Page 63 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
As others in a hurry to get to class crowded behind us, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Do me a favor and talk to him about it and let me know what he says. Okay?” Jericho branched to the right.
Not okay. Not okay at all. What’s more, I didn’t appreciate his sudden nice-guy act. An obvious attempt to manipulate me to his will. Whatever. He wasn’t worth another thought.
I shoved my hand into my pocket, where my vial of soil rested. Deep breath in. If the HP acquired a berry seed, I bet I could grow one ... which might be a contender for the true purpose of Theirland. Maybe? But no. Whatever the treasure was, it would paintCuredin a bad light to Ember’s way of thinking. There was no other reason she would tell me to search out such information.
In the commons, I grabbed a meal bar.
“Shouldn’t we get a break after the return trip?” Juniper mumbled, at my side as we headed to class.
“I doubt a murderous feeder will take your need for a nap into account,” Lark quipped from in front of us.
We entered the gym, other trainees arriving seconds later. The starting bell sounded, and we scrambled into a semblance of a formation.
Mykal swept in and called, “The HP is otherwise engaged and will miss this morning’s warm-up. You’ll keep Sunday’s schedule today and run laps while evaluating your own performance in Theirland. Be sure to list areas you need to improve. There will be a test during your actual evaluation, and those who fail it will disqualify themselves from the title of top soldier.” After blowing us a kiss, she skipped from the room, disregarding the discordant chorus of groans, complaints, and cheers.
A twinge of bitterness tempted me to anger. Something big must’ve happened to prevent the HP from being here. He needed to improve his chance of winning his precious contest, after all.
He could’ve, say, gotten in trouble for eating the berry.
No, no. Silly supposition. I bet he was in medical, getting his injured cheek repaired. Or celebrating his success with the powers that be.
“You heard her. Run laps and contemplate your failures,” a knight commanded.
I did exactly that, intending to present the HP with a more detailed evaluation than the one I’d given him in Theirland.
During the second half of class, we practiced fighting a hologram. I gained fresh bruises and cuts on my left hand. They were small and had already stopped bleeding, but I should probably get them looked at ...
After the bell rang, I made my way to medical, a pep in my step. A smile spread when I spotted Shiloh. He was alone, reclining on a gurney, typing into a digital file. He looked so good. Like his normal self. Relaxed and happy.
“Hey,” I called, leaning into the lobby counter. No sign of the HP, thank goodness.
Shiloh glanced up, a return smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Hey.” He jumped to his feet, set the file aside, and crossed to me. “How was your first realm walk?”
“Better and worse than expected. How areyou?”
“Great. I continue to test negative, and I’ve figured out my future.”
“Shiloh, that’s wonderful.”
He smiled again, his eyes sparkling at their brightest setting. “If you go on a date with me Thursday, I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Deal.” I beamed at him, pleased with the outcome. “Before I go, can I snag a couple bandages? For my hand.” I showed him the “damage,” winning a third smile, this one teasing.
“I should wrap you up to ensure infection doesn’t set in. You’ll be late to class, but I’ll send a note to the HP excusing your tardiness. He’ll understand. This is practically an emergency.”
“Lifesaving medical care.” I hightailed it around the counter, thrilled to steal this moment with him.
I eased onto the gurney he’d abandoned and watched him gather supplies. While relocating the file he’d left behind, I caught the name and frowned.Lady Lemon Ade.
“Did a new recruit arrive?” Someone who just happened to be named after our code word?
“No.” He offered nothing more on the topic. After cleaning my cuts, he rolled a bandage around my knuckles. “I’ve learned an irrefutable truth.”
Curiosity engaged. “About . . . ?”
“Cured.” He paused to sign into my unbandaged palm, “Evil.”
My blood flash froze. “Did something happen?” Because he wasn’t—couldn’t be—inferring what I thought he might be inferring.
