Time Academy

by Kelly N. Jane

  “We are aware of portals in the human world, but this is the first we’ve heard of one in the Vergence,” the leader once again spoke. “That is concerning, since it follows so closely upon your interaction with a ripple. We understand you possess the Medallion of Time?”

  Gus and I snapped our attention to each other. I didn’t think they would know about that. I’d also not heard it spoken of with such formality.

  “Odin briefed us on all necessary information before you were allowed to come here.”

  “I have it, and will continue to hold onto it.”

  If they thought I was going to give it to them, they were in for a lesson in how stubborn I could be.

  “If Odin spoke with you, you must also be aware of how important it is that we find out how the Legion is able to penetrate the realms,” Gus stated, alleviating some of the growing tension as he drew the woman’s stare away from me. “And why it’s imperative that we stop them.”

  “We are fully aware of the dangerous situation at hand,” the woman said. “Our masters are working on a plan as we speak. For your part, you will attend the Eudaimonia with the others. Once you have passed the requisite levels, your skill will determine how you will participate in the effort.”

  “We came here as representatives of Valhalla, to put an end to the Legion. Not to pass any tests you want to throw at us first.”

  My irritation at the condescending attitude of these people was getting the best of me.

  The woman stood and walked slowly around the table to stand in front of me. “Perhaps we began our conversation with the wrong tone. My name is Aurora.” She stuck her hand out toward me without breaking our eye contact. “I’m pleased to meet you, Niasa.”

  I stifled the shiver that threatened to betray my resolve. The power radiating off of Aurora as she stood so near me was palpable. I accepted her hand as I’d witnessed humans do on Midgard, and instantly froze. Locked in place, every inch of my body was bound by an invisible vice.

  “You have an affinity with terran elements, that’s good.” Aurora’s eyes shuttered closed for a couple heartbeats before she focused on me again. “Your other powers are stronger than I’d been informed. Your training must proceed with urgency. Report to the Mystic sector to begin immediately.”

  When she released me, my knees buckled, and Gus caught me under my arms before I fell.

  “What did you do to her?” he demanded. He helped to steady me, and kept his hand on my waist even after I could stand on my own again. We both waited for Aurora’s answer.

  “You will learn our ways during your lessons. The Arbiters are expecting you, Aengus.”

  With that, Aurora turned her back on us and strode out of the room through a door at the back. The rest of the Council rose and followed her without a word.

  4

  The door we’d entered through opened, and Tarnan beckoned us once again.

  Another man met us when we emerged at the top of the stairs, and insisted I follow him to my class. I wasn’t sure what he meant, and I didn’t like that Gus and I would be separated, but after Aurora’s display of power, I chose not to fight it. We could discuss what we’d learned later when we met for our evening meal.

  The man led me past three open courtyards, where some warriors trained in hand-to-hand combat and with weapons.

  “Aren’t we going to join the others?” I asked as we headed down a dark stairwell underground.

  “You will train in the Mystics sector. Physical combat is a last resort.” He sounded annoyed.

  I stopped on the stairs. “I’m not going to fight? I’m trained better than most I’ve seen this morning. It would be foolish to waste my skills.” Not to mention leave me with all this pent-up anger.

  Only Toril had been my equal as we’d trained in Valhalla. How could they want to ignore my skill?

  “You wield elemental powers. Do you not think they are valuable?”

  “Not in the middle of combat.”

  What was I going to do, make a pretty flower and offer it to someone wanting to slice me in two? I’m sure that would be effective.

  A creepy smile slid across his face. Chills skittered over my skin. My throat itched and I blinked my eyes as I tried to swallow. Suddenly I couldn’t breathe, my limbs felt as heavy as iron. I couldn’t move. Then it all went away in a heartbeat.

  I stumbled and had to catch myself against the stone wall of the stairwell. It was different from how Aurora had locked me in place. This time, I was unable to breathe, and felt like I could burst from the inside out.

  Gasping for breath, I peered at the man. He held his hands clasped in front of him while he waited for me to compose myself. When I could stand steady again, he spun away from me.

  “This way,” he called. No hesitation—no explanation. Whatever had just happened was beyond any seiðr magic I’d ever witnessed.

  The circular walls of the stairwell felt very tight. Each step I took added a layer of trepidation in my gut. What was I going to face when we reached the bottom?

  As I rounded the last spiral, the man was five paces in front of me, standing before a dark, wooden door. The smell of mildew permeated the air, and trickles of water seeped between the stones, shining in the light of a single flickering sconce. He waved me closer.

  My feet shuffled his direction, though my mind raced at what I could do to protect myself in the limited space. Nothing. I was at the mercy of someone who had nearly killed me, who I’d followed into a pit of darkness.

  His arm brushed mine as he reached in front of me and pushed against the scarred wood.

  Bright light flooded my eyes, making me shield them. A hand on my back—the man’s, I presumed—shoved me through the door, and it closed behind me.

  “Ah, our newest student has finally made her appearance,” a male voice called out from the front of a very strange room.

  I squinted as my eyes adjusted and took in my new surroundings.

  The walls of the rectangular space were stark white and lined with waist-high cabinets. In the center were six high tables, white, with two stools in front of each all facing the same direction. People sat on the stools at the two tables farthest from where I stood. They wore long white coats over their purple outfits and twisted to stare at me. Standing at the front was a tall man with thick, black glasses, and a terrible sweater under the same type of long, white coat.

  What did he say? ‘Finally’? I’d just arrived on the island!

  “Students, this is Niasa. She’ll be joining our class. Please find a seat, Niasa, and we’ll make a quick round of introductions.” The man pointed to a table in the second row on the right.

  I made my way down the center aisle between the tables and sat on one of the empty stools. On the table were several glass containers and small tools, and there was a sink at the end. Nowhere did I see any sconces or light fixtures similar to those on Midgard—the room was well lit from a source I couldn’t determine.

  The man strode over to a tall cabinet and pulled out a white jacket like all the others wore. He came closer and held it out to me. I accepted it with confusion as I darted my gaze around the room. Everyone stared at me, waiting, but I had no idea for what.

  “I’m Professor Liber. You’ll need to wear that. Georgia Anne, why don’t you introduce yourself first, and we’ll go down the row from there.”

  I laid the jacket over my lap. I missed my weapons . . . not that I needed them. I’d already surveyed each person in the room, and there was only one male who might give me trouble, but I’d relish the challenge.

  “I’m Georgia Anne Little, as the professor said. I’m from Garrettsville, in Pike County, Kentucky originally. My daddy saved for years to take my momma and me on vacation to Florida. When we were there, we were talked into taking a cruise to the Bahamas, and a storm came up out of nowhere. Next thing I knew, I was here. Strangest thing that ever happened to me, I’ll tell ya. But the council assured me I was the only one to fall through the portal-thingy and
that my family is fine. I’m real interested to know where you’re from, with those beautiful wings and all that shiny armor ya got on there.”

  I didn’t know what to say. The girl hadn’t taken a single breath, and all her words ran together in what sounded like one sentence covered in gravy. Her accent was unfamiliar to me, and all I could do was nod because I didn’t catch enough to understand.

  “Thank you, Georgia Anne, I’m sure we’ll get to know Niasa as time goes on. And just names are fine for now.” The professor dismissed the perky redhead and nodded to the boy sitting next to her.

  The dark-haired boy, who was definitely the youngest person I’d seen since we’d arrived, had a brown complexion similar to mine, however he reminded me of Spaniards I’d run across in my travels.

  He kept his head down, and only slightly tilted it toward me as he mumbled, “I’m Carlos.”

  At the next table lounged a man who looked similar in age to Gus and appeared Roman. His elbow rested on the table as he stretched his feet into the aisle between the tables and smiled at me.

  “Luca,” he said with a slight bow of his head. He oozed trouble.

  Last was a stunning beauty with thick, brown hair and aristocratic features. She sat tall and stoic, piercing me with her stony, gray eyes. Her skin was unnaturally pale. Something about her set me on edge.

  A slight curl tilted the side of her mouth, as if she’d noticed my apprehension. “I’m Orsika,” she said with a different accent, one I couldn’t place right then but sounded familiar.

  “Okay, now that’s done, let’s get back to our lesson. Niasa,” Professor Liber waited to finish his sentence until I turned away from Orsika’s cold stare to acknowledge him. “Put on your jacket.” His friendly demeanor cooled.

  I nodded and complied. The ice princess smugly faced the front of the room.

  5

  Two weeks passed while Gus and I trained in our respective sectors. We’d settled into a routine of walking together to the cafeteria for breakfast and meeting again for dinner. He then went to study or play games with his friends, who included Luca, Georgia Anne, and Jacob, another Arbiter. Orsika and I sat with the group, but went our separate ways after the meal. I’d yet to see Carlos in the cafeteria, which was a shame because I’d grown fond of the young boy. He had a quiet spirit and a quick mind—a needed respite from Georgia Anne, whenever I could get him for a partner. Though if I’d been pressed to admit it, I liked the bubbly girl. She may have talked more than Jemma, but she was truly kind to everyone.

  We’d studied nothing that could be considered magic. It was all the basics of chemistry and biology. Gus loved both subjects, which I didn't understand. Then again he had combat training every day, to temper the boredom of studies. I could feel myself growing soft and more irritable as the days went by.

  After dinner one night, I walked through the open air corridor on my way to my room and just as I was about to climb the tower stairs, I heard my name from the shadows. The familiar voice made the hair on my arms raise and my blood run cold. Twisting slowly, I came face to face with Donovan.

  Gus and I had been issued new clothes but no weapons. Luckily, I had kept some knives from the dining hall, and had one strapped to the inside of my forearm, accessible from under my sleeve. Another hid under my hair, and a third was housed on my thigh, which I could reach through a hole I’d made in my pocket. I tried to relax my racing pulse so I could put one in each of his eyes and through his throat before anyone noticed.

  “I know what you must be thinking, but let me explain. Please.” He held out his hands, as if I’d believe he was harmless.

  “Who are you really? How are you here?” I pulled the knife from my sleeve.

  “My name really is Donovan. We never had a chance to finish talking like I’d hoped. Will you please hear me out? Then I think you’ll understand.”

  “If you were supposed to be here, you wouldn’t be hiding in the shadows.” I stepped closer, ready to end this man who’d caused me so much trouble. But first, I wanted answers.

  “I live here. I’m an Illuminator master. There is a bench over near that tree. Please give me a chance, and I’ll explain.”

  I darted a glance where he motioned, and saw that the bench was in a quiet area, since training was over for the day. Information was more valuable than anything else right then. And Donovan was wearing the blue of an illuminator and even had the embroidered collar of a master.

  I nodded in agreement, even though my teeth were about to crack from the pressure of my clamped jaw.

  When Donovan tried to get me to walk in front of him, I only shook my head. If he thought I’d turn my back on him, he wasn’t very intelligent. From what I knew of him so far, I didn’t believe that for a second.

  We sat on the bench, and I let my hand holding the knife rest in my lap. There wasn’t any reason to put it away. Donovan smiled.

  “You haven’t been here long, but I understand you’re doing well with the Mystics.”

  I had no desire for friendly conversation, so I stared straight ahead. Two Arbiter guards, identifiable from their brown clothing, sauntered across the lawn while I sat in silence.

  “I understand you don’t trust me, and I can’t blame you. In case you’re not familiar with the duties of an Illuminator, I’ll explain. Unless of course you’re willing to talk with me?”

  I stared straight ahead.

  “I didn’t think so. Since Gus is in the Arbiters, I’m going to assume you know the basics there. Which isn’t hard to explain anyway—they are the guards and the warriors. Gus fits in well.”

  I glanced quickly at my unwelcome companion. Whatever he wanted to say about Gus, he could keep to himself. He knew nothing of my friend. Nothing important, anyway.

  “In the Illuminator sector, we are the teachers, the philosophers, and the diplomats. It’s our job to negotiate with our allies—and sometimes our enemies. There’s also another side, the one no one speaks about, but that I need you to understand. Whenever there is a situation, a delicate situation, where diplomacy would not be possible, the illuminators use other tactics.”

  “You’re spies.” I huffed.

  That made sense. Sneaky, underhanded, and deceitful would all fit what I believed of Donovan.

  He nodded with a half grin. “I can see on your face that you don’t have a high regard for such methods. I can assure you they are very necessary. In fact, I think you would be a wonderful addition to the Illuminator sector.”

  “Working with you?” The idea of sitting on the bench next to him for much longer made my stomach curl in on itself, so to work with the man would be torture.

  Donovan sighed and folded his hands in his lap. “We got off on the wrong foot, to be sure. When I’d been sent to Midgard originally, it was to investigate the reason that identified Legion operatives were being allowed to stay, I was shocked to find you involved. You seemed so intent on doing a good job, yet in each instance, you were the Valkyrie who’d crossed the line.”

  I tipped my chin away and closed my eyes. There was no need to outline all of my mistakes. I knew them well enough without some man I barely knew reiterating them. He still could have been the one to ensure I made those mistakes for all I knew.

  “After observing several of your missions, I knew you were not a threat, however the circumstances of your ability to travel to different times caused us to continue to monitor you. Once I’d determined that you didn’t know you were being used as a pawn, I tried to help you. That’s why I finally approached you in the coffee shop. I wanted to distract you and keep you from making another mistaken claim. But we both know that didn’t work out.”

  Was that true? Had he been trying to help me? I needed to get away from him and give myself time to think—alone.

  “I have an early day tomorrow. If you don’t have anything to tell me that I don’t already know, I’m going to leave.”

  “Fair enough. I’m not sure how I can convince you to trust me, but I do ha
ve a peace offering.” Donovan pulled a short chain out of the pocket of his long, blue tunic. A quartz crystal the shade of a blue jay dangled as he held it in the air. “This is a communication talisman. It will allow you to contact others within the Vergence.”

  “I don’t need anything from you.”

  “Are you sure? What about if you could speak to your friend? Gertie, I believe is her name?”

  “How do you know that? Leave her alone.”

  “I have no ill intentions toward your friend. But I’m a Master, Niasa . . . gathering information is what I deal in. Please take it. Perhaps you will change your mind at some point.”

  I didn’t want to. He was a spy—a liar. But the idea of being able to speak with Gertie made me want to grab that crystal like a dragon after gold.

  I reached out and let him drop it into my palm, then let it rest in my lap against the knife. Donovan grinned.

  If he thought I was going to thank him, he was mistaken.

  I sat on my bed staring at the blue quartz crystal that lay in front of me. Donovan had given me instructions on how to use it. Though I’d tried to appear indifferent, the idea of speaking with Gertie squeezed my heart in a vice. After weeks of barely speaking to anyone outside of class while Gus grew closer to his new friends, I was aching for home. The chance to connect was too much temptation.

  I bit the inside of my lip and hesitantly reached out my fingers.

  The door to my room burst open.

  Startled, I half slid, half hopped over to sit on the crystal, hiding it from view. My heart racing like a rabbit’s, I twisted to face whoever had barged in. Gus stood in the doorway,

  a huge grin on his face.

  “What are you doing in here?” he asked.

  “The same thing I do every night. Why are you here?” I relaxed my shoulders, though my hands still shook from the adrenaline. “Aren’t you supposed to be with your friends?”