by Ian Gregoire
Kayden was physically jolted out of her thoughts when someone slumped down heavily upon the couch directly behind the one she and her friends were seated on. Irritated, she looked back over her shoulder, scowling. Some of her level ten classmates had just claimed the couch, at the expense of the younger apprentices who’d previously been sitting there. Although the nattering quartet had the backs of their heads and shoulders to her, it was easy to see and hear that the group included Renzo Kantara, who was no doubt responsible for the jarring bump that had disturbed her. Stupid dunderhead! It was all the more galling to note how the four apprentices were pretending to be oblivious to her presence, unconcerned that they had aggravated her.
Turning her head away, Kayden tried to mentally block out her nearby classmates and focus on something else. Her thoughts drifted to the conversation she had overheard while eavesdropping outside Fay’s office. She’d had a hard time putting it out of her mind ever since. It was still difficult to believe.
A dainty hand appeared in front of her face, fingers snapping under her nose to gain her attention.
“You’ve barely said a word since we got here,” said Neryssa at her side. “Is something wrong?”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” she replied. “It’s nothing you need worry about.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Neryssa re-inserted herself into the ongoing discussion between Yanina and Sinton, leaving Kayden to her thoughts. It wasn’t long before the intrusion of an entirely different conversation broke her reverie. Though her name wasn’t spoken, the exchange happening behind her more or less confirmed that her four classmates were perfectly aware of her presence, as she’d initially surmised. A number of barbed comments were clearly aimed at her, and, if she wasn’t mistaken, the group intended for their words to be overheard. At least, Renzo certainly did.
“Thankfully, our induction into the Order isn’t dependent on the ability to suck up to our instructors in foreign languages,” he said. “It all boils down to the mastery of Zarantar. If we pass the level ten tests at the end of the year, we can truthfully say that we earned our way in—unlike a certain someone.” He affected a falsetto voice to add, mockingly, “Oh, I don’t need to guess why we’re learning stupid languages. Master Fay already told me why, when I finished kissing her butt cheeks the other night.”
The insulting impersonation was one slight too many for Kayden. There was only one appropriate response. Slowly, she stood up and turned around. Without hesitation she slapped the back of Renzo’s head with the back of her hand, letting him know in no uncertain terms what she thought of his absurd mimicry, and the insinuation it conveyed.
Renzo sprung up from his couch like he’d just sat down on a nail. He spun around, fists raised, glaring across the back-to-back couches at Kayden.
“If you have something to say to me,” she said, scowling, “have the guts to say it to my face, instead of sniping behind my back like a little schoolgirl.”
Several pairs of eyes were suddenly on the unfolding confrontation.
“Fine!” said Renzo, dropping his hands to his side. “I’m sick and tired of the charade that is your apprenticeship. It’s offensive that you’re still here, going through the motions, knowing full well that your induction into the Order has already been pre-ordained. I resent the fact that everyone here will have to earn their uniform the hard way, while you get yours handed to you because you exploited your Vaidasovian wiles to worm your way into Master Fay’s good graces.”
A number of heads nodding in agreement with Renzo caused Kayden to clench her fists at her side. “What are you talking about?” she said. “I work ten times harder than every apprentice here, and that’s why my induction into the Order is a foregone conclusion.”
“Oh, I know all about the ‘hard work’ you do; the whole campus knows.”
Frowning, Kayden wondered why several of the observing apprentices seemed so amused by Renzo’s retort.
“If only we could all have the good fortune to spend so many evenings up in the administrator’s quarters with our faces buried between Master Fay’s legs.” A wry smile curled across Renzo’s lips. “I guess that big mouth had to be good for something.”
“What did you say?”
Teeth grinding, Kayden proceeded to circle around the two couches separating her from her outrageous classmate. There was no way she could let such an egregious insult slide. She was going to teach the antagonist apprentice a lesson, and she didn’t care how much additional trouble she got into as a result. Renzo squared up to her as she approached, and someone initiated a chant of “Fight! Fight! Fight!”, drawing the attention of everyone in the communal hall. Before she got within punching distance of the dunderhead, a hand grabbed her arm from behind, pulling her up short. She glared back over her shoulder, sharply, prepared to defend herself.
“Don’t take the bait, Kayden,” said Neryssa. “Just walk away.”
“Didn’t you hear what he just said?”
“He’s only trying to provoke you. Come outside with me until you’ve calmed down.”
Kayden offered no resistance as she reluctantly allowed Neryssa to pull her backwards, away from the impending confrontation. Nevertheless, she refused to tear her livid gaze away from Renzo. The stupid dunderhead had just been given a reprieve, not that he appreciated it. As she was guided towards the exit, he raised his hands to waist level, sticking both elbows out to the side, imitating a flapping chicken. He duly added the appropriate clucking sounds to the display of mockery, and moments later several more apprentices were doing likewise. Much to her chagrin, Kayden found herself exiting the communal hall with the sound of dozens of faux clucking chickens ringing in her eyes.
Outside, the sky above Antaris had become overcast, bringing a premature gloom to the campus, and a light drizzle with it. The change in weather conditions did nothing to cool Kayden’s simmering anger. Coming to a halt, she rounded on Neryssa, yanking her arm free of her fellow apprentice’s grasp. She glared at her friend. “You shouldn’t have interfered,” she snapped, barely restraining the urge to yell. “Now everyone in there thinks I’m a coward.”
“No one who’s ever met you, Kayden, could seriously call you a chicken.”
There was a hint of mirth in Neryssa’s voice that Kayden didn’t appreciate. “It’s not funny!” She thrust an arm out to the side, pointing a finger at the entrance to the building. “It’s bad enough that you just made me look stupid in there, but that idiot, Renzo, basically said that when I’m inducted into the Order it won’t be because I’ve earned it. He more or less declared my apprenticeship a sham, accusing me of keeping Master Fay’s bed warm in the evenings to gain entry.”
“So what? None of that is true.”
“Didn’t you see all the people who agreed with him?” All of a sudden Kayden wanted to throttle her friend for being so obtuse. “It doesn’t matter that it’s not true if they believe that it is.”
“Since when do you care what other people think?” said Neryssa, nonplussed. “Besides, your classmate is obviously jealous of you. As for anyone who agrees with him, look at it from their point of view. You have the kind of relationship with Master Fay that no other apprentice has. You can actually claim her as a friend. It’s perfectly understandable why people would put two and two together and assume that your progression is the result of favouritism.”
“You agree with them?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to! You’re supposed to be my friend, but you’re just like all the others.”
“Kayden, would you calm down?”
The appeal for calm only succeeded in inflaming Kayden’s indignation further. She finally knew the taste of betrayal. It was a bitter morsel to swallow. “Go stroke yourself, Neryssa!” Turning on her heels, she stomped away, too incensed to have a destination in mind. If she couldn’t count upon the support of someone she considered a friend, then what was the po
int of having friends?
“Where are you going?” Neryssa called out after her. “Kayden? Kayden?” With her calls falling on deaf ears, she raised her voice to yell, “Kayden, you are the most irrational person I have ever met.”
Taken aback, Kayden halted as she was about to round the corner of the communal hall. Hearing how affronted the usually mild-mannered Neryssa sounded made her realise she was overreacting. While she couldn’t agree with the accusation about being irrational, she could accept just how childish her behaviour probably made her seem. She took a moment to compose herself before slowly turning around to trudge back to her friend.
“I’m sorry,” she said, stopping in front of Neryssa. “I know you don’t believe what was said in there.”
A smile tugged the corners of Neryssa’s mouth. “Wow, it’s a miracle,” she said. “You just offered an apology. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
“Well, savour the moment.” Kayden mirrored her counterpart’s sardonic smile. “I promise it won’t ever happen again.”
The friends shared a good-natured chuckle, unconcerned that some of the sentries gathered at the south entrance were staring in their direction.
“So, I still don’t understand why you were angry,” said Neryssa finally.
With an imperceptible sigh, Kayden replied, “I don’t want to be inducted into the Order with the perception hanging over me that it’s only at Master Fay’s whim.” She paused for a moment, contemplating what that possibility would be like. “I’m not going to spend several more years of my life proving myself, all over again, after I’ve completed my apprenticeship.”
“But you know the truth about why Master Fay holds you in higher regard than any other apprentice. Why do you care about the erroneous opinions of resentful people who envy you?”
“Neryssa, you don’t get it!” said Kayden. “The only thing of value I possess in life is my self-respect, and the respect I earn from other people. If I allow anyone to take that from me, I have nothing.”
“You’re right, Kayden, I don’t get it.” The expression on Neryssa’s face suggested she thought Kayden was being irrational, again. “No one can deprive you of intangible things. Besides, it’s not as though you can do anything to make your detractors eat their words, is there?”
Kayden didn’t reply. Her thoughts had suddenly returned to the administration building: to the conversation she’d overheard while eavesdropping at Fay’s office door. An idea was slowly beginning to take form. A possibility. Those who chose to view her as the administrator’s pet, unworthy of joining the ranks of the Order, would surely be forced to eat their words if…
“Kayden!”
She was startled out of her ruminations by Neryssa’s raised voice. “What?” she said, regaining her composure.
“Whatever it is you were just thinking of doing, don’t.”
“What are you talking about? I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“Kayden, I know you,” retorted Neryssa in an accusatory tone. “You just had that look on your face.”
Frowning at her friend, Kayden replied innocently, “What look?”
“That look you get when you’re thinking about doing something really stupid.”
Irked by the notion she ever did anything stupid, Kayden pursed her lips and give Neryssa a pointed look. “First of all,” she said, “I don’t do stupid things. Secondly, as you already insinuated, there’s nothing I can do to make people give me the respect I deserve, so what could I possibly be thinking of doing?” She glanced towards the entrance to the communal hall, and sighed. “You should probably go back inside,” she said, returning her gaze to Neryssa. “By now, Yanina and Sinton must be wondering what happened to you. We’ll meet in the mess hall, later, for the evening meal. It’s time I got going.”
“And where exactly do you have to go?” asked Neryssa, looking at her with suspicion.
“I’m suddenly in the mood to hit something, repeatedly.”
Without waiting for her colleague’s acceptance, Kayden turned on her heels and calmly strolled away. Her recollection of events in the administration building had provided an unwelcome reminder that her competence in hand-to-hand martial combat wasn’t as well established as she’d previously believed. It was now apparent she needed to train much harder, and there was no time like the present.
Alone in the training arena, Kayden positioned the wooden dummy before her. She gently caressed its protruding limbs while composing herself. Once she was ready, she assumed a fighting stance—feet planted a foot apart, standing slightly sideways on to the dummy, fists raised—visualising Kai Delano standing in front of her. She was a predator, preparing to pounce on her unsuspecting prey. Without ceremony she initiated a series of rapid combination punches and kicks, interspersed with blocking, parrying, and trapping moves courtesy of the dummy’s limbs. Kayden didn’t pull her punches, striking the solid wooden prop as hard as her fists and feet could tolerate.
Barely five minutes had elapsed before her impromptu training session was disturbed when her senses alerted her to a familiar presence. Spinning around sharply, she came face-to-face with Fay. The administrator was accompanied by six uniformed Sanatsai who stood several yards behind her, at the furthest end of the arena.
“Fay!” she said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
Looking displeased, Fay replied, “Kayden, did I not warn you that if you left campus grounds with without my permission I would know about it?”
“I’m in the training arena.”
“And the last time I checked,” said Fay in her matter-of-fact tone, “the training arena lies outside the perimeter wall of Antaris.”
“You mean I have to ask just to come here?” she whined, incredulous.
There was no response. But it wasn’t necessary for Fay to provide one. Kayden knew from her master’s demeanour what the answer was. She let out a resigned sigh. How could she be mad at the woman? In her own way, Fay was just trying to protect her from the unspoken threat emanating from Anzarmenia.
“How did you even get in here?” asked Fay. “The building should be locked up at this time.”
“Master Solen always lends me the key whenever I want to get some extra training done. And right now, I need all the extra training time I can get.”
Fay scrutinised her, looking perplexed. “Kayden, you are the last apprentice on campus who needs to train any harder.”
The memory of her brief fight outside Fay’s office flashed through Kayden’s mind. “Fay!” she snapped. “If I can be defeated in hand-to-hand martial combat in just ten seconds, I need to train harder.” She was about to turn back around and resume hitting the dummy when a shift in Fay’s expression halted her. Now she felt worse. The last thing she wanted was sympathy.
“Kayden, not only is Kai Delano physically bigger and stronger than you,” began Fay, “he is also regarded as one of the best exponents of hand-to-hand martial combat within the ranks of the Order. No amount of training is going to help you to overcome his natural advantages as a man. Besides, you are someone who will never have to worry about having to rely solely on your martial training.” Fay cocked her head slightly, a subtle half-smile curling her lips. “If it makes you feel better, at least you can take comfort in knowing he will never be your equal when it comes to mastery of Zarantar. Indeed, with three notable exceptions, no Sanatsai of the Order is a match for you.”
“No, it doesn’t make me feel better.” In spite of herself, Kayden pouted at her master.
“Allow me to give you some advice, Kayden,” said Fay. “It’s not a good idea to hold grudges against people who will be your colleagues once you are inducted into the Order. Someday, you and Kai Delano may find yourselves on a mission together, having to rely upon and trust each other for survival. Ill-feelings could compromise that, and cost you more than just the mission.”
As far as Kayden was concerned, she wasn’t responsible for any grudge she might be holding against th
at dunderhead. The ill-feelings originated from Kai Delano—which got her thinking. “It’s all very well saying that, Fay,” she said, “but he’s the one who has an issue with me. For some reason he seems to hold me responsible for the deaths last night, and I’ve been getting the feeling he’s not the only person who feels that way.” She studied her master’s face, looking for a shift in expression that would betray Fay’s understanding of what was being implied. There was no change. “It’s strange that anyone would want to blame me for the attack last night. Why do you think that might be?” It was a deliberately leading question. She hoped Fay would volunteer the truth about the midnight raid.
“Responsibility for the attack on Antaris lies solely with the perpetrators. Try not to dwell on your feeling that some people might think differently.” Changing the subject, Fay added, “If you insist on remaining here to train, you’ll have to do it with six observers keeping an eye on you for me. Once you’re done, return the key to Master Solen. And, I hope you haven’t forgotten that you’re on duty in the stables this evening.”
“How could I forget,” quipped Kayden.
