be hiding in that pond. You responded quickly. It’s just too bad about that tree breaking like it did.”
“Thanks, but I think Garret would disagree with you,” I state.
Our time alone together is over too soon. We are already at the Exalted training facility for our scheduled mealtime. We both straighten and pull away from each other up as we enter the building. We are careful to mold our faces into the typical Exalted scowl. It has become second nature to me, this act of putting a rigid mask on when we get near others. I hope that one day I’ll be able openly expression my emotions.
Ethan sits with the boys, leaving me to the company of Val and a few other girls.
“How was your morning?” I slide into the seat across from my roommate and begin to pick at my bland vegetables. I’ve decided that broccoli stinks.
“Fine. We are still working on target practice. We should be moving onto our course pretty soon.” She cups her hand on the side of her mouth and lowers her voice. “We’re being held back by Adira over there. We won’t have to worry about her in the Trials.”
I wince at her loose tongue. There are other trainees close by. One day, one of them is going to hear her and make her pay for her indiscretion.
But since she started it, I might as well find out what I can. “How are the rest of them doing?” I whisper back.
Truthfully, I still want to be first, should my fate be to stay here in the Republic. I need to continue to learn about my competition, and what better way—if I can’t see for myself—than from Val.
Looking around the room, Val decides it’s safe to continue gossiping. Before she continues, she comes to sit next to me. We hunch over, close to one another, while she whispers, “I heard Kinah’s been paired with Az for training. So, she’s stronger than the other males in her class.” She looks at me to see if I’ll say anything. When I don’t, she adds, “On a positive note, the two girls in my class shouldn’t be a problem. Kwan and Trudi have been so tight lipped about their sword training. I have no idea what to expect. I only know what we’ve seen of them in combat training.”
“Hmmm. We’ll have to keep a close eye on Kinah in combat training. It’s too bad they don’t let us actually fight each other until the Trials. We’re only doing what they show us right now. We really have no idea what her weaknesses are. But I guess we’ll see soon enough.” I try to reassure her, even though I know she’s still under the Pump’s influence. She doesn’t feel any fear about the future. Maybe that’s a good thing.
After catching a glimpse of several of the girls watching us, Val straightens up and changes the subject. She speaks in a normal voice, but doesn’t move back across from me. “I saw your father on duty yesterday. Have they given you any expectations about how they want you to place in the Trials?”
Thinking back over the past couple of weeks, they only spoke about the Trials once. “Well, of course they want me to finish first, but only expect me to place as well as them. I don’t have any siblings so they haven’t raised the bar for me. What about your parents?”
“My parents mention it every single time I see them. And they keep reminding me about my first and second place brother and sister. I have to at least place second or I’ll dishonor them.” Val’s parents have always pressured her to be as strong as her siblings, and she may end up meeting that expectation, but I fear for her going up against Kinah. The odds are against her.
We quiet, not saying out loud what we’re both thinking. She and I will be fighting each other for that top spot, especially if Kinah is taking the other one—which she will be. Val is the only female friend I have. It doesn’t feel right to plot against her. I know that she broke her wrist when she was a child, and it never healed perfectly. If I were to give one solid blow to that spot on her arm, it
“Thanks, but I think Garret would disagree with you,” I state.
Our time alone together is over too soon. We are already at the Exalted training facility for our scheduled mealtime. We both straighten and pull away from each other up as we enter the building. We are careful to mold our faces into the typical Exalted scowl. It has become second nature to me, this act of putting a rigid mask on when we get near others. I hope that one day I’ll be able openly expression my emotions.
Ethan sits with the boys, leaving me to the company of Val and a few other girls.
“How was your morning?” I slide into the seat across from my roommate and begin to pick at my bland vegetables. I’ve decided that broccoli stinks.
“Fine. We are still working on target practice. We should be moving onto our course pretty soon.” She cups her hand on the side of her mouth and lowers her voice. “We’re being held back by Adira over there. We won’t have to worry about her in the Trials.”
I wince at her loose tongue. There are other trainees close by. One day, one of them is going to hear her and make her pay for her indiscretion.
But since she started it, I might as well find out what I can. “How are the rest of them doing?” I whisper back.
Truthfully, I still want to be first, should my fate be to stay here in the Republic. I need to continue to learn about my competition, and what better way—if I can’t see for myself—than from Val.
Looking around the room, Val decides it’s safe to continue gossiping. Before she continues, she comes to sit next to me. We hunch over, close to one another, while she whispers, “I heard Kinah’s been paired with Az for training. So, she’s stronger than the other males in her class.” She looks at me to see if I’ll say anything. When I don’t, she adds, “On a positive note, the two girls in my class shouldn’t be a problem. Kwan and Trudi have been so tight lipped about their sword training. I have no idea what to expect. I only know what we’ve seen of them in combat training.”
“Hmmm. We’ll have to keep a close eye on Kinah in combat training. It’s too bad they don’t let us actually fight each other until the Trials. We’re only doing what they show us right now. We really have no idea what her weaknesses are. But I guess we’ll see soon enough.” I try to reassure her, even though I know she’s still under the Pump’s influence. She doesn’t feel any fear about the future. Maybe that’s a good thing.
After catching a glimpse of several of the girls watching us, Val straightens up and changes the subject. She speaks in a normal voice, but doesn’t move back across from me. “I saw your father on duty yesterday. Have they given you any expectations about how they want you to place in the Trials?”
Thinking back over the past couple of weeks, they only spoke about the Trials once. “Well, of course they want me to finish first, but only expect me to place as well as them. I don’t have any siblings so they haven’t raised the bar for me. What about your parents?”
“My parents mention it every single time I see them. And they keep reminding me about my first and second place brother and sister. I have to at least place second or I’ll dishonor them.” Val’s parents have always pressured her to be as strong as her siblings, and she may end up meeting that expectation, but I fear for her going up against Kinah. The odds are against her.
We quiet, not saying out loud what we’re both thinking. She and I will be fighting each other for that top spot, especially if Kinah is taking the other one—which she will be. Val is the only female friend I have. It doesn’t feel right to plot against her. I know that she broke her wrist when she was a child, and it never healed perfectly. If I were to give one solid blow to that spot on her arm, it
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