Page 30 of Great Falls Protector
“Humans,” Han corrected, sending a shiver along River’s spine. This was the second time the word “human” had been uttered in this conversation as if it were a curse word—as if its speakers were anything but. “Same brain, but more muscle. And a third of them aren’t even here yet. This is simply an opening exhibition.”
The stranger released Han’s wrist with a noise of disgust and turned away, Han turning back to his athletes with an unreadable expression.
Quietly straightening from his crouch, River followed in the hooded man’s steps as he left the arena through the far exit. Something wasn’t right. Well, many things were not right. And River was done watching and waiting and arguing with people who were either too greedy to think straight or too deeply conniving to tell the truth. From now on, River intended to keep his own counsel. Ask his own questions.
Dogging the hooded man into the thick band of forest that hid the Academy’s wall from view, River finally decided to drop stealth for the sake of efficiency. They were far enough away now that any confrontation would keep clear of cadets and their guests, which was the best River had time for just now. Raising his head, River added his voice to the wind. “A moment of your time, sir.”
No answer, just a red cloak flashing in between brilliant green branches.
River’s brows twitched together, his senses peaking as he picked up his pace, his boots kicking up the scent of mossy earth. Soft oak branches brushed River’s face as he hurried through them, his lungs and heart taking on a familiar steady rhythm. River might be wearing the stiff woolen coat appropriate for a deputy headmaster, but he was much more than that—and the stranger would learn it one way or the other. “Sir. Remove your hood.”
The man quickened his pace, heading deeper into the trees. A mistake given that the forest led nowhere but to a wall, though the man might not realize it.
Caw caw.
A pair of crows caught River’s attention for a moment, the birds unusual in this part of the Academy. Looking away from the man’s swishing red cloak, River blinked as more and more flapping wings landed on the branches. A hawk. A trio of vultures. An eagle with a bright white head and sharp yellow beak.
Caw caw. Caw caw.
What in stars’ light?Shaking himself, River hurried after the fleeing figure, his pulse now rising with each step. The birds didn’t belong. Just as this man did not.
The tall stone wall came into view through the trees, and the figure slowed his pace, giving River just enough time to reach him. Gripping the man’s shoulder, feeling hard muscle beneath his thick cloak, he spun him around.
“Who are—” River’s voice tripped.
The stranger’s hood had fallen to his shoulders, revealing silvery-blond hair pulled back into a braid, magnetic blue eyes, and a pale ageless face that was not of this world. His ears came to points. When he smiled, his canines did too.
“Commander Owalin of the Night Guard, at your service,” the male said in a voice that sent ice trickling down River’s spine.
Owalin. The same name Zake had babbled to Coal in the dungeons.
Reining in his pounding heart, River stood his ground as he met the male’s pale, haunting gaze. “What do the fae want with my Academy?”
“I’m afraid it is no longer your Academy, Deputy Headmaster River.” Something flicked in the man’s hand just as one of the crows launched itself from the nearby branch and flew straight for River’s face.
River’s forearm rose on instinct to ward off the bird, which tore into his jacket with razor-sharp talons. Woolen threads snapped and—and River gasped at the fire exploding along his chest. The world flickered for a moment as he looked down, surprised to find Owalin pulling a long blade out of his flesh, his own vivid red blood streaking its length.
As River went to swing for the male, branches rustled overhead and someone cracked a blow across River’s temple from behind. This time, when the world wavered, the darkness remained. All River recalled as he fell flat to the ground was Owalin’s voice addressing one of the crows. “Our human idiot got himself arrested and will be babbling shortly if he’s not doing so already. Find Krum. There has been a change of plans.”
Thecaw cawof the bird’s answering call followed River into oblivion.
5
Lera
“Thank you all for coming to the first Prowess Trials to be held at the Great Falls Academy,” Sage’s pleased voice booms over the filled arena stands.
Hundreds of people in every manner of finery fill the raised benches, guards and servants patrolling the walkways to ensure everyone who matters has goblets of wine to ward off the heat. Some personal servants stand over their masters in the bleachers with parasols; others flutter elaborately painted fans. Overhead, flocks of birds wheel over the arena, perhaps attracted by the afternoon sun sparkling off the sand. A dozen yards in front of me, teams of Prowess athletes in every color parade around the arena, each kingdom celebrating its own with music and cheers.
The clamor of clapping hands and raised voices flying into the air is both deafeningly loud and incomplete to my immortal ears, Coal and River both noticeably absent. Coal disappeared earlier on a fool’s errand to singlehandedly find the Night Guard’s lair, while River…
I don’t know where he went, just that he wanted to be away from me.
We are done.
My fingers curl around my belly, my chest tight as the words repeat themselves over and over in my mind, burning me each and every time.We are done. We are done.
All because I made a mistake. Didn’t speak to him on a schedule he thought I should. What would River think if he knew all the other decisions I’ve made over the past months—some good, some not. All of them mine.
