by Aubade Teyal
**********
The following morning there was a stampede to the common room after breakfast. Even Lennox went to have a look.
The list was finally up.
Around the notice board, there was a press of people, and one lone cheer amidst a swell of mutterings. Fontaine, the senior who Connel had usurped in the trials, was at the front. He let out a whoop of delight, then turned round and scanned the room. When Fontaine saw Connel, pushing his way through the press, he smiled smugly. Kellas was also there. Unlike Connel, he did not have to force a way through. The boys in the crowd parted for Kellas, making a path for him to come to the front. He was not well liked, for he kept himself separate, but every boy in the house treated him with caution.
Lennox was slowly slipping through the crowds, making her way to the board. She reached the noticeboard jut behind Kellas and scanned the sheet over his shoulder.
The first name on the list was Duncan. After his name, there were three more seniors: Daryl, Zac and Felix. Daryl was not a surprise. There was no one stronger in Feliformia, with the exception of Duncan, and Daryl had been the first back in the trials. He was broad, burly and taciturn. He was joining the army as soon as his exams were done and this was all he talked about.
Zac was a bit more of a surprise. He was popular, but talked too much to be considered seriously. It was considered an unsolved puzzle how he had managed to become a prefect, and now he was on the squad for the Challenge Cup as well. There would be many who believed they had more of a right to have their name up on the wall.
Felix’s inclusion was also not a surprise. He had come back third, after Connel, and was respected and known for his perseverance. No one could quarrel with his inclusion.
The last name on the list was Lennox.
Lennox read her name. Then read it again, and again, in shock. How could it be there? She had been last back.
She didn’t even notice what was happening around her. Silence, like a wave, had washed through the crowd. Those closest had noticed Lennox, and Connel, at the board. They were watching Connel, watching Lennox, and waiting for the inevitable. When Lennox finally looked round, she saw Connel pointing at her.
‘You bitch,’ he mouthed.
Then it got worse. Kellas ripped the squad sheet off the wall, and faced the crowd.
‘Where is Duncan? he growled, scanning the room.
To Lennox's horror, his face had been transformed. His extraordinary looks were completely eclipsed by a mask of dark anger.
Here,' Duncan replied, standing up from a chair by the hearth where he had been sat, anonymously, hidden by the crowd, waiting.
'What is the meaning of this?' Kellas demanded, holding the sheet aloft.
'Of what exactly?'
'You've left me out!'
‘Yes. We don’t doubt your capabilities Kellas. But there were others with different talents, talents we needed. Kearns was adamant.'
The rest of the crowd was sucked into the drama, an overeager audience, their silence a microphone, amplifying the main event. They instinctively drew back, creating a path as Kellas advanced on Duncan.
'And why,' he asked, his voice low and dangerous, 'Is Lennox on the list...?'
A ripple went through the crowd, like a strong sea current.
'...without me?' Kellas finished.
Lennox's heart stopped. There was a collective intake of breathe from the crowd. Lennox’s name on the list was hugely controversial. There were still people, even in Feliformia, who were not reconciled to her presence in the school. But Kellas was not challenging her right to be on the list, as might have been expected. He was challenging her right participate without him, it was tantamount to a claim, almost of ownership.
‘Because I believe she will give us an edge no one else can offer.’ Duncan argued back, loud and clear. ‘And it was my right, as her head of house, to give her this chance.'
'An edge? What edge? What reason can you possibly have for including her other than your own preference?’ Kellas demanded, his words flying like poison darts. ‘You cannot pretend this is as a result of the trials. She came in last!'
It had not gone unnoticed in Feliformia that Duncan had shown a preference for the beautiful girl who had joined their house. No one, however, had guessed that Kellas was also interested; until now. Everyone present could see exactly what was happening. The two most senior prefects within the house were fighting over the girl who should never have come.
'She came in last because of you! You sabotaged her trial!' Duncan shot back. 'You hunted her down and stopped her from taking part. But I'm giving her a chance anyway. She’s fast, though she tries to hide it, and has immense stamina and bravery. She deserves her chance.’
Kellas was now face to face with Duncan. Duncan taller, thicker, had risen from his chair, and faced Kellas with his legs braced. Kellas was both smaller and slighter, but he was equally menacing for his face was still unnaturally dark, like thickened blood, and his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
'You will change the list.' Kellas commanded. 'Either I go on, or Lennox comes off.'
'I'll do neither.' Duncan lifted his chin. 'It has nothing to do with you. Kearns has agreed to it and signed it. It’s final.'
At Kearns’ name, Kellas paused, and breathed deeply. The battle was over. He knew Kearns would never agree to changes suggested by him. Without another word, Kellas turned and stalked from the room. Lennox blinked. He had not looked at her once.
But Duncan did. After Kellas was gone, Duncan at her side straightaway.
'Are you alright?' he asked. 'I'm sorry you had to find out you were in the squad in that way. I was waiting here. I was going to tell you myself.'
Lennox found a sea of eyes watching her. She could not talk to Duncan now. She was an object, under scrutiny.
'I'm fine,' she managed; and stiffly walked away. She just had to escape.
She emerged into the corridor, and paused. She wasn’t ready for lessons. She didn’t want to think about what Connel would say to her, and Mannik hadn’t been at breakfast. She was on her own and about to come under attack.
She could feel cold air on her skin from an open window, and she knew that was what she needed: space and air. She headed out to the courtyard, into the bracing wintry air; each step left a delicate print in the thick frost. From her first chilling breath, she saw Kellas stood at the gatehouse, rigid, his gaze on the wild land curling away from him, and she was drawn to him. There was too much to say.
‘Why did you do that?’ she asked. ‘Why make that scene?’
He startled, turning sharply. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts he had not noticed her approach, had not prepared himself. Unmasked anger was still rioting in his eyes.
‘What?’ he said, curtly.
And at the same time, another message came, unbidden, into her thoughts.
Leave me alone.
She ignored it.
‘Why tell Duncan I shouldn’t be on the list? Why try to stop me from taking part in the Challenge Cup?’
He glowered at her, anger bottled tight within his clenched jaw, and fists.
‘It is dangerous…’
‘A danger which every other student faces,’ she interrupted. ‘Yet you don’t try to stop them.’
‘You are the only junior and the only…’
He stopped.
‘Girl, yes, I know!’ she finished for him. ‘But Duncan was right… it is nothing to do with you.’
He stiffened, and turned away from her, back towards the uncompromising landscape, and the winter wind.
‘I think I asked you to leave me alone,’ he said, in a curt voice.
‘Not out loud,’ she replied.
He glanced back at her, his eyes burning like a dying star. She was ready, waiting for an explanation.
But he did not give her one. Instead, he sent her another message.
Everything at Calgacos concerns me. And while you are here, so do you.
‘How…?’ she begun.
He shook his head.
Now leave me alone. I do not wish to be seen with you. You only bring me trouble.
