Legacy Of Trill: Soulbound Part 7

CHAPTER.

Twenty-five.

The next morning, I slipped my mask on over my face and walked around the building toward the south gate. There werenat many guards out this morning, but my attention wasnat focused on them anyway. It was on the distinct, undeniable absence of my instructor. My nerves bundled into a tightly coiled ball at the pit of my stomach. I scanned the area around the gate, but he wasnat there. Then, just as I was about to turn around and head back to the dorms, a hand fell on my shoulder. I jumped slightly, but relaxed immediately, knowing it had to be Darius.

But when I turned around, I saw that it wasnat. It was Raden. aYouare the one getting extra training from Darius, right?a I nodded, but didnat speak. Mostly because I couldnat. That ever-present fear that Iad get caught tickled the base of my spine.

Raden frowned, as if he were about to deliver some bad news and didnat want to be put in the middle of anything, but was forced to. aHe showed up earlier, told me to tell you heas canceling todayas session. Maybe tomorrow too. Maybe for good, he hasnat decided.a My heart sank. With sagging shoulders, I started to turn away, but paused, turning briefly back to Raden. aThanks.a As I walked away, he called after me. aFrom what I hear, you donat need those sessions anyway, Barron.a Walking away, I couldnat shake Darius from my thoughts. Where was he? Had our draw really been such a big deal to him that head actually walked away from training me? Wasnat I supposed to develop enough skill to match my instructor? If I was doing what Iad set out to do, what Darius had set out for me to do, then what was the problem exactly? Why would it end with him walking away without another word and not a congratulatory handshake? I didnat get it.

Or maybe I did. Maybe my a.s.sumption that Darius hated me had been a hundred percent correct after all. And maybe my attacking him had just solidified his reasons for disliking me. My stomach was in knots as I crossed the campus, slipping back behind Dariusas cottage to the armory where Maddox was waiting. As I opened the door, she looked up, confusion filling her features. aWhat happened?a Slipping my mask off, I shook my head. A terrible disappointment had seeped into every fiber of my being. It seemed silly, moping about something that I had no control over. But I was, and couldnat help the way that I was feeling. aDarius didnat show. Raden said that he mentioned canceling. Maybe for good.a Maddox frowned. aDid he say why?a aHe didnat have to.a I sucked in a breath and let the confession come pouring out of me. It was a bit of a relief just to say the words aloud, but in no way eased my tension completely. aYesterday, we were facing off and it ended in a draw.a Her jaw almost hit the floor. As I changed clothes, she tried to speak several times, but in the end, just grabbed me by the arm and tugged me out the door. Of course she was shocked that Iad matched Darius in a fighta"who wouldnat be? I certainly didnat think that it was possible, especially this early on in my training. And I never thought that doing so would be enough to end our training sessions. Of course, it was possible that that wasnat the reason at all. Maybe it was because Iad lost my temper. Maybe it was because Iad totally disrespected my instructor by attacking him. And maybe my unexpected attack had simply surprised him, and thatas the only reason we were in a draw. Or maybe he let me come to a draw, because he felt sorry for me. I had no idea, and might not ever know.

All I did know was that my feet felt heavy as we snuck back to the dorms, and that my chest felt tight as I got dressed in my school uniform and made my way down to the dining hall.

The hall was busy as usual, and Trayton waved us over to our table in the corner. Maddox disappeared to the food line and I pushed my way through the crowd, stopping only when I noticed the familiar face seated next to Trayton. I slid into my seat across from Trayton and he stood, brus.h.i.+ng his hand over mine before giving it a squeeze. aMorning, Kaya. I hope you donat mind the company. Darius has something he wants to talk to me about.a aOf course I donat mind.a I managed a smile at Darius, who simply nodded at me. There was no emotion there, no reaction to me at all but for the nod. I didnat know what he was up to exactly, but something about the timing of this little chat felt off. Glancing over at the food line, I tried to find Maddox, but she was nowhere that I could see. Great. I was going to have to face this on my own.

aAs I said, Trayton, I could certainly use your advice on something. You see, Iave taken to giving extra training lessons to a Barron who desperately needs them.a As Darius spoke, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly in a smirk. Darius was about to say something that both of us might come to regret. My chest tightened, but in a whole new way. aBut Iave reached a point where Iam not at all certain whether or not I should continue my efforts to better her skills.a Trayton sat back in his chair, listening intently. aItas not like you to give up on someone, Darius.a aNot normally, no. But this student is kind of a dek.a He sat back then, c.o.c.king an eyebrow, and there was no doubt at all that he was talking about me.

Trayton chuckled. aWhat makes her such a dek?a aSheas stubborn, hardheaded, thinks she knows better than me.a aNot good traits for a Barron, but are you sure thatas the problem? Maybe she has a thing for you. It wouldnat be the first time a student fell for you.a Trayton shrugged. His tone was matter of fact. It shouldnat have surprised me that girls often fell for Darius, but for some reason, it did. Maybe because everyone else at the school thought that he was an Unskilled, and that label put him beneath them somehow. Or maybe for some other reason entirely.

aThat may be the caseaa He didnat look at me, but I could tell that he was tempted to. I pretended to look for Maddox. Attracted to Darius? Oh heavens no. Not me. Not even a little bit. Forcing my thoughts away from the s.h.i.+rtless image of him, I cleared my throat. Darius propped his feet up on the table. aBut the larger problem is that she lost her temper yesterday and attacked me full on, unprovoked.a Maddox returned to the table then, tray full of food in her hands. As she set it on the table, she said, aWho attacked you?a aA student.a Maddox shook her head and shrugged, irritation burning on the edges of her frown. aDrop aem and report aem to the headmaster.a I had to resist the urge to kick Maddox. Hard. Leaning forward, casually plucking a grape from the food tray, I said, aThe question is why she attacked you. Did you give her any reason?a Darius grew quiet with contemplation. After mulling my question over for a bit, he shook his head adamantly. aNone at all. We were running through some offensive maneuvers and she lost her temper when I took her down.a aThat calls for regrouping.a Trayton looked at me and offered an explanation in answer to my questioning glance. aStepping away from the fight. Keeping a cool head is essential in a battle, so itas a big part of training, and probably the most difficult thing to learn.a Darius reached out and brushed a smudge of dirt from his left boot. When he spoke, it was directly to me, though no one else at the table was aware of that fact. aSo the question remainsawhat to do? Do I end our training sessions outside the cla.s.sroom, or do I continue?a The table went quiet for a bit. Maddox shot me a glance that said that she only just realized that Darius had been talking about me. Trayton chewed on a strip of crispy bacon before responding. aThat depends, Darius, on whether or not you see potential in her for success.a Darius returned his feet to the floor. He didnat speak for a long time, and in his silence, he allowed his eyes to find mine for the briefest of moments.

aHer skills at times surprise me.a His voice had soft-ened some, and he dropped his gaze to the table between us. When he spoke again, my heart jumped a little. aYes. The potential is there.a I cleared my throat, hoping that Darius understood that I was apologizing. aEveryone deserves a second chance.a With that, Darius stood, popped a grape into his mouth, and turned to walk away. Before head taken two steps, he said, aI suppose they do.a

CHAPTER.

Twenty-six.

The next morning, I approached the south gate. The gra.s.s was dewy under my feet, making my steps sound soft and wet. My breath came out in puffs of fog. The temperature was dropping a little more every day, Summer tripping steadily into Fall. Looking over the Barrons standing near the gate, I sighed. Darius was nowhere in sight.

But then I spied him, coming out of the guard shack. After noticing me, he came over, all business. aYouare late. Again.a Behind my mask, I smiled. I was glad to see him too.

aGlad I caught you. I was worried Iad have to search the woods. Not that Iad know which way to look.a Traytonas voice came from behind me. I immediately stiffened.

What was he doing here? Did he know that I was the one Darius had been talking about at breakfast yesterday? I was caught. Oh fak, I was caught and there was nothing I could do about it. But then, I thought, maybe it wasnat a bad thing. After all, Traytonas tone seemed completely calm. Maybe he was okay with the idea of me training after all.

Darius smiled. First at me, then behind me at Traytona"which told me that Trayton likely had no idea that I was me at all. And with the face mask, he wouldnat. Not unless I spoke. aWe would have waited. But not for long. Letas get out there and back before the dining hall opens for breakfast. Iam hungry enough as it is.a Trayton moved around to my right side and offered me a nod. aNameas Trayton.a Darius spoke before I could utter a squeak that would undo every bit of secrecy my face mask offered. aThis is Tabitha. Now if you ladies are done with the small talk, letas focus on some quiet practice this morning, shall we?a Trayton bowed his head respectfully and led the way to the south gate. I looked at Darius, whose smile simply grew as he extended his arm in front of him, as if to say aladies first.a With a scowl, I followed after Trayton, my curiosity driven to the brink. Why was Trayton here? What was the point of this? And did Darius have any idea what it would mean if Trayton learned that I had been training behind his back? My relations.h.i.+p with Trayton would be in jeopardy. Head have to follow Protocol and turn me over to the headmaster. And my parentsa I swallowed hard. My steps slowed, but still I followed Trayton out the gate and down the hill, with Darius close behind me. The air felt heavy. I wasnat certain whether that was because of the thick layer of condensation hanging in it, or the worry in my heart that Darius might betray my confidence at any moment. But I moved through it, counting my paces until we reached the secret training area. It felt wrong, being here with someone who wasnat Darius. Like an intruder had invaded our s.p.a.ce.

Trayton slipped his training mask on and removed his katana from the sheath on his back. Darius poised himself between us, all echoes of his previous smile completely removed. He was all business now. aIave asked Trayton to face off with you today, Tabitha. Heas my finest student, and if you can best him, Iall know that that little stunt you pulled yesterday wasnat just a fluke. Iall also know where to take the next training steps. So if youall step into the ring, Trayton will be on the offensive to start. Take the fight where it leads, and finish strong. Hesitation is your weakness.a Trayton moved immediately into a fighting stance. With a nervous breath, I struck my pose, ready to face him. My heart was rattling inside my chest, and my legs were shaking. Facing Darius was one thing, but facing down the man that I was Bound toa"that was another thing entirely. What if I seriously injured him? Not only would that be an awful experience for Trayton, but Iad have no choice but to expose myself and heal him. If I didnat, Trayton might die. And if I didawhat would become of my parents?

With a million possible scenarios whipping through my mind, I readied myself for Traytonas attack. Trayton raised up his katana in an attack, swiping it forward faster and more crisply than I was currently capable of. His attack struck me as familiar, and as I blocked it and turned, it occurred to me that I had encountered it before. Trayton fought like Darius.

As I turned, I brought my sword around and slid my left foot out, lowering my body closer to the ground. I brought the blade hard toward his s.h.i.+ns, but at the last possible moment, Trayton jumped over my blade. Part of me was relieved. I didnat want to injure Trayton, but then again, I didnat want to get hurt by him either.

The moment he hit the ground, he spun and swung forward, aiming his katana right for my neck. I ducked to the side in a near panic. My heart raced so fast that it felt like a single, long beat inside my chest. The horrified realization that Trayton was aiming to kill swept over me, and I had to fight from crying out.

If I did that, if I so much as uttered a peep, it was all over. My training, my time with Darius. Everything.

My jawline felt warm and wet. I reached up, feeling the blood on my neck. Trayton had just nicked my ear, but there was no time to examine it. He swung again, this time straight at my head, and I brought up my katana in a block, my instincts taking over. The sound of metal on metal rang through my ears as our katanas met in the air between us. Our blades still together, he pressed down hard with his sword and I braced my weapon, my shoulders burning, knowing it was just a matter of time before he broke through my defenses. Behind Trayton, I could see Darius. His foot was propped up on a rock, one hand stroking his chin as he watched our interaction. I could read the expression in his eyes.

He looked pleased.

Disgust filled me, coupled with rage. My lungs burned as my breathing came hard and heavy, but I pushed back, and was surprised to find that I could hold Traytonas advances at bay. He stood a foot over me at least, but here I was, holding him off, keeping him from breaking through. By the look of the tension in Traytonas body, he was surprised tooa"even though he was under the impression that he was fighting a Barron, an equal. Not some lowly Healer. Especially not his Healer.

As if the thin thread that was holding his patience together had snapped, Trayton pivoted the weight on his weapon, slamming the handle of his katana into my shoulder. Pain rocked through me and I fell back. Regaining my balance, I swept his leg and he went down. With Dariusas smug expression locked in the forefront of my mind, I pulled my weapon through the air in a crosscut with all the strength I could muster. Pulling back at the last second, my blade stopped at Traytonas neck.

He whipped off his mask, his eyes furious and dark. My heart slowed, sinking some inside my chest. I could have killed him. I could have taken Traytonas life in a moment of fury against my teacher.

Wordlessly, I slid my katana into its sheath on my back and held out a hand. When he took it, after a momentas hesitation, I helped him stand. We stood there, catching our breath, until Trayton wiped the blood from his neck. aYouare a h.e.l.l of a combatant, Barron.a aThat she is.a Darius entered the circle then and excused Trayton with a nod. Trayton picked up his mask and retreated up the hill. Several minutes pa.s.sed before either of us moved or spoke.

Head complimented me, yes, but Darius had also done the unforgivable. When I was sure that we were alone, and that Trayton was completely out of earshot, I whipped off my mask and tossed it to the ground. I shoved Darius as hard as I could, fury welling up from within me. aWhat the fak was that about?a Darius barely moved from my a.s.sault. His words were eerily calm, as if head been expecting my reaction. aIt was just part of the training.a I didnat have to look far to see the lie in his eyes. s.n.a.t.c.hing my mask from the ground, I shoved it on and ran up the hill toward the gate. If this was what he deemed just an everyday part of training, then he could forget it. No amount of training could be worth exposing me to Trayton and endangering the lives of my parents. I was done. I was finished. With Darius, with training, with everything.

After my final cla.s.s of the day, and after a long day spent avoiding Trayton and nursing my shoulder, I walked into my room, shutting the door between Maddox and me, hoping to spend some time alone thinking. I also wanted to rub my injured shoulder with rose oil, and coax the muscles there into a less painful state.

On the small table near the door was a fresh vase of red roses, with a note.

aMeet me at the library tonight after dusk. a"Yours, Ta Maybe I should have been happy about the regular appearance of fresh flowers in my room. Any normal girl might have been thrilled about the love notes and attention. But even though I smiled each time I saw them, inside I felt like I was doing so because that was how I was supposed to react. Not that the flowers and notes werenat perfectly nice, but I wanted more than roses and poetry. I wanted respect.

I bit my bottom lip in contemplation. On one hand, I really wanted to be left alone, really wanted to confront Darius about what head done. On the other, I longed to spend some quiet time with Trayton, to be alone and normal and forget about Graplars. My nightmares had all but ceased, and I was really looking forward to some sound rest, but how could I resist an evening at the library with Trayton? I couldnat. So with a deep breath, I opened the parlor door and showed Maddox my most charming smile. Instantly, she snorted. aWhatever, Princess. Letas go.a Not long after, we were walking up to the library. The entire walk, I thought about my mother and how much I missed her. Maddox was great, but she wasnat exactly the kind of friend you could cry to. Maddox was a solution-finder, a fixer, not someone whoad let you sob into their shoulder because a boy was mean to you. Every day I waited for a letter from my parents, some sign that they were alive and well. Iad written to them weekly, but there was no guarantee that the school messengers were actually delivering my notes, or that Headmaster Quill had even allowed them to carry my scribblings off Shadow Academy grounds. The very thought made me feel incredibly lonely.

Trayton was waiting for us just outside the library. His smile was earnesta"so unlike the one Iad offered Maddox to get her to take me to the library when I should have been studying for a quiz on herbal remedies. His smile spread the closer I got to him. aYouare not an easy girl to run into.a Trying my best not to let my guilt show at having avoided him all day, I smiled back. aA girl can never be too easy to find. Gives boys ideas about them.a He opened the door and we moved inside. As we moved up the stairs, I flashed Trayton a questioning glance. What were we doing at the library? We certainly couldnat sneak into the secret room head shown me. Not with Maddox therea"shead done Trayton enough favors. But Trayton didnat answer my look with anything but one that said that I should just wait and see what he had planned.

As we reached the top of the stairs, Trayton turned to Maddox. aTwenty minutes.a Maddox shook her head. aThis timeas gonna cost you some trinks, Barron.a Trayton faked a gasp and dropped three coins in her open palm. aMaddox! Iam shocked. Bribery?a Maddox shrugged and sank into one of the chairs in the loft. aItas a living. Twenty minutes. No more.a As Trayton opened the secret door, I couldnat help but smirk. aBreaking the rules, Barron? I thought you had to follow Protocol.a Trayton grinned. aSection three, paragraph twenty-two of the Protocol handbook states that newly Bound Barrons and Healers are allowed up to three hours of private time together in the first year in order to exchange details of one anotheras history.a aAhh. A loophole.a With a chuckle, I stepped inside and we moved up the stairs together. Traytonas hand was warm in mine, and I struggled between mixed emotions as we touched. The guilt over not being honest about training. The fear over having faced him in combat. The thrill over holding his hand in a dark, secret place that was ours to share. We moved into the small attic s.p.a.ce. Once we were seated, I looked up at the stars, which were twinkling down at me from the crystalline ceiling. aWhat was it like,a I wondered aloud, agrowing up the way you did.a He shrugged and put his arm around my shoulders. As I nuzzled into him, he said, aNothing out of the ordinary, I suppose. My father was always away, fighting in the war, and my mother was always taking trips to the front to be on call in case he needed her. I grew up with a variety of nannies until I turned thirteena"thatas when I came to Shadow Academy to study. What about you?a I couldnat imagine what it must have been like to grow up without your parents around. With nannies talking care of you until you were old enough to be s.h.i.+pped off to some school. Picturing my parents doing something like that to me was an impossibility. aI grew up on the outskirts of a small Unskilled town. Every day my father hunted or fished, and every night my mother would sew or knit by the fireplace. I read tons of books, played in the brook by our house, and went to school with people my own age.a Traytonas attention was on me, as if every word that Iad uttered sounded to him like a fairy tale. aThat sounds amazing.a Sighing, I said, aIt was. Until I received a letter from the headmaster, saying I had to come here.a He tilted his head then, so that we were eye to eye. His words were a whisper. aHas it been so terrible, life at Shadow Academy?a aI just miss my freedom.a Lifting my face, I found myself almost breathless at Traytonas close proximity. aBut if Iad never come here, I never would have met you.a Then he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. Our mouths melted together. Trayton pulled me closer and I winced as pain tore through my shouldera"pain that Iad almost forgotten, pain that head unwittingly been the cause of. We parted instantly and he furrowed his brow. aAre you all right?a Rubbing at the muscles in my shoulder, I said, aIam fine. Just pulled something while I was working in the rose gardens, I guess.a The look in his eye said that he believed me. But I had to fight the urge to tell him that he shouldnat.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-seven.

The gate door opened and in front of me, Barrons filed out. I filed out with them, disguised as one of them and so nervous that Iad be found out that my hands were shaking. Darius had run through their maneuvers with me that morning, but I just knew I was going to step with the wrong foot at the wrong time, or something else so simple that it would give me away. Inside the wall, the Healers waited, along with several Master Healers. Headmaster Quill had decided that these maneuvers were so close to the school that it didnat make much sense to risk the Healersa lives by sending them out where Graplars had been spotted. He was probably right, but seeing the Healers left behind made me nervous for so many of the Barrons. It also made me think about how Trayton might be feeling. He hadnat seen me waiting with the other Healers and had to question where I was. He had to wonder what I was doing that was more important than waiting here to a.s.sist him, if he needed my help. I wondered if he felt afraid at all, or if he simply felt angry that I wasnat here to see him off. I couldnat see where he was standing, whether he was in front of me in the group somewhere or behind, but I could spy a flash of silver hair to my right and when I turned my head, Darius nodded at me, his jaw stern, his eyes sparkling, ready for the fight to come. A light breeze moved his hair and I wondered again why he never wore a face mask, or why no one insisted that he did. Whatever his reasons, I was certain that Darius would defend them to the end.

As I crossed through the door, a scent danced on the breeze, a foul odor that could only mean that death was near. Together, the Barrons and I turned and moved to the south, over the crest of a large hill, and then down into the valley on the other side. Their feet were soundless on the forest floor, but mine found every dead leaf, every twig. If any Graplars were in the vicinity, theyad know our location by my tromping. I was trying to keep quiet, but doing so made me fall behind, and the last thing I wanted while on maneuvers was to have a large distance between myself and Darius. He was, as much as I was loathe admitting it, my best defense if I got into any trouble I couldnat handle.

My katana felt oddly heavy on my back, as if the saya were weighted, or perhaps pulling on me to stay still, to keep as far away from the world outside the wall as I possibly could. I moved forward, staying close to Darius, and when he broke into a run, I followed, keeping his pace, even though running that fast made my lungs burn and my thighs ache. He moved ahead of me without so much as a change in his breathing, and I was grateful when his steps finally slowed and I could catch up. He and several other Barrons were standing at the apex of a small ridge, looking down on the other side. By the time I reached him, the smell had overwhelmed my senses. Somethinga"or someonea"was dead.

I didnat want to see what or who was lying at the bottom of that ridge, but the Barrons were looking, so I had to look too. Planting the toes of my shoes in the earth, I climbed the ridge. But when I reached Dariusas side, determined to cast my eyes on the scene that had them all so alert, Darius grabbed me by the arm and turned me away from it. As we walked away, back down the hill, he muttered under his breath, aAnother Healer. Definitely a Graplar. You donat have to look at the body in order to convince them youare a Barron.a Shaking his hand from my shoulder and glancing around to be certain no one would hear me speak, I said, aWhat if I wanted to look? What if I wanted to see it?a Darius looked me over for a long moment. Then he stepped back and looked back at the ridge. He waited, silently, but we both knew that I didnat want to see the body. It wasnat that I couldnat handle it, but I knew that once I saw it, I could never unsee it. After a long time, he turned from the ridge and began moving south again. My shoulders sagging, I followed.

Barrons spread out through the woods around us, but none were ahead of Darius as he moved with certainty around this tree and that. Once we crested another small hill, we were joined by six others. Silently, alertly, we moved deeper and deeper in the forest as a team, and once we worked our way across a small creek, I saw where Darius was leading us. An enormous oak tree stood on the other side of the creek, its trunk marred with large claw marks, some of them fresh. Darius pointed at the tree. aIt watches.a He dropped his arm, gesturing to the creek that we had just crossed. aIt drinks.a The Barron to my left removed his mask, shaking his head. I was surprised to see that it was Trayton. He looked back over his shoulder, in the direction we had come from, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was thinking about the body of the Healer that theyad found. Under his breath, he spoke, his voice eerily calm. aIt feeds.a They were talking about a Graplar that had apparently made camp just outside the school walls. Not on the Outer Rim, but here, here where we were supposed to be relatively safe. My heart rattled inside my chest, and I couldnat help but wonder whether it was around now, maybe watching us from the treetops, maybe hungering to rip the meat from our bones.

I tilted my head back, scanning the trees, but saw nothing lurking above us. By the time Iad brought my attention back to my immediate surroundings, Darius was crouched and looking furtively over some markings in the soil. In a moment of alarm, he jerked his head up and looked back past the creek, in the direction wead come from. A moment later, a sound filled my ears. A horrible screeching that I knew all too well.

As if they were one body, the group of Barrons darted over the creek and back up the hill. They moved quickly, their footfalls silent on the forest floor. My thighs burned as I tried to keep up, but I fell behind, my lungs aching, sweat pouring down my brow. When I finally caught up to them, the scene before me made my heart seize momentarily inside my chest.

A large group of Graplars were facing off with several Barrons at the north gate, metal slicing through air, then flesh. Teeth biting, chewing. It was horrendous to see, but two Graplars were doing the unthinkable. They threw their bodies against the gate, and when the metal refused to break under the pound of their scaly flesh, theyad back up and do it again. The beast on the left had hit the door so hard that the skin on top of its skull had split open. Blood poured from the wound, but it backed up and flung itself forward once again. The sound of flesh against metal resounded through the forest. Only a scream tore my attention away. A Graplar to my left had sunk its teeth into a Barronas shoulder and was thras.h.i.+ng its head back and forth, refusing to free its prey. Instinctively, I reached back, freeing my katana and ran to a.s.sist.

The voice at the back of my mind told me to keep running, to get the h.e.l.l out of here and let someone who was more qualified handle this, that I couldnat possibly help this Barron anyway, but I told it to shut up and ran at the Graplar with my sword at the ready. Iad asked for this. Iad begged Darius to let me come along. And now I was going to kill the monster. I was going to save that Barron. If I had to die to do it. And fear wasnat going to stop me.

Slas.h.i.+ng through the air, I brought my katana down hard, cutting straight through the beastas right eye. The thing let out an angry howl, opening its jaws wide. The rows and rows of teeth parted, releasing the trapped Barron at last. He stumbled, then fell on the ground, clutching his wounded shoulder. Blood poured from the bite. His face flushed, and I thought for sure he was going to pa.s.s out cold right there, but to my shock, he remained standing.

The Graplar shook its ma.s.sive head and, recovering from my blow, it narrowed its black, soulless eyes at me. I had thought, prior to that moment, that Graplars were incapable of emotion, that they were simply mindless, heartless killing machines, bent on chewing people to bits for the sheer pleasure of it. But at that moment, staring into the dark abyss of its gaze, I learned that Graplars were absolutely capable of feeling emotion, and that this one was incredibly terked off. At me.

Without thinkinga"because if I took even a second to do that, I might have screameda"I raised my blade as fast as I could and brought it down again, but this time, the Graplar ducked my advances and charged forward, knocking me on my back. My lungs clenched closed as the wind was knocked out of me. My chest was frozen in a state of panic. I couldnat breathe, couldnat move. And I couldnat see the Graplar.

Scrambling to my feet, I tried to catch my breath, but before I could, I was. .h.i.t in the side by the creatureas ma.s.sive bulk. My back hit the ground again, and the Graplar gnashed its teeth forward. Thinking fast, I brought up my blade just in time. It bit down on the metal just inches from my face. I thought that it might back off then, because the katana was cutting into the corners of its mouth, blood dribbling down the blade, down my arm and onto my chest. But the beast narrowed its eyes even more and pushed toward me, forcing the blade deeper into its own flesh. It didnat care. It only cared that its actions would bring its hungry jaws closer to me.

My heart was racing. What more could I do to stop the beast? What more could I do to save my own life?

I pushed hard with the katana, sinking the edge of the blade in deeper still, hoping to lop off its head, but I couldnat get enough leverage on the blade, and drool was dripping from its jaws in antic.i.p.ation of its next meal. Then, over the Graplaras shoulder, I spied the Barron who I had saved. The tip of the katanaas sharp blade was sticking out of the side of its hungry mouth, and with precision, the Barron grabbed the tip with his hand. The metal sliced slowly into his flesh and blood poured out of him. He barely winced, and I was reminded of my parents and their enormous resistance to pain. He pulled the blade back, deeper into the beastas mouth. The katana cut through the Graplaras head cleanly, and with a gurgle, its giant body stumbled to the left before collapsing lifeless on the ground.

Before I could thank the Barron, he was gone.

I hurried to stand, flinging the Graplaras blood from my blade before I turned to survey the battlefield. My heart was racing inside my chest, a steady stream of beats, pumping blood through my body. The thud of that blood rus.h.i.+ng through me pounded in my ears, but not enough to drown out the sounds of fighting as they fell flat all around me. Most of the Graplars were dead, but the ones that werenat had run off to parts unknown. Surveying the Barrons around the battlefield, it didnat look like any lives were lost. Just a few sc.r.a.pes and cuts, maybe a bite or two. All in all, we were wildly successful in our efforts. Pride filled me, replacing the adrenaline. I allowed myself a small smile as I looked around. We did thisa"the Barrons and Ia"we stopped the Graplars from getting inside the wall.

A hand closed over my face mask and ripped it away, flinging it onto the ground. I spun from whoever had grabbed it, but his other hand closed over my arm, as if to tell me that I wouldnat be going anywhere. I shoved at him then, and only then did I notice that head removed his mask as well. Traytonas eyes burned with a betrayal that shot straight through me. My jaw fell open, but no words would come. A low whisper made its way through the group, one that I tried desperately to ignore. And the entire time, Traytonas eyes, now moist with anger, were on me, refusing to look away.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-eight.

The waiting area outside the headmasteras office was completely silent, apart from the sound of my heart drumming in my ears. Maddox was standing just to my left, fidgeting like she was dying to blurt out something inappropriate, but was managing not to do so, for my sake. Trayton sat to my right, sharing the bench I was seated on, but we couldnat have been further apart. My mouth was stubbornly closed, the tension in the air so thick, and I refused to utter even a single word to him after head reported me to Headmaster Quill. He was a traitor, and I wanted nothing to do with him.

By the look on his face, the feeling was mutual. He stared ahead, miles away from me, and even further away from the kisses wead shared. Across from me sat Darius, who was leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes cast downward. The air grew increasingly heavy with tension as the seconds crawled by. At long last, the door to the headmasteras office opened and he stuck his pudgy head out the door. aMaddox. Inside. Now.a She glanced at me first and my heart followed her through that door. When it closed behind her, all I could do was bring my legs up and hug my knees to my chest in worry. What would happen to Maddox? Would she be sent away? Iad do anything to keep her here, but what could I do? It was Traytonas fault that she was here. One word from him to Headmaster Quill that Iad broken Protocol in a big way, and my guard had been called in for punishment as well.

The shouting began just a moment after the door had closed behind her. Raised voicesa"both Maddoxas and Headmaster Quillasa"shook the walls, but very little of what they were shouting could be deciphered from the side of the door that I was on. Not long after the argument ceased, the door whipped open and Maddox exited, her face flushed red with fury, her eyes piercing. She moved in front of me and I put my legs down, searching her face for any sign that everything would be all right. aIave been replaced as your guard, and heas forbidden me from speaking to you ever again, but if he thinks the powers that be are going to tear me away from my best friend, heas got another think coming, Kaya. Ohaand Iave been permanently rea.s.signedato guard the north gate.a At this, even Darius straightened in alarm.

aBut, Maddoxaa I whispered, my heart heavy. aYou arenat trained. And the north gate is the one most attacked by Graplars.a Maddox nodded, her anger giving way to tears. aIall stop by tonight after your cla.s.ses to see how your meeting went, okay?a The door swung open again, and before the headmaster could wedge his pudgy head out the door, Maddox turned and disappeared down the hall and out of sight. aDarius. Youare next.a Darius stood and entered the door with no sign of emotion at all. If anything, he moved with an air of confidence that I didnat understand. I also didnat understand why head stepped forward on the battlefield and admitted to Trayton that it was his fault I was there at all. I hadnat agreed with hima"it was Darius who had trained me, but it was my choice to fighta"but no one was listening to me.

Once the door had closed behind Darius, I dared a glance at Trayton, who remained stone-faced beside me. What was he thinking? That I had lied to him, betrayed his trust? Maybe he wasnat thinking about me at all. After a long silence, Trayton glanced my way, his eyes full of accusation. aYour shoulder? It wasnat injured gardening, was it? It was you that day outside the wall.a aIf youall recall, I did ask you to teach me. You said no. So I found someone who would.a aYeah. My best friend.a The scowl on his face deepened.

I sank into my seat. There was no need to respond.

From within the headmasteras office came muttered voicesa"not shouting as it had been with Maddox. After a moment, the door opened again. Surprisingly, Headmaster Quill peeked out from behind the heavy wood. aIf you two would join us for a moment, I believe we can put this matter to rest.a Without another glance at Trayton, I stood and moved toward the door. My footfalls sounded heavy on the marble floor, their echoes filling the formerly silent room. As I pulled the door open and moved over the threshold, the air changed from cold and empty of emotion to stifling hot and filled to the brim with annoyance and irritation. Headmaster Quill gestured to the two unoccupied chairs in front of his desk. Darius was seated in the third, staring straight ahead, devoid of any emotion. Apparently, he had taken a page from Traytonas book.

After I sat down, Headmaster Quill took his seat behind the desk and eyed both Trayton and me wordlessly. Finally, he spoke. aThere has been a complication, Kaya. A complication caused by your unforgivable actions and it demands a suitable punishment.a He looked at me, pausing, as if waiting for me to agree with him. I wouldnat. I wasnat about to agree to anything.

He cleared his throat before continuing. aYou convinced your guard Maddox to acquire the teaching services of Darius, knowing that Healers are not allowed to train. It is your blatant disregard for the rules that has brought you here today. You should thank Traytona"he knows whatas good for you. He knows the difference between right and wrong. You could take a page out of his book.a I sank deeper into my seat, fuming. Talking back would only get me into more trouble, and would likely only hurt Maddox more. So I said nothing, and waited for the chubby dictator to finish his rambling.

aHealers do not train to fight, Kaya. If I so much as glimpse you practicing whatever maneuvers that Darius has taught you, it will be your parents who are made to suffer for your insubordination. Am I making myself clear?a His threat shot through me and I sat motionless, the image of my parentsa faces locked in the forefront of my mind.

My word came out in a whisper. aAbundantly.a aAnd Dariusaa Headmaster Quillas attention turned on him then, though his tone turned much kinder. aI think it would be a good idea if you were transferred to Darkmoon Academy. They have need of an advanced level instructor, and I think you may fit the bill. A move certainly is warranted and may in fact be necessary.a aItas not, Headmaster.a As Darius spoke, his voice cracked slightly. When he spoke again, his toneas usual strength had returned. But I had already seen behind the curtain. aA move is not necessary. But I would like to request a monthas leave of absence in order to get my head together and put this behind me. Behind all of us.a The headmaster considered this briefly before nodding. aI think that would be wise. Consider your request granted. Trayton will cover your cla.s.ses, with Radenas a.s.sistance, while youare away.a Darius barely let him finish his reply before he interjected, aIf itas all right, Iad prefer to leave immediately.a Headmaster Quill merely nodded. He scribbled a note on one of the papers on the desk in front of him before turning eyes back to our little group. aKaya, youall serve extra duties for the next month.a I shrugged, uncaring.

aYouare dismissed. All of you.a As we exited, Darius remained behind with the headmaster. Trayton held open the door for me, but refused to meet my eyes. I pa.s.sed by him so closely that I could feel the heat radiating from his skin, could see his Trace peeking out from behind his dark hair. The urge to apologize was immediate and intense, but pa.s.sed as quickly as it had come. After all, I wasnat in the wrong. I had merely wanted the ability to defend myself on the battlefielda"nothing more. It wasnat like I was merely sneaking away to spend time with another boy for no reason.

As I turned my head away, I was tempted to stop moving, stop walking past him and say somethinga"anythinga"to acknowledge him in some small way, the way that he was ceasing to acknowledge me. But in the end, I did continue walking, and stepped out into the hall, where a boy was standing. Sandy blond hair, caramel brown eyes, light freckles dusting his nose and cheeks. He looked nice enough, though he didnat smile. aPleased to meet you, Kaya. My name is Edmond. Iall be your guard from here on out. Now if youall follow me, Iall make sure you get some lunch before heading back to your room to study.a Immediately, my eyebrow rose up in an arch. Study? I didnat recall anything at all about saying Iad planned to study. Not that I was opposed to it or anything. Studying was important. But the last thing I wanted to do after facing down Graplars and terking off Trayton was study the proper way to administer a tonic.

With another glance at Trayton, whoad already moved halfway down the hall, I followed Edmond toward the dining hall, missing Maddox already. It worried me that she was guarding the north gate now, especially after what had happened there this morning. Picturing her, I imagined she was likely clearing away the dead Graplars. Their breath was so rancid that I could only imagine the smell of Graplar corpses. With visions of rotting blue flesh locked in the forefront of my imagination, I moved into the dining hall, the need for food squashed by an onset of nausea.

Edmond walked me to an empty table at the center of the room and pulled out my chair for me. With a polite nod, Edmond left me alone at my new table and went in the direction of the food line. Slumping in my seat, I looked around, completely convinced that Iad see no one of consequence. No one I wanted to see, anyway.

Two tables over, however, I spied black hair and pale skin. It hurt that Trayton was sitting somewhere other than with me, but what really stung was the company that he was keeping. Melanie tossed her hair over her shoulder in an annoyingly feminine way, her laughter rolling through the dining hall, like poison in my ears. Neither looked my way. I slumped further down in my seat, hoping that Iad do the impossible and disappear. Or at least that they wouldnat notice me at all.

What was this? I knew he was hurta"mad, evena"but was that really cause to start hanging out with Melanie? Especially after Iad told him of her twisted plans to get them together?

As I waited for Edmond to return, I tore my thoughts away from Trayton and his motives for hanging out with Melanie, turning them instead to the Graplars, and just how theyad been getting inside the wall. Everyone seemed to think that Graplars were so incredibly stupid, just big, hulking ma.s.ses of muscle with little brains. But if that was the case, how were they getting inside? And doing so in such a way that completely hid how they were accomplis.h.i.+ng it? It was mind-boggling. Unlessa I sat up in my chair, gently biting the inside of my cheek in deep thought. Unless someone was helping them get inside.

But who? A guard? A Healer? An instructor? My eyes flicked to Melanie.

She certainly was devious enough. But why? She had no reason to help Darrek, did she? She did hate Healers though, so I made a mental note to keep her on my list of potential suspects. There was also Instructor Baak, who seemed crazy enough to do just about anything. Mr. Groff loved Protocol too much, so he was off the lista"unless being a total dek was enough of a reason to accuse someone of this kind of treachery. And Headmaster Quill was certainly evil enough, but did that put him in league with Darrek?

I chewed my bottom lip in contemplation. Iad just have to keep a eye on everyone, it seemed.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-nine.