company ever – Carter’s. It’s a shock because I never usually meet anyone in the Citadel, except occasionally Arkarian for some last-minute instructions before a mission,especially if something’s changed that I should know about.
The Citadel is a strange, wondrous place, laced with staircases and winding hallways, rooms decorated in exquisite and intricate detail. This room, though, is a little bizarre, mostly red panelling with a strangely hot feel to it, like a sauna without the steam.
‘What are you doing here?’
This is a stupid question really. Carter’s the coordinator, after all, and now that we’re aware that we’re both in the Guard, there’s no need, I guess, for secrecy. This is probably what has him ticked off at me this time.
‘You should know, Ethan. You did this, exposing my presence. The Citadel is about the only place now that we can have a conversation without fear of discovery. From here in we’ll be awkward and wary of every action or word together. Are you proud of yourself?’
‘Not if I have to bump into you every time I go on a mission.’ I glance around, instinctively shielding my eyes from the red heat, which feels oddly hostile; and I have to wonder if Carter had a hand in selecting this room. It’s no secret he hates me. It would be just like him to use his position to make me feel uncomfortable, or think he’s teaching me a lesson.
‘Well, of course you wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so foolish as to reveal yourself to me.’
‘I learned my lesson.’
He stands back, crossing his ankles. ‘I’m not so sure,’ he says. ‘But I will be sure to give appropriate evidence against you before the Tribunal.’
This surprises me. ‘You’re going to Athens?’
He smiles. ‘To testify at your trial. I’ve been requested.’ His hand reaches into his pocket, returning with aclosed fist. His eyes take on a superior smugness as he unrolls his fingers. ‘I’ll be sure to add this incriminating piece of evidence while I’m there.’
It’s the paper with Arkarian’s title scrawled across it in my handwriting. Oh, hell! I’ll never get my wings now!
‘What did I ever do to you?’ I can’t help asking.
His head tilts slightly to one side. ‘It’s what you have yet to do, Ethan. And still you make so many mistakes.’
‘I’m human. It’s in our nature to make mistakes.’
‘Stop thinking of yourself that way. You’re a member of the Guard, and that means you can’t afford to make mistakes. It jeopardises everything and everyone’s lives.’
A crackling sound startles me and I turn round. It’s not Isabel, but a fire hissing in the fireplace I didn’t notice before. It takes a sudden leap in magnitude. No wonder it’s so hot in here. I swing my attention back to Carter, glad it isn’t Isabel yet. I wonder what could be keeping her. ‘You’re not perfect. Nobody is.’
‘But you need to be.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘That you have a lot to learn.’
Suddenly I’ve had enough of this man. Isabel will be here any second and I have to try and get him moving on to wherever he’s supposed to be going. ‘Listen here, you might be able to get away with speaking to me in that derogatory way in the classroom, but you have no say over me in the Citadel, or anywhere else our paths might cross in history.’
He acknowledges this with an arrogant lift of his head. ‘Perhaps.’ He moves towards an open doorway;at last he’s leaving. One good step and I’ll be free of him for a while. A prickly sensation grips me and I start scanning the sweltering room again for signs of Isabel. ‘Who are you waiting for?’ Carter asks with one leg out the door and already disappearing from sight.
‘What makes you think I’m waiting for anyone?’
He scoffs, looking superior again. ‘Your inexperience is showing as usual, Ethan. You’re as nervous as a kitten with a ball of wool dangling in front of its nose.’
The man makes me want to
The Citadel is a strange, wondrous place, laced with staircases and winding hallways, rooms decorated in exquisite and intricate detail. This room, though, is a little bizarre, mostly red panelling with a strangely hot feel to it, like a sauna without the steam.
‘What are you doing here?’
This is a stupid question really. Carter’s the coordinator, after all, and now that we’re aware that we’re both in the Guard, there’s no need, I guess, for secrecy. This is probably what has him ticked off at me this time.
‘You should know, Ethan. You did this, exposing my presence. The Citadel is about the only place now that we can have a conversation without fear of discovery. From here in we’ll be awkward and wary of every action or word together. Are you proud of yourself?’
‘Not if I have to bump into you every time I go on a mission.’ I glance around, instinctively shielding my eyes from the red heat, which feels oddly hostile; and I have to wonder if Carter had a hand in selecting this room. It’s no secret he hates me. It would be just like him to use his position to make me feel uncomfortable, or think he’s teaching me a lesson.
‘Well, of course you wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so foolish as to reveal yourself to me.’
‘I learned my lesson.’
He stands back, crossing his ankles. ‘I’m not so sure,’ he says. ‘But I will be sure to give appropriate evidence against you before the Tribunal.’
This surprises me. ‘You’re going to Athens?’
He smiles. ‘To testify at your trial. I’ve been requested.’ His hand reaches into his pocket, returning with aclosed fist. His eyes take on a superior smugness as he unrolls his fingers. ‘I’ll be sure to add this incriminating piece of evidence while I’m there.’
It’s the paper with Arkarian’s title scrawled across it in my handwriting. Oh, hell! I’ll never get my wings now!
‘What did I ever do to you?’ I can’t help asking.
His head tilts slightly to one side. ‘It’s what you have yet to do, Ethan. And still you make so many mistakes.’
‘I’m human. It’s in our nature to make mistakes.’
‘Stop thinking of yourself that way. You’re a member of the Guard, and that means you can’t afford to make mistakes. It jeopardises everything and everyone’s lives.’
A crackling sound startles me and I turn round. It’s not Isabel, but a fire hissing in the fireplace I didn’t notice before. It takes a sudden leap in magnitude. No wonder it’s so hot in here. I swing my attention back to Carter, glad it isn’t Isabel yet. I wonder what could be keeping her. ‘You’re not perfect. Nobody is.’
‘But you need to be.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘That you have a lot to learn.’
Suddenly I’ve had enough of this man. Isabel will be here any second and I have to try and get him moving on to wherever he’s supposed to be going. ‘Listen here, you might be able to get away with speaking to me in that derogatory way in the classroom, but you have no say over me in the Citadel, or anywhere else our paths might cross in history.’
He acknowledges this with an arrogant lift of his head. ‘Perhaps.’ He moves towards an open doorway;at last he’s leaving. One good step and I’ll be free of him for a while. A prickly sensation grips me and I start scanning the sweltering room again for signs of Isabel. ‘Who are you waiting for?’ Carter asks with one leg out the door and already disappearing from sight.
‘What makes you think I’m waiting for anyone?’
He scoffs, looking superior again. ‘Your inexperience is showing as usual, Ethan. You’re as nervous as a kitten with a ball of wool dangling in front of its nose.’
The man makes me want to
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