set off without delay.

  Mizzenwald was at the northern edge of Junir, overlooking the Gawain Sea. It was a two day ride from Kargath by horse in good weather, and Hayden spent most of the journey taking in the sights as he and Anna rode north. The snow continued to fall steadily and they were slowed considerably by his caretaker’s insistence at checking the map every half hour or so, despite the fact that the terrain remained snowy and flat for much of the journey. It was hard to identify any of the landmarks under the thick blanket of snow, and Hayden began to worry that he would be in trouble if they got lost and he showed up late.

  Fortunately their delays only cost them an additional day, and they reached Mizzenwald well ahead of the deadline but after the start of term. Hayden could mark the moment they entered the grounds because the weather became instantly warm and sunny, not a trace of snow in sight, though it was now melting in Hayden’s hair and trickling unpleasantly down his neck.

  “Phew, that’s better.” Anna didn’t seem surprised by the sudden change in temperature, removing her coat to brush the snow off, but Hayden was fascinated and tried to squirm out of his coat without falling off his horse.

  “They can use magic to control the weather?” he asked in astonishment as they continued up a grassy hill that hid whatever was behind it from view.

  “Most of the academies like to keep the climate warm all year round, I think so that they can do outdoor activities.” She shrugged. “This is the first time I’ve been to Mizzenwald though, so I wasn’t sure what it would be like until we got here.”

  Hayden had mostly thawed by the time they crested the hill, revealing a dazzling panorama that he could never have imagined in his wildest dreams. An enormous white castle stood in the distance with symmetrical turrets jutting upwards on either side; at seven stories high, it was the tallest building Hayden had ever seen. The grounds were even larger than his first guess, and they passed several small dueling-arenas, courtyards, and what looked like obstacle courses, and that was only in the front lawns. Hayden watched an older boy coaxing a dog through one of the obstacle courses; the animal was scaling a short wooden wall with notches carved into it.

  The closer they got to the castle, the more animals they saw. Most of the students they passed were accompanied by pets, and Hayden tried to keep a mental count of each different kind: cats, dogs, owls, hawks, a fox, and even a giant slug the size of a feline. There were ornamental pear and cherry trees in full bloom around a grand central courtyard, and many students were leaned against them or sitting on stone benches, reading books or working on homework.

  A few people looked up curiously as he and Anna rode past, but no one spared him more than a fleeting glance. Hayden was more thankful than ever that his lead bracelets were gone.

  They were directed to a large stable around the eastern side of the castle to rest their horses, and as Hayden dismounted he began to feel excitement for what was to come, the first time he’d really looked forward to anything in years.

  He clung to his pack nervously as Anna asked the ostler for directions.

  “New here, are you?” The man gave Hayden a surprised look. “You’re a bit old to just be starting.”

  Hayden frowned.

  “I just turned twelve.”

  The ostler raised an eyebrow. “Huh, I would have guessed you for fourteen. Well, twelve isn’t quite so bad,” he shrugged. “You’ll want to go through the main doors, just past the courtyard. Since you’re a few days late for the beginning of term, you’ll have to ring the bell on the eastern wall. Someone should be down to help you shortly.”

  “Thank you.” Anna gave the man a polite curtsey. “Come on, we’d better get going while it’s still light out.”

  Hayden turned to follow her just as the ostler asked, “What’s your family name, lad? Anyone I might’ve heard of?”

  His insides squirmed unpleasantly at the thought of telling this helpful horse-keeper that he was the son of the most hated man in the Nine Lands. He saw Anna flinch beside him.

  “Cohen. I’m Hayden Cohen.” He used his mother’s name on a whim, desperate to shed the infamy of his father and make a fresh start here.

  “Hmm, never heard of the Cohens.” The ostler shrugged and returned to his business. “Well, good luck, Hayden.”

  He exhaled in relief as he and Anna left the stable and made their way back towards what he assumed was the main courtyard. The large double-doors of the castle were propped wide open at the opposite end, emitting the light of magically-imbued gas lamps.

  “You’ll get in trouble for that, you know,” Anna told him quietly. “Using your mother’s name, I mean.”

  “I’m tired of people treating me like a plague-dog when they hear the name Frost,” Hayden mumbled in response.

  “I know, and that sort of thing might work everywhere else, but mages set store by family names. Your mother may have come from a magically-gifted family, but she wasn’t blessed with the gift herself. It’s considered a grave insult here to use her name instead of your father’s, even with what he was.”

  Hayden sighed. The last thing he needed was to get on the bad side of the mages here, but he would rather walk back to Merina through the snow naked than claim kinship with the scourge of the Nine Lands.

  They entered the castle through the open double-doors and Hayden stared around in amazement. The foyer he stepped into was the single largest room he had ever been in in his life. The ceiling was at least three stories above them, rimmed with a ledge that was populated by small, black-marble
gargoyles, and the room had white marble walls and a green-marbled floor. It took him a moment to realize that the foyer was in the shape of a pentagon, with a different large symbol etched into each of the five walls. Some of them he recognized from the pins he saw the members of the Council of Mages wearing.

  There was the blue pile of sand depicted to his left, a steady trickle shown entering and leaving it, so it looked like it was about to spill onto the floor. On the next wall were two slender pieces of crossed wood—wands—he realized with a start. The next image was a black circle of symbols he couldn’t interpret that looked like it was glowing, and after that was a phial of red liquid being poured towards the floor. The last image, to his immediate right, was some kind of diamond with multicolored light surrounding it.

  Anna located the bell-pull while he was gaping, and Hayden hurried over to join her at the eastern wall, trying not to look conspicuous to the other kids his age that walked past. When Anna pulled the rope down with her full body weight he expected to hear a bell ringing, but there was only silence.

  “What are those?” he pointed at the etched murals all around them.

  She raised an eyebrow in surprise.

  “You really don’t know anything about magic, do you?” She didn’t sound critical when she said it, but Hayden felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment. “Those are the major arcana.”

  He decided not to humiliate himself further by asking what the major arcana were, assuming he would find out at some point. Maybe there was a library here where he would be able to investigate for himself, and no one would have to know how far behind he was. He hoped his teachers wouldn’t expect him to know how to use magic already, and began worrying silently about the terrifying possibilities.

  They weren’t waiting for long. A girl a few years younger than Anna came out of a door on their right to greet them.

  “New student?” She gave his appearance a quick once-over, and Hayden wished he had brought nicer clothing. “Well, registration ended earlier in the week, but I’m sure we’ll be able to get you set up soon enough.” She turned to Anna. “Someone will be along in a few minutes to escort you to the guest quarters; you can rest here tonight and depart in the morning.”

  She motioned for Hayden to follow her through the door and he looked helplessly at Anna, unprepared to say goodbye to his only friend so abruptly. She gave him a reassuring smile.

  “It’s alright, Hayden. You’ll be just fine here, with lots to learn and new friends to make. In no time you’ll forget all about me.” She looked a little sad at the thought of that. Hayden didn’t quite believe that he’d forget her kindness, but he was afraid that if he spoke out loud his voice might crack with emotion, so he simply nodded and turned to follow the new girl.

  “My name is Ella. I’m in my fifth year here,” she explained, making casual conversation as they ascended a staircase. “What about you?”

  “I’m Hayden,” he replied evenly. “If you’re in your fifth year, does that make you seventeen?”

  She laughed at that.

  “Gracious no, why—do I look seventeen?” She beamed at the thought. “Most first years are ten or eleven, so I’m only fifteen. How about you?”

  “I’m twelve,” he admitted sheepishly, embarrassed that he would be in a class full of people two years younger than him who would probably outperform him in every test.

  “Oh, wow, you’re starting a bit late then.” She cast an eye over his appearance again. “Or are you a transfer student? Some of the western schools are letting kids as young as eight start their training these days, but I think that’s way too early, don’t you? Most people can barely wrap their heads around lessons even at ten, and we get the best of the best here. Where are you from, by the way?”

  Hayden wasn’t sure which question she wanted him to answer first, so he decided to pick the one he was most comfortable with. “Merina,” he replied.

  “Oh, so you’re from Junir, good. I know we have to let in a certain number of people from the other eight lands, but they’ve all got different standards and rules about magic and it makes it hard for them to fit in here, yanno?” She led him down the second floor and motioned for him to sit on a wooden bench against the wall in the hallway.

  “I’ll go tell the administrator you’re here and see how quickly we can get you a meeting with the Masters to test you. It might take a few days to get them all in one place, because they’ve got busy schedules now that the new term has started,” she chatted amiably, and Hayden did his best to nod and pay attention, examining his reflection in the polished wooden floor. “You wait right here though, and I’ll be back to tell you the schedule and show you to the dorms.”

  She had already taken three steps away from him when she stopped and turned around.

  “Oh right, silly me, I never got your family name. I’ll need it to add you to the official roster so the administrator can clear you for supplies.” She smiled at him, and Hayden thought carefully about what Anna told him outside.

  I could lie and use my mother’s name, but someone here might find out the truth and then I’ll be in serious trouble…

  Sighing, he did his best to meet her gaze when he answered.

  “Frost. I’m Hayden Frost.”

  For a moment the cheery smile remained on her face.

  “Frost? That’s weird, the only Frost family I can think of is—” her expression changed instantly, the color leaving her face. “Oh. Oh my, um…well…I’ll just go tell the administrator you’re here then.”

  She was jogging by the time she got to the end of the hall and disappeared around the corner in her haste to get away from him; he could hear her footsteps against the wooden floor for a few moments after. Hayden put his head in his hands at the expected reaction, because it was the same way everyone reacted when they heard his surname these days. He was beginning to wonder if removing the lead bracelets made him any less a prisoner than before.

  It took Ella a long time to return, or maybe it just felt that way because he was trapped here, alone with his unpleasant thoughts. She looked mildly uncomfortable when she addressed him now, though she was doing her best to smile.

  “Um, the Masters are assembling now. I’ve been instructed to bring you to the testing chamber for them immediately.”

  They set off down the hallway again, Hayden’s heart racing.

  “I thought you said it would take days for the Masters to make time for me.”

  “Normally it would, but uh…they’ve cleared their schedules for you. Kilgore even cancelled his level-four class today.”

  That didn’t sound good, and Hayden wondered if they were going to insult him, refuse to teach him, and send him home. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they did. He didn’t love the orphanage in Merina, but at least it was familiar to him, not like this strange new place. But the Council of Mages had told him he needed to come here, and he wasn’t sure what would happen if Mizzenwald wouldn’t take him.

  They could have sent me to any school in the Nine Lands, and they picked the one that my father went to. Some of the Masters here were bound to remember the man, and it probably wouldn’t do much to endear Hayden to them.

  They turned down a series of corridors and Hayden became quickly lost. At one point they walked downstairs, then back upstairs, finally ending up in front of a doorway that looked identical to every other door they’d passed so far except that it was closed. Hayden was trying to mentally estimate how much money Mizzenwald must make in order to afford so many expensive wooden floors and marble wall-panels, because stone and brick were much cheaper. Despite the obvious richness of the materials, they had obviously gone to great efforts to make the place look tastefully simple and utilitarian, which sent kind of a mixed message.

  “The Masters should be in there by now. Go on, you don’t want to keep them waiting or they’ll be cross with you,” Ella instructed, nudging him forward.

  Hayden took a deep breath for courage and walked inside.


  2

  The Major Arcana

  Five men in bright metallic-red robes turned to look at Hayden the moment the door shut behind him. They were sitting behind a long table, forcibly reminding him of the hearing with the Council of Mages. Each of the Masters wore a long burnished-gold necklace with a charm on the end, and it wasn’t until Hayden focused on them that he realized they were each wearing a different sign of the major arcana he’d seen in the main entrance.

  The room bore no obvious clues as to how they would be testing him. In fact, it looked like a regular classroom, with a series of one-person desks grouped in a semi-circle that faced the Masters’ table. Not knowing whether they wanted him to sit, Hayden stood awkwardly in the empty space in the semi-circle and faced the front of the room.

  “You are the son of Aleric Frost?” a man with a long braid of blond hair addressed him without preamble. He had dark circles beneath his eyes and was wearing the symbol with the strange circle of glowing light on his necklace.

  “Unfortunately,” Hayden answered truthfully, eliciting a low chuckle from one of the others.

  “You do not favor him in looks.”

  “Good.” His temper was running short for people comparing him to his father today.

  “Aleric hid you well. No one was aware of your existence until after his disappearance; quite a feat given his notoriety,” one of the other Masters spoke, the one with the crossed wands on his necklace.

  “I don’t think he ever knew about me,” Hayden explained for the umpteenth time. “I lived with my mom, and she told me my father died before I was born.”

  The Master with the phial of pouring liquid as his charm leaned forward. He was a stout man with his grey-streaked red hair knotted behind his head and a two-day patch of beard stubble on his cheeks.

  “That was very smart of her,” he conceded. “And was your mother a mage as well?”