Page 85 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
Cyrus explained nothing and his harsh demeanor discouraged questions. I did my best to appear nonchalant, as if I babysat decorated officers daily.
Now, to face my teammates. We reached a gym filled with mats and exercise equipment. The team had beaten us there, and every gaze zoomed our way as we entered. Conversations ceased midsentence, everyone rushing to stand at attention. Thankfully, I didn’t receive any loaded looks.
“Lady Roosa is working on a special project,” Cyrus announced. “You are not to ask her about it or mention it to others. Details are classified.” He motioned for me to join the others. “Hustle.”
“Yes, Sir Sugar Bear,” I muttered and jogged over.
“Today is reckoning day,” Cyrus called. “Archduke Heta’s trainees did a better job than mine, and my disappointment cannot be measured. You will practice until you improve.”
That is exactly what we did. Practice. There wasn’t time for personal matters. Cyrus pushed us to the brink, me most of all. No joke, he ordered me to do extra everything. Yes, I loved exercise, but I didn’t enjoy the buckets of sweat pouring from me. My muscles quivered and burned.
“Lark, you disabled five holograms that round. Not bad. Roosa, you also disabled five. Do better,” he snapped. “And run six laps. One for every hologram you should have felled.”
“Yes, sir,” I snapped back.
When the clock timed out a short while later, I dropped to the floor, wheezing. Lark winced with sympathy as she passed me.
“Everyone but Roosa out,” he commanded. “You didn’t do terrible, so you may enjoy yourselves while you can. There are free sandwiches in a private commons. Follow Baron Thomas.”
Cheering, the class poured from the gym. Several other soldiers cast me looks of commiseration along the way. A frowning Roman held my gaze until he disappeared beyond the door, and I couldn’t decipher the emotion he projected. I couldn’t force my legs to work either.
Cyrus strode over and crouched beside me. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“You are an awful person,” I grumbled.
He arched a brow, not the least bit apologetic. “Maybe now you’ll sleep when you’re told.”
“Maybe now you’ll sleep when you’re told,” I mocked, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “Do you even hear yourself?”
“I’ll give you thirty minutes to clean up and recover.” His other brow lifted. “Unless you’d rather skip the interview with Mr. Victors.”
I snapped to attention. “I’ll be ready.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Wisdom cries out to you; are you listening?
—The Book of Soal1.20.1.20
Elevator doors closed, confining me inside a small space with two armed guards and Cyrus. I was mere minutes away from facing a glower.Theglower. A Soalian I’d considered a terrorist my entire life, who now had answers I sought. The true purpose of Theirland. Why the Rock bloomed with flowers. The origin of pritis stones. Why Soal hatedCured. What else I might find in my book.
I rallied every defense, resisting the onset of fear, but the continued strenuous effort left me on edge.
Cyrus noticed and told me, “You’ll be safe. Victors will be restrained on one side of a table, and I’ll be with you on the other side, with guards posted outside the door.”
“I’ve never interrogated someone,” I muttered.
Ding.The doors opened, revealing a hall brimming with soldiers, who lined both walls and stood at the ready. Cyrus led me forward, no one daring to look in our direction. A perk I cherished.
We paused at a thick metal door, and he faced me, intent. “Don’t react to anything Victors says or venture down any verbal mazes. We have only five minutes in there. Stick to your main topics of interest. I guarantee he’ll stick to his.”
No reaction or mazes. “Five minutes isn’t long enough.”
“The king wishes to limit your exposure to such a powerful glower. They can be—” He thought for a moment. “Persuasive.”
In other words, dangerous. I squeaked, “I’m brave. I can do this.”
“Yes, you can. Now shed your weapons. Anything you prefer not to be used against you.” As he spoke, he handed a guard his personal arsenal.
