“You’re one of my friends.” He plopped down next to me, forcing me to scoot over.
I managed to drag the crystal with me just enough to keep it hidden. For some reason, I didn’t want Gus to know about it.
We hadn’t been this close since our first night on the island. The heat of his thigh against mine ignited sparks in my belly that flashed heat up through my face.
He pretended not to notice. “We’re going out to a tavern on one of the commerce islands. Luca heard there’s games and music, and it sounds like fun. Come with us.”
The idea of spending a night of fun with Gus made me smile. “How will we get back? They close the bridges at night.” I knew it wasn’t forbidden to go to any of the islands that surrounded the village, but there were restrictions on travel after dark—though I’d never heard why.
“Libby knows a fisherman who will bring us back on his boat.”
Ugh. Libby.
She was another Arbiter novitiate with Gus. She had everything I didn’t: long, silky hair, a shapely figure, and an outgoing personality. The worst part was that she was nice too. It wasn’t hard to see why Gus would be drawn to her.
I sank deeper into the mattress, while a chill cooled my insides.
“Don’t do that. I could see on your face that you wanted to come. Don’t worry about Libby, she’s great for keeping Georgia Anne busy. For some reason, she doesn’t mind all that chatter, and it lets the rest of us have some peace.” Gus bumped my shoulder with his, brushing my wings and sending a shiver down my spine. “There will be games. We can team up and win all of them!”
“I’m taking my first exam tomorrow. I should stay in and get some good rest. All these human sciences are mind-numbing, and I want to get through them so I can start training in magics. You have fun, I’ll be fine.”
The smile left his face, and his gaze became intense. I had to look away . . . the disappointment in his eyes was too much. He’d have more fun without me, and we both knew it.
“I miss you,” he said quietly.
A sting burned the backs of my eyes, but I blinked it away. “Go, have fun with your friends.” Or you could stay here with me . . .
He fidgeted with the edge of his brown tunic. It was still odd to see him in the same garb Tarnan wore. It didn’t hide how his muscles bulged through the sleeves, though. He hadn’t changed a bit since we’d arrived. If anything, he appeared healthier—probably from not having to battle to the death every day.
“You’re keeping yourself withdrawn. Not just from me, but from everyone. There are people here who can be your friends, if you’ll let them.”
“I’ve been a solitary person my whole life, Gus. I like the quiet. Go. Tell me about it in the morning at breakfast.” Or choose me and stay.
Gus stared into his lap and then let out a long exhale before he rose to his feet.
It shouldn’t have struck me like it did. I knew he’d go. But I’d set myself up, hoping he wanted my company as much as I wanted his.
He hesitated at the open door, twisting back to me. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I pushed my mouth into the best semblance of a smile I could force and nodded. I stayed that way, stuck, after he closed the door.
6
Aching over Gus’s decision to leave, I turned my attention to the crystal.
Using the quartz to contact Gertie would be a lot easier than when Gus and I had spoken to her through the psychic, Mrs. Porter. I chuckled as I thought of the petite woman asleep in her chair when we left.
I’d been too weakened to understand her at the time, but she had been the one to discover that the world she and Gus lived in was a ripple. That was something I hoped she didn’t remember from our time together.
I rested the blue crystal in my palms and watched how the light filtering through the window bounced off the multiple facets. With a deep breath, I recalled the steps Donovan had explained for using the talisman.
First, I needed to prick my finger with the tip of my knife. Then let three drops fall onto the crystal and flow over the sides, while I said Gert’s name.
I scanned my room for a vessel to collect the drops as they rolled off. That part had almost slipped my mind.
I set the knife and stone on my mattress as I hurried into the privy to grab the cup I remembered I’d left there. Once I was all settled again on the bed with the necessary supplies, I steadied myself. I knew I’d pass my exam in the morning, and this would just help me get a head start on spell work for level two.
There’s no reason for concern.
The harvester hall commanders and apprentices used seiðr all the time; this couldn’t be that different. I didn’t know why it was making me so nervous.
Probably because of who gave me the quartz.
I put all my misgivings about Donovan aside and cleared my mind to concentrate. I just needed to follow the steps and be done with it.
Holding my finger over the cup I braced between my knees, I pricked the tip and then held it upright as a bead of blood welled up. Quickly, I replaced the knife with the crystal and hovered it under my finger.
One drop fell, turning the crystal purple where it landed. I said Gertie’s name.
Another drop. More of the crystal turned purple. I said Gertie’s name a second time.
The crystal seemed to absorb the drops of blood, as no excess fell into the cup. My finger started to heal, and I hurriedly squeezed the final drop onto the crystal.
All the remaining blue turned purple, but before I could say Gertie’s name, my room began to shake. The sconce on my wall sputtered and the flame went out. Dust fell from the ceiling, and a large crack split the stone wall across from where I sat. The motion was so intense, I lost my balance from where I’d perched on the edge of my bed, and tumbled to the floor. Grasping the quartz in my hand, I landed on my elbow and grunted. My heart raced, and I clutched my chest. A pain seared through me and then quickly disappeared.
Scrambling to the window, I watched as a large tree in the courtyard below rocked sideways and then fell over, exposing its roots and leaving a crater three feet deep.
Something was wrong. I opened my palm and stared at the quartz that was once again a brilliant blue. It thrummed with power.
What have I done?
I clutched the window ledge as the tremors subsided and everything became eerily still. Everywhere I could see, there was destruction. Pillars had crumbled, causing the ceiling of a covered walkway to collapse. Twigs, leaves, and broken stone peppered the grass below.
The cup I’d held had clattered to the floor with the knife. I scooted on shaky legs to pick up the knife, which I wiped on my sleeve even though there wasn’t any trace of blood on the blade. When I picked up the cup, it broke into pieces that slipped between my fingers.
Thoughts of Gus hit me like lightning. He’d been planning to cross over to one of the commerce islands. Had he made it? Would the quake have affected the water?
I needed to go find out. If I’d caused another struggle for him, I wouldn’t forgive myself.
I jumped to my feet and ran from my room.
When I made it to the center courtyard, there were people running everywhere. Benches were overturned, trees uprooted, and walls had large cracks running through the marble. The palace was built into the side of a mountain, so maybe something had happened that didn’t have to do with the blood oath . . . It could have just been a coincidence. But in my experience, that’s not how things worked for me.
I heard someone call my name, but I ignored them and picked up my pace. Then I heard them again and recognized the voice as Luca’s. I slowed and glanced over my shoulder. He was running up behind me with panic in his eyes. That was to be expected, everything was a disaster.
“Niasa! I’ve been searching for you. Gus will be relieved, but you need to come with me. He’ll want to know you’re safe when he wakes up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When the quake happen
ed, he wanted to search for you, but he had some kind of attack. We had to get him to one of the healers for help. They’ve given him something. Just come with me, you can talk to them about it.”
Luca grabbed my hand, and we rushed through the crowds to the infirmary near the council chambers. Tarnan stood outside of the door and only allowed me to enter. He made Luca wait in the hall.
Inside, three healers in emerald green calmly attended to Gus as he lay asleep on a cot. With them was Aurora. I could feel my eyes stretch wide as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Pungent smelling incense burned on a short table by Gus’s head, a poultice of yarrow and calendula lay on his bare chest, and more was being made on a table on the opposite side of the room. His exposed tattoos reminded me of when he’d first shown them while sitting in the library. The weight of an anvil pressed on my chest.
Aurora approached me where I stood rooted to the floor.
“What happened?” I managed to squeak.
“We don’t know. The realm shook in a way that has never been felt in Breasal before.”
I snapped my eyes away from Gus and stared at her. “I mean to Gus.” How could she think I cared about all the rest?
“When the event occurred, I’m told Gus clutched his chest and fell to the ground. He was in pain when he was brought to the healers, so they placed him in a temporary sleep. Despite his suffering, he tried to fight them off so he could find you. The other novitiates had to vow to bring you to him so he’d rest. I’m surprised it took them so long.”
Her gaze pierced right through me and I shrank inside. I’d also felt a pain like she described. My use of the crystal had to have done this to Gus. Why did I continue to torture this poor man?
“Will he be okay?”
“I’m told he should be fine. When the tremors stopped, his heart rate and breathing returned to normal. They removed the stasis spell, but now they can’t get him to wake. They don’t know why. The markings of Dagda were a surprise. Did he explain why he has them, by chance?”
My eyes stung. Whatever was wrong with Gus had happened when I’d used the quartz. When we were together in New York, I’d saved him from dying with an infusion of my blood. If we were connected somehow, this had to be my fault. “He prepared for his afterlife before I claimed him.” My voice sounded like coarse grain as I forced the words.
I stepped closer to the side of his cot, where he slept in peace. I brushed the backs of my fingers along his cheek. Whatever had happened, I needed to leave him be. I was a curse on him, and my presence could only make him worse.
I spun and headed for the door. “When he wakes, please tell him I’m sorry.”
Before Aurora could answer, I hurried through the door and ran as hard as I could. I didn’t stop until I was in my room, where I flung myself onto my bed in a heaving mess of tears and panic.
It was fully dark when I woke after having cried myself to sleep like a coward. I’d have slept longer except for the pounding on the door. I didn’t want to talk with anyone, but whoever was out there clearly had other ideas.
“What?” I growled as I flung open the door, shrinking back as soon as I’d done it.
Before me stood an arbiter I didn’t recognize.
“There is an assembly in the upper bailey. Everyone is required to attend on the orders of Danú.”
“I’m a novitiate, no one will miss me.” I pushed tried to push the door closed, and a strong arm slammed against it.
“Everyone attends. Come.”
The man’s stern look set my teeth on edge. Normally I’d use that tone as an excuse to do anything but obey, but my will flagged. Not caring that I probably looked a mess, I shuffled my feet into the hall.
The arbiter shut my door and gave a nudge to the back of my shoulder to make me move. We were the only two in the hall, and apparently in a hurry.
When we arrived, my escort peeled off to go to his post, while I blended in to the throngs of people gathered in the large, open-aired courtyard. Arbiters were stationed along the battlements above, and everyone faced the platform that doubled as a stairway landing halfway between the top of the walls to the floor of the bailey.
I sighed and waited with everyone else. A flash of red hair caught my eye, and I saw Georgia Anne standing with Jacob, Luca, and Carlos. I slid behind a larger boy I recognized as an illuminator novitiate.
There was a shift in the air, and the crowd hushed. I peered up at the platform as Aurora and the rest of the High Council took positions at the back edge. Then she appeared.
Gliding down the steps to stand at the front banister was the high priestess herself, Danú. Tall and slender, her skin glowed against the torchlight filling the courtyard. Golden hair sparkled with a silver diadem encircling her forehead. Power radiated from her. I’d grown up with Odin, whose mightiness overwhelmed many when they stood in his presence. Hers was the same, yet beautiful where his was ferocious.
“The event we experienced earlier has created a disturbance that reaches beyond Breasal, into all the realms of the Vergence. It appears it may have reached the human world, as well. We believe the quake began here, yet we have not determined whether it was natural or caused by someone wishing us harm. For that reason, I’m sending teams to investigate.”
A murmur rumbled through the crowd. I heard the words “unusual” and “Apollyon” filter among the whispers more than once. My insides coiled into a tight ball.
“Because of the dire consequences this could bring, we need to cover as much area as possible. The most experienced teams from all sectors will leave immediately, however, we will need more.
“For this reason, I am instituting a set of trials to commence in one week’s time. Accelerated training will be provided for those who have passed the second level of their sector. Novitiates will earn a spot on an investigation team through these trials, bypassing their need to complete the remainder of their Eudaimonia exams, and becoming apprentices. Illuminator Master Donovan will oversee this training, and the High Council will administer the trials.”
I couldn’t breathe. This was a chance to do something about the quake I’d caused by using the crystal. If Donovan was going to help choose who was accepted into the trials, perhaps he’d allow me in even if I hadn’t finished my second levels. Especially if he understood it had happened because of the quartz he’d given me.
Danú nodded to Donovan, who stood in the shadows at the edge of the platform. I hadn’t seen him arrive with the others. When he stepped to the front, his eyes met mine. How, in the sea of the crowd, he’d known where I was, I couldn’t fathom.
“As our high priestess has stated, I will coordinate the training of the novitiates qualified to enter the trials. We have set the time as one week to give those who are near their second level exams a chance to finish, allowing for the most candidates possible to participate. However, since we don’t know as of yet the extent of the damage we may find, that time frame could shorten. I suggest those of you wishing to pass your exams study with haste. Once the trials begin, no other novitiates will be allowed to participate.”
Donovan stepped back into the shadows, and Aurora moved forward.
“Since this situation requires so much attention, we will be enforcing a curfew between the islands. The morning market will run at its normal time, but the evening market will close at dusk. Everyone must be in their quarters and accounted for before dark. Hours are also extended for classroom and physical training. Everyone must adhere to the new schedules without exception. Now, please go back to your rooms, and finish the night’s rest before we begin our new routine at dawn.”
The council turned as one and left the platform. I didn’t waste time watching them leave, but spun to head back to my room. The more I thought on it, the more I believed that saying anything to Donovan about the crystal seemed like a bad idea. I needed to be more proactive. I might have just passed my first level that morning, but I was determined to finish the second level before the trials began.
Whatever that quartz had caused, I wasn’t going to sit back and let others fix what I’d done. I would discover the damage for myself, and do whatever it took to make it right.
7
I lay in bed staring at the blank walls washed in moonlight, thinking about all that had changed in my life. Did I really know who I was or what I was supposed to do?
I’d come to Breasal to help stop a threat to Valhalla and all the godly realms, but I’d been tossed into some training regimen that made no sense. Gus’s life was in more danger than ever, and now I’d have to take exams that I couldn’t fight my way through.
I reached my hand under the mattress until my fingers wrapped around the sharp edges of the quartz. The quake had happened the instant I tried to contact Gertie. No matter how much I argued with myself that the two were separate, I knew they weren’t. I had to figure it out. And, I had to earn a spot in the trials.
The first obstacle to my goal would come in the morning, in the form of a test about human chemistry. I’d paid attention in class, it wasn’t that hard. Although, I did want to catch Carlos before the exam and make sure I had the proper steps for creating enough combustion to light a taper without an initial flame source—I was sure I knew, but I wanted to run it by him once more. He could pass his exams, I was sure of it, but I suspected he didn’t want to train in elemental magic. We all had an affinity for it, we’d been told. That’s why we’d been selected for Mystics over the other sectors.
If I could pass, I’d be out of level one, and I’d finally begin training in actual magic. Then I might start getting answers.
Luca and Orsika had moved onto the second levels three days before, but they had trained longer before I arrived. I planned to pass the Eudaimonia tests faster than anyone ever had. I had no choice; Gus needed me to reverse whatever I’d done, and I still needed to fight the Legion.
So many thoughts rambled through my head and twisted my emotions into a knotted mess of tangles.
Time Academy Page 3
