by Amy C. Blake
A short time later, Levi whispered the news of the destroyed room to his roommates, who were inhaling pizza.
“He did what?” Trevor bellowed.
Levi shushed him, but not before half the people in the room turned and stared at them. Even Mrs. Dominic glanced down at them from the staff table. Levi shrugged and smiled. There’s nothing wrong, everybody. Eat your pizza. When people returned their focus to their lunches, he leaned close to his friends. “Don’t let Hunter know it bothers us.”
“Sorry.” Trevor rubbed the back of his neck. “Those people really get on my nerves, trashing our room like that.”
Tommy bobbled his eyebrows at Trevor. “Yeah, ’cause you’re such a neat freak.”
Levi and the others laughed.
Raucous laughter a few tables over dampened the mood. Hunter pointed at Levi as Martin, Greg, Jacqueline, and Suzanne cackled hysterically.
A sour taste filled Levi’s mouth. He was so sick of Hunter and his jerk friends laughing at his expense. Levi turned to his friends, a grim smile on his face. “Greg wasn’t laughing a little while ago.” He told about Hunter’s threats, pleased at the satisfaction on their faces.
After lunch, Levi and his roommates decided to watch the javelin event with the girls instead of dealing with their room. Levi was disappointed when Martin took first place. Especially when Hunter sidled up and said, “Too bad they don’t do things like they used to.”
Levi frowned, confused.
“You know, back when they’d throw the javelin at their enemy, and whoever drew first blood won.” Hunter grinned. “Martin could’ve gone up against you. Wouldn’t that have been fun?” He stalked away, cackling.
Levi stared after him, still frowning. When Hunter’s meaning sank in, heat seeped into his face.
But Levi didn’t have time to worry about Hunter. He needed to get to the area marked off for fencing. He’d actually started understanding swordplay a little over the past couple of weeks, only because he’d started viewing it from a logical perspective. His chess games with Dr. Baldwin had helped him learn to anticipate his opponent’s possible moves, and when he sparred, the dwarf’s words to “see the whole board” ran like a refrain in his mind.
Today, Levi had to fight Greg the Hulk. After this morning, he knew Greg probably wouldn’t be in the mood to let him off easy, but he was more worried about Trevor, who was matched against Hunter. As he and Trevor donned their protective equipment and chose blades, Levi murmured to his friend, “Watch this guy. I know you don’t really believe me that he’s Deceptor, but he’s bad news. He’d just as soon kill you as look at you.”
Trevor shook his head. “He can’t.” He tapped his forefinger on the buffered sword edge.
“Be careful anyway. I don’t trust him to fight fair.”
“You be careful too. Greg’s as much of a cheater as Hunter.” Trevor turned his glare on the big boy stretching on the opposite side of the arena. “If he told him to hurt you, you know he’ll do it.”
Levi nodded. Trevor was right, but he had no choice. It was time to fight.
Chapter 35
Fencing
Levi jerked away from yet another heavy blow. So far Greg had done nothing but stand dead center, hacking away like a deranged lumberjack trying to fell a tree with a dull ax. Greg hadn’t moved his feet and had barely shifted his upper body, but he was sucking wind big-time.
At this rate, Levi just had to stay out of the way and let Greg wear himself out, so he continued his dance around the perimeter while Greg chopped and hacked. The big boy’s face grew redder by the second, and his breathing came in short gasps.
Soon Levi planned to go on the offensive. Who knew? Maybe he could actually win this thing. A tiny smile touched Levi’s lips at the idea.
A flash of red behind Greg pulled his attention from the sword-wielding maniac. In that split second, Greg whacked him. Pain shot from Levi’s left forearm all the way up to his shoulder. His whole arm went numb. His eyes watered. He blinked hard to clear them. If he missed the next blow, he’d be done for.
Just as his vision cleared, Greg brought down his sword with all his might, this time aiming for Levi’s head. Levi twisted out of the way, his paralyzed left arm swinging useless at his side. A stinging foretold the return of feeling, then a rush of excruciating pain.
Another flash of red appeared in his peripheral vision. Focus, Levi. Distraction hurt too much.
Striking Levi must’ve whetted Greg’s appetite because he gave up his tree-hacker position and chased Levi around the ring, his big-toothed grin visible through the mask. The two circled and twirled for several long moments while the sunlight beat down with even more intensity than Greg’s blows. Soon Greg slowed. Sweat streaked his blotchy face, and his chest heaved. Levi had to keep blinking sweat from his eyes so he could see the next blow.
A short but exhausting time later, Greg’s sword came down with an earth-shattering blow that dented the ground beside Levi. The force of the blow nearly felled Greg himself. Seeing his opportunity, Levi lifted his sword high and rushed him. Greg parried the blow at the last second but stumbled backward. Levi moved in, swinging again and again. Greg’s eyes widened as he tried to fend off the attack. His puffs turned to wheezes, which soon became gasps.
But Levi didn’t back off until he knocked Greg’s blade from his hand. With a huge grin, he lightly jabbed the padding on Greg’s chest.
The crowd around him cheered.
Almost immediately, screams and boos turned his head to the girls’ match going on nearby. Lizzie lay on the ground unarmed while Suzanne hit her in the face with the hilt of her sword. Mrs. Sylvester, the girls’ referee, ran over and pulled Suzanne away from Lizzie, who lay sobbing. Blood seeped from beneath her face mask.
Levi ran over, shoving aside a chuckling, red-handkerchief-waving Hunter. Levi reached Lizzie at the same moment as Trevor.
“You okay, Lizzie?” Trevor’s jaw clenched as he helped her sit up.
Levi squatted and gently tugged up her mask. Blood streamed from between her swelling lips.
“Why’d she h-h-hit me?” Lizzie’s face was pale.
“Shh,” Levi said softly. “It’s okay now, she won’t hit you anymore.”
“I know I’m t-t-terrible at fencing.” Tears dripped from the end of Lizzie’s nose. “B-b-but y’all always quit fighting when it was c-c-clear you’d won.”
Levi patted her shoulder and glanced at Trevor, who appeared about to pop a blood vessel.
“Let me through, please,” Dr. Baldwin called as he shoved through the crowd. Levi scrambled out of the way, accidently backing into Sara.
“Sorry,” he said, but she didn’t answer.
She was glaring at Suzanne, who stood with Hunter. Suzanne simpered up at Hunter. Hunter whispered something that looked like Good job.
Levi’s blood boiled.
“Suzanne, you won this match,” Mr. Dominic said sternly. Suzanne jumped and turned from Hunter to the director, her smile fading instantly. “But our goal in these games is not to injure others. You had clearly defeated your opponent; to hit her when she was down was wrong.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Suzanne said, eyes downcast, the picture of repentance. “I guess I got carried away in all the excitement.”
“If anything of this sort happens in your next match, you’ll be disqualified.” Mr. Dominic’s eyes slitted. “And you will jeopardize your chances of returning to Camp Classic next summer.”
“Yes, sir.”
As soon as the director turned away to check on Lizzie, Suzanne pointed to Sara and mouthed, You’re next.
Chapter 36
A Final Game of Chess
After Dr. Baldwin helped Lizzie from the field, Sara beat Jacqueline, which put her into the next round against Suzanne. Though Sara was excellent at fencing, Levi wondered if Hunter told Jacqueline to let Sara win so Suzanne could fight her. If that was the case, what did they have planned for Sara?
Hunter soundly w
hipped Trevor in less than five minutes and probably would’ve punished Trevor with extra blows if the director hadn’t monitored the fight extra carefully. Even so, Trevor limped away after the match.
Sara and Levi would face Suzanne and Hunter the next morning in the final round. How Levi wished he’d let Greg win their match. Because now he had to do what he’d avoided all summer: sword-fight Hunter. As he trudged to the castle for supper, dread settled in Levi’s gut, though he wasn’t sure if he was more worried for Sara or himself.
When they reached the dining hall, they found Lizzie seated at a table with an ice pack on her mouth. She only had a busted lip and a loose tooth, but she turned on the melodrama. “Tell me something, y’all.” She pointed to her swollen lip with a pink nail that had somehow remained chip-free. “How am I supposed to play a woman so gorgeous she causes a war with this hideous face?”
Levi smiled, glad she was her usual self again.
“I’m serious, guys.” Real tears flooded Lizzie’s eyes, and Levi’s smile vanished.
“You look fine,” Tommy insisted, awkwardly patting her arm.
Not knowing what else to do, Levi tossed a scowl at Hunter’s table.
Then Monica shocked them all by wrapping an arm around Lizzie. “Don’t worry, honey. When I get finished with your makeup, you’ll be as beautiful as ever.”
Levi’s left eyebrow shot up. Honey? Since when did Monica call anybody honey, much less Lizzie?
Lizzie turned a watery smile on Monica. “Thanks.”
Monica nodded and returned to her seat.
After supper the boys cleaned up their trashed room. Since his wardrobe and drawers had been thoroughly emptied, Levi went ahead and packed. Steve and Tommy headed downstairs for a final dress rehearsal of The Trojan Horse. Ignoring the pile of clothes on his bed, Trevor played War with Albert.
After a while, Levi got tired of watching the game and slipped downstairs to Dr. Baldwin’s room for what might be his last visit of the summer. If he got invited back next year. Otherwise, it could be his last visit ever. His throat tightened at the thought.
When Levi arrived at the infirmary, he found the door ajar and the doctor staring out the open window at the dark forest beyond.
“Dr. Baldwin?” Levi said softly. Why was he by the window he usually avoided? “You okay?”
The doctor started then turned to face him, his dark eyes recessed in his craggy face. “Leviticus Prince, why have you come?”
Levi took an involuntary step back—away from the darkened room and the shadows cast by the clouds crossing the nearly full moon. Away from the creature he’d come to view as a friend, but who now seemed like a beast disturbed in its lair. “I can come back another time, uh . . . sir.” Levi took another backward step.
“No.” The doctor flicked on a battery-powered lantern beside him. The light made him look more like the mentor Levi knew. Pale, but less . . . bestial. “There’s no need for you to leave.” Dr. Baldwin’s lips curved into what he probably meant for a smile.
Levi hesitated. Was it safe?
“You’ll be doing me a favor,” Dr. Baldwin said, holding out a hairy hand, “taking an old dwarf’s mind off his sorrows.”
Levi studied Dr. Baldwin’s eyes a moment longer before nodding. “If you’re sure I’m not bothering you.” He moved into the room as his pulse settled into its normal rhythm.
Levi sat in his usual spot on the bunk next to the wall. The doctor sat opposite him and gestured toward the chess box on the nearby rolling cart. “Shall we?”
Levi nodded and opened the box.
They played several moments before Levi dared say, “I was surprised to see the window open.”
The doctor grunted then took his bishop. Levi sighed. He’d better focus on the game.
A little later, Dr. Baldwin said, “Got stuffy in here.”
Levi’s eyes narrowed. He’d never known stuffiness to make the doctor open the window before. Even in July.
The dwarf shot him a disgusted look. “Okay, so I was feeling depressed.” He sniffed, swiped a hand across his face. “It was a hundred and twelve years ago tonight my Della died.”
“Oh.” Levi wasn’t sure whether to respond to the length of years or the fact that the doctor was clearly still in mourning. “I’m sorry.” He returned his stare to the chess board.
Several moves later, Levi glanced up at the doctor, whose head was bowed. “Why did Deceptor kill her?” he asked, then tensed. He shouldn’t have brought it up.
Dr. Baldwin sighed. “I won’t tell you that now, young Master Prince, but I fear the day will come when I have to tell you for your own sake.”
What was that supposed to mean? Levi opened his mouth to ask, but snapped it shut at the old dwarf’s uplifted hand.
“No more questions.” Shoulders slumped, Dr. Baldwin looked at the board. “You’ll forgive me for wanting to think of other things tonight.”
Levi tried to focus on the game, but he couldn’t keep his mind on his opponent’s moves.
“Checkmate.” Dr. Baldwin harrumphed. “You’re not paying attention this evening.” He peered at Levi. “I don’t think it’s only my Della distracting you. Could it be tomorrow’s fencing match against that wily snake Hunter?”
Levi’s eyes widened. Was a staff member allowed to call a camper a wily snake?
“What?” Dr. Baldwin cracked a grin. “You don’t think I see the attitude on that one, smug and sneering but forever fawning around the adults? Well, I see it. And you’d best be more observant tomorrow during your match or he’ll hurt you.” The grin disappeared. “Use the skills I’ve taught you. Think of all you know about your enemy. Be constantly vigilant. Never let your concentration waver as you did today against Greg.”
Levi’s face heated. So the doctor saw his failure during his first fight.
“Yes, I noticed your distraction. And I noticed who caused it.”
Forehead crinkled, Levi thought back to the match. A flash of red behind Greg is what distracted him, he remembered that much. His mind jumped to the seconds after the fight, of his rush past Hunter, his irritation at the boy’s laughter. And Hunter’s red hankie.
“The cheater.” The tips of his ears burned.
Dr. Baldwin inclined his head. “That may well be true. In fact, it probably is, but we can’t prove it.” He met Levi’s eyes. “You must be wary. Today’s trickery won’t be the last. He’ll have plenty up his sleeve tomorrow. And his friends aren’t above foul-play either, as your friend Lizzie discovered today.” His lips puckered with disgust.
Levi thought back to the sneer on Suzanne’s face that afternoon. Then his mind shifted to Lizzie’s battered face and on to Hunter’s satisfied smirk. Finally, an image of Sara’s face filled his mind, her warm eyes suddenly turning cold with terror.
Levi straightened his back. He’d do whatever he could to protect her. And that meant paying constant attention—starting with an early- morning fencing match.
Chapter 37
Fencing Finals
The night’s clouds were a mere memory in the next morning’s blazing sunlight. The air was humid from the damp night, frizzing Levi’s hair into a big orange puffball. He put on a hat.
At breakfast, Hunter kept talking about all the people who had died in fencing accidents. The glint in Hunter’s eyes made it clear they were threats, not reports. The thing that bothered Levi most, though, was Sara’s pale face and red eyes. She looked like she’d spent the whole night crying.
Halfway through the meal, he leaned near her and whispered, “What’s wrong? Are you worried about fighting Suzanne?”
She shook her head, tears swimming in her eyes. “No, I can beat Suzanne easy. It’s just that . . .” She swallowed back a sob. “My parents sent a message through Miss Nydia last night that they’re sending me to boarding school with Monica next week. They’re afraid it’ll be too dangerous here for me now that Deceptor knows about me.”
Levi felt like she’d just kicked him i
n both shins. He was such a failure. He had known most of the summer that this world was different and for weeks that one of his female friends was in danger. If only he hadn’t been so stubborn—if only he’d told all of his friends what he knew, maybe they could have caught Hunter sooner so Sara wouldn’t have to leave her home.
Then Sara wouldn’t be heartbroken.
He was actually relieved a few minutes later when Mr. Dominic announced, “Back to the games!”
Levi stood abruptly and snagged Sara’s arm. Together, they marched out of the castle. Levi had a duel to fight. And, much as he hated the thought, so did Sara.
Levi stood in the boys’ fencing area with his nerves zinging. Staff lined both the girls’ and boys’ arenas, probably to watch for cheating. He was glad they were there, but he wished the matches weren’t at the same time. He really wanted to watch Sara’s. At least Trevor and others were there, positioned between the two matches, so they could watch both.
Levi closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to focus. He knew Sara was more than a match for Suzanne. That is, if Sara didn’t get distracted with thoughts of boarding school. Levi, on the other hand, had no chance at all against Hunter. He’d need all his wits about him just to survive.
He sized up his opponent. Even with the protective webbing on Hunter’s facemask, Levi could see the hatred in his steely glare. Definitely David and Goliath. Too bad Levi didn’t have a slingshot handy.
Levi’s eyes darted. He still had time to make a run for it. He blew out a slow breath, praying his stomach would settle. Then again, puking all over Hunter might give him an advantage.
Levi shook his head. Throwing up on your opponent was definitely an unfair tactic.
As soon as the match began, Levi knew he was in serious trouble. Hunter followed him around the ring swinging his sword relentlessly, like a weed whacker after a blade of grass. It was all Levi could do to keep from getting whacked.
“Bet you wish you’d stayed out of my room now, don’t you,” Hunter hissed with a perfectly timed thrust.
