T R Cameron [Cameron - Arcane Ops

This book is a work of fiction.

I ce shards hurtled at Diana from all directions, her attackers abilities sufficiently impressive to threaten her from every angle. She responded with a raised-arm spin that created a shell of frozen power around her and drew energy from the matching magic when the icicles struck and failed to penetrate. She smiled through the barrier at the distorted view of her teacher, whose head looked to be about twice its normal size thanks to the fun-house-mirror effect of the ice. Dont laugh. Seriously. Dont laugh. Her internal self materialized in a corner of her mind and nodded agreement, equally aware that to laugh at the Dark Elf was to court ones own destruction.

But as her adversary moved and her head appeared to increase in size even more, the mirth escaped her control. The scowl it generated was three times worse than normal, as was the flaming wave she hurled at her student. Diana conjured her own fire sphere to intercept it but couldnt find a way out of the relentless assault to counter it. Apparently, the lesson for today is how to maintain a defensive bubble. At least its less tiring than usual. In the next moment, the attack vanished and she banished her defense, ready for the next.

When the tentacles erupted all around her opponent, she panicked for an instant. Her dislike of shadow was manageable but the tentacle version of the magic reached into her soul and suffused her with dread. Shed spent too much time dealing with the thingsor trapped by themto respond with the kind of rational detachment she needed to combat them.

Force blades materialized in her hands, and she slashed at the approaching appendages, not quite wildly but definitely not as calmly and deliberately as she might have preferred. Her teacher fired shadow orbs at her, and she swung the magical swords faster to intercept them while she fended off the grasping limbs. She managed to hold her own effectively, which gave her a second of pride that lasted only until the moment when Nylotte snuck a shadowy orb in at her feet and she missed the block.

The impact knocked her legs out from under her, and she managed to flop to her side as she fell with a solid thump. She staggered upright, ready to defend herself, but the Drow stood with her arms folded and stared at her.

The agent frowned. What?

Nylottes voice was entirely matter of fact. You need to be better.

Im well aware that I dont live up to your expectations, oh most honored master of the magical arts.

The other woman snorted. She looked extra prissy today, clad in a tight red dress that buttoned up the left side from the top of her knee-high black boots to her neck. Her snowy hair was slicked back, and her dark skin shone in the flickering light of the basement. As always, Diana was underdressed in tactical pants, boots, and a concert t-shirt. Adam Ants face stared from todays selection. Her own hair had been chopped to an inch to match the chunk that had been burned away in battle. When her teacher spoke again, it was still without judgment. Your enemies grow stronger and increase in number. If you dont reach your full potential, they may defeat you.

Im sure youd cry for days.

The Dark Elf raised an elegant eyebrow. I have invested a great deal of time and energy on your behalf and opened myself to possible risk as well. Do not forget, your enemies attacked me directly.

Diana shook her head. I believe they were your enemies, too. Correct me if Im wrong, but Dreven seemed rather interested in you.

The other woman laughed. Indeed so. Arranged marriages are such a bother. He was deeply offended when I chose not to agree to the practice.

Her jaw dropped but she gathered herself and decided there were some things she really didnt need to know. So, how do I improve? It feels like Ive come about as far as I can with fire, ice, lightning, and force. My telekinesis is fine. That leaves shadow, and we are both well aware that Im hopeless at that.

True. The Drow nodded. More practice will enhance your existing skills, of course, but you are correct that the largest gains have already been accomplished. There are only two more paths for growth, and really, they are the same. A Rhazdon artifact, or Fury.

The idea of having one of the slimy, invasive artifactsshe was sure they would be slimy and simply knew it in her bonesworking its way under her skin was a concept that made her nauseous whenever it occurred to her. She swallowed hard and replied, The sword, then.

The sword. Yes. Nylotte shrugged. Well, we are done here for today. I will let you know when I have a new idea on where to pursue the final piece of Rhazdons Vengeance.

She stepped into the portal her teacher created to send her home and noticed as she crossed over that the Drow wore a fierce scowl. Damn. I hope thats not my fault.

* * *

When the gentle but insistent request for connection had pressed against her mind, Nylotte had been both shocked and suspicious. She lowered her defenses only enough to receive the message, which allowed her to know the source and the content but permitted no further invasion. It was a sophisticated use of mental magic on her part, but decades of practice had made her an expert at protecting her consciousness from others. Her first thought in response involved a great deal of colorful language, and her second had been to get rid of her student as quickly as possible.